Member Reviews
I Loved, loved this cozy mystery. A must-read!
The author weaves a great story that is captivating and easy to follow. In Magickal Mystery Lore, we find Kailyn Wilde a witch leaving her potion shop and her familiar to go and attend the New Camel Day Fair. Bring in a fortune-teller Aunt Tilly which I adore and you have a great mix. Of course, you have to have a dead body to complete the story.
Very well written with great characters. I highly recommend Magickal Mystery Lore.
Very informative book. Full of a lot of useful information. This book will also be very useful for future reference
*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was a really cute little magical mystery book, I've never read any of the other books in the series (but would now like to!) but I didn't feel like I missed too much. I also liked the characters, they were cute and not annoying, also not overly romantic always a plus for me!
Magickal Mystery Lore is the fourth book in the Abracadabra Mystery series! I didn’t get to read the first three books in the series, but I didn’t feel lost at all. I feel like you can start this series from any book and still enjoy it.
I really enjoyed the characters, especially Merlin! I just found him delightfully entertaining and amusing. He made me laugh out loud many times.
Another thing I liked about this book was how it wasn’t just a cozy mystery. It had sort of an urban fantasy flair to it that just made it more interesting.
If you like cozies and fantasy books, definitely give this series a try! You won’t regret it.
As I realized too late that this was the fourth book in the series, I think that influenced my experience reading it. The premise of the book is good and I enjoyed it, but it just took me so long.
The world that the author has built is wonderful, it just wasn't for me.
When a book starts off with a dizzy Merlin getting off of a Tilt-a-Whirl, how can it not be fun? (and yes, it is THAT Merlin) I love the characters in this series, and Kailyn and Aunt Tilly’s interactions with Merlin are priceless. The mystery in this one does get a little darker than with some cozy mysteries, but it is still very enjoyable.
Magickal Mystery Lore is the 4th book in the Abracadabra Mystery series. There is enough explanation in this book to jump right in at this point without having read the previous books in the series but you may enjoy it even more if you start back at the beginning.
Kailyn Wilde a modern-day witch and her Aunt Tilly are attending the New Camel Day Fair. This year they are just enjoying the festival instead of working a booth because they have with them the legendary wizard Merlin. Merlin is enjoying discovering new pleasures of the modern world and the fair food and rides. For Kailyn, the wild ride begins later when she is at her shop and her neighbor rushes in because she found a dead body. While Kailyn is investigating the mysterious death, Merlin is researching Kailyn's old family scrolls to see why her magic is acting up.
This is the 4th book in the series, but my first book in this series. I had no problems following the storyline but I feel I could have understood the backstories of the characters better if I had read previous books. The characters are interesting and fun. Merlin is hilarious. The mystery was well plotted and full of twists and turns. I recommend this book to cozy mystery fans.
I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book supplied by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.
This is book 4 in the Abracadabra Mystery series and I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous books in the series. Kailyn, Aunt Tilly and Merlin decide to attend the New Camel Day Fair. When they return to her Magic Shop, they are told a man has been murdered and Lolly is a suspect. Lolly runs the fudge shop next door to Abracadabra. With time traveling Merlin the group investigates. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Magickal Mystery Lore by Sharon Pape is the fourth installment of the cozy An Abracadabra Mystery series. The series is a mix of cozy mystery with urban fantasy with the main character being a witch who runs a magic shop, Abracadabra, talks to the ghosts of her relatives that have passed and had conjured Merlin who is now also a character in the series.
In the first book readers were introduced to Kailyn Wilde who had inherited her mother and grandmother’s centuries old shop, Abracadabra, when they were unfortunately involved in an accident. Coming from a long line of those with magical abilities in the small town of New Camel Kailyn does her best to keep the magic flowing in the shop while keeping the witchcraft under wraps.
As with most cozy mystery series each book is centered around a new case for the characters to solve so the mystery side could be understood without having read all the books. However, the characters and their personal lives have carried their story over from book to book so to get the most enjoyment and understanding it’s always nice to start at the beginning.
The Abracadabra Mystery series has continued to be one of my favorites with it’s mix of genres and cast of crazy characters. All of the books have been full of laughs with this fourth being no exception. Along with all of the crazy hi-jinx there’s always a solid mystery to solve with plenty of suspects along the way. Again I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the series to continue on with the fun.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
Magickal Mystery Lore is a new cozy mystery by Sharon Pape and the 4th Abracadabra mystery. Released 16th April 2019 by Kensington on their Lyrical Underground imprint, it's 246 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.
This is a completely escapist cozy mystery with some over the top paranormal plot devices. The returning main characters - the trio of magic shop owner and telekinetic powerhouse Kailyn, her slightly dithery-but-sweet Aunt Tilly, and Merlin (yes, that Merlin) are back solving another murder and taking on a shadow corporation in their spare time.
I will say that for the paranormal cozy mystery subgenre, this one is well written. It's silly and somewhat humorous. It is well plotted and the dialogue is well written. Despite being the 4th book in the series, it does work as a standalone, and all the necessary backstory is written in.
I enjoyed the book a lot, but must admit that my suspension of disbelief suffered more than a few dings every time Kailyn's mother and grandmother showed up (as clouds whose color changes reminded me of some sort of afterlife mood rings). Readers in search of pure escapist fantasy could find a nice read here. The physics involved (or counfounded) over the paranormal parts of the plot (Kailyn is a telekinetic who can teleport), will require some mental gymnastics to get around.
The language and plot are fairly clean (a few 'hells' and 'damns' but nothing worse), and there's only implied consensual (off scene) sex, nothing that would scandalize anyone's auntie.
Three and a half stars, rounded up because the author is quite adept and it's a fun read (and I love Merlin).
Kaitlyn manages Abracadabra, a shop with beauty potions and elixers made from botanicals with just a touch of magick to ensure they are the most effective. Of course things aren't easy when Merlin, yes that Merlin, gets called to the present time accidentally and has some issues with modern society. And a murder that needs to be solved. It's all in great fun and totally entertaining
I enjoyed this magical cozy a lot. It has great characters and I like how the author describes all the magical powers and situations. Kailyn is a likeable sleuth and she has a lot of magical help from her aunt, mother, and grandmother.. I highly recommend this book and series
This was such an enjoyable read. Though it is part of a series, the author does a wonderful job of explaining the prior important parts of the books throughout this book that you don't feel lost. There is romance, intrigue, mystery, and mischief. If your like me and haven't read any prior books in the series, don't let that stop you from getting started here and like me going back to the beginning because this series is just so much fun you need to read more. Or you can definitely heighten your anticipation by starting at the beginning and waiting to get here. Each way, I definitely recommend reading.
I had forgotten how much fun the books in this series are. Kaitlyn is still running the shop with occasional help from her aunt as well as the quirky Merlin. His fiascos alone are enough to make a great book such as the invisible dog but add a murder on top of that and it really gets good. The mix of magic and mystery is perfect making the story unfolds in a captivating fashion. Perfect for fans of magical cozy mysteries. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
I have fallen in love with reading this series! The magic and the characters seal my reading fate each time I read the newest book in this series. It is as though the magic of the words fly into my mind and create the story in vivid imagery. I really liked reading this mystery and can’t wait for the next book!
Magickal Mystery Lore
An Abracadabra Mystery, Book #4
Sharon Pape
5 Stars
Synopsis:
This spells trouble . . .
The New Camel Day Fair is a fun-filled event for residents of this upstate New York town. Kailyn Wilde, a modern-day witch of ancient lineage, leaves her potion shop, Abracadabra—and her feline familiar, Sashkatu—to attend with her fortune-telling Aunt Tilly. Joining them is legendary wizard Merlin, who’s discovering new pleasures of time-traveling to the modern world, including curly fries and kettle corn—but the appeal of the Tilt-a-Wheel is beyond his mystical imagination.
The real wild ride begins later, when neighboring sweet shop owner Lolly rushes into Abracadabra with news about a dead body. The victim has one of Lolly’s fudge knives stuck in her back, but in spite of the sticky evidence, Lolly is only one of several suspects with ample motive and opportunity. Meanwhile, Merlin’s research into old family scrolls and electromagnetic ley lines is causing some unusual mix-ups. As the two investigations collide, Kailyn will have to do everything in her power to prevent disaster… (Goodreads)
Review:
While reading this book I realized that the cozies I like the best have characters that I adore. I would not care if there was a mystery to solve or not, I just love spending time with the characters. They become like family to me.
The characters are well developed and well rounded. I really enjoy the interactions between Kailyn and her Aunt Tilly, you could tell how close they were and how much they loved each other. Merlin just makes me laugh and I really enjoy reading about all of the trouble he gets in to, much to the dismay of Kailyn and Aunt Tilly. Travis, Kailyn’s boyfriend, seems like a great guy and their relationship is moving along nicely.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the first page. I can picture in my mind’s eye all the trouble that Merlin creates and the difficulties that follow, trying to fix the messes that he makes.
The mystery was well plotted and carried on well throughout the entire book. There are plenty of suspects to consider and clues to sift through and decipher and it was not easily solved. I was not entirely sure of who the culprit was until the reveal at the end.
I would highly recommend this book (and series) to anyone that enjoys a well crafted cozy. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the books that this author has written, and I have read them all (even her earlier Portrait of Crime series). Check them all out, you will not be sorry.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Lolly and Danielle didn't kill anyone, right?
Magickal Mystery Lore by Sharon Pape is an exciting book. I was mesmerized even, without having read the first three books which isn't an issue as the main character Kailyn tells you enough information throughout the book that it isn't relevant to enjoying this book. We follow Kailyn through solving a mystery, dealing with romance issues, and trying to get her aunt Tilly from harming Merlin.
Kailyn
Kailyn is our main character and the person that we follow throughout the story. She, like every single member of her family, is a witch and has to keep that a secret except for the around the people that she really trusts. Like her boyfriend and best friend. Kailyn is a twenty-something-year-old. She is trying to run her business while doing a lot like keeping up with Merlin, yup the one from King Arthur that she accidentally summoned to our time, away from trouble. That isn't an easy task to do at all.
What I like about Kailyn is that she is different from the other amateur sleuths that I have read, and that is one close to my own age. Her shop is really cool, and I especially like her magic. The one thing that I didn't like about her is that she apparently pulled the same thing that Travis did to her about going out for a simple meal between friends with Paul Curtis.
Travis
Travis is a reporter for the news stations and an anchorman for the evening news as well. He is Kailyn's boyfriend, and they have been solving crimes together which is fantastic. Travis knows about Kailyn, Aunt Tilly, and Merlin being magical and doesn't seem to care. They go through some rough patches throughout the book, but they get through it at the end and are a bit better after the whole ordeal. I think it's sweet with how worried he is for Kailyn, even if he does know about her magic because that is what you do for a loved one.
What I like about him is that he doesn't try to stop her from doing something that he thinks is dangerous; instead, he tries to be there with her while she is doing it. He is a very supportive boyfriend even if he does something stupid and doesn't think that she would hear about it later. That leads us to the one thing that I dislike about him is that he didn't tell her about meeting up with an old girlfriend for lunch one day.
The Crime
The victim is named Ava Duncan and was found behind Lolly's chocolate candy shop. From there Kailyn and Travis uncover a lot of secrets that a lot of people have been hiding. Especially Lolly and her daughter Danielle and about what they know about Ava. Ava was found stabbed in the back behind Lolly's store. Lolly didn't kill her since she is a nice sweet little old lady. Or is she?
Kailyn and Travis uncovered a lot about Ava's work relationships, her personal relationships, and the way she is with her family. Everyone said that she was a nice girl but if so then why was she stabbed in the back? The reason for that is as shocking as the whodunit. I won't spoil it for you other curious readers know that nothing is as it seems in New Camel, New York.
Five Stars
Magickal Mystery Lore by Sharon Pape is a gripping tale that sucks you in from the very beginning and doesn't spit you out until the very end. I love a good mystery that makes you think and want to take notes on the crime and all the suspects so that you can work it through with the characters. If I could have put the book down, I may have had my crime board. These engaging stories like this make me love cozy mysteries and try to figure it out before the main character does. I had a feeling about this one, but I just wasn't sure until the very end after it made sense.
I am giving this book a five-star rating and recommending to all paranormal cozy mystery lovers out there. Who knows maybe you will find any of the three other books reviewed on my site in the future.
Anyways until the next time enjoy this review brought to you by,
Karen the Baroness.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tour. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
If you would like to read more reviews like this one please go to baronessbooktrove.com
Magickal Mystery Lore: An Abracadabra Mystery
By Sharon Pape
Lyrical
April 2019
Review by Cynthia Chow
Merlin the wizard may not approve of New Camel not embracing its true nomenclature as “New Camelot,” he does enjoy the abundance of carnival food being served at the town's 45th annual New Camel Day Fair. After accidentally whisking the legendary Merlin through thousands of miles and hundreds of years, Kailyn Wilde and her Aunt Tilly are doing their best to babysit the impetuous sorcerer and limit his field of chaos. It was their own suddenly unreliable spellcasting that brought him to their doorstep, along with a clowder of cat familiars. Reigning in Merlin’s impulsiveness becomes secondary to solving the town’s most recent murder, as it in chocolatier Lolly’s backyard that they find the body of Ava Duncan, stabbed in the back with one of Lolly’s personalized fudge knives.
Kailyn knows that Lolly is incapable of murder, despite the fact that she admits to lying to the police and that she most definitely had a reason for wanting Ava dead. Lolly’s son-in-law was caught having an affair with Ava, a relationship that continued and led to a breakup of the marriage. Now with both Lolly and her daughter Danielle topping the suspect list, Kailyn and her television reporter boyfriend Travis are once again on a mission to track down a killer. For once Merlin isn’t getting in the way of her investigation, since he is on his own assignment to determine why their magic is going so wonky. What he discovers may not only explain his presence in this timeline, it also could have a life-changing impact on Kailyn’s own future.
This series continues to build upon its world of magic and spellcasting, especially as more “normal” people learn about their secrets. Kailyn has always boosted the naturopathic balms and beauty products she sells out of her store Abracadabra with spells, but when she uses magic openly with the best of intentions, it results in fear and condemnation. Merlin’s hilarious antics never distract from the seriousness of the plot, as despite his remarkable junk-food intake, his magical skills and breath of knowledge are impressive. The many business owners and residents of New Camel fully come alive in this fourth of the series, but it Kailyn and her matriarchal relatives are the ones who shine. Despite being dead and incorporeal, Kailyn’s mother and grandmother affectionately bicker and comment on her life, while Aunt Tilly does her best to reign in a powerful wizard. Kailyn first meeting with her boyfriend’s parents is nearly as terrifying for her as confronting a killer, as it means facing their judgment over her unconventional lifestyle. A thoroughly satisfying conclusion leaves Kailyn open to making momentous decisions for all of their futures, and readers will eagerly anticipate what awaits.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Kailyn, Tilly, Merlin, and Sashkatu are back and it’s time for the New Camel Day Fair. Kailyn and Tilly hope Merlin will be on his best behavior now that they are giving him a little more freedom. He is still pushing for a town name change but the Tilt-a-Wheel and all the tasty treats at the fair are keeping him occupied except for all my one little magical slip.
Kailyn agreed to open Abracadabra for just a couple of hours so customers in town for the fair could do a little shopping. Buy she barely arrives back to the shop when Lolly, owner of the nearby sweet shop, drags her out to show her the dead body. The dead body in the backyard of Lolly’s shop with one of Lolly’s fudge knives stabbed into it’s back. Kailyn will do her best to help Lolly but she also has to help Tilly keep track of Merlin. Through his research, he has found information about electromagnetic ley lines and he thinks that may be what is messing with Kailyn and Tilly’s powers. Soon both problems connect and attract deadly attention.
I absolutely love Merlin! His experiences at the fair were funny and heartwarming. Do you remember your first ride on the Tilt-a-Wheel? or the first time you had carnival food? Or the waiting in lines for samples? The way Merlin handled a stressful situation just cracked me up and was so unexpected. I know Kailyn and Tilly should own gold medals for taking care of him but he has become special to me, plus there could be no Abracadabra Mysteries without him. He sometimes steals the story 🙂
All the characters Ms. Pape has created for this series are terrific. I love that Kailyn’s deceased mother and grandmother “pop in” often and not always at the perfect time. They are there to encourage and remind her to hone all her powers so they are available when she needs them. And she is going to need them. I enjoy the relationship between Tilly and Kailyn. I also am so happy that Travis knows her secret and has met all of her family. In fact, he thinks it is time she meets his parents. I can’t forget the furry characters, Sashkatu, and a dog that Merlin introduces to the family, along with several others visit within these pages. They are all cleverly written.
The mystery was hard to solve and had some darker moments. The pace was quick but I had to slow down in some places to totally grasp how the pieces were fitting together. As everything fell into place it was quite exciting and had elements that would fit an investigative television show, without the magic, of course.
This was a very entertaining book. I love the way the author inserts the humor in the right amounts and in all the proper places never taking away from the feast of the mystery. Without that the story would be overly intense. Sharon Pape knows how to walk the like between cozy and thriller so well. A real mystery to sink our teeth into with characters that make us smile and sometimes laugh out loud. They are characters I am always excited to read and see what the author has in store for them.
This book can stand on its own, but reading them in order is a great way to spend a weekend.
This was so cute, and fun to read. I love books that have humor and some mystery and magic. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book. I am looking forward to more from this author.