Book 92, 2019

[chez_jae]

Murders and Metaphors: A Magical Bookshop Mystery by Amanda Flower

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Last night, I finished reading Murders and Metaphors, which is the third installment in Amanda Flower's "Magical Bookshop" mystery series, with main character Violet Waverly.

Violet and her Grandma Daisy are excited for their bookshop, Charming Books, to be hosting a signing by a famous sommelier at a local vineyard. Belinda Perkins grew up in Cascade Springs but left town years ago. She's back to promote her latest book, timing her arrival for the annual harvest of frozen grapes in January, which are used to make ice wine. Unfortunately, after Belinda gets into an argument with her estranged sister, Lacey, Violet finds Belinda dead in the vineyard with a harvest knife stuck in her back. She is drawn into the investigation in an effort to clear Lacey's name. Police Chief David Rainwater would like Violet to stay out of it, but Lacey is a dear friend, and Violet is convinced she had nothing to do with Belinda's death.

The magical essence in Charming Books keeps pointing Violet to Little Women for clues, but Violet is having difficulty drawing parallels between the book and the real life murder. It doesn't help that she and Rainwater have been dancing around their feelings for one another, and that the murder took place at the vineyard owned by the Morton family. Violet and Nathan Morton were once romantically involved. Also adding to her dilemma is the fact that Belinda's fiance has hired a private investigator, Joe Redding, and now Redding is following Violet around, convinced she will lead him to the solution of the murder mystery.

The story was lively and charming. Characterizations were done well, and the plot flowed along.
- Narrative is in Violet's pov, as first-person. She continually refers to her "love" interest as either Chief David Rainwater or simply Rainwater. Um, why would she not call him "David"?
- Violet has previously solved two murders. TWO. Yet PI Redding "did his research" and knows all about her and is convinced she will lead him to the answers he needs. How did he even know of her, if he's from out of town? And, why did Violet not call the police and report him for loitering outside the store?
- The reader had no real chance to solve the mystery alongside Violet, because we were all blindsided by the solution.

Favorite line: "If a person loves you, he should believe in you and your dreams."

Good book, but not stellar. Four stars