Nantucket candle store owner Stella Wright specializes in creating unique candles for every occasion. But someone sets the stage for murder when a Memorial Day celebration becomes a wedding to die for . . . Jessica Sterling’s candlelight-themed nuptials promises to be the perfect kick-off to the summer’s first official holiday weekend. Stella’s thrilled to have been chosen to provide the … chosen to provide the decorative centerpiece for the wedding ceremony: a two-foot-tall scented unity candle—a symbol of the happy couple’s love. But it looks like the bride-to-be’s uncle won’t be walking his niece down the aisle after he’s found dead. The murder weapon is Stella’s seemingly indestructible candle, now split in two.
When a beloved local bartender is arrested, Stella’s sure a visiting police captain running the case made a rush to justice. With superstitious brides-to-be canceling orders and sales waxing and waning at her store, the Wick & Flame owner decides to do some sleuthing of her own. Abetted by a charming reporter and challenged by the town’s sexiest cop, Stella’s determined to shine a light on the truth and uncover a killer who’s snuffing out her own flame.
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A scentsational new series! Christin Brecher’s charming debut, Murder’s No Votive Confidence, glows with a seaside location, a candle shop, and a kitty that will melt your heart. Interesting characters and a twisting plot will keep you intrigued to the very end.
This Memorial Day Weekend is going to be busy for Stella Wright. Not only is it the start of tourist season for her native Nantucket Island, but, thanks to her best friend, she has landed a job providing candles for a wedding taking place over the weekend. This job includes a large and elaborate unity candle, but before the couple can walk down the aisle, Stella finds the candle broken next to the body of the bride’s estranged uncle. When the police are quick to arrest a local bartender, Stella is certain they have the wrong suspect. Can she use the fact that she’s helping with the wedding to find the killer?
I didn’t get as much reading time as I am used to when I picked up this book, but I felt like the book started off a little slowly. That might just be me, however. Things definitely picked up in the second third of the book, and I was impressed with some of the twists we got as we neared the super fun climax. The characters really grew on me, especially Stella. There are hints we might be in for a love triangle, but I think it is clear who Stella’s love interest should be, and I really liked him, too. The suspects are good characters and strong as suspects. I felt the island could have come to life a bit more, but again, that might have been my lack of reading time to fully immerse myself into the story. Overall, I enjoyed this debut and I’m definitely planning to visit Stella again.
The magical island of Nantucket, off the coast of Cape Cod, is one of my favorite places in the world, and since I won’t be visiting it for a while, reading this book is the next best thing. It starts as Memorial Day weekend is approaching, which, as every Cape Codder knows, is the official start of the summer tourist season. It’s also Figawi race weekend — an actual annual sailing contest that begins in Hyannis MA and ends on Nantucket. For those among you who don’t know what Figawi stands for, I could explain, but it’s so much more fun for you to read Christin Brecher’s explanation in “Death’s No Votive Confidence.” The likable protagonist, Stella Wright, runs a candle shop and has been tapped to do a special candle for a Memorial Day fancy nuptial celebration. Unfortunately, the special candle is used as a murder weapon instead. And then things start to get really interesting. I guarantee you’ll have tons of fun reading this cozy mystery! And don’t we all need to have some fun right now??
I relaxed with this delightful debut of the Nantucket Candlemaker Mystery. Protagonist Stella Wright opens Wick & Flame, a candle shop where she designs custom scented candles. When one of her specialty candles is used for a murder weapon, Stella and her best friend, Emily, an event planner, are swept up in the deceit surrounding a wedding fiasco. The author cleverly mixes candles and clues into this enjoyable cozy mystery. I also liked the beach setting in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Stella and her best friend Emily have occupations that compliment each other with Emily being and event planner and Stella, creating the candles for a specific event. This time the event is a wedding in which the bride decides to have a unity candle, as well as tapers for added ambiance, and votives as the wedding favors. The uniqueness of Stella’s shop is, she creates personal scents for her customers. The wedding weekend has arrived, guests are starting to check in to the designated inn, everything is as planned, until a murder happens! Since the crime was committed with one of Stella’s unity candles, she is bound and determined to find the criminal! With the help of friends, old and new, she begins to search through the clues, finding suspects throughout the wedding party!
As a first in a new series, I found this an enjoyable read. Set in Nantucket, a charming location, and the fact that it’s a candle shop mystery is what intrigued me. This was a new addition to the cozy craft mysteries for me. I enjoyed meeting Stella, and her shop the Wick & Flame, where she conducts candle making classes. I found the students, a group of older ladies, quite entertaining and hope to see more of the characters in a subsequent series. As things heat up between a couple love interests, I am curious to see how that may turn out. Definitely looking forward to the second book in the series to see how the characters develop, and the next mystery that needs to be solved!
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
What a fantastically fun book this is!! Stella is a candle maker in Nantucket gearing up to provide candles to an upcoming wedding. Things start out great with things going quite smoothly until the bride’s Uncle is found dead with the unity handle next to him. The best cat ever alerts them to the body and I must say I had great fun waiting for the cat to keep popping up after that. The moments blend perfectly with the story making me fall in love with the whole thing. Superbly written mystery full of twists, turns, and humor that will have you hooked from the very first page. I can’t wait for the next one! I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
Candles, an Island, and Murder – oh my!
I love reading cozies that have the protagonist in a career that is crafty and one that is intriguing. Enter Stella and her candlemaking business. She makes unique candles with handcrafted scents and seems to know what sort of scent would be best for various people. I’d love to know what she would suggest for me. She even teaches classes on candlemaking and I would have liked the book to have explored that just a little bit more, or added more details regarding the two classes that were taught in this book.
This mystery has a fair amount of characters but most of them are tied to a wedding that is taking place. I think we meet about 7 characters that were townsfolk. That helps when trying to figure out who might be the killer since it is most likely tied to the wedding and its guests. Speaking of the murder – while I didn’t figure out the killer, I thought the author did a good job of throwing suspicion on various characters so that when the killer was revealed it was quite a surprise to me. I might have suspected this character but didn’t know how deep the hatred ran and why.
There is also a potential love triangle between Stella, Andy, and Peter. Andy has a girlfriend but I don’t think she is right for him. Peter is the new journalist in town and seems interesting but you wonder how much is him or his career choice. If I had to choose, I’m #TeamAndy because they just seem like they fit together plus they have been friends forever. But we shall see how the author decides to work this out in future books.
I think this is going to be a good new series and we give this book 4 paws up.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Stella Wright owns Wick & Flame and has become the go-to person for wedding unity candles. She has created a two-foot-tall unity candle for Jessica Sterling and Joe Handler’s wedding, along with candles for the church, reception, and for the guests to take home all with an original scent approved by the bride. The family and bridal party have checked into the hotel including Simon Sterling, the bride’s uncle who has been asked to walk her down the aisle. New plans must be made when Simon body is found next to the broken unity candle.
A visiting police captain known for quickly solving cases makes a fast arrest. A bartender Stella has known for years. Also, brides are tying her to the murder and starting to cancel their orders. Deciding the only way to catch the real killer is by doing her own investigation. She is soon burning the candle at both ends when she searches out a murderer and works to replace the broken candle. She just needs to do it all without becoming the killer’s next target.
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I love the candlemaking theme of this series and am in awe of Stella Wright’s talent. Setting it on Nantucket is a wonderful bonus!
The author introduces us to a wonderful group of core characters. Stella, candlemaker extraordinaire, her female best friend wedding planner and very pregnant Emily, Nantucket Police Officer Andy, male best friend, which may turn into something more. . . or not, and Peter, a journalist who has come to town to report on the wedding. He could also be interested in Stella and wants to help her solve the murder, especially if he gets the scoop. The author does an excellent job developing these characters, making them real and engaging. There is still much to learn but for the first book in a series, it was very well done.
Ms. Brecher also introduces a vast number of suspects, some with more motive than others and many with opportunity. The victim’s cat, Tinker also played a major role.
This cozy mystery is full of twists, turns, and surprises. I read this entire book in one day. I could not put it down. The pages just kept turning, raising new questions, bringing different suspects to the forefront. I enjoyed the way the story was laid out and the author’s clear descriptions. A romance is hinted at but the relationships are complicated. The mystery came to a very satisfying conclusion. A wedding has its own kind of drama, a dead body takes things to a whole new level.
The first book in a new cozy mystery series is hard to write. The author needs to find a balance between introducing the characters and giving readers an entertaining mystery. Christin Brecher excelled at both. She also left me wanting more. I can’t wait for my next trip to Nantucket and Wick & Flame. Murder Makes Scents is scheduled to release on February 25, 2020.
Murder’s No Votive Confidence by Christin Becher is the first A Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery. Stella Wright owns Wick & Flame on Nantucket Island. She has been commissioned by bride-to-be, Jessica Sterling to create candles for her wedding including a one-of-a-kind unity candle. On the day before the wedding, the unity candle is found broken on the floor next to Jessica’s uncle, Simon Sterling. Someone took the candle and bashed in the man’s head (talk about crime of passion). When family friend, Bill Duffy is arrested by a visiting police chief for the murder, Stella sets out to find the real killer. I thought Murder’s No Votive Confidence was nicely written and it had steady pacing. The story is told from Stella’s perspective. I like the lovely setting of Nantucket Island. The author provides beautiful descriptions of the island flora and fauna, the shops, homes and, of course, the ocean. Stella is an affable character who prefers comfort clothes over fancy (much to her friend’s distress), a wee bit clumsy and has a contingent of cousins (I like Kate who forbade the others from cursing—good for her). The secondary characters are introduced with the barest of details. I am sure we will learn more about Stella and the others as the series progresses. I especially want to know more about the Candleers (Stella’s candle class students). I love that Stella is a candlemaker and I hope we get more information on the process of creating candles in future books. Stella provides some helpful candle tips and her creations sound lovely. The mystery was interesting with a unique twist. While I could identify the killer early in the game, I was curious to know more. I had questions and I wanted the answers. Tinker, Simon’s cat, was a great addition to the book. I like how he was involved in the investigation. I enjoyed Christin Becher’s debut cozy mystery and I look forward to reading more of this engaging new series. Murder’s No Votive Confidence is a delightful new cozy mystery that has a scenic setting, a nosy newspaperman, a nervous bride, a meddling mama, a mysterious feline, handcrafted tapers, and one determined amateur sleuth.
A cozy with candles, conspiring couples, and a cat — what could be a better combination? Christin Brecher’s debut mystery has all those and more.
Series: Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery – Book 1
Author: Christin Brecher
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Business
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count:400
Publishing Date: June 25, 2019
Murder’s No Votive Confidence, the first cozy book in a new series by Christin Brecher, Kensington Books is a thrilling adventure through the candle and wedding business, which on their own is difficult at best. Now, throw in a murder, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Stella is struggling to keep her business on a paying basis. She loves her work, and her creations are sought after by the public and brides equally. Having one of her lovely unity candles used as a murder weapon could end her business quickly. Being a small business owner is hard enough; now, she also must be a murder investigator.
Stella is a promising character, and her exploits will have readers begging for more. She is like many people who want to be their own boss and use what they love and are good at making a living. It isn’t hard to empathize with her character. This type of character works well in a cozy book and a series. Other characters in this cozy book are very likable. They help give Jessica purpose and keep her spirits up when everything is looking down. The setting is excellent and should provide a fantastic location for future books.
This is a very well-written book with plenty of action, twists, and turns to keep readers interested and entertained. For a cozy book Murder’s No Votive Confidence hits all the right triggers, it has romance, intrigue and the number one ingredient, mystery. I happily recommend this book and the future series to cozy book lover everywhere.
Just what I needed! A new (to me) cozy series! (Hang on. I need to stop laughing.) I guess, in all fairness, I am caught up on all but one of the half dozen cozy mystery series that I am reading, which was my 2020 goal, with my new rule going forward to start only a single series at a time and get current with it before adding another. However, you’d think after all the cozies I read this year in order to get myself current, I would at least wait until 2021 before diving into another one. You’d be wrong, though, because here we are.
What I liked about “Murder’s No Votive Confidence”:
The cast of characters – We didn’t get to spend a lot of time with all of them, though I feel like we got at least briefly introduced to the people that make up Stella’s circle; Stella being our protagonist. From those we did get to know a little better though — Andy, Peter, Emily — I am pleased with their development after just a single installment, and I feel there is good potential for achieving additional depth from them as well as the others we met in this book. That bodes well. Of additional importance, at least to me, the characters also feel likable and real and not like obnoxious caricatures.
Location – I appreciate when a series I read takes place in a location that isn’t excessively used. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a setting in places like San Francisco or Boston or New York City, if it doesn’t feel trite, but I love that I am going to get to know Nantucket in this series! I get acquainted with some place different and the way Ms Brecher is setting the scene gives Nantucket a personality just as important as the characters.
Unique qualities – In addition to the setting, I also like when the main character has something that allows them to stand out from the crowd. There are many cozies that focus on food or baked goods, some of which are series I adore. But Stella is a candlemaker and I feel like that is a fun twist.
The mystery – I mean this is the whole point in reading a cozy mystery series, right? I thoroughly enjoyed the case at hand. It was well constructed. The clues all added up. There were plenty of potential twists and red herrings to keep me guessing. And the resolution was satisfying.
What I didn’t care for:
Truthfully, not much. There were a couple of minor typos in the Kindle version I read, but nothing worth griping about. Maybe the only thing with the characters was that so many of them were introduced that it was a little challenging to keep track of them all. It’s a little easier when they get folded into the storyline book by book rather than all at once, but as I mentioned earlier, the contact with most of the peripheral characters was relatively minimal, with the exception of three, so again, this is not a major gripe.
I am very pleased with the debut of the Nantucket Candlemaker Mystery Series. This looks to be exactly what I look for in a cozy mystery series: nothing gory, plenty of mystery, a few creepy moments, some good laughs, and a likable cast of characters. For those of you for whom this is important: The content included no language that I recall and nothing racy in the romance department, at least in book one. I already have holds placed at the library for books two and three, and I hope that there will be more to come. I am excited to add this to my list of cozy series!
I’m so glad I discovered this series! The setting is wonderfully cozy and the characters are so much fun. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
Stupid protagonist
Murder’s No Votive Confidence has a lot going for it up front because it incorporates two of my very favorite things – Nantucket and candles. On top of that, Christin Brecher has created an entertaining and clean cozy mystery, steeped in small-island atmosphere. This is a fun traditional cozy read, a story that I can easily recommend.
With its cobblestone streets, quaint shops, whaling history, and beauty, the island of Nantucket is the perfect setting, as there’s just something magical about it for this reader. I’ve been blessed to visit Nantucket twice and can say that the author vividly captures its villages and events, which are creatively woven throughout the story.
Stella, owner of the Wick & Flame, is an appealing leading lady. The idea of crafting a unity candle for an island wedding is a creative touch, until that candle becomes the murder weapon. I could understand Stella’s desire to help solve the crime when a friend of her family is quickly arrested. And the making of candles is a great theme for a cozy mystery series. I love this quote from Stella’s “Candles 101” workshop notes at the end, where Brecher writes … “Candles are a source of light, a symbol at celebrations, the start of a romantic night, a balm for the senses, the heart of ceremonies, and a wonderful way to make a house into a home.” I hope there will be even more emphasis on candle making in future novels.
The mystery itself was well crafted and I enjoyed trying to figure things out along with Stella. There’s a delightful scene close to the end that had me cracking up. All I’ll say is that it involves a chase to beat all chases on the water, the craziest cat ever, and Stella’s friend going into labor.
There’s a lot of potential for this series, including deeper character development from Stella’s interesting family members. I’d like for the writing to be tighter at times, with less clothing descriptions, etc., that I tend to skim over. Also, I really hate love triangles and hope the potential one that seems to be building will quickly disappear. Don’t want to choose sides this early in the game, but I do like the police officer/childhood friend, Andy.
Murder’s No Votive Confidence is a fun read overall and I look forward to future visits to Nantucket.
Recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
It is always exciting to open the first book of a new cozy mystery series, some more than others. This is one that I almost thoroughly enjoyed, from the setting of Nantucket Island during Memorial Day Weekend, to Stella’s custom shop, Wick and Candles, to the variety of characters, and the cat. The mystery is beautifully executed and kept me guessing – and chuckling – throughout.
Stella is helping her best friend Ellen, the best event planner on Nantucket, prepare the luxurious Melville Inn and its restaurant for the first candle-themed wedding with Stella’s creations. From candles to match the bride’s colors to the couple’s one-of-a-kind signature scented unity candle and gift votives for guests, this wedding might set a new style for island weddings. Ellen’s first baby is due in less than a month, so Stella oversees some of the preparations in her stead.
Friday morning, when Stella arrives at the wedding prep room in the restaurant, the intricately-designed unity candle is missing. Jessica, the bride, said that the groom, Joe, had it in the game room the night before to show the card players. A scream dragged Jessica and Stella to find the bride’s mother, the Inn’s manager, and a cat inside the game room. Jessica’s Uncle Simon was dead on the floor. The huge unity candle is broken, held together only by the wick, looking like the murder weapon.
The cat, Tinker, was Simon’s. As often happens, cats go to the who likes them least. Stella doesn’t like cats, which almost made me dislike her! At least until a furry little head poked up from her back seat as she left the inn, scaring her half to death. Andy, the local police officer, puts Tinker in her custody. Just great. For Tinker, at least, who refuses to be left out of the action.
Addie proposes a replacement set of unity candles to Jessica and Mrs. Sterling, and spends the night before the wedding preparing them. The international FIGAWI race is underway and the local police are swamped. The police chief from another community who is helping during the regatta is eager to close the case, arresting the bartender, Bill Duffy. Bill and his wife Maude are old friends of Addie and her mom. It is impossible to think of Bill as killing anyone! Yet, he is found with cash in his pocket from the card game, in which Simon had cheated the bridegroom and best man of their money.
Addie works with Andy, the local police officer and a friend since middle school, then Peter, the new newspaper reporter, uncover several possible suspects when trying to find the real bad guy and get Bill out of the clink. Simon had a few secrets from the past, especially since being estranged from the Sterling family for years. Gina, the gorgeous movie star visiting the island, has potentially explosive secrets, also, including her signature scent being noticed in the game room that morning. And the bridal party – could one of the young men have been so angry at Simon for cheating at the card game that they finished him off? I found this very challenging to solve, not certain of anyone. The vows culminate in a magnificent tour de farce that brings multiples surprises! My only negative is the profanity, which while minimal, is one of many reasons I read cozies. Otherwise, I highly recommend this first in a new series to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries, endearing characters and cats, and learning about candles. I am looking forward to the next one!-
From a thankful heart: I won a copy of this novel; a review was not required.
Nantucket is on my bucket list of places to visit so anytime I can read a book set there I jump. Murder’s, No Votive Confidence is a great addition to the Nantucket setting. I was pleased the author went to the roots of Nantucket and had Stella own and operate a candle store.
I am looking forward to the next installment in The Nantucket Candle Making series. I’m interested in seeing how Stella’s love life progresses. Andy, in my opinion, is not out of the running. The jury is still out if I like Peter.
If you are looking for a new series with a different cozy setting than small-town landlocked America and a theme different from culinary then I suggest you grab this book. It is a fast-paced read that has no problems holding your interest.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
A great first book in a series! Stella Wright is a candle store owner and candle maker in Nantucket. She is helping her best friend, Emily, who is a wedding planner, with a big wedding. When the bride’s uncle is found murdered, the hotel bartender is the prime suspect. Stella believes he is innocent, so she sets out to investigate with the help of a local reporter. I enjoyed the candle-making subject, the setting, and the characters. I look forward to more of this series and see what happens between Stella and both Peter and Andy!!
MURDER’S NO VOTIVE CONFIDENCE by Christin Brecher
The First Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery
Stella Wright is the Candle Lady of Nantucket Island. Surrounded by friends and her large family, Stella loves her hometown and is happy to provide candles to locals and tourists alike at her shop, the Wick and Flame. Stella’s current big project is providing candles for the wedding of Jessica Sterling. Her unique scents have become so popular, several brides have begun commissioning her for their own unity candles. As the wedding weekend is about to commence, the bride’s uncle is found murdered-killed by Stella’s unity candle. When an old family friend is charged with the crime and brides around the island are cancelling their candle orders Stella knows she needs to step in and help solve the murder. With assistance from her childhood friend on the police force and the new journalist in town, Stella is prepared to uncover the many secrets of the bridal party and bring the real killer to justice.
I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Nantucket Island with MURDER’S NO VOTIVE CONFIDENCE. A charming setting, smart characters, a fantastic cat, and unique candles combine to enhance a great mystery. Stella is a fun, down to earth protagonist with mad island skills. The supporting cast is just as interesting, from her family to her candle making students to the visiting movie star and the bridal party. I absolutely adore Tinker, a special cat who also possesses some great skills.
This first Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery has readers using all of their senses. Scent in particular plays a huge part of the story as well as an integral plot point. The smell of salt air mingled with the scents Stella creates for her candles creates a wonderful ambiance. I felt I was right there on the island.
MURDER’S NO VOTIVE CONFIDENCE is a fantastic start to a new series. It’s a fast paced adventure filled with excitement and fun. There are lots of undercurrents, especially among the various relationships, that I can’t wait to see expanded and explored in future books.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
This is the first book in a new cozy mystery series…and I really enjoyed it. The characters and the murder mystery captured and held my attention and kept me guessing to the very end. I look forward to reading more books in this series.