Book 92, 2020

Books and Brews by Susan Harper

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Just now finished reading Books and Brews by Susan Harper. This is the first installment in the author's "Back Room Bookstore" mystery series, featuring unnatural witch, Monica Montoya.

When Monica's Aunt Wilma retires from running Back Room Books, she entrusts it to her twin nieces, Monica and Mona. Monica agrees to manage the mortal side, while Mona takes over the magical side. The two halves of the store are connected by a portal in the back room. For Monica, the choice was easy. She has no magic of her own, and everything she's accomplished as a witch, she had to study and learn. Plus, she's always wanted to visit the mortal realm.

Things are going well for Monica. She opens the store, makes new friends, and meets Officer Brian, who asks her to accompany him to a local festival. There, a man is found dead in the creek, and the police soon determine foul play was involved. Monica had met the man shortly before he died, and Officer Brian asks her to go with him to search Darren's apartment for clues. It's not until Monica returns to the scene of the crime by herself and casts a spell to replay the action, that she finds an important clue. But, just when she and Officer Brian think they have the mystery solved, they find themselves back at square one.

You may have noticed I keep mentioning 'Officer Brian'. It's because that's how the author referred to him throughout the narrative. Le sigh. As if that wasn't bad enough, the fact that Officer Brian invited Monica along on his investigation is one massive eye roll. As if! Note to author: No police officer is ever going to invite a civilian to tag along and/or help with a murder investigation. Guh. That being said, the plot was good. I liked Monica's character; I didn't get a real sense of anyone else, but I presume that will be rectified in future installments. I liked Monica's snarky familiar--a black cat named Abigail.

Favorite line: "You might as well throw some feathers in your hair and start calling yourself a flapper."

Meh. This deserves a 2.5 rating. I'll be generous and give it 3.