Secrets Beneath the Shelves: PREQUEL Quillhaven Magical Cozy Mysteries

by Tessa Silver

A missing artifact. A town losing its magic. And a feisty librarian.

Two decades ago, Elara Blackwood’s parents died in a mysterious accident. Since then, Quillhaven’s magic has disappeared, along with her own.When historical manuscripts relating to the town’s history are stolen on her watch, she is determined to find the thief.

As she digs deeper into the mystery with Jasper, Quillhaven’s quirky journalist, she uncovers a startling secret.

The stolen books contain clues about her parents’ death and the powerful artifact they had with them when they died.

With the help of Leo and Luna, the library’s magical clue-sniffing Siamese cats, Elara and Jasper uncover cryptic clues, strange maps, and shadowy corridors below the library.

Suspicious strangers appear, but which one holds the key to the mystery? The tall man who calls himself The Collector? The nervous old woman at the town festival? Or the one who is sending her anonymous threatening notes?

Will Elara find the stolen books and artifact in time to access her magical powers again?

Or will the secrets beneath the shelves threaten Quillhaven’s magic forever?

This is the PREQUEL to the Quillhaven Magical Cozy Mystery Series. The next book in the series, Potions & Pastries, focuses on Elara's descendents in present day Quillhaven.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery, Cozy, Cats

63 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 6, 2025

Reviews

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elara Blackwoods is devastated when two historical manuscripts are missing from her library. She is sure they were stolen but has no idea why someone would do that. The manuscripts are necessary to save the town, which is threatening the magical powers of the town.

With the help of journalist, Jasper Reed, Elara conducts her own search for the missing items. She quickly discovers it has to do with her parents' death several years ago as well as the powerful artifact they had with them. Elara and Jasper follow the clues and are determined to get answers.

They aren’t alone in their search. They have the library’s Siamese cats, Leo and Luna ready to help. It’s a crazy adventure as they run into all kinds of off-beat characters.

This is a prequel and a nice introduction to the characters, the town and the story. It’s short and can be read in one sitting. I’m looking forward to reading the first book in the series.






This one is from my own e-book collection. I received it as a freebie. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Marseydoats · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this!

[Jeffrey Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cosy mystery delivers a well-plotted tale filled with charm, secrets, and gentle suspense.

The story follows Elara Blackwood, a devoted librarian uncovering hidden history, magical heirlooms, and her family’s role in protecting a powerful artifact.

Her partnership with Jasper, a witty journalist, adds emotional depth and natural dialogue.

Two clever cats, Luna and Leo, guide them through secret passageways and whispered threats.

The plot moves at a pace, mixing discovery, danger, and small-town warmth.

The magical elements blend well with the grounded setting of Quillhaven.

Silver excels at structure, dialogue, and building suspense without ever straying too far from the cosy tone.

The one weak point is the antagonist’s arc. Morgan’s motives surface late and feel underdeveloped.

Recommended for readers who enjoy magical realism, small-town mystery, and character-driven stories with a light supernatural touch.

Perfect for fans of gentle suspense wrapped in charm.

[Susan1566 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story (48 pages) introduces Elara Blackwood, the witch proprietor of the local bookstore. It also has Jasper, a journalist with an interest in Elara and the Siamese cat familiars, Luna and Leo.
Something is going wrong with the magic in Quillhaven and has been doing so since Elara’s parents were killed in an accident 20 years earlier. With the help of the cats, a secret room beneath the bookstore opens up giving hints on how to fix the problem.
This is a nice little mystery, easy reading and enjoyable. The only problem was I felt there was too much background missing. The book worked well so it could have just been my feeling that something was missing. I'm also not a fan of short stories so that probably had something to do with it.
But I will read more by this author.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got bored half way through and just quit

I chose this because it was the prequel to a series about some very special cats and the characters involved with those cats The cats are not the primary characters but they do play key roles leading the humans around and making suggestions through their unique cat characteristics I enjoyed this part of the story but the mystery got boring very quickly I just didn't care to find out what happened that badly so I stopped reading and probably won't read the books in the series but I might give the books a chance as a prequel that's only 60 some pages doesn't have the opportunity that a larger book would have to develop characters and become much More interesting

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elara and her friend Jasper made a good sleuthing team when manuscripts regarding the town history started disappearing from the library which Elara discovered had quiet a few secrets of its own. And her cats seemed to know all those secrets—they definitely were good at finding clues. It seemed like Elara and Jasper might become more than just sleuthing buddies, so maybe reading the next book might tell more about that. I get the feeling their story took place quite some time before the next book though.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elara Blackwood, Quillhaven librarian, has found that another of Quillhaven's historical manuscript is gone. Someone is stealing the town's history. Her friend Jasper learns of the thefts and is interested in solving the puzzle. Elara then shows Jasper the secret drawer she found in the desk that holds an old manuscript. Then the libraries cats, Luna and Leo, appear and lead them on on quest that will hopefully uncover the secrets the town has hidden for years.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elara is the librarian & she discovers that a 3rd historical manuscript has been stolen from the library. Her friend, Jasper, a local reporter joins her & they begin to search. They are helped in this by two Siamese cats, Luna & Leo, who lead them to a clue and then to a hidden trapdoor. What they find leads them to the hidden artefact that her parents had been guardians of before they had been killed in a questionable accident. In the end they find who the thief was.

[T.J. Bright · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, after reading at least two other Quillhaven mysteries, this one adds a delicious new layer gor the beginning of it all. Elara, with help from her friend Jasper, learn there's more that meets the eye to Elara's beloved library. Follow them through the shadows as they uncover hidden truths, settle old resentments and brings the past into the light of the present.
Also, I would love to have a MochaChocolatta. Not sure what it is exactly, but it sounds like something I would drink.

[Daphne Parris · Rating 5 out of 5]

secrets Beneath the Shelves

After reading Frosted Pines and Holiday Signs . I just could not Wait to read this book and I wasn’t let down. I Love Leo and Luna. The characters were so involved in solving this mystery that I couldn’t stop reading this page after page turning book. I can’t wait to read the next book. Thank you for sharing your feline’s with us. I Highly recommend this book.

[Charissa Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overview: Elara Blackwood has been Quillhaven's librarian since her parents died. However, three of the town's historical manuscripts have disappeared. Can Elara and Jasper figure out what happened? With Leo and Luna around, they just might. Let's find out how it goes.

Dislikes: Morgan has some serious problems.

Likes: Jasper kept Elara focused on solving her puzzle.

Conclusion: This was a fun book. If you like magical mysteries, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story. Personally, I wish there was a little more....something. it just felt abrupt. I do like Leo and Luna. They added a good twist to things. I think people will enjoy this. It wasn't bad at all. I just needed something more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hillary Gurrola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short story. It gripped me right away and went at a good pace. The protagonist, Elara, gets pulled into an adventure straight away and the reader is invested instantly. Family secrets, small town, library setting with a trapdoor and secret passage, magic, cat sidekicks, and a potential romance are all included. Looking forward to the next book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun story but only 490 pages—definitely needed more. Story involves a library, two friends, something that needs to be saved and a couple of cats that don’t talk but are very smart and as long as the humans pay attention the cats could save their lives. If you just want a quick enjoyable read go ahead and get this book.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is not what I consider a book. It was only 48 pages long. A short story to me. While the story was interesting, I would not read another. It was free so I can’t complain about the price.

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, quick, read

This was an incredibly short, yet fun, start to the series. I liked the bits of magic and Luna and Leo, the library cats. I’m looking forward to reading more and getting to know the rest of the characters.

[Juanita E. Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, the storyline is well written and the interaction between the characters is wonderful. I can't wait to read more from this author. I received this book as a Free copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was so disjointed. It felt like we were jumping into another series. One where all the characters had already been established and the world had already been built. That was confusing. And jarring. I did not enjoy this book.

[Michele Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical and easy read!

Tessa always delivers a bit of magic with her stories, and Quillhaven appreciates it. Leo and Luna are leading the chase and digging up clues, as always.

Great quick read for a lazy summer day!

[Deborah Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun story Elara has discovered that three books have been stolen from the library. They have the town history and are linked to the death of her parents. There is a hidden artifact and two cats who live at the library. I enjoyed this book and I recommend it.

[Larisa Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great start to this series. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick cute cozy mystery

[G. Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this book and I enjoyed reading it. It is a good story line with a little mystery and mayhem. Looking forward for more to come.

[Carla Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luna and Leo to the rescue when Elera and Jack get locked in a hidden tunnel. they are on the hunt for missing manuscripts and try to save the town

[Andrea Frankel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stilted dialog, plot too obvious, boring characters.

[Julie Carithers Overstreet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting mystery with a bit of magic. Love the cats!!

[Jane Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

secrets beneath the shelves:

Wow what a very good this was.

I’d didn’t realize who the killer was until the last two chapters.

Wow

[James Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine short story

The author has created a magical and innovative plot to go with an imaginative group of characters making this hard to put down

[Edna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short read

This is a quick read about the magic of Quillhaven and the mischief Siamese cats Luna and her brother Leo.

[S.M. Moran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute cozy mystery with a dash of magic and a sprinkle of romantic possibilities. I enjoyed it