Author: Emmie Lyn
Genre: Mystery
Digital Book
ASIN #: B0BYRKGF6Z
Whiskered Mysteries
185 Pages
$3.99 Amazon
March 21, 2023
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The launching of a new bakery and fundraiser in town should be cause for celebration, not a murder investigation.
Just when Nikki Knight thinks things might be getting back to normal in Frog Hollow, her friend Carla's business manager is found dead at the scene of her new, year-round Christmas bakery.
When Dale, the gourmet grocer next door, suggests that the cookie fundraiser be held at his place, Nikki and the Accidental Ghost Detective team suspect foul play.
But all signs are pointing to Carla and some strange magical happenings. Can Dash and Nikki sniff out this case before the cookie crumbles?
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Nikki Knight inherited her large B&B from her late Aunt Audrey -- who's still around as a ghost, guiding her through messy situations. But today, Nikki, Audrey, her cook and friend Birdie, and of course, her talking dog Dash and not-talking dog Honey are all going to their friend Carla's new opening of The Gingerbread House, a year-round Christmas bakery. They're also bringing along boxes of cookies for her to sell for an animal shelter fundraiser. But when they arrive, Nikki finds cookie crumbs and Dash finds a dead body -- that of Carla's business manager Gail, stuffed in one of the display cases. Now Detective Paine has another murder on her hands, and she isn't happy to find Nikki there.
But Nikki and her Ghost Detective Agency have ideas of their own. They want to find the killer and clear Carla's name since Detective Paine thinks Carla might be the main suspect. When Nikki's best friend Lacey shows up along with one of her beauty salon customers, Pearl, Nikki finds that Pearl can understand Dash, too. How? What she soon learns is that Pearl is a witch -- although a bit of a strange one -- and Nikki doesn't know what to make of it. Will Pearl be a help or a hindrance? How will she prove Carla 's innocence when things are pointing to her? And will she find the murderer before they have a chance to kill again?...
This is the fourth book in the series and I absolutely love it. Nikki is an interesting character. She's managed to run a successful business, is intelligent and attractive, and keeps secrets well. I do also love the fact that her love interest, Luc, is a mystery writer and doesn't keep telling her to 'stay out of' the investigation and finding clues. He trusts her to do the right thing, and that's the biggest plus in this book (also, she might actually be giving him ideas for new mysteries, but hey--).
When she starts investigating, she relies on her trusty Dachshund Dash (Prince Dash to you) to help her with discovering clues, and his nose never disappoints. He can smell things she can't, and therefore figure out what's really going on around them. What he's really searching for is sausage, but that's neither here nor there!
Now with Pearl as the newest member of the Ghost Agency, things are changing, and Nikki likes the older woman, who brings her own twist on things. I knew who the murderer was halfway through the book, but as I've said ad nauseum, I read a lot of mysteries. When Nikki discovers the killer, she's finally put her clues together but it just might be too late (we hope not). The clues are there throughout the story, you just have to look for them.
One thing this has given me is the fact that I would like to visit quirky Frog Hollow and stay at the B&B and even meet Audrey in all her shimmery glory. This series is one of the most enjoyable I read, and I look forward to many more. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author and BookSprout, but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Emmie Lyn's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/l/emmie-lyn/
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