Melina's Book Blog: June 2021

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

A Glimmer of a Clue

A Glimmer of a Clue (A Fairy Garden Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber

About A Glimmer of a Clue

A Glimmer of a Clue (A Fairy Garden Mystery)

Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series Publisher: Kensington (June 29, 2021) Paperback: 336 pages ISBN-10: 1496726367 ISBN-13: 978-1496726360 Digital ASIN: B08KKXNQW8

Courtney Kelly has a shop full of delights, a cat named Pixie, a green thumb—and a magical touch when it comes to garden design. But in Carmel-by-the-Sea, things aren’t all sweetness and fairy lights . . .

When Courtney’s friend Wanda gets into a ponytail-pulling wrestling match in public with a nasty local art critic, Courtney stops the fight with the help of a garden hose. But Lana Lamar has a talent for escalating things and creating tension, which she succeeds in doing by threatening a lawsuit, getting into yet another scuffle—in the midst of an elegant fundraiser, no less—and lobbing insults around like pickleballs.

Next thing Courtney knows, Lana is on the floor, stabbed with a decorative letter opener from one of Courtney's fairy gardens, and Wanda is standing by asking “What have I done?” But the answer may not be as obvious as it seems, since Wanda is prone to sleepwalking and appears to be in a daze. Could she have risen from her nap and committed murder while unconscious? Or is the guilty party someone else Lana’s ticked off, like her long-suffering husband? To find out, Courtney will have to dig up some dirt . .

What I Thought:

This is the second in the Fairy Garden Mystery Series. Honestly, this one started out kind of slow for me, but it soon picked up and I, literally, could not put it down and essentially finished this book in one setting. In this one, Courtney's friend Wanda is involved in a public "fight" with local art critic, Lana Lamar. When Lana is found stabbed with a letter opener at an Art Auction, and Wanda is found bending over Lana. Of course, Wanda is the main suspect and is arrested. Courtney knows Wanda did not kill Lana, so she sets out to investigate. Courtney has some help from her fairy, Fiona. I enjoyed this book very much, as I said it started a little slow but picked up pretty quick and kept my attention and kept me turning the pages. There were many suspects in this one. Courtney had her hands full investigating this murder and had a close call or two along the way. The book was well written and flowed well. I enjoyed revisiting Carmel-by-the-Sea and its quirky residents and I enjoyed meeting some new residents as well. This one kept me guessing till the very end, which is what I like in a good cozy. I love the magical element of the fairies in this series, they really add to the story and make it interesting. This series also makes me want to go out an make a fairy garden. I am anxiously awaiting the next in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.

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About Daryl Wood Gerber

Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber writes the nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries, the Fairy Garden Mysteries, and the French Bistro Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she pens the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes the Aspen Adams novels of suspense as well as stand-alone suspense. Daryl loves to cook, fairy garden, and read, and she has a frisky Goldendoodle who keeps her in line!