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Magical Misfit Murders #1
Crystals and Corpses
Magic, murder, and a whole lot of coffee—welcome to Ravenstone!
Declan Hawthorne is just your average caffeine-addicted guy—until a visit to his grandfather magic is real, witches exist, and apparently, Declan’s one of them.
Now he’s getting to know Ravenstone, a supernatural small town where the coffee is strong, the monsters are quirky, and someone just murdered a vampire at the first annual Magic Festival.
His ally? Gideon Blackwood—a gorgeous wolf shifter who can’t shift but still manages to growl in all the right ways. He knows he can’t be Alpha, but that doesn’t stop him from protecting everyone else… including one reckless new witch who doesn’t know when to quit.
Between magical cookies and cakes, a bunch of meddling misfit monsters, and a lot of spilled coffee, Declan and Gideon have their hands full. But if they want to catch a killer—and maybe fall a little in love—they’ll have to trust their instincts and maybe their magic.
Because in Ravenstone, coffee solves most problems. The rest? Magic and a hot wolf usually do the trick.
Tags : MM paranormal mystery romance, cozy mystery vibes with a bit of heat, an alpha without a wolf, a guy who’s just discovered he’s a witch, some magical cakes and cookies, supernatural small town creatures, low angst, lots and lots of coffee, a misfit monster support group with a heartbroken mermaid, a murder-board-creating shadow imp, a matronly spider lady, a grumpy demon, an extroverted sprite, a shy bigfoot, and Declan’s hippie grandfather.
Declan Hawthorne is just your average caffeine-addicted guy—until a visit to his grandfather magic is real, witches exist, and apparently, Declan’s one of them.
Now he’s getting to know Ravenstone, a supernatural small town where the coffee is strong, the monsters are quirky, and someone just murdered a vampire at the first annual Magic Festival.
His ally? Gideon Blackwood—a gorgeous wolf shifter who can’t shift but still manages to growl in all the right ways. He knows he can’t be Alpha, but that doesn’t stop him from protecting everyone else… including one reckless new witch who doesn’t know when to quit.
Between magical cookies and cakes, a bunch of meddling misfit monsters, and a lot of spilled coffee, Declan and Gideon have their hands full. But if they want to catch a killer—and maybe fall a little in love—they’ll have to trust their instincts and maybe their magic.
Because in Ravenstone, coffee solves most problems. The rest? Magic and a hot wolf usually do the trick.
Tags : MM paranormal mystery romance, cozy mystery vibes with a bit of heat, an alpha without a wolf, a guy who’s just discovered he’s a witch, some magical cakes and cookies, supernatural small town creatures, low angst, lots and lots of coffee, a misfit monster support group with a heartbroken mermaid, a murder-board-creating shadow imp, a matronly spider lady, a grumpy demon, an extroverted sprite, a shy bigfoot, and Declan’s hippie grandfather.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2026
91 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
January 18, 2026
Cute but boring as fuck 🙃
January 14, 2026
I feel so bad, especially because I got this book as an ARC through Gay Romance Reviews but I have to be honest. I just can’t give this book more than 2.5 stars. I’m sorry 😞.
I loved Gideon and that’s about it. He made me finish the book, but I didn’t feel much chemistry between Declan and Gideon. The whole ‘investigation’ - if you can even call it that - was kind of ridiculous. The misfits, especially Declan, accuse people left and right without any proof whatsoever. Declan’s magic, profession or (family) history has no contribution to the story whatsoever. I didn’t warm up to him at all and rolled my eyes a lot.
I went in expecting silliness and coziness, but instead I was just bored.
I loved Gideon and that’s about it. He made me finish the book, but I didn’t feel much chemistry between Declan and Gideon. The whole ‘investigation’ - if you can even call it that - was kind of ridiculous. The misfits, especially Declan, accuse people left and right without any proof whatsoever. Declan’s magic, profession or (family) history has no contribution to the story whatsoever. I didn’t warm up to him at all and rolled my eyes a lot.
I went in expecting silliness and coziness, but instead I was just bored.
January 25, 2026
It was cute, but I realized once again that I don't like amateur detectives as much as trained people who deal with murder. I like that Declan is so quirky, but I just don't like the way he approached the murders...
It was a bit unrealistic that the police wouldn't show up at all and let Declan sort it out? What?
And yes, I knew relatively quickly who it was. It wasn't that hard...
I actually liked the misfits best.
I would still give vol. 2 a chance... 🤷🏻♀️😅
It was a bit unrealistic that the police wouldn't show up at all and let Declan sort it out? What?
And yes, I knew relatively quickly who it was. It wasn't that hard...
I actually liked the misfits best.
I would still give vol. 2 a chance... 🤷🏻♀️😅
January 31, 2026
Fairly fluffy. Similar themes to other Ames books.
January 19, 2026
I'm on a murder mystery kick right now and this one was fantastic. I like the classic whodunit style with the addition of the "magical misfits" and the supernatural elements they brought to the story. I like Declan coming into his powers and finding his new dream of opening a bakery. I've always thought the idea of magical baked goods really cool and I would love to have that ability.
Review of advance copy
A fun and lighthearted small-town cozy mystery romance that is not to be missed!
Also, the first book in the series
The characters were so well written with their different personalities and quirks.
They weren’t professional private eyes; they were just everyday joes and janes (mermaids and bigfeet and...) trying to figure out who was killing folks in their community.
They bumbled their way through each guess and clue- very refreshing and slightly humorous at times.
Tried to mask their interrogations as everyday conversation - honestly, overly caffeinated Declan seemed to have that down naturally
Personal biases definitely jaded some of their guesses, but they were not going to overlook anyone.
All this while our town's unofficial “Alpha” Gideon, found himself falling for their newest resident and possible witch, Declan
“because damn it, I was in charge of my life, and everything was going to be amazing from now on-”
The power of positive thinking!
Declan had packed up his life, what he didnt leave with his cheating ex, that is, and was now trudging up the town lane to surprise his grandfather with a visit.
Let’s be real, what better place to take a breather and reevaluate his life than with his quirky grandfather?
“Did they not see the enormous spider knitting beside them?”
Declan had no idea that magic was real, and he himself might be a practitioner.
But he was about to get a very in your face introduction to the world of the supernatural.
I have to say he handled each new surprise so well. I am not sure if I would have been as calm as him.
“You don’t need to stop mauling one another.”
It was fun to watch these two testing the draw between them.
The little pecks and side glances.
It felt natural the way it developed.
Definitely was second to the mystery, but was front and center. If that makes sense
I do want to toss out a little thought here - when you read the part about Gideon’s childhood, does anything come to mind? I don't want to spoil a possible future storyline - I think I know why he can’t shift.
Also, the first book in the series
The characters were so well written with their different personalities and quirks.
They weren’t professional private eyes; they were just everyday joes and janes (mermaids and bigfeet and...) trying to figure out who was killing folks in their community.
They bumbled their way through each guess and clue- very refreshing and slightly humorous at times.
Tried to mask their interrogations as everyday conversation - honestly, overly caffeinated Declan seemed to have that down naturally
Personal biases definitely jaded some of their guesses, but they were not going to overlook anyone.
All this while our town's unofficial “Alpha” Gideon, found himself falling for their newest resident and possible witch, Declan
“because damn it, I was in charge of my life, and everything was going to be amazing from now on-”
The power of positive thinking!
Declan had packed up his life, what he didnt leave with his cheating ex, that is, and was now trudging up the town lane to surprise his grandfather with a visit.
Let’s be real, what better place to take a breather and reevaluate his life than with his quirky grandfather?
“Did they not see the enormous spider knitting beside them?”
Declan had no idea that magic was real, and he himself might be a practitioner.
But he was about to get a very in your face introduction to the world of the supernatural.
I have to say he handled each new surprise so well. I am not sure if I would have been as calm as him.
“You don’t need to stop mauling one another.”
It was fun to watch these two testing the draw between them.
The little pecks and side glances.
It felt natural the way it developed.
Definitely was second to the mystery, but was front and center. If that makes sense
I do want to toss out a little thought here - when you read the part about Gideon’s childhood, does anything come to mind? I don't want to spoil a possible future storyline - I think I know why he can’t shift.
Review of advance copy
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
When Declan Hawthorne discovers his boyfriend is cheating on him, he runs to his grandfather Elwood, a magic shop owner in the small town of Ravenstone, to lay low and recoup. Elwood volunteers Declan to help out with the social media aspect of the town's first annual Magic Festival, and Declan finds himself meeting the quirky members of the festival committee, including the handsome pub owner, Gideon Blackwood.
Things take a strange turn for Declan when the owner of the wine shop, who just happens to be a vampire, turns up murdered. Declan's eyes are suddenly opened to the fact that the paranormal is real. Gideon is a wolf shifter, his grandfather is a witch, and it seems the wonderful feeling Declan’s baking is known for is actually his own magical ability. As fingers are pointed at Elwood as the potential murderer, Declan and Gideon join forces to prove his innocence.
What I liked: I love a paranormal small town, and Ravenstone has a whole host of fun residents for the two main characters to interact with. The romance was possibly a bit too fast, but also very sweet. The mystery element adds another favourite trope for me, and it worked reasonably well, even if I did figure out “who did it” before the reveal.
What didn’t work for me: Occasionally the story felt a bit unpolished and simplistic, especially around the interrogation of suspects. I couldn’t help but think, “why are they answering these questions when they don’t legally have to?” It also felt a bit hurried, and there could have been more interaction with suspects to add substance to those scenes.
Final thoughts: A wonderful start to a cosy paranormal mystery romance series.
Who would enjoy this: Fans of small-town-based mysteries with a cast of eccentric characters, and paranormal romances.
When Declan Hawthorne discovers his boyfriend is cheating on him, he runs to his grandfather Elwood, a magic shop owner in the small town of Ravenstone, to lay low and recoup. Elwood volunteers Declan to help out with the social media aspect of the town's first annual Magic Festival, and Declan finds himself meeting the quirky members of the festival committee, including the handsome pub owner, Gideon Blackwood.
Things take a strange turn for Declan when the owner of the wine shop, who just happens to be a vampire, turns up murdered. Declan's eyes are suddenly opened to the fact that the paranormal is real. Gideon is a wolf shifter, his grandfather is a witch, and it seems the wonderful feeling Declan’s baking is known for is actually his own magical ability. As fingers are pointed at Elwood as the potential murderer, Declan and Gideon join forces to prove his innocence.
What I liked: I love a paranormal small town, and Ravenstone has a whole host of fun residents for the two main characters to interact with. The romance was possibly a bit too fast, but also very sweet. The mystery element adds another favourite trope for me, and it worked reasonably well, even if I did figure out “who did it” before the reveal.
What didn’t work for me: Occasionally the story felt a bit unpolished and simplistic, especially around the interrogation of suspects. I couldn’t help but think, “why are they answering these questions when they don’t legally have to?” It also felt a bit hurried, and there could have been more interaction with suspects to add substance to those scenes.
Final thoughts: A wonderful start to a cosy paranormal mystery romance series.
Who would enjoy this: Fans of small-town-based mysteries with a cast of eccentric characters, and paranormal romances.
January 15, 2026
Declan just found out that his boyfriend is a cheating cheater who cheated. Not ready to be convinced to come back or deal with the ramifications of separating, especially since they were starting a company together. He escapes to the only place he knows Josh can't find him: his grandfather Elwood's place in Ravenstone. Elwood has always been welcoming, and Declan needs that familiarity more than ever. His grandfather has told him fantastical stories about vampires, wolf shifters, and mermaids for years, only now Declan discovers they weren't fantastical at all; they are real. And a vampire was just killed next door to his grandpa's store.
The story follows Declan's adventures in Ravenstone through a dual POV with Gideon, the pub owner, who has amazing chemistry with Declan and an unmatchable protectiveness that has us swooning left and right. Gideon has his own demons, which are briefly mentioned, and I'm crossing my fingers that we'll delve more into them in the next book (pretty please).
I'm excited to know more about these characters, especially Gideon. However, there are quite a few unanswered questions left in this book that left me a bit miffed. I understand this is book one, part of a series, just the beginning, and I kept repeating this to myself every time something felt unfinished. But it still felt frustrating at times. On a similar note, I feel like the reader gets to guess the murderer too soon, which meant I spent the last few chapters mentally screaming the name at the characters. By the time the final confrontation happened, I was extremely annoyed.
Overall, it was a good book, and the start of this new series is promising. I usually hate cliffhangers, but I actually would have loved one here, just to get a glimpse of which one of the thousand questions will be answered next.
The story follows Declan's adventures in Ravenstone through a dual POV with Gideon, the pub owner, who has amazing chemistry with Declan and an unmatchable protectiveness that has us swooning left and right. Gideon has his own demons, which are briefly mentioned, and I'm crossing my fingers that we'll delve more into them in the next book (pretty please).
I'm excited to know more about these characters, especially Gideon. However, there are quite a few unanswered questions left in this book that left me a bit miffed. I understand this is book one, part of a series, just the beginning, and I kept repeating this to myself every time something felt unfinished. But it still felt frustrating at times. On a similar note, I feel like the reader gets to guess the murderer too soon, which meant I spent the last few chapters mentally screaming the name at the characters. By the time the final confrontation happened, I was extremely annoyed.
Overall, it was a good book, and the start of this new series is promising. I usually hate cliffhangers, but I actually would have loved one here, just to get a glimpse of which one of the thousand questions will be answered next.
January 24, 2026
Magical cozy mystery
Crystals and Corpses by Jackie James and Lori Ames is a cozy mystery with a magical twist. It’s like if Cabot Cove was secretly full of witches, vampires, and werewolves! It’s a lighthearted, low-angst romance, too, between a man who doesn’t know his own power and a werewolf with a heart of gold. The book is full of humor and quirky characters.
Declan has recently left his cheating ex. He decided to live with his grandfather while he gets back on his feet. Gideon is a werewolf who loves his town and wants to protect everyone in it, even the obnoxious new resident that no one likes. When the town’s most unpleasant new tenant dies in mysterious circumstances, and someone accuses Declan’s grandfather, Declan decides he needs to team up with Gideon to investigate.
I can’t say the mystery was much of a mystery. The sheriff barely does anything, so far as I can tell. There isn’t a sound reason that these two characters need to investigate rather than the cops. It’s a little ridiculous. It leaned a little too hard into the amateur sleuth thing for me in that regard. I also picked out who the murderer was before the (first) murder happened, but knowing who did it has never stopped me from enjoying a mystery. The fun of the town residents carried me through the parts of the story that didn't focus on the romance. I love these “quirky” town books, honestly, so I was happy to keep reading. Plus, Gideon and Declan were adorable.
I don’t know if the authors will put out an audiobook, but I hope they do. I think this one would be even funnier with a good narrator.
I recommend this for anyone who enjoys fluffy romances with quirky background characters. It’s a perfect choice for anyone looking to read something a little silly with a sweet romance at its core.
Crystals and Corpses by Jackie James and Lori Ames is a cozy mystery with a magical twist. It’s like if Cabot Cove was secretly full of witches, vampires, and werewolves! It’s a lighthearted, low-angst romance, too, between a man who doesn’t know his own power and a werewolf with a heart of gold. The book is full of humor and quirky characters.
Declan has recently left his cheating ex. He decided to live with his grandfather while he gets back on his feet. Gideon is a werewolf who loves his town and wants to protect everyone in it, even the obnoxious new resident that no one likes. When the town’s most unpleasant new tenant dies in mysterious circumstances, and someone accuses Declan’s grandfather, Declan decides he needs to team up with Gideon to investigate.
I can’t say the mystery was much of a mystery. The sheriff barely does anything, so far as I can tell. There isn’t a sound reason that these two characters need to investigate rather than the cops. It’s a little ridiculous. It leaned a little too hard into the amateur sleuth thing for me in that regard. I also picked out who the murderer was before the (first) murder happened, but knowing who did it has never stopped me from enjoying a mystery. The fun of the town residents carried me through the parts of the story that didn't focus on the romance. I love these “quirky” town books, honestly, so I was happy to keep reading. Plus, Gideon and Declan were adorable.
I don’t know if the authors will put out an audiobook, but I hope they do. I think this one would be even funnier with a good narrator.
I recommend this for anyone who enjoys fluffy romances with quirky background characters. It’s a perfect choice for anyone looking to read something a little silly with a sweet romance at its core.
Review of advance copy
When I heard a series was being co-authored by two of my favorite authors, you can guess how quickly I jumped on the chance to read it. And let me tell you, it was everything I wanted. The writing styles blend so perfectly it was difficult to parse exactly who wrote what--and that's the mark of a truly great co-authored book for me. Sure, I saw similarities in places to each author's work, but I've also avidly read just about all of their books.
The series is set in a small town that serves as a sort of safe haven for magical folks. As is typical in these sorts of stories, the humans are clueless--well, most of the humans. So when a murder occurs amidst the supernatural community at the beginning of a town-wide festival, tensions are understandably high.
Do you love characters who are quirky and a little silly but also heartrendingly relatable? If so, you'll love the Misfit Monsters group. As we're introduced to each one, I found myself hoping they'd get their own books in the series (maybe especially Az, Eugene, and Perry). It's basically a found family of magical folks who consider themselves a little broken and I love them all.
Declan is a sweetheart with the best intentions hampered by a heap of naivete. Watching him open both his eyes and his heart to the town of Ravenstone was a joy. Seeing him puzzle through a murder mystery with the help of Gideon, the local barkeep, was the icing on top of an already delightful treat. (Am I being too food-focused? Declan is a baker and this book made my sweet tooth whine.)
So basically you've got a paranormal, queer, cosy murder mystery with amazing characters and a raven I'd really like to know more about. To say that I'm excited for what comes next is an understatement.
The series is set in a small town that serves as a sort of safe haven for magical folks. As is typical in these sorts of stories, the humans are clueless--well, most of the humans. So when a murder occurs amidst the supernatural community at the beginning of a town-wide festival, tensions are understandably high.
Do you love characters who are quirky and a little silly but also heartrendingly relatable? If so, you'll love the Misfit Monsters group. As we're introduced to each one, I found myself hoping they'd get their own books in the series (maybe especially Az, Eugene, and Perry). It's basically a found family of magical folks who consider themselves a little broken and I love them all.
Declan is a sweetheart with the best intentions hampered by a heap of naivete. Watching him open both his eyes and his heart to the town of Ravenstone was a joy. Seeing him puzzle through a murder mystery with the help of Gideon, the local barkeep, was the icing on top of an already delightful treat. (Am I being too food-focused? Declan is a baker and this book made my sweet tooth whine.)
So basically you've got a paranormal, queer, cosy murder mystery with amazing characters and a raven I'd really like to know more about. To say that I'm excited for what comes next is an understatement.
January 21, 2026
As one would expect by the cover and the blurb, this is a cute little pnr romcom-ish story in a contemporary setting. Declan is the grandson of a witch but has always been taught that his grandfather is a bit kooky with all of his stories of magic and the non-human residents of Ravenstone, the town his grandfather lives in. When Declan leaves the city after a bad breakup, he quickly discovers that his grandfather isn’t as kooky as he thought (but still a bit kooky!). After the murder of a relatively unliked vampire citizen, Declan quickly immerses himself into the community’s secrets and decides to help solve the murder…and also finds that he himself has his own special magic.
This was a cute, funny story but relatively uneventful for a pnr murder mystery. The best part of the story, in my opinion, is the array of paranormal “creatures” that make up Ravenstone’s eclectic and eccentric community. Werewolves (errrr…wolf shifters!), vampires, sprites, mermaids… each with their own little quirky personalities. While the plot is very weak, I’m still going to give this 3.5 stars (rounded up) simply for the creative characters. I think this could have been an amazing story if there was a bit….more. More conflict, more intrigue and most of all, more depth to the romance. Declan and Gideon made a cute couple, but their attraction was bland and kind of sudden. They acknowledged each other and then suddenly there’s a kiss when there really hadn’t been much of anything there. It definitely needed more development and again….depth.
Despite the weakness of the plot execution, I’d actually love to see another book set in this town. I absolutely adored the characters.
*ARC review, my opinions are my own
This was a cute, funny story but relatively uneventful for a pnr murder mystery. The best part of the story, in my opinion, is the array of paranormal “creatures” that make up Ravenstone’s eclectic and eccentric community. Werewolves (errrr…wolf shifters!), vampires, sprites, mermaids… each with their own little quirky personalities. While the plot is very weak, I’m still going to give this 3.5 stars (rounded up) simply for the creative characters. I think this could have been an amazing story if there was a bit….more. More conflict, more intrigue and most of all, more depth to the romance. Declan and Gideon made a cute couple, but their attraction was bland and kind of sudden. They acknowledged each other and then suddenly there’s a kiss when there really hadn’t been much of anything there. It definitely needed more development and again….depth.
Despite the weakness of the plot execution, I’d actually love to see another book set in this town. I absolutely adored the characters.
*ARC review, my opinions are my own
Review of advance copy
Crystals and Corpses is the first book in the Magical Misfit Murders series by Jacki James and Lori Amos. The book is a very good start to the series and it immediately draws you into the quirky and delightfully chaotic town of Ravenstone. In Ravenstone we have magical creatures, eccentric townsfolk (both human and supernatural) and a cozy small town charm. I like how the story mixes a little bit of urban fantasy, a bit of mystery, and a bit of romance...making the blend juuust right. 😉
Declan quite unexpectedly dives into the magical world while just trying to rebuild his life. Of course, he quickly discovers that he has magic of his own, and I really loved how the authors let it manifest through his baking. He also meets Gideon, who is a strong and protective alpha wolf that cannot shift, and he quickly becomes Declan’s partner and love interest. While their attraction is undeniable, and the development of their relationship is kinda fast, it is also low angst and really sweet.
The murder mystery is fun, and I liked that there were several red herrings. But what I enjoyed the most was the colourful cast of magical/supernatural misfits. I adored their support group and how much they are there for each other. All the characters, main and secondary, are so vivid and full of life, and I loved all the quirky details and a cozy but chaotic feel of Ravenstone.
That said, while I had a good time reading it, I did find myself wishing the story had been a little more developed in places.
All in all, there are adventures yet to come in this world, and I will gladly keep coming back for more.
I received a copy of this book from Booksprout, and this is my unbiased review.
Declan quite unexpectedly dives into the magical world while just trying to rebuild his life. Of course, he quickly discovers that he has magic of his own, and I really loved how the authors let it manifest through his baking. He also meets Gideon, who is a strong and protective alpha wolf that cannot shift, and he quickly becomes Declan’s partner and love interest. While their attraction is undeniable, and the development of their relationship is kinda fast, it is also low angst and really sweet.
The murder mystery is fun, and I liked that there were several red herrings. But what I enjoyed the most was the colourful cast of magical/supernatural misfits. I adored their support group and how much they are there for each other. All the characters, main and secondary, are so vivid and full of life, and I loved all the quirky details and a cozy but chaotic feel of Ravenstone.
That said, while I had a good time reading it, I did find myself wishing the story had been a little more developed in places.
All in all, there are adventures yet to come in this world, and I will gladly keep coming back for more.
I received a copy of this book from Booksprout, and this is my unbiased review.
January 17, 2026
"Crystals and Corpses" is a paranormal cozy mystery set in the magical town of Ravenstone. The start of a new series, it's a collab between authors Jacki James and Lori Ames. By the book cover alone, you'd know it was an Ames story. Other than that, their styles are a pretty good match.
The story is about a witch who didn't know he was a witch and an Alpha wolf shifter who can't shift. When an unpopular vampire gets murdered, the witch, Declan, decides to investigate since his grandfather is suspect. The wolf shifter, Gideon, is determined to protect him.
Since all of Declan's experience with solving murders comes from books and TV, the investigation is clumsy and awkward. Also charming and quite funny with a tinge of cringe worthy. Is it a strong mystery? No, but it has some interesting twists and turns. And a murder board.
The book serves it's purpose. It's an introduction to the small town and it's quirky non-human residents. Pay no attention to the flying and unanswered plot arcs behind the curtain. Some of them are red herrings. Some of them will be answered later in the series.
There's real chemistry between Declan and Gideon. Nice sizzle. The relationship is quite quick; but how many dead bodies do you need to find before going to bed together? It's also, in my opinion, a bit of a slow burn. (Yeah, I know, contradictory) The relationship needs developing before the "L" word is bandied about. Something to look forward to as the series progresses. I hope.
A quick read. Fun, as well as frustrating. Some many plot arcs dropped or left hanging. Not quite a five star read, I'd say 4.5.
I received an advanced copy of this ebook and this is my review.
The story is about a witch who didn't know he was a witch and an Alpha wolf shifter who can't shift. When an unpopular vampire gets murdered, the witch, Declan, decides to investigate since his grandfather is suspect. The wolf shifter, Gideon, is determined to protect him.
Since all of Declan's experience with solving murders comes from books and TV, the investigation is clumsy and awkward. Also charming and quite funny with a tinge of cringe worthy. Is it a strong mystery? No, but it has some interesting twists and turns. And a murder board.
The book serves it's purpose. It's an introduction to the small town and it's quirky non-human residents. Pay no attention to the flying and unanswered plot arcs behind the curtain. Some of them are red herrings. Some of them will be answered later in the series.
There's real chemistry between Declan and Gideon. Nice sizzle. The relationship is quite quick; but how many dead bodies do you need to find before going to bed together? It's also, in my opinion, a bit of a slow burn. (Yeah, I know, contradictory) The relationship needs developing before the "L" word is bandied about. Something to look forward to as the series progresses. I hope.
A quick read. Fun, as well as frustrating. Some many plot arcs dropped or left hanging. Not quite a five star read, I'd say 4.5.
I received an advanced copy of this ebook and this is my review.
Review of advance copy
I was so excited to begin a new series with unique and creative characters, and M/M paranormal romance is my absolute favorite genre. So WIN!
The greatness:
* Likeable and relatable characters – sweetness galore
* Enough mystery drama to keep everything interesting but not too heavy or easily solvable.
* Perfect amount of steam considering the timeline of the characters knowing each other – I like that it wasn’t instantly going to bed together – that always bugs me in a romance.
* So good I am impatiently wanting the next book in the series like RIGHT NOW!! I can’t wait to read more about everyone and hope this includes other characters like Az and Sandy getting their own books.
The not so great:
* A LOT of characters right off the bat, it was sometimes confusing to keep up with who was who.
* There so much buildup of the MC being cheated on in the first chapter, then barely any mention throughout the rest of the book. If there is that much focus in the first chapter, it felt like a confrontation or closure should have happened later in the book. It just felt empty and unfinished somehow.
* The magic is real revelation – it was just too unrealistic, no shock, awe or any major emotion, just “Magic is real” and the MC is like “Oh, okay” then goes about his business.
All in all this is a wonderfully delightful, funny, and sexy read that I thoroughly loved, as expected from the author. The next one in the series will definitely be snatched up on release day.
The greatness:
* Likeable and relatable characters – sweetness galore
* Enough mystery drama to keep everything interesting but not too heavy or easily solvable.
* Perfect amount of steam considering the timeline of the characters knowing each other – I like that it wasn’t instantly going to bed together – that always bugs me in a romance.
* So good I am impatiently wanting the next book in the series like RIGHT NOW!! I can’t wait to read more about everyone and hope this includes other characters like Az and Sandy getting their own books.
The not so great:
* A LOT of characters right off the bat, it was sometimes confusing to keep up with who was who.
* There so much buildup of the MC being cheated on in the first chapter, then barely any mention throughout the rest of the book. If there is that much focus in the first chapter, it felt like a confrontation or closure should have happened later in the book. It just felt empty and unfinished somehow.
* The magic is real revelation – it was just too unrealistic, no shock, awe or any major emotion, just “Magic is real” and the MC is like “Oh, okay” then goes about his business.
All in all this is a wonderfully delightful, funny, and sexy read that I thoroughly loved, as expected from the author. The next one in the series will definitely be snatched up on release day.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A new Cozy murder mystery from Jacki James and Lori Ames with a both sweetness and a bit of heat. I have read and loved books from both authors so I was very excited for this new adventure. Writing between authors is very seamless.
Once I started reading I really couldn't put the book down. We are introduced to a very magical (both literally and figuratively) cast of characters that all live in the town of Ravenstone. First the endlessly curious Declan who discovers the supernatural world and that he's a witch amid a murder he wants to solve and Gideon a local pub owner and wolf shifter who for some reason cannot shift and claims that he isn't the alpha. Their relationship is very natural, heartwarming and cozy, they balance each other very nicely and I couldn't get enough of it, thankfully we will be getting more of them in the future.
The cast of side characters, specifically the misfit monsters were so much fun and I really ended up hoping that some of them might get books of their own in the future. We have a vegan vampire, mermaid that would really like to drown someone, demon that doesn't care much for humans and much more.
While it is a murder mystery it is very cozy and lighthearted which makes it perfect to read while wrapped in a blanket while drinking a hot drink. If you are a fan of MM paranormal romance and cozier murder mystery this will definitely be a book for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Once I started reading I really couldn't put the book down. We are introduced to a very magical (both literally and figuratively) cast of characters that all live in the town of Ravenstone. First the endlessly curious Declan who discovers the supernatural world and that he's a witch amid a murder he wants to solve and Gideon a local pub owner and wolf shifter who for some reason cannot shift and claims that he isn't the alpha. Their relationship is very natural, heartwarming and cozy, they balance each other very nicely and I couldn't get enough of it, thankfully we will be getting more of them in the future.
The cast of side characters, specifically the misfit monsters were so much fun and I really ended up hoping that some of them might get books of their own in the future. We have a vegan vampire, mermaid that would really like to drown someone, demon that doesn't care much for humans and much more.
While it is a murder mystery it is very cozy and lighthearted which makes it perfect to read while wrapped in a blanket while drinking a hot drink. If you are a fan of MM paranormal romance and cozier murder mystery this will definitely be a book for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 16, 2026
What a fantastic start to a new series!
I am a big fan of both Jacki James and Lori Ames so I was really excited to see they'd decided to team up to write a murder mystery! This was a great start to the series and I'm really excited to see what comes next. Gideon and Declan are super sweet together and I like the idea of getting to see Declan learn all about his magic. I will say, I have views about Declan's father and his choices in terms of Declan, but I'm glad that Declan now is with his grandfather and discovering all the amazing things that the supernatural world has to offer. In terms of the murder mystery, it was a good plot. There was some intrigue, some mystery (as you would expect!), a little drama and a touch of suspense. It's exactly the kind of mystery I enjoy as a casual read. It's not overwhelming or hard to follow and whilst you might have a good guess at the murderer it's not so obvious as to take the fun and joy out of a murder mystery. The romance is sweet also; it has a bit of a fast pace at points but it makes sense for them and doesn't ever feel rushed. It's more that these are two people who have a genuine, almost instant connection that they allow to grow. I'm really looking forward to getting to see more from the other characters we were introduced to and seeing Declan and Gideon's bond grow (and I have thoughts on what happened to make Gideon's wolf unable to shift)!
I am a big fan of both Jacki James and Lori Ames so I was really excited to see they'd decided to team up to write a murder mystery! This was a great start to the series and I'm really excited to see what comes next. Gideon and Declan are super sweet together and I like the idea of getting to see Declan learn all about his magic. I will say, I have views about Declan's father and his choices in terms of Declan, but I'm glad that Declan now is with his grandfather and discovering all the amazing things that the supernatural world has to offer. In terms of the murder mystery, it was a good plot. There was some intrigue, some mystery (as you would expect!), a little drama and a touch of suspense. It's exactly the kind of mystery I enjoy as a casual read. It's not overwhelming or hard to follow and whilst you might have a good guess at the murderer it's not so obvious as to take the fun and joy out of a murder mystery. The romance is sweet also; it has a bit of a fast pace at points but it makes sense for them and doesn't ever feel rushed. It's more that these are two people who have a genuine, almost instant connection that they allow to grow. I'm really looking forward to getting to see more from the other characters we were introduced to and seeing Declan and Gideon's bond grow (and I have thoughts on what happened to make Gideon's wolf unable to shift)!
January 19, 2026
This was a cute series starter with a good cozy murder mystery!
Declan comes to Ravenstone to stay with his grandfather and figure out what comes next after his life comes crashing down. Everyone in town has always been a little quirky, and sometimes downright strange, but Declan never thought anything of it--until he finds out in another huge shock to his system that magic (and magical people/creatures) is real. Also, someone has been murdered, and Declan gets caught up in the investigation.
Gideon has lived in Ravenstone for a long time, watching over the magical residents and running a pub. He's instantly attracted to Declan, and is determined to protect him from whatever danger is lurking in Ravenstone, whether Declan likes it or not. As a wolf shifter who can't shift, Gideon has become the unofficial alpha of everyone in the town (which has a motley collection of magical beings who are also misfits in their own way), and so he is determined to help solve the murder before another person is killed.
This was a very cute cozy mystery! Gideon and Declan were great characters, and I loved them together. I thought their chemistry was very good, and enjoyed pretty much every scene they were in together. The actual murder mystery itself was also well structured, not being too complicated or too easy to solve. And the cast of characters in the town are all awesome, and I hope we get some books featuring them in the future! I know the next book will be more Gideon and Declan, which I am looking forward to, but there are a few other characters I would love to see get their own happily ever after!
Declan comes to Ravenstone to stay with his grandfather and figure out what comes next after his life comes crashing down. Everyone in town has always been a little quirky, and sometimes downright strange, but Declan never thought anything of it--until he finds out in another huge shock to his system that magic (and magical people/creatures) is real. Also, someone has been murdered, and Declan gets caught up in the investigation.
Gideon has lived in Ravenstone for a long time, watching over the magical residents and running a pub. He's instantly attracted to Declan, and is determined to protect him from whatever danger is lurking in Ravenstone, whether Declan likes it or not. As a wolf shifter who can't shift, Gideon has become the unofficial alpha of everyone in the town (which has a motley collection of magical beings who are also misfits in their own way), and so he is determined to help solve the murder before another person is killed.
This was a very cute cozy mystery! Gideon and Declan were great characters, and I loved them together. I thought their chemistry was very good, and enjoyed pretty much every scene they were in together. The actual murder mystery itself was also well structured, not being too complicated or too easy to solve. And the cast of characters in the town are all awesome, and I hope we get some books featuring them in the future! I know the next book will be more Gideon and Declan, which I am looking forward to, but there are a few other characters I would love to see get their own happily ever after!
January 16, 2026
Declan Hawthorne goes to his grandfather in Ravenstone after finding out his boyfriend is a big-time cheater. He soon learns that all those magical stories his grandfather told him as a child are actually true and not just stories. In a few short days, he learns that vampires are real when one is murdered, and that he has magic himself. He decides to investigate the murder with the help of a local bar owner, Gideon Blackwood who happens to be a werewolf who cannot shift. As Declan and Gideon embark on their investigation, they enlist the help of the Misfit Support Group. The town is very busy as it is also the time of the Magic Festival. Not surprising, Declan and Gideon find other things to investigate as well.
This was an amazing story, filled with misfits and monsters as well as Crystals and Corpses. Humor is very cleverly added and makes for great reading. Beginning with Declan relying on his knowledge of police investigative techniques learned through television shows to misunderstandings with the various misfits all add up to excellent reading. Crystal and Corpses is sure to be perfect readers who enjoy paranormal and MM. There is more to come as this is Book One in The Magical Misfit Murders series. Aren’t we lucky!!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This was an amazing story, filled with misfits and monsters as well as Crystals and Corpses. Humor is very cleverly added and makes for great reading. Beginning with Declan relying on his knowledge of police investigative techniques learned through television shows to misunderstandings with the various misfits all add up to excellent reading. Crystal and Corpses is sure to be perfect readers who enjoy paranormal and MM. There is more to come as this is Book One in The Magical Misfit Murders series. Aren’t we lucky!!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
January 17, 2026
dragon figurine, the notebook, magic spice cake, dessicated vampire, moonbane, golden sparks, mermaid squeal, Beanie Babies, nori
This is a great murder mystery MM rom-com! I got so invested, and was sad it ended. It's a good mix of humor, fun, monsters, magic, and mystery. It seems the folk of Ravenstone are "monsters" who are quirky and consider themselves misfits.
Declan has run to Ravenstone to escape. It's where his eccentric grandfather lives. Grandfather Elwood always talks about magic and mythical creatures, and owns occult magic shop. Declan needs the time and space to figure out what direction his life should take. He tries to deny his attraction to the handsome and sexy pub owner.
Gideon owns The Den pub and is enchanted by the new arrival who is Elwood's grandson. Gideon is a wolf shifter who can't shift. Interestingly he's an alpha and has enhanced senses. He bemoans his inability to shift. But, he has to skirt around all things magical since Declan has no idea about his town and world.
Declan's world is blown off its foundations when a they discover a dead body and learns it's a dead vampire! His mind is blown as he is introduced to more of the magic world and the town's "monsters".
I enjoyed this book completely and immensely. I easily and ardently recommend it!
This is a great murder mystery MM rom-com! I got so invested, and was sad it ended. It's a good mix of humor, fun, monsters, magic, and mystery. It seems the folk of Ravenstone are "monsters" who are quirky and consider themselves misfits.
Declan has run to Ravenstone to escape. It's where his eccentric grandfather lives. Grandfather Elwood always talks about magic and mythical creatures, and owns occult magic shop. Declan needs the time and space to figure out what direction his life should take. He tries to deny his attraction to the handsome and sexy pub owner.
Gideon owns The Den pub and is enchanted by the new arrival who is Elwood's grandson. Gideon is a wolf shifter who can't shift. Interestingly he's an alpha and has enhanced senses. He bemoans his inability to shift. But, he has to skirt around all things magical since Declan has no idea about his town and world.
Declan's world is blown off its foundations when a they discover a dead body and learns it's a dead vampire! His mind is blown as he is introduced to more of the magic world and the town's "monsters".
I enjoyed this book completely and immensely. I easily and ardently recommend it!
January 17, 2026
Cute start to a series.
This is a nice romance, or should I say the beginning of one. I’m not usually a fan of series that have the same couple carrying over from one book to another. I want different couples in each book but maybe in the same setting as the others. I didn’t know Declan and Gideon would be continuing in the second book until I got to the end. Honestly, I’m glad because I kept waiting for something important to happen that didn’t. No doubt it will at some point. The next book is Hexes and Hops. I’m curious to know how many books will be in the series. I’m all about Gideon and Declan having more books, but I’m usually over the same couple after 3 or 4.
This is a good story with a great cast of ‘misfit’ characters. I loved most of them, though the spider lady totally creeped me out.
I look forward to the next one.
Full review can be found at -
This is a nice romance, or should I say the beginning of one. I’m not usually a fan of series that have the same couple carrying over from one book to another. I want different couples in each book but maybe in the same setting as the others. I didn’t know Declan and Gideon would be continuing in the second book until I got to the end. Honestly, I’m glad because I kept waiting for something important to happen that didn’t. No doubt it will at some point. The next book is Hexes and Hops. I’m curious to know how many books will be in the series. I’m all about Gideon and Declan having more books, but I’m usually over the same couple after 3 or 4.
This is a good story with a great cast of ‘misfit’ characters. I loved most of them, though the spider lady totally creeped me out.
I look forward to the next one.
Full review can be found at -
February 1, 2026
'The kiss was everything a kiss should be. I hadn’t realized how inadequate every other kiss in my life had been until this moment. This definitely wasn’t one of those quick pecks we’d shared earlier. This was lips and tongues and heat.
He crowded me against the back door and pressed his body to mine. My every nerve exploded to life. I wanted more. I wanted Gideon.
But this went deeper... I sensed a profound connection between us settling into place... I lost track of everything except the feel of his body under my hands, the heat of his mouth against mine, the exquisite sense of anticipation…'
I really enjoyed this book. Great world building and wonderful characters. I loved the overall setting of the community and all it's quirky characters. I loved both Declan and Gideon. I loved the dynamic between them and the way their relationship developed. The chemistry between them was thick and sizzling, and I thought they were really cute together.
“Good night, Declan.”
He didn’t leave.
“Is there something else?”
“I’ll wait here,” he said. “Until you’re inside, and the door is locked.”
His protectiveness made me smile as I stepped inside and dutifully locked the door. Then I waited. I didn’t know why until I heard him say through the door, “Sweet dreams, Dec.”
“You, too,” I whispered.
A murder mystery to solve kept me guessing. A fun read. 4 stars
He crowded me against the back door and pressed his body to mine. My every nerve exploded to life. I wanted more. I wanted Gideon.
But this went deeper... I sensed a profound connection between us settling into place... I lost track of everything except the feel of his body under my hands, the heat of his mouth against mine, the exquisite sense of anticipation…'
I really enjoyed this book. Great world building and wonderful characters. I loved the overall setting of the community and all it's quirky characters. I loved both Declan and Gideon. I loved the dynamic between them and the way their relationship developed. The chemistry between them was thick and sizzling, and I thought they were really cute together.
“Good night, Declan.”
He didn’t leave.
“Is there something else?”
“I’ll wait here,” he said. “Until you’re inside, and the door is locked.”
His protectiveness made me smile as I stepped inside and dutifully locked the door. Then I waited. I didn’t know why until I heard him say through the door, “Sweet dreams, Dec.”
“You, too,” I whispered.
A murder mystery to solve kept me guessing. A fun read. 4 stars
Review of advance copy
**********Contains Spoilers**********
I’ve been a fan of Lori Ames’s for awhile now but I’m completely new to Jacki James’s work, and this book definitely won’t be my last. I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was a good start to the Magical Misfit Murders Series. I loved being able to immerse myself in this magical world that Lori & Jacki have created. Declan sure gets a surprise during this book when he learns all about the paranormal world and that not only is magic real, but he has magic himself and has been unknowingly using it for years while baking yummy treats for his friends and family.
Gideon is an alpha wolf shifter who can’t shift but he has a found family that is his pack and that everyone defers to him as their alpha. There’s instant attraction between Declan & Gideon. I thought that they make an amazing team and I can’t wait to see their relationship strengthen as the series continues. The colourful cast of secondary characters definitely made for an interesting read. I’m really looking forward to reading more from this series as it continues, as well as more books by both authors in the future. I’d recommend this book and both authors to others.
******I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout. I would still happily review this book even if I purchased it myself. My thoughts and feelings about this book are completely unbiased******
I’ve been a fan of Lori Ames’s for awhile now but I’m completely new to Jacki James’s work, and this book definitely won’t be my last. I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was a good start to the Magical Misfit Murders Series. I loved being able to immerse myself in this magical world that Lori & Jacki have created. Declan sure gets a surprise during this book when he learns all about the paranormal world and that not only is magic real, but he has magic himself and has been unknowingly using it for years while baking yummy treats for his friends and family.
Gideon is an alpha wolf shifter who can’t shift but he has a found family that is his pack and that everyone defers to him as their alpha. There’s instant attraction between Declan & Gideon. I thought that they make an amazing team and I can’t wait to see their relationship strengthen as the series continues. The colourful cast of secondary characters definitely made for an interesting read. I’m really looking forward to reading more from this series as it continues, as well as more books by both authors in the future. I’d recommend this book and both authors to others.
******I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout. I would still happily review this book even if I purchased it myself. My thoughts and feelings about this book are completely unbiased******
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
Crystals and Corpses by Lori Ames and Jacki James was such a freaking cute read. I went in expecting a light paranormal mystery, and I ended up completely charmed by the story and the cast of characters.
Declan, the grandson of Elwood, is just starting to realize he’s a witch and coming into his powers, which made his journey both sweet and relatable. Gideon, the local pub-owning alpha wolf shifter who can’t shift, was the perfect counterpart—gruff on the outside, soft on the inside, and impossible not to love.
The side characters absolutely stole my heart. Between vampires, a mermaid, a shy Bigfoot, a grumpy demon, a spider lady, and a whole town full of lovable misfit monsters, the world felt cozy, quirky, and full of personality. Add in a couple of murders and you’ve got enough mystery to keep the pages turning without overwhelming the romance.
This book struck a great balance between paranormal fun, mystery, and heartfelt moments. If this is any indication of what’s to come, this is going to be such a fun series to read, and I am already looking forward to the next book. Highly recommend if you like MM paranormal romance with charm, humor, and a touch of cozy chaos.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Declan, the grandson of Elwood, is just starting to realize he’s a witch and coming into his powers, which made his journey both sweet and relatable. Gideon, the local pub-owning alpha wolf shifter who can’t shift, was the perfect counterpart—gruff on the outside, soft on the inside, and impossible not to love.
The side characters absolutely stole my heart. Between vampires, a mermaid, a shy Bigfoot, a grumpy demon, a spider lady, and a whole town full of lovable misfit monsters, the world felt cozy, quirky, and full of personality. Add in a couple of murders and you’ve got enough mystery to keep the pages turning without overwhelming the romance.
This book struck a great balance between paranormal fun, mystery, and heartfelt moments. If this is any indication of what’s to come, this is going to be such a fun series to read, and I am already looking forward to the next book. Highly recommend if you like MM paranormal romance with charm, humor, and a touch of cozy chaos.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy
Crystals and Corpses is the first book in the Magical Misfit Murders series from Jacki James and Lori Ames, and it is a story that instantly had me curious. It seemed to promise a new paranormal series to follow, and I was ready to be hooked.
I will be honest and say my feelings toward Crystals and Corpses are rather mixed. At first, I did consider giving this a four-star rating. However, my feelings changed as I progressed through the book. By the end, it was a three-point-five-star rating that I found myself rounding down. While the idea was fun and easy to power through, there were too many elements that felt underdeveloped. Things would be mentioned and then forgotten about, only coming up in reference again (in a way that felt like they were thrown in simply because they were remembered) rather than having the impact that was intended. It made it feel like I was missing pieces of information, which grew to impact upon my enjoyment of the story. It was still an easy and addictive read, but I did feel like it missed the mark in some places.
All in all, this was a fun start to the series. I am not sure if I will be continuing, but I can certainly see how this would work for many people.
I will be honest and say my feelings toward Crystals and Corpses are rather mixed. At first, I did consider giving this a four-star rating. However, my feelings changed as I progressed through the book. By the end, it was a three-point-five-star rating that I found myself rounding down. While the idea was fun and easy to power through, there were too many elements that felt underdeveloped. Things would be mentioned and then forgotten about, only coming up in reference again (in a way that felt like they were thrown in simply because they were remembered) rather than having the impact that was intended. It made it feel like I was missing pieces of information, which grew to impact upon my enjoyment of the story. It was still an easy and addictive read, but I did feel like it missed the mark in some places.
All in all, this was a fun start to the series. I am not sure if I will be continuing, but I can certainly see how this would work for many people.
January 14, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Crystals and Corpses is a cute mystery that kicks off the new Magical Misfit Murders series by Jacki James and Lori Ames. I’d call this one a cozy paranormal mystery, as it is fairly low intensity, with a lot of small town charm and an amateur sleuth on the case. Ravenstone is a supernatural town with a wide variety of magical beings. The story blends a traditional small town romance with a paranormal world, and the authors take a creative approach here, as alongside shifters and vampires, we get a variety of other supernaturals that I have seen less often or that are approached in different ways. For example, there is a woman who is part spider, and a mermaid who walks on land and leaks water. This combination of genres gives is a nice playfulness to the setting, with lots of interesting and quirky characters.
I enjoy a cozy mystery that follows the same characters, so I am happy to see the series will continue with more mysteries for Declan and Gideon.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Crystals and Corpses is a cute mystery that kicks off the new Magical Misfit Murders series by Jacki James and Lori Ames. I’d call this one a cozy paranormal mystery, as it is fairly low intensity, with a lot of small town charm and an amateur sleuth on the case. Ravenstone is a supernatural town with a wide variety of magical beings. The story blends a traditional small town romance with a paranormal world, and the authors take a creative approach here, as alongside shifters and vampires, we get a variety of other supernaturals that I have seen less often or that are approached in different ways. For example, there is a woman who is part spider, and a mermaid who walks on land and leaks water. This combination of genres gives is a nice playfulness to the setting, with lots of interesting and quirky characters.
I enjoy a cozy mystery that follows the same characters, so I am happy to see the series will continue with more mysteries for Declan and Gideon.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
January 19, 2026
This is a great new series with a mixed paranormal community. Love the support group they have for those that don't fit the norm, even in the supe world. A spider who won't kill her husband, a pixie who won't trick people, and a vampire who doesn't drink blood, among others.
Gideon is a wolf shifter who can't shift, though he still has all of those alpha instincts and cares for his community like one. When Declan comes to town to stay with his grandfather after breaking up with his cheating ex, he definitely notices the man. Declan is happy being in town, at least until a murder happens next door to his grandfather's shop.
Determined to help solve it after his grandfather is taken in for questioning, Declan goes with Gideon to look into it. He just happens to pick up on the magical and supernatural goings on and people all around him. Having never believed his grandfather when he spoke about it, he's now fully diving into the world in order to solve a mystery before anyone else gets hurt.
It also doesn't help that Gideon is extremely hot and there is just something about the man that Declan cannot stay away from. These two definitely have chemistry and a connection that is more than just attraction. I really felt for Gideon as the wolf that he would rely on to confirm his mate, he is unable to connect with.
There is a great cast of characters here, some entertaining and one or two not so fun, but they are a supportive bunch and really look out for each other. It's also a good mystery that gives all sorts of clues and misdirections. I'm looking forward to the next book!
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Gideon is a wolf shifter who can't shift, though he still has all of those alpha instincts and cares for his community like one. When Declan comes to town to stay with his grandfather after breaking up with his cheating ex, he definitely notices the man. Declan is happy being in town, at least until a murder happens next door to his grandfather's shop.
Determined to help solve it after his grandfather is taken in for questioning, Declan goes with Gideon to look into it. He just happens to pick up on the magical and supernatural goings on and people all around him. Having never believed his grandfather when he spoke about it, he's now fully diving into the world in order to solve a mystery before anyone else gets hurt.
It also doesn't help that Gideon is extremely hot and there is just something about the man that Declan cannot stay away from. These two definitely have chemistry and a connection that is more than just attraction. I really felt for Gideon as the wolf that he would rely on to confirm his mate, he is unable to connect with.
There is a great cast of characters here, some entertaining and one or two not so fun, but they are a supportive bunch and really look out for each other. It's also a good mystery that gives all sorts of clues and misdirections. I'm looking forward to the next book!
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Elwood had voluntold me, saying it’d be good for me to meet people and make connections."
What a great new series, Magical Misfit Murders, by Lori Ames and Jacki James. I've read everything Lori has ever published and since I'm a huge fan when I saw this book on Booksprout I grabbed it immediately.
I'm not sure how these two authors got together but I'm glad they did. This is the first PNR story I've read by Jacki James and hopefully this will be one of many.
I highlighted several lines, throughout the book, but I loved these two and wanted to share them. These were both taken from chapter 1 after the cheating cheater who cheated was caught. I thought they were both funny and clever. “I should’ve driven the car over him instead of giving it to him" and "I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d had more than one stray-cation". Lol, stray-cation, I love it.
Cheated on by his boyfriend of several years, lied to by his father, a wolf shifter without his wolf, a town full of magical misfits, a murder mystery to solve, magic, romance, brings the heat and copious amounts of coffee
What a great new series, Magical Misfit Murders, by Lori Ames and Jacki James. I've read everything Lori has ever published and since I'm a huge fan when I saw this book on Booksprout I grabbed it immediately.
I'm not sure how these two authors got together but I'm glad they did. This is the first PNR story I've read by Jacki James and hopefully this will be one of many.
I highlighted several lines, throughout the book, but I loved these two and wanted to share them. These were both taken from chapter 1 after the cheating cheater who cheated was caught. I thought they were both funny and clever. “I should’ve driven the car over him instead of giving it to him" and "I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d had more than one stray-cation". Lol, stray-cation, I love it.
Cheated on by his boyfriend of several years, lied to by his father, a wolf shifter without his wolf, a town full of magical misfits, a murder mystery to solve, magic, romance, brings the heat and copious amounts of coffee
Review of advance copy
My review 🌕🌕🌕🌖
Really cute! Declan being clueless is funny, and seeing him figure out who he is, his life without a cheating bag of rot, and living with his grandpa adds a cute slice of life vibe to the murder mystery. And Declan and Gideon’s love story blossoming in the midday of all of this is adorable! I love how they meet under less than ideal circumstances, and they have time to get to know each other, have Gideon guide and help Declan in his new life, and fall in love in the process. It’s just really cute. Yes, there’s a murder, but it isn’t bloody, seriously, there’s no blood, and the culprit wasn’t some sort of horrifically evil being, just a really, well, just read and see for yourself. I loved Elwood, but his son was not so nice, according to me. The cool part of the murder investigation is that we have Declan meeting the whole town in difficult circumstances, and they still get along and figure things out. And their group of misfits is the best thing of the whole book! All of it is cute, even though there’s a murder, but it isn’t gruesome and not the complete and absolute focus, making this a very cute, cozy, enjoyable read.
Really cute! Declan being clueless is funny, and seeing him figure out who he is, his life without a cheating bag of rot, and living with his grandpa adds a cute slice of life vibe to the murder mystery. And Declan and Gideon’s love story blossoming in the midday of all of this is adorable! I love how they meet under less than ideal circumstances, and they have time to get to know each other, have Gideon guide and help Declan in his new life, and fall in love in the process. It’s just really cute. Yes, there’s a murder, but it isn’t bloody, seriously, there’s no blood, and the culprit wasn’t some sort of horrifically evil being, just a really, well, just read and see for yourself. I loved Elwood, but his son was not so nice, according to me. The cool part of the murder investigation is that we have Declan meeting the whole town in difficult circumstances, and they still get along and figure things out. And their group of misfits is the best thing of the whole book! All of it is cute, even though there’s a murder, but it isn’t gruesome and not the complete and absolute focus, making this a very cute, cozy, enjoyable read.
January 14, 2026
The first in a new series. I enjoyed the world building of the magic haven Ravenstone. The Magical Misfits support group was a unique, mish mash of characters that brought a lot of whimsy and care to the page. I'm looking forward to seeing more from (and about) them in future books.
Declan and Gideon are on the insta-love end of the trope spectrum, and I did enjoy their chemistry together. But I did feel like I missed them having more real conversations about their feelings and relationship development.
The murder mystery plot was well done. I had theories throughout book about who/why/how? And did enjoy not knowing who did it? I appreciated that it felt like they dedicated time to this plot -- rather than it being purely a plot device.
Going in I didn't realize it was going to be a HFN/continuing relationship into the next book? So there were some odds and ends that felt rushed or we didn't get closure about.... but I guess that'll happen in book 2!
Overall, I found it an enjoyable read in a fun world, and I'm looking forward to see what happens in book 2.
*Booksprout ARC reader. Thoughts and opinions my own*
Declan and Gideon are on the insta-love end of the trope spectrum, and I did enjoy their chemistry together. But I did feel like I missed them having more real conversations about their feelings and relationship development.
The murder mystery plot was well done. I had theories throughout book about who/why/how? And did enjoy not knowing who did it? I appreciated that it felt like they dedicated time to this plot -- rather than it being purely a plot device.
Going in I didn't realize it was going to be a HFN/continuing relationship into the next book? So there were some odds and ends that felt rushed or we didn't get closure about.... but I guess that'll happen in book 2!
Overall, I found it an enjoyable read in a fun world, and I'm looking forward to see what happens in book 2.
*Booksprout ARC reader. Thoughts and opinions my own*
January 18, 2026
3.75 stars
“Crystals and Corpses” by Jacki James and Lori Ames is the first book in the ‘Magical Misfit Murders’ series and introduces Declan, who has never believed his grandfather’s descriptions of magic, and Gideon, who is determined to protect those he considers his own, despite his own perceived shortcomings. The two men have a lot to learn about each other, but their attraction cannot be denied, despite all of the obstacles in their way.
This adult gay paranormal cozy mystery romance introduces a quirky small town with quite a combination of inhabitants who have (mostly) learned to coexist. Both of the main characters have handicaps that shape who they are, but it was heartwarming to watch them find a way to become each other’s greatest support. I enjoyed watching Declan learn to accept that all of the wonders and eccentricities of those he meets even as he has to deal with unexpected murders and hostilities. The story was a little uneven to me yet I am intrigued by this world, and I look forward to reading more adventures featuring these folks.
A copy of this title was provided for review
“Crystals and Corpses” by Jacki James and Lori Ames is the first book in the ‘Magical Misfit Murders’ series and introduces Declan, who has never believed his grandfather’s descriptions of magic, and Gideon, who is determined to protect those he considers his own, despite his own perceived shortcomings. The two men have a lot to learn about each other, but their attraction cannot be denied, despite all of the obstacles in their way.
This adult gay paranormal cozy mystery romance introduces a quirky small town with quite a combination of inhabitants who have (mostly) learned to coexist. Both of the main characters have handicaps that shape who they are, but it was heartwarming to watch them find a way to become each other’s greatest support. I enjoyed watching Declan learn to accept that all of the wonders and eccentricities of those he meets even as he has to deal with unexpected murders and hostilities. The story was a little uneven to me yet I am intrigued by this world, and I look forward to reading more adventures featuring these folks.
A copy of this title was provided for review
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