What do you think?
Rate this book
Marigolds and Murder
What good is it to know the truth if you're powerless to change it?
Philadelphia, 1950.
Nobody suspects that private detective Katsumi Okazaki uses prophecy magic to solve her cases. But her uncanny "intuition" at finding the truth can't help her prove that her new client's wife was murdered. Not when everyone else is convinced the death was accidental. To make matters more complicated, Kat's new client is an Exalter--afflicted with unpredictable magical abilities as collateral damage from the war--and her story stirs up Kat's own painful memories of displacement and the love she lost.
Luckily, Kat has plenty of practice burying her personal problems under a mountain of work. She sets out with her ethically questionable but trustworthy assistant to find evidence and catch the killer. But dread creeps in when she realizes she's being tailed. Is someone trying to thwart her investigation, or does the government still not trust her?
Either way, Kat can't let her client down. And if what her magic tells her is real, then catching the killer might not be enough... not if she's going to be able to live with herself when it's done.
The first book in The Exalted series, Marigolds and Murder is a queer fantasy murder mystery that blends WWII history with magic.
Philadelphia, 1950.
Nobody suspects that private detective Katsumi Okazaki uses prophecy magic to solve her cases. But her uncanny "intuition" at finding the truth can't help her prove that her new client's wife was murdered. Not when everyone else is convinced the death was accidental. To make matters more complicated, Kat's new client is an Exalter--afflicted with unpredictable magical abilities as collateral damage from the war--and her story stirs up Kat's own painful memories of displacement and the love she lost.
Luckily, Kat has plenty of practice burying her personal problems under a mountain of work. She sets out with her ethically questionable but trustworthy assistant to find evidence and catch the killer. But dread creeps in when she realizes she's being tailed. Is someone trying to thwart her investigation, or does the government still not trust her?
Either way, Kat can't let her client down. And if what her magic tells her is real, then catching the killer might not be enough... not if she's going to be able to live with herself when it's done.
The first book in The Exalted series, Marigolds and Murder is a queer fantasy murder mystery that blends WWII history with magic.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 12, 2025
Debut author A.K. Ikezoe has crafted a unique mix of magical realism and historical fiction set in 1950s Philadelphia. Katsumi Okazaki, is a private detective who uses magic to solve her cases. She is tasked with solving the murder of a new client's wife, but it brings up painful memories from Kat's past. She and her partner aren't sure who to trust as they set out to solve the mystery that has several twists. The magical world-building is excellent, and Kat proves to be an intriguing heroine. That a sequel is set up at the conclusion is a big plus!
June 13, 2025
Fantastic, stellar, a true literary delight!
An historical fiction, murder mystery fantasy. Genre blending at its finest.
The way magic was portrayed, complete with limitations, was simply wonderful. And the mystery was, for me, not predictable at all. I could not figure out who the culprit was until it was revealed, mad props to the author because normally I can at least gander a guess.
Also! A Japanese American protagonist who spent time in an American concentration camp during WWII. Definitely an important piece of history we Americans gloss over, and one that should never be forgotten. “The system that took us away still exists—it just found a new target to focus on.”
Highly recommend giving this independent author a read, they are incredibly talented.
An historical fiction, murder mystery fantasy. Genre blending at its finest.
The way magic was portrayed, complete with limitations, was simply wonderful. And the mystery was, for me, not predictable at all. I could not figure out who the culprit was until it was revealed, mad props to the author because normally I can at least gander a guess.
Also! A Japanese American protagonist who spent time in an American concentration camp during WWII. Definitely an important piece of history we Americans gloss over, and one that should never be forgotten. “The system that took us away still exists—it just found a new target to focus on.”
Highly recommend giving this independent author a read, they are incredibly talented.
June 3, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! Thank you so much for the ARC ❤️
Marigolds and Murder follows Katsumi Okazaki, a private investigator who uses forbidden prophecy magic to solve her cases.
There are so many things to love about this book. The unique magic system, the witty banter between Kat and her assistant Emrah, the twisty mystery, and the historical fantasy world that takes place in 1950s Philadelphia.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced read with characters you’ll fall in love with and a mystery that’ll keep you guessing, pick this one up.
I can’t wait to read more books in this series! 😊
Marigolds and Murder follows Katsumi Okazaki, a private investigator who uses forbidden prophecy magic to solve her cases.
There are so many things to love about this book. The unique magic system, the witty banter between Kat and her assistant Emrah, the twisty mystery, and the historical fantasy world that takes place in 1950s Philadelphia.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced read with characters you’ll fall in love with and a mystery that’ll keep you guessing, pick this one up.
I can’t wait to read more books in this series! 😊
July 2, 2025
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of Marigolds and Murder! As always, all opinions are my own and this review is being left voluntarily. ✨
✨ Historical Fantasy
✨ Third Person POV
✨ 0/5 Spice Level
✨ Private Detective
✨ Maltese Falcon Vibes
✨ Book 1 of The Exalted Series
✨ Rep: Japanese-American lesbian MC, overall diverse cast of characters
> content warnings after review
Let me just start off with: Wow. This is a fantastic debut novel by A. K. Ikezoe.
I found the world building and magic system intriguing, especially when considering the differences and similarities with what happened historically. I am a huge fan of mysteries, though I haven’t read a lot of them recently. My first “adult” book was a mystery and truly sparked my love of reading. This book brought me back to that, only better. I loved the diversity not only because it was there but because it also felt so natural within the world. The side characters helped make the world around the story feel more rich.
Beyond that, the book didn’t hesitate to tackle some historical political issues, namely the internment of Japanese-American citizens during WWII (which also affected those from other Asian countries as well). An event that should never be forgotten, lest it happen again. The portrayal of this with the main character, Kat, was extremely well done and is not something I have seen a lot of, particularly in sapphic literature.
The characterization of Kat was fantastic. She is a complex, well developed character, and it was a pleasure to get to know her through this book. Additionally, Emrah (her partner in crime, so to speak) is such a fun character! I really enjoyed all of their interactions and developed such a soft spot for him! I could probably go on and on about them.
Seeing as this book is the first in a series, the main mystery plot wraps itself up fairly well, but we’re left with some information leading into the next book. I cannot wait to see where this series goes. I have my own predictions (or maybe just hopes?) for what might happen in the next book, but I’ll keep that to myself for now and just say I’ll be eager to get my hands on it. I highly recommend this series if you’re a fan of mysteries, magic, and enjoy a complex, lesbian protagonist.
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
violence/m*rder/de*th (including g*ns and necromancy), trauma/anxiety/panic attacks/PTSD, homophobia, racism, sexism/misogynistic society
✨ Historical Fantasy
✨ Third Person POV
✨ 0/5 Spice Level
✨ Private Detective
✨ Maltese Falcon Vibes
✨ Book 1 of The Exalted Series
✨ Rep: Japanese-American lesbian MC, overall diverse cast of characters
> content warnings after review
Let me just start off with: Wow. This is a fantastic debut novel by A. K. Ikezoe.
I found the world building and magic system intriguing, especially when considering the differences and similarities with what happened historically. I am a huge fan of mysteries, though I haven’t read a lot of them recently. My first “adult” book was a mystery and truly sparked my love of reading. This book brought me back to that, only better. I loved the diversity not only because it was there but because it also felt so natural within the world. The side characters helped make the world around the story feel more rich.
Beyond that, the book didn’t hesitate to tackle some historical political issues, namely the internment of Japanese-American citizens during WWII (which also affected those from other Asian countries as well). An event that should never be forgotten, lest it happen again. The portrayal of this with the main character, Kat, was extremely well done and is not something I have seen a lot of, particularly in sapphic literature.
The characterization of Kat was fantastic. She is a complex, well developed character, and it was a pleasure to get to know her through this book. Additionally, Emrah (her partner in crime, so to speak) is such a fun character! I really enjoyed all of their interactions and developed such a soft spot for him! I could probably go on and on about them.
Seeing as this book is the first in a series, the main mystery plot wraps itself up fairly well, but we’re left with some information leading into the next book. I cannot wait to see where this series goes. I have my own predictions (or maybe just hopes?) for what might happen in the next book, but I’ll keep that to myself for now and just say I’ll be eager to get my hands on it. I highly recommend this series if you’re a fan of mysteries, magic, and enjoy a complex, lesbian protagonist.
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
violence/m*rder/de*th (including g*ns and necromancy), trauma/anxiety/panic attacks/PTSD, homophobia, racism, sexism/misogynistic society
June 3, 2025
summary:
set in 1950 Philadelphia, private detective Katsumi Okazaki is approached by a client who believes her fiancée was murdered and not killed in an accident. She sets out with her assistant Emrah to solve this case!
my thoughts:
Fantasy forms only a smaller part of the story as compared to mystery but I love how the fantasy element is done in the book! It's so well detailed!
kat and emrah were so so amazing! like I would actually love to be friends with them. they balance out each other so well. kat would so get herself killed without emrah😂
I was right there along with them trying my best to solve the murder but I couldn't😔
I never anticipated what was coming next which made this more interesting for me. The second half of the book was especially unputdownable for me🙌 (chapter 15 made me go🤢)
there's no clear indication in the book (or there is but I was too dumb to get it), but I have a guess about who kat's love interest might be👀 hope I'm right
can't wait to see what AK has in store for book 2!!
thank you so much to the author for the ARC copy💗 I will never get over how beautiful it is!!
set in 1950 Philadelphia, private detective Katsumi Okazaki is approached by a client who believes her fiancée was murdered and not killed in an accident. She sets out with her assistant Emrah to solve this case!
my thoughts:
Fantasy forms only a smaller part of the story as compared to mystery but I love how the fantasy element is done in the book! It's so well detailed!
kat and emrah were so so amazing! like I would actually love to be friends with them. they balance out each other so well. kat would so get herself killed without emrah😂
I was right there along with them trying my best to solve the murder but I couldn't😔
I never anticipated what was coming next which made this more interesting for me. The second half of the book was especially unputdownable for me🙌 (chapter 15 made me go🤢)
there's no clear indication in the book (or there is but I was too dumb to get it), but I have a guess about who kat's love interest might be👀 hope I'm right
can't wait to see what AK has in store for book 2!!
thank you so much to the author for the ARC copy💗 I will never get over how beautiful it is!!
May 31, 2025
Set in post–WWII America, private detective Katsumi Okazaki is hired by a grieving fiancé who believes her partner's death— which has been officially ruled as an accident—was actually murder. What starts as a simple investigation to give a grieving woman some closure, quickly unravels into something far more dangerous and sinister.
I love a good murder mystery, and this one was excellent! The magic system was unique, the characters were fun and enjoyable, and the mystery took some delightful twists and turns. I loved the dynamic between Katsumi and Emrah! They work so well together, and the way they played off each other while working through the case details was hilarious.
This book doesn’t end on a true cliffhanger, but it does leave the door open for more, and I’ll be thrilled to see what happens next if this turns into a series.
If you're a fan of a historical fantasy or murder mysteries, I absolutely recommend checking this one out when it releases on June 3rd!
(And thank you so much to the author for the ARC of this novel. I really enjoyed it!)
I love a good murder mystery, and this one was excellent! The magic system was unique, the characters were fun and enjoyable, and the mystery took some delightful twists and turns. I loved the dynamic between Katsumi and Emrah! They work so well together, and the way they played off each other while working through the case details was hilarious.
This book doesn’t end on a true cliffhanger, but it does leave the door open for more, and I’ll be thrilled to see what happens next if this turns into a series.
If you're a fan of a historical fantasy or murder mysteries, I absolutely recommend checking this one out when it releases on June 3rd!
(And thank you so much to the author for the ARC of this novel. I really enjoyed it!)
June 10, 2025
I knew I was gonna love this. So much fun. I love the magic system and the characters
September 13, 2025
This book was good, but maybe just not for me. It took me a long time to get through unfortunately since it felt a bit slow — I’m a lot better with cozy fantasy when it’s in audio form rather than physical. I also think the author promoted this as having a bunch of tropes/ideas that I was super interested in and then they were just barely introduced? Especially the magical element, I wish there was a bit more of an introduction to it.
All that said, this was the author’s first book and I am very excited to see where this series leads and how the author’s writing will progress.
All that said, this was the author’s first book and I am very excited to see where this series leads and how the author’s writing will progress.
August 9, 2025
This novel had me fascinated from the first page to the last one. The author crafted a compelling mystery and I loved how she used the historical setting (shortly after WWII) to interrogate the impacts, good and bad, of magic becoming well-known.
July 10, 2025
e-arc received from author in exchange for an honest review.
to me, this book was a victim of tropefication. i went into this reading experience expecting certain things and i was not given them YET! that being said, this first book in the series sets up a pretty interesting scenario for the second book, which i’m looking forward to!!
i enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story, and i really liked our main character’s ”power” with the compact! it was interesting, and not overpowered and cliché. i also really appreciate the relationship between kat and emrah, i liked them together.
to me, this book was a victim of tropefication. i went into this reading experience expecting certain things and i was not given them YET! that being said, this first book in the series sets up a pretty interesting scenario for the second book, which i’m looking forward to!!
i enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story, and i really liked our main character’s ”power” with the compact! it was interesting, and not overpowered and cliché. i also really appreciate the relationship between kat and emrah, i liked them together.
May 29, 2025
4.25⭐️!!! Thank you to the author for the ARC!
Read if you like:
• Murder mystery with a magical twist
• Queer rep and diverse characters
• Private investigators
• Historical fantasy
I didn’t know what to expect going in, but I ended up really enjoying this unique blend of fantasy and mystery. I don’t think I’ve ever read a fantasy murder mystery before, and now I want more! The mix of magic, suspense, and a historical setting was so well done, I flew through this book in just three days because I had to know what happened!
The story moves quickly and smoothly, making it super easy to get into. The mystery unfolds at a great pace, with just enough suspense and twists to keep you guessing without getting lost. It was fun trying to solve the case alongside the characters, and by the second half, I couldn’t put it down.
Emrah quickly became one of my favorite characters. He’s got that loyal, golden-retriever energy, always tossing out wild theories but deeply caring underneath. Kat was just as compelling: clever, confident, and unafraid to stand her ground. Their dynamic as private investigators was such a fun duo to follow!!
There were a few unfamiliar terms that took me a second to understand, but once I got into the rhythm of the world, everything clicked. The tension keeps building toward the end, and I’m already dying to see what happens in book two!
If you're looking for a murder mystery with a fantasy twist, conspiracy theories, and sapphic characters, this one’s definitely worth picking up! I can’t wait for the next book, it’s only getting more exciting from here!
Read if you like:
• Murder mystery with a magical twist
• Queer rep and diverse characters
• Private investigators
• Historical fantasy
I didn’t know what to expect going in, but I ended up really enjoying this unique blend of fantasy and mystery. I don’t think I’ve ever read a fantasy murder mystery before, and now I want more! The mix of magic, suspense, and a historical setting was so well done, I flew through this book in just three days because I had to know what happened!
The story moves quickly and smoothly, making it super easy to get into. The mystery unfolds at a great pace, with just enough suspense and twists to keep you guessing without getting lost. It was fun trying to solve the case alongside the characters, and by the second half, I couldn’t put it down.
Emrah quickly became one of my favorite characters. He’s got that loyal, golden-retriever energy, always tossing out wild theories but deeply caring underneath. Kat was just as compelling: clever, confident, and unafraid to stand her ground. Their dynamic as private investigators was such a fun duo to follow!!
There were a few unfamiliar terms that took me a second to understand, but once I got into the rhythm of the world, everything clicked. The tension keeps building toward the end, and I’m already dying to see what happens in book two!
If you're looking for a murder mystery with a fantasy twist, conspiracy theories, and sapphic characters, this one’s definitely worth picking up! I can’t wait for the next book, it’s only getting more exciting from here!
June 27, 2025
The blend of historical fiction with a super unique and interesting magic system was spot on! It kept me guessing until the end!
May 31, 2025
Such a fun read!! Thank you so much for the ARC❤️
Marigolds and Murder is an absolutely delightful novel with a lovely and complex female protagonist, a quirky sidekick with secrets of his own, and lots of magic along the way. I cannot wait for the next installment to learn more about this alternate reality world and join Kat and Emrah as they dig in to the deeper levels of this mystery.
Marigolds and Murder is an absolutely delightful novel with a lovely and complex female protagonist, a quirky sidekick with secrets of his own, and lots of magic along the way. I cannot wait for the next installment to learn more about this alternate reality world and join Kat and Emrah as they dig in to the deeper levels of this mystery.
June 27, 2025
There was A LOT going on in this book. While there are a lot of elements coming together, they all blend nicely for a cohesive, engaging story. I really liked the main character and her friend's dynamic, and the atmosphere of the book was really captivating!!!
An absolutely beautiful edition and cover, as well. I am very much looking forward to whatever Ikezoe comes up with next!!!
An absolutely beautiful edition and cover, as well. I am very much looking forward to whatever Ikezoe comes up with next!!!
August 14, 2025
Welcome to a world where magic is real, and history is about two steps to the left of what exists in our own past. Marigolds and Murder was a great read both the first time through with minimal background knowledge and the second time through after some light research on the WWII underpinnings of the setting.
Do you enjoy murder mysteries? Read this book - the character-driven plot follows Kat as she unravels the mystery brought to her (in true detective-novel style) in her office by a grief-stricken woman searching for answers. Enjoy catching the clues as - or before - Kat figures them out. And then enjoy the payout of the resolution of the mystery. Actually, read this book twice. There were so many scenes in the first half of the book which had far greater depth than I'd realized before knowing the answers to the mystery; re-reading was absolutely a worth-while experience! (Also, enjoy trying to sus out exactly what's going on with Emrah...)
Do you enjoy mid-1900s historical fiction? Read this book - the historical elements of this world are largely true to our reality. Enjoy playing spot-the-history: the 442nd and the Lost Battalion; the psychological, familial, and economic effects of the Japanese Internment camps; the social and legal realities of post-WWII America. (But remember, this is also magical realism. There are also a bunch of twisted-history elements to spot. Find the magical or social twist, and then trace it back to its historical roots!) And don't worry if this isn't your usual area of history; this book is easily accessible without any particular knowledge of WWII/post-WWII America.
Do you enjoy magical realism? Read this book - magic, though practicing it is (at least largely) illegal in 1950, has been an integral part of the world long enough to be woven into daily life. It's Thursday; therefore East Coast Strawberry Jam still doesn't taste right, the Red Scare is up and fear-mongering on the radio, and the Soviet Spies may or may not be Communist Shapeshifters (either or both). The system of How Magic Works isn't fully revealed to us (this is book one, after all), but there is no doubt that a system exists and hints about how it works and how it's affected history appear throughout the book.
And in all cases, what's not to love about a book where the main characters find themselves admitting that they're actually real, live friends?
I'm already looking forward to book two!
Do you enjoy murder mysteries? Read this book - the character-driven plot follows Kat as she unravels the mystery brought to her (in true detective-novel style) in her office by a grief-stricken woman searching for answers. Enjoy catching the clues as - or before - Kat figures them out. And then enjoy the payout of the resolution of the mystery. Actually, read this book twice. There were so many scenes in the first half of the book which had far greater depth than I'd realized before knowing the answers to the mystery; re-reading was absolutely a worth-while experience! (Also, enjoy trying to sus out exactly what's going on with Emrah...)
Do you enjoy mid-1900s historical fiction? Read this book - the historical elements of this world are largely true to our reality. Enjoy playing spot-the-history: the 442nd and the Lost Battalion; the psychological, familial, and economic effects of the Japanese Internment camps; the social and legal realities of post-WWII America. (But remember, this is also magical realism. There are also a bunch of twisted-history elements to spot. Find the magical or social twist, and then trace it back to its historical roots!) And don't worry if this isn't your usual area of history; this book is easily accessible without any particular knowledge of WWII/post-WWII America.
Do you enjoy magical realism? Read this book - magic, though practicing it is (at least largely) illegal in 1950, has been an integral part of the world long enough to be woven into daily life. It's Thursday; therefore East Coast Strawberry Jam still doesn't taste right, the Red Scare is up and fear-mongering on the radio, and the Soviet Spies may or may not be Communist Shapeshifters (either or both). The system of How Magic Works isn't fully revealed to us (this is book one, after all), but there is no doubt that a system exists and hints about how it works and how it's affected history appear throughout the book.
And in all cases, what's not to love about a book where the main characters find themselves admitting that they're actually real, live friends?
I'm already looking forward to book two!
June 10, 2025
This was such an interesting book! I love the alternative world building that went into this. All of the details about Japanese internment are accurate to our timeline, but the addition of magic and how it changed the outcomes of WWII is so fascinating and I love the thought that went into it. I really enjoyed Katsumi and her cousin and all the complicated feelings they have about the trauma they went through. I see so few historical novels featuring this time period and it was fascinating and refreshing to read about.
The plot itself, with Kat pursuing a strange magic driven murder mystery, was interesting. It felt very police procedural as they looked for clues, interviewed witnesses, and evaded federal agents. I loved the queer normativity of this world and the fascinating tidbit about how gay marriage is basically normal but misogyny is still alive and well. There are so many interesting decisions that were made with this novel. I enjoyed it immensely and can't wait to continue the series.
Big thank you to the author and Starmist Press for the gifted review copy! Thoughts are my own.
The plot itself, with Kat pursuing a strange magic driven murder mystery, was interesting. It felt very police procedural as they looked for clues, interviewed witnesses, and evaded federal agents. I loved the queer normativity of this world and the fascinating tidbit about how gay marriage is basically normal but misogyny is still alive and well. There are so many interesting decisions that were made with this novel. I enjoyed it immensely and can't wait to continue the series.
Big thank you to the author and Starmist Press for the gifted review copy! Thoughts are my own.
July 14, 2025
🌼🔮 Marigolds and Murder is the kind of story that grabs you by the trench coat and drags you into the misty streets of post-war Philadelphia with a whisper of magic and a whole lot of heart. Private detective Katsumi Okazaki might be the most compelling investigator I’ve ever read: sharp, haunted, and just magical enough to make the truth shimmer… even when it hurts.
The mystery is layered and twisty in all the best ways, but what really stole the show? The characters. Kat is complicated and brilliant, carrying grief and secrets with quiet strength. Her assistant? Chaotic, shady, and totally ride-or-die. And don’t even get me started on the Exalter client her story unraveled like a spell and left me aching.
This book blends noir grit with magical realism so seamlessly that I could smell the cigarette smoke and lavender. The trauma of war, the tension of being watched, and the impossible weight of knowing things you can’t prove it’s all here, woven into a queer murder mystery that feels both classic and utterly fresh.
Highly recommend for fans of:
🕵️♀️ Sharp-tongued detectives
🌙 Magical intrigue
💔 Slow-burning grief and healing
🧥 Queer noir vibes with a mystical twist
This is the kind of story you finish and immediately want to slip back into. Auto author buying list 🫶🏼🥹💕
The mystery is layered and twisty in all the best ways, but what really stole the show? The characters. Kat is complicated and brilliant, carrying grief and secrets with quiet strength. Her assistant? Chaotic, shady, and totally ride-or-die. And don’t even get me started on the Exalter client her story unraveled like a spell and left me aching.
This book blends noir grit with magical realism so seamlessly that I could smell the cigarette smoke and lavender. The trauma of war, the tension of being watched, and the impossible weight of knowing things you can’t prove it’s all here, woven into a queer murder mystery that feels both classic and utterly fresh.
Highly recommend for fans of:
🕵️♀️ Sharp-tongued detectives
🌙 Magical intrigue
💔 Slow-burning grief and healing
🧥 Queer noir vibes with a mystical twist
This is the kind of story you finish and immediately want to slip back into. Auto author buying list 🫶🏼🥹💕
December 9, 2025
I had such a fun time reading this book! The character dialogue and banter was on point, and the mystery really kept me guessing - I always judge a book by how much I think about it when I’m not reading it, and I’m happy to say I was wondering about the mystery and possible suspects even when I was at my day job. What was also really fun and intriguing was how the author wove fantasy and magical elements in with real historical events (especially the internment of Japanese-Americans in the ‘40s). I look forward to reading the sequel, and seeing more of Ms Kat with Agent Esqueda 👀
Also, Emrah for Best Boy 2025 <3
Also, Emrah for Best Boy 2025 <3
June 11, 2025
A.K. Ikezoe’s Marigolds and Murder is a queer fantasy and murder mystery that blends World War II history with magic.
Philadelphia, 1950. Detective Katsumi Okazaki uses (Not legal) prophecy magic to solve her cases. Usually, it’s cases of cheating husbands or unusual financial transactions, but her newest client brings something entirely different. She needs Kat’s help to prove her wife’s death wasn’t an accident. During her investigation, Kat realises she’s being tailed. Someone is trying to thwart her investigation, and she must determine why. If what her prophecy magic tells her is true, then catching the killer might not be enough…
I’m not usually a fan of detective stories, but the worldbuilding and plot were so unique I was instantly hooked. It was really interesting to read about how the magic of this world changed the events in World War 2, and how a (kinda) queer-normative world was still deeply, deeply misogynistic.
The mystery was intriguing, and the plot twist (Which I shall say nothing about because it’s way too easy to spoil) was delightfully unexpected. It was nice to not be able to guess the killer or the killer’s intentions in a murder mystery for once. It’s safe to say I was very, very surprised.
The main character and her partner were also very well written. Their back-and-forth (platonic) banter was enjoyable to read and made them easily lovable. However, I wish we had more information on their past. Like Kat’s job before she became a detective, and Emrah’s entire backstory. Who is this man? And most importantly, what did he do?... Hopefully all these questions will be answered in the sequel.
Thank you A.K. Ikezoe for the amazing ARC copy and bookish gifts! It was honestly the most exciting and colourful package I’ve ever received.
Philadelphia, 1950. Detective Katsumi Okazaki uses (Not legal) prophecy magic to solve her cases. Usually, it’s cases of cheating husbands or unusual financial transactions, but her newest client brings something entirely different. She needs Kat’s help to prove her wife’s death wasn’t an accident. During her investigation, Kat realises she’s being tailed. Someone is trying to thwart her investigation, and she must determine why. If what her prophecy magic tells her is true, then catching the killer might not be enough…
I’m not usually a fan of detective stories, but the worldbuilding and plot were so unique I was instantly hooked. It was really interesting to read about how the magic of this world changed the events in World War 2, and how a (kinda) queer-normative world was still deeply, deeply misogynistic.
The mystery was intriguing, and the plot twist (Which I shall say nothing about because it’s way too easy to spoil) was delightfully unexpected. It was nice to not be able to guess the killer or the killer’s intentions in a murder mystery for once. It’s safe to say I was very, very surprised.
The main character and her partner were also very well written. Their back-and-forth (platonic) banter was enjoyable to read and made them easily lovable. However, I wish we had more information on their past. Like Kat’s job before she became a detective, and Emrah’s entire backstory. Who is this man? And most importantly, what did he do?... Hopefully all these questions will be answered in the sequel.
Thank you A.K. Ikezoe for the amazing ARC copy and bookish gifts! It was honestly the most exciting and colourful package I’ve ever received.
May 26, 2025
4.25 ⭐
Marigolds and Murder is set during the 1950's in Philadelphia and our main character Katsumi Okazaki is a private investigator. Her latest case involves a possible murder of her client's fiancee, that she investigates with her assistant Emrah. Who was a very interesting character and I definitely want to learn more about him in the next book.
I also loved the writing style and the friendship between Katsumi and Emrah, as well as the sapphic representation, with our main character as well as with side characters. I do feel that at times it felt a little bit rushed, and I wish that there was some more information about her previous job as well as more about Emrah, but I'm hoping that there is more information about that in the sequel.I definitely recommend this if you're looking for a mystery with fantasy elements and sapphic representation, and I can't wait to read the sequel.
Thank you to the author for the ARC
Marigolds and Murder is set during the 1950's in Philadelphia and our main character Katsumi Okazaki is a private investigator. Her latest case involves a possible murder of her client's fiancee, that she investigates with her assistant Emrah. Who was a very interesting character and I definitely want to learn more about him in the next book.
I also loved the writing style and the friendship between Katsumi and Emrah, as well as the sapphic representation, with our main character as well as with side characters. I do feel that at times it felt a little bit rushed, and I wish that there was some more information about her previous job as well as more about Emrah, but I'm hoping that there is more information about that in the sequel.I definitely recommend this if you're looking for a mystery with fantasy elements and sapphic representation, and I can't wait to read the sequel.
Thank you to the author for the ARC
September 17, 2025
I thought it was a solid first book and cool magic system mixed with historical elements. I kinda wish there was a love interest in this or something because it was really slow in the middle, like we really only focused on the case and I wanted to get to know Kat more and who she is.
June 8, 2025
I loved everything about this! What a delight. I can't wait to see where this series goes next
December 15, 2025
Such a fun book, such well-written characters, and I loved the historical vibe mixed with the mystery and fantasy! Definite recommendation!
April 15, 2026
I want to say off the bat, this is a constructively critical review, but that being said, I enjoyed it a lot.
My rating is based almost entirely off of enjoyment. I had quite the bad book streak in terms of enjoyment recently and as this is the authors first novel, I want to be less critical with my overall rating. However, if I were to rate enjoyment and writing separately this is what I’d give it:
Enjoyment: 4-5 stars
Writing and editing: 2-3 stars
I want to give this book credit for how much I enjoyed it and as this authors first published book, it is really good. However, there were a lot of writing troubles I had with this one that I’d like to put out there as a constructive critique.
I had 3 main concerns with the writing:
1) The Classic Show Don’t Tell: except they told and didn’t show. Many points in this book I found myself removed from the flow (which was a good flow) of the writing because the author would include some event, word, or anecdote of sorts that, without explanation, the reader may have to google. But instead of showing the reader, contextually, what it was, I found I was often just randomly explained it as though the narrator were presenting to a class instead of her internal thoughts. At times there were words that needed googling but were never explained in any way as well.
a) Telling In the Context of a Mystery Novel: part of the fun of mystery novels is figuring it out alongside the main characters or detective. This book often made me feel like the author doubted the readers critical thinking and deductive skills — MC would take note of something or mention something which, to any mystery reader, would probably be a clue or some important piece of the puzzle. After all, why would it be mentioned? But then proceeds to explain what the MC deduced from the clue…which to me, kinda defeats the point. In the mystery genre, the investigator/detective/PI or whomever usually will point out the things they notice along the way to the reader and often make hypotheses throughout, but what I found to be jarring in this book was “here is a clue/thing of note…and that must mean [blank]” it kind of took the fun out of guessing for me. —on that note, there is also one “clue” that gets repeated almost word for word twice in the same chapter, in the same location.
2) Too Many Elements/Themes: it felt like this author had a lot of stories they wanted to tell with this book. Because of that, I felt like I didn’t really get to hear any of them. There was just a bit too much going on that when any mention of a possible romance plot was mentioned I actually audibly sighed because yet another element was being introduced.
I appreciate the author discussing the Japanese internment camps in WWII, it’s a topic that does not get much coverage in mainstream WWII fiction or American education. But I felt, alongside the other numerous topics and themes the book was discovering, it got pushed aside.
I think this flaw is really really common amongst authors’s first novels. The desire to discuss every topic that is deeply meaningful to you makes a lot of sense. I just wish there was a more focused topic or theme.
3) World-Building and Magic System: The magic system was just a little off to me. The author invents historical events in order to explain the development of powers and magic but it didn’t feel solid to me. Magic was both a very large presence but not at the same time and I found that kind of confusing. I assumed it was meant to be a metaphor for the devastation nuclear weapons can cause, but I may be wrong on that. In terms of general world building, I do not understand why gay marriage has been made legal in this alternate 1950s America. I don’t think the plot would’ve been affected if it were (as it is in real life) illegal. In fact I think it actually would’ve made it better and given the book a better discussion of the queer experience (as that is one of the many themes this book juggles but doesn’t really talk about too much).
A couple positive notes: Emrah and Kat’s relationship was very cute. I liked their banter a lot, much like other people did. I thought the twist was clever (albeit kinda hard for the reader to guess given certain information was missing). I can definitely see where this series will be going and I’m very interested to read the next one. I think this book will have gotten me out of a slump, which is a big compliment in my books.
All of this is to say that there are some flaws with the book but overall they did not impede me from enjoying it. I do think this is a good book that many people will enjoy. It definitely would be a good cozy read for a rainy day and had I not been analyzing it so intentionally, I think I wouldn’t have noticed a lot of these issues.
My rating is based almost entirely off of enjoyment. I had quite the bad book streak in terms of enjoyment recently and as this is the authors first novel, I want to be less critical with my overall rating. However, if I were to rate enjoyment and writing separately this is what I’d give it:
Enjoyment: 4-5 stars
Writing and editing: 2-3 stars
I want to give this book credit for how much I enjoyed it and as this authors first published book, it is really good. However, there were a lot of writing troubles I had with this one that I’d like to put out there as a constructive critique.
I had 3 main concerns with the writing:
1) The Classic Show Don’t Tell: except they told and didn’t show. Many points in this book I found myself removed from the flow (which was a good flow) of the writing because the author would include some event, word, or anecdote of sorts that, without explanation, the reader may have to google. But instead of showing the reader, contextually, what it was, I found I was often just randomly explained it as though the narrator were presenting to a class instead of her internal thoughts. At times there were words that needed googling but were never explained in any way as well.
a) Telling In the Context of a Mystery Novel: part of the fun of mystery novels is figuring it out alongside the main characters or detective. This book often made me feel like the author doubted the readers critical thinking and deductive skills — MC would take note of something or mention something which, to any mystery reader, would probably be a clue or some important piece of the puzzle. After all, why would it be mentioned? But then proceeds to explain what the MC deduced from the clue…which to me, kinda defeats the point. In the mystery genre, the investigator/detective/PI or whomever usually will point out the things they notice along the way to the reader and often make hypotheses throughout, but what I found to be jarring in this book was “here is a clue/thing of note…and that must mean [blank]” it kind of took the fun out of guessing for me. —on that note, there is also one “clue” that gets repeated almost word for word twice in the same chapter, in the same location.
2) Too Many Elements/Themes: it felt like this author had a lot of stories they wanted to tell with this book. Because of that, I felt like I didn’t really get to hear any of them. There was just a bit too much going on that when any mention of a possible romance plot was mentioned I actually audibly sighed because yet another element was being introduced.
I appreciate the author discussing the Japanese internment camps in WWII, it’s a topic that does not get much coverage in mainstream WWII fiction or American education. But I felt, alongside the other numerous topics and themes the book was discovering, it got pushed aside.
I think this flaw is really really common amongst authors’s first novels. The desire to discuss every topic that is deeply meaningful to you makes a lot of sense. I just wish there was a more focused topic or theme.
3) World-Building and Magic System: The magic system was just a little off to me. The author invents historical events in order to explain the development of powers and magic but it didn’t feel solid to me. Magic was both a very large presence but not at the same time and I found that kind of confusing. I assumed it was meant to be a metaphor for the devastation nuclear weapons can cause, but I may be wrong on that. In terms of general world building, I do not understand why gay marriage has been made legal in this alternate 1950s America. I don’t think the plot would’ve been affected if it were (as it is in real life) illegal. In fact I think it actually would’ve made it better and given the book a better discussion of the queer experience (as that is one of the many themes this book juggles but doesn’t really talk about too much).
A couple positive notes: Emrah and Kat’s relationship was very cute. I liked their banter a lot, much like other people did. I thought the twist was clever (albeit kinda hard for the reader to guess given certain information was missing). I can definitely see where this series will be going and I’m very interested to read the next one. I think this book will have gotten me out of a slump, which is a big compliment in my books.
All of this is to say that there are some flaws with the book but overall they did not impede me from enjoying it. I do think this is a good book that many people will enjoy. It definitely would be a good cozy read for a rainy day and had I not been analyzing it so intentionally, I think I wouldn’t have noticed a lot of these issues.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews