Praise for Magick & Mayhem, the first Abracadabra mystery “Pape has a sure‑handed balance of humor and action.” —Julie Hyzy, New York Times bestselling author “Spellbinding, with magical prose, a wizardly plot, and a charming sleuth.” —Janet Bolin, Agatha-nominated author of the national bestselling Threadville Mysteries “Magic, Merlin, and murder are a great mix for this fun debut cozy.” Mysteries
“Magic, Merlin, and murder are a great mix for this fun debut cozy.”
—Lynn Cahoon, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
The answer to whodunit may lie beyond the veil . . .
November in upstate New York can be chilly, but Kailyn Wilde’s shop, Abracadabra, is a cozy respite where you can find lotions, potions, and plenty of warm, feline company. But what customers don’t know is that the proprietor has some unusual powers—and unusual friends, including the renowned magician Merlin, who’s been transported into the modern world. All of which comes in handy when there’s a murder to be solved . . .
Investigative journalist Ryan Cutler has perished in a car accident in New Camel, and his friend, Travis, suspects foul play—especially when the reporter’s notes reveal a mysterious list of dead men’s names. Kailyn wants to help, but she’s also got her hands full with the curmudgeonly Merlin, who’s not exactly maintaining a low profile. Between keeping the wizard under wraps and mixing up cold remedies that work like magic, she’ll have to tap into her many talents to figure out a killer’s fatal formula . . .
“A charming, must-read mystery with enchanting characters. A fun and entertaining page turner.”—Rose Pressey, USA Today bestselling author
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Magick Run Amok is another delightful entry in the Abracadabra Mystery series. Sharon Pape creates a great cozy community inhabited by characters that readers are sure to love, or not so much for a few. Within that community reside Kailyn Wilde, her aunt Tilly, and one recent arrival…Merlin, yes, that one. People who visit Kailyn’s shop are fine with the mild magick with which she imbues her herbal lotions and remedies but most don’t quite believe in magick. A certain news anchor has had to accept it because Kailyn knows that she and Travis cannot have a relationship if he only knows part of her. It takes him a while once he sees a demonstration, but he gets there.
Not only is Kailyn having to get use to running the shop without the help of her late mother and other aunt who recently died in a car wreck, now she is also having to figure out the murders that are popping up around her. The most recent death is one that closely touches Travis who asks for her help.
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
I fell in love with the characters in the series during book one and this one loved up to my expectations. We get to follow Kailyn, her aunt, Merlin, and the cats on yet another murder investigation that will have you laughing and gasping along the way. The story follows a new twist that I really enjoyed and when you add the magic I had a hard time putting it down. If you enjoy cozy mysteries that have a magical flair to them then you really have to try this book/series. I really enjoyed it so I give it 4/5 stars.
Magick Run Amok
An Abracadabra Mystery, Book #3
Sharon Pape
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Praise for Magick & Mayhem, the first Abracadabra mystery
“Pape has a sure‑handed balance of humor and action.”
—Julie Hyzy, New York Times bestselling author
“Spellbinding, with magical prose, a wizardly plot, and a charming sleuth.”
—Janet Bolin, Agatha-nominated author of the national bestselling Threadville Mysteries
“Magic, Merlin, and murder are a great mix for this fun debut cozy.”
—Lynn Cahoon, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
The answer to whodunit may lie beyond the veil . . .
November in upstate New York can be chilly, but Kailyn Wilde’s shop, Abracadabra, is a cozy respite where you can find lotions, potions, and plenty of warm, feline company. But what customers don’t know is that the proprietor has some unusual powers—and unusual friends, including the renowned magician Merlin, who’s been transported into the modern world. All of which comes in handy when there’s a murder to be solved . . .
Investigative journalist Ryan Cutler has perished in a car accident in New Camel, and his friend, Travis, suspects foul play—especially when the reporter’s notes reveal a mysterious list of dead men’s names. Kailyn wants to help, but she’s also got her hands full with the curmudgeonly Merlin, who’s not exactly maintaining a low profile. Between keeping the wizard under wraps and mixing up cold remedies that work like magic, she’ll have to tap into her many talents to figure out a killer’s fatal formula . . .
“A charming, must-read mystery with enchanting characters. A fun and entertaining page turner.”—Rose Pressey, USA Today bestselling author (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well developed and well rounded. I love the relationships between Kailyn, her Aunt Tilly and Merlin, the magician. Kailyn and Aunt Tilly take turns being the “adult” and Merlin is always the precocious “child”. The situations they find themselves in are often very funny and entertaining. Travis is a great guy and he did not run the other way when Kailyn told him about her special powers. I think he is a keeper. I enjoy any time that I spend with them.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy ready. The writing style defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I really enjoy the world of magick and mayhem that she creates. Although Kailyn is a witch I forget most of the time that she is a witch. She just seems like a regular person, except of course when she has to perform some magical trick to get out of trouble.
The mystery was well paced and carried on well throughout the entire book. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through and it was not easily solved.
I would highly recommend this book (and series) to anyone that enjoys a well crafted cozy. I have read them all and I have loved them all.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
What a fun read! Kailyn Wilde’s Aunt Tilly has another premonition of a murder and although Kailyn feels her Aunt’s premonitions are more of a hunch until Travis informs Kailyn that he found his friend and he’s dead. Travis shares that Ryan and his connection to each other goes beyond friendship, and vows to find out who killed Ryan. Kailyn joins in using her magic skills. Together they discover quite a few people have been killed, but need to find out what Ryan, a reporter, knew. Although, the focus is around the mystery of who killed Ryan, there is plenty of humor tossed in.
I’m particularly fond of Merlin, who, although well meaning, always seems to cause trouble for himself. My favorite part was when he transformed himself into a duck, where his indignation was proclaimed by quacking. When Kaitlyn and her aunt using a spell trying to transform Merlin back to himself, lead to a quagmire of varying body parts making an appearance.
If you enjoy paranormal, mystery, and humor then you’ll enjoy this book! I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
There is something brewing in New Camel and Kailyn Wilde had nothing to do with it until her boyfriend Travis pulls her in. Ryan Cutler, an investigative journalist is found dead after a car crash. It is ruled an accident by the police but Travis feels it was murder. Ryan was neck deep into an investigation and Travis believes it got him killed. Travis needs Kailyn’s help to find out all about the story Ryan was working on and knows they may need a little magick to get the information they need. Kailyn is also dealing with Merlin, the magician. He is getting more curious about this world he has been dropped into and he is on a mission that could affect the whole town. Hang on tight because Magick is running Amok, Amok, Amok!
Kailyn is still missing having mother and grandmother around to help every day at Abracadabra, but they still pop in “visit” in their ghostly form to give her unwanted advice. This time they popped in while Travis was in the shop. Good thing Kailyn had filled him in on her unusual family. Aunt Tilley is still serving tea and scones, doing readings, and helping out in Kailyn’s shop when Kailyn is tracking down a lead. They both try their best to keep the crafty wizard, Merlin, in line, but sometimes he gets away from them. Merlin is always my favorite character. Everything is new to him and he has the best intentions. I also love the way he can be distracted, usually by food. I also love the way Kailyn’s home is full of cats. Sashkatu is the cat that travels to the magick shop every day but the cats at home usually meet her at the door when she gets home. Of course, they expect to be fed immediately
Sharon Pape takes these wonderful characters and envelopes them in a complicated mystery that is so much fun to read. Kailyn and Travis make a great sleuthing team. I am so happy that he has accepted Kailyn for her as she is, pop up ghostly relatives and all. They proceed to work their investigation in a very logical way, well after a little magickal intervention to get a key piece of evidence. She also fills the story will humor, Merlin’s antics will have you laughing out loud.
Great characters and a great mystery make this story almost too entertaining to put down. I would have read the entire thing the first night if my eyeballs would have cooperated.
I would classify this series as paranormal light. Just the way I like them. Each can be read on their own, but why would you want to miss out on any of these clever stories.
MAGICK RUN AMOK by Sharon Pape
The Third Abracadabra Mystery
Merlin, yes, that Merlin, is a magician on a mission. He’s determined to changed the name of New Camel back to it’s original name, a mission that could do more harm than good! It also seems that Aunt Tilly has developed a new power and it’s one she really doesn’t want. Tilly can predict death. Sadly, her prediction is realized when Travis finds his missing journalist brother dead. And Travis doesn’t think it was an accident. He’s asked for Kailyn’s help and the two of them are out to discover what story he was working on and if that’s what got him killed!
What fun to be back in New Camel, NY! I live not too far from this fictional town and so wish I could meander the aisles of Abracadabra and pick out some products for myself! Truth be told, I’d also be popping across the street to get some of Lolly’s fudge! I love the banter between Tilly and Merlin as well as Kailyn’s recently dead, but not so departed, mother and grandmother. With all of the nuttiness, I appreciate how down to earth Kailyn is. It’s satisfying how Kailyn uses legwork, research, and a little bit of magick to track down a killer.
While there are plenty of laughs to be found here, MAGICK RUN AMOK also touches on some more serious subjects, primarily loss and love, including the lengths you go to for a loved one. The book deals with losing loved ones, yet celebrating the family you have left, whether that family is biological or the one you create for yourself.
MAGICK RUN AMOK is delightful fun with quirky characters and a complicated mystery.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.