Murder Through an Open Door: A Book Magic Mystery (A Book Magic Mystery 4)

Book Magic Novels #3

by Melissa Bourbon

"Filled with quirky characters and atmospheric descriptions of the quaint town of Devil’s Cove, Bourbon hits all the right notes for a cozy: amateur sleuthing, several possible suspects, bookstores, and a touch of romance."
~Elena Taylor, Author


To stop the curse that has plagued her family for centuries, Pippin Lane Hawthorne has enlisted the help of authors Tolkien, Homer, and Dickens. How? Through bibliomancy, a practice by which passages in books speak to her in cryptic code that only she can decipher. When she finds a message from her mother in an old copy of The Secret Garden, she hopes this book might hold the answers she so desperately seeks.

The book leads Pippin to a vital clue, but before she can figure out what it means, she stumbles upon a dead body. Though the authorities deem the death is from natural causes, the books found scattered around the body tell Pippin a different story—the victim was murdered. And the death is connected to her family and the curse. Now, to solve a murder in the present, Pippin must dig deeper into her family’s troubled past, even if it means staring danger in the face.


"This series had me at ‘book magic’ and wrapped me up in its unique plot from start to finish!" ~Carrie Schmidt, ReadingIsMySuperPower.org

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, Fiction, Relationships, Family

320 pages, Paperback

Published January 25, 2022

About the author

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Melissa Bourbon is the national bestselling author of more than forty novels and nonfiction writing resource books. All of her books feature strong female and family relationships, bits of history, and lots of fun.

Melissa used to teach middle school English/Language Arts, but now she teaches creative writing to adults. She founded WriterSpark Academy, an online school for aspiring and new writers seeking to hone their craft.

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Reviews

[Kristina Anderson]

Murder Through an Open Door by Melissa Bourbon is the third A Book Magic Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. However, I recommend reading the series in order which will allow you to understand the curse, the family history, and get to know the main characters. I thought Murder Through an Open Door was well-written with developed characters. We continue to learn more about Pippin, Gray, and their family line as the series progresses. I find the characters to be likeable and relatable. I love that Pippin’s gift is bibliomancy. The books speaks to her and provide clues. Gray and Pippin are still trying to learn more about the family curse. They both wish to find their soul mate, but they are not willing to risk it until the curse has been lifted. The woman dies in childbirth while the man is lost to the sea. I can tell the author did her research into Celtic lore and mythology. She manages to strike a balance between not enough and too much with regard to details. It seems that Pippin and Gray are not the only ones interested in the curse or the supposed treasure. When a man is found dead in backroom of the bookstore surrounded by books, Pippin knows it is related to her family. The mystery is complex. We learn more about the Lane family and Tuatha De Danann. There are twists and a surprising revelation or two. Murder Through an Open Door combines murder, mayhem, and magic into one intriguing tale.

[Kim]

As Pippin and her family and friends try to find a solution to the curse on her family, she has to decide who is actual friend and foe. Once again someone tied to her B&B is found dead. Was this a natural death or murder? Pippin’s gift of bibliomancy seems to be pointing to the later.

This book grabbed me from the beginning and kept me engrossed and entertained until the end. The mystery is full of surprises and misdirections. I never thought about the culprit during my attempts to solve the mystery. The characters are likable, relatable, and interesting. Pippin is probably my favorite character. She isn’t perfect, she actually has several flaws which is why she is relatable. I am looking forward to the next book. I am eager to see what happens next as Pippin searches for the cure to the curse on her family. I recommend this book to cozy mystery fans especially those that like a touch of paranormal, romance, and literary references.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

[Kathleen]

Murder Through an Open Door Earns 5/5 Classics…Compelling Entertainment!

The Sea Captain’s Inn has Pippin Hawthorne quite busy, so the arrival of Hazel Hood has been a godsend. Hazel travels about offering support to innkeepers who need a break, and although Pippin doesn’t need a vacation, Hazel’s experience gives Pippin some breathing room. A new guest, Connel Foley, checks in and is very eager to speak to Pippin, but doesn’t indicate why. The next day Pippin finds Foley nowhere about, so she heads over to The Open Door bookshop eager to share the new book her aunt sent her with Jamie MacAdams, friend and proprietor. He’s gone for the day, but she spends some time talking to his mother, until they are interrupted by a major commotion coming from the locked room that houses many of their priceless books. Unlocking the door the bookshop’s mascot escapes, and they discover several books spewed across the floor and the dead body of Connel Foley. They learn the man was a rare book dealer inquiring about some classic first-editions, but how does this help or hinder Pippin’s mission to break the family curse, find a long lost artifact, and save herself and her twin brother from certain death.

Melissa Bourbon blockbuster fourth book in her Book Magic Mystery series is a must read with a delightful writing style, complex ongoing mystery, wonderful characters, and a fascinating premise two-thousand years in the making, but it’s important to note the fact that each book in the series is built on the other, so I suggest reading the books in order. The drama systematically reveals clues, connections, and insights with a few references to previous incidents or characters that some might consider spoilers, so in order to have a complete experience and get the full impact of the fascinating mystery surrounding the Lane women, the engaging family curse that includes untimely deaths, and Pippin’s continued efforts to hone her bibliomancy start at the beginning. Each book focuses on and offers a solution to a suspicious death that Pippin is compelled to explore as it might be connected to her goal to break a family curse.

In the fourth book, the victim, a rare book dealer, has an interest in Pippin, and the investigation, literary references, additional connections, reappearance of the man with the strange eyes, and some perilous predicaments kept me reading well into the night. Bourbon has created a strong and admirable lead in Pippin Hawthorne with intelligence, creativity of thought, and a few realistic challenges she makes efforts to overcome from dyslexia and her budding bibliomancy to fears of romantic entanglements and the flutters she feels for Jamie. The reoccurring characters of varying generations, personality, and involvement in the investigations add additional support, interest, and a bit of comic relief, including a deaf dog that she’s found is quite useful in dangerous situation. My favorite is Hattie Juniper Pickle. Also for a treat enjoy the Blueberry Strata from the Sea Captain’s Inn. I highly recommend the entire series, it’s brilliant! And book four is a major contender for “Top Favorite” of 2022.

Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.

[Carol]

What an amazing adventure!!!
Murder Through an Open Door is a well
penned book that will keep the reader’s
attention from the beginning right up to
the final word.
Pippin Lane Hawthorne and her brother
Grey inherited the Sea Captain’s Inn in
Devils Cove, North Carolina. Pippin runs
the Inn while Grey has a woodworking
shop. They are living under the Lane family
curse: the women in the family will die in
childbirth and the men will die at sea.
They are trying to discover how to break
the curse.
An exciting blend of Irish mythology,
history of the area, bibliomancy, secret
rooms, murder plus an interesting and
intriguing cast of characters across all ages
and a disabled rescue dog.
I felt like I was right there from the author’s
vivid description throughout the book.
This is book # 3 in the Book Magic Mysteries
series. It can be read as a stand-alone
as the author presents enough backstory
along with the present.
I volunteered to read Murder Through an
Open Door. Thanks to the Cozy Mystery Review
Crew for the opportunity. My opinion is voluntary
and my own.

[Christine]

I honestly can’t imagine how much work goes into writing a book. I follow a lot of authors online and one thing many of them discuss is how they’ll go down the research rabbit hole just to get something exactly right and that they’ll also put a lot of what they’ve learned about that point into their drafts, just to have their editors say, “this is too much, take some of it out.” I write this to say that the level of detail in Murder Through An Open Door without being overwhelming is just fantastic. I’m curious how much Melissa’s editor made her cut it back.

Now for my thoughts on the story itself - we have a lot of characters to follow here with their own threads connected to treasure and curses. Melissa has moved things forward as far as Pippin and Grey trying to end the curse on their family and she doesn’t do it in a way that feels like she’s dragging it out. Everything is important. I can feel her laying the ground work for the next book (or books) in the series, even if I can’t see it. There isn’t a character in Devil’s Cove I don’t find interesting and they make for a very enjoyable read. Can’t wait for the next one!

[Tracy Hartman]

Murder Through An Open Door
Melissa Bourbon
1/31/2022
Publish Date: 2/1/2022
~ 322 pp.
A Book Magic Mystery (#4)


Pippin and Grey lead us back to Devil’s Cove for more of the Lane family’s curse. The book magic comes into play through Bibliomancy. Passages in books come to Pippin cryptically. That alone is enough of a draw-in for me, but then… murder!
Bourbon crafts novels and characters who feel like old friends. She can pick you up from your chair, sofa, or bed and she gently places you IN Devil’s Cove. She’s truly gifted and I loved every moment of this book! Everything is fully fleshed out and she is a very descriptive and detailed writer. My emotions follow the characters we root for in her books. That’s the sign of an outstanding writer. She paints the picture so well that we as readers become invested from the get-go.
Without needing to think about it, 5:5 stars with ease!
Now I’m left chomping at the bits for the next book in this series!

[Susan]

This series just keeps getting better. It has it all: Location (an island in the Outer Banks), well-developed characters from children to seniors who exhibit personal growth and dimension, a deadly Irish curse dating back to first century Irish mythology, treasure hunters willing to kill to collect a cache of valuables and book magic in the form of bibliomancy. While the search to find a way to break the deadly family curse is an ongoing theme throughout the series, each book has a current mystery solved. In this one, the treatment of dementia as well as the changing relationships between Pippin and Grey and those of Pippin with the members of the McAdams family members is adept.
Being of Irish descent, at least part of me believes in the magic, blessings, and curses of the Irish. Irish mythology is fascinating, and the author has done an outstanding job of researching Irish mythology especially the Tuatha de Danann Gaelic deities in the pre-Christian world of Ireland.
In addition, the use of the quotes from the books in the victim’s possession as well as those collected by Pippin and Grey’s father provide intriguing clues to both the murder being solved in Death Through An Open Door and the ongoing search for a way to break the age-old curse.
The mystery becomes increasingly complex as we learn more about the Oregon branch of the Lane family tree and the Tuatha Dé Danann. New characters introduced in this volume as well those carried forward are multi-dimensional and then there is the mysterious Hugh. A well-crafted mystery that leaves the reader longing for the next installment in the series. Cannot wait to see what happens next.
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

[Dianne]

In Murder Through an Open Door, twins Pippin and Grey Lane Hawthorne are trying to figure out how to put an end to a two-thousand-year-old family curse. Pippin has taken on the mantel from her father to find out who is behind the curse and what needs to be done to remove it.

The story takes place on Devil’s Cove, an island situated on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Pippin is the manager and co-owner of Sea Captain’s Inn on the island. When a guest at the Inn turns up dead in the local bookshop, Pippin’s curiosity is aroused as to the purpose behind the mysterious visit and whether the victim showing up in Devil’s Cove is somehow connected to the Lane family curse. Pippin uses her bibliomancy gift to pursue more information about the curse and what it would take to stop it, along with whether the victim’s death was an accident.

Melissa Bourbon has penned an entertaining third installment in The Book Magic Mysteries. Before the story begins, the author includes a poem that gives readers a hint of what is to come. Epigraphs at the beginning of the prologue and each chapter foreshadow upcoming events. The prologue provides helpful background information to the main story. The creative use of figurative language gives readers a wonderful sensory experience. This delightful mystery includes internal conflicts, relationship challenges, supportive friendships, Irish mythology, family surname history, communicating with a deaf dog via sign language, messages from books via bibliomancy, tarot card readings, ancient treasures, and secretive behaviors.

Murder Through an Open Door can be read as a stand-alone. However, anyone who wants to know more about the previous adventures of these memorable characters and a curse involving figures in Irish mythology will want to read the series. The book could use better proofreading, but it does not distract from an enjoyable reading experience. Bourbon ends the story with a great hook that piques readers' interest in the upcoming fourth book, entitled Murder and an Irish Curse.

[Seraphia Bunny]

Murder Through An Open Door is book three in Melissa Bourbon’s Magic Book Mystery series. Pippin and her family are plagued by a curse that their father died trying to break. He was on the verge of discovering something when his life was stolen away. Now, it is up to Pippin and her brother Grey to finish what he started. When a man comes to Devil’s Cove and winds up dead in her friend Jamie’s bookstore it begs the questions – what happened? Who did it and why?
Murder Through An Open Door is the first book that I have read in this series. By the time I finished the first chapter I knew I’d have trouble putting this book down. Excited chills literally climbed up my spine and I set to work devouring this book.
The curse, Pippin’s bibliomancy, the developing romance, hope, and the murder mystery in this novel make this book a true page-turner of a novel. I only wish that I had read this series from the beginning. Piece by piece the puzzle is coming together. The characters show that you just have to know the right questions to ask and be willing to listen to the answers that are given. The murder mystery and the mystery of the curse itself kept me page-turning to learn what was going to happen next.
The characters are well-written and the relationships are well developed overall as well. I love that it feels like you could go to this small town and literally meet these characters. There is so much to enjoy in this book. If you’ve read the previous books in this series then you’re not going to want to miss out on this novel.
I’m rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series and seeing where the author takes Pippin and Grey in their quest to break the curse.

[Kara Marks]

This is listed as the 3rd book in the series some places and other places as the 4th book; best I can tell, that’s because there’s a prequel. This is the first book I’ve read in this series and it stands alone well, but I do think I need to go back and read the previous books in order to have a deeper understanding. To me, the curse and some of the mythology are a little confusing, but fascinating. The author has obviously done a great deal of research. The main characters are great; there are some mysteries to solve in this book that are fully solved, but there’s a long story arc about the curse throughout all the books, so while progress is made in solving that mystery, but it’s not fully solved yet. I’m fully immersed in the story in a way I didn’t think I would be. I’ve never heard of bibliomancy until this series and thought I might find it off-putting, but I don’t find it that way at all. I love books so much and really like the thought of being able to open a book, read a portion and be able to receive information or a clue. Just sensing that a book is important by touching it is very intriguing. I can thoroughly recommend this book; I was provided an arc, but these opinions are my own.

[Darla Taylor]

Pippin Lane Hawthorne and her twin brother, Grey, along with some people they've come to trust, are trying to solve and break a family curse. They've moved to Devil's Cove on the North Carolina Outer Banks where Pippin runs a bed and breakfast from their parents' old house. Pippin uses bibliomancy and specific books in her search for clues. When she receives an old copy of The Secret Garden that was her mom's she gets a clue that may provide answers, but then she finds a dead man who was probably murdered. This is another person connected to her family. Can she find the answers she needs?

I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest, unbiased review. I've really enjoyed this series and this book is no exception. It was well-written with well-rounded characters and a well-thought-out plot. This was an enchanting story about love, family, friendships, and relationships that's an excellent read. I was drawn in and kept hooked from beginning to end. The mystery will definitely keep you on your toes and guessing throughout. I'm looking forward to the next book. I highly recommend both book and series which I suggest you read in order. While the mystery itself will stand alone, you need to read the previous books to truly follow Pippin and Grey's path to where they are.

[Tarri]

I have been waiting impatiently for this installment of Melissa Bourbon's mystery + murder series. It was worth the wait. Pippen and her brother Grey are desperately trying to solve the mystery and break the centuries old curse on their family in which the women die in childbirth and the men die in the sea. With the help of the McAdams family and their knowledge of books and all things ancient, Pippen's gift of Bibliomancy, and the clues left behind by Pippen's and Grey's father and his team of investigators, the mystery is getting clearer.

As the clues pile up, so does the danger. With new enemies being introduced and old enemies showing who they are, the storyline is tighter than ever. This book is one I couldn't put down and all my fingers are crossed because I want a happily ever after for Pippen and Jamie (hey I'm a romantic), for Grey, and for the West Coast cousins.

Is it too early to say I can't wait for the next book?

#MurderThroughAnOpenDoor #MelissaBourbon #LakeHousePress #mystery #bibliomancy #curse #ABookMagicMystery

[Kelly]

This is the first book that I have read in this series and I was drawn in by the characters and setting. I love the Sea Captain's Inn, Devil's Brew and The Open Door Bookshop. The premise of the series is unique and intriguing. There were many suspects in the crime and Pippin, the main character, didn't know who to trust. I felt like I was right there with her as she tried to figure out who was trustworthy and who was lying to her and why. I also learned a lot about Irish history and mythology while reading this book, which was fascinating. Although I haven't read the other books in the series, I did not feel lost in the story but I do plan to go back and read the other books in the series because I liked it so much.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through a Cozy Mystery Review Crew drawing. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Julia David]

This is a good mystery. Pippen and Grey have a curse hanging over them. Pippen will not be able to marry and have a family. Grey will be lost to the sea. Can they break this old curse? So many people seem to know about the curse, but who can they trust? When Pippen discovers the dead body of a man who was said to have been helping her father, she knows she must find the truth behind his death. The sheriff seems to think he died of natural causes. Did he? Pippen has a certain someone that she would like to have a life with, but can she marry him and then die in childbirth? Leave him alone with children? That seems to be the fate of the people in her family. Can they break the curse?

[Karen Rhoades]

Pippin is on edge. If she and her brother, Grey, can’t solve the family curse, they risk an untimely death, as both their parents and many ancestors have perished. Women have died in childbirth. Men have been lost at sea. Also embroiled in the mystery are those who will stop at nothing to get what they think Pippin and Grey possess.

Jamie, owner of the Open Door Bookstore, has been instrumental in helping Pippin and Grey research and unravel the mystery surrounding the family curse. Pippin is beginning to realize that Jamie has feelings for her. Pippin is interested in Jamie, too, but she is hesitant. How can she bring the risk of the family curse to the relationship?

Misleading circumstances. People not who they say they are. Who is telling the truth, or not? Who can be trusted? And then, there’s the matter of a guest from The Sea Captain’s Inn being found dead!

[Jeanne]

Murder Through an Open Door is the third book in the Book Magic Mystery series by Melissa Bourbon.

Pippin continues to try to break the family curse while running her B&B. A man who wanted to speak to her turns up dead and Pippin, Grey, and their friends need to figure out if he was a friend or foe.

I really enjoyed this book. The crime is complex because they don’t know if it is an isolated crime or related to the much bigger mystery related to the family curse. The characters are interesting and the author has done her research regarding the Irish lore.

I received a review copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Amanda Wilcox]

This book totally got me right from the beginning and kept me totally entertained until the end. The mystery is full of surprises. I love how the author makes you like and relate to the characters. And totally want to meet them in real life too. This is the third in the series and I've started here so I can't wait to go back to the beginning and hope for more to come too. This book is a definite recommend for cozy mystery fans especially those that like a touch of paranormal, romance, and literary references.

[Melanie Richardson]

The Saga of the descendants of Morgan and Titus continue to enthrall. Melissa Bourbon has created a rich world of characters struggling to find answers and even more importantly, survive. As Pippin and Grey continue to deal with old issues of abandonment and danger, the community they have found in Devil’s Cove becomes a team for the twins.
While murder lurks in these pages, the mystery of Gods emerges, leaving the reader and characters with hope.
Beyond the richness of this tale is the strong weaving of Pippin’s inner experience and the tenacity it takes to let love in.

[Alicia Kozak]

I'm continually impressed with the author's ability to weave together so many elements and details to give life to the Lane family curse. I really enjoy the incorporation of the Celtic mythology and I have to wonder if the characters might get to meet some of the gods face-to-face in future books. The premise and characters are unique, their world is rich and full of wonder. My only "complaint" is that I'm so anxious to find out more and how the curse will be resolved.
These books are best read in order, as each introduces new characters and clues about the curse that lead into the next book.

[Liz Caldwell]

The Lane family has been cursed for hundreds of years. The women die in childbirth, the men are taken by the sea. Pippin Lane Hawthorne and her twin Grey are determined to break the curse that their father worked so hard to unravel before he, too, was lost at sea. But in order to find the answers she needs, Pippin needs to figure out who she can trust. When a guest at her inn, with a connection to her father, is found dead at the bookstore, that question gets even more complicated.
This is the third book in the Book Magic Mysteries. While it can be read as a stand-alone, I’ll admit that for the first couple of chapters I felt a bit lost. In fairness, the author did a good job of getting me caught up quickly. The characters, some remarkably quirky, are well developed and complex. The setting and community are well drawn. There is a treasure trove of Irish mythology!
This is a very interesting read, I found myself taking more time with it than I usually do. And I was left wanting more answers than I got. But I did enjoy it!

[Laura]

Pippin and her twin brother, Grey, are living under the threat of a generations old curse.
Their mother died in childbirth and their father disappeared when they were young. He had been trying to find a way to break the curse and save his children. Now he, too, is dead. The path to breaking the curse falls to the twins, with help from a few close friends.
The trouble is, who is really a friend and who has an ulterior motive?
While their father made progress, he did not leave any clear clues or idea of his process.

Pippin runs a bed and breakfast. Are her guests really there for vacations or are one or more of them checked in to try and find a treasure? Once again, it comes down to who can be trusted and who is a good actor. Much of the book delves into mythology and ancient history.
You may follow it best if you have read the previous books in the series, but by itself it is a very good mystery.

I enjoyed the settings as well as the mystery. The characters are fascinating.

[Foxyj]

This book was wonderful. I couldn’t put it down. Melissa Bourbon did not disappoint. I am eagerly waiting to get my hands on hard copies of the previous books in the series but know that I was fine to read this one without the previous ones. The author does a great job with the development of the characters. She also crafted the book to be a page turner. I mean who doesn’t enjoy a page turner. I would highly suggest grabbing this book for your weekend read as soon as possible!

[Sandy]

Set on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, this book has everything- an ancient family curse, Irish folklore, treasure hunters and a murder. It’s fitting that Pippin and Grey are named after characters from The Lord of the Rings because this series appeals as much to the fantasy reader in me as to the mystery reader. Do read this series in order because, although each murder mystery is self contained, the ongoing story of Pippin and Grey’s family and their curse continues from book to book.

[Beth Medrano]

What an exciting adventure. The twists and turns kept me guessing as to who was guilty. I can’t wait to read the next book to see how the story continues to play out. I liked how they keep getting clues to help figure out the curse. I was happy to see Pippin start to trust her feelings.

[Karin]

If you don’t have the whole story, how do you know what to do??? I enjoyed the story and recommend the book.

[Andrea]

Pippin meets a wild cast of characters in her effort to break the curse. The murder, like the previous books, is related to the treasure hunt and her ancestry. We have no clue how it is all related and so Pippin has to do more bibliomancy and research to discover what is going on. This book was a good step forward in the overall story of the Lane family. It will be hard to wait on the next book to see what happens next.

[Kathleen]

This is the first of the series that I have read but I own the other two. I was offered a copy of the book and could not pass up the opportunity to read it. The premise of breaking a 2ooo year old curse was intriguing.

I found the start slow because I knew none of the characters. The bibliomancy aspect was fascinating. Pippin and Grey are twins named after characters in Tolkien’s the Hobbit series. They believe they are cursed from a legacy 2000 years ago.

They are trying to reverse/cancel the curse so members of their family will not die in childbirth.
There is also a murder at the inn. Lots of twists and turns and plenty of information.

Ms. Bourbon writes well, plots terrifically, and delivers an excellent mystery.

I received a copy of this book and am not required to leave a positive review.

[Robyn]

I really enjoyed this one :)! I loved the character development…… if you are a book lover who enjoys magic, books, characters with depth- this book is for you! I am really looking forward to the next one! Thank you Melissa, for writing it :)!

I was graciously given a copy of this book by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own :)

[Bonnie]

Murder through the Open Door is the latest book in the Book Magic series. Another murder brings more clues to Pippin and Grey as they try to solve the curse. Interesting new characters along with the ones that we have come to love are back to solve the mystery. Pippin is learning more about her magic and a new family member comes to help. Will the next book answer all the questions? The story proves that books are magic!

[Tamye Whitener]

This story will keep you guessing!

With each book in this series the cast of characters grows. Some worm their way into your heart while others keep you guessing as to whether they are friend or for. It definitely keeps you on your toes.

Each book solves a murder, but there is an overall arc to the series which is revealed more with each book. For this reason, I strongly suggest you read the books in sequence.

My favorite character is Hattie Juniper Pickle.