A HINT OF MISCHIEF is the third book in the Fairy Garden Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber. This charming and magical tale combines the best of cozy mysteries: a well-plotted murder, delightful characters, and an inviting setting. And I can’t overlook the cover… it’s magic all on its own. With a wide cast of characters, both human and fairy alike, the author thoughtfully provides a list at the front of the book for easy reference. But despite the number, Ms. Gerber does an admirable job with unique descriptions and the ability to make each character come to life on the pages. I also like how she opens each chapter with a literary quote about a fairy—who knew there were so many mentions out there?!

The protagonist, Courtney Kelly, is owner of the adorable shop, Open Your Imagination, in Carmel-by-the-Sea in coastal California. The garden shop specializing in creating fairy gardens gives Courtney plenty of opportunities to teach customers how to craft their own fairy gardens, which readers can replicate at home. And stealing each scene she inhabits is Courtney’s adorable fairy, Fiona. Ms. Gerber’s detailed description of Fiona and all her fairy folk, brings magic to the pages and makes it entirely believable that fairies do exist.

While all the charming characters and the fairy garden shop might seem to make the reader forget that this is a murder mystery, the author starts the action from the very first page, which sets the pace for the book. She does an admirable job of weaving everyday work and play into the untimely death of a celebrity in town, who came to celebrate an old friend’s birthday. With the large gathering of sorority sisters for the birthday, there are plenty of suspects to go around. Except, fingers point toward a local young woman with a troubled past, who the celebrity gets into an altercation with. Courtney and Fiona jump into the investigation, intent on finding the real killer. Ms. Gerber expertly doles the clues out and leads the reader on a chase to find the truth. Courtney, at times, can be a bit overly forward in delving into the truth, but her tenacity is rewarded. Fiona is more actively involved in the investigation this time, which adds to the overall appeal and I’m happy to know that another Fairy Garden Mystery is in the works!

While this might be a fairy garden book, there are plenty of mouthwatering dishes being served at the garden tea, at the birthday party, and at Courtney’s boyfriend’s restaurant. If you’ve read any of Ms. Gerber’s other books, you’ll know that she is an excellent cook and provides almost mini cookbooks with each mystery. A Hint of Mischief is no different with plenty of yummy recipes to choose from.

A Hint of Mischief is the third book in Daryl Wood Gerber's Fairy Garden Mystery series. Featuring fairies, cats, and a wonderful cast of characters, A Hint of Mischief is another slam dunk cozy mystery.

Courtney Kelly's fairy garden shop is booming. Between walk-in private lessons, group lessons, and individual sales, Open Your Imagination has become a popular destination for both believers and non-believers. Courtney even hosts fairy garden parties. When she's sought out by the town socialite to put together a fairy garden birthday party for a friend's 40th, Courtney jumps at the chance - even if she only has 10 days to pull it all together. Courtney also discovers Farrah Lawson, a popular actress, will be in attendance.

During a scheduled spa day with the host, birthday girl, and actress, Courtney witnesses a situation between Farrah and her beautician. Unhappy with her service, Farrah causes an uncomfortable, public disturbance. When Farrah is found dead shortly after the spa day, the police automatically suspect the beautician but Courtney and Fiona know better. Something fishy is going on and they mean to figure it out before an innocent girl takes the fall.

This is a very unique story with unique elements. I enjoyed the fairy garden shop setting, complete with a live fairy. The characters are fun and exciting. I enjoyed Courtney's character. Her business is successful and thriving. She cares about her friends and citizens in Carmel-by-the-Sea and makes it her mission to help the accused in A Hint of Mischief. The author delivers several suspects with means and motive, and figuring out who committed the crime was difficult. There are twists and turns and red herrings, and while I may have suspected, I never was really sure.

I love a good cozy mystery, but the fairy aspect of these stories delights me with a childlike glee! I so want to go put fairy doors around my neighborhood and see if anyone notices! The characters are well developed and when I read these stories, I feel like I am hanging out with friends rather than following characters in a story. I think that is the main aspect of following any series that I like most, is that you get to know the characters so well especially in a cozy mystery. You not only become closely acquainted with the characters, but the town and businesses as well. In this case, Who knew owning a plant and fairy garden store would lead to searching for killers, but Courtney must find out who the killer is before a friend's daughter is wrongly accused and convicted. I absolutely can't wait to read the next book in the series. In the meantime, I think I need to create my own fairly garden!

Drop your cares and enter the fantasy world of hidden fairies and visible murder suspects in A Hint of Mischief.

Sometimes the past comes back to haunt you. Farrah is a famous actress who is in town to attend an informal sorority reunion. When out on a spa day with her friends, she is enraged at an eyebrow waxing gone horribly wrong. Shortly, afterwards she is murdered. With many enemies, some jealous of her success and others with long-standing grudges against her, the suspect list is long. Amateur sleuth Courtney and her sidekick, tiny fairy Fiona, must solve the crime before an innocent person is sent to prison.

Sure, ghost and even skeleton detectives are fairly common in cozy mysteries. But a fairy detective sidekick had me scratching my head too. However, it doesn’t take long to completely suspend any hesitation and fall in love with Fiona. She is arguably the most multi-faceted character in the book. She is both bubbly and troubled with a fascinating back story. So, when she has a bad feeling about the college friends, Courtney should have listened.

A Hint of Mischief is the perfect blend of believable characters, a lovely touristy town, and a compelling mystery. It is a delightful cozy beach read. 4 stars!

Thanks to Kensington Books, Great Escapes Book Tours, and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

If for no other reason than making me smile with the cute names of the fictional shops, I love reading this series. How can you not chuckle at Seize the Clay, Aunt Teeks (say that one out loud), and Wizard of Paws? And for the most part, the characters are just as endearing. Courtney Kelly is running a fairy garden shop and is surrounded by friends, fairies, and felines. (a few canines too) Work keeps her on her toes as do the various events in her little town and her involvement in the training of a young fairy, Fiona. This story introduced a lot of new characters to help lay the groundwork for the murder and it got to be a bit confusing at times since there was a lot of activity with the recurring characters. But this kept the overall series story going and left several threads for readers to pick up in the next book!

This is a fun series! The series is a blend of murder mystery and whimsy! The setting is so unique and the addition of fairy lore, fairies and the making of fairy gardens throughout the storyline adds interest, lightheartedness and magic! The characters are likable and pretty well developed. I do find Courtney abrasive at times as she conducts her investigation. Her jumping back and forth suspecting people can make you feel like you may get a case of whiplash, but she does get the job done and finds the culprit.

Open Your Imagination is a store that specializes in fairy gardens and all the items you need to create your own as well as holding events to help you design them. This is such a unique setting for this series. Courtney, the store's owner, and her fairy Fiona keep each book interesting. I loved the descriptions of the fairy gardens that Courtney was creating and also the adult fairy garden party that she was organizing at a customer's house. Courtney gets involved in the mystery when a friend is a person of interest that she feels is wrongly accused. Many people had a motive and Courtney won't rest until she figures out the mystery. I also enjoyed the secondary storyline about the fairy doors that are appearing in town. I have read all the books in this series and enjoy them so much. I can't wait for the next one.

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

This is a 3.5 review. I read the previous two books in this series and this one is slightly better. Courtney has been hired to throw an adult fairy party for a group of sorority sisters. When they all arrive in town it is obvious that there is some tension among the friends. When one is murdered Courtney sets out to solve the crime. I enjoy most of the characters and the fairies are a fun touch. The fairy garden background is enjoyable. I also like the Carmel by the Sea setting. There is still way too much clothing and food descriptions and in this book the author added china descriptions. All of this detracts from the story. The mystery is still pretty weak. The person the police suspected was completely unbelievable.. This series should be read in order

Courtney has taken on a new project – an adult fairy garden party. And she only has 10 days to pull it together. However, the party suffers several snags, beginning with the murder of one of the invitees. Courtney begins her investigation while at the same time she develops her relationship with Brady. There’s new fairies and a lot of new fairy doors. More mysteries to solve. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more.

A Hint of Mischief is the third book in the Fairy Garden Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber.

Courtney has been asked to plan an adult fairy garden-themed party. One of the guests is a well-known actress who wasn’t as nice as people made her out to be.

I really love this series. Fiona is working so hard to get all of her adult wings. Trying to follow all the rules but still help Courtney in her investigations isn’t easy. There are so many wonderful characters in this series. The murder mystery was interesting with so many people keeping secrets. The ending was wonderful!

I can’t wait to see what happens for Courtney and Brady and Fiona in the next book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

It was fun to catch up with Courtney and her friends, and especially her sweet little fairy friend, Fiona. That little girl's come a long way since the first book! I think she's gonna make the queen fairy really proud someday soon. I just wish Courtney could get her dad to believe. Can you imagine what Det. Summers would say or do if Kip did believe? I don't think he'd let him live it down LOL!

The mystery had a lot of twists, turns and great red herrings, so I was never really sure whodunit until Courtney came up with it. That was one tense showdown and while Courtney used what she had in her defense, I think I agree with her dad and would like to see her take more self-defense classes. I enjoyed the little side story of the fairy door mystery.

I was so happy to see Courtney and Brady getting closer and what happened at the very end was super sweet! He's such a keeper! Can't wait for the next installment!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Courtney Kelly, the proprietor of a fairy garden and tea shop in Carmel-by-the-Sea, is having an old sorority sister's fortieth birthday bash, and a famous actress, Farrah Lawson, is flying in for the occasion. Courtney has less than two weeks to paint a mural, hang up tinkling windchimes, plan party games, and conjure up all the details. While she works her magic, the hostess and her girlfriends head off for an indulgent spa day, which leads to a fateful facial for Farrah, followed by her mysterious death. Could the kindhearted eyebrow waxer who Farrah berated in public really be the killer? Courtney thinks otherwise, and with the help of her imaginative sleuth fairy, sets out to dig up the truth behind this puzzling murder.
This fantasy cozy mystery was interesting to me. The setting was beautifully described and makes me want to visit there and see if I can spot a fairy. The plot is full of twists and red herrings that made me indecisive about the culprit’s identity. I love reading about the sleuth and her life working at the shop. What threw me off about this mystery was the abundance of suspects, I was confused and couldn’t tell them apart, at times. I will read another mystery from this series. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

A HINT OF MISCHIEF by Daryl Wood Gerber
The Third Fairy Garden Mystery

Life is never dull for shop owner and fairy garden designer Courtney Kelly. A thief is plaguing Carmel-by-the-Sea with brazen daylight heists, someone is placing fairy doors around town, and Courtney has been tasked with planning an adult fairy party. With not much notice, socialite Misty Dawn wants Courtney to go all out for the birthday party she's throwing for her friend. Sorority sisters, including the famous actress Farrah Lawson, will be in attendance and money is no object. There's tension among these old friends however, and Farrah's nasty side soon makes itself known. When Farrah's found poisoned, Courtney can't help but get involved. With her fairy friend Fiona to help her, the two will look for clues in order to save a friend and help the police.

The Fairy Garden Mystery series makes me want to play in the dirt! I want to grab tiny plants, cute figurines, and create my own fairy garden.

A HINT OF MISCHIEF compelled me to keep turning the pages making this a fast read. It grabbed my attention, kept me curious, and didn't let go. The combination of mysteries kept me intrigued as did conflicting information from various characters regarding the murder mystery. Several suspicious characters were also behaving badly adding to the puzzle of who was guilty.

I love the relationship between Courtney and Fiona. Fiona is growing too. While still full of fun and play, she's also maturing, taking things seriously when needed. I also love how Courtney and Brady's relationship is developing. The two are supportive and caring with genuine interest in each other.

A HINT OF MISCHIEF is a fairy good mystery. It will put a smile on your face, a spring in your step, and have you looking in the greenery for fairies.

This kept me guessing until the end. Courtney kept uncovering reasons why people wanted Farrah dead. She came off as a really nice person, but Courtney found out that she had a dark side. When Misty asked Courtney to do a fairy party for her sorority sisters, Courtney was a little skeptical about adults doing that kind of party. Farrah comes to town just for the party but ends up dead. Which one of the sisters would want her dead? Is it an old boyfriend? She seemed to throw people away when she was finished with them. Courtney sets out to find the killer when one of her friends is blamed.

A Hint of Mischief was an engrossing and completely entertaining cozy mystery. It was so good to see that Fiona and Courtney's friendship grow. Fiona is working hard to become a fully-fledged fairy. Courtney's love life has improved a tad since the last book. The only thing that niggles Courtney is her father's disbelief in fairies. Even in this book, we see him disapprove of Courtney's belief in fairies and all things magical.

Courtney learns Farrah's been murdered and Twyla is implicated in the crime, she knows Twyla is innocent and decides to do a bit of sleuthing on her own. There's another mystery here - more of a side-story but a fantastic addition to the main mystery. A lot of fairy portals have opened up in town. Looks like someone's been placing fairy doors all around Carmel. Fiona and Merryweather (Fiona's mentor) are curious to know who's being so desperate to contact fairies and why.

Speaking of fairies, Courtney and Fiona meet Cedric at Misty's place. Cedric is a he-fairy. Misty used to see him when she was a child but as she grew up, she started stopped believing in all-things-magical. Cedric still tries his best to help his mistress. After all, once a fairy is assigned to a human, they must remain with them till their owner's death. Does this mean Fiona will remain with Courtney for long? Courtney also wonders what happened to Aurora, the fairy she knew when she was a child.

I absolutely love the theme on which this series is based. I must do a bit of research on fairy gardens so that I can try one on my own. This can be my next DIY project, what say? :) I am in awe of Daryl's storytelling. Excellent character portrayal and the mystery (or should I say mysteries?) kept me guessing till the end.

The identity of the perp was shocking and unexpected. Plenty of red herrings scattered throughout the story so it was difficult for me to identify the perp before Courtney could. We also have a surprise at the end - something to do with Courtney. I cannot wait to see how this new development will affect

A Hint of Mischief is the third book in the whimsical Fairy Garden Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber. You can definitely read this book as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend the first two books in this series too. This third book is just as charming as its predecessors.

Do you believe in fairies? Courtney Kelly does as do many of her friends. She comes by it naturally since her late mother was a believer. Her dad? Not so much. But he’s come to terms with his daughter’s choice to leave his landscaping business to start her now popular fairy garden and tea shop, Open Your Imagination. However, he’s not thrilled when she becomes entangled in yet another murder case. Of course, he’s come to accept her inquisitive nature and once again cautions her to be careful.

The murder victim just happens to be a famous actress. She’s in town at the invitation of her sorority sister, Misty, for another sorority sister’s birthday party. Courtney becomes involved because Misty insists upon a fairy themed birthday party for Odine. Who cares if they’re adults? Fairy parties should be for all ages. The party planning was one of my favorite things about the book. The way the author describes all of the little details about the decor, food, games…makes me want my own fairy party! These books also make me want to make fairy gardens and fairy doors!

Speaking of fairy doors… They’ve been mysteriously popping up all over Carmel-by-the-Sea, the charming setting of the series. Though the series is fictional, the town is not, and it seems just as magical as the series makes it out to be. Jump on Pinterest and check out the photos of the area and its shops. I’m very envious of the fictional Courtney and her friends! I’d absolutely love living there. And, I wouldn’t be surprised if fairy doors popped up in real life! It was fun hunting for these little doors along with Courtney and her friends as was discovering the culprit responsible.

I’m really enjoying getting to know the main characters who populate the Fairy Garden Mystery series. I also appreciate the side characters who are regulars and the “guest” characters who are only in one book. They’re well developed and have their own unique personalities. My favorite characters are three sisters whose names all begin with H. One of the H’s is Courtney’s landlord, and I hope they continue to have parts in subsequent books!

If you enjoy magical cozy mystery books, I think you will enjoy A Hint of Mischief as well as the prior Fairy Garden Mystery books.

Let's start with the cover: they're always gorgeous and makes me imagine the setting.
I love this series and liked this instalment even if it's not my favorite.
A complex and entertaining story that I enjoyed. There's a lot going on, there's new things and some closure.
The mystery is full of twists but it drags a bit in the middle of the book and takes the back seat at times.
I was glad to catch up with the characters and I'm curious about the fae lore that the author is developing and we are learning book by book.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A Hint of Mischief is the 3rd book in the Fairy Garden Mysteries written by Daryl Wood Gerber. I've read the previous two novels in this series and several of her other ones in the past; I enjoy her writing style, character development, and charming settings. This latest installment in her slightly fantastical cozy mystery series shines brightly and shows why she's been a favorite in the genre. Protagonist Courtney runs a fairy garden and tea shop in a seaside California town, where her fairy, Fiona, helps her solve strange and sometimes deadly crimes around town. In this caper, a local celebrity is throwing a birthday party for a sorority sister, and several out-of-town friends come for a visit. Unfortunately, one of them ends up dead, and the suspect list is rather long. Spa drama. Husband-stealing antics. Best friend tirades. So many possible connections!

Gerber's magic appears in her words and her brilliant imagery. I'm not knowledgeable about fairies nor do I typically love the fantasy genre; however, these tales are balanced well, relying on a solid mystery and strong character plight, which makes them easy to read and generally filled with a range of dimensions. Supporting Courtney are her friends and family, each with sad and happy backstories of their own. I find myself rooting for her and a former high school friend, now a local chef, to fall in love. I am also excited to meet more of the fairies, especially given Fiona's latest milestone (achieving a new pair of wings). What could Gerber have in store for us in this wonderful collection? I'll eagerly await the next book and encourage other readers to give this one a chance... until it's ready and I can find out for myself!

A local socialite has hired Courtney to do her first fairy garden party for adults in honor of her sorority sister’s upcoming 40th birthday. Courtney has less than two weeks to get everything together, but when one of the party guests is found dead, she adds one more thing to her list – find out who killed the woman.

This is the third book in this series, and it has grown on me as the series progressed. I wasn’t quite on board with all the fairy talk in the first book, but it doesn’t bother me now, perhaps because the fairies play such a significant part of the story? I would love to visit Carmel-by-the-Sea, the setting for this and one other series that I read, and I like the way the recurring characters are so supportive of each other. There were plenty of potential suspects and lots of red herrings along the way, and I was surprised when the killer was identified, although the motive made sense. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

A Hint of Mischief by Daryl Wood Gerber is an enchanting cozy mystery. We return to Carmel-by-the Sea where Courtney Kelly owns Open Your Imagination. The town is full of quaint shops (I want to visit and check out all the shops in the various courtyards). It was nice to catch up with Courtney, Joss, Fiona, Megan, Pixie, and Brady. There is a helpful list of the characters at the beginning of the book. I thought A Hint of Mischief was well-written with great characters. I like the author’s engaging writing style. I found myself drawn into story. I love the fairies in the story and that Courtney can see them. Fiona adds humor to the story. I like that we get to learn more about the fairies (the various types) and their capabilities. There is one main mystery and two side mysteries. Misty Dawn hires Courtney to organize an adult fairy birthday party for one of her sorority sisters. When one of the party goers ends up dead, Courtney with help from her righteous fairy begins investigating. This was a well-plotted mystery. I had fun following the investigation and solving the crime. One of the clues was cleverly done. Courtney needs to work on her questioning technique (be less obvious because she does not want to alienate her neighbors). There are several suspects, a red herring or two, and helpful clues. The mystery is nicely wrapped up with all of the questions answered. Someone is stealing from the shops in town. Courtney intends to discover who is behind the thefts. Fairy doors are appearing around Carmel-by-the-Sea. No one knows who is installing the fairy doors. I enjoyed the fairy party planning. Joss and Courtney came up with some clever ideas. I love the fairy gardens that were created by Courtney and customers in Open your Imagination. It gave me inspiration. I like how the romance is progressing between Courtney and Brady. I like that they are not rushing things. I loved the epilogue where we learn something special. While A Hint of Mischief is the third A Fairy Garden Mystery, it can be read as a standalone. The author provides the necessary background information. There is a preview of A Flicker of a Doubt which is the next A Fairy Garden Mystery at the end plus there are recipes for some of the treats featured in the story (Brookies, Chocolate Crinkles, Fairy Cookies). A Hint of Mischief is a magical mystery with flitting fairies, fabulous fairy gardens, a slain sorority sister, a playful Pixie, baffling fairy doors, covert thefts, and a curious Courtney.