This has been my favorite Amanda Flower series of them all (with the Amish Candy Shop series a close second). This one fell a little flat for me compared to previous books - I was completely OVER Jo and her constant disappearing act. I appreciated the twists in the story, although I still had logistical questions when it was all said and done. I enjoyed the historical pieces about Walt Whitman, even though I don't care for his poetry.

One of the things I enjoy about this series is that you don't have to have read - or liked - the book that the shop is focused on to completely enjoy the story. Fans of the series should be sure to check this one out.

Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower is the fourth A Magical Bookshop Mystery. There is a delightful cast of characters in this magical tale. Violet Waverly has just finished teaching another semester at the local college as well as defending her dissertation which has earned her the right to put doctor before her name. She is looking forward to working in the shop and spending time with her boyfriend, Chief David Rainwater. Daisy Waverly is Violet’s grandmother and the new mayor of Cascade Springs. Things are never dull when Daisy is around. She came up with the idea for the Cascade Springs Underground Railroad Museum and ran short of funding when issues were discovered with the foundation of the Village Hall. There is Emerson the tuxedo cat that manages to follow Violet around the village (a master escape artist) and Faulkner is the crow that resides in the magical birch tree and calls out unique quotes as well as dropping books into Violet’s path. There are a variety of charming residents and shop owners plus a curmudgeon or two. I just love the descriptions of this quant town. There are some adorable shops and it is close to Niagara Falls. The mystery was multifaceted with several suspects and good clues. While I could identify the guilty party, it took longer to figure out the why. This was a unique whodunit. I like how everything tied together. Amanda crafted a unique mystery that tied in Walt Whitman. I especially enjoyed how literature with the help of the essence tied into the whodunit. Verse and Vengeance also has romance with David and Violet at the forefront, but there is also Daisy and a certain fellow who is smitten with her. Plus, Violet’s department chair might finally work up the nerve to ask out a certain librarian. There is humor sprinkled throughout the story that had me chuckling. That Emerson is quite a character. Thanks to Amanda Flower’s descriptions, I could envision that cat in Violet’s bicycle basket. Violet’s father returns which brings up old feelings of resentment and confusion. Can Violet and her father find a way to move forward? Verse and Vengeance can be read as a standalone for those new to the series, but why would you not want to read all the books in this enchanting series. The ending of Verse and Vengeance is very special, and I cannot wait for the next book in this enchanting series. Verse and Vengeance is a spellbinding tale with an enigmatic essence, perplexing poetry, a curious cat, dynamic Daisy, a pesky PI, and a flawed foundation.

Amanda Flowers
Verse and Vengeance.
It was lovely to return to Cascade Springs and visit Charming Books.
Which we had a town like this !
Grandma Daisy and Violet are fun.
Violet seams to attract danger in trying to solve this mystery.
Brilliant plot, I enjoyed this immensely.
Amanda Flowers books are amazing love this author.
Thanks to Crooked Lane books and NetGalley for my advance copy.
If I could give this book more stars I would ⭐️

I love Amanda Flower books, and this one is no exception. I'm not sure how I missed the first three books in the Magical Bookshop series, but I will be putting them on my "to be read" list.

Even though this book is the fourth in the series, I had no problem getting to know the characters. The main character, Violet Waverly, is the owner of the bookshop and the keeper of the magical tree inside. The bookshop has a way of finding a book for customers, even if they don't know what they are looking for.

The premise of this story is that a private detective who has been following and watching Violet dies in a bike accident during a town wide race. It's quickly discovered by Violet's boyfriend, Chief of Police Rainwater, that the accident was no accident.

When Violet's student Jo becomes the focus of the investigation, and then she goes missing, Violet knows she needs to use her sleuthing skills t0 find out what really happened..

This was an enjoyable read, and I really love the idea of the of Charmed Books, the magical bookshop, which has been handed down over generations. I think that the sweet romance between David Rainwater and Violet is endearing and I can just imagine living in the small town of Cascade Springs, near Niagara Falls. This was a sweet cozy mystery and I would recommend it to anyone interested in a sweet cozy mystery with a magical bookshop.

I was provided a copy of this book in advance in exchange for my honest opinon. #NetGalley

Verse And Vengeance is the fourth book in the A Magical Bookshop Mystery series.

Violet’s grandmother has recently been elected mayor of Cascade Springs and one of her first projects is to create a museum in the town hall. It is learned that the town hall will need work to the foundation before work can commence on the museum. The amount needed is more than Cascade Springs can afford, so Grandma Daisy has organized a 30-mile bike race. Violet’s boyfriend, police chief David Rainwater wants her to ride with him in the race. As Violet sets out for the race she notices PI Joel Redding watching the bookshop from across the street. Violet has had bad dealing before with Redding and feels that he is trying to learn the secrets that have been kept for several generations that the bookstore has been around. Violet and Rainwater have completed 20 miles when they come to Breakneck Hill and notice that a crowd has gathered on the street. As they are approaching the mass of people, Violet notices a copy of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass. When she sees the dead biker's clothes and the book she knows it has to be Redding. First, she wants to find out why Redding was following her and to help Rainwater find the killer.

In addition to concern for finding Redding’s killer, Violet is concerned as to how much to tell Rainwater about her duties as caretaker of the bookshop. Grandma Daisy decides that it is time to turn over journals that have been kept since the first caretaker.

This is another well-written and told story with an interesting cast of characters. It’s always enjoyable to visit with Grandma Daisy and read about she approaches life. Faulkner, the shop’s pet crow, and Emerson, the tuxedo cat, are back to provide humorous times.

I will be watching for the next book in this interesting series.

This was such a cute book. It revolves around the Charming Books’ Bookstore and the new owner/Caretaker Violet Waverly. Violet accompanies her boyfriend police chief David Rainwater on a fundraising bike ride that her grandmother (the Mayor) has organized. This fundraiser was set up to help make money to renovate and repair the museum. Two things happen though that throw everything off course....lol, no pun intended.

First, during the race, someone is murdered, and it just happens to be the Joel Redding who has been investigating Violet and her bookstore. The second thing we don't know about yet but will be the end of the book.

Violet, of course, feels obligated to find answers her self. She wants to clear her friend Jo, protect her and protect her shop, but mostly she wants to know why she was being investigated by Joel Redding and what did he know. The magical essence of Charming Books was directing Violet to find the answers. She just wished the essence was a bit more clear with the messages being sent to her.

I really enjoyed this book, and it kept me turning pages until the very end, and after that it had me looking up poetry by Walt Whitman!

Thank you to Netgalley for the Digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#VerseandVengeance #NetGalley

The fourth in the magical bookshop mystery series features Violet Waverly, caretaker and proprietor of Charming bookstore, a magical bookstore located in the picturesque village of Cascade Springs. Violet has begrudgingly agreed to participate in the charity bike race organized by the town's mayor, Violet's grandmother Daisy. The proceeds of the race will go towards the building of a new Underground Railroad Museum. Violet and her boyfriend, Police Chief David Rainwater uncover a body while participating in the race. It ends up being a private investigator by the name of Joel Redding, the very PI that threatened to expose Violet's secrets at the end of the last book. Police are also dealing with another body, this one found in Niagara Falls. When the police discover the body belonged to the husband of the police chief's sister, they are convinced the two murders are connected somehow. Even worse, they start to suspect that Violet's student Jo is involved and knows more that she is willing to admit. Violet is certain Jo is innocent and determined to prove her innocence, she conducts an investigation of her own.
It is always a treat to catch up with the charming members of the Cascade Spring village. This charming town has some of the quirkiest characters one can't help but love. The bookshop chooses to communicate through a Walt Whitman book, which adds an extra layer of enjoyment for poetry lovers. The mystery is well crafted with plenty of potential suspects and a motive that is kept hidden till the end. I enjoy the paranormal elements interspersed in the plot, especially the antics of the bookstore cats who lend a paw in solving the mystery. I highly recommend this series to those looking for a great mystery with a touch of paranormal thrown in.

The last thing Violet Waverly wants to do is enter a bicycle race. Her boyfriend, David, the local police chief and her grandmother are all for it so she agrees. The way things turn out, Violet should have stayed in bed. There is a creepy private investigator in town and he suspects enough about the bookstore's magical tree to put an end to generations of the magical women of Violet's family. You bet she wants to see him out of town fast. What comes next wasn't that. Instead of leaving town he dies during the bicycle race. First thought to be a tragic accident, David discovers that the brake line has been cut and the means murder. Unfortunately, that puts Violet on the list as the prime suspect. So who else disliked the victim enough to bump him off?
Violet has kept the secret of the magical tree from David but will she be able to keep that secret much longer as she tries to clear her name and stay out of jail. When the body of David's ex-brother in law turns up, the police wonder if the two deaths are somehow connected. Soon it's not just Violet who is on the list of suspects.
Each of the four books - so far - in this series have been most enjoyable. Time spent reading about a small town and a bookstore tops my list of great cozies. When the bookstore houses magic, well, I will surely read way past my bedtime. The characters are people I would like to spend time with, the setting is perfect and the mystery is very well plotted. Add to it a tuxedo cat named Emerson and a crow named Faulkner, this series is firmly on my must read list.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve read other books and series by Amanda Flowers, mainly in her Amish mysteries. I really enjoy her writing, so I took a chance with “Verse and Vengeance”, which is completely different from the books that I have read.

There are earlier books in this series and it became apparent to me, fairly early on, that this book would be a pivotal story in what goes on next.

It was also a bit difficult for me to catch up to the premise and to understand how the characters related to one another. The author did a good job of giving back story information without giving away much of the earlier books. However, I think I could have gotten much more from the story if I had read the earlier books first.

In this book, Violet Waverly is in charge of the magical bookstore which has, in all of its incarnations, been part of her family for hundreds of years.

The book is set near the Niagara Falls and there is a stream that provides sustenance for the magic which occurs at the bookstore. The book will provide all of the backstory for that.

There is a bicycle race being held to raise money for the renovation of the Town Hall and to create a museum for the Underground Railroad history that is so important Cascade Springs (the town where the action takes place.)

There is a death that is deemed a murder and investigations start. The individual who comes under suspicion is a friend and a student of Violet. She feels compelled to come to her defense and to enlist the assistant of her own boyfriend to help. It certainly doesn’t hurt that her boyfriend is also the chief of police.

There were a number of storylines interwoven but, by the end of the story, they have all come together.

I enjoyed reading the book although it was so different from the funny cozy mysteries I have come to expect from Amanda Flowers. While some funny things did happen, there wasn’t an overall humorous bend to the story.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

5 Stars: 5/5 Star Rating Scale
Well, this certainly did not help my insomnia because I had to stay awake to finish the entire book. I simply couldn't stop until I had devoured every last morsel of this delightful book! Revisiting Violet and Grandma Daisy was a real treat. Charming Books holds many secrets and it's always fun to learn more. Then there's always murder and the race to solve it and Violet simply must get involved, much to her officer boyfriend's distress.
I highly recommend this book to readers and it would make a wonderful Christmas gift for those who love a good mystery!
I received a digital ARC of this book from netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Amanda Flower is one of the best, fun, cozy mystery writers. She is a new cornerstone in this genre and I look forward to more in this magical bookshop.

A great adventure that digs deep into the heart of Cascade Springs. Will secrets be revealed? Will old crimes be exposed? And what’s the Whitman of it all?


I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.

Charming Books’ owner Violet Waverly accompanied her boyfriend and police chief David Rainwater on the fundraising bike ride in Cascade Springs near Niagara Falls although the distance was quite daunting. Her old bike had seen better days, but it took her safely wherever she needed to go. As she and David careened down Breakneck Hill, they didn’t expect what they found at the bottom. Twenty five miles into the race and the person in front of them wasn’t going any further.

The death of Joel Redding, private investigator and bane of Violet’s life, was discovered to be not an accident. With Rainwater and his two police officers on the case, Violet knew she should leave well enough alone. But her good friend and student Jo was implicated in the death and Violet knew she needed to find the evidence which showed Jo’s innocence. The magical essence of Charming Books was directing Violet to the answers – if only she could understand the messages it was sending her. Walt Whitman, long ago poet, had the means to solve the mystery. Violet’s frustration was immense – would she work out the answers?

Verse and Vengeance is the 4th in A Magical Bookshop Mystery series by Amanda Flower and I enjoyed this cosy mystery very much. Violet is a strong young woman, determined and compassionate; sometimes too soft-hearted for her own good. Her Grandma Daisy is an absolute delight; I was enchanted by the magical bookstore and loved Emerson the cat and Faulkner the crow – both permanent residents of Charming Books. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Violet is worried because private investigator Redding is back in town watching the bookshop. Her grandma Daisy is now the town mayor and is raising money to shore up the foundation of the town hall. She puts together a bike race as a fund raiser and David Rainwater and Violet take part.
25 miles into the race Violet is taking a breather with David at the top of a hill when Redding rides by taking Violet’s picture. When they reach the bottom of the hill a crowd has gathered and They find Redding dead. What initially looks like an accident is really murder.
The shop keeps giving Violet copies of Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. The clues to the murder and the whole situation stem from that book.
One of Violet’s students, Jo, seems to be involved. Jo goes into hiding.
We learn more about the history of the tree and it’s magic. Grandma Daisy keeps encouraging Violet to talk to Rainwater about the tree and the shop, but Violet is afraid because the story is that all the Waverly women end up alone because of the magic. I admit to feeling like too much drama was attached to keeping the tree and it’s magic secret.
The mystery is drawn out as a whole lot of events occur. It’s anyone's guess as to who is behind the murder(s), turns out there was more than one. The perpetrator was a bit of a surprise.
This was a wonderful fourth book in the Magical Bookshop Mystery series. I don’t think it can stand alone because the angst behind Violet’s worry about Redding can only be understood if the reader knows the story of the third book. The mystery of the tree has been building too. I wish Cascade Springs was a real town. It sounds charming.

Protagonist Violet Waverly is "Caretaker" of the magical birch tree located inside the Charming Books bookshop. Her grandmother, Daisy, also works in the bookshop when she is not fulfilling her duties as the new mayor of Cascade Springs. She has begun a project to provide an Underground Railroad Museum in the village hall. The fourth in the series and my second, I've had no problem reading each entry as a standalone.

Grandma Daisy has urged both Violet and her boyfriend, police chief, David Rainwater, to ride in the Tour de Cascade, a major event meant to provide construction funds for her project, but before the ride is completed, Violet comes upon the fatal accident of private investigator Joel Redding. The shop's magical "essence," quietly deposits hints about the murder in the works by Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass.

Violet is a no-nonsense, direct question type of amateur sleuth and there are twists and turns in this well-plotted mystery. The romance between her and Chief Rainwater continues to heat up. The easy-paced narrative proceeds with the descriptive fictitious setting of the small tourist town near Niagara Falls. I also enjoyed little bits of humor.

Poetic quotes from Whitman, however, (not one of my favs) on a cell phone Kindle app are difficult to read and interrupt the flow and I'm still having difficulty imagining the interior with the tree and spiral staircase to a second-floor apartment. (It's a paranormal--must swallow some disbelief.) There are elements that are not wholly explained in the surprising conclusion and as an ARC edit misses and a few detail contradictions.

I was granted this ebook download by the publisher and NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read for my unbiased review. Looking forward to Book 5 and recommend to all who enjoy an easy, fast cozy read with a touch of paranormal and romance. 3.5/5 rounded to 4

This is a delightful read ! Favorite cozy author Amanda Flower has released a brilliant fun addition to this well loved series. This is Amanda Flower's fourth book in the successful "Magical Bookshop mystery." I have read the entire series and loved each book. This new release is one of my favorites in the series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

We return to our protagonist Violet Waverly, the proprietor of Charming Books, a bookstore built around a magical tree in Cascade Springs, N.Y. Violet is hiding a secret about her bookstore that it is magical . She is managing it on her own now that her Grandmother is Mayor and enjoying her mayoral duties. She has a resident crow named Faulkner and a charming tuxedo cat named Emerson who have magical powers and are by her side in the bookstore. I love the descriptions of Faulkner and Emerson as they interact with Violet and visitors to the bookstore. This bookstore is unique as it has a long paranormal history in her family and often will pick out books for those who need them. The literary references throughout the book are wonderful. The descriptions of the bookstore are so charming that every reader will wish they could visit. Violet is tasked with keeping the secret of the bookstore from even her police chief boyfriend David.

In this next in series Violet has been asked to participate in a bike race by her boyfriend much to her dismay. She does not like to bike and is not looking forward to the race but it is bringing in big business for her town as her Grandmother has advertised it as a fun raiser for their local museum. The bike race has proved popular and the crowds are coming into town and increasing business for everyone. When a murder occurs during the race among the crowds Violet is determined to investigate as a second body is found and her friend is blamed. She knows Jo is innocent and decides to do her own investigation much to the chagrin of her boyfriend who does not want her to investigate. Violet is a savvy investigator and moves forward with her suspicions and soon has clues and suspect she believes are the true murderer.

This is such a enjoyable read with a well crafted mystery to conclusion. The charcters are all perfectly written to the series and the description of the local town is charming and delightful. I loved this next in series and highly recommend this for your reading enjoyment. Very well done to the author !

Violet is involved in a bike race through the village when she finds a dead body. Since she has had an encounter with that dead body recently, she is drawn into solving the murder. In other circumstances, someone arguing with a victim would have been more of a suspect, but in this case it is more in her mind than that of the police. And that brings me to what I did not like about this book. I have been reading this series from the beginning and like the fantasy aspect of magic. Violet's reactions to detective in town is overblown and overdone. She makes a mountain out of a molehill. If she just played it cool, nothing she does it really suspicious or that big of a deal in itself. It is almost like creating angst just to have a story. So I kept rolling my eyes at her and thinking just chill.

Verse and Vengeance is the fourth installment of the Magical Bookshop Mystery series. And what a fun and enchanting addition it was!

In each book of this series, the works of a different prolific author help to solve the crime. This time, Walt Whitman's poetry played an integral part. I'm not as familiar with his work as some of the other authors featured in previous books, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment one bit. It was a joy visiting Violet, Grandma Daisy, David, and especially Faulkner the crow and Emerson the cat again.

The mystery was a good one. I was 100% sure I knew exactly who the killer was and why. No way was it anybody else. Boy, was I shocked when the reveal came and it was someone else! Never saw that coming! I love it when I can be surprised like that.

All in all, Verse and Vengeance was a fun trip back to Cascade Springs. It's sure to delight old fans of the series and new. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries that have a touch magic.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

Amanda Flower is one of my must read authors. Her cozies are always full of smart heroines with adorable animals and she usually stumps me on whom is the murderer. Verse and Vengeance is no exception. I love Violet and Grandma Daisy. The magic is a fun element. I could not go into the bookshop because I would go broke. The bookshop can tell what you need or want to read and magically the shop has that exact book(s). The animals in this book are her tuxedo cat, Emerson, and the shop's crow, Faulkner. Those two are very mischievous, but they do not overtake the story. I also like how in each novel there is an author who's work is connected to the murder. In this case, it is Walt Whitman. The author does a great job of incorporating that element into the story. I also loved the ending! This is the fourth book in the series. You could read it as a standalone, but do yourself a favor and read all of them. They are just that enjoyable. I can't wait for the next book! Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

How is it possible to resist a cute cosy mystery with a magical bookstore, a cat, and a talking crow? There's some quirky, yet relatable characters in Verse and Vengeance and the plot was interesting, especially due to all the Walt Whitman references. In addition, I liked that the book had Native American representation.