Author: Daryl Wood Gerber
Genre: Mystery/Fantasy
Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781496744937
Kensington Cozies
304 Pages
$17.95; $9.99 Amazon
April 23, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Courtney is delighted when her tiny friend Fiona returns from the fairy realm, appearing at the base of a Cypress tree. When her Ragdoll cat, Pixie, emerges from her own portal -- aka the cat door -- the three set off for a busy day. Busier than usual, since Courtney has rented a small plot of land at the Flower Farm, where she hopes to grow her own supplies for her fairy-garden business. Plus, the annual Summer Blooms Festival is coming up, and Courtney has booked a booth...
But the murder of Courtney's friend, Genevieve, casts a pall over the festival. Ever since Genevieve sold her floral business, she'd been building a career as an influencer. She was perennially opinionated -- but in her new role she'd become surprisingly vicious, dissing local entrepreneurs with nasty posts and unwarranted bad reviews. That's landed a couple of Courtney's other friends on the suspect list -- including Flower Farm owner Daphne Flores. And when a second victim is discovered, seeds of doubt about Daphne's innocence sprout in Courtney's mind. With only a gem of a clue, Courtney will have to overturn every rock to get the dirt on the real killer...
✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽
Courtney lives in Carmel-by-the-Sea in California, and owns Open Your Imagination, a shop that allows people to make their own fairy gardens. It helps that she has her own personal fairy, Fiona. Fiona has recently returned from the fairy realm, and Courtney is happy to have her back. Although not everyone can see -- nor believes in -- fairies, Courtney and others don't really care.
While hosting a group that are there to make their own little gardens, one of the women, Genevieve, learns that she is not invited to participate in the Summer Blooms Festival, and it rankles her. She proceeds to insult other guests, and since she is known as an influencer, uses her online forum to diss other local businesses, as well. As imagined, this doesn't sit well with people. Although it is surprising when Genevieve is found dead, and Daphne Flores, one of the women whose business she insulted, is found standing over her.
When another person is found murdered, the police are honing in on Daphne. Courtney has trouble believing her friend is a killer, but to be fair, she's not close with the woman and doesn't know all that much about her. But Courtney is nothing if not persistent, and she continues to ask questions and look for clues that might point her to a killer -- a killer who might already be aware that Courtney could be dangerous if left alive...
This is the fifth book in the series and I must say that I have found them all delightful. While I will not say whether I believe in such things as fairies or not, I will also say that I am positive that some people have no problem believing. Which is why this book is so delightful (yes, I said it again). Just like the title of her shop, it allows you to open your imagination and try to think what it would be like if there were many of them floating around us.
While, of course, the mystery takes first place as it should, we have a secondary tale in which Fiona's sister enters the human world to be mentored by her elder sister and other fairies that reside there. We learn that even in the fairy realm there is sibling rivalry and arguments, but there is also fun and enjoyment. It is a pleasure to share in these moments with the fairies.
But back to the mystery -- Courtney has no issues with asking people where they were on the nights of the murders, even though the police tell her to stay out of the investigation. There are mixed signals, with the lead detective also telling her to keep her ears and eyes open and report anything she learns. Hmm. You can't have it both ways, sir. So Courtney does what she does best, and gathers information any way she can (although she doesn't do anything illegal, which is good). With each piece of data gathered she is eventually able to dismiss people from the suspect list, leaving her with only three of them; and figuring out which one it is could put her life in danger.
While I knew the murderer long before Courtney did (Again, I read a lot of mysteries) I did enjoy watching her figure it out. Alas, it was nearly too late, but Courtney can think on her feet and she had no problem putting things in motion ahead of time. In the end, it all comes together very nicely, and we are given a glimpse of what might be to come. Highly recommended.
I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Daryl Wood Gerber's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/g/daryl-wood-gerber/
No comments:
Post a Comment