This is such a fun series to read. When I find out a new book in the series to to be released I can’t wait to lose myself in the story. One of my favorite characters is Fiona, she has spunk. Following her journey to earn her wings and get back in the good graces of the Fairy Queen has been amusing. Courtney and the other human characters are likable and relatable. The mystery is well-crafted blending the magical elements with the suspenseful. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I recommend this book and the rest of the series to cozy mystery readers who also enjoy a little magic or fantasy in their story.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been by anyone.

A Flicker of Doubt by Daryl Wood Gerber is a delightful tale. We return to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California where Courtney Kelly owns Open Your Imagination, a fairy garden and tea shop. Courtney has a charming store where she teaches people to make fairy gardens and sells the supplies. If you are lucky, you might see Fiona, a righteous fairy. Pixie, Courtney’s Ragdoll cat, likes to catnap in the courtyard. This series has an enchanting cast of characters (cast list at the beginning of the book). The characters are realistic and relatable. I like that the fairies have human qualities and personalities (plus a touch of fancifulness). I am enjoying following Fiona’s journey to earn her wings and get back in the fairy queen’s good graces. Courtney comes up with creative fairy gardens. I enjoy reading the descriptions of Courtney’s creations. The mystery was entertaining. There are a number of people who did not like the victim which leads to a long list of suspects including Meghan Brownie’s business partner. Ziggy Foxx, Meghan’s business partner, is arrested for the crime. Courtney and Meghan know Ziggy could not have done the deed. Courtney is curious about the case from the beginning (you can tell she is ready to dig into the case). She asks questions and searches for clues. She gets helpful information from her friends and the fairies. The story builds to an exciting reveal where we get all our questions answered. A fairy portal has appeared in Courtney’s backyard and Fiona is curious about it. We will have to wait for the next A Fairy Garden Mystery to learn what happens next. A Flicker of Doubt is the fourth A Fairy Garden Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series, but I encourage you to read all the books in this imaginative series. A Flicker of Doubt is a whimsical tale with flitting fairies, a returning performer, party plans, a terminated thespian, an unanticipated portal, a slew of suspects, a playful pup, and a curious Courtney.

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!

What a fantastic addition to my favorite series. I have been following Courtney and her fairy Fiona's adventures from start and I was eagerly waiting to knowing what's in store for them this time. We have disgruntled exes, murder, financial angle as one of the motives and, whole lotta magic.

The story begins with Courtney witnessing a tiff between Meaghan and Nicolas. Then, she receives a phone call from Ziggy saying he's found Nicolas' body in Meaghan's garden. Ziggy becomes one of the prime suspects as the cops find more evidence linking Ziggy to Nicolas. Once again, Courtney is drawn to poke her nose in a murder investigation.

A couple of side stories add extra charm to the already charming story. A dash of romance seals the deal. As Courtney starts to investigate, she learns a lot about the victim - and it's not good. Nicolas was quite famous with the ladies and few followed him back to Carmel-by-the-sea. Did one of them kill him because he left them high and dry?

Daryl's storytelling is magical. I am a huge fan of her writing and if you haven't come across Fairy Garden Mysteries before, you are missing out a lot. Plenty of red herrings kept me guessing till the end. The side stories kept me hooked. Speaking of which, we have a surprise at the end. I wonder what's next for Fiona and Courtney. As the story ends, it is pretty clear that a lot of things have changed, especially for Fiona.

If you love all things magic and are looking for a super engrossing and entertaining cozy mystery, you might want to give Daryl Wood Gerber's A Flicker of a Doubt a try. If you are new to the series, start from the beginning for an extra dose of magic. :)

4.5/5

Daryl Wood Gerber’s world inhabited by fairies, makes for a delightful visit. And the mystery that she devises is engaging. In this fourth volume featuring Courtney Kelly and her fairy gardening and tea shop in Carmel, CA, her best friend’s ex-boyfriend is murdered in her friend Meaghan’s yard.

Many suspects make for a challenging investigation, as the ex-boyfriend was not well-liked.
Courtney and her favorite fairy, Fiona, work together to research motives and alibis. A Flicker of a Doubt is perfect for a relaxing and entertaining read.

I enjoyed this fourth book in the series. We discover more about Courtney's fairy and what she is learning. A good plot with a surprise killer of an artist. The characters are well written. It's like visiting old friends now when reading the book. The recipes look wonderful. Can't wait to try the gluten free versions!

Courtney has been hired to create fairy gardens for a local philanthropic event, and she’s busier than ever. When the ex-boyfriend of Meghan, her best friend, is murdered and the police direct their attention on Meghan’s business partner, Courtney decides to ask a few questions of her own.

This is the fourth book in this series, and I have really come to enjoy my visits to Carmel-by-the-Sea. I have never been there, but the descriptions provided in these books makes me want to check it out some day. The recurring characters are beginning to feel like old friends, and I’d love to meet Pixie, Courtney’s ragdoll cat. I don’t think I’d see Fiona or any of the other fairies, but I hope I would be receptive enough to sense their presence :)

The murder victim in this book wasn’t very well-liked, so there were quite a few suspects to consider. My list kept changing as the story progressed, but I didn’t figure out whodunnit until just before it was revealed in the book. I like that Courtney shared the information she found with local law enforcement, and that she didn’t knowingly put herself in danger. That seems to be happening more often in cozy mysteries lately, which is a trend I hope continues.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series to see what happens next with Courtney, Meghan, and the fairies around Carmel.

Courtney Kelly is hired by wealthy Violet Vickers to provide several fairy gardens for her property which is hosting an artistic fundraising event. Nicholas Buley is one of her featured artists but he's also an abusive man who is targeting his ex-girlfriend Meaghan. When Nicholas' body is found bludgeoned to death in Meaghan's yard, the police focus on Ziggy, Meaghan’s business partner.

Courtney, with the help of her sleuthing fairy Fiona, is determined to clear Ziggy and find the real killer. There are plenty of possible suspects but another suspicious death occurs before Courtney can put the pieces together. It was also good to see Fiona making progress in earning her Queen Fairy's forgiveness.

This was another enjoyable entry in the Fairy Garden mystery series. The delectable gluten-free recipes at the end of the book are a welcome addition.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Kensington Books. All opinions are my own.

Courtney Kelly lives in Carmel by the sea, California she owns a fairy garden shop. She has been asked to create fairy gardens for a wealthy widow Violet Vickers. Her father is doing the landscaping. An artist Nicholas Buley was found dead in her friend Meghan's backyard. Ziggy found the body and the police suspect that he did it. Courtney decides to investigate.

I had no clue who the killer was and I enjoyed following the clues with Courtney. I really enjoyed all the characters. I loved how she mentioned the book club was reading a real book. I'm excited to see what happens next.

This is the fourth book in the Fairy Garden mystery series. Ir really like the creativity in world building with this series. It’s fun to imagine a world with faeries really hanging out teasing those that can’t see them. I like the characters and I felt like the mystery was pretty good in this one. It did see a.little flimsier than normal of an excuse for our amateur sleuth to butt in, but I think she’s embracing that if there is a murder she’ll just have to dig around and see what she can turn up. Fiona’s journey to earn the Queen’s forgiveness is also progressing nicely. When Courtney’s friend Meaghan’s abusive ex-boyfriend returns and is found murdered in front of Meaghan’s home Courtney feels the need to help the investigation since her friend and Meghan’s business partner is arrested and Courtney knows it couldn’t be him.

A Flicker of a Doubt is a delightfully whimsical cozy. Courtney owns a fairy-gardening and tea shop in the quaint town of Carmel-by-the-sea. She, along with her fellow business owners, family, and friends live charming lives, complete with actual fairies. Well, charming lives except for the occassional murder(s) that occurs. Courtney, thanks to her intense curiousity, now has a reputation for being able to help solve these crimes, which is good, because her best friend's ex-boyfriend has just been found dead, leaving Meaghan as a possible suspect.

A Flicker of a Doubt has everything a great cozy needs: fun cast of characters, cozy setting, intriguing mystery, and great story telling. I wasn't sure that I would enjoy the real fairies aspect of the book; however, to my surprise, I thought it was a great addition and makes this series unique in the cozy mystery world. I will definitely be reading more of these books and will be recommending this series to anyone looking for a good cozy.

A FLICKER OF A DOUBT is the fourth book in the Fairy Garden Mysteries by Daryl Wood Gerber. From the charming cover that invites you in, to the precious fairy quotes that start each chapter, to the whimsical characters, this newest release is a tantalizing addition to a delightful series. Ms. Gerber’s creative imagination sets the stage for a well-plotted mystery to solve while immersing the reader in fairy gardens and lore. Protagonist Courtney Kelly is the owner of Open Your Imagination garden shop in Carmel-by-the-Sea, an appealing town in coastal California. Courtney is utterly likeable, along with her adorable fairy, Fiona, and you’d be lucky to count someone like them as friends. I think one of the things I admire most about this series is the sweet friendships and respect portrayed between the characters… well, aside from the murderer. Instead of creating angst and conflict amongst the core characters to ramp up action, it’s reserved for where it matters most: the crime.

And speaking of crime, Ms. Gerber is a master writer, coming up with multi-plots to keep the reader entertained and guessing. Her attention to details in juggling the clues and the suspects kept me turning pages to find out what happens next. When an artist (an ex-boyfriend to one of Courtney’s best friends) is murdered, Courtney is pulled into the investigation to keep an innocent person out of jail. There were plenty of suspects and just when I thought I’d settled on one, another clue would make me change my mind. At the surprising reveal, I’ll have to admit I found the solution bittersweet. Somehow the author makes even the criminal sympathetic, which makes the story realistic. I, for one, can’t wait to read the next book in this charming series!

Another hallmark of Ms. Gerber’s books are the recipes she creates to include at the back of the book. So many yummy creations that will have the home baker drooling!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It was time to suspend my disbelief and go on another lovely visit to Carmel with Daryl Wood Gerber's A Fairy Garden Mystery series offering 'A Flicker of Doubt'. The author skillfully creates mistrust and twists and turns to point fingers of potential guilt to a myriad of characters. I admit I was surprised by the ultimate culprit. I enjoyed the continuing relationship of Courtney and Brady and look forward to a reunion with Fiona. It can't come soon enough for me.

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

I will leave a review on Amazon and B&N on March 28th

The fourth book in this cozy mystery series, and a very good read. It kept me turning the pages from start to finish. The author has the ability to weave a storyline that captures the imagination. I love the glimpse into making fairy gardens, and having your own personal fairy. I would certainly recommend this cozy to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books, I am leaving my review voluntarily.

I've been a fan of Daryl Wood Gerber's Fairy Garden Mystery series since the first book. I'm happy to see and read a new entry in this series!

This story has a whimsical/serious topic within its storytelling.

Courtney (The Protagonist) and her fairy partner, Fiona are always fun to read. They make a great team and you can't help but root for them. The setting, as always is charming and makes you want to visit the town. Courtney and her Fairy Garden Shop, Open Your Imagination makes me want to take a class and create a fairy garden.

Included within this book are recipes and a sneak peek of the previous book in the series. While newcomers can start with this book, I highly recommend reading/checking out the other books as well.

My thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGallery for a digital copy of this book for my review! I'm looking forward to reading more of the Fairy Garden Mystery series!

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

This is a charming series set in the village of Carmel California. The charcters are colorful and add to the series. I enjoy the whimsical aspect of this series with the faries and building of fairy gardens. If you love Carmel you will adore this series as its as if your right there walking and enjoying the village. The sleuth is well carfted to the story and was pleasing to conclusion. A enjoyable next in series.

I want to start by thanking the author/publisher for the opportunity to review <i>A Flicker of a Doubt: A Fairy Garden Mystery - Book 4</i> prior to publication. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity, but the following review is completely mine and not impacted by their generosity.

This was the second book in the Fairy Garden Mystery series I've read, so I was familiar with the basic characters and the general world that Daryl Wood Gerber has created in her series. If you're not familiar with the series, the series centers around Courtney Kelly, who owns a fairy-gardening /tea shop in Carmel, California. Of course, she has the cast of characters at the store, in the surrounding businesses, the police force, her boyfriend, family, and the rest of the town. In this respect, there are a lot of characters in this book that have been developed in the three previous books. For this reason, I definitely recommend read the preceding books before delving into this one.

In this story, a famous artist is found dead on the front lawn of Courtney's best friend, Meghan's, lawn. This isn't much of a spoiler since it really is the inciting incident and spurs the rest of the story into action. There are a whole litany of people who are definite suspects.

As a cozy mystery, this book hits all the boxes I like to see in a para-cozy. Fun and quirky cast of characters? Check! Interesting small town? Check! Fun and entertaining paranormal characters? Check! Clear clues along the way? Check! In fact, I kind of put two-and-two together about half-way through the book and formed my own ideas of motives and killers. I was more on the right track than not, which is half the fun of reading a cozy mystery.

Probably the only part of the book I would critique is the integration of Brady's ex-wife and her actor husband. I understand why the subplot was there, but I really didn't think it added anything to the overall story. The moments with the two provide some comic relief but weren't really necessary for plot development.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I plowed through it quickly. If you liked the previous books, you'll enjoy seeing Courtney and Fiona's latest antics.

Another fun cozy mystery with some fairy dust sprinkled in.
This book centers around an art show/fund raiser, and the body of an artist is discovered. Even though Courtney and Fiona are swamped with work, they must do some sleuthing to clear their friends name.
As always this book is enjoyable, light, and filled with magical characters that grow with every book. Highly recommend.

Courtney and Fiona are back solving a murder, this time in the local arts scene. While preparing for a fundraiser/art show, one of the local artists is murdered. Courtney and friends must figure out who killed him to save their friends from being falsely accused.

As usual, Daryl does a fantastic job with the characters and location. I have been watching the characters themselves, and their relationships grow as the Fairy Garden Mystery series has gone on. I really feel like, if I ever visited Carmel-on-the-Sea, I would be able to navigate parts of town with no problem. It is vivid and vital.

The plot is well done and very tight. There are plenty of suspects to choose from, and you even end up going back to some of them as you continue reading. It is a nice, light mystery that takes you out of the every day and gives you some magic.

All opinions are my own.

Publication March 28, 2023

I've grown to love this series. I mean, who wouldn't want to be friends with the fairies? Top it off with interesting characters that ring true, whimiscal fairy gardens, a community of artsy folks, friendship, and, yes, romance, and Gerber has crafted a winner with this series. This one was an intriguing mix of whimsy with a dose of not just reality but murder. 

Who killed the unlikable artist Nicholas, main character Courtney's friend Meaghan's ex-flame? He certainly wasn't very likable, not to mention he seems to have left a string of admirers behind him as he moved about. That does not include his brother, however. He turned up with the warning that Nicholas needs to pay him what is owed "or else". Uh, oh, could he have killed his own brother? What sort of family ties could create that scenario? Maybe it was the other artist that Nicholas slugged in the face? Or the art teacher who shows up exhibiting a bit too much interest in Nicholas, all while singing his praises? Or maybe that talented singer/guitar maker who also seems inticed by Nicholas? Seems like any number of people might have had a reason for thinking Nicholas was better off dead. 

I thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure out whodunit. It was also fun to see the growth in Courtney's fairy Fiona. Did you know there are four basic classifications of fairies? Fiona is a guardian fairy to Courtney but also of the nurturer classification.The basic fairy types are air, water, and woodland, Fiona being one of the latter. There. There's your fairy class for the day. Don't despair if you can't see fairies. I can't but, heck, neither can Courtney's boyfriend Brady. We keep trying, though.

Bottom line, a whimsical story that mixes reality and the enchanted world. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks- #KensingtonCozies for allowing me to drop into Courtney's world again. With that teaser about Fiona, I'm definitely looking forward to my next visit.