I absolutely love this series. Inlove the interaction of the fairies with those who can see them. The fairies love to tease those that cannot see them. Courtney once again solves the crime I highly recommend this book and the whole series

We’re back in Carmel-by-the-Sea with Courtney and her tiny friend, Fiona!


Courtney sees fairies. And her friend, Fiona, has just returned from the fairy kingdom. But before they can have a proper catch up, business takes precedence. Courtney owns a fairy garden business, and has rented some land at the Flower Farm, to try and grow her own supplies.


With the Summer Blooms Festival coming up, she is a busy girl.


But Genevieve, Courtney’s friend, has been murdered. Once in the floral business herself, Genevieve sells up to become an influencer. Only she isn’t quite as sweet as she was in the flower shop. Which means there could be a lot of suspects.


Courtney sees fairies, but can she see a killer?




Always a fun read!


NetGalley/ Kensington Books April 23, 2023

A TWINKLE OF TROUBLE is the fifth book in the Fairy Garden Mysteries by Daryl Wood Gerber. This charming book starts each chapter off with a literary quote about fairies that evokes delightful childhood stories and imaginary friends. The author brings the world of fairies to life through her vivid descriptions, and you can’t help but want to meet them yourself. Instead, be content to see them through the eyes of the protagonist, Courtney Kelly, owner of Open Your Imagination fairy garden shop. Another aspect you can count on in Ms. Gerber’s books is the kindness of the core characters…be they human or fairy. They are people you’d like to actually know and become friends with, along with visiting their shops at Carmel-by-the-Sea. The story is a mixture of mystery and magic, both bringing enchanting entertainment to the pages. The author does an admirable job combining the two, to create a tale that captured both my imagination while trying to solve a puzzling whodunit.

As the time approaches for the annual Summer Blooms Festival, tempers flair when local influencer, Genevieve, begin posting negative reviews about local businesses. Angry over not being allowed to participate with a booth at the festival, the influencer seems intent on ruining those who are. There’s a slow build to get to the murder, so it’s not much of a surprise when Genevieve’s body is discovered. Courtney, her friends, and her fairies are soon pulled into investigating when it seems several of her friends are under suspicion. Courtney is quite bold in her questioning, maybe even a bit forceful. But she uncovers clues and… another body. With the second of her friends to be murdered, Courtney worries it’s only a matter of time before she becomes a target. There are clues aplenty and suspects galore, as so many people were targeted by the angry influencer. Once the murder(s) happens, the pace picks up until the edge-of-your-seat reveal. If you enjoy whimsical fairies with your mysteries, then I highly recommend this series!

There are a multitude of delicious treats shared amongst the friends throughout the book. Be prepared to be hungry, or better yet, make one of the many recipes included at the back of the book before sitting down with a cup of tea to read while you nibble.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's summer and Courtney is busy with her Open Your Imagination fairy garden business, working on her rented plot of farm land & prepping for the upcoming Summer Blooms Festival. She is also delighted when her fairy friend Fiona returns from the fairy realm. Fiona has been tasked to mentor her younger sister Eveleen & to coax shy fairy Ulra to interact with others.

The festival starts on a tragic note when social media influencer Genevieve is found dead on the grounds. Genevieve had been posting nasty reviews of her fellow local entrepreneurs. Did one of them snap & strike out to silence Genevieve for good? When a second victim is discovered, Courtney is determined to help her friends & stop the killer from striking again.

This is another delightful entry in the Fairy Garden mystery series.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Kensington Books. All opinions are my own.

"A Twinkle of Trouble (A Fairy Garden Mystery)" by Daryl Wood Gerber is a literal fairy garden cozy mystery. There are fairies in the sense of tiny little fairies that only some people can see that come in and out of our world through fairy portals. Of course, the main character (Courtney) can see fairies and runs a fairy garden store. This is the 5th book and there is some previous book things that get brought up that would be better if you've read the previous books. However, it's not a deal breaker for reading thjs book.

The mystery in this book felt partly resolved. It made sense as to who the culprit was. I kind of thought it might go the direction it did. Thought, there were enough other suspects to throw you off a little too.

This is another delightful story in A Fairy Garden mystery series. It is so fun to check back in with Courtney, her friends and her fairy friend Fiona. Set in Carmel-by-the -Sea, the descriptions of the beautiful area make me want to be there with them. Courtney once again sets out to solve the mystery of the 2 women who were murdered by gardening tools. She starts off with multiple suspects and narrows them down to just one. While I’m not a believer in fairies this is a fun series that happens to have fairy characters. One of the services offered in Courtney’s shop is help making fairy gardens. I really would like to take a class from her! Don’t miss this fun series! While any of the 5 books could be read alone I suggest reading the books starting with the first one to get a real feel for the characters. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Enjoyed the mystery and meeting Fiona's sister. Looking forward to meeting the Fairy Queen soon, hopefully. A good series; not a frequent fan of fairies as I don't know enough about the subject, but the Carmel setting is gorgeous. Looking forward to the next release in the author's other series soon.

Upon her return from the Ferry realm, Fiona, announcing the impending visit of her sister, whom the queen fairy has passed Fiona with training. With the murder of one of Courtney’s , Genevieve, the human life than expected.

With her friend, gone, and several others on the suspect list, Courtney finds herself trying to find out who killed Genevieve in order to save her new friends. Thought she was a good judge of character, but is that really the case? Are they innocent, or is one of them a killer?

I really love the fact that this story is based around fairies and Carmel by the Sea. It’s one of my places in the world to visit and fairies are one of my favorite characters and stories. That makes this one of my favorite series of all times.

recipes, California, amateur-sleuth, myths-legends, fairies, friendship, friends, local-law-enforcement, situational-humor, verbal-humor, urban-fantasy, small-town, small-business, cozy-mystery, family, artisans, festivals, murder, investigations****

The first death was an influencer who had insulted several people locally. But Courtney has the weekend festival, fairy gardens to create, lessons to give, and herbs and flowers to try to grow. But as Courtney asks more questions, another of the neighbors is found dead and there is no chance that she will stop trying to find answers. The fairies are part of what makes these books such a lovely escapist read. The characters are fun, the investigation twisty, and I even learned a bit about gardening and caring for flowers in the process.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Books/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you!
Pub Date 23 Apr 2024
Book 5 of A Fairy Garden Mystery

I just love The Fairy Garden Mystery series and am so excited for this 5th book. This is such a fun whimsical story with murder and mystery thrown in.

Some can see the fairies, some cannot, and some are trying really hard to see one. The way the town and fairies are all intertwined is why I really love this series.

So grab A Twinkle of Trouble, find a comfortable seat, and get to know Courtney and Fiona and all the others that live in Caramel, Ca.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for the advanced copy for my honest review.

I have been enjoying this series since it started, and I couldn’t wait to read this latest. I love Courtney, Brady, Fiona, and the other delightful characters in this cozy mystery. One of the reasons I love this series is the fairies, and I hope that some day poor Brady can get to see them, too. This latest has poor Courtney trying to solve the death of two of her friends and staying away from the wrath of Summers who doesn’t want her involved again. If you enjoyed the previous books, you’ll definitely love this latest. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Love her books, and this new one is just as good as anything she's written.

A Twinkle of Trouble was full of surprises and kept me interested until the very end.

Great job!

Thoughts: This is the fifth book in the series and, for those who haven’t read the others, it is a cute cozy with a fun twist - real fairies. Though not everyone can see them. They are tiny and flit around, sometimes helping Courtney out with her investigations. The descriptions of them and the fairy gardens Courtney creates are so vivid, you think they are real.

In this story, a friend, Genevieve, is murdered and it is up to Courtney to help figure out who did the deed. Then there is a second one and everyone seems to have a solid alibi. But, with the help of Fiona, Courtney eventually puts all the pieces together and solves the case (while also putting herself in danger).

The characters are great and the descriptions realistic. But what I loved the most, in addition to the story, is at the end of the book are recipes for some of the foods mentioned in the story - in both regular and gluten free versions! Thank you to the author and publisher for this!

Recommendation: Definitely recommended.

Disclaimer: Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Books, for this advanced copy. The opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced by anyone.

Remember when, as a child, we believed anything was possible? A time we had invisible friends and were astounded adults couldn't see them, too? Well, this book will take you back to that time. In this case, Courtney's very real but invisible-to-most friend is Fiona, a righteous fairy. There are four kids of fairies, btw: intuitive, guardian, nurturer, and righteous, like Fiona. I couldn't help but think how cool it'd be to have a tiny friend like Fiona. It's been fun to watch her mature over this series, I might add, to the point where she is mentoring her younger sister Eveleen this go-round. Fiona takes her role seriously, as well she should since she's eventually destined to be the next fairy queen, albeit maybe a tad too seriously. Thanks to the very human Courtney, however, she's able to find her way and help Eveleen learn about the human world. In the process we meet Ulra, a shy fairy who I have a hunch we'll be seeing more of in future books.

But, enough of the fairy world. Courtney has a weekend festival to deal with, fairy gardens to create, lessons to give, and herbs and flowers to try to grow. And, oh, yeah, an unwanted murder to help solve. Who killed social influencer Genevieve? Maybe the key, why? As Courtney investigates, er, talks to people and asks questions, she finds it is far more complicated than who Genevieve recently insulted on her social media. Heck, she even heaved a mild insult at Courtney's boyfriend Brady's cafe. Brady takes it in stride but....did someone else try to shut Genevieve up for good? Was the shrieking seagull really an omen of bad things to come? If you got a threatening note on your door, would you get up and go running alone the next morning? Why is Bentley seen hovering around a victim's home?

Could sweet Daphne, who seems like she wouldn't hurt a fly, have committed a vicious murder? How about Oliver, whose marriage was put on the rocks due to Genevieve? Will Courtney find herself in danger...again? Who...oh, enough teasers. Despite a slow to me start and build, I enjoyed the story, basking in the idea of fairies and fairy kingdoms when not pondering whodunit. You'll even learn a bit about gardening and caring for flowers in the process. It's also fun to imagine the various versions of the fairy gardens created by Courtney at the request of friends and customers. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for inviting me through the fairy portal again for a sneak peek. It's wonderful to put on that childish delight and imagine a world full of magic and fairies.

Courtney Kelly has a wonderful life. She lives in Carmel-by-the-Sea, runs a Fairy Garden business called Open Your Imagination, and has her very own fairy companion called Fiona. If she could just keep herself away from murder investigations and the wrath of the local detectives, life would be perfect!

Taking part in the local Summer Blooms Festival helps Courtney promote her business and garden making classes, but when a body is found, it casts a pall over everything. Worse still, Courtney knew the victim and was already putting her investigative skills into practice when a second body was discovered. With Fiona mentoring her younger sister, the two fairies are on hand to help keep an eye on everyone, but will they be able to work through everything together before the killer can set their sights on Courtney herself?

Book five in this lovely series doesn't disappoint with a great mystery to solve, a double dose of fairy magic, and a little romance as well! There are also some lovely sounding recipes included, all of which sound yummy and not too difficult to make. I read a lot of cosy crime, but of all of the main protagonists, I would like to be Courtney, pretty please.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a brilliant series that I thoroughly enjoy and happily recommend.

A Twinkle of Trouble, fifth in the author's delightful Fairy Garden Mystery series, has all of the elements that I love about these charming books. Courtney, owner of the Open Your Imagination fairy garden shop, specializes in teaching her customers how to make their own fairy gardens. I can't get enough of the descriptions of the figures of fairies, humans, and animals that she sells, along with tiny buildings, water features, and other objects that make the fairy garden--and the client's chosen plants--come alive.

You don't have to believe in fairies to enjoy this series, although one of the plots involves Fiona, a "righteous fairy' who may eventually be the next fairy queen, and who lives with Courtney. Fiona has spent a month in the fairy realm but has returned with her sister to teach her some lessons the current queen has commanded. Most people can't see fairies, of course, but a few of Courtney's human friends have "opened their heart" enough to view them.

There is a mystery to be solved as well, and this time, one of Courtney's friends has been murdered after taking her influencer job too seriously, stooping to criticize (in print) and anger even her friends and their businesses. More mayhem ensues, as Courtney tries to help identify the culprit and motive.

But I was most interested in the details of beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea, the local Summer Blooms Festival, the lives of Courtney and her fellow entrepreneurs, her delightful cat, and a healthy portion of magical realism.

My thanks to Daryl Wood Gerber, Kensington Cozies. and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

I am an absolutely terrible gardener.

No, that's definitely true! If there's an opposite of having a green thumb, that would be me.

If there was ever going to be a book series to make me horticultural inclined, it would be this one!

Fairies! There are actual fairies! And adorable pets!

Oh, and a cozy mystery! Cozies are my comfort reads, and this one is just the coziest. I loved Courtney. I would love to have a BFF like Courtney in real life. Hello, actual fairy gardens!

This is such a fun read, including a little twisty mystery. The perfect springtime read to beat the winter blues. And there is lots of lovely tea-drinking! ☕️ There are delightful recipes at the end, too!

While this isn't my favorite cozy mystery series I am still enjoying it. It's just not one I find myself reading till I finish. Its one I can put down and pick up later because I don't really need to know how the mystery ends.

Courtney lives in Carmel-by-the-Sea in California, and owns Open Your Imagination, a shop that allows people to make their own fairy gardens. It helps that she has her own personal fairy, Fiona. Fiona has recently returned from the fairy realm, and Courtney is happy to have her back. Although not everyone can see -- nor believes in -- fairies, Courtney and others don't really care.

While hosting a group that are there to make their own little gardens, one of the women, Genevieve, learns that she is not invited to participate in the Summer Blooms Festival, and it rankles her. She proceeds to insult other guests, and since she is known as an influencer, uses her online forum to diss other local businesses, as well. As imagined, this doesn't sit well with people. Although it is surprising when Genevieve is found dead, and Daphne Flores, one of the women whose business she insulted, is found standing over her.

When another person is found murdered, the police are honing in on Daphne. Courtney has trouble believing her friend is a killer, but to be fair, she's not close with the woman and doesn't know all that much about her. But Courtney is nothing if not persistent, and she continues to ask questions and look for clues that might point her to a killer -- a killer who might already be aware that Courtney could be dangerous if left alive...

This is the fifth book in the series and I must say that I have found them all delightful. While I will not say whether I believe in such things as fairies or not, I will also say that I am positive that some people have no problem believing. Which is why this book is so delightful (yes, I said it again). Just like the title of her shop, it allows you to open your imagination and try to think what it would be like if there were many of them floating around us.

While, of course, the mystery takes first place as it should, we have a secondary tale in which Fiona's sister enters the human world to be mentored by her elder sister and other fairies that reside there. We learn that even in the fairy realm there is sibling rivalry and arguments, but there is also fun and enjoyment. It is a pleasure to share in these moments with the fairies.

But back to the mystery -- Courtney has no issues with asking people where they were on the nights of the murders, even though the police tell her to stay out of the investigation. There are mixed signals, with the lead detective also telling her to keep her ears and eyes open and report anything she learns. Hmm. You can't have it both ways, sir. So Courtney does what she does best, and gathers information any way she can (although she doesn't do anything illegal, which is good). With each piece of data gathered she is eventually able to dismiss people from the suspect list, leaving her with only three of them; and figuring out which one it is could put her life in danger.

While I knew the murderer long before Courtney did (Again, I read a lot of mysteries) I did enjoy watching her figure it out. Alas, it was nearly too late, but Courtney can think on her feet and she had no problem putting things in motion ahead of time. In the end, it all comes together very nicely, and we are given a glimpse of what might be to come. Highly recommended.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

#ATwinkleofTrouble #NetGalley. I really enjoyed this latest addition to this series.
Courtney has been missing her fairy her Fiona, so when she returns, Courtney couldn't be happier.
Fiona comes with news, that she will be mentoring her sister, Evelene, in the ways of the human world.
Courtney has her hands full, and when a friends death shakes up the small town, she can't resist the urge to investigate.
This story was well done and it kept me guessing until the end.
It's always a pleasure to get to catch up with all the wonderful characters in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.