Crooks & Nannies

The Charmed Inn Mysteries #2

by Misty Simon

"Cozy fans will be charmed.” —Publishers Weekly

A surprise visit from Roxy’s sister stirs up all kinds of chaos when a jilted lover is found dead at the Charmed Inn…

The middle of summer is the busiest time of year for Roxy Gleason. So when the inn springs a a few leaks, more than her usual handyman can handle, Roxy hires a father and son team to make quick and hopefully inconspicuous work of getting things back on track. It’s all going well until one of them is found dead in the basement among the wine racks.

Enter Roxy’s wanderlust sister that she hasn’t seen in months. She shows up unexpectedly as a nanny to a family vacationing at the inn. Roxy is thrilled to see her but when she’s tagged as the main suspect for the murder the hunt is on for the real culprit.

Roxy will have one chance to get it right while she tests out the limits of her gift. It’s do or die but she’s not sure which is going to come out on top…

Fans of Lucy Score, Melissa F. Miller, Dianne Harman, Lynn Cahoon, Deany Ray, Kathi Daley, and Merryn Allingham will enjoy Misty Simon.

Genres: Cozy Mystery

231 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 19, 2025

Reviews

[Marian West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this book was so much fun! Roxy learns more about her magic; she meets an actual ghost who has somehow taken a shine to her; her sister is in town for work; and oh, there's a murder. All in the day of an innkeeper. This was the perfect follow up to book 1.

[Short, Sweet and Cozy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crooks & Nannies is the 2nd fun book in Misty Simon's The Charmed Inn Mysteries. The characters are wonderful and the paranormal was entertaining. Roxy Gleason runs the family's The Charmed Inn and has magical bibliomancer abilities. Her Aunt Hellen, Uncle Vince, and her grandfather Poobah all have different magical abilities and help her with her training and around the Inn. Roxy's sister Mena is visiting and is working as a nanny. She also has magical abilities. It's nice to see the sisters' close bond and camaraderie. Another favorite character is Roxy's boyfriend Dean who is supportive and caring. His brother Caper and his two children add to the story. Roxy is having some work done to the Inn by Rand and his son Tyler. When a dead body is found in the basement, Mena is implicated. Roxy, Dean and the family need to investigate. The ghost Earl, secret rooms, magical phones and the escapades of Roxy's and Dean's families provide a lot of humor. There are some earnest discussions which add depth. The cozy mystery was good and although I suspected the culprit I wasn't sure. This is a very enjoyable book and I can't wait for more! There is a note at the beginning that this book is for 18+ and is due to a couple words of profanity. #Crooks&Nannies #TheCharmedInnMysteries #RowanProsePublishing

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Misty Simon never fails to entertain with her witty cozy mysteries. They not only have the mystery, but quirky characters that make you laugh. Yes, there are dark moments – like the murders – but there are also lots of lighter times that let you know these characters could be real people. In this one, Roxy is gearing up for the Fourth of July with a full inn that includes her wayward sister (surprise) and a 200 year-old ghost (Earl) who uses a hidden pay phone to contact her. When an electrician who is looking into issues the inn is having is killed in the wine cellar, Roxy is determined to find out who the killer is before her sister gets blamed for it. She is still learning bibliomancy from her aunt and uncle, trying to run the inn, solve the murder, and keep a precocious 12-year-old from finding out all her secrets. Yes, I suspected who the perp was early on, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book. I especially loved Earl and his ploys. And the “food fight” at the family dinner, enhanced by a spell from Roxy’s aunt, was a fun moment. Also, even though the mystery was solved, there were enough strings left dangling that you knew there will be more books to follow. I can’t wait to read more about Roxy, her magic powers with books, and the Charmed Inn.

Recommended.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roxanne Gleason is trying to get The Charmed Inn ready for the busy Fourth of July weekend when a worker is electrocuted while repairing the wiring. At first, it is chalked up to an accident, but after the autopsy, foul play is suspected. Since Roxy’s sister, Mena, found the body, she is the number one suspect. Roxy uses her magic to help clear her little sister and find the real culprit.

Simon has created an appealing storyline with quirky characters, humor and romance. The main plot focuses on finding the killer, but there are several subplots, such as Roxy learning to use her magic and Mena becoming a nanny for a well-to-do couple. The subplots are entertaining, but sometimes they overshadow the central story. There are a couple of small threads that are not tied up at the end, but since this is a series, they may be addressed in future books. Overall, I think lovers of cozy mysteries will enjoy all of the elements of this story.

*I received this book as a gift. All opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crookies & Nannies is the second book in the Charmed Inn series by Misty Simon.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series, and this book was equally as wonderful.

The characters are well written, well developed and fleshed out.

Roxy's sister is in town, which was a surprise to Roxy, as is a murder with her sister being the prime suspect.

Roxy has her hands full with her dad working as handyman at the Inn.

This was such a great cozy mystery that I really enjoyed.

Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Kathy Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book

I enjoyed reading the book. Misty has a great way of telling a story. I love the ghost that arrived to save the day.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!