Hey guys, I’m Kat Crowe, and I wanna tell you about the time I spent in California which ended abruptly when someone was murdered in my store.
Maybe moving out west from Arkansas wasn’t the best move. But before everything went south, I had a lot of fun tending my magical plants and catching some waves in my spare time. I never imagined things could go so wrong. Or that I’d find myself caught up in a mystery where everyone was a suspect.
Now I don’t think of myself as an amateur sleuth, but there was no getting around the fact that I had skin in the game. So it was up to me to crack the case, or my life would be left in ruins. I’d love to tell y’all who did it… but you’ll have to read the book to find out!
If you enjoy paranormal cozy mysteries with a horticultural twist, this introductory story for Trouble Down Under should be just the ticket.
Paula Mason is an author based in regional Victoria, Australia, and creator of Gretchen's (Mis)Adventures. She enjoys fantastical stories and faraway places as her creative outlet from her busy day job and (even busier) family.
By day Paula is a social worker and has a deep grounding in social justice and Child Protection. She works within her local Aboriginal community and is keenly interested in reconciliation and restorative justice.
To connect on social media you can find Paula over at the following platforms;
This is such a cozy read, and I absolutely loved it!
If you’re looking to curl up on the couch with autumn leaves falling outside your window and a pumpkin spice–flavored drink warming your hands, this is the book you need.
This novella is cute, witchy, and so wonderfully unique. Despite its short length, it’s packed with charm, magic, and atmosphere—I genuinely couldn’t put it down.
The witchy elements are especially intriguing, giving just enough of a glimpse into the world to make you crave more. It truly felt like the perfect “first taste” of what’s to come, and I can’t wait to dive into the second book.
I’d recommend this to anyone who wants a whimsical, cozy read with witchy vibes and no spice—something that feels like comfort and magic blended together.
An absolute delight—I’ll definitely be keeping this on my “cozy autumn reread” shelf.
I had never read this author before, but another author I love recommend her. I was granted access to this prequel, and gosh darn it, I have another author to follow! LOL! This book was fun, well-written, and had a quirky mystery. Kat was a great protagonist, and I’m excited to learn more about her family; they seem like such a hoot. This is a shorter book, but it did feel a like a full-length one. If you like cozy paranormal mysteries, be sure to give this series a try! Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
Good storylines, great characters well fleshed out, well written the story springs to life on the page. Magic murder mayhem and a little humor and romance make this book well worth a read, highly recommended, Baz
Kat Crowe has moved from Arkansas to California to be with her boyfriend, Damon Carrington. She sets up her botanical shop and seems to be doing well. Her huge Venus Fly Trap, Pete, is fed steak, possibly in the hope he won’t eat a customer or two. They often seem oblivious to the giant plant they wave their hands around.
A call from All Hours Security late one evening brings Kat to her shop to see if Pete set off the alarm. Surprisingly, Damon still wasn’t home and didn’t answer his phone. When Kat got to the shop, it was surrounded by police cars because a body was found inside. She noticed her magical singing Fire Lily was missing from the shelf. But she couldn’t tell the police because the magical items in her store would get her in trouble with the Council. Detective Swan noticed her glance at the empty shelf and asked what was taken, but she said she forgot she had sold the item. His eyes revealed he knew that wasn’t true.
The next morning, she woke to pancakes. Damon was home but oddly, he was doing laundry! He never did that. He was more upset about the magical plants in the shop than about the dead body… at least until she mentioned the victim’s name – Bobby Maynard was the man who was currently suing the Carrington family’s business! This didn’t look good at all.
A customer, Randall, came by while Kat was cleaning up the shop. Apparently he knew the victim well since they both were involved with orchids. With the victim suing her boyfriend’s family, being an old friend of her best customer, and with the same last name as another of her customers, it was getting complicated. Can she discover the murderer of Bobby Maynard? Can she do so before the murderer gets to HER?
A Flytrap Fiasco by PA Mason is a prequel of sorts for the author's "Trouble Down Under" series of cozy, witchy mysteries. As such, this was billed as "Trouble Down Under #0.5". Weird. The story is told in first person pov by the main character, witch Kat Crowe.
Kat has moved from Arkansas to California to be with her boyfriend, warlock Damon, who is a member of the powerful Carrington family. There, Kat has opened a hydroponic store, which allows her to continue working with plants. Horticulture is her magical affinity. Kat's pride and joy is a large venus flytrap named Pete. It's not the most glamorous job in the world, but Kat enjoys it until the day a man is murdered in her shop. Several suspects are brought to Kat's attention, including some of her regular customers and even Damon, whose family had a beef with the victim. Determined to find out if her boyfriend was involved, Kat indulges in some sleuthing of her own. When her investigation leads her into danger, Kat must rely on some unexpected allies to help her out.
The story wasn't very meaty, but that can be expected from a prequel. The only character I got a handle on was Kat; other characters were somewhat two-dimensional. The plot could have used some smoothing out, but editing seemed okay. Rather mediocre. I'm vacillating between a score of two and three. Hmmmm...I'll be generous and give it a three.
This is a set-up series for a new series by P. A Mason.
Kat Crowe has moved to California to be with her boyfriend, Damon Carrington. The Crowes and the Carringtons are two old magic families both powerful in their own right but they do not like each other, so Kat felt like those famous star crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet and has moved from Arkansas.
Determined to make a name for herself in horticulture she sets up a botanical shop (please don't mention those kinds of hydroponics or drug dealers I think she might pop a vein!) with a massive venus fly trap called Pete that she feeds steaks you would be forgiven for thinking her shop would be safe, but nope, a late night call out from the security company finds Kat going to her shop thinking maybe Pete is hungry, only to find her shop surrounded by police cars to be told a body has been found in her shop and when she starts looking into the murder she finds he has links to customers old and new and more worryingly Damon and his family.
Can she find out who murdered Bobby Maynard, why he had her address in her pocket and why is her boyfriend suddenly doing late night laundry?
This is a short story setting us up to meet Kat so as such it is not breaking any literary boundaries. But it is a fun read and I want to read and learn more about Kat and her family, her grandmother sounds like a hoot!
What a fun little story! A Flytrap Fiasco is a prequel to the new Trouble Down Under series by P.A. Mason. Kat Crowe and her cat Gus have moved to California from Arkansas so that she can be with her boyfriend. Kat sets up a botanical shop, with magical plants mixes. But shush Kat doesn’t want the Council to know or she will be in big trouble. Everything seems to be going well, until the alarm goes off at her nice little shop and a dead body is found inside. It is not just any dead body (you know witches often seem to have dead bodies!) but this dead body is the man that is suing Kat’s boyfriend’s family. Oh well, poor Kat becomes the one suspected of the murder she must put her sleuth detective skills to work unless she wants to end up in jail. I thought this novel was so much fun! A Flytrap Fiasco is a fast-paced and funny cozy mystery, packed with quirky characters, pets, and murder. Buy the book and start this hilarious caper today! I gave this honest, voluntary review after being given a free copy of the book.
I've read many of these sort of books before and surprisingly found them fun. I think of them targeted generally more at a teenage girl, but there are time we all need an escape from what is happening in the real world.
This particular book fell short, unfortunately. I was prepared for the AI robotic voice and the mispronounced words as well as the lack of emotion. That is not why I rated the book low this time. Unlike the other books, this one felt rushed. There was no attempt to even try at character development, no build-up or clues in trying to solve the case, and then... it was over!
She took a guess at who she thought it might be, broke in, called the police, and he was taken away. Seriously?
Her magical plant saves her life and dies.
Her boyfriend is only barely mentioned yet is involved in a subplot, sort of, and she is so pissed that she moves out at the end of the book.
I felt like I was reading a draft from someone in high school who had an idea but never went back to finish the book.
Not recommended 👎 📚📚
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
A solid 3.5 stars -- I really appreciate the different and creative spin on the concept of the cozy mystery storefront backstory! It definitely made me reminisce on The Little Shop of Horrors, and I think the author could really take this series in a lot of directions by exploiting this side of the character's magic. I think the main issue I had with the book was that I needed more world-building. I felt like a lot of assumptions about the magical world had to be made in the moment, rather than having them introduced organically. Still, this was an enjoyable read and I would certainly follow this author to read future works.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Our heroine is enjoying her time in California, right up until she becomes a suspect in a murder investigation. Which (or witch) leaves it up to her to clear her own name.
This is a prequel to the series, so a fine place to start.
This is a cozy witch mystery story. The story is well written and easy to read with a some wonderful characters and a nice short mystery. I really liked our heroine with her green thumb and great sense of humor. As a prequel, we don't get a lot of time to develop the characters or setting, but we get enough of a taste to know what the series should be like. For myself, I am sold and looking forward to the next story..
Highly recommended
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
As an introductory book to the upcoming series, I thought this was very well done and am eagerly anticipating reading the first full length book. A lighthearted paranormal cozy with a witch (Kat) who just can't quite follow the rules. And it has a talking cat familiar who was just a delight!
Really though, for a short book the plot was quite involved and well executed and the suspects were numerous and all good candidates for the crime. I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but there were a lot of hijinks and dialogue that made for fun and humorous reading.
Picked up on Kindle (where it's currently free), an excellent start to the series. Would definitely check out anything similar by the author.
What a fun little story! Kat Crowe and her cat Gus have moved to California from Arkansas so that she can be with her boyfriend. Kat sets up a shop, with magical plants mixes. But Kat doesn’t want the witches council to know or she will be in big trouble. Everything seems to be going well, until a dead body is found inside. The dead body is the man that is suing Kat’s boyfriend’s family. Kat becomes the primary suspected of the murder she has decided to fine the killer and clear her name. Oh did I mention some of the magically plants are taken and she can’t tell anyone or she will be found out! Thus book was so much fun! A Flytrap Fiasco keeps you on your toes.
Our Girl Kat does what a lot of us do, follow their love to another place, state, out of their element. She opens a hydroponic shop in California, and has supplies and plants for hydroponic gardens. When somone is murdered in her shop after hours, she returns to her shop thinking that its a false alarm. From the security alarm system. Her troubles go from bad to worse, her boyfriend Damen is MIA, her cat never has liked her boyfriend or the move, ect. She has a special few magical plants, one which was stolen during the murder, cant report, her gianormas Venus flytrap named Pete will help her, but the cost is..... This a a must read and find out you will get hooked!
I loved the author's Gretchen series so had to read this prequel to a new one. Kat's new hydroponics store is the scene of the murder of someone who happens to be suing her boyfriend's family. It's also where she keeps some magical plants that shouldn't be in the human public's eye, so there's no knowing if it was a human or magical person whodunnit. By the end of the story we see that her new life has made a major change, with more to come. This was a short story to give some background on Kat and her magical family. Will be looking for more characters and world building in future volumes.
Cat, the green witch, is in California away from her family. She is getting a great start on her life with her hydroponics shop. I love the way she communicates with her plants. I would be a green witch, if I were able. But one night a murder occurs in her shop. Then the fun of detecting and suspecting begins.
Was it her boyfriend, the glamorer and cheater, the two guys who frequented her shop to assist in their weed growing, or one of many choices. Cat gets some encouragement from her mom, grandma, and great aunt, and some help from her ever so cool flytrap. A beautiful although short read.
A Flytrap Fiasco is a prequel to the new Trouble Down Under series by P.A. Mason.
Kat Crowe and her cat, Gus, has moved from Arkansas to California to be with her boyfriend. She runs a hydroponics shops that is visited by a variety of customer types and she also had some magical plants.
A man is murdered in the shop which sets things off in a downward spiral for Kat.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked Kat and Gus and can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
For Kat, running a hydroponics shop can definitely be challenging. Not only that, she now has to deal with the dead body found in her store. The story is fun and easy to read. It has magical plants, Pete, and Gus her ginger feline familiar.
There is enough twists and turns to keep you interested until the very end. The characters were well-crafted and the story was quite enjoyable.
Kudos on this new mystery.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
After a death at her store Kat has to try and work out the killer, although her boyfriend is in her thoughts as a possibility Kat does her best to get to the truth. Her fire lily was stolen the same night as the murder and she is gutted at its loss. She goes to an Orchid show where she learns things about one of her customers,that she didn’t realise before. Kat decides to take the bull by the horns and go try and scoop out if he’s the killer , exciting stuff that I’m sure, like me, you will love.
A delightfully magical introduction into a new series. P.A.Mason has written a madcap cozey adventure full of anticipation, magic, mayhem,mystery and murder. A woman can only do so much,ahhh but is this true you must read this comical cozey that enthralls and entertaines you from start to endearing end and all the in between bits. Acquire " A Flytrap Fiasco "so you yourself can enjoy it as much as I have. 🙂😏Kat
A Devoted Venus Flytrap and an Untrustworthy Boyfriend
She's a witch, but she grows hydroponic plants. Her favorite is a giant Venus Flytrap named Pete. When she receives a call from her store security service, she goes back to her store and finds the police there and a dead man. Who was he? Who killed him and why? A different type of story with humor and twists and turns.
I have not read this author before and as I got the chance to read this for free I thought I would give it a go. I actually really enjoyed it, parts of it made me laugh. Damon annoyed me so I am glad Kat walked away from him. I loved the whole concept of magical plants and altering them. Pete was amazing, I can just imagine him rescuing Kat. I would recommend, it was a quick read and I would happily read more from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Kat's story is a melding of what is normal and what is normal, so, it transitions easily and gracefully from one world to the other. Good characters throughout, including Pete and Gus, even Randall was likeable initially. Sorry to see Pete go, will definitely not miss Damon. This was an enjoyable, easy to read story, well worth the time spent reading it. Enjoy!
I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit different from the usual witch stories that I have read. I thought it a bit funny when Amelia used a pen to erase people's memories. She was supposed to be a witch also, so why didn't she just use a spell to get the job done, instead of something that the Men in Black used. Overall I liked the prognostic and the town that Kat moved to from America to Australia. Her familiar Gus had a funny high faulting attitude. I can't wait for the next book.
What a fun whodunit! Kat Crowe has moved to California from Arkansas with her boyfriend Damon. She opens a hydroponic shop where a murder occurs. I loved her sleuthing partner and the fun ending. This is the prequel to P.A. Mason's new cozy mystery series, Trouble Down Under. I can't wait to read about Kat's further adventures.
I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
I truly enjoy reading a new book from a new author and I am truly hooked by the way P.A. Mason writes as she knows how to pull you into the story and keep you wondering until the end of the story are the characters are funny.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Flytrap Fiasco is the prequel story for the Trouble Down Under series and is a great introduction to the series.
This witchy cozy mystery has interesting characters, magical plants, murder, mystery, and suspense. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series. I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
I was super excited to read this one and I was happy until I got past Chapter 3 (I think?).
I understand that this is a novella and therefore will not have a fleshed-out story but I was expecting a smoother flow. There were things in the book that could've used some build up before the information dump.
Like how suddenly Kat is highly suspicious of her boyfriend after one short encounter in the police station. Though it will probably play out the same in real life, as a reader who's only getting to know these characters, I don't have much context/information to use as basis.
Also, the fire lily being involved in the fiasco wasn't really explained. And afterwards, it didn't even have any significance as to why it was taken in the first place.
As a prequel, I don't think it did a good job. It's okay, and I probably just had high expectations going into the book. My favorites in this book is Gus and Pete. Gus is super hilarious, I wish I can have a same familiar as him. Despite of everything, I felt the presence of Pete throughout the story and I wish we could see more of him in the next books but since that's unlikely, I'll just have to deal with it.