Petals and A Poison (The Accidental Ghost Detective Book 6)

Author:    Emmie Lyn

Genre:     Mystery/Paranormal

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0CT7NFGD6

The Cozy Mystery Cafe (Whiskered Mysteries)

176 Pages

$4.99 Amazon

January 31, 2024

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Does this award-winning flower garden hide a sinister secret?

After the Frog Hollow Garden Tour announces the winner of this year's contest, all that's left is to enjoy a delicious banquet with friends and neighbors.  But the evening takes a chilling turn when my dog Dash discovers a body near the garden's beautiful pond.

What was meant to be a night of celebration soon blossoms into a true crime scene.  As we try to weed out the culprit, every clue points to my good witchy pal, Pearl, especially when her pet peacock is found nesting in a patch of poisonous plants.

Can Dash and the Accidental Ghost Detective team unearth this garden of secrets and restore tranquility to Frog Hollow before the poison finds its next victim?

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Nikki Knight inherited her aunt Audrey's B&B when the woman was killed.  What she didn't know, however, is that she also inherited the ghost of Audrey, too, along with her quirky attorney friend and cook Birdie.  Not to mention having acquired a talking Dachshund named Dash (for short), her best friend Lacey, and a witch named Pearl whose spells always seem to come out wonky.

When she attends the garden party for Pearl, who has won this year's award for best garden, she doesn't expect to find another body.  Well, technically, Dash found the body.  She just followed him.  Unfortunately, it was the head of the committee, and Nikki has discovered that the woman regretted giving Pearl the award.  When Detective Mallory Paine arrives, she finds that the woman was poisoned, and since it might have been from something in Pearl's garden, she becomes the prime suspect.  But Nikki and her friends refuse to believe that Pearl could kill anyone.

So naturally they start their own investigation to discover a killer -- and if they can stay under the radar while rescuing an angry peacock, they just might stay alive and keep Pearl out of jail...

I must say that I really enjoy this series.  In order to read fantasy, you need to leave your logic at the door.  It's delightful enough that I can willingly step into the world of Nikki Knight and follow along as she (and Dash) sniff out clues to solve a murder.  In fact, without Dash by her side, Nikki might have a harder time than she does.

This time out, she has another problem: her relationship with the mystery writer Luc.  While she's growing fond of him (to say the least) she also wonders if she needs to let him into her world.  Will he stay or run?  What a conundrum to have, right?

Looking at all the clues, she comes to the realization that someone is framing Pearl for the crime.  Is it one of the other gardeners or the new head of committee?  Or someone who was at the party?  As it all heats up, the last clues from from an unexpected source, and we watch while Nikki puts it all together and sets the trap, hoping her fish will bite...

All in all, I loved the stories and the characters, and I can't wait to visit Frog Hollow, Georgia again.  Highly recommended.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Petals-Poison-Accidental-Ghost-Detective-ebook/dp/B0CT7NFGD6/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6260380010

More on Emmie Lyn's Books:      https://www.fantasticfiction.com/l/emmie-lyn/   

Books and a Body (The Accidental Ghost Detective Book 5)

Author:    Emmie Lyn

Genre:     Mystery/Paranormal

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0C92BS71D

Whiskered Mysteries

184 Pages

$4.99 Amazon

June 21, 2023

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Just when I'm prepared for a dull discussion at book club, a collection of old journals written by the town's illustrious historian and author disappear from the Frog Hollow Library.  Everything points to the journals containing secrets that one of the townspeople are willing to kill to keep hidden.

When Dash and I begin our search for the journals we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of a murder scene.

Now, with time in short supply, a clue appears from an unlikely source and points to suspects that place me and the members of the Accidental Ghost Detective Agency in the killer's crosshairs.

Can Dash and I uncover all the clues before we end up as the latest victims in an unsolved murder mystery?

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Nikki Knight inherited her late aunt's B&B when she died -- but her aunt didn't leave.  After getting used to the ghost, she also has a Dachshund that she can communicate with, and he turned out to be quite adept at not only judging people, but helping her solve murders.

She's hoping for a quiet, if dull, night at book club at the library, but it isn't to be.  The donor of some journals written by his father might be in hot water himself, since someone doesn't want the journals read.  When they're stolen before anyone has a chance to think about it, Nikki, Dash, and the rest of the Accidental Ghost Detective Agency is on the case.  

Then a murder occurs, and Nikki is sure it's connected to the journals.  What is in them?  And why wouldn't the man's son read them first to know for sure?  But when the journals are recovered, it's the police who get to read them first.  Could an old boating accident hold the key?  Or was it really an accident at all?...

This is the fifth book in the series and I have read them all.  Even if you don't care for paranormal mysteries this one is pretty darn cute.  I love Nikki, as she's not stupid and doesn't rush headlong into bad situations.  She actually thinks about what she's going to do first.  And her 'support group' of detectives is always available when she needs help.  

When the ending comes and we discover the truth of what is in the journals, and why it was kept hidden for so long, it all comes together nicely, giving us a satisfaction in it all.  Highly recommended.

I was given a copy of this book from Whiskered Mysteries but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Books-Body-Accidental-Ghost-Detective-ebook/dp/B0C92BS71D/ref

Goodreads:       https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5733564884  

More on Emmie Lyn's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/l/emmie-lyn/                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Cookies And A Killer (The Accidental Ghost Detective Book 4)

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.

https://www.amazon.com/Cookies-Killer-Accidental-Ghost-Detective-ebook/dp/B0BYRKGF6Z/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5458126472

More on Emmie Lyn's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/l/emmie-lyn/