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A Book Store Cozy Mystery #11

Fishing & Forgery: A Paranormal Witch Cozy Mystery

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Enjoy this witty, small-town paranormal, cozy mystery by award-winning and bestselling author Lucinda Race.

Welcome to Pembroke Cove, where witches and murders are multiplying...

A lazy Sunday afternoon on her fiancé’s fishing boat in the small town of Pembroke Cove is the perfect way for bookstore owner and witch Lily Michaels to relax and escape the whirlwind of planning their wedding, which is only a month away. Lily’s only pretending to try to catch dinner, but when she reels in a satchel stuffed with cash, Lily and her fiancé, Gage Erikson—a.k.a. Detective Cutie—are hooked into a new mystery.

Gage learned a long time ago that the only way to keep his puzzle-loving fiancé safe is to let her dive headfirst into his cases with him. But while he’s in the police station setting the investigation of the mysterious moolah in motion, Lily stumbles over a dead body just outside the door.

Are the cases connected? Is the cash stolen or counterfeit? The dead man’s distraught widow
positively identifies the body…but when Gage and Lily learn the woman faked her identity what
else is she hiding? While finalizing plans to marry her catch of a lifetime, it will take all of Lily’s
magical skills to help Gage fish out the truth.

Fishing & Forgery is the eleventh novel in the A Book Store Cozy Mystery Series; although each book can be read as a standalone, it is best to read them in order. It is a humorous, small-town, cozy mystery that guarantees the culprit is caught. Happy reading!

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 2, 2025

14 people are currently reading
49 people want to read

About the author

Lucinda Race

67 books655 followers
Award-winning and best-selling author Lucinda Race is a lifelong fan of cozy mysteries and romance novels

She spins tales of small town romance and cozy mystery—writing the kinds of stories she loves to read. Whether she’s weaving a heartwarming romance or a cozy mystery, her fingers practically fly across the keyboard.

Lucinda lives with her little dog— a shih tzu mix rescue—who is always by her side. When she’s not immersed in writing mystery, suspense, or romance, she’s wandering in her garden or curled up with a book, devouring everything she can get her hands on.


Be sure to follow her on Bookbub for the latest on sales and new releases. https://bit.ly/LucindaRace

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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.7k reviews359 followers
April 9, 2025
Busy Day for Relaxing ? . . .

With the wedding fast-approaching, Lily, Gage, and friends were enjoying the sun and the relaxing pace of the fishing boat. Milo, her cat familiar, did take time out to complain about the uncomfortable life jacket and its garish bright orange color, stating he only came along for the fish. They dropped anchor and settled in to fish. Both Margaret and Lily were trying their luck at catching dinner. With help, inexperienced Margaret struggled to pull up what turned out to be an oversized brown leather satchel. As Gage helped opening it, he asked Sharon to take a picture. They were all surprised when Gabe announced the satchel was stuffed with cash. They headed back so Gabe could get the evidence to the station. They will have a barbecue at Lily’s house when they are done at the station.

As they started to check the satchel contents, they pulled out bundles of money in clear Ziploc bags secured with purple zippers and, at the bottom, found a knife with a wood handle with a seven-inch blade and a 9mm Glock handgun. They finished and each went their own way. But when Lily steps through the door, she sees a man crumpled on the sidewalk, the side of his head bloody and his eyes open and unfocused. So she immediately called Gage then snapped pictures of the man and the trail of blood from the street. Milo told Lily to ask EL to look under a nearby bush where he saw a large rock with blood on it. It was likely the murder weapon where the killer tossed it when the body was dumped. Could this death possibly have anything to do with the satchel they found? And even more mystery lies ahead when the victim’s alleged wife identifies the body but was not telling the truth. Will they get these mysteries unraveled and solved?
Profile Image for Kathy.
782 reviews30 followers
April 10, 2025
A relaxing day off with friends turns into a case when a bag of money is caught instead of a fish. After bringing the bag to the station, Lily stumbles over a dead body outside it. When a person claiming to be the victim’s spouse turns out to be using an assumed name, Lily’s puzzle radar goes off. Is the money lost, stolen, or counterfeit? Could the two situations be related? How are the witnesses in the park and the married couple at the B&B involved? While Gage does the official detecting, Lily and her best friend, Nikki, use their magical skills to follow clues around town. But will her snooping solve the case or put her in more danger?

Fishing & Forgery is another intriguing mystery from Lucinda Race. Untangling the identities of the bit players added an extra twist to this well plotted puzzle. Picking up shortly after the events of book 10 with Gage’s kidnapping still on their minds, the gang is trying to take time to appreciate life and their friendship. However, crime doesn’t take a vacation, so the case gets put in the front burner. The story can be read and enjoyed as a standalone mystery, as Ms. Race gives enough background to bring new readers up to date. I would recommend reading the series in order to get the full picture of character development and relationships. Lily’s magical skills continue to grow and her sleuthing has become more refined. The team of both police and civilians, as well as magicals and normals have become a tighter unit and balance the case and friendships nicely. One of the team drops a surprise on Lily and Nikki that hopefully will be expanded on in the future. And anticipation is building for Lily’s and Gage’s wedding. Bring on book 12.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for N.N. Heaven.
Author 6 books2,129 followers
April 9, 2025
Lily reels in a bag of money while fishing with Gage and their friends, not realizing she’s up against a group of slippery criminals. Will she and Gage be able to apprehend the culprits before they slink away?

Fishing & Forgery is a paranormal cozy mystery with a complex plot, perplexing crimes, suspects meant to confuse, and Lily right in the middle of it all. I enjoyed the twists the plot took. Lucinda Race adds new elements to this cozy mystery which I found intriguing. But it’s the characters that make Fishing & Forgery an unputdownable read.

The cast of characters in this story will confound you and exhilarate you. Besides the core characters who help solve the murder, the suspects are expertly written. Lucinda Race aims to hide the motives and identities of these suspects, and the result is a brilliant paranormal cozy mystery. I lost sleep trying to figure out who did it and why.

With each book, Lucinda Race continues to impress me with her writing and ability to add freshness to this series. I know the end is coming but I’ll savor each book until it comes. Take my advice and read Fishing & Forgery, along with the rest of the series.

My Rating: 5+ stars

Reviewed by: Nancy

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
1,864 reviews32 followers
April 6, 2025
- Cozy mystery
- Paranormal
- Small town

This series is one I absolutely love. I am always looking forward to the next installment.

As the wedding date for Lily and Gage (aka Detective Cutie) approaches, they and some friends go out fishing, but what they catch is unexpected - a bag of money! And, because Lily seems to attract them, soon a body follows. The case becomes more complicated when their John Doe gets a misidentification...and a lot more suspects begin to emerge!

One of the group also makes a startling revelation that I can't wait to have followed up!

As with all of the books in this series, I absolutely devoured this story!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Nightangel_reads.
39 reviews
April 22, 2025
A relaxing day off fishing? What could possibly go wrong, pulling up a bag full of money along with a handgun.

Lily and the team face another challenging crime and murder, this time the feds have been involved, but luckily one of them is related to Dax. I have missed Dax so much from these last few books and I’m so happy for the little time he’s here. Also one of the gang reveals something mind blowing to lily and Niki, I was literally speechless when this part happened. I cannot wait for the next book to come out because I need to know what is gonna happen.

I love how this book in the series really had my brain working overtime on all the clues and with all the twists and turns of this one I was speechless, jaw on the floor. I definitely recommend this series.
Profile Image for Tari.
3,641 reviews103 followers
April 4, 2025
Lily and Nikki got in a good sleuthing session and there was a surprise from a quiet friend which I'm sure gets wrapped up next time since I believe the next book’s the last one. The showdown was tense but controlled. I love what Lily did to keep the perp from shooting anyone! Since some federal agents were part of the case, I also loved that one was related to a fave witch detective who transferred, Dax Peters.

The ending was a celebration of friends and fellowship which is so awesome and typical in this series. Who wouldn’t love to be friends with these characters?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by BookSprout, and my opinions are my own.
138 reviews4 followers
April 7, 2025
Such fun!

I so love this series. Such well-written stories!

The use of different chapters being told from Lily or Gage's point of view is so well done and really is a bonus of the book.

In this one, Lily, Gage, and friends are out fishing and pull up a bag of money. Then a man falls over dead on the sidewalk, and the mystery goes crazy.

The characters and their relationships (human and animal) are nothing short of wonderful - they are so relatable, even with some being witches ;). There is humor and tons of action that makes this a book you won't want to put down.

More, please!!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jeanne.
1,902 reviews8 followers
April 10, 2025
Fishing & Forgery: A Paranormal Witch Cozy Mystery is book 11 in the Bookstore Cozy Mystery series by Lucinda Race.

This is another great addition to the series. Lily makes quite the catch while out fishing with her fiancé and friends. Lily and Gage are drawn into an investigation when she reels in a satchel full of money. The characters are my favorite part, especially when we get to follow them through the series and see how they develop and relationships grow. I was drawn into the mystery and enjoyed it. I look forward to the next book!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
411 reviews5 followers
April 9, 2025
Who would have thought that a fishing trip could lead to such a tangled mess? That’s exactly what happened to Lily and her friends. This charming cozy mystery from the author is a delightful page-turner, enhanced with a touch of magic. The lovable characters make the story even more entertaining. I really enjoyed the book and recommend it to all fans of cozy mysteries.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Debbie Benson.
9,609 reviews34 followers
April 7, 2025
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. A relaxing fishing trip leads to a federal counterfeit case and murder. While Gage's hands get tied, Lily can still investigate. Unfortunately all contenders end up in her shop and danger happens. I'm glad things work out and all the gang including unsuspected ones are arrested.
Profile Image for Smutty Professor.
464 reviews11 followers
April 8, 2025
Fishing and Forgery is a magical hit in the Pembroke Cove series. With a bag of mysterious money, a sudden death, and Lily and Gage diving into danger, this cozy mystery is packed with charm, suspense, and heart. The perfect blend of paranormal fun, lovable characters, and small-town twists- I couldn’t put it down!
Profile Image for Trina Gomez.
202 reviews3 followers
April 9, 2025
This was a super fun cozy mystery with just the right mix of charm, magic, and murder. Lily, a bookstore owner and witch, finds herself tangled in another mystery, this time involving a bag of cash, a dead body, and a suspicious widow.

The small town setting is cute, the characters are lovable, and the mystery kept me guessing. A light, magical read perfect for a lazy afternoon.
Profile Image for Cyndi Taylor.
505 reviews5 followers
April 16, 2025
This is one of my favorite cozy authors. Her books are interesting and the characters are well written. This one did not disappoint. I love Lilly, Gage, and Milo. I really hope Lilly can find a way for Brutus to communicate and maybe Gage to hear familiars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Marianne.
7,197 reviews85 followers
April 7, 2025
This is a fun paranormal cozy mystery.. I really enjoyed reading it. It is interesting and entertaining, very clever and easy to get lost in..

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for AMBER CLARK.
961 reviews24 followers
April 11, 2025
Twists and turns make this paranormal cozy mystery a must! It is interesting and entertaining. This is another great addition to the series. I look forward to the next book!

Profile Image for Shannon Binegar-Foster.
2,798 reviews19 followers
May 11, 2025
Intriguing mystery

So much going on in this one. I enjoyed this one very much. Can't wait for book 12 and the events leading up to Lily and Gages wedding.
Profile Image for Diane.
1,152 reviews
June 17, 2025
Another good book where you go fishing and find money....then a body....not a surprise!
1,449 reviews29 followers
December 30, 2025
This author's books are well written, well thought out with interesting story lines and loveable characters. She also does not follow the Stupidity Formula that is so common nowadays with characters that cannot communicate, and act and think stupid. There aren't any silly misunderstandings.

Bookstore Cozy Mystery Series:
FISHING & FORGERY, #11 - Lots of fun, intrigue, and witches coming out of the woodwork. Good story lines. Source: Booksprout. 5*

BOOKS & BRIBES, #1 - Usually a romance writer, Ms. Race tells a good witchy tale quite a lot better than the usual dumb down Cozy. Good characters, talking animals and a sweet romance made for an entertaining, enjoyable read. 5*

CATNAPS & CRIMES, #2 - Interesting. Romance become more of a focal point for the two best friends. It was easy to figure out the killer but still a good story with a good core of regular characters. 4*

TEA & TROUBLE, #3 - There's another murder with all kinds of "I did it" confessions. Dax and Gage open Lily's eyes. With plenty of secrets coming to light, an interesting mystery and our loveable characters blending together to make this a one sitting read. Source: Booksprout. 5*

SCARES & DARES, #4 - It was easy to figure out the killer but that didn't stop the flow of the story. Interesting with some good fun with Dax, another correct assumption that I made about him. A fun, entertaining way to spend a few hours. Source: BookSprout. 4*

HOLIDAYS & HOMICIDE, #5 - Lots of fun, romance, shady characters and a good investigation of murder. Good Christmas spirit to add to the mix. Source: BookSprout. 5*

LEPRECHAUNS & LARCENY, #6 - Another interesting addition to this series. Good pace, likeable characters and good story lines made for an entertaining read. Source: Booksprout. 4*

MAGICIANS & MURDER, #7 - Interesting story lines, good characters and a move with their romance. 4*

ARTIFACTS & AMULETS, #8 - Interesting story lines, a surprising killer and a loss to the police force. 5*

CRANBERRIES & CRIMINALS, #9 - Interesting and fun to read this book filled with good characters and story lines. Source: BookSprout. 5*

BROOMSTICKS & BLOOMS, #10 - An interesting investigation and a silly murderer. Good progress on the romance, and plenty of caring friends. Source: BookSprout. 5*
Bookstore Cozy Mystery Series end.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

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