A Glimmer of a Clue continues the Fairy Garden Mystery series with a fun, engaging mystery with a magical touch. I’m enjoying this series very much. I’m drawn to it for many reasons, my love of creating my own fairy gardens, that puzzle to solve before the reveal of who really is the culprit, and the touch of magic with Fiona, Courtney’s fairy friend who has gotten into a bit of trouble with the Fairy Queen.

This time around Courtney’s friend is in the middle of all the mystery involving the stabbing of an art critic with whom Wanda had some serious words and altercations earlier. Lana might have been the town bully but even she didn’t deserve this. Trouble is Wanda sleepwalks and has no memory of confronting Lana one final time. Can one kill literally in their sleep? Or is someone else using that as a cover for murder?

The suspects are numerous, the red herrings scattered about so well that by the story’s ending you might be surprised by the actual killer’s reveal. I had fun with this one, and it only makes waiting for the next one a bit harder to handle – I’m often an impatient series reader… but I’ve lots of good company in that trait.

If you love a cozy mystery with a touch of magic, and an entertaining puzzle to figure out then you’ll want to pick up A Glimmer of a Clue soon. I’ve never been disappointed by this author so if you enjoy Cozies then this one is perfect for you.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I really enjoyed this fairy garden mystery! The mystery is who murdered a local art critic and how can they narrow down the suspect list when no one liked the victim. Courtney needs all the help she gets from her fairy friend to find the murderer.
There are also some very tasty recipes at the end that I want to try.
Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for an ARC; all the opinions are my own.

This is the 2nd book in the Fairy Garden Mystery series. It’s a sweet cozy mystery that I enjoyed reading.
It’s set in Carmel, CA, and many of the residents believe in and can see fairies. Courtney Kelly owns a fairy garden shop, she sells everything you need to make a fairy garden, like figurines and props, and she teaches how-to classes.
One of her friends, Wanda, gets into an argument with a woman who is found murdered that evening. Wanda swears she was sleepwalking, and Courtney wants to prove her innocence with the help of the local fairies.

I love the idea of fairies everywhere, and the details of the fairy hierarchy, rules, and the fairy network were fun to read about. The writing and the plot were both solid and I read the book in one day. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy their cozies with a little bit of magic, 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I enjoy my cozies with kitties so I thought I would like a little whimsy with my mystery. What could be more whimsical than fairies and a fairy on probation at that. It is a light hearted relationship that Courtney, her cat Pixie and her personal fairy share. There are delightful moments that bring a smile to my face. But there is also serious business at the heart of the book.

Courtney’s friend, Wanda, is arrested for the murder of the meanest, most vile woman in town. Nary a kind word would pass Lana’s lips so when she is murdered, there are few who mourn her. Things do not look good for Wanda who has the murder weapon in her hand when the murder is discovered. Courtney knows the mother of her best friend did not commit the murder. Someone, however, has done a fine job of setting her up.

As we learn more about the dealings of the deceased, and the people whom she has wronged, good suspects pop up. Almost everyone has a motive to kill the woman. But only one person is the villain. It will take a lot of investigation and a few close calls before justice is served. And it is not who the reader might assume it is. Whether you twig or not, it is an enjoyable read with lots of kitties and fairies. Four purrs and two paws up.

I'm really enjoying this series and would read the next book.,..................................................................
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The second Fairy Garden mystery is a fun trip to Carmel, California and Open Your Imagination. Open Your Imagination is a shop geared to help you design your own fairy garden. With it's own live- in fairy and a mystery to solve, it's enchanting and suspenseful. I love this series and look forward to reading the next installment!

Daryl Wood Gerber writes a pleasant cozy about A Glimmer of a Clue in which fairies assist in solving the murder of Lana Lamar with Courtney investigating to find the real murderer after her friend Wanda is charged. Lots of suspects and fairy involvement in reducing conflict. Paranormal accent adds to the charm of the mystery.

Fiona is back to sprinkle fairy dust and insist that Courtney follows clues because the game is afoot, after an arrogant art critique is found dead at a gala. You instantly like Courtney and just as quickly dislike Lana. Wanda, mom to Courtney’s bff and like a mom to Courtney is the number one suspect so of course Courtney is going to do what she can to find the real killer. I adore the way Courtney takes the nay-sayers in stride, including her own father who thinks fairies are nonsense. Everyone needs a little positivity in their lives so why not open your heart and your imagination. It doesn’t seem to hurt Courtney’s business which is growing, just like Fiona’s new wings. Plenty of action and character interaction/development. It is also not necessary to have read the series starter to be able to keep up with the next chapter. Awesome recipes for both gluten and non-gluten pastries. I for one can’t wait to try the Baked Fried Chicken, Blueberry Lemon Muffins, Lemon Thyme Biscuits. Looking forward to next year’s book and the new recipes as well!

This is book 2 in the Fairy Garden Series. It can be read as a stand alone. Courtney's tea shop and fairy center is doing well and she has been commissioned to build a fairy garden for a local fund raiser. When a woman is killed with a piece of the garden it's bad news for Courtney and she works hard to clear the shop of any bad news. Her Cat, Pixie and her resident fairy, Fiona are a big help. Fiona is not permitted to communicate with other fairies because she is being "re-educated" due to a past indiscretion. Courtney is her only friend and she lives in a fairy garden at the tea shop. A cute theme. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I wanted to read this book because "fairy gardens" appealed to me. There is another series where a character has elaborate fairy gardens and I thought this book did justice to the idea of them. I have read other books by this author and she has an easy going writing style that makes you feel like you are returning to a charming group of friends you haven't seen in a while. This is cute cozy whodunit and I look forward to more in the series.

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!

Courtney Kelly runs Open Your Imagination in Carmel, California where customers can create fairy gardens, and even run into a fairy if they are lucky. One day, with the help of a garden hose, she breaks up a fight between her friend Wanda and Lana Lamar, a nasty art critic.
But when Lana turns up murdered at a fundraiser, Wanda is the number one suspect, and Courtney uses her skills at finding out the truth, with the help of her resident fairy, Fiona.
You have to love a book that has a cast of human characters, and a second one for fairies and pets. This book is charming and very whimsical in spots. It held my attention from beginning to end, and I have to say I enjoyed it more than I did the first book in the Fairy Garden series. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the first one too. It was just that this one seemed to grab hold of me more. There is a fairy trying to earn her wings, and lots of activity, including pickleball, which I knew nothing about until I read this series.
I’ve given it five stars, even though I figured out whodunit before the ending. Usually that fact knocks a star off for me, but this time I enjoyed the reading so much that it didn’t. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

The annual fundraiser for community outreach programs in the arts is approaching, and Courtney Kelly is creating two fairy gardens for the event. Her store, Open Your Imagination, focuses on creating fairy gardens and she has a wide selection of imaginative décor in her shop. Not only that, but she has her own real-life personal fairy companion named Fiona, who isn’t visible to everyone. Unfortunately, not all is peaceful in Carmel, California. A lot of the turmoil surrounds Lana Lamar, who has a knack for infuriating people. Unfortunately, someone hates Lana enough to kill her and now Wanda Brownie is the prime suspect. Courtney is determined to clear Wanda’s name… but who is the real killer when so many people disliked Lana?

The mystery in A GLIMMER OF A CLUE is intriguing, as there are red herrings aplenty. No one truly liked Lana and there are multiple suspects to choose from. Fiona’s references to how Sherlock Holmes would have solved the crime are sheer delight and a bonus reference for this longtime Holmes fan! I love how Daryl Wood Gerber adds layers to the mystery as there is true depth to each and every character, leaving the reader guessing as to which one actually committed the murder.

I love the main characters in A GLIMMER OF A CLUE! Courtney and her best friend are such a hoot, but it’s Fiona who steals the show! She’s growing in her powers and her wisdom, and I love seeing her play with Pixie, Courtney’s cat. I also love that we get to meet several other fairies and get a glimpse of their personalities.

A GLIMMER OF A CLUE is the second book in A Fairy Garden Mystery series and can easily be read as a standalone. Daryl Wood Gerber digs a bit more into the fairy classifications and hierarchy and I can’t wait to meet more of the fairies that inhabit Daryl Wood Gerber’s fascinating world! A GLIMMER OF A CLUE is an enchanting and delightful combination of the whimsical and the cozy mystery genre itself.

4.5 Stars

This is the sixth book in the Fairy Garden Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber.

This is a fun frolic into the fantasy realm of fairies. Courtney had a fairy friend and there are quite a handful of other fairies in this book too which kinda took the gruesome edge off the idea of murder making it much easier to swallow. Lana Lamar is a pretty decent pickleball player and wanted to bypass the rules when she couldn’t meet the minimum requirement of times playing during the season. She pretty much gets on the bad side of everyone so when she ends up dead, no one is really surprised.

Courtney searches for the killer with her fairy friend, Fiona, who assists with sprinkles of fairy dust and enchantments which is totally fun to read about. The mystery is an easy one to follow along with interspersed with classes that Courtney teaches about making fairy doors. Sounds like a fun thing to do in an afternoon and the gifts seem to brighten people’s day’s too.

Loving the whole concept of this series and just can’t wait to see what the author pulls out of her hat next. Such a fun and magical ride in mystery-land.

Great series to follow. Definitely going to dig into it more! So much fun to read!

If you love a cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. Great new must read book great series too!

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title. Opinions are completely my own.

A Glimmer Of A Clue by Daryl Wood Gerber

Fairy garden store owner Courtney Kelly has a secret: she can actually see fairies and is in the process of helping her own, Fiona, earn wings by doing just and righteous things. So when Fiona urges Courtney to hose down a pair of arguing ladies in the courtyard outside of her store, Courtney knows it’s for the best, even if it earns her the enmity of one of the women, the hyper-competitive art critic Lana Lamar. The other woman is Wanda Brownie, gallerist and mother of Courtney’s best friend Meaghan. Lana and Wanda had come to public blows over not only what Wanda deemed unfair criticism of one of her artists but also Lana’s insistence on having the rules bent for her at the sports club they’re both heavily involved with.

So when Lana is found dead at an art auction some nights later, with Wanda clutching the hilt of the letter opener plunged into Lana’s chest, it’s no surprise that Wanda is quickly charged with murder. It doesn’t help Wanda’s case any that she has no recollection of anything between when she went to take a nap in the ladies’ lounge and when she was gently woken from her sleepwalking fugue after Courtney witnessed the grim tableau. Even worse, Wanda had clearly said “What have I done?” to those who saw her leaning over Lana’s body.

Courtney and Meaghan know that Wanda would never kill anyone while lucid or otherwise, so they’re determined to clear her name. Fiona, of course, is eager to help, both in this instance and in other cases where her special abilities and connections can do the most good. But will Courtney need more help than even a fairy friend can provide when a remorseless killer decides to permanently stop her from figuring out the truth?

The paranormal aspect of this culinary cozy mystery is an absolute delight, as Courtney and Fiona sleuth their way towards unmasking a killer in their otherwise charming California hometown of Carmel-by-the-Sea. The mystery plot is solidly built, but perhaps my favorite part of the book was the continuation of a subplot from the series debut, where Courtney and Fiona do their best to reunite a mother and daughter separated after the latter ran away to join a cult. The tips and tricks interwoven throughout the narrative on building your own fairy garden were also downright inspirational, and are certainly getting me closer and closer to building my own!

There were thirteen recipes included here, with gluten-free alternatives for many of the baked goods. Daryl Wood Gerber has an exquisite palate, so I knew I couldn’t go wrong with any of these dishes. Ultimately, I chose to try out the following:

QUOTE
Cheddar Artichoke Appetizer
Serves 6-8 as side dish; serves 12 as appetizer

4 green onions, diced
1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, in water, drained and diced
1 tablespoon oil
4 eggs slightly beaten
6 soda crackers (for a gluten-free option, use gluten-free crackers)
1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Oil an 8-inch square pan.

Sauté green onions and artichoke hearts in oil for about 3 minutes on medium, until green onions are tender. Cool and set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix eggs, crackers, cheese, pepper, and Tabasco sauce. Add cooled green onions and artichokes.

Pour mixture into the prepared 8-inch square pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes.

Serve hot or cold.

For side dish, cut into 2-to-3-inch square portions.

For appetizer, cut into 1-inch bite-sized pieces.
END QUOTE

I freely admit that, the draw of yummy artichokes aside, the main reason I chose this dish was to use up some of the extra green onions and eggs in my fridge! This is a great recipe for that, especially because the end result is so delicious whether served hot or cold (though if forced to decide, I’d probably plump for the hot version.) My husband did bring home water crackers from the grocery store instead of soda, but I don’t think that changed the taste by very much. Water crackers do tend to be a bit less salty than soda, but that worked out just fine for my household. I also used a chili-garlic sauce instead of Tabasco, and think you could safely get away with using any hot sauce of your choice. Regardless, this was a very delicious dish that works nicely as a light meal, and keeps really well for when you don’t feel like doing much more than microwaving yourself a snack or slightly more.

Next week, we head inland to try out another savory side while investigating the suspicious death of a hiker. Do join me!

Let me start with this: the series is well written but it is not for me. I can't get into the fairy aspect. I guess I have lost the magic in my life at this time. The mystery is good, the characters are likable and engaging, and the fairy gardens sound beautiful. If you enjoy books with mystical qualities this series would be for you.

I would recommend this series for any cozy mystery lover. Please give it a whirl and I hope you love it and are able to find the magic in your life.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington Books, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

This second installment in the Fairy Garden series is a nice follow up to ‘A Sprinkling of Murder’! Courtney once again is compelled to get involved in a murder investigation to prove that her best friend’s mother is not guilty. The murder victim was so hateful to everyone that there is no shortage of suspects. Courtney, with the help of her fairy Fiona, has to figure out who had the strongest motive to want Lana dead. This is a fun series that has likable characters,, a solid mystery and whimsy and magic.

“A Glimmer of a Clue” unfolds in the first person narrative of Courtney Kelly, the owner of “Open Your Imagination,” a shop specializing in fairy garden landscape design in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. She is “assisted” in her business by Fiona, a fairy-in-training, who needs to help a human to gain her wings. Fortunately for Fiona, there are a lot of people around who need help. The story is entertaining and whimsical, but of course a murder is thrown in to complicate things. The story is told mostly in the light hearted and natural conversations of friends, even when the dialogues are probative, investigative, or questioning.
A confrontation at The Spectacular, an annual fundraiser for community outreach programs in the arts, leads to murder, and a suspect is soon arrested. Courtney feels the police have the wrong person, so she sets out to find the true culprit which should be easy since no one really liked the victim. The investigation moves along at a casual yet focused and deliberate pace. The murder is more complex than it originally seemed, and the search is going nowhere. Fiona chides Courtney for not being a trained professional while trying to obey the rules of her own probation.
“A Glimmer of a Clue” starts each chapter with an interesting quotation, and includes a convenient list of the likeable characters (Humans, Fairies, and Pets) for reference when needed. The plot is compelling with abundant mystery but without buckets of blood. Best of all, the characters share their favorite food and drink recipes at the end. I received a review copy of “A Glimmer of a Clue” from Daryl Wood Gerber and Kensington books. It is quick to read with a satisfying plot and pleasing characters. This is the second book in the “Fairy Garden Mystery” series, and I am sure there will be more to come.

When Courtney’s friend Wanda gets into a ponytail pulling wrestling match in public with a nasty art critic. Courtney stops the fight with the help of a garden hose. LanaLamar has a talent for escalating things and creating tension which she does by threatening a lawsuit. Next thing Courtney knows Lana is on the floor stabbed with a decorative letter opener from one of Courtney’s fairy gardens. Wanda is wondering what have I done? But the answer may not be obvious, since Wanda is prone to sleepwalking and appears to be-in a daze. Could she have risen from her nap and committed murder while unconscious? Or is the guilty party someone else Lana’s like Lana’s ticked off ex-husband? To find out Courtney will have to dig up some dirt to help her friend. An enjoyable story to tantalize the reader. This story is well written and has many amazing characters.

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley and Kensington Books for my honest review.*

Courtney lives in lovely Carmel-by-the-Sea and owns a whimsical fairy gardening store. There are several shops adjacent to the courtyard by her store. After a tussle on the sidewalk in front of a group of people, one of the women involved is found by Courtney murdered. And since a close friend is being accused of the murder, Courtney begins to investigate.

There is a wonderful cast of characters in the town - human, four-legged, and fairy. It was nice to see some new characters gain their 'fairy sight' in the process of the investigation. And I like reading about the classes that Courtney offers in her shop. I can almost visualize what she is making from the descriptions.

Great series!