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A Whiff of Murder
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Expected 24 Feb 26This intoxicating debut spin-off of Angela M. Sanders's small-town Oregon set Witch Way Librarian Mysteries features an intriguing young woman with a unique connection to the magical realm of scent. Sometimes, she can even sniff out a killer...
Some people read auras--a light or color that surrounds others, revealing their character or emotions. Lise Bloom reads ribbons--of fragrance, that is. Whenever she meets someone new, fragrance unfurls from them--an ability called "clairalience." It's a gift she keeps to herself, including from her loving adoptive family, while secretly searching her ancestry for the roots of her magic.
Hoping to gain insight into her clairalience, Lise works at the Lucky Lotus, a New Age shop. Unfortunately, the oils the owner, Dyann, concocts, nauseate Lise and impede her sense of scent. Worse, the shop feels more like wealthy Dyann's hobby than a spiritual place, thanks to her toxic love-torment relationship with her ex-husband, Richard.
Dyann is so pleased with her latest vengeful scheme that she shares it with Lise and gleefully remarks that if Richard ever finds out, he'll kill her. For Lise, it's the last straw. Persuaded to quit by her caring, colorful crew of neighbors, Lise shows up with a resignation letter. But first, she detects a fetid odor she doesn't recognize--and discovers a spilled bottle of Mayan ceremonial liqueur . . . beside Dyann's dead body.
In her rush to call the police, Lise doesn't notice she's dropped her resignation letter beside the body--making her the prime suspect. Now, she'll have to follow her nose to uncoil a venomous truth. It just may lead her life in an entirely new direction--unless a killer cuts it short . . .
Some people read auras--a light or color that surrounds others, revealing their character or emotions. Lise Bloom reads ribbons--of fragrance, that is. Whenever she meets someone new, fragrance unfurls from them--an ability called "clairalience." It's a gift she keeps to herself, including from her loving adoptive family, while secretly searching her ancestry for the roots of her magic.
Hoping to gain insight into her clairalience, Lise works at the Lucky Lotus, a New Age shop. Unfortunately, the oils the owner, Dyann, concocts, nauseate Lise and impede her sense of scent. Worse, the shop feels more like wealthy Dyann's hobby than a spiritual place, thanks to her toxic love-torment relationship with her ex-husband, Richard.
Dyann is so pleased with her latest vengeful scheme that she shares it with Lise and gleefully remarks that if Richard ever finds out, he'll kill her. For Lise, it's the last straw. Persuaded to quit by her caring, colorful crew of neighbors, Lise shows up with a resignation letter. But first, she detects a fetid odor she doesn't recognize--and discovers a spilled bottle of Mayan ceremonial liqueur . . . beside Dyann's dead body.
In her rush to call the police, Lise doesn't notice she's dropped her resignation letter beside the body--making her the prime suspect. Now, she'll have to follow her nose to uncoil a venomous truth. It just may lead her life in an entirely new direction--unless a killer cuts it short . . .
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 24, 2026
5 people are currently reading
4794 people want to read
About the author
Angela M. Sanders
19 books577 followersAngela M. Sanders is the author of the Witch Way Librarian cozy mysteries and the Joanna Hayworth vintage clothing mysteries . As Clover Tate, she wrote the Kite Shop cozy mysteries.
Before turning author, spent more than a decade as a congressional investigator and also wrote magazine articles on perfume, food, and local personalities. When Angela isn’t at her laptop, she’s often rummaging in thrift shops, lounging with a vintage crime novel with her shelter cats Squeaky and Bitsy.
Sign up for her newsletter at www.angelamsanders.com and follow her on Instagram at @angela.m.sanders
Before turning author, spent more than a decade as a congressional investigator and also wrote magazine articles on perfume, food, and local personalities. When Angela isn’t at her laptop, she’s often rummaging in thrift shops, lounging with a vintage crime novel with her shelter cats Squeaky and Bitsy.
Sign up for her newsletter at www.angelamsanders.com and follow her on Instagram at @angela.m.sanders
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 24, 2025
Lise Bloom is a garden designer, or she would be, if she had any clients! Instead, the Lucky Lotus, a new age shop is where she spends her time working for lottery winner, Dyann, who is usually to be found working on her next plot to humiliate and annoy ex-husband, Richard. Lise is a clairalient which means she can see and interpret the meanings behind a person's fragrance, although she doesn't recognise a disturbing odour in the store until it leads her to a dead body! Now Lise has to sniff her way through the clues alongside housemate Fran, who has her own difficulties to work through, and landlady, Teddy who has definitely lived! The killer isn't finished however, and when they strike again the situation gets even more dangerous and shocking for everyone.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own. A spin off from the Witch Way Librarian Series, Lise Bloom's adventures promised much, especially as I'd loved the previous series, but there is only a tenuous link to Josie and her library before this successfully stands alone. I like Lise, Frank, and Teddy and look forward to reading more of their escapades and back stories in future books. 3.5 rounded up to 4*.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own. A spin off from the Witch Way Librarian Series, Lise Bloom's adventures promised much, especially as I'd loved the previous series, but there is only a tenuous link to Josie and her library before this successfully stands alone. I like Lise, Frank, and Teddy and look forward to reading more of their escapades and back stories in future books. 3.5 rounded up to 4*.
October 13, 2025
#AWhiffofMurder #NetGalley is a new cozy mystery written by Angela M. Sanders.
This unique story is a spin off of the author's other series, featuring Josie Way.
Lise Bloom knows she's different, but she isn't even sure if what she experiences is real.
In fact, Lise reads fragrances, so when she’s around old friends or new, fragrance often surrounds them. Lise is told her ability is called “clairalience.”
Lise works for Dyann at the Lucky Lotus, a New Age shop. Lise isn't happy with her job, so her quirky roommates convince her to send in her resignation, hoping she will find a new path to take.
When she enters the store the next day, Lisa encounters a horrible odor, something she can only describe as "death."
She discovers Dyann on the floor, obviously dead, and she soon finds herself caught in family drama and plenty of lies.
Will she be able to find a new suspect to keep the police off her trail?
I enjoyed this first in a new series and I'm looking forward to seeing how other stories play out.
This unique story is a spin off of the author's other series, featuring Josie Way.
Lise Bloom knows she's different, but she isn't even sure if what she experiences is real.
In fact, Lise reads fragrances, so when she’s around old friends or new, fragrance often surrounds them. Lise is told her ability is called “clairalience.”
Lise works for Dyann at the Lucky Lotus, a New Age shop. Lise isn't happy with her job, so her quirky roommates convince her to send in her resignation, hoping she will find a new path to take.
When she enters the store the next day, Lisa encounters a horrible odor, something she can only describe as "death."
She discovers Dyann on the floor, obviously dead, and she soon finds herself caught in family drama and plenty of lies.
Will she be able to find a new suspect to keep the police off her trail?
I enjoyed this first in a new series and I'm looking forward to seeing how other stories play out.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📱📖 Read on Kobo
📃 304 pages
⏱ Duration: ~4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Kensington Publishing (Kensington Cozies)
📅 Release Date: February 24, 2026
📌 ARC provided by NetGalley
After feeling underwhelmed by the Josie Way series, I was hopeful when Angela M. Sanders announced a fresh start with A Whiff of Murder. Lise Bloom was introduced in Witch and Tell (Witch Way Librarian #7), and I liked her there enough to feel optimistic about her stepping into the lead role. Her gift of reading “fragrance ribbons” felt creative and had the potential to set this paranormal cozy apart. I loved the Oregon setting, the quirky side characters, and Sanders’s usual knack for small‑town charm.
But somewhere between the incense sticks and the melodrama, things drifted a little too YA for my taste. In this book, Lise comes across as far more childish than expected, especially in how she handles conflict. The rivalry with Detective Signe felt rooted in high school grudges rather than adult motivations, which made both characters feel emotionally underdeveloped. Signe’s determination to view Lise as guilty simply because of a shared past rivalry stretched credibility and weakened the investigative tension.
The mystery itself is serviceable, and the clairalience concept remains the strongest element. This feels like a book that wanted to be cozy fun but stumbled in character execution. Still, Sanders’s prose remains smooth, and I can see die‑hard cozy fans enjoying the light paranormal twist.
Would I recommend it?
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a sprinkle of magic and small‑town gossip, you might find A Whiff of Murder a pleasant weekend diversion. For me, it didn’t quite capture the spark of Sanders’s earlier work, but it’s far from a total miss.
📃 304 pages
⏱ Duration: ~4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Kensington Publishing (Kensington Cozies)
📅 Release Date: February 24, 2026
📌 ARC provided by NetGalley
After feeling underwhelmed by the Josie Way series, I was hopeful when Angela M. Sanders announced a fresh start with A Whiff of Murder. Lise Bloom was introduced in Witch and Tell (Witch Way Librarian #7), and I liked her there enough to feel optimistic about her stepping into the lead role. Her gift of reading “fragrance ribbons” felt creative and had the potential to set this paranormal cozy apart. I loved the Oregon setting, the quirky side characters, and Sanders’s usual knack for small‑town charm.
But somewhere between the incense sticks and the melodrama, things drifted a little too YA for my taste. In this book, Lise comes across as far more childish than expected, especially in how she handles conflict. The rivalry with Detective Signe felt rooted in high school grudges rather than adult motivations, which made both characters feel emotionally underdeveloped. Signe’s determination to view Lise as guilty simply because of a shared past rivalry stretched credibility and weakened the investigative tension.
The mystery itself is serviceable, and the clairalience concept remains the strongest element. This feels like a book that wanted to be cozy fun but stumbled in character execution. Still, Sanders’s prose remains smooth, and I can see die‑hard cozy fans enjoying the light paranormal twist.
Would I recommend it?
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a sprinkle of magic and small‑town gossip, you might find A Whiff of Murder a pleasant weekend diversion. For me, it didn’t quite capture the spark of Sanders’s earlier work, but it’s far from a total miss.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Whiff of Murder brings together a cast of quirky ladies in a falling down Victorian house in Astoria Oregon. Lise can smell emotion and history. Fran can hear ghosts of which the house has many. Teddy has lived an adventurous life and after inheriting the house is trying to keep it going.
Lise and Fran are twenty somethings that come across as young and emotionally immature.
All three are likable characters. They make some poor choices during the book that could have been devastating if they had been up against a real villain.
Diann’s death is not clearly murder. Lise and Fran won’t let go the idea that it’s murder. The police chief is blindly trying to prevent the town from having any murders during his tenure. The psychic retirement home adds an additional quirky element.
I like the mystery, but the book felt a bit chaotic. There is an interesting mix of elements. I like the Witch Way Librarian mysteries so I’ll give a second book a try to see if this new series can come into its own.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy of the book.
Lise and Fran are twenty somethings that come across as young and emotionally immature.
All three are likable characters. They make some poor choices during the book that could have been devastating if they had been up against a real villain.
Diann’s death is not clearly murder. Lise and Fran won’t let go the idea that it’s murder. The police chief is blindly trying to prevent the town from having any murders during his tenure. The psychic retirement home adds an additional quirky element.
I like the mystery, but the book felt a bit chaotic. There is an interesting mix of elements. I like the Witch Way Librarian mysteries so I’ll give a second book a try to see if this new series can come into its own.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy of the book.
November 28, 2025
I was excited to get to read this mystery because I love the other series this author writes. I wish I could say that it was as good as the Witch Way Librarian mysteries, but I just had a hard time getting into this book. It did grow on me more as I was reading it and I for sure would read the next in the series, but I think there needs to be a little more character development and explanation. I did like the assortment of quirky characters and the mystery with the house is intriguing. I hope in the next book we get some more background and a lot more details. I was also sad to learn at the end of this book that the Witch Way Librarian series is ending. This series isn’t really a great replacement at this point, but it has potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
January 25, 2026
In “A Whiff of Murder,” Lise and her two housemates as they are caught up in a murder mystery. Lise’s employer has dropped dead and Lise is a suspect because of her recent resignation letter. This story involves a sentient house, a sleezy ex-husband, mysterious parentage, an interesting retirement home, and a snake refuge. I was captivated by the mystery and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. This book is the start of a new series that follows Lise, Fran, and Teddy as they solve town mysteries and learn more about their magical abilities. I love the Witchy Way Librarian mystery series by Sanders and I am sad to see that it has concluded. I will continue reading the next installment in this series for that reason. I am hoping to see a small romance develop in this series.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A Whiff of Murder takes place in Astoria, Oregon. Lise Bloom can read scents. Lise likes where she lives and her job is ok, until she finds her boss murdered. After that, she still likes where she lives but she's going to need a new job and some help figuring out who killed her boss and probably an alibi. With a very fun cast of likeable characters she has plenty of sleuthing help and more than a few suspects. This very enjoyable cozy mystery that will keep you guess who done it and I am super excited that it's the first in a new series!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Whiff of Murder is a spin-off from Angela M. Sanders’ Witch Way Librarian Mystery series. I loved that series so thought I would give this one a try. The story was slow to start but was fun and intriguing in the end. There’s a bit of paranormality throughout with three housemates having their own special “gifts”, living in a house with a gift of its own. This is a pretty quick cozy mystery read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A must-read for fans of whimsical cozies and found family! I absolutely adore Lise as a character and the kooky group of characters at the home she stays at. The retirement community was a great addition to the story, and the ending had me on the edge of my seat.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fantastic first book in a series. Great spin off from the Witch Way series with Josie Way, which I'm saddened to know has ended. But hopefully Josie and Sam can make an appearance in this series. Super fun read. Excited to learn more about the house.
Review of advance copy
A quick & easy fantasy mystery.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
fun and effective murder mystery. this idea of clairalience is a really unique fantasy power that works well for a murder mystery protag, too. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews