Murder and Metaphors

Magical Bookshop Mystery Series, Book 3

By: Amanda Flower

Narrated by: Rachel Dulude

Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

January means ice wine season in the Niagara Falls region, but the festivities leave Charming Books owner Violet Waverly cold, still reeling from a past heartbreak. Little do either Waverly women know, the ice wine festival will turn colder still when Violet finds Belinda in the middle of the frozen vineyard - with a grape harvest knife protruding from her chest. 

Belinda grew up in Cascade Springs, but she left town years ago after a huge falling-out with her three sisters. One of those sisters, Violet's high school friend Lacey Dupont, attends the book signing in the hope of making amends with her sister, but Belinda and Lacey end up disrupting the signing with a very public shouting match and Lacey quickly becomes the prime suspect in the sommelier's murder. 

Violet is sure Lacey is innocent, and to keep her friend out of prison, Violet asks for guidance from her magical bookshop. The shop's ethereal essence points her to Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, but what have the four March sisters to do with the four Perkins sisters? If she can't figure it out, Violet, herself, may turn as cold as ice.

©2019 Amanda Flower (P)2019 Tantor

An amazing series!

I stumbled upon this as I was recuperating from surgery. It was a great distraction and the story was well developed as well as the characters. I can't wait for the next part of the series! A great book makes the characters feel like you know them. The narration was wonderful as well! 👍

Great series

Amanda Flower has written another great installment in the Magical Bookshop mystery series. All the characters are well developed. Violet, Grandma Daisy, the tuxedo cat Emerson, and the crow Faulkner soon become more like family than simply characters in a book/audiobook. Rachel Dulude, as always, gave a stellar performance as she brought the story to life and gave each character distinct voices. I highly recommend this book/audiobook to cozy mystery fans.

Just keep getting better

My 3 month old granddaughter and I listened to the whole thing in one day. Ms. Flowers is quickly becoming one of my favorite contemporary writers. Amazing!

Murder, Intrigue, and Friends

I like how the books, the animals, and the town are woven into the story.

mystery with humor and just a bit of romance

I love the series, it is just the light read (listen) I need while doing chores or going for a walk. And no embarrassing sex scenes if the grand kids walk in.

Love these cozy mysteries!

Amanda Flower writes the best cozy mysteries! Especially in a time when I’m trying to avoid stress (2020!), these books are just a fun comfort. I love Violet and her role in solving each crime. Another hit!

I like the plot concept

but the telling of the tale is uneven - it flows with authentic inner life in places - then is forced and overworked in others. It's about 50/50 -- half of it works, half of it doesn't. Irritating for the reader, at least to me. It made me basically not enjoy the book. The theme of spirit magic and tree is great. I wish Flower could get enwrapped in her story enough that she could allow the story to '"tell itself" through her. Then the story wouldn't go hollow and have to be forced. I wonder if simply taking more time with a book would fix this.

VIOLET AND GRANDMA DAISY ARE BACK!

I LOVE THIS SERIES, ITS CHARACTERS, AND THE PREMISE. THE MAGICAL BOOKSTORE IS AT IT AGAIN, BUT VIOLET STRUGGLES WITH THE CLUES PROVIDED. IN FACT, I STRUGGLED A BIT MYSELF, BUT NOT TO WORRY, IT ALL COMES TOGETHER. OH, AND CHIEF RAINMAKER IS NOT GIVING UP - ON THE CRIME OR VIOLET. AMANDA FLOWER PROVIDES ANOTHER GREAT READ, WITH MYSTERY, FRIENDSHIP, JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF ROMANCE, AND THE MAKINGS OF NEW ADVENTURES TO COME. BUY IT. READ IT. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

Won Over!

I wasn’t sure at first - but was quickly pulled into the fast pace and enjoyable settings of the magical bookshop and icy vineyards!