Crime and Poetry

This is a cute book. The heroine was both just smart enough and just stupid enough to be the main character of a cozy mystery. The villain was just bad enough. (AKA had the villain belonged to a regular murder mystery instead of a cozy mystery, our MC would be dead of the stupid by the end of the book.) And as the first book in the series, this wrapped everything up nicely into a done-but-not-finished parcel by the end. So, while this story is told, there's plenty left to make you come back to this town for more fun.

That's not to say it was all fun and games. There were some things about this book that made me unhappy. For one, at times the heroine really was too stupid to live. She took the time to change her shoes, but didn't try to show more let anyone know where she was going? Dumb. Yes, that heightens the tension. But really, sending a call to voicemail would have been fine and still left her in the predicament she was in at the end. show less

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book, the first in a new magical mystery series. CRIME AND POETRY was absolutely delightful, and one of the best cozy mysteries I’ve read.

The book begins with Violet Waverly frantically running back to her hometown of Cascade Springs, New York, after a twelve-year absence. Her sly Grandma Daisy claimed to be at death’s door, but it was all a ruse to get Violet to come home and take over the family’s bookstore. Well, before Violet can go storming back to Chicago, a dead body ends up in front of her grandmother’s house, and the initial evidence makes Daisy look guilty.

Violet is a wonderful character – smart, witty, bookish, a bit goofy, and totally relatable. She has a darn good reason show more for avoiding Cascade Springs, and what happened to her twelve years ago adds a second intriguing puzzle to this story. I love how this book jumped into the murder mystery right away, and Violet’s amateur sleuthing skills kicked in, with a little help from the charmed books in her grandmother’s magical bookshop.

The main mystery in this book was very interesting, combining a bit of history from Cascade Springs with some sneaky stuff going on in the town today. Violet’s research skills came in handy with her investigation. Along with a touch of the paranormal, there’s also an intriguing family secret, a little romance times two, and two cheeky animals to help (and pester) Violet. CRIME AND POETRY is sure to please cozy mystery fans, and I’m eagerly awaiting the next book!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. show less

Crime and Poetry by Amanda Flower
Book #1: A Magical Bookshop Mystery
Source: Purchase
Rating: 4½/5 stars

Oh, Lord y’all!! I just found a cozy mystery series that speaks to so many of my bookish loves: cozy mystery, animals, a bookstore, a bit of the paranormal, and lovely, quirky characters. Here’s the skinny on this fun read:

Violet Waverly never, ever, ever meant to return to her hometown. After a life-altering event during her senior year, Violet escaped and hasn’t returned in more than a decade. That is, until her beloved grandmother, Daisy Waverly calls with devastating news that brings Violet across the country as quickly as her little car and tolerance for no sleep can get her there. As it turns out, Grandma Daisy may have show more been exaggerating her situation just a bit, but her goal is accomplished with Violet back home and now the real work can begin.

But first, there’s the small matter of the murder of Grandma Daisy’s boyfriend . . . .

Violet’s return to her hometown is a mixed bag of emotions. On the one hand, it is always great to see her grandmother and the bookstore that brought her so much pleasure growing up. On the other hand, she’s crazy worried about her grandmother and the bombshell she’s dropped on Violet and then there are the looks and gossip that inevitably swirl in a small town. Grandma Daisy is a strong suspect in the murder of her boyfriend and Violet just can’t sit around and allow her grandmother to be railroaded as she was so many years ago.

With no intention of staying in town, Violet doesn’t worry much about stepping on toes as she begins to poke around into the death of Grandma Daisy’s boyfriend. What Violet finds is a background, a sort of past life that has seemingly come back in the form of murder. As she begins to put the pieces together, Violet gets some help from the most unlikely of sources, the books in her grandmother’s bookstore. Remember that bombshell I mentioned?? As Violet digs deeper, she puts herself in danger but is committed to her course and once she realizes the books are working for her, though in a very cryptic way, she can crack the case which puts her in absolute danger!

The Bottom Line: I am so pleased with this series and can’t wait to read the next two books!! From start to finish I was sucked into this book, this small quirky little town, and especially the bookstore. What a wonderful twist the paranormal elements bring to this series with the intuitive little kitty, the very talkative and snarky bird, the insistent books with their cryptic clues, and the specialness of the tree. When you add in Violet, a dogged, determined, and incredibly intelligent young woman with a feisty granny who WILL have her way, you have something of a recipe for book magic! I have such a good feeling about this series and sincerely hope it continues to deliver on this promise found in this first book. show less

I am always up for a cozy mystery! I love quirky characters, charming locales, and a puzzling mystery. I chose Crime And Poetry by Amanda Flower to make the minutes and miles pass quickly on my morning walks — it was a great choice! I had previously read her juvenile mystery fiction and one book in her Amish cozy series and knew I would find a humorous and entertaining read. But I have to say that Crime And Poetry exceeded my expectations. While it had all the elements I look for in a cozy, it also featured a magical bookshop that not only finds the perfect book for patrons, but aids main character Violet in her quest to find whodunit! I loved, loved the characters, including the adorable Houdini-cat and the loquacious blackbird. show more Violet solves the case and finds closure for a tragedy in her past. She discovers her place in the village of Cascade Springs and has two hunky guys vying for her attention. Very satisfying! The narrator of the audiobook was perfect for the first person style, having a wonderful sense of timing and inflection.

I liked Crime And Poetry so much that I downloaded book 2, Prose And Cons as soon as The End was pronounced. If you are a fan of cozies, you’ll love this one too.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(I purchased this book from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) show less

Welcome to a new series full of lovable characters, mystic shops, and murder.

Amanda Flower has done it again. Creating a town full of characters to love and solve a mystery with.
Violet comes back to Cascade Springs thinking the worst; that her beloved grandmother, Daisy is on her death bed or soon to be there. Violet had vowed she would never return, after that fateful incident. But Violet is here standing in Daisy's bookstore wondering, how she found herself here, in the middle of trouble...again.
This is no ordinary bookstore, it is a book lovers' dream come true. The books "speak" to Daisy and now Violet. They know just the book you need.
Upon her arrival Violet seems to bring death and murder right back to this small town and it show more looks like she has to clear her and Daisy's names.
This drove me through the story wondering which book would choose me, and how do I get there? Your swept up into this wonderful town with characters that you bond fiercely with. You solve the crime, which is tough! I loved that I was kept guessing through the entire book.
Enjoy and be prepared to be begging for more!!

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley courtesy of the publisher and author in exchange for an honest review show less

CRIME AND POETRY is the first in a new series by author Amanda Flower aka Isabella Alan. There is everything I enjoy in a cozy present in this book; loving families, a hint of romance, beautiful setting, a little magic, wonderful characters and a great protagonist.

The book begins with Violet Waverly frantically running back to her hometown of Cascade Springs, New York, after a twelve-year absence. Her Grandma Daisy called her saying she needed her, sounding very ill. Violet assumed she was at death's door and hightailed it home, only to find out it was a ruse to get Violet to come home and take over the family’s bookstore. Violet is ready to head back to Chicago, but a close friend of Grandma Daisy ends up dead in her driveway with show more Daisy the prime suspect. She decides to stay to help her grandma, of course that also means doing some investigating on her own.

Violet is a wonderful character – smart, witty, bookish, a bit goofy, and totally relatable. She has avoided Cascade Springs for over a decade, and what happened years ago adds a second mystery to the story. Violet’s amateur sleuthing skills led her in the right direction to help Daisy, with a little help from the charmed books in her grandmother’s magical bookshop. I really enjoyed the characters of Grandma Daisy, Chief Rainwater and of course Emerson the cat who adopted Violet rather than the other way around. The main mystery of who killed Benedict Raisin was very interesting, combining a bit of history from Cascade Springs with what was going on in the town in the present. Violet’s research skills came in handy with her investigation, as well as the help from Emily Dickinson. Is there going to be romance in Violet's future? Will she become the keeper of the books? Read this delightful story to find out. I listened to the audio version of this book and the narration was well done. A few words not pronounce the way Canadians do, but that is okay. The voices were easy to differentiate and that is not always the case. I am ready to start the next one for an upcoming discussion in my Cozy Mystery bookclub. show less

Crime and Poetry by Amanda Flower is the first book in the new cozy mystery series titled A Magical Bookshop Mystery series. Violet Waverly rushes home to Cascade Springs, New York when her grandmother, Daisy calls her and states she is dying. Violet arrives to find Grandma Daisy working and very well! It was a ruse (a very effective one) to get Violet home. Violet has not returned home since she left when she was seventeen. It is time for Violet to take her place as the new Caretaker at Charming Books. Grandma Daisy explains the family history and what happens at the store, but Violet is not sure she believes it (seeing is believing). The next morning Benedict Raisin, carriage driver and Grandma Daisy's boyfriend, is in their driveway show more in his carriage. Unfortunately, he is dead! Grandma Daisy is the number one suspect in the murder (at least according to Officer John Wheaton). Violet sets out to prove her grandmother's innocence. Who wanted to hurt Benedict (who seems well liked) and why leave him in Grandma Daisy's driveway? When the case is over, will Violet stay in town (as Grandma Daisy wants) or will she return to Chicago?

Crime and Poetry was just delightful. I enjoyed the characters (especially Faulkner, the crow, and Emerson, the cat). The setting sounds like it is just beautiful and a place that I would love to visit. The magical element was very light. I hope there will be more of it in future books. The author did a good job of keeping the reader guessing on the identity of the killer. I knew who the killer was as soon as the character was introduced, but that is just me (I read quite a few mysteries and suspense novels). Crime and Poetry has a good mystery, entertaining characters, beautiful setting, a little romance (the possibility), and magic! Amanda Flower did a wonderful job combining these elements into a charming cozy mystery. I give Crime and Poetry 4.5 out of 5 stars (I marked down because I was able to solve the mystery). I cannot wait for the next book in A Magical Bookshop series.

I received a complimentary copy of Crime and Poetry through NetGalley (courtesy of the publisher and author) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel. show less