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Treasured Journey Mystery Series #2

Mystique and Murder in Morocco

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Renowned antique expert Georgina Carey is invited to the windswept coastal city of Essaouira by an expat family seeking her expertise in assessing their collection of Moroccan antiques.

She’s enchanted by the vibrant souks, the scent of spices, and the timeless allure of the desert, but beneath the beauty lies a darker tale. Local folklore whispers of fate, curses, and unseen forces shaping destinies.

As Georgina unravels a mystery as intricate as the treasures she’s been sent to assess, can she uncover the truth before it’s too late?

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 19, 2025

74 people are currently reading
42 people want to read

About the author

Victoria Tait

53 books331 followers
Hi, would you like to download Hour is Come, the FREE prequel to my Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series?

If so visit https://bookfunnel.victoriatait.com/s... or visit my website https://www.victoriatait.com

I was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, and never expected to travel the world. I've drawn on my life’s experiences of following my military husband, and a love of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder She Wrote, to write British-based cozy mysteries.

My determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and my settings are vivid and evocative. As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world of intrigue, surprises, and humour, as well as a delectable helping of mystery, because tea and intrigue are a perfect blend.


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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Lizz Taylor.
1,486 reviews16 followers
September 11, 2025
Georgina accepts a commission in an exotic locale to appraise the value of items in a historic home. Tales of old are shared as the people of the house believe in the old ways and stories of treasure. When Georgina literally trips over a body, she realizes there may be more to the tales than she first realized. The tie-in to the book The Alchemist adds a lovely touch to the story. I love this spin-off of the author's other series and look forward to the next book set in Malta. This story can be read as a standalone.
Profile Image for Jane litherland.
4,240 reviews75 followers
October 1, 2025
Excellently penned by Victoria Tait . I think all her stories are great ,it’s no surprise to discover that I love her writing style ,always emits a smile and a gasp ,what more can you ask for . Books that you adore . Immersive too ,the smells ,the flavours ,not so much the actual murder of course but that’s par for the course when following clues but the mystique ,the mystery unique to Ms Tait I would not hesitate to read over and over this fantastic book. The cover is a delight ,it really is a taste of this North African country I’ve visited often . The souks are an experience in themselves the way the goods are piled high on the shelves . Georgina Careyis invited to Essaouira ,a coastal town ,it makes her smile though not frown . Appraisals are all well and good but when a dead body she does find and accused of murder ,not only the culprit she must find but an answer for the family who’s appraisal she’s undertaken so their hopes and dreams aren’t forsaken . Brilliant work,I love the storyline ,the quirk is divine . Immersive compelling storytelling as per .
Profile Image for Amanda McElroy.
4 reviews
September 14, 2025
This novel takes place in the enchanting country of Morocco at a (possibly) enchanted riad full of mysterious guests and an even more mysterious art collection.

The writer’s detail was educational, yet not over detailed, painting vivid pictures as rich as the colors of Morocco.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,624 reviews17 followers
September 22, 2025
A city steeped in history

This is an unusual tale. It’s part mythology, part mystery and part stubbornness. Georgina who’s a just tge facts type person is caught up in a mystery during her latest assignment. In a small town where history is alive and myths and speak she’s struggling to balance facts from fiction and balance her no nonsense nature with the more laid back and relaxed ways of these people. I enjoyed the culture and the stories carried on the wind. Although I do understand George’s frustration when she’s trying to do her job but keeps getting sidetracked by the family and the inhabitants of the riad who whisper tales of destiny and curses. The investigation is similar in some ways to what you’d expect and in many ways very very different. Culture shock is real. There’s tons of surprises, twists that are shocking and an unexpected conclusion. I think you’ll enjoy the culture, the inspector, Georgina and the family as they all try to survive these events.
1,697 reviews27 followers
September 17, 2025
Georgina Carey was travelling to Morocco as an antique expert to catalogue the Hatherleigh family collection. Murder in the villa adds chaos . There is a lot going on than it seemed A captivating read with a nail-biting finish to it. I received this ARC copy and recommend this book to other readers .
Profile Image for Betty  Bennett.
433 reviews4 followers
September 12, 2025
An antiques expert is offered a chance to recover from the loss of her husband by accepting a trip to Morocco to help a family sort out the antiques purchased by their parents. She finds the family struggling to turn their decaying mansion into a hotel. When a stranger is found dead she is accused of the murder. To prove her innocence she must deal with local superstitions and find a missing treasure that will restore the family.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Kathy.
830 reviews30 followers
September 20, 2025
Georgina Carey continues her journey of self discovery and healing, taking a job assessing Moroccan antiques for the Hatherleigh family. She’s not quite prepared for the traditions of the culture, with the emphasis on predetermined destiny or Maktub (it is written) and the belief in the household Djinn, guardian spirits. Rumored to be among the treasures at Riad Al-Kanz is a sacred artifact, The Heart of the Desert, although no one is quite sure what it is. Alongside a prophecy of Tiziri, Daughter of the Sand, restoring the treasure to the Amazigh people, there are other seekers as well. The death of a guest at the riad with ties to the family sets in motion a renewed search for the artifact. The belief that Georgina is the key to restoring balance and breaking a curse over the family leads her to reconsider her preconceived notions and trust in her instincts.

“The challenge isn’t the deaths. It’s seeing past the traditions, the culture, and frankly, the contradictions, to understand what’s really happening.”
Mystique and Murder in Morocco is a richly layered story, that immerses the reader into the legends and traditions of the culture. Like Georgina, those outside of the culture might initially dismiss the legends and beliefs as mere superstition. But as the story unfolds, there is more than meets the eye and we are challenged with seeing beyond as well. With references to Paulo Coelho’s novel, The Apprentice, Georgina progresses along her journey of rediscovering herself. As someone who survived an emotionally abusive marriage as well, Georgina’s experience rings true. I liked how she reached out to Marianne, and encouraged her to face the abuse in her marriage. I found the ending chapter to be very uplifting and am looking forward to more of Georgina’s journey.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Julie  Ditton.
2,064 reviews104 followers
September 21, 2025
Brew up some mint tea and cozy up with this Moroccan mystery. Prolific author Victoria Tait has just published another fun cozy mystery. Mystique and Murder in Morocco is a murder mystery, but the novel is more about Morocco and mystique. Antique expert Georgina Carey to evaluate an antique collection, but murder gets in the way. As she tells the police inspector, “The challenge isn’t the deaths. It’s seeing past the traditions, the culture, and frankly, the contradictions, to understand what’s really happening.” The house has three resident dijin who haunt and protect the home. It is also supposedly cursed. One of the many items the that the late grandfather has collected may have been the "lost heart" which was stolen from local tribes. Everyone is hoping that Georgina can locate it during the appraisal. The problem is, no one knows what the object was and whether or not it ever really existed. Tait usually spins a tale full of clues and suspects which will keep the reader guessing. The mystery is rather simple this time around, but the novel is just as engrossing. The true magic in this book is that Tait's descriptions of the scenery and culture paints a picture that transport you to Morocco.

This is the second book in Tait's new Treasured Journey Mystery series, which is a spinoff of the lengthy Dorothy Sayers series. However, the books are easily read as Stand-Alone. I received an advanced reader's copy of this novel, however I can honestly recommend this novel to fans of destination mysteries. I discovered the author only recently and she is now a must read author.
Profile Image for Christy.
1,313 reviews68 followers
September 18, 2025
Victoria Tait delivers another engaging cozy mystery with Mystique and Murder in Morocco, the latest book in her Treasured Journey Mystery series starring antiques expert Georgina Carey. Set in the beautiful coastal city of Essaouira, Georgina’s latest job, assessing an expat’s family’s collection, keeps getting derailed by not only a murder but also superstitions of fate and curses. She soon finds herself entangled in this family’s lives as they search for what may be a priceless treasure.

As is the case with all of Tait’s cozy mystery books, the characters and setting are brought to life by Tait’s colorful and detailed descriptions. I love that even though Georgina is always guarded, the characters she comes across draw her out and into their family’s inner circle. In this case, there’s a character who reminds Georgina very much of her own Aunt Beanie back home. She also bonds with a character who’s in a marriage very much like Georgina used to be…one with a controlling, psychologically abusive husband.

The author adds a lot about the area’s culture and traditions which made the book even more enjoyable. I highly recommend this book to all cozy mystery lovers!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Becca.
3,245 reviews46 followers
September 27, 2025
If anyone has paid any attention to what Ive said, then you'd know I started with the ladies with Keya. Keya was my introduction to everyone and I happily dove right in. I think I'm behind a book or two, so I need to rectify that asap. I love this series, these series, because they are so good. It's a great mystery in and of itself, but the characters are just perfect. They all have flaws and sometimes it's hard to admit but they are trying to grow in their lives. I also really love the auction aspect and looking into histories of things. I love history so much, and like with this book, there were several different types of cultures but almost all together. I love learning of the folktales, the lore, the history and culture. And yes this is a cozy mystery, but it's great for a history lesson too. It's just been an all around set of books and I'm loving every one of them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4,222 reviews21 followers
September 19, 2025
Mystique and Murder in Morocco (A Treasured Journey Mystery Book 2) by Victoria Tait is a tale of intrigue for Georgina Carey. Drawing on her expertise on antiques she is hired to catalogue a family’s antiques in exotic Morocco. While there she finds a person killed. Her focuses changes to finding the murderer before she is charged with the crime. Local superstitions and a missing treasure all add to the suspense of this story. The story flows in an easy way with an engaging main character. In addition, it reads well on its own if you are new to the series. Be aware that after reading this case you will want to go back to read the first book too. Like me you will find that you love this new series by Victoria Tait.
347 reviews6 followers
September 20, 2025
Mystical journey murder.
Georgina Carey has been commissioned to catalog the contents of the Hatherleigh's Riad in Essaouira Morocco. Surrounded by unusual characters and with much talk of djinn, mystical spirits, who also supposedly reside in the hotel makes for a different speed of job than Georgina had expected. With locked doors and mysterious rituals Georgina is a little uncertain of how successful she will be, but when she trips over the body of another guest when entering the locked study, she becomes concerned for her safety and the outcome of her mission. With many interesting and unusual characters, and a setting in a place steeped in mysticism, this is a fine follow-up in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
213 reviews
September 23, 2025
This was a very enjoyable read! The Moroccan setting really stood out for me - so different from the author’s other books, with all the culture, mysterious superstitions, and local beliefs woven into the story.

There are quite a lot of characters, each with their own quirks. The mystery itself was engaging, with plenty of intrigue. I particularly enjoyed loved the way the story wrapped up - all the loose ends were tied together in a way that left me with a smile on my face.

I’ve always wanted to visit Morocco, and after reading this book, I'm even more inspired to go. Now I'm looking forward to reading about Georgina in Malta!

I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
415 reviews6 followers
September 20, 2025
A fascinating story, well written and exciting, as Georgina has another antique job in a special location!-From the first chapter, you are drawn into a special atmosphere with sun, different architecture, and the local belief in djinns and spirits. Georgina is there to get some items from an English collector ready for sale - but strange predictions and odd undercurrents make this a less than straightforward job, especially when a mysterious visitor is murdered. Even the English house owners accept the different way of looking at things, which gives a special twist to the plot and ending. I received an advance copy and freely leave this honest review.
2,739 reviews12 followers
September 14, 2025
Mysterious Morocco!

Georgina Carey, an antiques expert, is in Essaouira, a seaside town in Morocco, to catalog a family collection. Mystery, intrigue, prophecies, legends, djinns, and tradition are overwhelming, especially when they surround murder in a locked room. Can she separate facts from folklore in time to prevent another tragedy?

This is another well-written mystery. Victoria Tate has a writing style that draws me into the story and keeps me wrapped in the story until the end. I received a free copy, but my review is honest and voluntary.
Profile Image for Fleur.
3,759 reviews31 followers
September 22, 2025
Georgina lucks out again and is off to Moroccan to assess some Moroccan antiques instead of the dreary English weather which is a win. Unfortunately as per her last job this one turns a bit tricky not only is the culture quiet different a body turns up so now we are dealing with a mysterious antique, renovations, local beliefs and superstition. Seeing Georgia find herself more as well as channel her inner Dotty and Keya was wonderful to see and can not wait for her next adventure!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
134 reviews1 follower
September 21, 2025
As an antique expert Georgina Carey is cataloging the Hatherleigh family collection in Morocco but when a stranger is found murdered and Georgina is a suspect, she is determined to prove her innocence. An enjoyable murder mystery with a good storyline that flows, and I look forward to reading Georgina’s next adventure.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,058 reviews10 followers
September 18, 2025
Murder in Morocco!

Another fantastic book by Victoria Tait.  Not only is Georgina's work and her investigation fascinating, the overview of history in the region and local culture adds another dimension to this book.  I can easily recommend this book to others.

I read this book as part of an advance reader team.  I am voluntarily writing this review.
2,866 reviews14 followers
October 6, 2025
I really enjoyed reading about Georgina's stay in Morocco. Ms. Tait's description of life there was impressive, I thought how she handled their beliefs were outstanding. The story and mystery were solid, and the characters were so well developed I felt like I knew them. Looking forward to the next book. Recommend reading.
679 reviews
September 16, 2025
A nice murder mystery with likeable characters, a good storyline and some background on the Amazingh. I enjoyed it and just love the series. Up to Malta fot the next book.
I received an advance review copy via Booksprout and I’m leaving a voluntary and honest review.
Profile Image for Nancy.
358 reviews2 followers
November 11, 2025
Mystique and Murder in Morocco

Georgina is healing mentally, deep down into her soul, from her life being married to her late husband who verbally abused her.
Georgina is learning to see the signs and go with her gut instinct.
Profile Image for Aineenmarie.
391 reviews3 followers
December 9, 2025
I thought that the plot of this book was very well written and I couldn't put the book down. The storyline was written in a way that the reader felt like they were a character in the story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Marseydoats.
2,278 reviews7 followers
September 19, 2025
Not nearly as good as the books that feature Dotty and Keya. I don't know if I'll read anymore of these.
451 reviews7 followers
October 8, 2025
I enjoyed the story. Loved that it was in a new location for me to learn about and the customs.
Profile Image for Jane litherland.
4,240 reviews75 followers
October 1, 2025
Excellently penned by Victoria Tait . I think all her stories are great ,it’s no surprise to discover that I love her writing style ,always emits a smile and a gasp ,what more can you ask for . Books that you adore . Immersive too ,the smells ,the flavours ,not so much the actual murder of course but that’s par for the course when following clues but the mystique ,the mystery unique to Ms Tait I would not hesitate to read over and over this fantastic book. The cover is a delight ,it really is a taste of this North African country I’ve visited often . The souks are an experience in themselves the way the goods are piled high on the shelves . Georgina Careyis invited to Essaouira ,a coastal town ,it makes her smile though not frown . Appraisals are all well and good but when a dead body she does find and accused of murder ,not only the culprit she must find but an answer for the family who’s appraisal she’s undertaken so their hopes and dreams aren’t forsaken . Brilliant work,I love the storyline ,the quirk is divine . Immersive compelling storytelling as per .
Profile Image for Jane litherland.
4,240 reviews75 followers
October 1, 2025
Excellently penned by Victoria Tait . I think all her stories are great ,it’s no surprise to discover that I love her writing style ,always emits a smile and a gasp ,what more can you ask for . Books that you adore . Immersive too ,the smells ,the flavours ,not so much the actual murder of course but that’s par for the course when following clues but the mystique ,the mystery unique to Ms Tait I would not hesitate to read over and over this fantastic book. The cover is a delight ,it really is a taste of this North African country I’ve visited often . The souks are an experience in themselves the way the goods are piled high on the shelves . Georgina Careyis invited to Essaouira ,a coastal town ,it makes her smile though not frown . Appraisals are all well and good but when a dead body she does find and accused of murder ,not only the culprit she must find but an answer for the family who’s appraisal she’s undertaken so their hopes and dreams aren’t forsaken . Brilliant work,I love the storyline ,the quirk is divine . Immersive compelling storytelling as per .
426 reviews8 followers
October 6, 2025
Georgina is in Morocco appraising the collection of antiques a family wants to sell. The family believes in the old ways and the caretaker in djin that reside in the home that is a hotel. With tales of the heart of the desert, a mysterious figure on the rooftops and a death of a visitor this was a magical story. The storyteller telling his tales of the past and Georgina finding her path made this a delightful read and I recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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