If you love cozy mysteries and paranormal stories, you do not want to miss this one! I tore through this one in like 24 hours and needed to know what was going on!
About the Book
A quaint bookshop, a sprinkle of magic, and a dash of mystery.
Harper Sullivan yearns for a place to call home, preferably with a delightful bakery nearby. When news arrives that she’s inherited her great-grandmother’s bookshop in the charming town of Havenwood, Harper eagerly seizes the chance. Unbeknownst to her, the quaint bookshop carries more than just shelves of stories—it harbors inherited mysteries and a touch of magical mayhem.
But instead of the cozy haven she envisioned, Harper finds herself entangled in inheritance drama, a surprising cousin rivalry, and a daring book thief on the loose. Can she use her wits and witchy powers to untangle the mystery and safeguard her dreams from unraveling before they even begin?
Can you solve the mystery?
My Thoughts
There was a time when I wouldn’t read any romance – or really much of anything – if it didn’t have a hint of paranormal/fantasy to it. Like, I’d read romance, but it needed vampires or witches or something. This was way before “romantasy” was big. In fact, if you list off the big names now, I haven’t read a single one. My husband likes to pick on me and call me a very specific kind of hipster. More recently, over the past 5-8 years, cozy mysteries have been my comfort read. I did not know that you could find the two together. This author has brought me a whole new, exciting world, and I don’t even know what to do with myself.
All the glorious beauty of a cozy mystery. A whip-smart, delightfully charming heroine who has no business solving crimes but gets involved for some wild reason. And we know she will keep getting involved for the weirdest and most arbitrary reasons. A town full of the sweetest, most wonderful people. This is one of the things I adore most about cozy mysteries. Getting to meet the quirky, random characters that populate the town. They always remind me of one of my favorite shows – Gilmore Girls. And I love meeting the countless iterations of that somehow end up being so unique to each little town. The different ways these small towns deal with the fact that there is a weirdly high spike in crime. Like, should we not get rid of this person who seems to be connected to all these crimes? That seems the easiest solution. Now, this series has taken all those beautiful, cozy mystery tropes and added witches, gargoyles (I love the resurgence of gargoyles lately!!), hobbits, brownies, nymphs, talking bunnies, and so much more! It’s like galloping through the entire fantasy section of your favorite bookstore with your favorite cozy mystery tucked in your pocket.
There were a few red herrings and some huge twists in this one, just the way a fantastic, cozy mystery should be. I loved the relationship between our main character, Harper, and the various townspeople, especially her handsome neighbor and her found family group at the inn. And, of course, Luna the bunny and Gideon the gargoyle are fantastic! Also, let’s not forget Officer Johanna. It’s almost easier to list the characters I didn’t like, as there were much fewer of those!
I am so grateful to the author and to Love Books Tours for including me on this tour, and I can’t wait until the next book in this series comes out!
Who’s It For?
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a side of paranormal charm, you will love this book. All the wonderful things you find in a cozy mystery smashed together with a cozy, low-stakes fantasy. With very few mild content warnings and just a gentle, mild vibe.
Content Warnings: Violence, Death, Racism/Discrimination, Betrayal, Crime, Adult Language/Situations
About the Author
L.L. Gray writes fun, fast-paced fantasy with captivating characters. When she isn’t writing, she embarks on magical adventures with her children by having make-believe battles with invading elves or righting ridiculous pranks by those mischievous gnomes who live next door.
As a long time lover of fantasy and myths, she hopes you enjoy her contributions to the world of magic.
Connecting with fellow lovers of the written word and crazy adventure stories is important to me. If that sounds like your cup of tea, join my newsletter where you can grab a FREE, exclusive goodies or hang out with us on my Facebook readers group. I hope you decide to stay in touch!
Amazon US: https://a.co/d/jjXlITY
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/fozi312
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204557979-the-mystery-in-the-margins
Author Website: https://llgray.com/
Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.