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Magical Mystery Book Club #5
Genies and Gibberish
This club gets whooshed into a book. They become characters! To get out they must find the killer.
~ ~ ~
Whenever this group chooses a book, magic happens. The mystery comes to life, and they find themselves part of the story. To exit the book and get back home, they need to solve the mystery and reach The End.
This time, the club chooses a book set in a mansion atop the mountains of Arizona. They discover a strange antique oil lamp that contains a shocking surprise.
Could this enchanted lamp have something to do with their host’s fall from a door to nowhere? Or could he have been pushed out the door by one of the strange people who belong to the quirky group who live here?
This brave, crazy, motley group must work together to unravel the mystery in their latest inside-the-book journey.
~ ~ ~
Whenever this group chooses a book, magic happens. The mystery comes to life, and they find themselves part of the story. To exit the book and get back home, they need to solve the mystery and reach The End.
This time, the club chooses a book set in a mansion atop the mountains of Arizona. They discover a strange antique oil lamp that contains a shocking surprise.
Could this enchanted lamp have something to do with their host’s fall from a door to nowhere? Or could he have been pushed out the door by one of the strange people who belong to the quirky group who live here?
This brave, crazy, motley group must work together to unravel the mystery in their latest inside-the-book journey.
190 pages, ebook
119 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Pantley
63 books447 followersElizabeth Pantley is a bestselling author of fiction and non-fiction books. She writes two well-loved cozy mystery series: The Magical Mystery Book Club, and the Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic series. She has also written the international bestselling No-Cry Solution parenting book series that is available in over twenty languages.
Elizabeth lives in the majestic Pacific Northwest and spends winters in the sunny desert of Arizona. While neither location is home to any paranormal beings (that she knows of) the vastly different yet equally lovely locations are the inspiration for the settings in many of her books.
Sign up for her newsletter to get a free novella at www.elizabethpantleyauthor.com
Elizabeth lives in the majestic Pacific Northwest and spends winters in the sunny desert of Arizona. While neither location is home to any paranormal beings (that she knows of) the vastly different yet equally lovely locations are the inspiration for the settings in many of her books.
Sign up for her newsletter to get a free novella at www.elizabethpantleyauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
January 29, 2025
(3.5 stars)
Another fun outing for the Magical Mystery Book Club! In this series, when this book club gets together, they choose a cozy mystery book to enter - and they magically become part of the story, helping to solve the mystery posed by the author. This time, the group finds themselves in current-day Arizona. There’s a huge mansion at the top of a hill/mountain and the owner hosts a book club. So the group joins the book club and of course, someone is found dead. In addition, one of the group, the neo-hippie (is that a word?) Moonbeam, finds an old-fashioned oil lamp and when she rubs it, out comes a genie. And then out comes a second genie!
The characters in this series really do grow on you, human and ghost alike. (There’s a ghost that entered the series with book 3, and she’s a lot of fun.) And, as in all the other books, there’s also a talking Siamese cat named Frank, who provides a lot of comic relief,
If you’re looking for a light cozy mystery with some paranormal vibes, this will fill the bill.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
(Note: This book was originally shorter and was listed as book 4.5. It has now been expanded and is listed as book 5 in the series, although it’s still pretty short (under 200 pages).
Another fun outing for the Magical Mystery Book Club! In this series, when this book club gets together, they choose a cozy mystery book to enter - and they magically become part of the story, helping to solve the mystery posed by the author. This time, the group finds themselves in current-day Arizona. There’s a huge mansion at the top of a hill/mountain and the owner hosts a book club. So the group joins the book club and of course, someone is found dead. In addition, one of the group, the neo-hippie (is that a word?) Moonbeam, finds an old-fashioned oil lamp and when she rubs it, out comes a genie. And then out comes a second genie!
The characters in this series really do grow on you, human and ghost alike. (There’s a ghost that entered the series with book 3, and she’s a lot of fun.) And, as in all the other books, there’s also a talking Siamese cat named Frank, who provides a lot of comic relief,
If you’re looking for a light cozy mystery with some paranormal vibes, this will fill the bill.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
(Note: This book was originally shorter and was listed as book 4.5. It has now been expanded and is listed as book 5 in the series, although it’s still pretty short (under 200 pages).
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May 9, 2024This book was a novella, but has been expanded into a full book. It can be found on Amazon June 1, 2024.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1CRFSQT
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1CRFSQT
October 25, 2024
A novella in the series, it was okay
August 3, 2023
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from Prolific Works, the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Genies and Gibberish by Elizabeth Pantley see the Moondragon Book Club off on another adventure.
Will the strange oil lamp help the Snapdragon Inn Book Club solve this mystery?
The Book Club
Paige, Glo, Zell, Sebastian, Frank, Mollie, Forrest, Moonbeam, and Atticus are all on a new adventure, heading to a mansion to solve a mystery. I have to admit it's nice to see that even if they don't have the whole member group, they can still go off on adventures. Paige and the others have fun with solving the mystery like always. I love how they always have Forrest go with Mollie as an anchor so that she can spy on people without them knowing.
Each group member has what they are good at, and they each exploit that to get answers. Well, when that specific member's gift is needed. Like Forrest going with Mollie, Sebastian for wanting to know gossip, Zell for being an old lady, Paige for being a good listener, Glo for being a great friend, Frank because everyone loves a cat, Mollie for being a ghost (especially when the author doesn't want to put ghosts in the story so no one knows she's there), and Atticus for his love of knowledge.
The Mystery
The Snapdragon Inn's book club meets their host, and they are invited to his gathering. Well, until he takes a great fall out of his second floor bathroom door to nowhere. Paige and the book club members are at a loss for words for this event and how they can solve the mystery. They find an enchanted oil lamp that could be a good plot element as to why the host met his untimely demise. I must admit I didn't catch the culprit, but it made sense when they explained why they did it. Ms. Pantley has done an excellent job once again.
Five Stars
Genies and Gibberish by Elizabeth Pantley see the group off to Arizona and in modern times, to figure out who killed a mansion owner. Ms. Pantley did a great job of putting down the clues that could have led to any number of people at the host's gathering. She must have been watching lots of Disney's Aladdin, as I now have a certain song stuck in my head.
I am giving Genies and Gibberish by Elizabeth Pantley five stars and a huge recommendation.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Genies and Gibberish by Elizabeth Pantley.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Will the strange oil lamp help the Snapdragon Inn Book Club solve this mystery?
The Book Club
Paige, Glo, Zell, Sebastian, Frank, Mollie, Forrest, Moonbeam, and Atticus are all on a new adventure, heading to a mansion to solve a mystery. I have to admit it's nice to see that even if they don't have the whole member group, they can still go off on adventures. Paige and the others have fun with solving the mystery like always. I love how they always have Forrest go with Mollie as an anchor so that she can spy on people without them knowing.
Each group member has what they are good at, and they each exploit that to get answers. Well, when that specific member's gift is needed. Like Forrest going with Mollie, Sebastian for wanting to know gossip, Zell for being an old lady, Paige for being a good listener, Glo for being a great friend, Frank because everyone loves a cat, Mollie for being a ghost (especially when the author doesn't want to put ghosts in the story so no one knows she's there), and Atticus for his love of knowledge.
The Mystery
The Snapdragon Inn's book club meets their host, and they are invited to his gathering. Well, until he takes a great fall out of his second floor bathroom door to nowhere. Paige and the book club members are at a loss for words for this event and how they can solve the mystery. They find an enchanted oil lamp that could be a good plot element as to why the host met his untimely demise. I must admit I didn't catch the culprit, but it made sense when they explained why they did it. Ms. Pantley has done an excellent job once again.
Five Stars
Genies and Gibberish by Elizabeth Pantley see the group off to Arizona and in modern times, to figure out who killed a mansion owner. Ms. Pantley did a great job of putting down the clues that could have led to any number of people at the host's gathering. She must have been watching lots of Disney's Aladdin, as I now have a certain song stuck in my head.
I am giving Genies and Gibberish by Elizabeth Pantley five stars and a huge recommendation.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Genies and Gibberish by Elizabeth Pantley.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
August 24, 2025
"Genies and Gibberish (Magical Mystery Book Club #5)" by Elizabeth Pantley is "Magic Treehouse" series meets dinner party mystery meets genies. The book club gets whisked into the beginning of a murder mystery dinner party turned genuine murder mystery.
When their host is found after having fallen to the canyon very far below a mysterious door in a bathroom of the seemingly half finished mansion. His murder mystery dinner guests are suspects for the book club to ponder over. Plus, there's a mysterious lamp that pops up.
If you know genies, then you know that they aren't exactly trustworthy. So, it comes down to who helped the genie, genies? Honestly, I didn't have any one person pegged for it or even any two. So, it was a genuine reveal for me in the end.
When their host is found after having fallen to the canyon very far below a mysterious door in a bathroom of the seemingly half finished mansion. His murder mystery dinner guests are suspects for the book club to ponder over. Plus, there's a mysterious lamp that pops up.
If you know genies, then you know that they aren't exactly trustworthy. So, it comes down to who helped the genie, genies? Honestly, I didn't have any one person pegged for it or even any two. So, it was a genuine reveal for me in the end.
July 2, 2024
This was initially written as a novella but was expanded a bit. While shorter than some of the other books, it does not leave us wanting more from the story.
I have come to love this book club. It is such a unique premise for the book, and I wonder if I were to join if I could help decipher the clues and find the killer.
Each character in this book has a unique personality. They blend together nicely and play off each other to bring humor and lightness to the book.
In this novel, the gang ends up in a town where the head of a book club dies mysteriously during a meeting. Everyone is a suspect (except our little book club group). There are some wacky characters, including one that wears an opera glove and treats it like another person. We have no real idea who the killer is, and it takes a creative idea by Moonbeam to help reveal the killer.
There are also a couple of genies in this book. They are fighting over who gets to be the "owner" of the lamp they are locked in. One is nice, but the other is quite evil, to the point of misleading people about how the wishes really work.
I thought the house where the murder takes place was a testament to how wishes can go wrong. There is half of a house with doors that lead nowhere, to a motorcycle garden. You will have to read the book to find out more.
This is a fun series to read, and I suggest starting with the first book. This was initially meant to be book 4.5, but since it was expanded, it is now book 5.
We give this book 5 paws up, and recommend the series for a light hearted mystery read.
I have come to love this book club. It is such a unique premise for the book, and I wonder if I were to join if I could help decipher the clues and find the killer.
Each character in this book has a unique personality. They blend together nicely and play off each other to bring humor and lightness to the book.
In this novel, the gang ends up in a town where the head of a book club dies mysteriously during a meeting. Everyone is a suspect (except our little book club group). There are some wacky characters, including one that wears an opera glove and treats it like another person. We have no real idea who the killer is, and it takes a creative idea by Moonbeam to help reveal the killer.
There are also a couple of genies in this book. They are fighting over who gets to be the "owner" of the lamp they are locked in. One is nice, but the other is quite evil, to the point of misleading people about how the wishes really work.
I thought the house where the murder takes place was a testament to how wishes can go wrong. There is half of a house with doors that lead nowhere, to a motorcycle garden. You will have to read the book to find out more.
This is a fun series to read, and I suggest starting with the first book. This was initially meant to be book 4.5, but since it was expanded, it is now book 5.
We give this book 5 paws up, and recommend the series for a light hearted mystery read.
June 23, 2024
When the book club’s book of choice brings the group to another book club’s meeting things just seemed to be slightly off. After the body of the host is found a genie’s lamp is found. This isn’t a normal genie’s lamp this one contained a secret.
This is another fun magical book adventure. The characters are amusing, quirky, and mystery lovers. The mystery is entertaining and humorous with plenty of twists and turns.
All thoughts and opinions are mine own.
This is another fun magical book adventure. The characters are amusing, quirky, and mystery lovers. The mystery is entertaining and humorous with plenty of twists and turns.
All thoughts and opinions are mine own.
June 2, 2024
A great introduction to the Magical Mystery Book club for those who have never read the series.
Fun characters each with a unique personality and quirks of their own. Descriptive scenes without being too wordy. I love the warm and inviting library that the book club descends to to pick a book for their journey. I’m quite envious of such a place. Several LOL moments of humor and the solution to the mystery was fun to watch unfold. You can’t go wrong with a cozy that has a debate between which is the better motorcycle…..Harley Davidson or Yamaha. So much fun.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
Fun characters each with a unique personality and quirks of their own. Descriptive scenes without being too wordy. I love the warm and inviting library that the book club descends to to pick a book for their journey. I’m quite envious of such a place. Several LOL moments of humor and the solution to the mystery was fun to watch unfold. You can’t go wrong with a cozy that has a debate between which is the better motorcycle…..Harley Davidson or Yamaha. So much fun.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
June 8, 2023
Spectacular voyage to an incredible mansion filled with fantastic human and ethereal characters!!
I always expect another Elizabeth Pantley book to be amazing, magical, and fantastic, yet for some reason, am sideswiped by each new story, where she has gone above and beyond and farther than any of the previous books!. That’s a given! However, and it has happened before, and I’m sure will again, she has once more outdone herself and her previous masterpieces.
how do I even start?
First off, let me say I got word that the book was available and immediately obtained it and began reading. True to form with me reading her books, I could NOT put it down!!! Pushing ahead and wanting to see what happens next, excited about the new information revealed not only about the current mystery case they are solving, but about the book club members themselves, I kept reading, and found myself finishing the book in one sitting.
The title gives it away by saying genies that there’s more than one, but the way they are woven into the story, and into what we already know about genies, is unique to Elizabeth Pantley’s amazing skill. Don’t miss it!!
We jump right into the action quickly, including the book club getting into their story, the mystery to be solved showing up almost immediately, and the variety of new tidbits of everyone’s personalities and abilities revealed early and often!! From a talking cat, to their ghostly member to the young teen boy, who is changing into an upstanding young man, and everyone in between, adding the new characters who have their own unique oddities, everyone is portrayed and described so completely, you feel that you have met them in real life.
The insanely extravagant mansion on the top of the hill, but mysterious and magical, yet somewhat garish, is explained and described in such detail that you will feel you are also walking along on the tour when the book club first meets its peculiar, eccentric owner.
I KNOW it is going to happen, but I am once again surprised when the end of the book pops up, and additionally, sad that it’s over, because it leaves me wanting to read more!
I shock myself by becoming so engrossed that the outside world just slips away and it’s a journey to a completely different, sometimes scary, beautiful, amazing other world!
Ride along on Elizabeth Pantley’s vehicle of magical mystery (and murder); you will not be disappointed!!
I always expect another Elizabeth Pantley book to be amazing, magical, and fantastic, yet for some reason, am sideswiped by each new story, where she has gone above and beyond and farther than any of the previous books!. That’s a given! However, and it has happened before, and I’m sure will again, she has once more outdone herself and her previous masterpieces.
how do I even start?
First off, let me say I got word that the book was available and immediately obtained it and began reading. True to form with me reading her books, I could NOT put it down!!! Pushing ahead and wanting to see what happens next, excited about the new information revealed not only about the current mystery case they are solving, but about the book club members themselves, I kept reading, and found myself finishing the book in one sitting.
The title gives it away by saying genies that there’s more than one, but the way they are woven into the story, and into what we already know about genies, is unique to Elizabeth Pantley’s amazing skill. Don’t miss it!!
We jump right into the action quickly, including the book club getting into their story, the mystery to be solved showing up almost immediately, and the variety of new tidbits of everyone’s personalities and abilities revealed early and often!! From a talking cat, to their ghostly member to the young teen boy, who is changing into an upstanding young man, and everyone in between, adding the new characters who have their own unique oddities, everyone is portrayed and described so completely, you feel that you have met them in real life.
The insanely extravagant mansion on the top of the hill, but mysterious and magical, yet somewhat garish, is explained and described in such detail that you will feel you are also walking along on the tour when the book club first meets its peculiar, eccentric owner.
I KNOW it is going to happen, but I am once again surprised when the end of the book pops up, and additionally, sad that it’s over, because it leaves me wanting to read more!
I shock myself by becoming so engrossed that the outside world just slips away and it’s a journey to a completely different, sometimes scary, beautiful, amazing other world!
Ride along on Elizabeth Pantley’s vehicle of magical mystery (and murder); you will not be disappointed!!
June 16, 2023
Genies and Gibberish by Elizabeth Pantley is a novella that is set in between book 4 and 5, in her fun Magical Mystery Book Club series. Refresher: Paige and her Aunt Glo run a magical library, that consists of 8 members, who choose a book, and they are transported into the story, with mysteries that they have to solve. This is a lighthearted and fun series, with wonderful characters and a magical cozy mystery. Whenever this group chooses a book, they read the first page of this cozy mystery, and the magic comes to life, as they are transported into the story. Once the mystery is solved, they are able to return home.
The book chosen by the club members has them sent to a mansion on a mountain in Arizona, where they meet the wealthy owner, who is not only extravagant, but is also not very well liked by staff, as well as his own book club members. The group arrives at the mansion and the owner happily allows them to join in on their meeting. In a short time, the owner is found murdered, with so many people who are suspects, including the neighboring club members and the soon to be ex-wife.
The group discovers a mysterious oil lamp, which Moonbeam accidently rubs, which brings a genie or two. Since she is the one who rubs the lamp, the genies insist she make three wishes, which she refuses to do, causing problems for the genies. Eventually, everyone convinces Moonbeam to make a wish, which will force suspects to reveal the truths, including the genies.
I really enjoy this series, as it is so much fun to read. All the characters in the Magical Mystery Book Club are very good, with Paige and Glo being the leaders, and Frank (the talking cat) always enjoyable, Mollie the ghost, a recent new member, and all the rest of the group a lot of fun.
Genies and Gibberish was another terrific and fun addition to this series, with all of the members in the middle of this mystery. There were many suspects, with different clues, as they continued to get more information to solve the crime. There were a number of surprises throughout, which was so much fun and a blast to read. Genies and Gibberish was a wonderful lighthearted fun magical mystery, which was very well written by Elizabeth Pantley. I look forward to the next book.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
The book chosen by the club members has them sent to a mansion on a mountain in Arizona, where they meet the wealthy owner, who is not only extravagant, but is also not very well liked by staff, as well as his own book club members. The group arrives at the mansion and the owner happily allows them to join in on their meeting. In a short time, the owner is found murdered, with so many people who are suspects, including the neighboring club members and the soon to be ex-wife.
The group discovers a mysterious oil lamp, which Moonbeam accidently rubs, which brings a genie or two. Since she is the one who rubs the lamp, the genies insist she make three wishes, which she refuses to do, causing problems for the genies. Eventually, everyone convinces Moonbeam to make a wish, which will force suspects to reveal the truths, including the genies.
I really enjoy this series, as it is so much fun to read. All the characters in the Magical Mystery Book Club are very good, with Paige and Glo being the leaders, and Frank (the talking cat) always enjoyable, Mollie the ghost, a recent new member, and all the rest of the group a lot of fun.
Genies and Gibberish was another terrific and fun addition to this series, with all of the members in the middle of this mystery. There were many suspects, with different clues, as they continued to get more information to solve the crime. There were a number of surprises throughout, which was so much fun and a blast to read. Genies and Gibberish was a wonderful lighthearted fun magical mystery, which was very well written by Elizabeth Pantley. I look forward to the next book.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
July 14, 2023
GENIES AND GIBBERISH by Elizabeth Pantley
The First Magical Mystery Book Club Novella
(Magical Mystery Book Club 4.5)
It's time for the Magical Mystery Book Club to choose another adventure. This time they decide to head to modern day Arizona for a paranormal mystery. Not sure what they'll discover the Snapdragon gang find themselves walking up to an ultra modern mansion on a mountain. With an obvious and ostentatious display of wealth their host, Martin Shuttlewort, is an uncouth boor. Surprisingly, the man hosts a book club whose other members are neighbors and staff...each with anger and disdain for him. Partway through the meeting the housekeeper begins to scream. Martin has fallen to his death. The Snapdragon crew will have their work cut out for them since no one, except perhaps Celeste, liked the man. Add two genies to the mix and things get even more complicated!
The Magical Mystery Book Club meets up and mixes with another book club in this, their first novella. A slightly shorter story, the club also isn't at their full number of members. And while this book certainly works as a standalone, you'll appreciate things more if you have read the other books in the series; at least the third.
I appreciate how every member of the Magical Mystery Book Club is important, each bringing his or her own gifts to their adventure. While a true ensemble, I like how one member often gets a chance to shine just a bit more. GENIES AND GIBBERISH gave Moonbeam some time in the spotlight and it is wonderful to see her excel in her role. She's fiercely determined, and smart enough to craftily outsmart the genies at their own game. I enjoyed the glimpse we had into the Genie world, with special thanks to Mollie. The mystery itself was unique with its unlikable victim and a host of possible suspects.
There was a bit of an odd vibe to the story however. It may have been the concept of half wishes or perhaps the fact that none of the book characters (as opposed to the Snapdragon gang) were very nice, and some were downright strange-I still don't quite get Trixie and Juliette. There was even something slightly off with the police.
The best part of a book club is the food and both sets of book club members embrace this idea. The delightful descriptions of the delectable food is a favorite aspect to the Magical Mystery Book Club series, that and the genuine love and friendship of its members. I love spending time with them, seeing them enjoying each other's company, even as they sometimes poke fun. Nothing is done out of meanness or spite, however, making this a truly feel good series.
Be careful what you wish for! GENIES AND GIBBERISH is a cautionary tale that is also a fun mystery filled with good food, friends, and plenty of laughs.
The First Magical Mystery Book Club Novella
(Magical Mystery Book Club 4.5)
It's time for the Magical Mystery Book Club to choose another adventure. This time they decide to head to modern day Arizona for a paranormal mystery. Not sure what they'll discover the Snapdragon gang find themselves walking up to an ultra modern mansion on a mountain. With an obvious and ostentatious display of wealth their host, Martin Shuttlewort, is an uncouth boor. Surprisingly, the man hosts a book club whose other members are neighbors and staff...each with anger and disdain for him. Partway through the meeting the housekeeper begins to scream. Martin has fallen to his death. The Snapdragon crew will have their work cut out for them since no one, except perhaps Celeste, liked the man. Add two genies to the mix and things get even more complicated!
The Magical Mystery Book Club meets up and mixes with another book club in this, their first novella. A slightly shorter story, the club also isn't at their full number of members. And while this book certainly works as a standalone, you'll appreciate things more if you have read the other books in the series; at least the third.
I appreciate how every member of the Magical Mystery Book Club is important, each bringing his or her own gifts to their adventure. While a true ensemble, I like how one member often gets a chance to shine just a bit more. GENIES AND GIBBERISH gave Moonbeam some time in the spotlight and it is wonderful to see her excel in her role. She's fiercely determined, and smart enough to craftily outsmart the genies at their own game. I enjoyed the glimpse we had into the Genie world, with special thanks to Mollie. The mystery itself was unique with its unlikable victim and a host of possible suspects.
There was a bit of an odd vibe to the story however. It may have been the concept of half wishes or perhaps the fact that none of the book characters (as opposed to the Snapdragon gang) were very nice, and some were downright strange-I still don't quite get Trixie and Juliette. There was even something slightly off with the police.
The best part of a book club is the food and both sets of book club members embrace this idea. The delightful descriptions of the delectable food is a favorite aspect to the Magical Mystery Book Club series, that and the genuine love and friendship of its members. I love spending time with them, seeing them enjoying each other's company, even as they sometimes poke fun. Nothing is done out of meanness or spite, however, making this a truly feel good series.
Be careful what you wish for! GENIES AND GIBBERISH is a cautionary tale that is also a fun mystery filled with good food, friends, and plenty of laughs.
June 24, 2023
The definition of a novella is a work of fiction that is shorter than a full-length novel, but longer that a short story and Genies and Gibberish by Elizabeth Pantley is considered that. Genies and Gibberish is a standalone novella in the Magical Mystery Book Club series but suggested to be read between the fourth and fifth books. And even though Genies and Gibberish is shorter than the other books in the series, it is packed with a great story and a lot of adventure just like the other books.....readers will not be missing anything when they read this book.
In Genies and Gibberish the book club is getting ready to venture out on their next book jump.... they are going to enter a book called The Mountaintop Book Club Murder to solve the murder in the story. The group consists of Paige and her Aunt Glo, Frank a talking cat, Moonbeam and her teenage son Forrest, Atticus, Zell, and Mollie, a ghost they picked up after solving a previous murder in the Wild West.
The group is quite different but they do work well together and in Genies and Gibberish they will all have to come together because this case is nothing they have come across before. The group enters the book on a mountaintop at a mansion of a very rich man but they soon find out things are not quite right. They become involved with another book club but when they are given a tour of the mansion, they find that it is only half there. While they try to find out why the mansion is only have completed, the owner of the mansion, Martin, is found dead on the grounds having been pushed out of a door that leads to nowhere.
And if all that is bad enough Moonbeam finds a dirty oil lamp that she rubs to clean and not one but two genies fight each other to get out to grant Moonbeam her wishes. Moonbeam refuses to make any wishes and things get more interesting ....if that is even possible.
I don't know how Pantley comes up with these ideas and stories but I am a true fan and love jumping into the stories along with Paiage, Aunt Glo, Frank and the rest of them. Readers will thoroughly enjoy this series and will not want to close the book when you get to the end of the latest adventure.
December 23, 2025
We’re back with the Magical Book Club once again. All of our favourites are still here, especially Frank the Cat, with his snarky wit and unique sense of humour.
This book originally started life as a novella but has since been expanded to a full book. I am a huge fan of this series, and I love the characters and the idea of leaping into a book to solve the mystery myself (not that I would probably be any good at it, mind).
This book sees the group arrive at the latest gathering of a book club (haha) at the sprawling mansion of Martin Shuttlewort, who isn’t a particularly nice man, but still he doesn’t deserve to fall out of the side of his unfinished mansion, does he? When the group discover an old oil lamp which houses not one but two genies, things start to get very confusing.
It was nice to see our resident ghost, Mollie, have a bit more of an active role in solving this mystery. Being a ghost, she is limited by her actions; she also has to have a human member of the group along with her to keep her tethered to the group. However, without giving away too many spoilers, without Mollie, I doubt the group would have solved this one.
I wasn’t too sure about the genies, though. It was a nice twist on the genie of the lamp theme (loved the Aladdin reference), but it didn’t seem to flow as well as the other books. They have all been paranormal, so that was expected, but maybe it’s just me and genies.
I’m still sticking with this series, as it is so interesting and entertaining. I love Frank. I need more of his witticisms and snark. He is me in cat form.
This book originally started life as a novella but has since been expanded to a full book. I am a huge fan of this series, and I love the characters and the idea of leaping into a book to solve the mystery myself (not that I would probably be any good at it, mind).
This book sees the group arrive at the latest gathering of a book club (haha) at the sprawling mansion of Martin Shuttlewort, who isn’t a particularly nice man, but still he doesn’t deserve to fall out of the side of his unfinished mansion, does he? When the group discover an old oil lamp which houses not one but two genies, things start to get very confusing.
It was nice to see our resident ghost, Mollie, have a bit more of an active role in solving this mystery. Being a ghost, she is limited by her actions; she also has to have a human member of the group along with her to keep her tethered to the group. However, without giving away too many spoilers, without Mollie, I doubt the group would have solved this one.
I wasn’t too sure about the genies, though. It was a nice twist on the genie of the lamp theme (loved the Aladdin reference), but it didn’t seem to flow as well as the other books. They have all been paranormal, so that was expected, but maybe it’s just me and genies.
I’m still sticking with this series, as it is so interesting and entertaining. I love Frank. I need more of his witticisms and snark. He is me in cat form.
June 28, 2023
This is a novella from the Magical Mystery Book Club series. It’s #4.5 and it’s as much fun as the full-length books.
I think I enjoy this series so much because it brings the characters into an actual book they are reading. I know when I’m reading, I like to feel as if I’m part of the action. So, for me, it’s fun to read about characters who are right in the thick of things. Plus, there’s a smart-aleck cat. How can I possibly resist?
This time the gang heads to Arizona where they meet up with members from another book club, the Mountaintop Book Club. This particular club is made up of some very strange people. When the host of the Mountaintop Book Club ends up dead, they begin their investigation. Everyone knows, they can’t go home until the mystery is solved.
Elizabeth Pantley has a knack for bringing to life some of the most quirkiest characters and making them seem real. She transports me to a different location every time. The series is enchanting and a pure delight to read. I was not disappointed. It had everything from many potential suspects to whacky characters and there's even a genie involved. For a novella, this comes with a big storyline and much enjoyment.
I do suggest starting this series with the first book. Although each mystery is contained and solved in each book, it’s so much more fun to see how the book club came about and their progression with time.
This one is a freebie I received from Prolific Works. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I think I enjoy this series so much because it brings the characters into an actual book they are reading. I know when I’m reading, I like to feel as if I’m part of the action. So, for me, it’s fun to read about characters who are right in the thick of things. Plus, there’s a smart-aleck cat. How can I possibly resist?
This time the gang heads to Arizona where they meet up with members from another book club, the Mountaintop Book Club. This particular club is made up of some very strange people. When the host of the Mountaintop Book Club ends up dead, they begin their investigation. Everyone knows, they can’t go home until the mystery is solved.
Elizabeth Pantley has a knack for bringing to life some of the most quirkiest characters and making them seem real. She transports me to a different location every time. The series is enchanting and a pure delight to read. I was not disappointed. It had everything from many potential suspects to whacky characters and there's even a genie involved. For a novella, this comes with a big storyline and much enjoyment.
I do suggest starting this series with the first book. Although each mystery is contained and solved in each book, it’s so much more fun to see how the book club came about and their progression with time.
This one is a freebie I received from Prolific Works. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 11, 2023
This might be a novella but the author still manages to pack a lot in, you could even say it has double the trouble. I love this series, the whole idea of getting sucked into a book is so much fun especially as it means each book is so different from the last and the world is wide open for situations and mysteries to solve. The characters are just as fun, if a little bit whacky, where else are you going to find a talking cat and ghost helping to solve a mystery involving genies. While reading this book I couldn't help but imagine the genie from Aladdin. The mystery was solved in a very unusual way but it works for this series and I wasn't anywhere close to guessing who the killer was. Can't wait for the next full book club adventure.
It is time to pick the next book club adventure and the members head to Arizona, where it's not just the cactus that are prickly. They join another book club meeting but before they can do more than look around the mansion the host is murdered. It's now up to the members to solve the murders but not everything is as it seems and with the other members all having a reason to hate the dead man it's going to take more than wishes to solve this murder and get home.
I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntary left this review.
It is time to pick the next book club adventure and the members head to Arizona, where it's not just the cactus that are prickly. They join another book club meeting but before they can do more than look around the mansion the host is murdered. It's now up to the members to solve the murders but not everything is as it seems and with the other members all having a reason to hate the dead man it's going to take more than wishes to solve this murder and get home.
I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntary left this review.
June 8, 2023
Genies and Gibberish is a short story that falls under the Magical Book Club Mysteries series.
In this series there is a group of normally eight members who are immersed (meaning they literally become part of the story) that is mutually agreed upon by all the members out of selection of books.
This is a short story that will be one of several short stories from different authors, it is the 5th in the series overall.
Paige and the rest of the book club members are headed back to the Arizona desert to solve a mystery in which the leader of a local book club is murdered.
This one has the unusual twist that Moonbeam discovers a magical Genies lamp.
As Moonbeam doesn’t really want to use her wishes, the two Genies (yes, two) are in quite a conundrum, not to mention a tiff.
One is a nice being, while the other enjoys the power he has in being a genie.
Her wishes are not really all that surprising given that it is Moonbeam making the wishes.
Pro’s:
A good story (as usual) with developed characters and a few twists as well as a talking cat.
Con’s:
Due to the length of the story,
A few of the rules for this particular series are not strictly adhered to.
In this series there is a group of normally eight members who are immersed (meaning they literally become part of the story) that is mutually agreed upon by all the members out of selection of books.
This is a short story that will be one of several short stories from different authors, it is the 5th in the series overall.
Paige and the rest of the book club members are headed back to the Arizona desert to solve a mystery in which the leader of a local book club is murdered.
This one has the unusual twist that Moonbeam discovers a magical Genies lamp.
As Moonbeam doesn’t really want to use her wishes, the two Genies (yes, two) are in quite a conundrum, not to mention a tiff.
One is a nice being, while the other enjoys the power he has in being a genie.
Her wishes are not really all that surprising given that it is Moonbeam making the wishes.
Pro’s:
A good story (as usual) with developed characters and a few twists as well as a talking cat.
Con’s:
Due to the length of the story,
A few of the rules for this particular series are not strictly adhered to.
May 25, 2024
Another magical fun cozy mystery in this series about a magical Mystery Book Club. The members are a very eclectic group; teenager to people of a "certain age", a talking cat named Frank and a ghost named Mollie. This months selection takes the club to a mansion in the mountains of Arizona. The group is excited to find out the book is about...a mystery book club. The group in the book will be having a dinner theatre type meeting. The members will be dressing in costume and acting out the story, ultimately solving the mystery. The real mystery book club members are invited to participate. They have a tour of the mansion by the owner, Martin. They meet his chef, his ex wife and other members of his book club. As the "meeting" is starting, a scream is heard from upstairs. Martin has fallen to his death from his master bathroom door - that when opened led to the great outdoors. The "real" book club members realize this could not have been an accident or there wouldn't be a murder mystery for them to solve.
This wacky group once again attempts to solve this mystery and be returned to their own "time". If you like magical cozy mysteries with many zany characters, I recommend this book and series.
I received an Advanced Reader copy and voluntarily provided this review.
This wacky group once again attempts to solve this mystery and be returned to their own "time". If you like magical cozy mysteries with many zany characters, I recommend this book and series.
I received an Advanced Reader copy and voluntarily provided this review.
June 7, 2023
I love this series! Now, how many times have we said we loved a book because the author drew us right into the story? That is the premise of this series! When the book club members read the first page of the cozy mystery book they have selected, they are transported into the book and become part of the story. They must solve the mystery before they can return home.
In this novella, the book club members meet up with another book club, the Mountaintop Book Club to solve the mystery of “The Mountaintop Book Club Murder.”
Feisty Zell, an octogenarian, and Frank, the talking cat loaded with attitude, provide their usual banter and hilarity. Pantley let her imagination flow with the genie characters and Juliette. I won’t tell you about Juliette; you’ll have to read the book for yourself to learn about her. Loaded with zany characters, this is a quick read and is sure to make you laugh.
Now I am ready for their next book club adventure. I highly recommend this book (and series) to paranormal cozy fans. I received an advance copy of this book, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
In this novella, the book club members meet up with another book club, the Mountaintop Book Club to solve the mystery of “The Mountaintop Book Club Murder.”
Feisty Zell, an octogenarian, and Frank, the talking cat loaded with attitude, provide their usual banter and hilarity. Pantley let her imagination flow with the genie characters and Juliette. I won’t tell you about Juliette; you’ll have to read the book for yourself to learn about her. Loaded with zany characters, this is a quick read and is sure to make you laugh.
Now I am ready for their next book club adventure. I highly recommend this book (and series) to paranormal cozy fans. I received an advance copy of this book, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 21, 2023
Genies and Gibberish by Elizabeth Pantley finds the Magical Mystery Book Club once again in a desert location. But they're not in the Wild West this time. This book takes place between books 4 & 5, and I would recommend that you read the series in order. Though each book wraps up a mystery, you'll miss out on the group dynamics. The characters clearly grow throughout the series, and since this is a novella, it would help if you already knew these characters. Their personalities vary from quirky to motherly and everything in between. Furthermore, the book adventures they take are not to be missed.
When the club lands in the desert, they learn that they're new members of a....wait for it....book club! It's held in a luxurious mansion owned by an annoying man. The members of the NEW book club that the REGULAR book club joins also have some odd characters. I won't give away this spoiler, but one of these characters reminds me of a character in Meet the Robinsons. (Side note..this a movie that I adore and if you haven't ever seen it, you need to!)
Of course, there's a murder to solve! And our Magical Mystery Book Club members stumble upon a very important clue which reveals the secrets behind the novella's title. Since it is a novella, things are wrapped up more quickly than the former books. Still, a lot of fun dialog and lots of eating are packed into this magical cozy mystery novella.
I definitely recommend it as well as the author's other fiction books.
When the club lands in the desert, they learn that they're new members of a....wait for it....book club! It's held in a luxurious mansion owned by an annoying man. The members of the NEW book club that the REGULAR book club joins also have some odd characters. I won't give away this spoiler, but one of these characters reminds me of a character in Meet the Robinsons. (Side note..this a movie that I adore and if you haven't ever seen it, you need to!)
Of course, there's a murder to solve! And our Magical Mystery Book Club members stumble upon a very important clue which reveals the secrets behind the novella's title. Since it is a novella, things are wrapped up more quickly than the former books. Still, a lot of fun dialog and lots of eating are packed into this magical cozy mystery novella.
I definitely recommend it as well as the author's other fiction books.
June 1, 2024
What is more perfect than an afternoon with friends, good food and discussing a good book? A book club that travels into the mystery that you have to solve before you can go home. And now you have the Magical Book Club. I find all of the characters to be fun and each brings something special to the group. In Genies and Gibberish Moonbeam is the one to shine with her unusual wisdom and strength. Two genies add some interesting problems with this mystery set in Arizona. Unexplained riches, a very unpleasant man and some unique other book club members, give our Magical Book club all they can handle. Using everyone's talents they come through. The snark of Zell and Frank always provide laughs. And don't overlook Sebastian's way of getting everyone to talk to them. Atticus, Paige and Glo keep everyone on task and grounded. Forrest and Mollie are two of the best when it comes to spying. Put all together and this makes for a team that can solve any mystery, support each other and be an unlikely family. There is so much to enjoy in each of the books. I am ready for the next one.
June 12, 2023
This is one wild book club. The group meets and chooses a book from the magical library. They are then whisked into the book where they must solve the murder in order to return home. In this book, the group is transported to a mansion high atop a mountain in Arizona. The homeowner is killed by being pushed through a door to nowhere and the group finds a mysterious, antique oil lamp with a shocking surprise. Can the group put the clues together and find the killer or killers?
I've really enjoyed this series and this book is no exception. It was a quick, fun read with some wonderful characters. I was drawn in and kept hooked from beginning to end. The mystery will keep you guessing throughout. Elizabeth is a fantastic storyteller and I'm eagerly waiting for the next book. This book could be read as a stand-alone since the mystery is self-contained, but I suggest reading the series in order for the most enjoyment and benefit. I highly recommend both book and series.
I've really enjoyed this series and this book is no exception. It was a quick, fun read with some wonderful characters. I was drawn in and kept hooked from beginning to end. The mystery will keep you guessing throughout. Elizabeth is a fantastic storyteller and I'm eagerly waiting for the next book. This book could be read as a stand-alone since the mystery is self-contained, but I suggest reading the series in order for the most enjoyment and benefit. I highly recommend both book and series.
September 28, 2025
Genies and Gibberish is the fifth mystery in the Magical Mystery Book Club series. This time the book club travels into a mystery abound with genies and magical wishes. When the last master of a genie winds up dead the book club must get to the bottom of the murder. Will they be able to piece together the clues before it’s too late?
I love this series and enjoy each new mystery that comes. They are all so different from each other, but have the same likable core characters. This is a great cozy mystery series if you are looking to mix it up each time with different settings and magical creatures, but still want the same welcoming cast of book club characters. This mystery pulled me in from the beginning and I didn’t see the twists and turns coming that led to the end. I love this series and this mystery was another good one. I can’t wait to see what the book club has in store for us next.
I love this series and enjoy each new mystery that comes. They are all so different from each other, but have the same likable core characters. This is a great cozy mystery series if you are looking to mix it up each time with different settings and magical creatures, but still want the same welcoming cast of book club characters. This mystery pulled me in from the beginning and I didn’t see the twists and turns coming that led to the end. I love this series and this mystery was another good one. I can’t wait to see what the book club has in store for us next.
September 25, 2023
This is another exceptional book in the Magical Mystery Book Club series. The premise of this amazing series is Aunt Glo and her niece Paige run a magical library, with a book club that consists of 8 members. Whenever they choose a book, they are transported into the story. But they can't get out of the book, always a mystery, until they solve the mystery. This is a fun series especially since each book in the series (this is the book that goes between books 4 and 5) takes you to a different mystery and location. Once you begin this book, or any book in this series, you are grabbed and you are not let go until the surprises at the endings. I can't wait to see what will happen next or where the next book will take the group. I highly recommend this very entertaining series. I received and ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
June 2, 2024
This is the fifth book in this series; I believe I’ve read all of the previous books now, but this book could be enjoyed standing alone, due to a good introduction to the series at the start of the novella. I love the various characters of the traveling book club—the members are well fleshed out and interact with fun humor. They magically travel into a book together in each telling and this time it’s to a gorgeous mansion in Arizona. They find a genie’s lamp and you know they’re going to have an exciting mystery solve. The writing is wonderful and the story is intriguing and absorbing. It’s a quick read and I can highly recommend this original book and the whole series. I received an ARC, for which I’m grateful, but these opinions are my own.
July 2, 2024
I love these little mysteries! They're fun, quick reads and I enjoy spending time with "my" mystery book club. This book needs another round of edits, as there were errors throughout, distracting from this latest trip through the pages.
What would you wish for if you found a magic lamp and the genie offered you three wishes? What would you wish for if your lamp had TWO genies, and you got one and a half wishes from each genie? As much as it depends on who's making the wishes, who your genie is matters as well in this murder mystery. Everyone you meet (except the police) is a potential suspect, so how will you solve the story and return to your own world in this magical adventure?
Fun series!
What would you wish for if you found a magic lamp and the genie offered you three wishes? What would you wish for if your lamp had TWO genies, and you got one and a half wishes from each genie? As much as it depends on who's making the wishes, who your genie is matters as well in this murder mystery. Everyone you meet (except the police) is a potential suspect, so how will you solve the story and return to your own world in this magical adventure?
Fun series!
October 6, 2025
I love this series so much! Cozy mysteries with a new location every book? Yes please! Paranormal aspects? Yes!
In this adventure the book club are heading into a book where there is a genie causing trouble. A genie! I don't think I've ever read a cozy mystery with a genie before and I was totally there for it!
The gang involve themselves in a murder of a wealthy landowner, whose death is very mysterious. All the suspects border on quirky and crazy and it will take the not-so-much help of a genie to figure this one out.
It was so fun, which is what I need right now. I love, loved the inclusion of the genies and this might be my second favourite in the series so far [I still love the vampires on a cruise ship the most!].
In this adventure the book club are heading into a book where there is a genie causing trouble. A genie! I don't think I've ever read a cozy mystery with a genie before and I was totally there for it!
The gang involve themselves in a murder of a wealthy landowner, whose death is very mysterious. All the suspects border on quirky and crazy and it will take the not-so-much help of a genie to figure this one out.
It was so fun, which is what I need right now. I love, loved the inclusion of the genies and this might be my second favourite in the series so far [I still love the vampires on a cruise ship the most!].
June 3, 2024
Genies and Gibberish is book #5 in the Magical Mystery Book Club series by Elizabeth Pantley.
This has to be the most interesting book club ever! The book club members are a wonderful mix of people and cat and ghost. Their various talents allow them to solve the mystery which allows them to return home. This case was interesting because no one liked the victim and there was a large pool of suspects. Throw in tricky genies and it becomes even more of a challenge. This murder was solved in a very unique manner. I look forward to the next book club meeting.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This has to be the most interesting book club ever! The book club members are a wonderful mix of people and cat and ghost. Their various talents allow them to solve the mystery which allows them to return home. This case was interesting because no one liked the victim and there was a large pool of suspects. Throw in tricky genies and it becomes even more of a challenge. This murder was solved in a very unique manner. I look forward to the next book club meeting.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
April 14, 2024
This was a really fun one! Our book club goes into a book with....a book club! They end up at the estate of an eccentric couple who are in the midst of a divorce, and the book club in the story meets at their house. The characters are quirky and fun, and they discover that this murder mystery has not one, but two genies!
Mollie is able to really help in this one, but despite that, our members are still stumped by who was responsible for the murder. They figure it out though, as always, and they're ready for another adventure!
Mollie is able to really help in this one, but despite that, our members are still stumped by who was responsible for the murder. They figure it out though, as always, and they're ready for another adventure!
April 30, 2024
As usual this author gives us another delightful, whimsical, adventure with the Snapdragon book club. This adventure takes us to Prickly Pear, AZ and to be more specific, the mansion on top of a steep driveway. The mansions owner is found dead. Who is the culprit or culprits? This one is a bit difficult to solve because of the twist, turns, red herrings and somewhat paranormal activity involved. Read the book and see if you can figure it out. As Forrest would say, this book is "sic" and "extra".
I received an ARC copy and volunteered to leave my honest review.
I received an ARC copy and volunteered to leave my honest review.
May 11, 2024
The best book club ever consists of seven people, a cat (once a person), and a ghost. In the Snapdragon Inn there is a special library where a cozy mystery is picked and while reading the first page, something magical happens and suddenly, the book club is literally transported inside the story and will not be back home until the mystery is solved and The End is revealed. Let’s just say that no matter the story, I will gladly follow this book club anywhere! Thanks to the Mystery Review Club for the opportunity to read and review this book.
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