Praise for Magick & Mayhem, the first Abracadabra mystery “Spellbinding, with magical prose, a wizardly plot, and a charming sleuth.” —Janet Bolin, national bestselling author “A charming, must-read mystery with enchanting characters.”—Rose Pressey, USA Today bestselling author “Magic, Merlin, and murder are a great mix for this fun debut cozy.” —Lynn Cahoon, New York Times and USA Today … Pressey, USA Today bestselling author
“Magic, Merlin, and murder are a great mix for this fun debut cozy.”
—Lynn Cahoon, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
A fatal case of school spirit . . .
Kailyn Wilde, owner of the Abracadabra potion shop, feels some dread anticipating her ten-year high school reunion at the new hotel in New Camel—but it turns out even worse than she feared. Running into her very first boyfriend is pleasant enough. Chatting with Ashley—who still can’t let go of a tragedy that happened on prom night—is a bit more uncomfortable. But the worst part comes when one of Kailyn’s oldest friends is found dead in the ladies’ room.
Soon this upstate New York town is in an uproar. And with some help from time-traveling wizard Merlin—who has adopted an unusual and alluring creature as his familiar—it’s up to Kailyn to identify the alumnus most likely to commit murder . . .
“Pape has a sure‑handed balance of humor and action.”
—Julie Hyzy, New York Times bestselling author
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*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Welcome to another fabulously funny adventure with Kailyn, Tilly, and Merlin. This time Kailyn is getting ready for her high school reunion. She doesn’t really want to go but when she runs into her two best friends from that time she changes her mind. Things are going great until one of them turns up dead during cocktail hour. Kaitlyn jumps right I to investigating while still helping Tilly deal with Merlin’s antics (think elephants and marmots). This all combines into a hoot of a magical mystery that you will be unable to put down. Total must read! I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
This is one of my all time favorite series. It has everything – a great mystery, well written and funny making it a wonderful reading escape. Now, in the fifth entry, Kailyn is in a tizzy, unable to decide what to wear to the first event of her ten year class reunion. It’s a weekend she really isn’t looking forward to attending. But, as she says, if she refuses to go to the party, the fact that it’s a small town, the party will come to her so she goes. While she attends the reunion, a murder makes an appearance.
What are the connections between the current death and the school prom ten years ago?
Kailyn, along with her boyfriend, her Aunt Tilly, Merlin and even a visit from her deceased mother and grandmother, will need some magic to track down the killer. There are plenty of twists, turns and red herrings and a lot of humor. Merlin is such a great character and now he is trying to conjure up a marmot. Too funny.
This can be read as a stand alone but, to be enjoyed to the fullest, I would encourage a reader new to the series to line them all up and read them in order. The series is that good.
My thanks to the publisher Lyrical Underground and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
It’s time for Kailyn’s 10-year class reunion. While excited to see her friends she knows a prom night tragedy is sure to be on everyone’s mind. The evening is well underway when a scream splits the air. Kailyn rushes toward the scream and finds one of her friends in shock at finding another friend dead. She quickly wonders if this death is connected to the one on prom night. Another eerie “accident” tells Kailyn that it is and she finds herself quickly absorbed in finding answers and catching a killer.
Along with the murder mystery, Kailyn and Tillie are also caught up with Merlin and his wizardry and his strange selection for a familiar.
The past revisits the future in this latest Abracadabra Mystery. A prom night accident has driven someone to commit murder and attempt another. Was it really an accident? Who all was involved? Why is someone now retaliating?
Ms. Pape has penned quite a mystery that is filled with plot twists galore. Thankfully Kailyn has a little magick to help her investigate this one along with a terrific boyfriend by her side. Aunt Tilly and Merlin help out too. Kailyn’s deceased mother and grandmother “pop in” a couple of times too. The final twists were surprising. This was a whodunit that kept me guessing the whole way.
I love the characters in this series. They are well developed and have really grown over the course of the series. Kailyn is still trying to get a handle on all of her powers and time is running out on her learning everything she needs to know. Her romantic life is in a comfortable place now that she has shared her secret with Travis. Tillie is a wonderful support and very wise. Then there is Merlin, he is my favorite. He always brings the funny and this time he almost brings the house down when he tries to conjure up a MARMOT!!!
Oh! my stars! I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time! I started reading and read the entire book in one sitting.
This Magick Marmot took on something that had been brewing for 10 years and was written in a fun and entertaining way. Sharon Pape uses humor with such precision. I do believe this is the funniest book in this series yet and they have all been filled with humor.
I do recommend reading the series in order for maximum enjoyment but they can all be read on their own. I believe once you have read one you will want to read them all.
No matter who you were in high school, or how well you are doing today, reunions are always stressful. Kailyn Wilde isn’t even sure she is going to attend hers. She is happily running her aunt’s magical potion shop, has plenty of friends and furry family, her mother and grandmother “pop in” from time to time from the great beyond, where they are causing mischief and walking a thin line between coming back and saying too much about what happens when our time in this world is finished.
Merlin, Kailyn’s “Eccentric English Uncle” who is really someone else, quite reknown, had a familiar of his own in another time and place. He feels it is his RIGHT to have one once again, yet his magical skills never have the desired results, even after repeated attempts. After a disasterpus first attempt results with a literal Elephant in the Room, he manages to bring forth a marmot. But I am getting ahead of myself and don’t want to give too much away or make this review too long.
The focus of the book is Kailyn’s high school reunion and the connections between a death there and an accident that happened ten years earlier…or WAS it an accident? Why are only the people who were in both places being targeted? Can Kailyn figure outthe connection and solve these mysteries?
Wonderful characters and interesting plot twists will keep you entertained for hours, as well as Merlin’s new familiar. I recommend you read the entire series but pick up this book NOW and enjoy the magical ride.
This Magick Marmot by Sharon Pape is a fascinating cozy mystery that kept me on my toes. Merlin, by far, is the best comedy relief.
Who killed Genna? Is it the same person that murdered Scott?
Kailyn Wilde
Kailyn Wilde is our sleuth and point-of-view character like she has been for the past four books. She is a good witch trying to run her family’s business while keeping her town safe. It also doesn’t help when her grandfather Merlin, has caused trouble for her and Tilly. Merlin and Tilly are the funniest characters when they are together, and when they are apart, it’s just Merlin. Kailyn is a great person for trying to do these cases.
What I like about Kailyn is that she tries her hardest to be an average person. Yet, she is trying to figure out what other magical powers that she possesses before her 30th birthday in two years. Another thing that I like about her is that she is so in love with Travis that it is generally cute to see, especially when they need that break from a severe case. Like with this case, they needed a lot of breaks.
The Mystery
The mystery is one that has been in the making for ten years, and, sadly, it has taken this long. Scott Desmond was a friend of Kailyn’s in high school until he drowns on their prom night. One of Kailyn’s other friends named Genna died at their ten-year class reunion, and of course, Kailyn and Travis are on the case. I admit I fell for a lot of the red herrings for it, but it all made sense when it was being told at the end why the person did it.
Five Stars
This Magick Marmot by Sharon Pape is the funniest cozy mystery series I have read. Merlin is the comedy relief, but the mystery is what gets the reader involved, you know, trying to beat the sleuth to solve the mystery. Ms. Pape has done an excellent job on this, and I can’t wait to read more from her in the future. I am giving this story five stars and recommending it to any reader that is a cozy paranormal mystery.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. 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 This Magick Marmot by Sharon Pape.
Anyways, until next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
This Magick Marmot is book five in The Abracadabra Mysteries and this is a series that I really wish I had discovered from the start! I loved the quirky characters, the setting and in fact I loved everything about this book.
Despite being book 5 I felt right at home reading this and fitted right in with the story and the lives of the characters. Kailyn is the owner of the Abracadabra Potion shop and i guess you could say resident witch in the town, and we start the story off with her dreading going to her ten year high school reunion and with good reason – one her oldest friends from high school is found dead in the ladies bathroom! Murder is afoot and a tragedy from the past relating to their prom night brings up ghost from the past.
Could both incidents be related so far apart? That is what Kailyn is determined to find out along with her journalist boyfriend Travis, I wasn’t really sure how this was going to play out and when it all came together I was not expecting the outcome.
This was a great cozy mystery and even though I its book 5 I think this would be a great series for any lovers of magick and mystery mixed together.
THIS MAGICK MARMOT by Sharon Pape
The Fifth Abracadabra Mystery
Kailyn Wilde is apprehensive about attending her tenth high school reunion, but the jitters pass as soon as she sees her old friends Genna and Charlotte. The night is filled with memories and laughter, but soon tragedy when Charlotte finds Genna dead in the ladies room. Kailyn has to wonder if her demise is tied to the death of a classmate their Senior year. Although deemed an accidental death ten years ago, there were nebulous rumors that someone was to blame for Scott’s death. Has someone decided to finally get vengeance?
Secrets, vengeance, and love conspire in the fifth Abracadabra Mystery. There’s an intriguing storyline whereby past choices determine the present action. In addition, Kailyn is working on new magickal abilities while Merlin (yes, that Merlin) tries to correct the problem all of the Wildes have been having with their magick. There’s a good puzzle, heart stopping action, and lots of laughs.
Family continues to play a big part in this series. We see trust, worry, and the lengths people will go to for each other. We see how they work together as well as how families change. While Kailyn’s deceased mother and grandmother seem to be moving on, and possibly away, we see other ties bonding more tightly. I adore Merlin’s new familiar while continuing to love Shashkatu, who has a commanding presence despite the limitations of age.
THIS MAGICK MARMOT is a magickally filled mystery with humor, love, and marmots! I absolutely love this series and the characters that live in its pages. I only wish I could take that two hour drive to the east and meet them in person!
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
I really enjoy this series especially Merlin. He is a crackup and the shenanigans he gets into are priceless plus his interactions with Aunt Tilly are a hoot. This man does love his desserts.
When I first picked up the book, I was a bit puzzled about the title because I had no clue what a marmot could possibly be and of course I didn’t go look it up ahead of time. A marmot is a rodent, similar to a squirrel is my best explanation and Merlin has decided this is what is going to be his familiar…that is after a rocky start with other possibilities.
Kailyn has a rocky road with this murder. She has to remember the passing of her childhood friend, Scott, in a tragic accident in high school and then at the 10 year class reunion, another friend is found dead. This sets Kailyn off on the road to discover who might have killer her friend and what was the secret behind Scott’s death. I honestly had no clue how this story was going to play out. There are many potential suspects but none of them seemed to be the right fit. When the truth is revealed, I was quite surprised and didn’t expect it to turn out the way that it did.
Travis is still around and in a relationship with Kailyn and it is a good thing he knows and understands her magick abilities. They make a good team when investigating, but since Travis is a journalist, his investigative skills are quite different from Kailyn’s. But it all works out in the end.
If you like magick and laughter, pick up this series and enjoy! We give this book 5 paws up.
This Magick Marmot
Sharon Pape
5 Stars
Synopsis:
A fatal case of school spirit . . .
Kailyn Wilde, owner of the Abracadabra potion shop, feels some dread anticipating her ten-year high school reunion at the new hotel in New Camel—but it turns out even worse than she feared. Running into her very first boyfriend is pleasant enough. Chatting with Ashley—who still can’t let go of a tragedy that happened on prom night—is a bit more uncomfortable. But the worst part comes when one of Kailyn’s oldest friends is found dead in the ladies’ room.
Soon this upstate New York town is in an uproar. And with some help from time-traveling wizard Merlin—who has adopted an unusual and alluring creature as his familiar—it’s up to Kailyn to identify the alumnus most likely to commit murder . . .
“Pape has a sure handed balance of humor and action.” —Julie Hyzy, New York Times bestselling author (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. The relationship between Kailyn and Aunt Tilly is very heartfelt and you can tell how much they mean to each other. And Merlin continues to be a pain in their side, but he also means a lot to them. The three of them are a force to be reckoned with, and they are going to need to be on top of their game if they are going to find out the murderer. And that is exactly what they intend to do.
The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters very clearly by their action and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book, I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place and listening in on conversations. It was quite enlightening.
The mystery was well plotted and carried on well throughout the entire book. There were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. Throw in a couple of red herrings and this mystery was not easily solved.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. With engaging characters, the humorous antics of Merlin and a mystery that is perplexing, this book (and series) is a must read.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
OK, the first item I must comment on is the title: I just love it and how it ties in to something in the book. I am a big pun fan, it is true. On to the book. This is the fifth book in the Abracadabra series. Kailyn is attending her 10th high school reunion when things go terribly wrong as tend to happen in mystery books. I was intrigued to find out this was something mentioned in other books: the death of one her classmates, Scott. The characters were great as usual, especially Merlin; he’s such a hoot. The mystery was interesting, as well, but I do admit to a little let down when everything was revealed at the end. I can’t say much because I don’t want to spoil it, but I feel that not everyone was…punished. Aside from that, this was a great addition to the series, and I can’t wait for more especially because of the very end!! Yay!! Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
A new addition to the “An Abracadabra Mystery “magical cozy series by Sharan Pape, published by Kensington Books comes book five This Magick Marmot. A fun, action-packed adventure with unusual pets, magic, and old fashioned murder.
Merlin is causing problems as always, and as has become the norm, it’s up to Kailyn to keep the peace between him and her aunt, Tilly. Merlin’s desire for a magical familiar cause havoc, not just for Kailyn and her aunt, but for the entire town of New Camel. His new familiar, a lovable Marmot spells trouble. First off, if you don’t know what a Marmot is, Google it asap! They are adorable, and although it is illegal to keep one as a pet, readers will fall in love with Merlin’s new familiar. Then as trouble has a way of multiplying, Kailyn’s school reunion ends with the death of one of her oldest friends and brings up the memories of a dear friend’s tragic death ten years before.
This cozy series is magical in more than one way. The characters are unforgettable. They exude love, laughter, and family. Every one of the reoccurring characters has a special place in each book; the stories wouldn’t be the same without them. The victim, suspects, and the killer are precisely what readers want in a murder mystery. The motive is apparent almost from the start, and the killer comes as little surprise in the end. But none of this takes away from the enjoyment of the book.
The action in This Magick Marmot is almost non-stop. Between the murder, the ongoing attempted murder of Kailyn’s former classmates, and the antics of Merlins familiar, readers will laugh, worry, and cheer. In the end, Kailyn solves the murder and prevents any more from claiming the lives of innocent people with the help of Aunt Tilly and Merlin. Readers will find this magical cozy worth the read, and if they haven’t read the other books in the series, they will want to grab them along with this new addition for hours of pleasurable thrills and laughter.