Verse and Vengeance

I picked up this to read the day after I returned from a quick trip to Niagara Falls (the better, Canadian, side), where I let the Falls soothe and refresh me. I had completely forgotten this series was set near the American side and I've given it an extra star just because it reminded me of the magic I felt watching the river flow into the Falls. That same magic has found its way into this series.

As for the mystery, it was a pretty cool twist but in all honesty, the mysteries are not why I read this series. It's the characters and their evolving relationships. This has one evolving in a big way and it's very nice to see. Another one has just taken a step forward and I'm rooting for it next.

Honestly though, I'm so tired of Emerson. He's show more supposed to be a cute cat but he gets on my last nerve. Does he really need to be such a big part of the story? show less

Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower is the fourth A Magical Bookshop Mystery. There is a delightful cast of characters in this magical tale. Violet Waverly has just finished teaching another semester at the local college as well as defending her dissertation which has earned her the right to put doctor before her name. She is looking forward to working in the shop and spending time with her boyfriend, Chief David Rainwater. Daisy Waverly is Violet’s grandmother and the new mayor of Cascade Springs. Things are never dull when Daisy is around. She came up with the idea for the Cascade Springs Underground Railroad Museum and ran short of funding when issues were discovered with the foundation of the Village Hall. There is Emerson the show more tuxedo cat that manages to follow Violet around the village (a master escape artist) and Faulkner is the crow that resides in the magical birch tree and calls out unique quotes as well as dropping books into Violet’s path. There are a variety of charming residents and shop owners plus a curmudgeon or two. I just love the descriptions of this quaint town. There are some adorable shops and it is close to Niagara Falls. The mystery was multifaceted with several suspects and good clues. While I could identify the guilty party, it took longer to figure out the why. This was a unique whodunit. I like how everything tied together. Amanda crafted a unique mystery that tied in Walt Whitman. I especially enjoyed how literature with the help of the essence tied into the whodunit. Verse and Vengeance also has romance with David and Violet at the forefront, but there is also Daisy and a certain fellow who is smitten with her. Plus, Violet’s department chair might finally work up the nerve to ask out a certain librarian. There is humor sprinkled throughout the story that had me chuckling. That Emerson is quite a character. Thanks to Amanda Flower’s descriptions, I could envision that cat in Violet’s bicycle basket. Violet’s father returns which brings up old feelings of resentment and confusion. Can Violet and her father find a way to move forward? Verse and Vengeance can be read as a standalone for those new to the series, but why would you not want to read all the books in this enchanting series. The ending of Verse and Vengeance is very special, and I cannot wait for the next book in this enchanting series. Verse and Vengeance is a spellbinding tale with an enigmatic essence, perplexing poetry, a curious cat, dynamic Daisy, a pesky PI, and a flawed foundation. show less

Violet Waverly is the caretaker of Charming Books, which includes the magical tree inside, Faulkner the crow, and Emerson the little tuxedo cat. The bookshop gives people the exact book they need -- whether they are looking for it or not.

She's also in a relationship with police chief David Rainwater, and is afraid to tell him the truth about the shop, deciding that it might permanently end their relationship if she does. But she also knows deep down that if she doesn't tell him, the relationship will suffer anyway. It's a conundrum she's finding hard to figure out.

But now PI Joel Redding, who stalked her once before, is back in town and seems to be picking up where he left off. When she spots him taking a picture of her during the bike show more race she's entered with Rainwater, it bothers her. But when the police find his body farther down the road, it's discovered he's been murdered, and now they need to find out who did it. With clues showing up around town for Rainwater, it's the poetry of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass that are leading Violet on the case. A copy was discovered with the body, and Redding left a clue in the shop for Violet. Now, with Rainwater telling her to leave the case to him, with him wondering what Violet knows and why she won't tell him, and with Violet worried about one of her students hiding somewhere in the village, the only thing she has to go on is the poetry of Whitman. But can it give her the answers she's looking for?...

First off, I have to say that the blurb is wrong; Violet is never considered a suspect in this murder. It's a student of hers who is the main one, and that's what the story is about.

Saying that, this is the fourth book in the series, and we have Violet and David hopefully progressing in their relationship, and Violet's father in town to impart knowledge he has of her mother to her. Violet's grandmother also has something for her, which makes Violet even more confused about her future.

But the plot of the book was interesting: what did Walt Whitman have to do with Cascade Springs, and why is the bookshop throwing copies of Leaves of Grass at her every time she turns around? It's dissecting the poems and looking for answers, and it all comes down to one of the oldest motives for murder. It's a tale worth reading, and I enjoyed it highly. While the ending was a bit cryptic, it wasn't a cliffhanger, and I am hoping the series will continue. Recommended. show less

My favorite in the Magical Bookshop series. Violet and Rainwater begin the story on a bike race when Violet's nemesis, Joel Redding, private detective, ends up dead. The story evolves from there and revolves around poet Walt Whitman. This was a wonderfully written story with great character development, good plot twists and turns, and a really nice ending. A definite must read from author Amanda Flower.

Violet Waverly, the Caretaker of Charming Books in Cascade Springs, is settling in to her new position after completing her PhD. But it seems a bit strange that the reporter who was following her a few months ago trying to find her secret, has returned and is watching again. Violet's boyfriend, David Rainwater, chief of police, has asked her to ride with him in the bike race fundraiser and during the race, the reporter whizzes by and is found dead at the bottom of a windy curve. Was it something related to Violet that caused his death? The magical tree in the Bookshop seems to keep pointing her to Walt Whitman. What will Violet find in his poetry?

The writer has created a whimsical setting with believable characters as well as adding show more characters that add a touch of magic. Looking forward to visiting Cascade Springs often! show less

This fourth in a series of Violet Waverly's adventures in her magical bookshop is fun, a quick read, and keeps the reader in suspense as to "whodunit" until the very last moments. Just having completed her PhD, with an emphasis on the works of transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson, Violet is looking forward with some trepidation to her participation in Cascade Springs' upcoming bike race fundraiser. She agrees to participate because boyfriend and local police chief David Rainwater has asked her to do so, but she can't really say she is looking forward to the event. Still, it will raise money for her grandmother's latest cause - to rehab the village hall in order to house a new Underground Railroad Museum that will highlight the role show more Cascade Springs played in moving escaped slaves to freedom. A pesky and nosy local private eye has his eye on Violet and her magical bookshop and she fears that he is getting closer to uncovering the truth about her role as caretaker of the shop and tree inside it. The shop keeps steering her toward the work of Walt Whitman, a contemporary of Emerson's, and she struggles to find out why, especially after yet another murder shakes the town. This particular book delights me, as I see so much of the author in it. Another winner from Flower. show less

Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower
Book #4: Magical Bookshop Mystery Series
Source: NetGalley and Crookled Land Books
Rating: 5/5 stars

Violet Waverly is on break! She has finished her PhD, her classes are done for the term, and she’s meant to be enjoying her time away from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. That’s generally easier said than done. Violet’s bookshop is still open, her grandmother is the new mayor, and the town is gearing up for a huge fundraising event. Oh, that pesky private eye, Joel Redding hasn’t given up his interest in Violet and her bookshop. So much for break!

For days, Violet has spied Redding outside her bookshop poking around and generally loitering. She has no idea what Redding knows, but if he show more finds out her secret and the secret of the bookshop, all good be lost for Violet and her grandmother. As keepers of the tree, the women of Violet’s line have long cared for the tree the bookshop is literally built around and gone to great lengths to help the people of their community. To make this knowledge public would likely endanger Violet and her grandmother as it did in decades past. Though she can’t give away much, Violet has to know what Redding knows and try to dissuade him from further investigations. As it happens, someone else feels the same way about Redding and arranges a tragic little accident that not only helps Violet and her grandmother, but other unknown people(s) as well. Trouble is, by helping Violet, it’s also made her a suspect in Redding’s death.

Here we go again . . . . .

Just as soon as the death occurs, the bookshop begins offering Violet clues to solving the crime. This time, the bookshop is offering up a little “light” reading in the form of Walt Whitman. Both Whitman and Redding’s death are terribly complicated, and Violet finds herself with a mountain of questions and very answers. What’s more, the further Violet digs into Redding’s death the more confused she becomes. Somehow, her boyfriend’s sister is wrapped up in the mess, her grandmother’s pet project, the Underground Railroad Museum is connected to the whole ordeal, one of her former students is on the lam, and her wandering father is back in town with information that may help solve the crime. With so many disparate pieces, Violet is going to have to work harder than ever to solve this mystery.

As the case trudges on and Violet continues to uncover clues, she also continues to frustrate and concern her boyfriend, Chief Rainwater. As history has shown, the women in Violet’s family don’t fare well with love and divulging her secret could risk her budding romance with the police chief. The trouble is, not telling Rainwater is absolutely causing problems and trusting David feels like the right thing to do. With David on her side and fully in the loop, there’s really not much that can stop the two from continuing to enjoy one another’s company and solving a most perplexing crime. Taking a chance never hurt anyone, right?

The Bottom Line: As a series grows, it is often hard for the author to keep the storylines fresh and interesting. Thankfully, that has not yet been a problem with Magical Bookshop Mystery series. Violet continues to grow as a character, her life in Cascade Springs is certainly evolving, and the other characters are growing and changing right along with Violet. While I am admittedly a huge fan of characters and characterization, I think what I love most about this series is its rich environment and the emphasis on literature and reading. It isn’t a “You must read!” sort of thing, but an element of the story that not only helps solve the crime du jour but also introduces the reader to some of the history surrounding the authors the bookshop chooses for Violet. When you add the literal environment of the bookshop and the town to the literary aspect, you have a recipe for a successful series and a world of room to grow. This series is finding its stride and with so many authors to choose from, I see nothing but a promising future for this series. show less