Fairy garden store owner Courtney Kelly believes in inviting magic into your life. But when uninvited trouble enters her shop, she’ll need more than a sprinkling of her imagination to solve a murder . . . Since childhood, Courtney has loved fairies. After her mother died when she was ten, she lost touch with that feeling of magic. A year ago, at age twenty-nine, she rediscovered it when she … rediscovered it when she left her father’s landscaping business to spread her wings and start a fairy garden business and teashop in beautiful Carmel, California. At Open Your Imagination, she teaches garden design and sells everything from fairy figurines to tinkling wind chimes and trickling fountains. Now she’s starting a book club tea.
But the light of the magical world she’s created inside her shop is darkened one night when she discovers neighboring dog-grooming business owner Mick Watkins dead beside a fountain. To make matters worse, the police suspect Courtney of the crime. To clear her name and find the real killer, Courtney will have to wing it. But she’s about to get a little help from an unexpected new friend . . .
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A SPRINKLING OF MURDER is the first book in a new cozy mystery series by the wonderfully talented, Daryl Wood Gerber. I really enjoy stories with a supernatural “spirit” to them, and this enchanting book had enough magic, charm, and fairy dust to keep my interest until the very end. The protagonist in this series is Courtney Kelly who lives in the beautiful seaside town of Carmel, California and runs her own shop, Open Your Imagination, which is a fairy garden business and tea shop. Courtney is the perfect person you would want building a fairy garden for you because she has first-hand knowledge of what fairies like and don’t like because she has Fiona, the shop’s resident fairy and Courtney’s friend, giving her ideas. When one of her neighboring shop owners is found murdered in her shop, Courtney becomes the number one suspect and teams up with Fiona to clear her name. As with all of Daryl Wood Gerber’s books, the lead and supporting characters are relatable, likeable, and engaging. The mystery and its motive are believable with numerous suspects, twists and turns, and red herrings to keep the reader guessing until the killer is finally revealed. A SPRINKLING OF MURDER is a great start to what feels like a promising and whimsical new series, and I can’t wait to see what is in store next for Courtney, Fiona, and their friends!
I requested and received an ARC from the author to review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
Courtney Kelly is finally doing what she loves. She’s the owner of her dream shop, Open Your Imagination. Here she has all things Fairy. I love how she tries to get people to believe in magic. She knows that it’s real. After all she has her own personal Fairy. Fiona. She’s a righteous fairy who too often finds trouble. Courtney loves living in Carmel-by-the Sea. It’s a special place. She has great friends here, but she has her fair share of detractors. Not everyone believes in what they can’t see. When Mick Watkins who owns a nearby pet grooming salon is murdered in her shop, Courtney becomes the prime suspect. I liked how she along with Fiona decide to assist the Police. Detective Dylan Summers isn’t pleased with her help. Courtney has spunk. She won’t let herself be a victim. I liked that. However, there are plenty of suspects and unexpected surprises. She needs all her fairy’s help to find the truth. I enjoyed A Sprinkling of Murder. The fairies gave this cozy a magical twist that pulled me into a special world. Now I’m interested in Fairies. I can’t wait for more of Fiona’s magic. Plus I want my own Fairy Garden so that I can experience the peace and beauty.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed.
A Sprinkling of Murder is the first in the new Fairy Garden mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber and, as a fan of her previous mysteries, that was all I need to know. I didn’t hesitate to get a copy. These days magic and fairies are very much needed in our lives, to believe in them. Courtney believed in them when she was ten but lost her connection to them when her mother died. Now, at thirty, she has reconnected and now her sidekick is an impish fairy named Fiona. She is what is known as a righteous fairy and, to be kind, she is a bit of a work in progress. She has been booted out of fairy school by the fairy queen. Courtney can now see fairies since taking a chance and opening her fairy garden and tea room shop in the lovely Carmel-by-the sea. She learned gardening and landscaping from the family business but now is the time to spread her wings. Fate has other plans in the form of the dead body of her gruff neighbor – found on her patio. He was the owner of the pet grooming business and, at one time, had tried to expand his business into the space that Courtney now has. The police put Courtney at the top of their list of suspects and that forces her to investigate to clear her name and save her business.
The list of suspects is long enough to keep the reader guessing and Courtney manages to investigate without getting way out of line. The mystery is complex and I guessed wrong several times. Don’t be put off by the large cast of characters. They set the stage for future entries in the series and there is a very helpful list of characters at the beginning to keep everyone straight. I’m adding this series to my TBR list. I might even try my hand at creating a fairy garden while I wait for the next entry in this delightful series.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Fairies and fairy gardens. I would love to have my own personal fairy. What a fun business to be in sharing with other folks and showing them how to build their own fairy garden. Do you believe? I think Fiona and Courtney make a great team. Hang with them as they figure out what happened to their neighbor. I really enjoyed the story line and the characters in this book. I think you will too. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
Daryl Wood Gerber is one of my favorite authors, so I was thrilled to learn she was starting a new series! This is her first foray into magical elements, and it was wonderful! Courtney runs a fairy garden shop, complete with an actual fairy who lives there. Of course, not everyone can see Fiona, but those who believe can.
The mystery was great, with plenty of suspects and red herrings for Courtney (with help from Fiona) to try to sort out. I enjoyed the way she investigated, talking to as many people as possible, and going to places related to the case to see what she could learn. When she finally figured it out (about the same time I did), all the clues made sense, and the culprit and motive were logical.
There were lots of great secondary characters as well, and I look forward to seeing more of Courtney’s co-worker, father, and potential love interest in future books. And of course, her adorable kitten! And Fiona and other fairies as well.
This is a great first book in what promises to be a wonderful series going forward.
Thank you to the author and the Cozy Mystery Review Crew on Facebook for providing me with a paper copy to read.
As a fan of Ms. Gerber’s other mysteries, I was intrigued by the premise of this book. Murder, mayhem, and Fairies. Very much a ‘cozy mystery’.
As book one in a brand-new series, it must develop the backstory. I found this a bit ponderous. We were introduced to so many inhabitants of Carmel California, seemingly all at once. Some were suspects, some were townspeople, some were owners of other businesses, and some were officers investigating the murder. Add in the canines and felines, and I felt overwhelmed. I did enjoy the story once I found my center.
Courtney Kelly has branched off from her father’s landscaping business and is now running a shop where people can make Fairy Gardens. Courtney was able to see and communicate with fairies as a child, losing the ability when her mother died, and found it again as an adult. She now feels compelled to show others this magical world. Her father, a retired police officer and now landscaper, isn’t happy with her choice. He is not a believer.
Alerted to a dead man, another tenant in the complex, in her place of business by Fiona, her resident fairy, Courtney becomes a person of interest in his murder. She knows she’s not guilty, but who is? ‘Helping’ the police chase down suspect after suspect and finally exonerating herself, the fact remains that the murderer is still out there! Numerous suspects seem to be the guilty party. Racing to the end of the book, we finally find out who done it! Some things are not as they seem.
This was a fun, easy, cozy read. If you like animals, you’ll like this book. It seems everyone in Carmel has a pet and many of them have more than one! Grab some tea, a couple of cookies, and enjoy this book.
This is the first in new series and is set in Carmel at a fairy garden shop. When the owner of the shop next door is murdered, there’s a lot going on. This is a solid first book. I love the fairy garden and the characters. The mystery is top-notch with many suspects including Courtney owner of the fairy garden shop. I look forward to more in this series.
In this first book of a new series we are introduced to Courtney who decided it was time to make a change in her life. Courtney left her father’s landscaping business to open her own, a fairy garden business along with a tea shop. You see from an early age Courtney had a connection with fairies that is until her mom passed and she lost her way. She rediscovered all those lost feelings from long ago and fairies are a part of her life once again. Things are going well until she finds the bottom of Mick Watkins, a local businesses dead owner, dead in her shop. How had he gotten in and why was he kilked? It looks like the police have Courtney as one of the main suspects but she doesn’t know why, she hardly knew the man and had no issues with him. Courtney realizes that she must investigate to clear her name and to keep her shop open. Follow along as she delves into each new lead and gets help from a tiny and unexpected source. This was a truly enchanting read that will have you not only believing in fairies but it will get you in your own garden searching them! I loved the charming characters and the plot was definitely original.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my voluntary, honest review. This is my first Daryl Wood Gerber book and I loved every minute of it. Fairy gardens allow you to have a little magic in your life and when you have your own fairies you may have more than magic, according to Fiona (Courtney’s fairy). This is an amazing read and a great beginning to a new series. I’m looking forward to many, many more books. Enjoy!
This was a delightful cozy! The characters were interesting and some were a little quirky. The fairy garden shop sounds divine. I’ve never encountered a fairy garden but this cozy makes you want to learn more about them and maybe try your hand at creating one. I’m sure my grandkids would love to have fairies living at Nana’s house. The mystery was good and kept you guessing until the end. A great beginning to a new series. Looking forward to more!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.
When I read that Ms. Gerber was starting a new series involving fairy gardens, I could not wait. I wanted to be in on the beginning. So when I won an advance copy from Goodreads, I was ecstatic. The book did not disappoint. Having fairy gardens and fairies play a role in the book was genius. Wouldn’t this be a wonderful world if fairies really existed? Maybe they do but I don’t believe enough to see them. Hmm. I’m actually thinking of creating a fairy garden for myself now. As for the book, I liked having a cast of characters list at the beginning. The story took me down the path of a murder, suspects, and ultimately revelation of the killer with some help from fairies. While I speculated about who committed the murder, I didn’t stress out trying to figure out who did it because the story was well-paced. I can’t wait for the second book in the series.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Repost of my original review at Goodreads.com.
A Sprinkling of Murder is the first book in a new series by Daryl Wood Gerber’s A Fairy Garden Mystery Series. I have read several of this authors books in other series, and really enjoyed her writing style. This is a cozy mystery with a touch of a paronormal twist, I enjoyed getting to know Courtney, and Fiona both. I believe after reading this book I would enjoy having a fairy garden. I would recommend this book to others that enjoy cozy mysteries.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Publishing and this is my fair and honest review.
A Sprinkling of Murder by Daryl Wood Gerber is the first in a new series, Fairy Garden Mystery series, featuring Courtney Kelly, a landscaper turned fairy garden aficionado and proprietor of Open Your Imagination, a fairy gardener’s dream-come-true. Courtney’s store is one of several in a small courtyard of shops in Carmel-by-the-Sea. It’s a full store: besides customers she has her cat, Pixie; her employee, Joss’ and her resident fairy, Fiona, a righteous fairy. All is going well until a rumor starts that her landlord is planning to sell the building and that seems to be backed up with an argument Courtney sees him having with another tenant, Mick Watkins, owner of Wizard of Paws, pet grooming studio. Other tenants seem to have heard the rumor was well. Panic ensues when Mick turns up murdered.
This is going to be a terrific series. Let’s start with the requirements for a cozy: female of owner of a small business…check; a pet, ideally a cat…check PLUS we have a fairy; police officers who are not thrilled with the assistance…check; a small cadre of friends and business associates…check; an over-protective parent. Yup, it’s a cozy mystery and it’s going to be a good one. Plus, the cover is beyond gorgeous. The fairy is a fabulous touch and add that she’s earning her way out of disgrace makes it even better. Few of Courtney’s customers believe, but a lot of children come through the shop and they are more likely to. Pixie sees her and plays with her, and Joss sees her. What more do we need? Fiona helps solve the crime since she can be places and not be noticed. She makes the perfect spy. This book is soooo much fun, even if someone is murdered. It has all the elements and is being written by a master. The personalities are strong and the setting is ideal. This is going to be a strong cast of characters and a terrific series. Can’t wait! I recommend it!
I was invited to read an ARC of A Sprinkling of Murder by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #asprinklingofmurder
I want to make a fairy garden. This is such a good start to this series and I can’t wait to see where it goes. Courtney has left her father’s business to open her own. there are those who think she is crazy for believing in fairies, but she doesn’t care. When she finds a neighbor in her store, dead, she becomes one of the suspects. There are plenty of suspects and she is trying hard to clear her name. It is a good mystery and I had a hard time guessing the killer.
This author is new to me, and I am always excited to find a new author. I’ve been into paranormal cozy mysteries lately, and this one intrigued me. I dived in, and the first thing I saw was a big list of characters. Hmm, that didn’t excite me as I don’t like a lot of characters to keep track of like in high fantasy. However, I didn’t let that deter me. It didn’t take long for me to be engaged in the book, and I enjoyed the ride. The author does tend to go into great detail with some things which I don’t like, but that is a personal preference. The mystery was interesting, and I liked the way it ended. Oh, and it really wasn’t that hard to keep track of all the characters, so I didn’t need to be alarmed at the beginning. This was a well-written, if very detailed, cozy. I’ll definitely be reading more. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
A Magical Fairy Garden shop! What’s not to love. There were lots of suspects to keep me guessing as to who had killed the guy that dies in Courtney’s garden. I think the thing that drew me into the story so much was the whimsical thread that runs through the well written mystery. Sometimes a little whimsy is just what we need. Look forward to reading the next in this wonderful new series
A magical new series by Daryl Wood Gerber, one of my favorite cozy mystery authors. This book is exactly what we need a comforting book with great characters, fairies, and a little Murder! Loved getting to know new characters and it’s set in one of my favorite towns, Carmel by the Sea. Great read that kept me up late turning the pages and filled with twists and turns to keep the reader guessing!
What I really enjoy is all the tips in making fairy gardens. I’ll definitely have to try making one. We have one that we bought at a renaissance fairs, but making one would be fun! Daryl did a Great job describing the steps. I also loved Fiona, the fairy and the kitten, Pixie. Fiona is everything you expect out of a fairy. There are great quotes at the beginning of each chapter that relate to fairies from plays, books and even Daryl herself. I’m really looking forward to the next in the series. This series definitely makes me glad I’ve never stopped believing in fairy folk.