Mischief in a Bottle: A Paranormal, cozy mystery fantasy

by Marie Andreas

Life as a jinn was great. Magic didn’t suck. I had a good life as an arena gladiator.
Also had a charming jinn boyfriend.
All of it came crashing down when my boyfriend set me up to take the fall for his crimes.
After one hundred years serving time in my bottle, I was finally paroled.
On a backwater planet called Earth.

My name is Ceian; it’s much longer in my language, but it works. I was so grateful for being paroled that I never asked where I was going.

Forgotten Hollow was one of those cute little mountain towns that I’d heard about but never wanted to see. I was a big city girl, and within the Eltrisphere collection of worlds, I’d seen cities ten times as large as Tokyo and Delhi combined.

Now I was in a cute town, living in a cute cottage. I wasn’t alone; the people behind my parole had assigned me a centurion to keep an eye on me. They’d changed him into a goat to be less obvious.

There was also my late and unlamented ex-boyfriend’s cat. Having a talking goat and a talking cat was tricky in an Earth town, but it was comforting.

I’d even made friends, three mystery-loving old ladies who loved to cook. As I loved to eat and had developed a love of late-night TV cop shows, it was a good match.

There was even a love interest. Detective Jack Lanclin. Tall, dark, and hunky.

Things were starting to go my way until the bodies started dropping.

405 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2025

About the author

Marie is a fantasy and science fiction reader with a serious writing addiction, and a few awards to go with it. If she wasn't writing about all the people in her head, she'd be lurking about coffee shops annoying total strangers with her stories. So really, writing is a way of saving the masses. Her fantasy series, The Lost Ancients, starts with The Glass Gargoyle. The entire six book, Lost Ancient series is complete for binge time!

There is also a completed space opera trilogy, with Warrior Wench, Victorious Dead, and Defiant Ruin. Vas and her crew of mercs launched a new series with Traitor's Folly which is also now complete.

A Curious Invasion-- a steampunk-is out and has two more books out as well. Vampires, mermaids, pharaohs, and TEA!

Essence of Chaos is the first book in a completed epic fantasy trilogy.

The Girl with the Iron Wing is a thriller/Urban Fantasy, and the first book in the Broken Veils series. The trilogy is now completed.

A trio of sisters is represented facing their biggest challenges in the Magic & Sorcery Chronicles--a clean romantasy trilogy.

A new paranormal cozy mystery fantasy series launches with Mischief in a Bottle.


More new books, series, and adventures coming in 2026!


When not saving the masses from coffee shop shenanigans, Marie likes to visit the UK and keeps hoping someone will give her a nice summer home in the Forest of Dean or northern Wales.

To find out more about the books, and future series, please visit her website at www.marieandreas.com--especially if you happen to have a small cottage to give her.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ceian is a jinn on parole on a backwater planet called Earth (for a crime she didn’t commit). There isn’t supposed to be anyone else like her around, but it seems quite a few fellow Eltrisphere citizens are running around causing trouble. With her talking cat and goat for company, as well as Hadari, a hoxien wolf and her five puppies, a cozy cottage and her new tea and spice shop opening up in town, Ceian has enough to keep her busy, and then the dead bodies, kidnappings, break-ins, and other strange happenings begin. She has the help of Keith, who has been hiding out on Earth for about 40 years and then there’s the three old ladies that love to solve mysteries and the hunky detective, Jack, who might be interested, and then he might not be because he’s suspicious of Ceian since trouble seems to follow her. Also her magic, as well as Lucie the cat’s magic, has been restricted with metal bracelets (or collar in Lucie’s case) that also protect them from magic used against them. Keith doesn’t have that problem, so he’s helpful when magic is needed and the fierce Hadari’s magic is also very useful. Hopefully, Ceian will make it to the grand opening of her tea shop, which will prove that she can make it as a parolee on Earth, despite all the mayhem and craziness that is going on around her. This was a fun story, with lots going on, mysteries to be solved, and a nice jinn just trying to get her life together after being trapped in her bottle for 100 years after her former boyfriend set her up to take the fall for his crimes. I loved all of the quirky characters and the quaint little town, and I hope there are more stories to come in this world.

[Sydney Sheets · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.5 Stars**

This was a great read, I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. To me this was a very cozy mystery with an otherworldly/supernatural element. Its about a Jenni named Ceian, who being from a different planet than earth is sent here to live out her parole sentence. So after a “short” 100 year banishment to her bottle, she is now on parole. Along with the centurion Tiberius who helped to catch her, they have been sent to earth to live out their sentences. They also have a cat who worked alongside her former BF and was left on earth. Her main goal is to blend in and work hard to get her freedom and magic back, but its been a rocky start. In the small town of Forgotten Hollow. Ceian is trying to get her act together but when her and Tiberius are dropped there, they're in for a big suprise. Fast forward after being in town for a few months, she is working to open her new tea house. Then her tea shop is targeted, her friends are kidnapped and strange bodies begin appearing. A whole lot of magical chaos is about to begin and she is right in the middle. This chaotic story will keep you guessing until the end. With a whole lot of cozy extras in between.

Thanks to Book Siren and the publishers for this arc!

[Michelle Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mischief in a Bottle is an enjoyable story filled with interesting characters and delightful humor. We follow a jinn on parole—thanks to her ex, Daruis—who only wants to ride out her time on Earth and return to her old life. However, a slew of strange happenings begins cropping up around the town of Forgotten Hollow: missing goats, agents in black suits, kidnapping, and even murder. Add in a powerful stone our heroine wants nothing to do with, and you have a thoroughly fun read. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book! This is a whole new take on magic, magical creatures, magical plants and where they come from before they got to earth. And why. I loved the characters. They were so much fun. I loved that I was right about the bad guy. It was great how he was captured. I’m looking forward to the next book!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mischief in a Bottle

Great read! Wonderful characters! I like strong female characters! Lots of fun and mystery going on all the time! Write more soon, can't wait to read the next book!

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one and am looking forward to further adventures.