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A review by alookinsideri
Spectacles & Suspects by Corrine Winters, Corrine Winters
5.0
In Spectacles and Suspects, Corrine Winters weaves a delightful and cozy paranormal mystery set in the small town of Oakwood. The novel opens with Dorothy Hensley, a retired librarian, leaning into the world of magic and mystery as she joins forces with historian Dr. Amy Thorne. Amy’s recent discovery—a sketch of an ancient amulet said to grant its wearer the ability to communicate with inanimate objects—sets the stage for a thrilling investigation. Dorothy, who has recently uncovered her own supernatural ability to talk to books, is pulled into this case along with her granddaughter Zoe, a sharp and eager teen who shares her grandmother’s gift.
The mystery deepens when Dr. Thorne reveals that the amulet, hidden somewhere in the Tall Oaks B&B, might be connected to a murder that has shaken the town. Dorothy and Zoe’s investigation becomes entangled with family dynamics as Dorothy’s son Adam, a local reporter, grows concerned about their involvement. This balance of family ties, magical intrigue, and historical puzzles gives the story depth and heart, drawing readers in with both charm and suspense.
Winters expertly develops her characters, from Dorothy’s cautious yet curious nature to Zoe’s youthful enthusiasm and Amy’s scholarly obsession with the occult. Frank, Dorothy’s longtime friend and perhaps more, adds an intriguing layer of personal history and romance to the mix. The warm relationships in the story complement the chill of the central mystery, as Dorothy navigates her newfound abilities and grapples with the danger lurking in Oakwood.
Spectacles and Suspects is not just a cozy mystery—it’s a tale of magical discovery and family connections, blending humor with danger in a way that keeps the reader captivated. The small-town setting of Oakwood, with its charm and underlying secrets, enhances the intrigue, making this a delightful read for fans of cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist. As Dorothy and Zoe work to uncover the amulet’s location and its power, readers will be eager to see whether they can solve the mystery—or if they’ll find themselves in deeper peril than they imagined.
The mystery deepens when Dr. Thorne reveals that the amulet, hidden somewhere in the Tall Oaks B&B, might be connected to a murder that has shaken the town. Dorothy and Zoe’s investigation becomes entangled with family dynamics as Dorothy’s son Adam, a local reporter, grows concerned about their involvement. This balance of family ties, magical intrigue, and historical puzzles gives the story depth and heart, drawing readers in with both charm and suspense.
Winters expertly develops her characters, from Dorothy’s cautious yet curious nature to Zoe’s youthful enthusiasm and Amy’s scholarly obsession with the occult. Frank, Dorothy’s longtime friend and perhaps more, adds an intriguing layer of personal history and romance to the mix. The warm relationships in the story complement the chill of the central mystery, as Dorothy navigates her newfound abilities and grapples with the danger lurking in Oakwood.
Spectacles and Suspects is not just a cozy mystery—it’s a tale of magical discovery and family connections, blending humor with danger in a way that keeps the reader captivated. The small-town setting of Oakwood, with its charm and underlying secrets, enhances the intrigue, making this a delightful read for fans of cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist. As Dorothy and Zoe work to uncover the amulet’s location and its power, readers will be eager to see whether they can solve the mystery—or if they’ll find themselves in deeper peril than they imagined.