What I Loved:

The Setting. One of my favorite things about the Magical Bookshop series is the beautiful Ithaca setting in a picturesque town and a, well, magical bookshop, and Crimes and Covers is no exception. Set around Christmas time, I can practically feel the icy air, the roaring falls in the background, snowy scenes, and cozy bookshop with the massive tree in the middle and chairs around a fireplace. It is a dream come true. Amanda Flower makes you wish Violet’s enchanting bookshop was a place to go and never leave.

The Bookish References. Every book in the Magical Bookshop series is themed around a specific classic, and Crimes and Covers is themed around Henry David Thoreau’s Walden. As a native New Yorker, lover of nature, and “banned book” junkie, Walden has always been a favorite of mine. Here, we get an extra dose of history as one of the characters believes they are a descendant of Thoreau, despite his never having had children. Violet’s expertise is in American literature of the time, so hearing all different Thoreau and Walden factoids was fun and informative while not taking the reader out of the mystery.

The Wedding. It would be remiss of me not to mention Violet and Rainwater’s wedding, as a devoted reader of this series. It was beautiful and, as typical of our two main characters, included a murder.

What Didn’t Work as Well:

The Murder. Without spoiling/giving too much away, the murder mystery here was intriguing until the end. Then, the murderer is completely out of left field. I was not thrilled how, after all the build up and fun leads into interesting directions, it culminated to where it did. Not the best murder of any Magical Bookshop series installation.

Violet and Grandma Daisy. I have never really connected with Violet as a protagonist, and never can put my finger on it. She is a literature PhD candidate, a bookshop owner, nature enthusiast, and lover of her pets. However, her inner monologue and quickness to judge people never sits well with me. Grandma Daisy is an easier read – She is nosy and Type A, and I would not be able to deal with a grandmother like her. This series is always weird to me because as much as I love the elements, the main characters have never been my favorites.

A Christmas wedding in small town New York. This is book 5 in the Magical Bookshop And Violet and David are leaving the planning to Grandmas Daisy and Sadie. All goes well until they see a body floating down the river. Violet recognizes her as a customer who tried to sell her a rare book earlier in the week. Now the police are trying to solve the murder and Violet is trying to find the book. This book can be read as a stand alone. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Amanda Flower brings us into the world of Magical Bookshop mysteries in Crimes and Covers. Violet Waverly, guardian of the magical tree in Charming Bookshop, marries her beloved Police Chief David Rainwater, A local woman who tried to sell a first edition of Walden by David Thoreau to Violet is found drowned, but the book is missing. Then Imogene, another local, claims the book was stolen from her and she is an unknown descendent of Thoreau. With the help of the stores cat and crow and hints from the spirts in the store, Violet seeks to solve the mysteries. Charmingly mystical cozy.

Faulkner the crow and Emmerson the cat to me were the stars of this book. Violet was enjoying her wedding when death interrupted the celebrations. A missing antique book, a murder, and an attempted murder had Violet and Chief Rainwater needed to solve the mysteries before they left for their honeymoon. A fun and exciting story that was captivating and intriguing.

<b>**</b> <i>Started this book and there are multiple letters missing from key words in each sentence which made it almost impossible to read, so I had to wait for the book to be released so I could get this read and reviewed. I am SO ANNOYED.</i> <b>**</b>

I am so glad that this book was worth all the trouble it took to actually get it read; due to a previous experience with a book that end up with the book being a substandard read, I was very nervous about this one. I am so glad that I had nothing to worry about. I am also grateful for Hoopla and the ability to get the eBook from there so I could read this without all the issues that were part of the ARC I received.

After a 3 year wait [and during this time, I wasn't sure if we would get another book in this series or not], a new book in this series magically appeared to the fans that love that series, and I am so glad it did. It was all that we could have wanted and if it has to be the last one in the series [I don't know if it is one way or the other], then I am okay with that. It gives the fans a bit more closure than book 4 did and I really, really, enjoyed this one. There was plenty of the bookshop and the essence and I truly enjoyed watching Violet and David [I just love David and how he accepted and accepts Violet and what she is charged with and just believes her and IN her. It is so refreshing. It is also refreshing that Violet doesn't need a man to be fulfilled, but is so happy to have one to share the work and life with without being gushy and mooning] work TOGETHER to solve the mystery that starts on the day of their marriage.

I wish there had been more closure or a better resolvement of the issue with Fennimore [Violet's father], but as someone who is estranged from her own father, I understand how that is easier said than done [even in books], and if there are more books, I hope that the relationship between Violet and her father is addressed on a deeper level but am okay with how the author left it should this be the end.

A really good read - I am happy with how this all played out. I will say though, I doubt I will ever read "Walden" or anything by Henry David Thoreau. He's a bit too cerebral [and snoozey] for me. What is in this delightful book was enough for me. ;-)

Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Flower, Crooked Lane Books, and Hoopla [YAY Libraries] for providing this ARC [and the eBook] in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fifth and final book in the Magical Bookshop series. There is much to like in this book like David and Violet’s Christmas time wedding, the magical bookshop and the town of Cascade Springs, New York. However, it fell a bit flat for me. It feels like something is missing from this book to me. This certainly won’t make me stop reading Amanda Flower’s books since I think she is a very good writer.

One of the very important parts of the book was the book On Walden Pond and the real writer of Thoreau. I have never read anything written by him. In addition, I did not much appreciate the quotes that populate the book. I think if you have an appreciation for this writer, that will add to your enjoyment.

I ultimately gave this book three and a half stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for the free Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

Violet Waverly and David Rainwater marry and discover the dead body in the Niagara River on the way to their reception. It turns out Violet knows the dead woman from when she offered to sell Violet the first edition of Walden two days earlier.

Putting off their honeymoon, the newlyweds begin investigating the death. Amanda Flower writes a complex, richly layered mystery that taxes the owner of Charming Books, the Magical Bookshop that proves to be a mysterious, all-knowing entity. Once again, Ms. Flower’s storytelling enchants and entertains.

Violet and Chief Rainwater are finally getting married and are looking forward to getting away for a while on their honeymoon. However a dead body derailed their plans.

The characters are entertaining, smart, and relatable. The mystery is full of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. I did suspect the culprit at one time but changed my mind do to the well placed red herrings. I recommend this book to fans of the series and cozy mystery lovers.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

4 stars = Great! Might re-read

I enjoyed this new mystery in my favorite series from Amanda Flower. I love the whole idea of a magical bookshop that can help you decide what to read next. The mystery in this one was great, and I always enjoy the characters. It doesn't matter how long it has been since I last read a book in the series, this always feels like coming home to a familiar place.

Series fans should not miss this one. Newcomers can probably start here without any significant issues.

Crimes and Covers by Amanda Flower
Book #5: Magical Bookshop Mystery Series
Source: NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
Rating: 5 stars

The Bottom Line: I have been a fan of this series from the very beginning, and there doesn’t seem to be any letting up on the liking. In fact, I think this book might be my first 5-star designation for a book in the series.

Outside of the obvious plot, I found I enjoyed this book on many levels above and beyond the words on the page. In so many ways, this particular story deals with the idea of celebrity and obsession and how some can become so obsessed with an idea/person/story they lose track of their real lives. In this instance, Violet is faced with a woman who is utterly and completely convinced she is the descendant of Henry David Thoreau, and her first edition copy of his signed book stands as her proof. While violet desperately wants to help the woman, she quickly realizes the obsession has sunk so deeply into the woman’s psyche that she is willing to give up anything and everyone to prove her claim.

Above and beyond solving a fascinating historical and contemporary mystery, Violet is also learning to deal with life as a newlywed. Chief rainwater is Violet’s ideal man, but if she’s involved in a mystery then he likely is as well and that is a new stressor in Violet’s life. Working side by side with her new husband isn’t always easy, but each respects the other and what each can bring to the work. Rainwater has the badge and the authority, and Violet has the bookshop, her magical tree, a raven, and cat that offer something Rainwater could never find anywhere else. Together the two pack quite a punch and bringing and end to their latest mystery is rewarding in more ways than one.

I so look forward to the continuation of this series especially if the quality continues to improve as it has in this read. This story took me beyond the page and had me considering issues I found both fascinating and completely confounding. In all, this was a most excellent reading experience.

This is the fifth book in the magical bookshop series. I absolutely love this series. Violet and Chief Rainwater are finally getting married. Just before the wedding a woman comes in wanting to sell a first edition copy of Walden. She doesn't buy it and the woman shows up at Violet's wedding. Before Violet and the chief can go to their reception, they find the woman dead by the river. Violet and Chief Rainwater postpone their honeymoon to solve the case.

I love this series. I think this has been my favorite in the series. I love the relationship between Violet and Chief Rainwater, and it was great to finally see them get married. Grandma Daisy will always be my favorite character. I love how she doesn't take no for an answer and fights for what she wants. The mystery was well done. I was not expecting who the killer was. I received this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane books in exchange for an honest review.

Crimes and Covers by Amanda Flower is the 5th A Magical Bookshop Mystery. I always love visiting Cascade Springs, New York with its delightful characters and the magical bookshop. I thought Crimes and Covers was well-written with developed characters. I just love Violet. She is a friendly woman who knows her books. She is the perfect caretaker for the store and its special tree. Violet and David make a good couple. I am glad that he is supportive of her investigations and appreciates her help. David is still learning about the magic that inhabits the bookstore. Faulkner and Emerson are adorable and humorous. Violet will never win with this pair. Grandma Daisy is a delight and I like how she welcomed David to the family Sadie, Violet’s best friend, is amusing with her unique outfits. In each book A Magical Bookshop Mystery series, a different classic is featured. This time it was Walden by Henry David Thoreau. I enjoyed the references and how they tied into the crime. I liked the whodunit, but the solution was obvious. I identified the guilty party before the crime took place. However, that did not hinder my enjoyment of this engaging cozy mystery. The story had a good ending that nicely wrapped up the story. Readers will be very satisfied with it. I can always count on Amanda Flower to provide me with hours of reading pleasure. Crimes and Covers is magical tale with a secretive seller, a wondrous wedding, a curious crime, an absent tome, a direct descendant, and a hindered honeymoon.

Crimes and Covers is the 5th book in the Magical Bookshop series and all I can say is: wow! I can’t believe I’ve overlooked this series for so long. The series centers around Violet Waverly who is the caretaker Charming Books, a magical bookstore (complete with an indoor tree, a crow, and a cat…all with their own personalities…well the cat and the crow anyway, though I suppose the ‘essence’ of the tree has it’s own personality as well) in the village of Cascade Spring which is in Northern New York not far from Niagara Falls. The village’s mayor is Violet’s grandmother Daisy, and the chief of police, David Rainwater, is Violet’s fiancee.
It didn’t take me more than a chapter or two to completely connect with the characters and become invested in their lives. Honestly I was totally hooked before the actual mystery of the story really came into play (which I’d say doesn’t really happen until about the 20% mark or so) The early sections deal with Vi tending to the shop and preparing for her upcoming wedding to David. It’s at the wedding (or just after) that a body turns up (talk about a wedding crasher!!), and Vi is shocked to see she recognizes the woman as a customer who came into her shop earlier in the week and had been desperate to sell an extremely rare book. This really kicks the mystery into high gear as Vi and David postpone their honeymoon to investigate the woman’s death and attempt to locate the missing book.
Crimes and Covers features fantastic characters and a clever story. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I can’t recommend it enough. 5 enthusiastic stars! I’ll be going back and starting this series from the beginning.
I’d like to thank Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Crimes and Covers.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crimes-and-covers-amanda-flower/1139213817?ean=9781643855967&bvnotificationId=967edef6-773d-11ec-95d8-0e43128dbb3f&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/198748755

Violet is excited about her upcoming marriage to David, the towns police chief. She's the happiest she has ever been and the future is looking bright. Her grandmother and best friend have taken on all the wedding preparations so she doesn't even have to worry about getting stressed over all the details. When the wonderful day comes everything is going so well that is until the reception. During the reception the body of a woman can be seen in the river. Violet can't believe it when she recognizes the woman as a customer who visited the store just a.few days before. She wanted to sell a book but Violet was unsure of its origins so passed on buying it. Violet feels like she must figure out who killed the woman and what brought about her death. With the help of her shop and her animal friends she hopes that she can solve the mystery and begin her new life with the man she married.

Crimes and Covers
A Magic Bookshop Mystery
Written by Amanda Flower


Three days before Violet Waverly, co-owner of Charming Books, and David Rainwater, Chief of Police of the Cascade Springs Police Department, are set to be married, a nameless woman enters the bookstore. In her possession is a signed first edition of Walden. She demands Violet buy the book on the spot for $7000.00. Cash. When Violet hesitates-for many reasons-the woman takes the book and storms out of the shop.
The next time Violet sees the woman is at Violet’s wedding as an uninvited guest. On the way to the wedding reception, David spots someone in the river. Violet recognizes the body. It’s the mystery woman from the bookshop and now she doesn’t have the book.
The honeymoon is put on hold until the woman’s death is solved. It appears she just slipped and fell on the icy banks of the river, but the message written on her hand leads Violet on a search for the missing book. As she gets closer to finding the valuable book, someone is determined to stop Violet from ever finding it.
Crimes and Covers is the fifth, and last, book in the Magic Bookshop Mystery series. I’ve enjoyed reading these books. I’m a little sad it the series has ended, but Flower does an excellent job bringing not just this book but the entire series to a most excellent ending.
Other books in the series:

Crime and Poetry
Prose and Cons
Murders and Metaphors
Verse and Vengeance
Author information
Website
Publishing information
Published by Crooked Lane Books
Jan 11, 2022
304 Pages
ISBN 9781643855967




#crimesandcovers #kensingtonpublishing

What a perfect ending for this great series! I will definitely miss it as the author has decided to end this one. The wedding was magical (except for the pesky murder thing) and the investigation was solid. I love the books where the main character/amateur sleuth works with the police and doesn’t try to run their own, often illegal investigation. There was plenty of mystery in this one and I learned so much about Walden and Henry David Thoreau. The pacing was good, and the writing flowed well. My only complaint is that it’s the last one. Highly recommend the entire series!

It was nice to visit Cascade Springs to attend the wedding of Violet Waverly and David Rainwater. Chief Rainwater seems supportive of Violet's investigations. I like the supporting characters as well. They mystery kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great finale to the Magical Bookshop series with the Christmas season in full swing and upcoming marriage of Violet Waverly and Police Chief David Rainwater. Violet is a member of a family of strong women who have been living in Cascade Springs, NY, near Niagara Falls for generations. She is the current caretaker and co-owner with her grandmother and mayor Daisy of the Charming Books Bookshop. This series is about the magical and mystical bookstore where the books let the caretaker know what needs to be done in different situations. In the frenzy of the season and upcoming marriage, a grumpy woman walked into the shop demanding that Violet purchase a first edition Henry David Thoreau book from her. Without provenance and a steep price, Violet says that she cannot do this. As Violet is about to walk down the aisle at the wedding outside the shop, she sees the angry woman. Then as she and David are about to go in the reception tent on the banks of the river, they see a body in the water, that of the woman. Violet cannot even have her wedding without a body showing up. Ruled an accident, the case is closed but the book is missing, and the eccentric real owner of the book shows up demanding that Violet give it back. What a mess. David gives Violet a few days to find the book before they leave on their honeymoon to Vermont. It is an action packed several days where Violet investigates and uncovers a bunch of unknown information about townspeople. Lots of surprises and a mystery to solve, this is a great read.
I received a complimentary ARC from Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

This was my second outing into the 'Magical Bookshop Mystery' series and I absolutely loved it! At the core of this charming and wonderful story, there is a magical bookshop called 'Charming Books' which helps its owner, Violet Waverly to solve her small town’s frequent murders. The bookshop itself sounds like a being in paradise; it's an enchanted bookshop with an ageless living birch tree and whatever book you're looking for, it will seek you.

I love the setting, the mystery and for the most part, I like the characters as well. I didn't feel like I was missing out on much by arriving late to the party, which is always a good thing when reading a book from a series. The setting is beautifully described by Amanda Flower allowing the reader to get a real feel for the place. This fabulous cozy mystery offers a wedding at Christmastime, a pet crow, a cute cat, a hint of romance and murder. I enjoyed reading Crimes and Covers so much and I didn't guess the perpetrator. I am aiming to start at the beginning of this series and read the books I've missed. Perfect escapism.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.