A Crystals & CuriosiTEAS Mystery Book 3
Digital Book (Audiobook Available)
Hardcover; Digital Book
ISBN #: 1496735226
Kensington Cozies
288 Pages
(Price TBA) $12.99 Amazon
March 25, 2025
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With Halloween around the corner, Shay Myers is brewing witchy seasonal sips at Crystals & CuriosiTEAS -- while simultaneously steaming over pub owner Liam Madigan's decision to take anybody but her to the town/s Monster Mash dance. Her romantic premonitions have missed the mark since she settled into coastal Bray Harbor, opening the door to questions about whether she's really the gifted seer her late mother imagined. It's why she second guesses the dark vision in her tea leaves about a local citizen and their obsession with genealogy, Irish folklore, and magic.
But when bad omens come true, Shay doesn't have time for self-doubt. A woman's body has been discovered, frozen in a strange pose with an eerie black butterfly on her forehead, leading to suspicions that the victim took a conjuring ritual too far due to limited experience -- or was murdered by someone with too much. As an investigation stirs up a sinister connection to a boardwalk mystic shop, Shay, guided by her knowing dog, Spirit, finds herself tracking down a shady figure from her past, navigating the sudden reappearance of her ex-husband, and chasing down a wickedly perceptive criminal who might finally be her match!
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When Shay Myers began her day, she didn't expect pub owner (and secret crush) Liam Madigan to come running to her for advice on his love life (again). In fact, she's so tired of it she sends him away, but he thinks she's just having a bad day and will get over it. But it's not the day that has her bothered. It's the visions she's been having. And when a local citizen steps in for a tea reading, Shay can't believe what she sees -- or hears. The woman thinks they might be related, even though Shay tells her it's not really possible. But the woman persists, and shows Shay an object she found among her mother's possessions. Not able to completely convince her, Shay sends her off, and then worries about what she's seen in the tea leaves. Asking the help of Liam's wise Irish Gram, she fears the worst.
But then her ex-husband and his new wife appear in town, telling her they've bought a local winery that was for sale. As if things couldn't get worse, she finds they do. A friend-turned-enemy has opened a rival shop, and someone else shows up, who's willing to do her harm. Now, with visions that only spell possible doom, how can she find the truth? Then someone is murdered nearby, and she's not sure if even Gram can help her with this one...
This is the third entry in this series, and I do believe it is the best one yet. While I have loved this author's other series as well, I am tending to love this one even more. I am so over tales of witches, vampires, and werewolves; but a series about a seer is indeed unique, and the story line behind all this makes it believable as well.
Shay didn't always know she was one; she discovered it after her return to Bray Harbor when her marriage and life fell apart. In this book she is beginning to understand more, not only about herself, but also having ideas, with the help of Liam, of what happened to her before (I cannot say more as it will give away too much of the book). Suffice it to say, it gives an opening for future books, and also gives us a glimpse of Shay's past, not counting her Irish heritage.
Finding a killer isn't going to be easy, especially once she learns her nemesis has arrived in town, and the fact that her now-enemy might be involved. It's good she has Spirit to protect her, she needs him more than ever. There is plenty going on here, not only with Halloween, but with Shay trying to keep her business open, trying to figure out what is going on with her ex, and, of course, trying to find a killer.
The ending is surprising, which is how it should be; the climax is stirring, but nevertheless a tad sad. Yet there is more to come, and I eagerly await the next in the series. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Lauren Elliott's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/e/lauren-elliott/
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