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Beatrice Ophelia is Flickering Out: A Humorous Whodunit

Not yet published
Expected 17 Mar 26
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Beatrice Sawyer is flickering out, for what might be the last time.

After being laid off yet again, Beatrice returns with her family to her childhood summer home to unwind. And maybe figure out how to move out of her parents’ basement. The town is hosting their inaugural Smallmouth Bass Festival as a last-wick effort to attract tourists, and Beatrice hopes volunteering might shed some light on her future.

At first, things seem to be brightening. Beatrice rediscovers the candle shop her grandmother once owned, and a new dream sparks to life.

Until she stumbles upon her estranged aunt dragging away the marina owner’s body.

When her grandfather insists on his daughter’s innocence, Beatrice must shelve her newfound dream and team up with her brother and childhood best friend to clear her aunt’s name. But as they dig deeper, Beatrice wonders whether their efforts will mend their family ties—or if she’ll fail to save her aunt and have to watch her family go up in smoke.

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 17, 2026

3 people are currently reading
73 people want to read

About the author

Megan Gerig

2 books41 followers
Megan is a lover of tea obsessed with autumn days in her Spare Oom with a book in her lap. When she's not chasing her wildlings around the house, she's dreaming about stories of mystery and magic. Megan and her family live on a mini-farm in the country where they live out their homesteading dreams. Readers can connect with her on Substack and on Instagram @megangerigauthor.

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5 stars
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8 (34%)
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3 (13%)
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Megan.
Author 2 books41 followers
December 14, 2025
Yes, I’m the author. Yes, I’m giving it five stars. Because I’m proud of this fun, silly book, and I hope it makes others laugh as much as I did!
Profile Image for Morticia_is_Reading.
329 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 11, 2026
This is a fun, cosy murder-mystery with the whole "start afresh" vibe. Unusually, it's a brother-sister sleuthing duo and they've gone back to their childhood summer spot at their grandpa's request. There's a family rift that needs healing and that looks highly unlikely until Aunt Penny is arrested for murder. Can the siblings solve the mystery and save the family?
Profile Image for Lizzy Hite.
264 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 21, 2025
I’m not ready for this to be over… Absolutely loved this cozy, funny, quirky, small-town mystery, and I’m so looking forward to the next adventures in the series!!


~~I received an early copy of this book from the author and was not required to leave a positive review.~~
Profile Image for Lena.
Author 1 book55 followers
January 4, 2026
Gotta love a good “everyone hated the victim so much they wished they’d done it!” murder mystery 😂

This was such a fun whodunnit, with just the right amount of character growth and personal moments interspersing the mystery solving. I adored how scent-infused this book is, too—I feel like that’s a rather under-appreciated sense in fiction, and I loved it! There were so many subtle candle-themed similes that were fun, too. And now I want to buy every one of the candles mentioned in this book!

I think I was in it more for the character journey than just to solve the mystery—which I definitely prefer over just slogging through a book to find out the ending. I really liked the cast, and the dynamics between a variety of characters.
The mystery was good, too—so many clues left dangling, but I was able to put it together just a split second before the characters. I found it a very satisfying conclusion to both the mystery, and character arcs. Can’t wait for Megan’s next book!
Profile Image for Biblioteca da velha Laura.
230 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 14, 2026
A family drama turns into a murder mystery investigation. Adorable fun time with Beatrice and Theo in a small town. A delightful read for fans of cozy mysteries.
3,5 ⭐️
Profile Image for Megan.
Author 3 books1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 19, 2026
The synopsis captured my attention from the moment I first read it, and the story itself didn’t disappoint.

From the cover, I had a feeling I’d like Beatrice Ophelia, but I didn’t expect to relate to her as much as I did. Her string of internal dialogue from being an overthinker might have been a good example of the rambling nature of my internal dialogue as well, but her perseverance even when she didn’t feel good enough encouraged and endeared me.

I loved the vividness and personalities of the entire cast. The sibling banter between Beatrice and Theo made me laugh, and Julian might have melted my heart a time or two. But the whole town is full of interesting characters that left me feeling like there are plenty more stories to be told at Thisbe Harbor. (A town I wish I could now explore after reading the story. Too bad it’s fictional!)

I can’t finish my review without mentioning the mystery itself, but that’s the hardest thing to comment on because I don’t want to give anything away. I’ll sum it up by saying that the unraveling mystery kept me turning pages longer into the night than I probably should have. Even at the point I thought I had it figured out, I couldn’t stop reading because I wanted to see how it would all unfold.

Overall, this story truly left me wanting more, in the best way possible!

Now, I must say I did consider knocking my review down to 4.5 stars for one reason, but it’s a bit of a spoiler. So if you haven’t read the book, read on at your own risk.



[I received an eARC from the author, but all thoughts in the review are my own]
130 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 1, 2026
This book has a very specific vibe. Soft lighting. Big feelings. Long thoughts.

Beatrice Ophelia is Flickering Out is beautifully written and clearly very intentional, but it also had me staring into space wondering if anything was actually going to happen.

Megan Gerig’s prose is moody and thoughtful, and she does a great job capturing emotional burnout and that foggy, disconnected feeling of being alive but not exactly thriving. Beatrice is relatable in a “wow I too have stared at the ceiling having an existential crisis” kind of way. The problem is that we do this a lot. Like… a lot a lot.

The pacing is slow, and not in a cozy way. More in a “did I accidentally reread the same chapter?” way. The story leans hard into vibes and internal spirals rather than plot, and while that will absolutely work for some readers, I kept wanting more structure or momentum. Or at least a clear sense of where we were headed.

Overall, this is a solid three-star read for me. It’s well written, emotionally honest, and definitely has an audience. It just didn’t fully click, and by the end I felt like I had gently flickered alongside Beatrice rather than gone on an actual journey with her.
If you like quiet, introspective books where feelings are the main event, this might be your thing.
Profile Image for Beth Gerson.
65 reviews2 followers
January 9, 2026
For me, this was tough to get through. The pacing was all over the place; a lot of chapters didn’t move the plot forward in a meaningful way. There was a lot going on with characters’ backstories that sometimes didn’t amount to very much or really make sense. Why is a college-aged girl put in full responsibility of fixing her entire family? Multiple adults put that on a young person who had nothing to do with why it was fractured in the first place, and everyone seems to feel like she can fix it. The aunt seems to do a complete 180 in personality from the beginning to the end of the book. The mother, whose family it is, is underrepresented throughout. The stakes of solving the murder are undermined by all of the other crises and life changes that the main characters are also navigating.

I just don’t feel like this book does the job of drawing you into these characters’ lives in a way that makes sense in the end. I think the book could either have been a coming-of-age, finding your path novel OR a cozy mystery, but it’s not threading the needle well enough to successfully do both at the same time.

I will not continue to follow the series on this one.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.
Profile Image for Stephanie Cross.
121 reviews12 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 13, 2026
Let me introduce you to my new favorite rainy day cozy read, Beatrice Ophelia Is Flickering Out.

Honestly, friends, I don’t even know how to explain all the good feelings this book brought me.

It’s warm and delightful, deep and insightful, full of family and small town drama, has the perfect touch of mystery and suspense, and is filled with hope even in the darkest moments.

Beatrice is immediately endearing, maybe because I see so much of my own awkwardness (and desire to help gone awry) in her. Her relationship with her brother, Theo, made my heart happy. The way they just get each other but still really frustrate each other—it’s so on point. Centering the story around the trio of friends—Beatrice, Theo, and Jillian—was absolutely brilliant. Each character brings something new and necessary to the page, and I’m so excited to see where they go next.

Thank you, Megan, for allowing me to be part of your street team. I can’t wait for this book to be released into the world and for others to get to enjoy it too.

🕯️ I received an advanced copy of this book from the author but all thoughts here are my own. 🕯️
Profile Image for Zoe Betts.
31 reviews
January 17, 2026
3⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley for providing be with early access to this read!

This cozy murder mystery takes place in Thisbe, a small beach town. Beatrice Ophelia and her family are there to participate in a festival in hopes to bring the towns popularity back. But when her aunt is found with a body and accused of murder, Beatrice, her brother Theo and best friend Julian take on the task of solving the mystery and clearing her aunts name.

This was a 3 star read for me. The story was interesting and I enjoyed the small town feel. It really felt like you were in Thisbe and that you personally knew the characters. The relationships between the characters were well written, and I enjoyed the writing style of the book.

The only thing I wasn’t a big fan of was that it felt like there were to many storylines-romance, murder mystery, starting a business, buying a house and fixing relationships. Because there were so many I felt like some didn’t get enough detail - however there was enough to understand each one. Besides that, it was a good quick cozy read!
Profile Image for Patience.
250 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 18, 2026
I liked Beatrice and Theo right away. They seem to have a very healthy and realistic sibling relationship. Actually, I liked all of Bea’s family pretty much right away. Well, except for Aunt Penny, of course.
I thought there would be more candle making in this book. But it’s only the first of the series, so I look forward to exploring that more in future installments. And there WAS a lot of scent descriptions. Yum. 😋
The festival setting was an enjoyable surprise. As a vendor myself, I appreciated the accurate representation.
The mystery was well done. Nothing too edge of your seat scary. I have a tenuous relationship with mysteries. Why is it always murder? 😭 I didn’t figure out whodunit until right before the reveal, though I DID have them on my personal suspect list. 😏
I rate this book for ages 19 and up for romance and some violence.
Warning: This book makes you hungry. Now I want homemade powdered donuts, a giant soft salty pretzel, crisp french fries, buttery funnel cake, a hamburger, caramel coffee, and a tea or two. Or three. Oh, and don’t forget the cinnamon roll!
Profile Image for Lis.
62 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 11, 2026
This is a perfect weekend mystery. Its a cozy quick mystery, and rather short at only about 250 pages. I will admit because of the pacing I did not feel really hooked while reading this.

The characterization is very great, Julian is so sweet and makes a very cute love interest. I really enjoyed all the family humor. Although I did think Beatrice's family is a little too involved. Granted her aunt is being questioned for the murder of the marina owner, so I guess it makes sense. Just when my aunt was arrested for embezzlement we just laughed at her, but to each their own.

I'd recommend this for anybody who enjoys cozy mysteries and need something to read on a rainy weekend, which is when I read it! I think the pacing is a little odd jumps around a little bit too much but I would read the next one in the series. And it is a fun way to pass the time.

Thank you NetGalley and Lamplighter Literary Creations for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Rachel E. Meyer.
1,067 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 19, 2026
I had a great time reading this kind of grown-up, Nancy Drew style whodunit. It honestly hit a bit closer to home than I expected, too.

I empathized a lot with Beatrice, the main character. Like her, I've often struggled with feeling behind in life and unsure where I want to go. Her growth throughout the book was wonderful. And her relationship with Julian? Very cute.

The mystery was also fantastic and kept me guessing throughout. I'm not one of those people who try to figure it out before the protagonist, so I enjoyed unraveling it alongside her, her brother, and Julian.

If you're looking for a cozy mystery set in a small town with no objectionable content, I highly recommend this book.
13 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 5, 2026
Beatrice Ophelia Is Flickering Out is a true cozy mystery. Reminiscent of Leslie Meier’s Lucy Stone series, it’s a feel-good, character-driven whodunnit that was an absolute joy to read.

The story follows brother and sister duo, Beatrice and Theseus, as they return to their childhood summer home to spend a weekend with family. Murder ensues and the group (including Beatrice's ex flame) spend the next few days trying to solve the case.

I loved getting to know the characters and the town and I am certain we haven't seen the last of them! I rate this novel as 3.5 stars, it was wonderful to read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Profile Image for Zoe Lipman.
1,304 reviews30 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 6, 2026
This was fun, quick, and easy to read. It has a similar vibe to The Finlay Donovan series, so if you like the tone of that sort of mystery book, I think you should give this book a try as well.

I did find the pacing to be a bit up and down. It took a while for anything to really happen, but then it would get really fast and action-packed, and then slow again, and then the ending was fast again. I did find that strange.

And the slow parts have an almost repetitive feel to them.

Overall, I did find this book to be fun and a cozy sort of mystery (the setting definitely emphasized that).

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Profile Image for Karen Stallman .
899 reviews101 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 14, 2026
3.5 stars

“Beatrice Ophelia is Flickering Out” by Megan Gerig the first instalment in the Lake Erie Mysteries. What a great start to a new series, I enjoyed this book and look forward to book 2. Beatrice Sawyer is flickering out, for what might be the last time.

I did struggle a bit with the pace of the book but it still didn’t stop me reading it in one day. I totally understood how Beatrice felt not knowing what she wanted to do in life, I still struggle to this day at age 60. So with that respect I could really relate to her character, there was family drama and emotions to unpack and overall I found it to be a good story.

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess whodunnit but that did not distract from the story. I’m sure in the next book character development and plot will improve and I won’t be able to guess.

I recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 2 to come out!

I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Lamplighter Literary Creations and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
Profile Image for Miruna.
105 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 4, 2026
This is a quiet, thoughtful read that focuses a lot on grief and mental health. The writing is nice and often very reflective, and there were moments that felt honest and relatable.

For me, though, it was pretty slow and very internal, with not much happening plot-wise. I found myself wishing for a little more movement to keep me fully engaged.

Overall, it’s a gentle, emotional book that will probably really connect with readers who enjoy character-driven, introspective stories. It didn’t quite grab me the whole way through, but I can still appreciate what the author was trying to do.
Profile Image for Heather Guenthner.
14 reviews
January 12, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Lamplighter Literary Creations for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I struggled with this one. The bones of the story are good. It was an interesting concept, but I could not get into the story. I felt like it dragged and didn’t move forward. I couldn’t connect with the characters. There were also some small character inconsistencies and typos that took me out of the story. I don’t think I would reach for another book if this becomes a series.
Profile Image for Jen.
10 reviews1 follower
January 18, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley for the preview.
I love a good cozy mystery, but this one was not for me. I found the overdescriptions of food distracting (I kept wondering if the author had been a food writer) and the side characters very stereotypical. I also thought it was easy to figure out "who did it" pretty easily, but I do read a lot of mystery books. I think the author plans to make this a series, and I do think there is an audience for it - just needs some cleaning up.
Profile Image for Ellen McGinty.
Author 4 books193 followers
October 21, 2025
I read an early copy of this book and loved it! I'm not usually a cozy mystery person, but the candles. The CANDLES! And it was more than seasonal scents that pulled me in. It's a geniunely fun, clean mystery novel with good character arcs, small town lore, beautiful themes about family, and a clever twist. A fantastic cozy fall mystery!
Profile Image for Becca Wierwille.
Author 12 books41 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 29, 2025
What a delightful, cozy read! I could go on and on about the things that kept me turning pages—the quirky characters, the small lakeside town, the matcha lattes, the candles . . . and, of course, the mystery! This is a funny, charming story about courage, standing up for family, and doing hard things.

*I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Profile Image for Hailey Huntington.
Author 11 books48 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 23, 2025
An absolutely delightful cozy mystery!

The characters are charming and are at the heart of the novel. I loved the dynamics between Beatrice and Theseus--sibling duos is one of my favorite tropes. The setting is quirky and perfect for the story. Beatrice Ophelia is Flickering Out will make a great cozy mystery read for summer or fall! I look forward to more adventures with these characters.

(I received an eARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own!)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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