I have thoroughly enjoyed the entire Magical Bookshop series by Amanda Flower. In this Crime and Covers, the main characters, Violet Waverly and David Rainwater, celebrate their marriage and immediately start facing the challenge of investigating a death and book theft. As with all of the books in this series, the author successfully portrays the days following the wedding and skillfully presents the narrative so the reader can put themselves in the town and situations without revealing too much too soon in terms of the overall plot.

I do recommend that readers new to this series read the books in the order they were written to establish the back story and generate a sense of history for these characters. I truly hope that the author chooses to continue this series and follows this couple through the challenges that they obviously will face in their future as a result of their everyday life as a married couple.

Charming combination of mystery and magic. It is another fun mystery from the talented author of the series by Amanda flowers. This is a fun and fast paced but yet impressively original mystery by one of the very best yet. This author is a master of charming mystical cozy series that provides plenty of quirky characters and red herrings to keep you in suspense.

Crimes and Covers
(A Magical Bookshop Mystery #5)
by Amanda Flower
4 stars (out of 5)

Keywords: cat, bookshop, magic, Christmas, wedding, nature, romance, literary references, classic books

Violet Waverly runs a bookshop built around a magical birch tree. When trying to solve a crime, the bookshop (Charming Books) has a way of dropping literary clues (literally) into Violet’s lap. Henry David Thoreau’s Walden provides clues for this particular case. I already knew books were magic, but this series takes it to an entirely new and FUN level. The chatty crow Faulkner and tuxedo cat Emerson add to the magic and charm.

In Crimes and Covers, Amanda Flower helps solve a murder involving a rare book. This was probably my favorite case as it involved more literary intrigue than previous books. Usually the series focuses on literary quotes, but this also touched on Thoreau’s own life and genealogy. It’s no shock that I recommend this series to my fellow bookworms.

As with most cozy mysteries, I recommend starting this series at the beginning. There’s a blooming romance and those are always fun to start at the beginning.

Violet Waverly owns Charming Books in the quaint town of Cascade Falls NY. She took over the family bookstore from her grandmother Daisy, who is now the town mayor. She lives there with her cat Emerson and Crow Faulkner and a little bit of magic in the form a giant birch tree inside the store.

It's Christmastime and her wedding day to Cascade Falls Police Chief David Rainwater has arrived. She is eager to marry the love of her life and a honeymoon in Vermont. The wedding takes place but honeymoon plans are put on hold when Violet comes across a dead body of a woman who was recently in her shop trying to sell a valuable book. There are plenty of suspects, a red herring (or two) and a mystery that kept me turning pages until the end.

This was my first book I have read in this series, although Amanda Flowers is a favorite. I will admit it took me a a chapter or two to get into it but that is due to my unfamiliarity with the series. A situation I am planning on rectifying immediately!

I love cozies that are magical and this one fits the bill. Violet and Rainwater are finally getting married and everyone is excited. Just a day or so before the wedding, Violet has a customer who wants to sell a very rare, first edition of Walden by Henry David Thoreau. Violet does not buy the book, she does however, spy the mysterious woman are her wedding. On the way to the reception, she and Rainwater stumble upon the body of this same person. Violet really wants to find the killer. The victim turns out to be an old college roommate of her Aunt's. Mix in this connection and it appears the book may not have been hers.

Such a fun mystery. There are several suspects and the bookshop keeps sending Violet messages from the book Walden. The characters are fun and it is enchanting to think of a bookshop that helps Violet not only solve murders, but always find the right book for the right reader. Awesome!

I received a copy of Crimes and Covers through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Crimes and Covers by Amanda Flower is a part of the A Magical Bookshop Mystery series. In this Christmassy mystery, Violet Waverly, caretaker of Charming Books, is anxiously waiting for her wedding to police Chief, David Rainwater. The wedding itself goes off without a hitch, but when a body turns up right after, Violet finds herself wrapped up in another mystery.

I love the A Magical Bookshop Mystery series and this latest installation is no different. The characters in this series are relatable and easy to like, the Cascade Springs setting is idyllic and a place I would love to live and the Magical bookshop element adds the perfect twist. I really enjoyed this book and mystery or no, it was fun picturing Cascade Springs right before Christmas. This was one of my favorite books in the series and I would highly recommend it.

LOVE this series. I fell in love with all the characters but Emerson holds a special place in my heart. The dynamic of how Violet and Rainwater are to each other gives me hope for relationships around the world. I really hope to solve more mysteries with them in the future.


Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this advance read.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of CRIMES AND COVERS (Book 5 of the Magical Bookshop Mysteries), by Amanda Flower, in exchange for an honest review. Violet Waverly is looking forward to her upcoming wedding when a mysterious person visits her bookshop with a demand that Violet purchase her mint condition first edition copy of Walden by Henry David Thoreau. When Violet refuses to purchase the book without proof of ownership and provenance, the woman rages at Violet and storms off with threats and curses. Violet’s honeymoon plans are postponed when the woman is found dead and floating in the Niagara River with “They stole my book” written on her arm. Now, the book is missing, there’s a claim that the woman was the one who stole the book, and the rightful owner accuses Violet of being in possession of the stolen item. Since the magical bookstore is aggressively suggesting there’s more to the death than an accidental fall, Violet will spend the time waiting for her honeymoon to resume investigating the deceased as well as the owner. Can Violet solve the mysteries involved and return the rare volume to its rightful owner?

I liked this book and enjoy the series.

#CrimesandCovers #NetGalley

Another fabulous book in this series! I’m so impressed with the continuing character development and new twists and turns that are all tied up in this magical bookstore and the books within.

Violet and David finally get married. Yippeee!!!!
In true cozy fashion, they find a dead body. I'm glad the writer had it occurring after the ceremony, as a loyal fan, it was a wonderful tribute to us. While short, it was sweet.
The case involves a first edition of 'Walden' in which Violet is an expert.
Some humor.
Relatable character details with David & Violet learning to "combine their households" as newlyweds.
There are differences in every series, but I like that after the second book, David accepts Violet acting as an amateur detective & he inevitably just rolls with it similar to other cozies.
The negative is that the mystery was obvious, not many surprises for me this time.
In the case of a cozy, the mystery draws the reader in but you stay for the characters.
Flowers does a brilliant job of creating warm/endearing characters whose universe I enjoy returning to.

This is book 5 in the Magical Bookshop Mystery series, but the first I’m reading and it was quite fun. I had no problems jumping right in and they book was good at giving enough of an explanation to things I might not understand, because I didn’t read the previous ones, but without bogging down the story. The characters were fun and the mystery was engaging and fairly quick paced. And really, it’s a magical bookstore; what more do you need to know?

The breadth of storytelling that Amada Flower is capable of, is outstanding. I think I've enjoyed books from at least 4 different series of hers and after each one I am left thinking, "this is definitely my favorite series of hers." Until i read the next book. Always a cozy read, this one is worth picking up, even though it's 5th in a series, she does a decent enough job catching you up that you don't feel lost if you haven't read the previous installments.

Thank you netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4241586728

Sometimes you need a great escape from the day to day. Amanda Flower conjures up a magical cozy titled Crimes and Covers that provides just that. This is the fifth installment of her magical book shop series and though new to me, I found myself engaged with the characters and story from the beginning.

Violet Waverly, the current Caretaker of Charming Books, is days away from her Christmas time wedding. She has finally broken the unlucky-in-love tradition of the Waverly women and is anxious to wed Cascade Springs Police Chief David Rainwater. However, when a mysterious woman appears at the bookshop trying to sell her a first edition copy of On Walden Pond Violet's life is tangled up with death and mayhem.

Ms Flower develops her characters fully and supplies just enough red herrings to challenge the reader for a satisfying read. The bookshop has an Essence thanks to a special birch tree growing in the center of the building which connects the right book to the right person. And for me, choosing to read and review this book was right as well!

Thanks NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books!

I first "met" Amanda Flower when I read the first book in this series. The idea of a magical bookshop that could pick just the right book for you was an amazing idea. Although I have had a tough time finding the fourth book of the series, I had no problem picking up what was going on in this one. I have however, read some of her other work and find that I prefer her Amish Candy Shop and Amish Matchmaker series a little bit more. I have never read Walden, and after working my way through some of the quotes in this book, I never will. I do really like the presence of Faulkner and Emerson as book store pets.

From the handful of cozy mysteries I’ve read this year, usually the story gives our intrepid sleuths some time to breath before—or at least during—their big wedding day. Not so in the case of Crimes and Covers by Amanda Flower. Amidst the wedding joy, an incident that first appeared to be an accident unfolded into a perplexing mystery concerning a signed first edition of Walden by Henry Thoreau.

There was a lot I liked about the story. The sleuthing aspects were good, considering how unusual the case initially appeared to be. I really didn’t know for a while, since the clues supported each scenario. Was it an accident? Or was it something more nefarious? With a book that was worth as much as the copy of Walden was, the list of possibilities was long.

Cascade Springs was yet another small town with a close-knit community. Since the story was set around Christmas, the setting was wintery, though I wouldn’t call this a holiday book. The holiday season was just in the background for much of the story. The focus remained on the mystery and books.

The characters were pretty good here too. I liked Violet’s determination to figure out what happened, as well as her sense of duty toward Charming Books and its tree. The shop was part of her family’s history, and with their care, the place developed an “essence.” I adored the magical aspects of the story, since it deviated a little from what I’ve come across before—with the bookstore being magical rather than Violet. Plus, there was a cat with a habit of escaping the store and a crow that liked to make literary quotes. I have to say that I enjoyed their antics, for the sometimes comedic moments that came from of it.

All-in-all, Crimes and Covers was a great story.

Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Crooked Lane Books) via NetGalley for this review, thank you!

This is such a fun book to read and as I have learned, this is number 5 in the series so I now have to read 1-4.

I love the setting, I love the characters and I love the storyline. A grandmother and granddaughter, a magical book store and of course a murder. The quirks in this book are great, it is so much fun and so easy to read yet it is well written.

This is satisfying, entertaining and enjoyable book to read and I highly recommend it.

This is one of the best cozy series & also one I first got into. I love the magic in the bookshop & how Violet deals with it. It’s a very creative notion for the bookstore to aid in solving the crimes going on around town. I like that Flower didn’t drag Violet & Rainwater’s romance out too long, this is book 5 & they’re getting married. Some series do the, will they won’t they, for far too many books so this is extremely refreshing. The mystery here is very compelling, I like ones that involve history & this one does with someone claiming to be Henry Thoureau’s descendant. The supporting cast is one of the strongest ones in a series I read. And Violet is great protagonist. The series so far has perfect mysteries that add a dash of the supernatural & this book is no exception. I loved this one & it has a great ending too. Definitely a cozy series you should be reading!

Usually when mystical aspects are a part of a cozy mystery I don't find it enjoyable. Amanda Flower's A Magical Bookshop Mystery series is an exception. The cast of characters, including Faulkner the crow and Emerson the cat are delightful. A murder takes place during Violet's wedding to David Rainwater and their honeymoon is derailed as both of them investigate, he the murder and she the missing book that was in the possession of the victim at the time of her death. There are many suspects expertly brought forward and although I briefly entertained the actual culprit I was surprised when it turned out to be that person. Throw in a seldom seen father, a jealous and desperate academic collogue, a delusional rare book owner and a delightful town in Western New York and it combines to make an engaging and satisfying mystery.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I love this series so much. They are the perfect cozies, but with interesting themes and characters. I love that the love interest is an indigenous man, the mystery is solved using literature, that the main character also teaches and is super intelligent. Plus the cat and the crow are great and the bookstore sounds like a dream! There's nothing to not like in this series.

The countdown has started for the wedding of Violet Waverly, Charming Books proprietor, and Police Chief David Rainwater. Will everything go smoothly, not likely. Several days before the wedding an unpleasant woman comes into the bookshop demanding that Violet buy a first edition WALDEN immediately. When Violet refuses, the woman leaves but that's not the end of it. After the wedding, on the way to the reception, Violet and David see a body floating in the river, and David jumps in to retrieve them. Violet recognizes the victim as the woman who accosted her about the WALDEN book. Reception and honeymoon are disrupted as well as the lives of many their friends. What happened and where is the book?

Lve the story, how the wedding and mystery are interwoven. Great series, great characters!