15 Minutes of Flame by Christin Brecher
Book #3: Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery Series
Source: NetGalley and Kensington
Rating: 4½/5 stars

WOOOHOOO!! The Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery Series is back in the saddle and 15 Minutes of Flame is hands-down the best book in the series, to date.

With Halloween quickly approaching Stella and her little black cat are looking forward to all the events her small town has to offer. The weather is changing, the spooky is going up all around town, and Stella’s holiday candles are all but flying off the shelves.

One of the highlights of the Halloween holiday is the haunted house Stella is helping to organize. The dilapidated house is owned by one of Stella’s friends and is the perfect location for a community event. One of the local youth groups is involved in the decorating and with just days to go before the big day things seem to be on track for a highly successful event. In fact, everything is smooth sailing right up to the moment Stella discovers the bones of a body buried deep in the stone chimney in the property’s backyard shack. In an instant, the Halloween haunted house becomes a real thing, and it is steeped in local history and lore.

Because of the age of the bones, Stella’s find is classified as an historical finding which means a whole new set of rules, regulations, and nerdy birds looking to catalogue and record everything in the proper manner. Almost before the work can even begin on the first body, a second is discovered on the strength of local legend and extant writings. To make the entire mess even more interesting, there’s talk of a treasure in the extant writings, the two women are likely connected to one another, and one of the nerdy birds falls victim to foul play in the course of the investigation.

With three bodies, a hoard of scared little girls threatening to cancel the haunted house, and a cranky old bastard who knows more than he’s letting on. If Stella can’t put two and two and two together and come up with the correct answer, there’s likely going to be more mayhem. In order to work out the mess, Stella is going to have to dive deep into several local families’ histories and uncover some painful truths that have been long hidden and buried.

The Bottom Line: 15 Minutes of Flame is one of my favorite types of book, a good old-fashioned past meets present mystery steeped in local history. This read was a doozy from start to finish with multiple deaths, lots of backstory – I LOVE IT – and Stella up to her neck in the mess. What’s more, the blue hairs in this book are out in force and with their help, Stella is able to not only solve the mystery but pull off a Halloween unlike anything the town has ever experienced. I am glad to see this series pull out of the sophomore slump and come back in fine form with this installation. With luck, this book will begin a streak of stellar reads!

Stella Wright owns the Wick & Flame candle shop on Nantucket Island. When she is pulled into a mystery concerning 100 year old skeletons and a strangled archeologist, Stella, her boyfriend Peter, and her cat Tinker jump into action. The mystery culminates with a candle lit villain reveal in an old manor house - my very favorite kind of ending and reminiscent of the classic Agatha Christie stories. Unfortunately however, I found the storyline to be rather slow-moving until the reveal. I’m happy that my experience seems to run counter to most others but I will probably not be reading other books in this series.

I enjoyed reading this Halloween Cozy Mystery. Stella is helping the Girl Scouts turning an empty house into a Haunted House. Stella discovers an old skeleton buried in a wall and sets out to solve the historical mystery. With the discovery historians, archaeologists and a TV host arrive hoping for ghosts and murder. While investigating another murder happens. Stella sets out to solve the current and historical murders. I really liked the Nantucket Island and fall setting. The historical and current mysteries were interesting with lots of twists and turns. I look for word to reading more books in this series.

It didn’t take me a single minute to realize that 15 Minute of Flame, the third installment of the Nantucket Candle Maker Mysteries, is another red-hot winner for author Christin Brecher. From the opening pages, this double-barrel murder mystery grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go.

Stella Wright, proprietress of the Wick and Flame candle store is helping local girl scouts put on a haunted house fundraiser when she discovers an old chandlery on the property. An ancient sign for “Coopers Candles” catches her attention, but when she removes it, she is in for an unpleasant surprise – hidden behind the mantle is the 100-year old skeleton of a missing local girl, Patience Cooper. That discovery leads to another, and before she knows it, Stella is immersed in not one, but two, cold case murders. When one of the historical investigators is murdered, Stella must use all her wits to find the connection and solve the murders.

By the third book, these characters feel like family. Stella is strong and smart, with a quick wit and a very healthy curiosity. Her reporter-boyfriend Peter plays less of a role in this story, yet by the end, his presence is definitely felt. Her connection to police officer (and longtime friend) Andy, too, was strengthened, and it was fun to see her helping him on the case. I’m not sure if a triangle is forming, but the potential is there. The Halloween theme and setting, too, were an unexpected plus. The haunted house and old candle store were appropriately spooky, and intricate weaving of the modern day and cold case murders was masterful.

And don’t worry if you haven’t read the first two books in the series (although I do recommend you do so), 15 Minutes of Flame is great as a standalone novel as well. I’ll definitely be picking up a copy of the next book in this intriguing series.

Note: I received an ARC of 15 Minutes of Flame from NetGalley and Kensington Books. The above is my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my copy of 15 Minutes of Flame by Christin Brecher in exchange for an honest review. It published August 25, 2020.
Are you looking for the *perfect" autumn-vibes cozy mystery? Look no further, seriously! This book has it all, Halloween, skeletons, murder, atmospheric autumnal setting, (Nantucket), a historical mystery, spooky (but not too spooky) characters, and a contemporary mystery.
As far as cozy mysteries go, I really enjoyed the portrayal of this setting and the main character's involvement in the town. I love that she makes candles and the descriptions of the candles, and the candle making process was very fun!
I read the majority of this book in one day, because I just had to find out how things would wrap up once the mystery was set.
This cozy wasn't as cheesy others tend to be sometimes, but it also didn't toe the line to become too gruesome, ugly or spooky. A good blend!

I do love a good historical mystery so I went into this one with high expectations and for the most part it lived up to them. While this is the third book in the series it is the first book I've picked up but I really had no problem keeping track of who is who and how they're connected. I liked Stella and I always enjoy a cat companion in a cozy. The candle making angle is something I haven't come across before and I really enjoyed it though it did make me want to do some candle shopping!

A mystery with deep historical ties will always pull at me and this was no different. I was fully in when the skeleton was discovered and fascinated by the historical investigation. My main issue with this book is that I felt like the pacing got a bit tripped up in the middle. I was all in and flying through the pages and then it came a bit to a screeching halt. It wasn't that I wasn't enjoying it but it just felt like I wasn't making progress. It did get better and was an enjoyable story it just wasn't as consistently fast paced as I expected.

This is a fun series with an usual setting and I'm really looking forward to reading more!

This is my favorite yet in this wonderful series set in Nantucket.

We have humor, history, and hope. Brecher was very creative by setting the mystery of the bones around Halloween. How exciting to try and solve not one but two murders over 100 years old.

I loved getting that small-town feel with having the Girl Scouts involved in the haunted house. They added fun to the book.

I'm very interested in Stella's romantic future. It could get very interesting.

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

4.5 stars

I really enjoy the Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery series from Christin Brecher. I love the setting. I love the plots. I love the protagonist Stella, her family, her friends, and her boyfriend Peter (although, true confession: I’m still pulling for her childhood best friend Andy. Sorry, Peter. It’s nothing personal). And this latest release, 15 Minutes of Flame, is my favorite so far because of the historical mystery woven into the modern day murder to solve.

The mood of the story, of the plot & murder mysteries, gives off a delicious Halloween vibe – just eerie enough to go perfectly with a cozy quilt, a mug of hot apple cider, and your favorite fall snack … without going over the top on the believability or spook factors. My kind of mystery, for sure! I was hooked from the moment Stella uncovers the centuries-old Quaker murder victim skeleton & stayed fully engaged until the very end. And the Nantucket setting couldn’t be more perfect for this story.

Bottom Line: 15 Minutes of Flame is a fabulous third installment to a wonderful cozy mystery series and leaves readers intrigued to see how the ending plays out for Stella in future books. The mystery within a mystery adds further layers to the plot, fits the fall mood perfectly, and really made it my fave of the series so far. There’s a lot to love about this book, and a lot to keep you invested in the outcome. A lovely way to usher in the fall season!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

I have to say that this one is my favorite book in the Nantucket Candle maker mystery. I loved the fall and Halloween sitting. And I enjoyed the past murder and murder victim playing a part in the modern murder. It completely added to the Halloween cozy mystery feel. I wish I could find more cozy mysteries with a Halloween theme or feel to it. At first I didn’t like Stella but she’s grown on me through these three books. And I do enjoy the fact that her day job is that of a candle maker.

This book had everything to make it a 5 star book. There was a bit of humor, a historical setting, interesting storyline, good plot, personable characters and enough red herrings and twists to keep me guessing until the end. The reveal was a fun one... The ending left me wanting to follow this series and see what happens as the characters develop further. I always enjoy and mystery with a recipe too. A book I highly recommend if you enjoy interesting history and mysteries.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

15 Minutes of Flame is the best in this series so far. Our favorite characters return, and we meet some interesting professionals in this combination cold case and new case cozy mystery. I enjoy historical mysteries, and this novel has the best of the past and the present to draw from. Many people enjoy cozies with a Halloween setting, and we get to see the preparation of a home that had been empty for years being dressed up as a haunted house. The characters could step out of the pages into Nantucket Island life.

Stella is the proud owner of Wick & Flame, her specialty candle store. Stella has a fine-honed sense of smell and can dissect combinations of scents to get to the basic ingredients. This skill enables her to prepare candles in many scents, even custom design them for clients. Hers is a store I would love to see, this exciting scent-sational shop filled with gorgeous colors and fascinating shapes. We spend only a brief time in Wicks & Flame this time, yet candles contribute to the ambiance of the story.

Stella’s friend John Pierre recently inherited the home that the Girls Scouts will hold the Halloween Haunts fundraiser in. It had not been lived in for many years and has a creepy old house feel. In back is what they call “The Shack”, what the scout troop leader said was probably once a smokehouse. As it wasn’t considered safe, they chained it shut to keep scouts and visitors to the haunted house out. When Stella went to the property to help one morning, the Shack was open, so she went to see why.

This little building was fascinating! As she looked around, Stella saw a sign for “Cooper’s Candles”, took a picture, and sent it to the owner. It appears the building was a 19th century candle shop. He texted back that she could take the sign home with her. When she pried it off the wall, the stones in the wall began to pop out as if releasing pressure. Peter, Stella’s boyfriend and reporter for the newspaper on Nantucket Island, arrived, and they were stunned to see an opening in the wall. It was the perfect spot to hide a body. A 19th century body, or technically, remains.

Later, it is learned that the remains are probably that of a Quaker woman named Patience, who was murdered. Through old journals and descendants of people who lived on the island, they learn of the location of the remains of another woman. One of the members of the researching anthropological team is murdered while looking for the remains. Stella can only worry about what she unleashed from simply walking into the Shack and finding the candle shop sign.

The characters are very likable and well-defined. I enjoyed seeing Stella, Peter, Stella’s friends and family members again, as her family has long-time roots on the island. Stella has courage and a sense of adventure that I wish I did! I enjoyed seeing Stella’s cousins Ted and Docker again, and meeting Old Holly. I hope we see this old curmudgeon in the future!

The historical background in this novel was intriguing. It added a new depth to the mystery, especially as we learned more about the island, how candle making was a huge part of its economy, and the roles of women in the 19th century. Having the mystery begin from the past and be related to the present made it most challenging and enjoyable, as did the Halloween preparation. The mysteries were not easily solved; the end is full of surprises! I highly recommend this cozy mystery where past and present come together with fascinating results.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

I volunteered to read this book, through netgalley in exchange, for an honest review. This is the third book in the Nantucket Candle Maker Series. I would recommend reading the first book in the series to get to know the characters better. But the characters are enjoyable. The pacing is good. This book is well written. This is the first cosy mystery book featuring candles that I have read about. This author's writing style is incredible. I definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone. This book is in stores now for $7.99 (USD).

15 Minutes of Flame is another great entry in this Nantucket mystery series. The main character, Stella Wright, owns a candle shop called Wick and Flame and now, in time for Halloween, she is helping put together a haunted house for the girl scouts in support of the local needy. What could, as they say, possibly go wrong? The old house belongs to one of Stella's friends and, along with the house, the property also has an old, broken down, chandlery. Of course she goes inside to investigate. When she is given permission to remove the old store sign over the mantle she gets way more than she could ever imagine. She discovers a woman's skeleton and she has been there a very, very long time. What secrets will come to light when Stella begins to search for answers? The skeleton is only the start of it with death arriving on the current scene. As she investigates history and hidden treasure, she has to be careful that she isn't the next target of a killer.
This had it all for me. Stella is a well developed character and the setting of Nantucket and its history was engrossing. The various threads of the puzzle were easy to follow and each twist and red herring kept me guessing to the end.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We arrive in Nantucket just before Halloween and Wick and Flame owner Stella Wright is helping the Girl Scouts set up a haunted house for a fundraiser. When Stella checks out a shack on the property she finds it used to be a candlemaking shop. With the owner’s approval, she is taking down a sign from the mantle to display in her shop. But she finds more than she bargained for. She finds a skeleton. From the clothing, it looks to be a Quaker woman and she has been there a while. It is not long before this skeleton leads to another and then a dead body.

To calm fears, Stella moves into the house while the police investigate, but Stella just can’t stop herself from doing her own sleuthing. When she starts to uncover some key facts she knows she is on the right track. A track that could get her life to be snuffed out next.

In this third installment, the author brings some of Nantucket’s history to light. With a 100-year-old skeleton entombed in the shack you know, there has to be a dark story.

I love the way Stella continues to develop over the course of this series. She is smart and truly has her friend and local cop, Andy’s number. She works her way into the police investigation and persuades him to fill her in on what they have and what they are working on. Reporter and boyfriend, Peter was a little distracted this time but by the end, we know why. Emily was under the weather but helped Stella as much as she could. All of Brecher’s characters are well developed and have a purpose in the story. The dialogues were also very well-written

Ms. Brecher unraveled the old story alongside the current one seamlessly with plenty of twists and turns. There is also quite a treasure hunt that ends up being very important to the story. The pacing was perfect. The ending was so well-played out. Finishing this book on Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie’s birthday was very apropos.

I do love the candlemaking theme. This time readers learn about candle clocks. I was totally captivated by them and loved that Stella was teaching a class on how to make them.

15 Minutes of Flame has it all, great characters, mystery, murder, betrayal, and secrets. There is a fair amount of humor too. I really enjoyed this story! I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

15 MINUTES OF FLAME by Christin Brecher
The Third Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery

Stella Wright has arranged for the girl scouts to use the old Morton House as the site of their haunted house fundraiser. Stella is excited upon discovering its outbuilding was once a chandlery, but as she pries the candle sign off the wall she makes a more gruesome discovery-a skeleton. Her friend, Agnes, identifies the skeleton and tells the scandalous tale from her family's past, a story of best friends, a robbery, and betrayal of the town. The search for a second skeleton leads not only to its discovery, but a fresh murder. Will solving the mystery from the past lead to today's killer?

Autumn has come to Nantucket and with it the chills that surround Halloween, cooler temperatures and skeletons! I really like Stella, Tinker, the Candleers, well, just about everybody in the Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery series. These unique characters vibrate with life and their distinct personalities make you feel as if you're a part of their community.

I love how candles play an integral part of life, the lives of the people of eighteenth century Nantucket, and today's customers, buying candles in fanciful shapes (yes, I want a Tinker special, though I'd never burn it!), to set a scene, and ultimately to catch a killer. I really appreciate how the past and the present intermingle. I enjoyed both mysteries, but I especially loved how Stella was able to figure out the historic mystery by realizing that some things never change. As for how the killer was finally caught-absolutely brilliant!

15 MINUTES OF FLAME is a fast paced novel that combines a historical scandal and a modern day murder to create an exciting Halloween read.

I have really enjoyed the previous books in this series so I could not wait to read this instalment especially since it is set around Halloween. Its not often we are met with a potential murder investigation right off the bat, but that is exactly where we start, though the body that Stella finds is actually a skeleton that is about a hundred years old! Stella is setting up for the towns Halloween fundraiser in a creaky, abandoned home when she makes the discovery.

Despite the historic age of the potentially murder that does not stop Stella in going all out to find out what she can about the body and who could have done it. But this is not all, with the discovery comes a whole host of people who are looking for their 15 minutes of Fame, and have potential stakes in making sure secrets from the past are not revealed, which ends up in a current murder.

This was once again a great read in a series that is fast becoming my favourite in the cozy mystery genre. 

4 stars

15 Minutes of Flame is the 3rd novel in A Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. Christin Brecher upped her game with 15 Minutes of Flame. Stella Wright owns Wick & Flame on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. It is interesting learning about unique candles and how to make them in each book. This time Stella teaches the Candleers how to make clock candles. I enjoyed the word imagery describing Nantucket Island especially the Morton house. I can understand why Stella loves the beautiful old home. Stella is a likeable and relatable protagonist. She is a clever, friendly, kind, and brave. Stella stands up for herself and her friends. She is quick to notice details and discern clues. Stella also has a knack for getting people to talk which is helpful in her investigations. There are a variety of quirky characters including Old Holly, Agnes, Jameson Bellows, and Brenda Worthington. The mystery was fascinating. I like how the modern mystery weaves effortlessly with the historical one. There were a variety of suspicious suspects. There are some great twists as well. It was fun following Stella as she worked to solve the two whodunits. Who does not love a mystery that involves a treasure map? There was a good wrap up of both mysteries with the exception of one little detail (I cannot say because it would be a spoiler). The ending was satisfying and just what I had hoped would happen. 15 Minutes of Flame is my favorite book so far in this series. I am eager for Stella’s next adventure. 15 Minutes of Flame is a delightful whodunit with clock candles, scary skeletons, a tumbling tree, a missing map, creepy cobwebs, and a curious candlemaker.

You know, they say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Well, look at this cover! Of course it’s going to be an awesome book! It’s Halloween decor, candles, a cat, pumpkins, a cozy street light: what more do you need? This is the first book I’ve read by Christin Brecher, but it happens to be the third in the Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery series. It’s also the first series she’s written. You wouldn’t know it by this book!

Since the characters were all new to me, I was unsure about Stella at first. I like to find something in common with the main character, so I can relate to her (or him). Stella’s a candle maker, and I don’t have one crafty bone in my body. However, once I got into the flow of the story, I found that I was relating to her a lot. I’m not exactly sure why either! She’s young and energetic, and I’m old (okay, don’t be offended people older than I am! I just feel old lol.) and not energetic at all! But, we both love cats, love a good mystery, love finding clues, love the beach, and I felt we’d totally be friends.

I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating; quirky and sometimes crotchety characters are my favorites. Old Holly was unquestionably one of my favorites in 15 Minutes of Flame. I’d be comfortable sitting around watching baseball and eating snacks with him. Really, all of the characters are well-developed with unique personalities. Needless to say, Christin Brecher is great at creating diverse and colorful characters.

This is a fast paced mystery with lots of creepiness and multiple suspects. I think you’ll love it as much as I did!

Nantucket is the perfect place for a Halloween mystery. It is filled with atmosphere and characters in real life, so the characters and atmosphere easily translate into a mystery novel. Any reader will enjoy this cozy and the cast of characters whether or not they've been to Nantucket. It was the perfect antidote to a frustrating day.

Ordinarily, I like to group together holiday titles around their respective seasons instead of plunging ahead as soon as possible after each book’s publication date, but I simply could not resist diving straight into Christin Brecher’s latest Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery! Featuring the feisty, resourceful Stella Wright, 15 Minutes Of Flame sees her helping a local girl scout troop prep a Nantucket home for Halloween hijinks, only to stumble across a long-concealed body bricked up behind a stone wall.

The skeleton is dressed in a Quaker outfit, and local experts confirm that it’s most likely the body of a woman who was killed, probably violently, over a century ago. Stella digs into the archives of the local historical society and thinks she’s identified the murdered woman as Patience Cooper, a seamstress who was assaulted and robbed while delivering a large sum of money collected from other seamstresses as an investment in a whaling ship. She was said to have fled the island in shame with her husband after recovering, but the discovery of her skeleton would indicate otherwise.

This sensational story not only intrigues the island folk but also draws the attention of several outsiders. Forensic anthropologist Robert Solder and his assistant Leigh Paik are called in to properly authenticate and secure the remains, to the chagrin of visiting historian Jameson Bellows, who feels that they’re horning in on his territory. Things get even more tense when a reality show producer named Hugh Fontbutter shows up, wanting to do a series on the newly found skeleton and scandal. As this motley crew begins to dig around the island, the consternation of the locals grows. When one of the newcomers is found dead, Stella has to figure out who would kill to preserve secrets, and perhaps even a treasure, long thought buried.

15 Minutes Of Flame was another of Ms Brecher’s trademark twisty fair play mysteries that features smart, snappy dialog in addition to showcasing the rich history of Nantucket Island. I loved learning about the independent Quaker women of the area’s whaling days, as well as the candle-making traditions that have lasted to this day. The title itself refers to candle clocks which can be set to extinguish themselves after a certain amount of time, say fifteen minutes. One of these clocks is used to excellent effect in the proceedings, and has definitely sparked my interest in getting one of my own!

In addition to a delightful list of notes from Stella’s assistant’s diary, there was this delicious recipe included. Taken from the <i>Nantucket Sampler of Recipes from The Homestead</i>, I’ve edited it lightly here for format:

QUOTE
Stella’s Favorite Clam Chowder

4-5 thin slices fat salty pork
1 onion
3-4 medium-sized potatoes
1 quart dry quahogs
2 level teaspoons flour
1 quart milk
1 quart water
1 tablespoon butter
Salt and pepper

Fry pork and remove from kettle.

Fry finely chopped onions and potatoes in the fat until they are golden brown.

Add hot water (1 quart or 3 pints).

Cook 10-15 minutes.

Wash the quahogs, removing the dark part from the stomachs. Chop or grind the quahogs quite fine. Cook with above for 15 minutes. Do not use any quahog water.

Add flour thickening stirred with milk, butter, and seasoning.
END QUOTE

Since I could not get my hands on quahog clams, I had to make do with canned. While I’m sure fresh would have been superior, this was still exceedingly delicious! I did save the turkey bacon I’d used (with a sprinkle of olive oil to supplement the frying process) as a chopped garnish for later, and highly recommend it.

If you’re fairly new to cooking, the last part of the recipe, which calls for flour thickening, is essentially asking you to make a roux. Melt the butter in a separate pan then add the flour to the melted butter, stirring constantly in a figure eight with a wooden spoon till the mixture puffs up golden. Personally, I’d add at least one more teaspoon of flour to the mix than is called for here in order to get it to the right consistency. Then add the milk and salt and pepper, stirring it all up before adding to the kettle or pot. I also added a generous portion of parsley, and recommend seasoning to taste. The end result is a rich, delicious soup that was a big hit with my family. With the weather getting chilly around my neck of the woods, it’s definitely something I’m looking forward to making again soon.

Next week, we head south and inland to try another yummy soup, this time with a vegan twist, as we investigate another dreadful murder. Do join me!