Malevolent Magic

The Cozy Corgi Mysteries, Book 9

By: Mildred Abbott

Narrated by: Angie Hickman

Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Christmas week sparkles with holiday decorations, sweet potato pie, lively tourists, and murder....

Estes Park is a wonderland of twinkling lights and softly falling snow, and Winifred Page wants nothing more than to snuggle up in the mystery room with Watson at her feet - after all, Katie’s pastries are tempting pieces of heaven, especially beside a warm fire. But Christmas is fast approaching, and Fred is out on a cold morning visiting neighboring stores and planning a celebration at the Cozy Corgi Bookshop and Bakery. 

Fred is welcoming the holiday spirit and appreciating the friendships, love, and support she’s found during her first year in her new hometown. But the night’s festivities become a scene for local drama, and by morning a trip to the magic shop to collect a present has Fred and Watson stumbling upon a murder scene. In an unexpected twist, Fred is asked to investigate, but the suspect list keeps growing, and every one of them would give Ebenezer Scrooge a run for his money. 

With Fred still coming to grips with a recent betrayal, shifting through all the curmudgeons to crack the case may take more holiday magic than she and Watson possess.

©2018 by Mildred Abbott (P)2020 by Mildred Abbott

Loved it

This one is a real page turner (if I was reading the book and not listened to it). Many suspects but as always Fred always gets her man. I’m looking forward to the next book.

Poor narration really lets it down

Narrator makes such an effort to change the voices of characters but neglects to put any emotion into the reading - it comes across stilted and awkward.

But I enjoy these stories for the most part, except that the main character appears to have been accepted as the town amateur detective and even has a Scooby gang - that felt a little cringey

Cozy read as always

loved it cannot wait for next one. always fun and so addictive. make a long commute fun

A Jolly Merry Christmas murder

I enjoyed this book. This is book nine in what is turning about to be a fun loveable series. I have listened to a number of the books in the series but not necessarily in the right order, so can safely say that that they work great as a standalone. Even through relationships and characters might change slightly with each book, the author keeps you up to date nicely so which ever book you pick up you know you aren't going to have any problems diving back into Estes Park, with the characters you have come to love. Like the eccentric and colourful uncle, the grumpy deputy and of course the king of corgi's Watson. Winifred or Fred is a great main character that puzzles the mystery together nicely and despite investigating a murder still cares about the suspects and her town. The mystery was good and I didn't guess the killer. The Christmas feel to the book had me wanting to sip a mug of hot chocolate while I listened. Can't wait to start the next book.
With Christmas fast approaching Fred and the book shop is full of the festive spirit but a planned social get together with the other business doesn't go to plan. A fight between rival families and old high school grudges take the sparks out of the celebrations. In order to help get her happy feeling back Fred and her Corgi Winston go from shop to shop looking for donations for charity and do some last minute shopping. Instead of magic in the magic shop she finds a dead body. When the owner of the shop is arrested Fred is asked by his sister to investigate, as a deputy she can't do it herself. It's not long before Fred discovers the dead man didn't have many friends left in town, even his own family weren't on the best of terms with him. Can she discover the killer?
I liked the narrator and thought she did a good job of bringing the characters to life.