Carol Miller's 'Murder of a Hermit' presents an intriguing premise with the discovery of a drowned stranger in the sisters' back garden. However, the execution falls a bit short. While the concept of a stolen book and accusations of murder holds promise, the resolution feels somewhat underdeveloped, leaving this reader wanting more depth and complexity. (I received an advance reader copy of this book, and all opinions are my own.) Overall, 'Murder of a Hermit' offers a promising start to a new series."

When a “Hermit” is seen outside the shop and acting shifty, Hope and Summer are a little curious as to what is going on as the house is acting up as well. WIth the brownstone broken into and a man found murdered in the back of their yard, it somehow is tied to the shop. But how? That’s exactly what the sister aim to find out. But first they need to deal with false accusation and a fraudster. Can they figure it out and calm the house down?

I enjoy this series. The setting is perfect and I can almost smell the teas and candles as I read. Looking forward to more in the series as we move forward.

A quick, whodunit, witchy cozy mystery.
Let me start off by saying that I have not read the other books in this series, however, I do think you can read this as a standalone.
We follow two sisters-Hope and Summer- as they run a metaphysical shop in Asheville. They have help from their friend, Megan, although Megan’s leg is injured so she’s limited on what she can do.
I really enjoy our sisterly sleuths, and how incredibly talented they are in their different fields. In fact, I liked all of our characters. All of them were witty, intelligent, and had a specific profession or passion that added to the book and progress of the murder mystery. And, in this world, ghosts and spirits really do exist and help our sleuths, so fans of supernatural cozies will definitely be happy.
I found myself constantly trying to figure out who the murderer was, and what happened. The reveal at the end felt rushed, but I can’t complain. Lighthearted, and full of potential, I think this was a solid cozie that you should add to your tbr! I wish there was more Megan, though. I missed her! It kind of felt like halfway through the book she just disappeared.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of these thoughts and opinions are my own.