The city of magic and complex protocols, a haunted necklace, and ghosts and fairies… hexed necklace crosses Rick’s desk, Mandy is ready to tackle it.
An emerald necklace on loan from a dance troop in Louisiana is playing hide and seek in its temporary home with the Kyoto Ballet Company. Worn by the deceased premier performer, the costume piece isn’t valuable, and according to Jackie and Allegra the violin fairy, it’s not even haunted, so what keeps making the beautiful bauble disappear?
Can Mandy’s ghostly crew solve the case and put fears of a curse to rest? The answers lie in this gem of an installment of the Manhattan Mystery Series.
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While being held in Kyoto due to the pandemic virus, Rick continues to work on a case. A missing necklace. It isn’t a valuable necklace but according to Allegra the violin fairy, something keeps making it disappear. But what? Can Mandy, Rick, and Sophie solve this one? You will need to read this short story to find out. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
From Kyoto with Wicked earns 4.5/5 Emeralds…Entertaining!
Living in Japan due to her husband Rick’s job, Mandy Rowling, her daughter Sophie, their friend/nanny/ghost Jackie are trying to enjoy what Kyoto has to offer within the confines and restrictions imposed by a real-life pandemic. Mandy is pleased she’s not come across any bodies, but an emerald necklace, seemingly haunted, sure gets things going. The Kyoto Ballet Company is set to present the theatrical production of “The Jewels,” but the necklace to be worn by one of the dancers seems cursed. It disappears, then reappears quite unexpectedly. Mandy and Sophie’s binging the online jewelry shows have given them some unique insights in to gems, but is it enough to manage a “hexed” necklace?
I enjoy Lotta Smith’s Paranormal in Manhattan series, and setting this twenty-second book in Japan was an intriguing prospect. Lotta’s writing style is always entertaining and descriptive with witty dialogue, and the premise of “I see/hear ghosts” to solve mysteries is always fun: Jackie is a real hoot, and the tales are quite clever. Of course, life moves forward, even in the literary world, and with dating, marriage, and now motherhood, Mandy’s become a well-rounded character. I’m not always amused by pre-schooler antics and inclusion in the midst of serious or ghostly business, but many may find it makes the series complete. I do like a level of realism, even in a paranormal story with ghosts and such, with the use of law enforcement, detecting strategies, and reasonable responses to danger, but setting the story during our real-life mess was maybe too soon for me. All in all I enjoyed the mystery, the characters, and the final conclusion; I recommend it to cozy fans who enjoy a few ghosts and haunted jewelry.
Mandy, Rick and Sophie are in Japan when the pandemic hits and prolong their stay even though they had time to get out. Mandy had some “other worldly” advice to do so. I wanted to like this book more, but I read to escape. Having multiple reminders of what’s going on in the real world almost threw me into one of my panic attacks. I don’t watch the news. I wish this series would go back to what it was like in the beginning. More ghostly mysteries, less precocious child. The ghosts from the ballet barely made it into the book. I really hope this series didn’t “jump the shark” when Sophie was added.
It was interesting to see the story set in another country with a totally different culture. There was also interesting information shared about various gemstones and their countries of origin.
Mandy and Rick, along with Sophie are living in Kyoto as Rick handles some company business. While there they are asked by a ballet company to solve the mystery of what appears to be a haunted necklace.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
Haunted emeralds?
This time Mandy and the gang are in Kyoto setting up a new division of Rick’s company during the pandemic. I know, we’ve all had enough of the pandemic, but this story does not take it over the top. Mandy is asked to help with what appears to be a haunted or hexed emerald necklace used by the ballet. It will disappear and reappear somewhere else. Is it haunted by the previous ballerina? And just how valuable is it? We get to learn a little about the culture in Kyoto and also about different gems and where they come from. Mandy and Sophie have been watching a lot of the jewelry shopping network!
I received an ARC. This is my honest review.