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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Closer to 3 than 2, but not a full 3. I love bookstores, and a magical one is even better. The writing was weak in spots - lots of repetition of previously established facts or backstory - but an entertaining enough plot. The characters are interesting, and I appreciate that the author seems aware of history and relevant global events. The author laid out some intricate details in trying to figure out whodunnit, but the reveal was slightly disappointing in that the culprit just spills the whole story in detail in the last few pages which is kind of irritating. Plus, the leap of logic and the author's hope that readers can suspend their disbelief when Violet thinks, "I guess it's up to me to figure out who killed X," was really quite something. But that's what you get in these little cozy mystery type stories. There was enough substance there to intrigue to give the next book in the series a try.
3.5
This was a really good cosy mystery. If you’re after something a little bit magical set in our world then this is the one. Reminded me a lot of good witch.
This was a really good cosy mystery. If you’re after something a little bit magical set in our world then this is the one. Reminded me a lot of good witch.
I really wanted to like this book, and I really didn't like this book. By the end, I felt genuinely sorry for the heroine, and I wanted nothing more than for her to get back in her car, go back to Chicago, and never, ever talk to anyone in her small town again - including, possibly, her own grandmother, the only kin she had left.
The book opens with Violet rush home to visit her dying grandmother, after a self-imposed exile of 12 years. Her grandmother is in perfect health and it quickly becomes apparent that she faked a fatal illness to bring her granddaughter home. CHARMING.
Further, her grandmother, whom she is supposed to be very close to, never mentioned that she has had a boyfriend for the past two years, until, of course, boyfriend ends of dead in her drive way. Grandmother further withholds information from her granddaughter throughout the book. Basically "loving grandmother" is a selfish jerkface.
Then there's the set-up for a romantic triangle that includes Violet's childhood sweetheart. The same sweetheart who encouraged the police to look at her as a suspect in her friend's accidental death. Yep. He's a keeper. She makes it clear she isn't interested in rekindling and he keeps pursuing. CHARMING.
The character, despite having no reason to trust anyone ever again because everyone she's ever loved has either lied to her or died, tells everyone in town her murder investigation progress. The amount of time she spends confiding in people she hardly knows borders on the absurd. Of course, she tells her "very close" grandmother as little as possible.
Seriously, I finished the book feeling a genuine sense of sadness for this character, whose tragic life is played for laughs and who has literally no one she can trust. It's pretty clear that this isn't what the author was going for.
The writing style was also not really my thing, though YMMV. There was a lot of, "If I only knew how wrong I was..." type statements and long descriptions of the character choking on various foods which I think was supposed to be a running gag/sign of her social awkwardness, but was overdone and fell flat.
The two stars are because the mystery left me genuinely curious as to which horrible person done in the victim.
Overall, sad and very disappointing.
The book opens with Violet rush home to visit her dying grandmother, after a self-imposed exile of 12 years. Her grandmother is in perfect health and it quickly becomes apparent that she faked a fatal illness to bring her granddaughter home. CHARMING.
Spoiler
So, Violet's mother died when she was a child, and her best friend died when she was a teenager. Violet was implicated in her friend's death and the town turned against her. Given this, it seems especially cruel that her grandmother, the only living relative that she has left, would lie to her about being deathly ill. CHARMING.Further, her grandmother, whom she is supposed to be very close to, never mentioned that she has had a boyfriend for the past two years, until, of course, boyfriend ends of dead in her drive way. Grandmother further withholds information from her granddaughter throughout the book. Basically "loving grandmother" is a selfish jerkface.
Then there's the set-up for a romantic triangle that includes Violet's childhood sweetheart. The same sweetheart who encouraged the police to look at her as a suspect in her friend's accidental death. Yep. He's a keeper. She makes it clear she isn't interested in rekindling and he keeps pursuing. CHARMING.
The character, despite having no reason to trust anyone ever again because everyone she's ever loved has either lied to her or died, tells everyone in town her murder investigation progress. The amount of time she spends confiding in people she hardly knows borders on the absurd. Of course, she tells her "very close" grandmother as little as possible.
Seriously, I finished the book feeling a genuine sense of sadness for this character, whose tragic life is played for laughs and who has literally no one she can trust. It's pretty clear that this isn't what the author was going for.
The writing style was also not really my thing, though YMMV. There was a lot of, "If I only knew how wrong I was..." type statements and long descriptions of the character choking on various foods which I think was supposed to be a running gag/sign of her social awkwardness, but was overdone and fell flat.
The two stars are because the mystery left me genuinely curious as to which horrible person done in the victim.
Overall, sad and very disappointing.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An easy vacation read with just the right amount of fantasy and real life intermixed. It's set in a book store and the author uses an Emily Dickenson poem to help guide the reader and the main character to figure out who the murderer is. Not sure I'll read more in the series but I did enjoy it.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
A lovely read with a lovely, small town setting. Some of the writing was on the simple side like the "water factory", but the overall plot and characters were enjoyable.