Top 5 Reasons to Read A SPRINKLING OF MURDER, the first Fairy Garden Mystery
Have you heard of the Fairy Garden Mysteries? They’re new. The first, A Sprinkling of Murder, is just out. It’s set in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, and features Courtney Kelly, a former landscaper who has taken a leap of faith and created her own fairy garden shop called Open Your Imagination. Courtney believes in inviting magic into one’s life, but when uninvited trouble enters her shop, she’ll need more than a sprinkling of her imagination to solve a murder . . .
There are a lot of reasons that readers are falling in love with the Fairy Garden Mysteries, but here are the top five.
Fiona, the righteous fairy. Fiona is a fairy-in-training. She should be a full-fledged fairy by now, but imp that she is, she did one too many pranks in fairy school, so the queen fairy has booted her out and subjected her to probation, during which time Fiona must get serious. By helping a human solve problems–that’s what righteous fairies are good at–she could earn her way back into the ranks. Fiona is fun, whimsical, and earnest. A powerful combo.
Courtney Kelly, fairy garden shop owner. A week after her mother planted a fanciful garden filled with yarrow, lilac, and a host of herbs to attract butterflies, Courtney, age five, met a fairy. At the tender age of ten, however, when her mother died, she lost her ability to see them. No matter how hard she tried, no matter how much she rubbed the locket her mother had given her, she couldn’t see another. In the ensuing years, she grew serious. After college graduation, she joined her father’s thriving landscaping outfit in Carmel-by-the-Sea and dedicated herself to working the land: dig, plant, don’t have fun, repeat. It wasn’t until Courtney went to a Renaissance Faire and met a woman who made fairy gardens that she opened her heart to find more in life. She wants to share her joy of making these gardens with everyone. I don’t know about you, but I’m pulling for Courtney to thrive.
Imagination is special. Do you believe in magic? Did you as a child? The tooth fairy? Santa Claus? Punxsutawney Phil? Why do even sober, thoughtful children believe so readily? Because imagination is required in order to learn about things we don’t directly experience. Kids make up friends to play with; kids think about what they want to be when they grow up. Imagination helps if you want to open yourself to the fun in a “magical” mystery. Will you try?
Carmel-by-the-Sea. There are few places as beautiful as Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, also known as Carmel. It is blessed with Mediterranean-style temperatures, its renowned coast, and gorgeous cypress trees. After the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, Carmel became a haven for artists and authors. By 1910, sixty percent of its citizens were known for devoting their lives to work connected to the aesthetic arts. Its village is packed with art galleries and adorable shops. And its many courtyards with secret entrances and fountains and staircases are a huge lure for tourists. There’s a magical spirit to the town. Want to visit? Please do. I’ve shared many photos on my website, my Facebook page, and Pinterest to entice you.
Pixie and the rest of the characters. Yes, there is an adorable cat in this book. Pixie is a ragdoll kitten and yes, she can see Fiona, so their antics are fun. But there is also Courtney’s best friend and total opposite, Meaghan Brownie, a gallery owner and harpist who adores brownies but can’t see fairies yet; Courtney’s assistant Joss Timberlake, an elfin woman who is a whiz at accounting and quite protective of Courtney; Courtney’s father, a former cop who, after suffering a knee injury, went into his second love of landscaping. He can be tough and he doesn’t believe in fairy nonsense, but he treasures his daughter. And there are more characters to enjoy. What’s your pleasure? A handsome restaurateur? An adorable baker? A decent and dedicated homicide detective? A bitter spa owner who wants the fairy garden shop gone! A fellow courtyard tenant who wants Courtney gone! Yes, towns are populated with all sorts of people. Isn’t that what makes mysteries fun to read?
These are just five reasons for reading the Fairy Garden Mysteries. Do you need more? Join Courtney and her friends as they do their best to keep Carmel safe while making the world a more beautiful place.
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COMMENT TO WIN: Do you believe in magic? Tell us in the comments and you’ll be entered to win a signed copy of A SPRINKLING OF MAGIC! US & Canada only, Good luck!!
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A SPRINKLING OF MURDER by Daryl Wood Gerber
Fairy garden store owner Courtney Kelly believes in inviting magic into your life. But when uninvited trouble enters her shop, she’ll need more than a sprinkling of her imagination to solve a murder . . .
Since childhood, Courtney has loved fairies. After her mother died when Courtney was ten, she lost touch with that feeling of magic. A year ago, at age twenty-nine, she rediscovered it when she left her father’s landscaping business to spread her wings and start a fairy garden business and teashop in beautiful Carmel, California. At Open Your Imagination, she teaches garden design and sells everything from fairy figurines to tinkling wind chimes. Now she’s starting a book club tea.
But the light of the magical world she’s created inside her shop is darkened one night when she discovers neighboring dog-grooming business owner Mick Watkins dead beside her patio fountain. To make matters worse, the police suspect Courtney of the crime. To clear her name and find the real killer, Courtney will have to wing it. But she’s about to get a little help from an unexpected source . . .
Mystery Cozy [Kensington, On Sale: June 30, 2020, Trade Size / e-Book, ISBN: 9781496726346 / eISBN: 9781496726353]
Fairies, murder, and intrigueBuy A SPRINKLING OF MURDER: Amazon.com | Kindle
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About Daryl Wood Gerber
Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber writes the nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries as well as the new Fairy Garden Mysteries. She also pens the French Bistro Mysteries, and as Avery Aames, the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes the Aspen Adams novels of suspense as well as stand-alone suspense. Daryl loves to cook, fairy garden, and read, and she has a frisky Goldendoodle who keeps her in line!
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