Spell in haste, repent at leisure…
Middle-aged witch Quinn Callahan agrees to hold a book launch for the bestselling but recently dead author Bartholomew Branson. It’s a small favor for the new vampire. Unfortunately, things get out of hand when the author arranges a huge launch party and someone dies.Spells are going wrong, the book contains a dreadful mistake and the town of Ballydehag, … and the town of Ballydehag, Ireland, is once again in turmoil.
This is the third novel in the Vampire Book Club series of paranormal women’s fiction cozy mysteries from a USA Today Bestselling author.
A Spelling Mistake is book 3 in the Vampire Book Club series of cozy paranormal mysteries. Each can be read alone and there is no bad language or gore. There is humor, murder solving and a touch of romance from the best-selling author of the Vampire Knitting Club series.
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Yet another brilliant book in this fun series! It’s a quick read, mostly because once you start you won’t stop and time will fly by. As always, enjoyed the excellent writing and solid plot. Looking forward to the next!
4.5
Book source ~ Kindle Unlimited
Joint Review with Bea from Bea’s Book Nook
Plot
AVR: I think this plot is a bit tighter than the first two books. At least, it seems to run along at a quickish pace as Quinn gets down to the business of launching a “dead” author’s last book for him and then trying to figure out who the murderer is. Not of the author. He’s already a vampire. The murder is tied to the book launch though so Quinn, being a curious person, has to stick her witchy nose into the investigation. I admit, I did not have it figured out until the wrap up. So, good job!
Bea: I agree that this story was much tighter. In fact, I feel like Warren hit her stride with this story; I said something similar for the second book and the writing has only improved. It was tight, it was smooth, it flowed, and it was engaging. Quinn’s involvement in investigating the murder made sense. It was also interesting to read the behind the scenes details of setting up a book launch. The story has a good mix of mystery, humor, and a little action.
AVR: I agree! I’m looking forward to more in this series.
Characters
AVR: Since this book centered around one of the vampires I didn’t see much of the rest of the villagers or even the vampires except for Lochlan, Bartholomew and Oscar Wilde. Was Oscar Wilde a dick in life? Because he’s a dick as a vampire. I like Karen, the new owner of a B&B. She also owns the shop Granny’s Drawers. And Biddy O’Donnell, the dead witch introduced in the last book has a running part in this story. She’s kinda frightening. But mostly annoying, except in a good way.
Bea: Vampiric Oscar Wilde really is a mean person. I know that real Oscar Wilde had a sharp tongue and vampiric Wilde does not disappoint. Branson, the vampire author getting the book launch, is quite bratty. Quinn had far more patience for him than I did. There weren’t as many characters this time round, which was nice, but there were a handful of new ones. While there wasn’t much development of the regular characters, all of them, old and new, were sharply drawn and distinct. Biddy is incredibly annoying; she really got on my nerves. I tried to have empathy for her situation but oooh, she made it hard. She is a compelling character though ,and hopefully Warren will make good use of her.
AVR: Oh, yeah. Branson is definitely bratty. Yikes. And Biddy? I would have sent her back to her dirt prison. Quinn is much more patient than I would ever be, family or not.
World building
AVR: The world doesn’t progress overly much in this one. I did learn a lot about how books are published and marketed though – even if it was from the viewpoint of a “dead” author. And it looks like the tiny village of Ballydehag just might be growing some soon so the world can be expanded.
Bea: Like Carol said, there wasn’t as much building this time around. I would love to see more focus on the village. So far, it seems to be a stereotypical Irish village. Then again, I know little about real Irish villages. Either way, I’d like to see more use of the setting in the stories. Warren did make use of some public land, conversation land it seemed, and that was nice to read about.
AVR: Oh yeah! I forgot about the mention of the Wild Atlantic Way. That sounds like something I’d like to do if I lost about 80 lbs. Or maybe I could lose that doing it. Hmmm…lol Come to think of it, I’d like to do the Appalachian Trail, too. But that is a whole lot longer and I think a whole lot more mountainous. Eeek
Romance?
AVR: Is there a bit of romance in the air with Quinn and Lochlan? I can see it heading that way. I was actually hoping Dr. Milsom would be the love interest, but he seems to be taking the same path as DI Ian Chisholm in the Vampire Knitting series. Maybe someone else will come along? I’m not really feeling it between the witch and the vampire.
Bea: I vote no. Not every series needs a romance. That said, it would be nice to see a middle-aged woman get a romance, and like Carol, I would prefer to see Quinn with the doctor. They seem a better match. I’d rather see Lachlan and Quinn be friends but not lovers.
AVR: Agreed!
Overall
AVR: Overall I really enjoyed this 3rd installment of the Vampire Book Club. Well, except for the possible stirrings of witch/vampire romance. I want someone else for Quinn. The murder kept me guessing and the rest of the book kept me engaged. This is an easy read that entertains.
Bea: This was my favorite of the series, short though it is. I like this series and I hope we are in for more stories.
AVR: Yes! I hope we get many more stories in this series.
Side Note
AVR: I want to mention how much I dislike the new covers of the books. The original covers fit the character as written so much better. Quinn is supposed to be a dark-haired middle-aged woman. The woman on the new covers don’t look like that at all.
Bea: I’m not convinced that it isn’t the same model. If not, there’s a strong resemblance. She does look younger on this cover, and that’s a shame. The main character is middle-aged and the cover model should reflect that. The character’s age is part of her experience.
AVR: I don’t think they look alike, but the new covers do show an obviously younger person and that’s just ugh to me. Actually, I think she looks more like how I picture Karen.
Quinn is hosting a book launch for one of the vampires, Bartholomew Branson. The next day a body is found and Quinn must find the killer. I look forward to listening to this series. It always makes me laugh and a light cozy mystery, a great way to unwind and relax. Quinn is such a likable character and her cat familiar, Carwyn, is great. i kind if wish that Quinn and Lochan could get together. I hope there will be a 4th book.
I recommend this whole series.
Biddy is up to no good again!
Biddy is at it again and this time it includes Antiques Roadshow and a bit of thievery. In the meantime Quinn is having a book launch for undead author Bartholomew. The book launch goes well until a body turns up in the new bed and breakfast. Did Bartholomew do it? Or one of the other book people? Will the B&B survive the murder and the twitchy TV’s? Can Quinn and Lochlan find the murderer? Wonderful addition to the series. Can’t wait for the next book!
I received an ARC. This is my honest review.
Great series.
Always worth reading if Nancy Warren is the author.
A Spelling Mistake by Nancy Warren
The Vampire Book Club Series Book Three
Quinn Callahan has let herself get sucked into something big. A launch party for Bartholomew Branson’s new book, one that he’d written before he became one of the undead. The author was so down about missing out on the launch…she felt bad for him.
Of course, nothing works out as easy as it should. Oh, the launch was met with great enthusiasm from fans, his former agent and publisher. And it was helping Karen out with her newly opened B&B. But, a few unexpected guests and a murder complicate things for Quinn.
Another humorous addition to this series. Wonderful characters as well…both to love and dislike.
https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2014/01/nancy-warren-book-list.html
What happens when a newly turned cranky vampire has a book released posthumously? Why throw him a book launch so he can secretly enjoy the release of course! What could possibly go wrong?? Humor abounds once again as Quinn wrangles vampires, witches and tries to keep all hidden from the normal folk around her wee Irish town which becomes harder to do when you invite a slew of people to town for a book launch of an undead author who is not at all pleased with his undead status nor of the events the unfold during his book celebration! Once again, Quinn finds herself entangled in murder, mayhem and more with a side of books! If you haven’t started this series yet, you are definitely missing out!
This time around the author allows the reader to get to know more about an existing supporting character as his writing career drives this cozy mystery. This is an odd and unique crew but they are very supportive of one another, regardless. As skeletons pour out of the closets, I was amazed and intrigued in anticipation by the twist and turns this clean mystery supplies. Never a dull moment with Quinn in the mix. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A Spelling Mistake is the third book in the delightful Vampire Book Club series but it is also a perfect stand-alone. Witch Quinn Callahan reluctantly agrees to host a posthumous book launch for recently turned Vampire and author Bartholomew Branson. Little did she know that it would lead to murder.
This cozy mystery is packed full of colourful and interesting characters which include witches, vampires, familiars and a resurrected witch who was hung and buried over 300 years ago. I definitely recommend that the previous books in this series are read first to truly appreciate these fabulous characters but it is not necessary to enjoy this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely recommend it to all paranormal and cozy mystery fans.
Nancy Warren’s books bring me so much joy! – Especially if you want to escape for a moment and want to give yourself some nice relaxing reading time! Nancy’s books are the ones I really look forward to!
In This 3rd book of the Vampire Book Club series you will find out how well the lovely bookstore keeper Quinn has adjusted already to her new life! Even with some ancient ancestor who isn’t quite ready to move on and who has plans for herself that won’t make Quinn’s and other’s life easy, Quinn will have to rise to the occasion!
The question will be, is the lovely Quinn up to the task and will the help of the handsome alfa vampire called Lochlan Balfour be enough to safe an newly started B&B from going under as a cursed murder place?! Will the true culprit be found in time before bad reviews will make an end to this newly started Inn?
A must read if you want to find out more about this exciting sleuthing adventure Quinn and Lochlan are about to embark on! I surely enjoyed it a lot and couldn’t put this book down for a minute! I can’t wait for the next one!
A true cosy mystery filled with enjoyable in-depth characters, set in a lovely Irish village with a dash of magic, mystery and mayhem
A Spelling Mistake is the third book in the Vampire Book Club cozy mystery series. The main character is a middle-aged witch who has been sent to Ireland because she broke a big witch rule! Quinn still seems to find trouble and there is a lot of humor and mystery solving to enjoy in this book. It will keep you guessing. If you haven’t read the first two books yet, that is not a problem because the book stands on its own.
A Spelling Mistake is the third book in the spin-off series Vampire Book Club by Nancy Warren. I had really thought that I could not like as series more than the Vampire Knitting Club but as this series continues with A Spelling Mistake This is becoming my new favorite. I have come to identity with the newly County Cork resident Quinn Callahan. No matter how much she tries to keep a low profile, she is always in the mist of things.
This whodunit involves the undead but also the not dead. Writers, readers, a turn of phrase, and humor galore, maybe even a hint at romance, too. No explicit violence or gore or bad language to be found in this cozy paranormal mystery. This is good, good escape reading from beginning to end.
The publisher/author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this cozy mystery that is the third book in this series. The characters are quirky and far from perfect. It was fun trying to guess who was the killer and what the motive was. There were lots of suspects and suspicious activity. I would definitely recommend this book and series. I was given an arc and this is my honest review.
Quinn Callahan, owner of a bookshop in Ballydehag, Ireland, is also a witch. She has agreed to host a book launch for the recently undead vampire Bartholomew Branson. It seems simple enough – order some books, involve the publishers, and a little advertising. And the day arrives and so do the crowds. Surprisingly, Bartholomew’s ex-wife shows up. At the after-launch party, she announces that she has a posthumous book. When she’s found dead, Quinn starts the search for the murderer.
This is the third book in this series and I love it more with each addition.
”I glanced at him. ‘You’re going to a lot of trouble for ten euros.’ ‘I always find it isn’t the amount wagered that’s interesting, it’s the bet itself.'”
Quinn Callahan, owner of the Blarney Tome, has taken on vampires, witches, familiars and everyday folk, but can she deal with egos as the recently turned author Bartholomew Branson’s last novel, posthumously published, will make it’s debut in the tiny village of Ballydehag.
Infighting publishers, agents and family all square off in this fun take on “Author author, just who is the author!” In this, the third in the series, Nancy Warren again proves her ability to be a master storyteller. Whether it’s contemporary romance or paranormal cosy mysteries, Warren spins a tale with complex characters and un-putdownable puzzles that keep the readers’ interest and clamoring for more . Highly recommended 5/5
Bartholomew Branson, international thriller bestselling author & newly turned vampire, is not happy. Having been ‘saved’ after falling from a cruise ship off the coast of Ireland, he misses his celebrity life. The posthumous release of his last thriller has him moaning about not being able to show up at the launch party. Quinn Callahan, manager of The Blarney Tome, Ballydehag’s bookshop, offers to feature his books in her front window. No good deed goes unpunished though as Quinn ends up finding a way to fix the spelling mistake on the book’s cover plus having to host the launch & gala @ Devil’s Keep, the vampires lair. Bart’s British agent & editors are staying at newly opened O’Donnell B&B, owned by her friend, Karen. When Bart’s ex-wife shows up at the gala claiming she has an unknown Bart Branson novel, the uproar begins. Bart is furious & the wife’s friend,Irving Schulz, is talking about partnering with Candace, cutting the others out. When Candace is found dead, the manuscript missing, Quinn hunts for the killer. Did Bartholomew in a rage kill his ex? Who is the scruffy guy Candace had thrown out of the gala? And why will the B&B’s TVs only play Antiques Roadshow?
Another cracking mystery set in tiny Ballydehag, Ireland where witches, vampires & humans(unknowingly) co-exist. Nancy Warren is on a roll.
Although I was given a free copy of this book, I chose to review it fairly & honestly
This is a terrific series with intriguing characters whose relationships continue to deepen as the mysteries, big and small, drive the plot forward. Since this book delves into the publishing world, I imagined Ms. Warren rather gleefully using her first hand knowledge of the twists in “the story” behind the stories.
Although it was my pleasure to receive this ARC, it was completely my choice to share my honest review.