I really enjoyed A Flicker of Doubt. It is a well-crafted murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. I'll admit that I was a bit surprised at who the killer was and why they did it. I thought it was someone else the whole time. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series since this one ended on a minor cliffhanger with Courtney's fairy, Fiona. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Courtney loves her life. Her store, Open Your Imagination, is a dream come true. Her creative fairy gardens are a way of showing people the fairy world does exist. Fiona, a righteous fairy, is her constant companion. I love how they are there for each other. Right now they need to help Maeghan deal with an abusive ex-boyfriend. Nicholas won't take no for an answer. Shortly after a heated argument, he's found dead. The police have arrested Maeghan's partner. Neither woman believes that the Police have the right person. After all Nicholas fought with so many people and they all have motives. Courtney is curious. She can't help but ask questions. Since people are willing to talk with her and she has Fiona there to help. She gets answers which help her find the truth. Courtney is an amazing character. Her romance with Brady is sweet. The fairies fill the book with special moments. The mystery was well done and had unexpected twists. The ending caught me by surprise. It was unexpected. Carmel is the perfect setting for A Flicker of Doubt. I loved the tidbits about the area. They made me feel as if I was there. Daryl Wood Gerber has done an excellent job with this Fairy Garden Mystery.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.

This was probably my least favorite book in the series ao far. More is revealed about Fiona the fairy and her life beyond Courtney's garden and Carmel-by-the-Sea, which I enjoyed. Fiona is as spunky as ever, but she's maturing a bit and learning some self control There's a whole lot going on with the murder investigation but I never quite got caught up in the plot, unlike the second book which managed to hold my interest with pickleball, of all things.

With a theater foundation tea and an art show planned at Violet Vickers's estate, Courtney Kelly, Carmel-by-the-Sea shop owner, is hired to create charming fairy gardens for the event. It's not so charming, however, when her best friend Meaghan's ex-boyfriend turns out to be Violet's latest artistic protege. Even worse, not long after Meaghan locks horns with him, his body is found in her yard, bludgeoned with a round piece of artwork. Courtney decides to investigate with some help from Fiona the sleuthing fairy. Can she find the truth before someone else is murdered?
I liked this cozy mystery. Ms. Gerber describes Carmel-by-the-Sea so well that it's on my bucket list of places to visit. The plot kept me guessing as to the identity of the culprit. I was surprised in the end. Even though this story wasn't a quick read, I recommend it to everyone who loves a fanciful cozy. This review is my unbiased opinion. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the honor of reading this ARC.

I’ve read one of the books from the Fairy Garden series. It was okay enough that I wanted to read another one in the series. However, it just does not appeal to me. I do not feel connected to the characters and, in fact, Courtney’s nosy personality is really offputting. It was irritating and I could not imagine being her friend in real life. Another aspect that I did not care for was the obsession with everything in her life … meals, clothes, etc. I do not need to know every meal a character eats. (It’s like seeing people that post a picture of every meal they eat on Facebook!) Unfortunately, I think I am done with this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

A clever plot with fun characters. I liked the fairy theme and look forward to the next installment.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Courtney Kelly is the owner of a small shop which specializes in tea and fairy gardens. On the side it’s not uncommon for her to do some detective work when the chance presents itself.

Courtney is hired to create fairy gardens for an upcoming event that is planned to take place at Violet Vickers’s estate. Her friend Meaghan’s ex-boyfriend winds up dead just after he and Meghan have a disagreement.

Courtney decides that she must do her own sleuthing so that the wrong person doesn’t end up paying for a crime they didn’t commit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #AFlickerofaDoubt

Not all fairy tales are sweet. This Fairy Garden Mystery touches on abusive behavior, temperamental artists, and unrequited love. This description might make the story sound a bit sour, but the wonderful recipes at the back of the story as just as sweet as Fiona the Fairy and Courtney, our protagonist. This story does an excellent job of painting a picture with bold contrasting characters, which have both motive and opportunity. Then there are the descriptions of Carmel that make you want to hop in the car and take a drive so you can see it for yourself. The author does a great job of incorporating back story so you can pick up any book from this series and not feel lost, but you will want to start at the beginning after reading just one. I was able to figure out the who and the why before the big reveal, but only just barely.

This is the 4th installment in the Fairy Garden mystery series. Courtney Kelly runs Open Your Imagination and she is currently overextended as she is providing fairy gardens for Violet Vickers who is hosting a charity event at her estate and the landscaping is being done by her father who does not believe in fairies. In addition, Brady’s ex-wife will be there with her movie star husband will be in attendance as well as art is going to be displayed by several high profile artists in the area. One of the artists Nicholas, is her best friend Meaghan’s ex who has just returned from Sedona and is pressuring Meaghan to get back together. Courtney never like Nicholas so she goes over to visit Meaghan at the gallery when Nicholas and Hunter Holt another artist (who has feelings for Meaghan) get into a fight. Later in the week while at Violets to discuss the placement of the fairy gardens, Nicholas’s brother Payton arrives and is shouting for him and that he wants his money from his brother or else. Nicholas is not there but things get very suspicious when he later turns up dead on Meaghan’s walkway and her business partner and friend Ziggy calls Courtney. Courtney calls the police but Ziggy is later arrested and Meaghan and Courtney along with Courtney’s fairy Fiona have to do some investigating to solve not one murder but two. This is an enjoyable series with a great cast of characters surrounding Courtney. Fiona has some mystery around her as well especially at the end. Looking forward to the next installment.

Courtney and her fairy companion, Fiona, are some of the most compelling characters in a cozy mystery. Add the fairy gardens that Courtney creates for her clients and supporting characters that could be mains all on their own, and you have a cozy book and series that readers of all types, ages, and preferences can get behind. A Flicker of a Doubt will have readers cheering on the sidelines.

When Violet hires Courtney to build fairy gardens for her upcoming tea and art show, they never expected murder to be the main attraction. When one of the artists is found murdered in Meagan’s backyard and the police zero in on her business partner, Courtney sets out o prove that the victim was killed by someone else. But suspects are hard to nail down, as the victim had several people in his life that might have been happy to bash his head in. The evidence leads Courtney down a garden path of misdirection and lands her in the killer's sight.

The “Fairy Garden Mystery” series is a fan favorite with readers who enjoy paranormal-style books., and those who aren’t into the genre. In this case, Courtney is put into a spot that has her working harder than ever. Dealing with a killer is one thing, but dealing with her father, who doesn’t believe in her fairy, almost sends her over the edge. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout this story and enough mystery to keep readers guessing until the end. Of course, Fiona progresses with her fairy training, and Courtney continues to create her gardens, but there is something in this book that has the feel of a change coming to the characters and the series, and although change can be hard, sometimes, it also gives us more enjoyment than we thought possible.

This series is an absolute delight. Who can resist help from a sweet little fairy? Fiona certainly takes on a life of her own . I talked about these books and fairies so much my daughter and granddaughter made me my own fairy garden. There i8s a murder and enough mystery to keep ou totally invested in the story. A great read for all.

A Flicker of a Doubt is the fourth instalment in Daryl Wood Gerber's 'A Fairy Garden Mystery' series. I've also read a few of the author's books from her 'Cookbook Nook Mystery series'.

In this fabulous cosy mystery, Courtney Kelly owns a magical fairy garden shop and tearoom, called Open Your Imagination, based in the small town of Carmel, California. She has been able to see the fairies from a very young age but there are some skeptics who don't have her ability. She teaches garden design and sells everything from fairy figurines to tinkling wind chimes and it's the perfect place for her book club teas.

The writing style of Daryl Wood Gerber continues to impress and even with the plethora of cast members, the story is easy to follow. Narrator, Courtney is a great character and I love her determination and her single-mindedness. The whodunit aspect was great with plenty of opportunities for the most diligent of armchair detectives to play along. Every clue led to a revelation and I really liked the way things were all wrapped up. This tremendously enchanting novel was a hit for me and I am looking forward to reading book five. If you adore a fantastic cosy mystery with a strong dose of magical realism, don't miss out on A Flicker of a Doubt.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my own request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

This has plenty of suspects and kept the reader engaged.
The plot was very well developed with well hidden clues that kept me guessing.
Love the way the real world and the fairy world were brought together.
Love the coastal settings, it brought it to life.
This author has a great talent for storytelling and keeps you interested from start to finish.

This is book 4 in the Fairy Garden Mystery series. It’s cute and a fun read and really makes me wish that the premise of seeing fairy’s is possible. Courtney owns a Fairy shop on Carmel California and teaches how to make fairy gardens to tourists and residents alike. She is providing several large fairy gardens to a fund raiser and is busy with her classes. When a local resident returns to Carmel and is murdered, his brother becomes the mail suspect. . When the brother is found dead Courtney helps the police before any more are killed. Can be read as a stand alone but the background of the fairies will help with context.

Violet Vickers is a patron of the arts—she has money and is willing to spend it, much appreciated by the townspeople of Carmel. Courtney has been hired to make fairy gardens as décor for the theater foundation tea and art show to be held at Violet’s estate. It will be a memorable affair.

Meaghan, Courtney’s best friend, is involved in setting up the show, too. Things are going well until Meaghan’s ex-boyfriend, Nicholas, turns out to be Violet’s new protégé. He’s demanding, spoiled, and borderline abusive, causing a scene at Courtney’s fairy garden store, in front of Violet, at the gallery, and then in a confrontation with Meaghan’s friend, Ziggy and another artist.

It’s not much of a surprise when Nicholas’ body is found, bashed over the head. The shocking part is, he’s found in Meaghan’s yard and the gazing ball from her garden looks to be the murder weapon.

With Nicholas’ personality, or lack of, the suspect list is long, but the police zero in on two of the most likely: Meaghan and her friend, Ziggy. Courtney knows they are innocent and with the help of her fairy, Fiona, is determined to prove it.

In her personal life, Courtney is dating Brady, a restauranteur. Brady’s ex-wife shows up with her new husband, a Hollywood star, and creates a lot of tension in every situation.

This is book four in the series. I enjoy the descriptions of the fairy gardens Courtney creates or those her customers make in classes she teaches. The mysteries are good, clues are there if you like to try to solve the mystery as a reader, and if you like to be surprised, that works, too. Don’t be surprised if you feel the urge to design your own fairy garden. It may be that Fiona has sprinkled the pages with fairy dust.

At the back of the book find recipes for cashew tea cookies, chocolate coconut muffins (plus a gluten-free version aka +GF), cinnamon coffee cake (+GF), dark chocolate chai cookies, double chocolate caramel brownies, Earl Grey shortbread cookies (+GF), lemon butter cookies, maple Madeleines (+GF), meat loaf pie, and nutty blond brownies (+GF). There’s also an excerpt from A Hint of Mischief, book three of the series.

What I Loved:
The Murder. Part of what I love about cozy mysteries is the amount of red herrings, misdirects, and potential suspects in these little towns. This installation of the Fairy Garden Mystery set in the enchanting town of Carmel is no different. Everyone is delightful, charming, and it took me forever to figure out the murderer. I was practically racing in the end to confirm my suspicions.

The Fairies. One of my biggest complaints about the first book in the series was the lack of real explanation about the fairies, the worldbuild, and how Fiona was the only fairy we really met. As the series has progressed, we have really gotten to knw Fiona, her fairy friends, and fairy hierarchy. I love the explanation of the fairy doors, fairy royalty, and love all the new fairy characters. I especially love seeing the other human characters slowly but surely interact with the fairies.

What Didn’t Work for me:

Courtney’s Interrogations. Courtney is the worst kind of cozy sleuth. She is overly nosy and pushy. It is amazing to me that anyone wants to be friends with her or continue to talk to her after her questioning. Courtney is the “suspect everyone but my closest friend” type of amateur sleuth, and it is tiring. It ended up feeling unbelievable.

The Cozy Explanations. One of my least favorite aspects of most cozy mysteries is the hyper focus on food, clothing, and eating habits. Gerber is no exception as a writer. Courtney dictates every meal she eats, every time she exercises, and what her clothes are in excruciating detail. It doesn’t help that her obsession with exercising and watching her food is borderline obsessive. I have a hard time staying in the story with this level of detail, and it is frustrating when the overall plot is so engaging.

A Flicker of a Doubt by Daryl Wood Gerber has fairies galore that are accompanied by murder.

Will Ziggy go to jail? Or could Courtney get him out of it?

Courtney and Fiona are back to solve another mystery. Or at least Courtney is, as Fiona can't meddle in human affairs. These two are a riot, and I love their companionship, along with how their friendship is growing. Courtney is growing with her business and thriving now that Fiona is part of her life. We learn more about Fiona this time, but I can't say. Fiona made me promise to keep it a secret! Unless you have read the book, she probably did the same for you too. Fiona is growing more into her powers, and her thirst for reading is fabulous. The quotes she uses are hilarious, especially when she uses them in the right circumstances.

The Victim
Ziggy found Nicolas Buley in Meaghan's yard when he came to ensure she was alright after everything that happened earlier in the day. He had been the police's number one suspect since he found the body. Nicolas, though, didn't have many good friends anymore. Meaghan didn't want him back because of his anger. Nick said he was learning to manage his anger in therapy and wanted her back. Meagan finally realizes he isn't worth her time and refuses to waste more time on him. Throughout the book, a lot about Nicolas is brought forward to both Courtney's and Meg's attention. I figured out who did it right away and guessed at half of the motive but not the entire motive. I didn't learn that until when it was discovered. Ms. Woods did a great job on this one!

Five Stars
Courtney and Fiona are a force to be reckoned with in this series, and I love every time I come back to Carmel in these books. The characters are fantastic, and I always feel like I'm returning to old friends. That brings me to my rating. I will give A Flicker of a Doubt by Daryl Wood Gerber five stars and recommend it to all cozy paranormal mystery lovers.

Ms. Wood gives us recipes in the back, which are Cashew Tea Cookies, Cinnamon Coffee Cake, Chocolate Coconut Muffins, Gluten-free Chocolate Coconut Muffins, Dark Chocolate Chai Cookies, Double-Chocolate Caramel Brownies, Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies, Gluten-free Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies, Lemon Butter Cookies, Maple Madeleines, Gluten-free Maple Madeleines, Meat Loaf Pie, Nutty Blond Brownies, and Gluten-free Nutty Blond Brownies. I adore that Ms. Wood also adds a gluten-free option for some of these recipes.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Flicker of a Doubt by Daryl Wood Gerber.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Daryl Wood Gerber’s 4th entry in the Fairy Garden Mystery series, A Flicker of a Doubt, is a delightful entry in this popular Cozy series!

Courtney is hired to create fairy gardens for the upcoming theater foundation tea and art show to be held at a local estate. Featured artist at the event is her BFF’s former flame, much to Courtney’s dismay. True to form, he and Meaghan lock horns in a public tiff. He was never right for Meaghan, but even so, he didn’t deserve to be murdered.

There are several suspects fingered in the unlikeable artist’s murder, but the focus ends up on Meaghan’s cherished business partner. Courtney and Meaghan are determined to make sure the true murderer is caught, along with Fiona, Courtney’s friend and sleuthing fairy, lending her insight and sprinkling of justice.

I’ve been a longtime fan of this author, and I adore this mystery series! Anytime I begin a book by Daryl Wood Gerber, I end up reading it straight through in one sitting. The book is full of charm and whimsy and magic, and definitely makes readers want to create their own fairy gardens and strengthen their ability to see fairies.

Having read the author’s other works, it’s fascinating to me how she creates the perfect characters and relationships, even businesses, for each series. You can absolutely read each novel out of order, but I feel it’s more enriching to start at the beginning so you can see how the characters and relationships grow over time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book. I am happy to leave my honest opinion about the story.

Fairy garden store owner Courtney Kelly is excited about an upcoming art benefit sponsored by wealthy Carmel-by-the-Sea resident Violet Vickers. Violet has commissioned Courtney to build several fairy gardens specially for the event, to be integrated into the landscaping Courtney’s father is providing ahead of the affair. Courtney knows that her dad – who doesn’t believe in fairies and wasn’t at all pleased when she left his firm to strike out on her own, more whimsical, enterprise – will grumble at what he sees as interference with his artistic vision. She’s looking forward to working with him again regardless.

She is a little surprised however when her best friend Meaghan Brownie has far more heated feelings regarding the occasion. As co-owner of Flair, a local art gallery exhibiting at the benefit, Meaghan should be overjoyed at the chance to sell some of her clients’ work to Violet’s well-heeled connections. But her artist ex-boyfriend Nicolas Buley is back in town and wants them to get back together romantically. Meaghan can handle him in a professional context: she does still represent his work and is planning on featuring him at Violet’s event, after all. She broke up with him for good reason though, much to the not-so-secret relief of most of her family and friends, Courtney included.

Meaghan isn’t the only person troubled by Nicolas’ reappearance in Carmel. Other artists at Flair hold personal and professional grudges against Nicolas, who’s also seen having less than positive encounters around town with a variety of women. When he’s found dead outside Meaghan’s house, there’s no shortage of suspects who might have wanted to do him in.

Courtney is thus shocked when Meaghan’s business partner Ziggy Foxx, of all people, is arrested for Nicolas’ murder. The police believe that he killed Nicolas in order to profit from how the artist’s works will skyrocket in value post-mortem. Courtney and Meaghan are both convinced of Ziggy’s innocence and set about looking for the real killer, undaunted by their exceedingly long suspect list.

Fortunately, Courtney has the help of her righteous fairy Fiona. While there are many things fairies aren’t allowed to do, helping to bring wrongdoers to justice is absolutely within Fiona’s remit. Courtney is going to need all the help she can get, as the body count rises and she finds herself face to face with a desperate killer determined to put an end to her pursuit of the truth.

This was another fun installment of the Fairy Garden mystery series, with a great cliffhanger involving Fiona’s, and thus also Courtney’s, future. The recurring cast are a treat to visit with again, and I did enjoy how Courtney leans on them to help investigate. I could do with fewer unlikely interrogations though. The number of people who willingly answer her rude questions in full is starting to get a lot less believable than the existence of fairies, in my opinion. That aside, this was a charming paranormal-tinged cozy from start to finish.

There are fourteen recipes included in this book, of dishes Courtney and her friends enjoy over the course of the story. Some of these recipes even have gluten-free versions, but I decided to try this full-gluten treat:

QUOTE
Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies

(Yield: 12 cookies)

1 cup flour
1 tablespoon loose Earl Grey (or tea of your choosing) tea leaves (two tea bags, cut open)
¼ teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 stick butter, softened to room temperature

In a food processor, pulse the flour, loose tea, and salt. Add the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and butter. Pulse until a dough is formed, about 10-20 pulses. Remove dough from container and place on a sheet of plastic wrap. Roll the dough into a log about 6-7 inches long and 2 inches around. Refrigerate for one hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Slice the log into ⅓-inch-thick rounds. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake until the edges are just brown, about 11-12 minutes.

Let the cookies cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks and cool to room temperature.
END QUOTE

I unfortunately kept these in the oven a little too long out of fear of underbaking them in my temperamental oven, but they still came out tasting incredibly delicious! I love how the Earl Grey flavor is infused throughout the cookies, making them a perfect complement for a nice cup of tea. They’re a very simple cookie to put together, and apart from the hour chill time, very fast to make. I’ll absolutely be baking these again soon.

Next week, we travel to the Midwest to clear a heroine’s name of murder while baking up some savory treats. Do join me!

I really loved this book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end