This author had done it again. What a great and fun read. You can't go wrong with a book that has fairies. In this story, Courtney has rediscovered her magic. Now in Carmel, she starts her own garden business - Open Your Imagination. 

She teaches design and sells all things fairies. All is going well until she finds a dead body beside her patio fountain. Now Courtney is on the hunt to find the killer.

The story was believable and had me guessing until the very end. Great job!

Can't wait to read more from this author.

From Amazon:

"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 . . ."

Daryl Wood Gerber's new magical series is just that, magical. I love Daryl's other series (Cookbook Nook and French Bistro) and this one definitely has lived up to the hype and her reputation as one of the best in the cozy mystery world.

A charming start to a new cozy mystery series. I had not read the author before but will definitely search out more and look forward to the next book.

A fun first in series! If you are a fan of fairy gardens you will definitely enjoy this cozy. Just the right balance of mystery and whimsy! Daryl Wood Gerber does not disappoint with this well-planned mystery!

This was the coziest book I’ve read in some time!  Absolutely adored it!  Fairy Garden, Mystery, Tea Shop oh MY!  What else could one ask for?  First in this series and I Can NOT await the second book!  Fun, well written, great kick off to a new series.  Give me a cozy and I am happy as can be!  Great Job!

The debut book in a new series from Daryl Wood Gerber, A Sprinkling of Murder features Courtney Kelly and her Fairy Garden Shop in Carmel California.  Courtney recently opened her shop called “Open Your Imagination” and hosts fairy garden workshops, tea, and community events like book club with the help of her assistant, and her fairy companion.  When Courtney finds neighboring business owner Mick Watkins dead in her courtyard she is drawn into the mystery of what happened, why, and by whom.  

I thought the setting of the book was idyllic, and Gerber does an excellent job painting pictures of Carmel-by-the-Sea.  I was transported to the open side town with its charming shops, beach front waves and weather, and eclectic residents.  I loved the intrinsic knowledge Courtney displayed as she crafted fairy gardens both in the shop and at home.  The cast of characters was a perfect blend that I would enjoy getting to know in further books.

Unfortunately I found the inclusion of “real” fairies too much for my imagination to carry, and every time Gerber pulls in details about fairies using magic, flitting about, or discussion about the fairy societal constructs I was jarred from the book and had to refocus on the story to get back in.  The fantasy of fairies just did not blend into the realism of the story for me.  As a result I probably will not read further books in this series despite the promise it held in every other area.

In this cozy mystery that I thought I would love because it was something different a heroine that  loves fairies and fairy gardens.  But like most cozy mystery's with a heroine she gets involved with   trying to solve the murder to clear her own name. which seems to be a standard for first books in a cozy mystery series. Just once I want a first book in a cozy series to not be about the heroine trying to clear her name. Just once I want a cozy in which she's not the prime suspect.   This one was till a good cozy mystery  it was just a little to predictable.

This is the first book in a new series, the Fairy Garden Mysteries.  It’s a great cozy mystery with a little bit of magic as well as murder. The book is very well written, and I really liked the sense of place I got when reading about Carmel, California.
Courtney, the main character, owns a fairy garden shop that has its own private fairy that very few people can see. I really loved the descriptions of the fairy gardens, and considered making one of my own when I finished this book. I liked the combination of magic and crime solving. It was a really enjoyable read with a completely original concept..

I highly recommend this book, and look forward to the next one in the series.  5 stars.

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review..

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

A Sprinkling of Murder, the first book in the new Fairy Garden Mystery Series by prolific cozy writer Daryl Wood Gerber, is entertaining, but it did not quite live up to my hopes.

Courtney owns a fairy garden store and even has a real fairy sidekick Fiona.  Everything is going well until a neighboring business owner is found dead next to her store’s fountain.  Even though she did not have more than a passing relationship with dog groomer Mick Watkins, the police have their sights set on her as the prime suspect.  Courtney is determined to clear her own name and unmask the real killer.

I was excited to read this new book by Gerber because I enjoy her other books, and I thought the fairy garden theme would be fun.  Apparently, I do not find the fairy gardens all that interesting after all so the emphasis on this subject turned out to be a poor fit for me.  One would think that with a character that is a real fairy the story would be firmly in the paranormal side of the cozy genre, but it lacks the whimsy and quirkiness that I have come to expect from paranormal cozy mysteries.  

Courtney makes a good amateur sleuth.  She is naturally curious but not obnoxiously nosy, and she is mature in thought and actions (she is twenty-nine years old).  I like Joss, her no nonsense shop assistant and bookkeeper.  She is salty without being abrasive.  Courtney’s father is also a lot of fun, and I hope we see more of him in the future.  Courtney’s potential love interest and best friend round out the nuclear characters.

The suspects and other townspeople are not nearly as endearing, but they do provide variety and plenty of motives.  The story moves along at a steady pace, and there are clues and red herrings sprinkled throughout to keep readers guessing whodunit.  Fiona the fairy does play a part in solving the crime, but again, I am not convinced that she is necessary.  I know, I sound like a party pooper.

Truly, I liked A Sprinkling of Murder; I just did not love it.  I recommend it to cozy readers looking for a fresh protagonist’s occupation and theme with the tiniest sprinkle of the paranormal.

I admit I am not a fairy believer but I love to read about them. A Sprinkling of Murder is a fun read filled with fairy magic and of course murder. After all, it is a cozy mystery. I appreciate that there was no love triangle and was a clean read language-wise. 

It has sparked my interest in creating a fairy garden for my front porch. I believe it would be relaxing to look at and dream. 

There are many yummy recipes included and several are gluten-free. I love minestrone soup and will definitely be trying this recipe once the weather turns cooler.

Book two is scheduled to be released in the Summer of 2021.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

This was a fun, light, entertaining mystery,  I liked the unique twist that the amateur sleuth’s partner in crime is her fairy.  Courtney has recently opened up a fairy garden shop in her home town of Carmel.  Courtney has a resident fairy, Fiona, who had previously gotten into some trouble and is working towards redeeming herself.   Fiona gets an opportunity in this story when a man is murdered during the night in Courtney’s shop.  Courtney is a suspect and feels her best chance of not going to jail is to solve the crime herself.  This was a great start to a new series with a unique setting and cast of characters.

This was just an OK read for me.  This is the first book in a new cozy series. Courtney believes in fairies and loves creating fairy gardens.  She owns and operates Open You Imagination, a garden shop specializing in fairy gardens. When a neighboring shop keeper is found dead in her shop and she becomes a suspect she sets out to solve the crime with the help of her fairy and friends.  I enjoyed some of the characters and the Carmel, California setting.  The mystery was OK and there were enough suspects but there was no suspense, even at the end.  More time was spent on making fairy gardens than on the mystery and it slowed down the story. Every time "learning the craft" was mentioned my eyes glazed over. I will still read the next book in the series since I enjoy this author's other books and I hoping this is just first book syndrome.  There are some wonderful recipes in the back.

A Sprinkling of Murder is a light, quick cozy. The characters are interesting, the setting beautiful, and the story easy to follow. I'm looking forward to seeing more in this series.
I received a copy of this title from the author and/or NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am becoming a huge fan of the cozy mystery genre due to books like this. You can read this as an escape from the everyday in a weekend. A  really good mystery.

I absolutely loved this first book in a magical new series. The fantasy is so fun, and I love the word that Daryl created. I cannot wait for book 2!

This is book 1 of a new cozy series, A Fairy Garden Mystery series.  It taps into the love and fun belief of creating Fairy Gardens.  Courtney has always believed in fairies and now has a shop devoted to creating homes for them as well as books and souvenirs of her friends. Her shop even has a fairy, Fiona who is working on getting her adult wings.  She is not allowed to associate with other fairies because the Queen thinks she needs to grow up.  A cute story that is fun and magical.  I'll be sure to look for book 2.  Ms. Gerber has several other series that dwell on the cozy cooking theme so this is a nice change.  I received a copy of this ARC i exchange for a fair and honest review.

I loved this Paranormal Cozy! It was such an easy read. I really enjoyed the cast of characters. I can not wait for next book!

Did you know that fairies love books? Did you know that young fairies who misbehave are tasked with helping humans before they can grow their adult wings? Can you see fairies?

In this glittering new fantasy-mystery, everyone in Carmel-on-the-Sea is either a die-hard fairy denier, a would-be fairy friend, or a person who can see, interact, consult, and admire fairies. Courtney Kelly, owner of Open Your Imagination, was able to see fairies as a young child, but lost it when her beloved mother died. Only when she left her father’s landscaping business to open the fairy garden tea shop did she begin to see them again and gain the assistance of Fiona, whose probationary period is Courtney’s door back to the realm of magic.

The lovely little shop is situated in a courtyard that also holds art galleries, a dog groomer, a bakery, and other attractions. Courtney has been selling and teaching the art of making fairy gardens - wee gardens in flowerpots with figurines, faux gazebos, feeders for infinitesimal songbirds, tiny plants, and joy. Her customers and assistants, including elfin Joss Timberlake, have been enjoying tea, baked goods, and creative times. What could go wrong?

Something does go wrong, though. Mick Watkins, owner of The Wizard of Paws, is fighting with Logan, their mutual landlord, who wants to cancel Mick’s lease for odd reasons. Girlfriends and wives begin to join the fray, even accusing Courtney of wanting Mick’s space to expand her own business. When Mick is found dead by Courtney’s fountain, she is the logical suspect. Can she and Fiona and her allies prove her innocence and point the wand at the real killer?

Some books are so much fun to read that the reader is willing to suspend logic and procedural expectations. This is one of them. It helps that any reader who doesn’t want to be amongst such beautiful shops and people near Carmel-by-the-Sea won’t pick up this delicious and airy book. I’m glad that I did, because I was ensorcelled by it all.

One or two quibbles, including some too-obvious names (a lawyer named Judge, a spa owner named Waterhouse), might have cost another book a star. Not this one. Thank you, Net Galley, for this 5-star read! I’ll be eager for the next installment.

(Attention bakers and cooks: recipes for many of the treats described in the book are included in both gluten-free versions and standard.  Yes, I'm hinting... I'll bring the tea.)

A first by me by This author and I'm addicted to her writting! A fantastic mystery with great characters that made me go add more books by this author to my wishlist! Loved this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Courtney is a fairy garden designer who owns and runs a fairy garden shop called Open Your Imagination. She has a live in fairy called Fiona, who is a righteous fairy-in-training that's on probation. A righteous fairy is a fairy who brings resolution to embattled souls. The Queen Fairy booted Fiona from fairy school and placed her on probation, in order to get her adult wings and earn her way back to the ranks, she must help humans. Only people who “Believe” can see Fiona.

Courtney has lived in Carmel-by-the-Sea her entire life, except when she went to college. She started seeing fairies at a young age of 5. when her mother passed, Courtney stopped seeing fairies. Right after graduation, she worked for her father in his landscaping business. When she made the decision at 29 to spread her wings and start a fairy garden business, her heart opened and Fiona swooped in.

You get a lot of information about the different types of fairies, the four classes of fairies, fairy glitter, fairy horses, even fairies favorite word.

There is tremendous information about creating a fairy garden. At first it was interesting to read about the creations, but then it seemed like Courtney created a fairy garden everyday if not every night. I get she is a fairy garden designer, but during all this time, the storyline dragged. It was mundane. I actually doozed off twice reading the book. It read like an outline. There was no suspense. This was not a page turner. I could easily close the book and read something else. Even catching the killer, was unremarkable.

This book is so laid back that both Courtney and Brady understood why their Ex's left them and they were OK with it. No dramatic flare up, the drama meter didn't go up not even by a hair, and they all held hands and sang Kumbaya....(not really, but it sure did feel like it).

I was also disappointed in Fiona the fairy. I guess I was expecting more. I thought she would be funny, or have an attitude, be witty with a sense of humor. But, she was just another character. She might as well of been a human. The only difference is, she can sprinkle fairy dust and help entice suspects to spill their guts. All Fiona does is do cartwheels and go to fairy meetings. Nothing special.

I liked Courtney, the character was very well developed and relatable.

I thought this was going to be another land developer murder mystery, but I was wrong. That was a nice surprise. The twist as to why the victim was killed was good. Didn't see that coming, but the execution and confrontation was lackluster. I would of preferred more drama, suspense and a little action.

I was looking forward to this book cause I like the authors other series and I believe in fairies. But this book just fell flat for me. I will give the next book in this series a try cause I know what the author is capable of. I have read and enjoyed her other books.

I give this book 3 stars.

The book cover gets 5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for my advanced readers copy. The opinions expressed are truly my own.