Reviews

Murder in Devil's Cove by Melissa Bourbon

theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition

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4.0

Murder in Devil’s Cove by Melissa Bourbon is the debut of A Magic Book Mystery series. I thought the story was well-written and absorbing. I liked the characters, especially the elder Mr. McAdams. The author took the time to establish the main characters and well as the town. I enjoyed the descriptions of Devil’s Cove and the house the twins inherited. It was fun following Pippin as she explored the town and made friends. The mysteries were fascinating. Two murders that occur two decades apart. The second half of the book had me quickly flipping the pages of my ereader. The suspense increased as we got closer to the end and the identity of the killer. I could not wait to see if I had guessed correctly (I love solving whodunits). The paranormal aspect was interesting. Pippin discovers her special ability and must figure out how to use it. Magic and books are a wonderful combination (bibliomancy). I look forward to learning more about the families magic and the lore. I thought the author beautifully intertwined magic and mystery. The one thing I did not enjoy was the foul language. Murder in Devil’s Cove is an intriguing tale with forbidden books, a departed dad, family folklore, mysterious magic, renovation revelations, and one bewildered bibliomancer.

katreader's review against another edition

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4.0

MURDER IN DEVIL'S COVE by Melissa Bourbon
The First Book Magic Mystery

After twenty years Pippin Hawthorne and her brother, Grey, have returned to Devil's Cove. Spirited away by their grandmother after their mother died and their father apparently walked out of their lives, the siblings have returned to reclaim their childhood home. Abandoned, the property needs a lot of work in order to be transformed into an inn, including removing their father's old boat. When they inspect the craft, however, they find a skeleton the hatch. Perhaps their father didn't walk out on them, after all. Pippin starts to uncover the truth about her family including a curse and her special ability, that of a bibliomancer!

A book with bibliomancers! How exciting for a voracious reader and lover of books like me. So imagine my surprise when I started to read and discovered that Cassie hated books, wouldn't have anything to do with them, and forbade her children to read them! Then I learn Pippin has difficulty reading and isn't a reader. Being a reader from a family of readers, I found it hard to understand their aversion to books. Obviously, they each had their reasons, Cassie the "gift"/curse and Pippin, having reading discouraged as a child, but it's shocking for me.

I found the first Book Magic Mystery to be totally captivating. There's a multipronged mystery and a family curse wrapped in a literary form of divination. More than that, it's a story of acceptance, coming to terms with the past, and being able to develop and adjust. It's about facing fears; fears of abandonment and of not being good enough. It's about growing up and reaching for your dreams.

I love the idea of a family curse and how two generations are looking for a way to understand and end it. The characters are unique and well developed. I absolutely love Hattie Juniper Pickle, a woman as flamboyant as her name! I also respect Pippin. Although not a reader, she is encouraged to become one, despite the difficulty. I also love the sweet pup and Pippin's efforts to make her a part of her family.

Blending a family curse and a hint of the paranormal with an intriguing mystery MURDER IN DEVIL'S COVE is a fantastic start to a new series. The book has piqued my interest and I can't wait to discover more about the Lane family, its curse, and if there is a way to end it!

FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me an e-copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.

git_r_read's review against another edition

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5.0

I have been a fan of Melissa Bourbon/Winnie Archer since finding her Magical Dressmaking Mystery series. She has a light touch with the paranormal aspect in Magical Dressmaking and the Book Magic Mystery. It's not an overwhelming part of the books, just a tinge, like a secondary character.
I like the characters, the setting, the town and the premise. I especially like the house Pippin and her brother inherited, the love she is pouring into it. I think her brother, Gray, is doing his part because he loves his sister. We don't learn much about him yet, but I hope his story is brought forward more in the upcoming books.
The mystery of their father's disappearance has shaped their lives growing up. They thought they'd been abandoned, that leaves a mark on a child. Add in that Pippin has what looks to be dyslexia and you can see why she's a cautious person. I like her. She's discovering her abilities and wants to find the answer to what looks to be a curse on her family.
I really look forward to the rest of the series.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.

caitkom's review against another edition

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4.0

I enjoyed this story, but for some reason it took me quite a while to get through. I think it was a little bit darker than most cozies. Pippin and her twin brother, Grey have returned to Devil's Cove to take over their grandparents house. Devil's Cove is where they lost their mother, and their father disappeared 20 years ago. While fixing up the old house, they make a grisly discovery. Pippin's mom had always discouraged Pippin from books. They weren't allowed in the home, despite her father being a voracious reader, and her mother would even make her cross the street as to avoid the library and local book store. Pippin learns a lot about herself when she returns to Devil's Cove, including that she is a Bibliomancer. She will use her gift to solve the mystery around her father's disappearance.

meezcarrie's review against another edition

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4.0

I am so intrigued by this series! By the bibliomancy angle, by the way this book was written by one author with a focus on the East Coast cousin & the next book will be written by the other author and focus on the West Coast cousin & so forth & so on, by the ode to books that graces each chapter beginning and is lovingly woven through the whole story. By Pippin herself and her family legacy. By Jamie McAdams and possible connections maybe hinted at but that still aren’t clear between him and his grandfather and Pippin’s family gift. (Or maybe that’s my readerly mind working overtime – either way, I am intrigued.) By the subtle stirrings of romance that don’t overpower the story but appeal to the swoonlover in me nonetheless. By the old house with its secrets. And by what’s yet to come.

Murder at Devil’s Cove is a fascinating read in every way, and the author does a brilliant job of setting up the plot, the mysteries, and the discoveries. The friendships between Daisy, Ruby and Pippin – both old and new – are fun & heartwarming, and they add a touch or two of humor to lighten the tone when needed. Jamie, his grandfather, his bookstore, and his daughters were also a highlight for me, and I’m super curious to see how their relationship with Pippin & her family plays out in future books. (for instance, why does Pippin feel so oddly ‘at home’ in this particular bookshop???? I must know!) I could keep going on about how much this story captivated me – the atmosphere, the family gift, the characters, the setting – but I’m starting to repeat myself again lol.

Bottom Line: This book had me at ‘book magic’ and wrapped me up in its unique plot from start to finish! Readers will be immediately drawn to Pippin and her mystery-filled family history … and to watching Pippin begin to unearth the secrets that have swirled through Devil’s Cove – and her family line – long enough. I really enjoyed the set-up, the plot, the characters and the setting; they all added intriguing layers to the story, although there was perhaps a bit too much descriptive narrative from time to time. Murder in Devil’s Cove toes the line between a cozy and traditional mystery, but it’s a mix that works well. I’m looking forward to the rest of this series!

Reviewer’s Note: Readers may want to be aware that there is some scattered cursing and profanity in this novel.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower

karen_the_baroness's review against another edition

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5.0

Murder in Devil's Cove by Melissa Bourbon has the Hawthorne twins coming back home to fix up their parent's old home.

Will Pippin figure out who killed their father?


Pippin Lane Hawthorne


Pippin Lane Hawthorne and her twin brother Grey are back in their early childhood home. She hopes to turn their family beach home into a Bed and Breakfast, but first, she needs her twin brother and some other people to fix up the house so it can be livable again. It's been twenty years since the twins have been in Devil's Cove, North Carolina, but they feel like they are finally home. Pippin is learning a lot about their family and remembering a lot as well. I love the twins a lot, especially their banter back and forth between the two of them. These two are great characters. Pippin is honestly my favorite between the two of them, and Grey is great as well. I'm hoping these two can break their family's curse.

The Mystery


Twenty-three years ago, Cassie, the twins' mom, died in childbirth. Twenty years ago, the Hawthorne twins' dad disappeared from their lives. Now everyone in town was saying Leo Hawthorne wouldn't abandon the twins since he loved them a lot and was trying to figure out how to break the Lane family curse. Pippin finds her dad's body on his boat after all these years; however, the authorities don't have much to go on since it's a cold case. Pippin isn't deterred and will find a way to solve her dad's murder. I figured out some things to do with the crime that Pippin is trying to solve, like who did it but not the why. I'm still trying to figure out the why even now. What is so important about it?
Five Stars

Murder in Devil's Cove by Melissa Bourbon has started a fabulous book series about book magic, and I can't wait to read the third book in this series eventually. I feel so bad for Pippin and Grey about how they found their father's body and how Pippin found the killer. Ms. Bourbon does a fantastic job at doling out the clues, figuring out when to unveil the murderer and their motive, and so many other things. I am in love with this series.

So with that proclamation, I am giving Murder in Devil's Cove by Melissa Bourbon five stars and a huge recommendation from me to read this book. I read the first three books out of order, but that is fine! However, not reading them in order didn't spoil the other books' plots.

Don't forget to take a look at the recipes in the back. They are Ruby's Ginger Cookies and Ruby's Gluten Free Berry Scones.


Book Magic Mystery Series


The Secret on Rum Runner's Lane by Melissa Bourbon Murder in Devil's Cove by Melissa Bourbon Murder at Sea Captain's Inn by Melissa Bourbon Murder Through an Open Door by Melissa Bourbon Murder and an Irish Curse by Melissa Bourbon


Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Murder in Devil's Cove by Melissa Bourbon.

Until the next time,

Karen Signature

Happy Reading!

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

valeris29's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 
Oh my goodness! This book had been on by tbr pile since it came out and now I know what a mistake that had been! A rich and engrossing story weaving together Pippen’s current day journey with the tragic cursed existence of her ancestors. Throw in the twenty year old murder of her father...is it curse related or something all together different? This book is a real page turner and happily there are several more for me to spend a cold snowy weekend curled up with! 

angie_spumoni's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced

3.0

cherrysparkles's review against another edition

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4.0

A page turner

Slow to start but it’s worth the couple of chapters it takes for things to make sense and the story to pick up the pace. Will absolutely read more in this series

moondance120's review against another edition

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5.0

Cassandra Lane Hawthorne stood on the main fishing pier in Devil's Cove staring out at the harbor, grasping the pendant she wore around her neck.

This is the first book in the Book Magic series. The series will alternate between [a:Melissa Bourbon|5423119|Melissa Bourbon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1582690100p2/5423119.jpg]and [a:Wendy Lyn Watson|2928672|Wendy Lyn Watson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1371213061p2/2928672.jpg]. The first book introduces us to Pippin and Grey Hawthorne who have returned to their childhood home in Devil's Cove after being away for 20 years.

The Lane women have the gift/curse of bibliomancy. They also are destined to die in childbirth and lose their husbands to the sea. Pippin has never been a reader because of the bibliomancy although she really didn't know much about it until her cousin Cora spilled family secrets.

I loved the setting of Devil's Cove! I'm embarrassed to admit that as a native of North Carolina that I have never been to the Outer Banks. I really must remedy that. The town is filled with interesting and quirky characters that are a delight to read. Of course, most people know about Cassandra's "gift" and are anxious to meet Pippin and Grey.

The literary mentions in the book made me so happy. I am a long time LOTR nerd and felt right at home. Other little things like Ms. Havisham, the bookstore cat, made me smile. The bookstore's owner, Jamie, made me smile as well.

I love the side story of Pippin trying to rescue the skinny, deaf dog that hangs out around the house. I know the author is a huge animal lover and I enjoy how that was woven into the storyline.

The house that will become Sea Captain's Inn sounds amazing! I wanted to walk in and explore every inch of it. I can't wait for the next book when we will be able to learn more about this stately home.

The two murders that occur twenty years apart are very well done and left me guessing until more clues were revealed. Pippin was smart with her sleuthing and did not purposely put herself in danger. She is a strong woman that thinks quickly on her feet.

I love, love, love Hattie Juniper Pickle. I've very much afraid that given free rein I could become Hattie. Except for the extra sweet tea. Lol!

This was an excellent book that I really enjoyed reading. I have the second book on preorder and it can't get here soon enough.

Well done, [a:Melissa Bourbon|5423119|Melissa Bourbon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1582690100p2/5423119.jpg]. Well done.