A curse stole one witch’s powers, but gave her the ability to speak with animals. Now she helps a hunky police officer and his sassy, lie-detecting canine solve paranormal mysteries. When a bride’s murdered on her wedding day, can this team catch the killer?
When former lawyer turned pet psychic, Jolene Hartgrave, is called in to consult on the case of a wedding day tragedy, she’s shocked to … she’s shocked to recognize the murdered bride as someone from her childhood. Jolene vows to tie the knot on the case and to mend her rocky relationship with hunky cop Peter, even as she struggles to confess to him one final secret–her connection to the underground shifter mob boss.
As Peter and Jolene investigate how a girl from the seedy Night Market district came to be killed at her own wedding to the magical island’s elite, they uncover political scandals, jealous rivals and country club clashes.
Will Jolene engage justice for a fellow shifter and prove to Peter she’s trustworthy? Or will she let a killer roam free and lose the man she’s crushing on?
Breaking Bat is the sixth novel in the hilarious and enchanting Magic Market paranormal cozy mystery series. If you like talking animal sidekicks, delicious riddles, and cheeky female leads, then you’ll love Erin Johnson’s enchanting tale.
Buy Breaking Bat to dive into a charming mystery today, or read for free with Kindle Unlimited.
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Breaking Bat by Erin Johnson takes us back to Bijou Mer. Jolene Hartgrave has been called by Officer Peter Flint because they have a new case. A bride died just after saying her vows and Peter does not believe the woman took her own life. The case is not going to be as easy to solve with Daisy’s abilities impaired. The Sansea Winds has kicked up Daisy’s allergies which has made her miserable and in no mood for Jolene’s snarky comments. Peter and Jolene need to figure out who had it in for the unfortunate bride. Jolene is also hoping that they will get a chance to talk and work things out between them. Ever since Jolene told Peter she was a shifter their relationship has been off kilter. Jolene also needs to tell Peter about Ludolf Caterwaul and his threats. Can Peter and Jolene solve the case without Daisy? Breaking Bat is the 6th a Magic Market Mystery. While it can be read on its own, I recommend reading this amusing series in order. Erin Johnson has an engaging writing style. I like that I am drawn right into the story and my attention is held until the end. I laugh frequently while reading this humorous tale. I especially love the snarky comments between Daisy and Jolene. The whodunit was entertaining. There are multiple suspects in the murder along with misdirection. There are clues to help readers solve the mystery if you pay close attention. Jolene gets to chat with a bat this time. I was happy that we got an update on Sam from the Spells & Caramels series. It was nice that Jolene and Peter finally get a chance to talk. They are a cute couple. This is my favorite book in a Magic Market Mysteries. Breaking Bat is a droll paranormal mystery with benevolent bat, a diminished dog, a minacious mobster, a perplexing puzzle, and a missing mixture.
This review is for the audio book.
I loved this book. As the title and the picture shows it is a fun quirky mystery and an excellent all round series that young or old will enjoy. I love the characters and the banter between them, especially Daisy the dog and the main character Jolene, highly amusing, the way they are always snipping at each other. This book did seem shorter than the rest of the books and not so many suspects to question but with there lie detecting dog suffering with allergies, less people was better. I still really enjoyed it. With each book a little bit more is revealed about what happened to Jolene’s powers and Peter learns to trust her more. Will romance be in the air? this means it isn’t necessary to have heard the previous books but it does help with the on going story line. Can’t wait for the next book to see what happens next. I love it when a favourite author brings out a new book.
Peter calls for Jolene’s help again on an important case but this time its just the two of them, Daisy the lie sniffling dog is suffering from allergies and is spending most of her time sneezing. A bride is killed in a locked room on her wedding day just seconds after saying I do. She was a shifter, that Jolene knew from her orphanage days, one that had done well for herself and was marrying into an important and wealthy family. Did the in laws know about her past? Somebody did, the fact that she was highly allergic to strawberries. But who had the opportunity and motive to kill her? Jolene must step up to the challenge with Daisy out of action and revisit her past in the hopes of finding some answers. Will working on a case involving a dead shifter finally mean Jolene can tell Peter about the final secret she has been hiding or will it push him even further away?
I like the narrator. She is so bubbly and the excitement and enjoyment she feels reading the story really comes across in her re telling.
Jolene is back! And Peter too. Though I was far less excited to see him. I’m still not convinced he deserves Jolene’s forgiveness either but we’ll see how it goes.
I think the mystery in this story in my favourite of the series so far. We’ve got to figure out who murdered Letty, a young lady from the Darkmoon District who was the very unlikely bride of a wealthy young politician. Daisy’s suffering from allergies in this one, so her truth detection skills can’t be relied upon. I loved how all the clues kept circling round and round. Every time I thought I had the motive and culprit pinned, something else would come up and make me change my mind. Of course there were those I really really wanted to be guilty too! The big reveal in the end isn’t too suspenseful but it’s certainly dramatic and entertaining.
In terms of character development, Jolene and Peter make up and figure out a way to move past their differences. I still think he was being unfair and bit stubborn in his expectations. That said, the way the theme of prejudice is worked into the tale is very interesting and gives a deeper meaning to what is essentially a light, fun read.
The overall series arc continues unfolding. Jolene’s former school mistress offers some key historical details that sheds some light of Ludolf’s origins.
Overall, a great addition to the series which seems to be getting stronger and stronger.
It’s a terrible tragedy when the bride dies on her wedding day. More importantly is the way she died. The bride was deathly allergic to strawberries, so why were they in her dressing room? That is the question Jolene and Peter have to answer.
The wedding was an elite affair, the groom, Chaz Harrington, an up and coming politician and surprisingly the bride, Letty Jones was from the Darkmoon District. Jolene vaguely remembers her from the orphanage where they grew up. However, none of her friends are in attendance except for the caterer, Joe Santos.
They are going to have to interrogate the witnesses without the aid of Daisy. Apparently, poor Daisy has allergies that mess up her ability to sniff out lies.
No one in particular stands out as a murderer, and even though Chaz, says they were happy, they can’t rule out suicide. However, they learn she always had her anti-allergy potion on her, but apparently not on this day since they didn’t find any.
There are several suspects, Chaz, his campaign manager Cybil, his ex-girlfriend Rachel, the caterer Joe and of course Chaz’s parents.
There are many questions still unanswered and Jolene, with the help of Will and Heidi track down Letty’s potion maker. That adds even more questions since it seems Letty always had both a syringe and a vial of it.
I couldn’t put this one down, and things aren’t as simple without Daisy telling whose lying. I really hope Peter sees the light on Jolene’s truths, I really like them together.
A bride is killed and Daisy is put out of commission by seasonal allergies so no truth sniffing abilities. It is now up to Jolene and Peter to solve the crime by themselves. The bride that was killed was a girl that Jolene knew from the orphanage and she was a shifter. There is less Jolene and Daisy banter but there is a bat who is interesting. This mystery keeps yo guessing until the end. Talking animals and a whodunit..win win. I was given a free copy of this book at my request and this is my honest review.
A murder victim at the wedding of the rich and influential Harringtons? Preposterous. She clearly committed suicide. Or did she? Jolene, Peter, and Daisy are on the case and they are starting to get along again, thank goodness. I didn’t like it when they weren’t. Shell, Daisy and Jolene were getting along better than Jolene and Peter and that’s scary. This one cracked me up because Daisy had allergies and her lie detecting nose was out of commission. It wasn’t good for her self-image either. Speaking of allergies, that seems to be the cause of death in this case. Another good one to figure out. I managed to figure out the mode of murder but with the wrong person. Darn it. Keep reading these books and if you haven’t read the previous books then start from the beginning, it’s worth it.
Delightful magical mystery that Erin has delivered again in this 6th book of the Magic Market Mysteries series!
It all starts out with a bride with deathly allergic reactions to strawberries suddenly drops dead inside a locked suite in the castle by herself with only a lancet window big enough for a bat to fly through!
Officer Flint relies on Jolene to help out this time with her special abilities of speaking to animals, since his partner Daisy Dog just happens to have issues with allergies herself as the season of winds kick up to cause her to be miserible.
Interviews of all the Wedding party and catering crew as well as all food was tested for any sign of strawberries!
Finally Jolene gets a chance to talk to the Bartholomew the Bat and got the scoop on what happened in the Bridal Suite as our bride had a potion that help with her deadly allergy and carried a syringe with her.
Now of course there is so much that you can write in a review, but you won’t know the whole story until you read all the wonderful happening of these characters!
This is the 6th book in Erin Johnson’s Magic Market series and it did not disappoint! Love her writing style and the way she weaves a mystery that always has me baffled as I try to figure out who, what, why, etc.
The banter between Daisy (Officer Peter Flint’s lie sniffing dog) and Jolene always makes me laugh. In this book they are getting closer but still there is snark between the two. I highly recommend this book and all of Erin’s books for that matter. I really enjoy reading everything she puts out.
Breaking Bat by Erin Johnson is another fabulously written book, and we are learning more about the shifter community than ever.
Will Jolene be able to figure out who killed Letty?
Jolene and company
Jolene Hartgrove and Officers Peter and Daisy Flint are back on with another case. Only this time, poor Daisy can’t use her lie sniffing to help them out. See, Daisy has allergies, and they are pretty much active. Jolene comes in to help solve the case even though there was no animal present. A lot is going on for Jolene, Peter, and Daisy. The first two have to deal with no Daisy to help them out and figure out who is lying. Not only that, but Jolene is trying to figure out how to tell Peter the rest of her story as a shifter. Peter overall is doing a lot better than he did the last time we saw him. Jolene and Daisy are getting along better too. I love their banter that they have going on, as it is hilarious.
What I like about Jolene and company is that they are getting better at listening and taking things in stride. Not only that, but that the three of them are each willing to listen to the others. Another thing that I like is that this case brings the three of them closer together despite it being a touchy subject.
The Mystery
The mystery is that a bride was found dead in her bridal suite with the main door into the room locked, and the only way in or out is a small window that was left open. We learn a lot about the shifter community and how it was before the Monster Wars happened. Along with how Ludlof came into power. It is a very informative book that leaves me with more questions about what is happening to Jolene. Not only that, but how the orphanage got started and how the shifters got their powers. I thought I had the right guy but talked myself out of it, and it was the right guy. So beware of the red herrings and don’t get caught up in them.
Five Stars
Breaking Bat by Erin Johnson is a great book, and I love this series. I am enjoying learning about the shifter community in this series and how they are different than Sam. Oh, and Sam makes an appearance, sort of, in this one for the fans of Ms. Johnson’s first series Spells and Caramels. It was an overall incredible story, and I love how Jolene is with both Peter and Daisy. I can’t wait to read more from this series. I am giving it five stars and recommending it to anyone that wants to read it.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Breaking Bat by Erin Johnson.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
The Sansea winds of change are blowing.
The 6th installment of Jolene and Peter’s story does not disappoint! Erin weaves magic and excitement into every page.
The death of an orphan shifter hits very close to home for Jolene taking her on a journey through her past with a visit to the woman who raised her. We’re diving ever deeper into the mysterious shifter underground, peeling back the layers in each book.
As Jolene navigates her relationships with Peter and Daisy, creating and restoring trust between them, she gains confidence and belief in herself. Love this series. It’s truly a favorite and I can’t wait to devour the next book.
This book was fantastic!!! Everything that I’ve kind of been wishing was stronger in the series was in this book. So much world building and character building without feeling overwhelming.
Erin is really upping her writing craft, each book she writes just gets better and better. Seriously one of my top 5 authors ever.
This murder explores information closer to Jolene shifter origins. We get an inside glimpse at the grit of shifter haters. The case gets a new level of complicated due to unforeseen issues. I loved to see the gang pull it off even a handicap.
These books explore both sides of the island, it’s great to be able to see how each side lives, and the problems they face. I’m excited to see where the story takes us. I’m rooting for the shifters to equal rights! I also love how this series is really putting more perspective on the happenings in the Seashells, Spells & Caramels.
If you love paranormal cozy mysteries, you’re going to love this series!
Jolene once again helps Peter and Daisy solve a murder but this one is different in a few ways. I found this a page turner and gained more insight to both the upper and lower classes who live on the island. This book is quite funny as well as being a murder mystery. So if you have liked this series so far, I am sure you will enjoy this one as well.
Breaking Bat is the sixth novel in the hilarious and enchanting Magic Market paranormal cozy mystery series. Jolene Hartgrave, is consulting on the case of a wedding day tragedy, she’s shocked to recognize the murdered bride as someone she knew from the orphanage in the Dark Moon District.
So, the questions are: how did she find herself marrying a wealthy politician, what was the real motive behind her death, and if murder, who did it?
I like the way the series is progressing. I am happy to see that Jolene, Peter, and Daisy are finding their way to a bearable situation. I see a light at the end of the tunnel for these main characters.
I was given an advanced reader’s copy and am not required to leave a positive review.
A murder victim at the wedding of the rich and influential Harringtons? Preposterous. She clearly committed suicide. Or did she? Jolene, Peter, and Daisy are on the case and they are starting to get along again, thank goodness. I didn’t like it when they weren’t. Daisy and Jolene were getting along better than Jolene and Peter and that’s scary. This one cracked me up because Daisy had allergies and her lie detecting nose was out of commission. It wasn’t good for her self-image either. Speaking of allergies, that seems to be the cause of death in this case. Another good one to figure out. I managed to figure out the mode of murder but with the wrong person. Darn it. Keep reading these books and if you haven’t read the previous books then start from the beginning, it’s worth it.
Another great mystery from Erin Johnson with a dead bride, strawberries allergies, a powerful family and a poor girl. Can Peter and Jolen solve the mystery with Daisy down with allergic problems? Another challenge with a wonderful twist at the end.
wonderful as always.Glad that Peter is bing a big boy and that Daisy is learning
Weddings can be a killer
Jolene is called to a death at a wedding and meets up with Peter, Daisy is out of commission with allergies so Peter needs all the help she can give him.
Jolene is still trying to earn Peter’s trust back and find time to discuss the Shifter underground boss.
The bride is dead and she is from the Night Market district but was marrying one of the island’s elite. They discover she’s a shifter, is this why she was killed? This leads to lots of questions and investigating. Throw in snarky comments between Daisy and Jolene and you’ve got a fun book.
Great series!