Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower is a new series of cozy mystery. It is a fun mystery for all readers.

Violet Waverly is the proprietor of Charming Books, a magical bookstore. When you enter its doors, you might think you know what you are looking for, but the book you need will miraculously appear to you. In this fourth book in the series, Cascade Springs is holding a bicycle-race called the Tour de Cascade to raise money to build an Underground Railroad Museum. Violet and her boyfriend, police chief David Rainwater plan to participate, but a dead body derails that plan. The victim is private investigator Joel Redding, who has been snooping around Charming Books to try and discover the shop's magical essence. After the murder, the shop guides Violet to Walt Whitman's books to find clues to who the culprit is.

I enjoy this series with all its literary references, the shop mascots Emerson the tuxedo cat and Faulkner, the resident crow as well as the familiar characters. The mystery is not as simple as it seems, as soon there is another body that is identified as Rainwater's brother-in-law. I was not sure how all this would work out and come together, but I had some ideas. Violet is a great, yet reluctant sleuth. Grandma Daisy is a wonderful character who supports and encourages Daisy. She is a force to be reckoned with, being the mayor who usually gets what she wants. We also meet Richard, a former professor of Violet's who plays a part in solving the mystery. The mystery is well-plotted with interesting clues, a few suspects (Violet and Daisy at one point) and characters that we learn about their pasts. I did not suspect the person who was the killer, but it fit well and the motive was interesting. Verse and Vengeance can be read as a standalone, but it is an enjoyable series, so I recommend you read the series from the beginning.

I love this series and it’s always a pleasure to return to Cascade Springs.
Wonderfully written, highly entertaining but , that’s what I always get when reading a cozy by Ms. Flower.
I love her books.

My thanks to the publisher for providing a copy through Netgalley.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We arrive in Cascade Springs just in time for the Tour de Cascade. The bike race is a fundraiser to raise funds to build an Underground Railroad Museum. It is one of the grand ideas of Mayor Daisy aka Grandma Daisy to Violet Waverly, caretaker of the magical Charming Books. Violet hadn’t planned on participating but her boyfriend police chief David Rainwater wants them to ride the course together. She just hopes she can make it the whole way.

As if keeping up with David wasn’t hard enough Private Investigator Joel Redding is making a nuisance of himself by riding right by her trying to take her picture. He has been outside the bookshop for days spying on her too. He is convinced there is something strange going on in the shop and if he discovers what it is he will have a cash windfall spreading the news. Violet and Grandma Daisy are determined to keep their secret especially from the likes of a man like Joel Redding.

In the last bit of the race a man crashes and dies. That man turns out to be Joel Redding and David notices the brake lines on the bike were cut, Someone wanted this man to get hurt and maybe even die and that person got their wish. Sadly, Violet finds herself on that list of suspects. So she has to do something to clear her name. Hopefully, the Essense will be able to help and point her in the right direction.

I am not a fan of Walt Whitman but I am a huge fan of Amanda Flower so I was happy to finally read this book.

I love everything about Charming Books including the mischievous tuxedo cat Emerson and the staunch crow Faulkner. It is the place where the right book will find you. And when it does there are plenty of places to curl up with it and start reading. The tree growing in the middle of the shop guards over the books and gives Faulkner a great place to perch and invoke his wisdom. I am sure if I was ever blessed to enter the shop I would read book after book and never leave.

Ms. Flower has created characters that have a lot of layers and it is nice to see them revealed slowly over the course of the series. Grandma Daisy is a woman on a mission and she will not stop until she succeeds. She is truly a force to be reckoned with, sometimes a little too bull in the china shop but her heart is always in the right place. With Daisy taking on the responsibility of the mayor’s office, Violet has realized she must take the job of caretaker of the shop on fully and learn truly what that job entails. I was thrilled that we learned more about the bookshop’s history. With the murder to investigate and all the summer tourists coming soon, she brings in college professor Richard to take some hours. He has no idea of the magic within the walls but the Essence sure helps him make some wonderful discoveries. Police Chief David Rainwater and Violet don’t get to spend a lot of time together but he knows she is hiding something so their relationship is not just sailing along.

The mystery was well-crafted. At first, I was a little frustrated that a key individual keep disappearing but then I accepted it and like Violet was worried. Walt Whitman’s connection was interesting but I do not enjoy his poetry. Seeing Violet’s frustrations at trying to figure out the clues took me back to the English classes where we studied his works and my frustration and trying to decipher his words for a grade. I passed that section by the skin of my teeth just like I figured out this mystery. I was totally in the dark and solved it when the reveal hit me in the face. LOL

I do love this series and can’t believe I had not read this book when it was released. I truly thought I had until I checked all my lists and saw it was still on my To-Be-Read list. I am so glad that I have now corrected that oversight.

Verse and Vengeance was a delightful way to spend two evenings. I couldn’t wait to get done with work each day so I could escape into this story. No spoiler but the ending made me smile and really excited for the next book in the series. Due to my delay in reading this one I don’t have as long to wait. Crimes and Covers will be out on January 11, 2022.

This is the fourth book but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. The characters are entertaining. The mystery moves at a fast pace and is full of surprises. Looking forward to more in the series. .

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone..

This is the 4th instalment in the Magical Bookshop Mystery series by Amanda Flower. I love the quaint village setting of Cascade Springs, New York. It makes me want to go visit there one of these days. This series also has a nice hint of the paranormal that runs throughout each story. I don't think it is overpowering and I enjoy how the bookshop sends Violet hints on what she needs to solve a mystery.

The mystery was well written and carries through the entire story. There were a couple of twists and turns that kept me guessing till the very end.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.

I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.

I feel like I probably would've liked this book better if I'd read the first three books in the series but I don't think I realized when I requested the ARC that it was #4. So... I was a bit lost about the personal relationships and background. If you like longer series of cozy mysteries with a bit of magic, it's probably exactly the series for you.

Once again the bookstore gives Violet clues to the recent murder at the bike rally. Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass is everywhere Violet looks. Another great mystery for Violet, her Grandmother Daisy and Rainwater.
Goodreads

Amanda Flower has such a fabulous way of storytelling. The newest addition to her Magical Bookshop Mystery series was everything I was hoping for and more. You follow the amateur sleuthing adventures of Violet Waverly who runs a bookshop that may or may not have a giant magical tree in the center of it. Definitely a cozy mystery series to look out for!

Sometimes the measure of an authors success is when they convince the reader to further explore a topic that they just read about. Such is the case with the Magical Bookshop Mysteries. Each book in the series sets upon a book in literature that the Magical Bookshop puts in front of the series' protagonist, Violet so she can start to put together clues to solve the latest murder mystery to hit their wondrous hamlet of Cascade Springs, NY. This one had a whole cast of curious suspects and the story flowed like the magical aquifers of the town's springs. Very nice story, kept my attention, the characters are engaging.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for an ARC of this story in exchange for my honest thoughts. I also had it added to our library's collection.

This is book 4 in the Magical Bookshop cozy series and it can be read as a stand alone. Amanda Flower does a good job of bringing all the background you need without being boring. Violet has basically taken over the bookstore from her Grandmother Daisy so Daisy is helping the town raise funds for building an Underground Railroad Museum. A bike race is scheduled and a private detective from a previous book is found dead with a copy of a Walt Whitman book in his bike basket. The bookstore's magic keeps giving Violet clues to the murder and she and boyfriend David need to solve before Violet becomes the next victim. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

An excellent continuation of Flower's Magic Bookshop Mystery series! I suggest readers read these books chronologically, but I would recommend to readers of cozies and whodunnits.

Verse and Vengeance is another exciting installment in Flower's Magical Bookshop mystery series. Violet finds herself participating in the town's bike race to raise money for the town's new Underground Railroad museum, the brainchild of her own grandmother. Things seem to be going good until during the middle of the bike race one of the participants is found dead. When the person dead turns out to be the PI investigating Violet, she has no choice but to try and solve this mystery.

Flower does a great job at setting up a perplexing mystery with a lot of different suspects including one of Violet's students. The mystery since it hits so close to home also forces Violet to decide whether or not to let her boyfriend/police chief in on her secret about her magical bookshop. Adding to Violet's conflict is the arrival of her father who she just found and is conflicted about. Flower does a great job at using this mystery to test her main character and give her the opportunity to face these personal obstacles. The book grabs the reader's attention from the very beginning and never lets go. Overall Verse and Vengeance proves to be a great read that I would most definitely recommend. I look forward to reading Violet's next adventure.

Received a copy of Verse and Vengeance through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

Another cute book in the Magical Bookshop Mystery series. As always, Violet gets caught up in another murder investigation and Charming Books is helping her solve it with clues from Walt Whitman's poetry.
I enjoyed the story and the characters in it. I do think David Rainwater seemed like a slightly different character in this book. I'm not sure why but he didn't always seem like himself to me. I also LOVE grandma Daisy and want more of her in every book!
I will definitely be looking forward to the next book in the series!

Violet Waverly, the Caretaker of Charming Books in Cascade Springs, is settling in to her new position after completing her PhD. But it seems a bit strange that the reporter who was following her a few months ago trying to find her secret, has returned and is watching again. Violet's boyfriend, David Rainwater, chief of police, has asked her to ride with him in the bike race fundraiser and during the race, the reporter whizzes by and is found dead at the bottom of a windy curve. Was it something related to Violet that caused his death? The magical tree in the Bookshop seems to keep pointing her to Walt Whitman. What will Violet find in his poetry?

The writer has created a whimsical setting with believable characters as well as adding characters that add a touch of magic. Looking forward to visiting Cascade Springs often!

I love a good cozy mystery and if you through in the supernatural, and adorable animals in always there. I highly enjoyed reading this.

This is the 4th book in the Magical Bookshop Mystery series. This was an enjoyable cozy mystery with charming characters and a plot that kept me interested until the end. I highly recommend not only this book but the entire series.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Verse and Vengeance, the fourth book in the Magical Bookshop series, by Amanda Flower, not only is a roller coaster ride of “Who done its”, but it’s also a captivating bit of Civil War history...and definitely not in the dry sense! With its colorful and quirky characters, and notable locale, the story is nonstop from beginning to very surprising ending. With each book I read by this author, I am always so entertained by the sense of subtle, and at times not so subtle, humor she has crafted into her characters. As with the previous books in this series, the ending has only left me on anxious with anticipation for what’s next for Rainwater and Violet!

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Another fun cozy by Amanda Flower. I love everything she writes. She always has great characters with just the right amount of quirk.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.