Dying to Remember

Smithwell Fairies Cozy Mystery #1

by Karin Kaufman

The 1st book in the Smithwell Fairies Cozy Mystery Series!

Weary of her ordinary life in ordinary Smithwell, Maine, Kate Brewer jumps at the chance to help an elderly neighbor, Ray Landry, investigate an unsolved murder. But Ray’s memories of the killing are at odds with the official report, and most people in town would rather forget about the tragic event. When Ray’s investigation turn deadly, past and present collide and Kate must act quickly to uncover the truth.

As Kate hunts for clues, she makes a discovery that will change her life forever. It seems that Ray’s talk about fairies in the woods of Smithwell was more than just talk—and reality isn’t quite the ordinary thing Kate imagined it to be. Can she and her new sleuthing partner, a determined little fairy named Minette, solve two murder cases before a third body shows up?

This light, cozy mystery offers a clean read with a female amateur sleuth in a small-town setting. No foul language, sex, gore, or graphic scenes of any kind. It can be read as a standalone, but it will be enjoyed more as part of the series.

Always FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

THE SMITHWELL FAIRIES COZY MYSTERY SERIES:

Book 1: Dying to Remember Book 2: Dead and Buried Book 3: Secret Santa Murder (coming soon)

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Amazon, Cozy, Paranormal

171 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2018

About the author

Karin Kaufman grew up devouring murder mysteries, especially of the cozy kind. Give her a mystery, a comfy couch, her sweet dog at her side, and (preferably) a rainy day, and she’s in heaven. She’s the author of the Juniper Grove Cozy Mystery Series, the Smithwell Fairies Cozy Mystery Series, and the Anna Denning Mystery Series. The Witch Tree, the first book in her Anna Denning series, was a finalist for a Grace Award. Karin also writes children's books in the Geraldine Woolkins and Woolkins Bookshelf series.

For giveaways and news on all Karin's latest releases, sign up for her mailing list at http://www.KarinKaufman.com. And connect with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/authorkarinka....

Reviews

[Wulfwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book! I chose it because I thought it would be fun to read a cozy mystery with a fairy involved. I love fairies. Happily I was right. This charming book was highly entertaining for me. I like Kate and Emily. They work well as friends, neighbors and sleuths. My favorite character, though, was Minette, the fairy. They mystery was well done. It actually involved an earlier unsolved case with a new case. I was kept guessing! I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.
I want a house fairy now!

[Jerri Cachero · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique mystery solving duo!

I wasn't sure how the story would unfold at first, but I loved it! The mystery kept me guessing until the very end. Looking forward to more adventures!

[Marie McNary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a fall cozy with a touch of whimsy and this book was recommended to me. It was on an Amazon sale for $0.99 so the price was right. It was exactly what I was looking for. A light hearted cozy that had a touch of magic without being so magical that I couldn't enjoy the story. I binge read the first book yesterday and already bought the second to read today!

[Heather Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was honored to be able to endorse this charming, whimsical first-in-series mystery. I wasn't sure how the fairy aspect would weave into a modern cozy mystery, but Kaufman did it seamlessly and delightfully. I picked this book up and couldn't put it down until I'd finished it that same night. Cozy mystery readers will love the small town setting and the determined, tea-drinking sleuth, Kate Brewer. Not to mention the fairy who shows up to help out! Looking forward to more in this series!

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a cozy mystery series with a twist. I've read cozies with helpers that are dogs, cats, etc; but this one stars Kate Brewer and her next-door neighbor, Emily MacKenzie, along with a Smithwell Woods fairy named Minette. This addition brought a different dimension to the mystery since she only showed herself to Kate. Minette was constantly hiding herself from the others but making sure she could stay close so that she could listen for clues. Enough twists and turns that I kept reading til the wee hours to find out who the culprit was. Cute, clean cozy that was an enjoyable change of pace and a quick, easy read.

If you liked Kaufman's Juniper Grove series, you will enjoy this one as well.

[Susan Snodgrass · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Karin Kaufman's books, any of them. With another cozy mystery series addition, she is shooting right to the top of my mystery author list, too. Who doesn't love a cute fairy? And who wouldn't want to carry one around in their jacket pocket? As usual, I never did guess the culprit till the reveal. Well done!

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate is a widow of 10 months. She is still grieving for her late husband. She lives in a small town in Maine and is dealing with the feeling that her life is going no where because she is doing nothing interesting.

Her neighbor Ray, drops by to visit. He gives her his memoirs and a message that things are not always as they seem and people are not all to be trusted.

When Ray is murdered, Kate and her good friend Emily decide they will find out who murdered him and why.

Along the way, Kate finds that Ray had a good friend, Minette, who cared for him. The fact that Minette is a fairy is a big surprise. I am not certain that I believe that a fairy would be sent by God. I believe in God; fairies not so much.

This is a quick read. Ms Kaufman does well with character development. The reader gets to know Kate and how her mind works. She is a strong woman who is very injured by the loss of the love of her life. Emily is not as complete, but since this is the first in a series, she may emerge more fully in future books.

The plot is interesting, but I found it distressing that a woman in her fifties evidently was dumber than a box of rocks. She continually put herself in danger by questioning the people she knew were strong suspects for 2 murders. For me, that is never a plot point I like.

Overall, I enjoyed this quick read and will look for something else written by Ms Kaufman.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*

I was looking for Halloween centered, or at least Fall centered books for October and when I saw this one with the pumpkin on the cover, I thought "why not?" To be honest, except for the mentioned of the pumpkin festival once or twice, this book could be set anytime in the year. Oh well, it's okay. I got plenty of other books that will do the job.

I thought the story was easy enough to follow and I have grown to like Kate and Emily a lot. The mystery kept me guessing until the end but I was kinda left wondering if I'd miss something because I never saw it coming, the whodunnit part, I mean.

Since a fairy (or fairies) was 9nvolved in this, I was pretty happy with the discovery of one and her presence in this story but, again, it was kind of a let down that she wasn't more active than she was. I don't know if I was expecting a lot more magic or fantasy in this book. Maybe I did.

It's only the first book and we all know those mainly serve as introductions and stuff as well as serving us a murder that needs to be solved so overall, as I said above, I thought this was a lovely story that flowed really well with lovely characters. I wanna learn more about Kate and Emily and Minette and other characters in this little city so I will be on the lookout for book 2.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dying to Remember (Smithwell Fairies Cozy Mystery #1)" by Karin Kaufman is the first book in a fairy themed paranormal cozy mystery series. This one takes place in fall, mostly there's talk of a pumpkin festival. It also starts on Kate Brewer's, the main character, 50th birthday. Her neighbor drops off what he's been writing and tells her about an odd situation he found himself in, a few hours later he's found dead in his kitchen. Was it an accident from some bad mushrooms he'd foraged, a heart attack or something more sinister?

The neighbor had been recounting his experience finding a murder victim several years prior to his own death. Kate figures that if she finds out what happened to that first victim then she'll find out what happened to her friend/neighbor. People were thinking he was going a bit senile in his old age. He claimed to see fairies.

One is now visiting Kate, so he must have actually been seeing fairies. This fairy hints that God may have sent her to Kate. Especially with the loss of Kate's husband 10 months prior to the events of the book. So, there's a bit of a Christian tie in to this system of fairy belief.

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy mystery with a cute fairy helping to solve mysteries!
This was adorable.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great new series

I'm looking forward to reading more in this new series. It's a new and unique series that drew me in quickly.

[Judy C Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real story

I have read so many stories that include the paranormal and I sometimes feel angry that the women are ditsy. This one has a smart woman. And I love the story.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It didn’t sound like a book I would be interested in, but I am so glad I gave it a try! I very much enjoyed it and look forward to the next one!

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the first in this new series! Can't wait for book 2

[Janet Sketchley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smithwell, Maine. An ordinary town in an ordinary New England state. On her 50th birthday, newly-widowed Kate Brewer is feeling her ordinariness and wishing there was something – just a little bit – more to life.

But when she encounters a fairy, she’s terrified. Fairies don’t exist outside of folklore. Is she losing her mind?

When a neighbour is killed, Kate and her best friend, Emily, are sure it’s linked to a previous murder in the town. Not trusting the police, they start investigating on their own. The fairy, Minette, insists on helping Kate while keeping her presence hidden from everyone else.

I enjoyed the mystery, the characters, and the descriptions of the people – and fairy – and their small town. I also thought it was a neat touch that Minette sees herself as created by God (years ago) and sent by Him (now) to help Kate with this investigation. Kate, a church-goer, rejects the idea that God would send anyone – especially a fairy – to do anything in her life. I’m curious to see how Kate and Minette’s relationship will develop over the series, and if Emily will ever meet Minette.

Tea and chocolate aficionados will find other details to appreciate in the book. It’s a quick read, at 129 pages. Book 2, A Fatal Fall, is coming soon.

Karin Kaufman is the author of the Juniper Grove mystery series and the Anna Denning mysteries. Dying to Remember is book 1 in her new Smithwell Fairies Cozy Mystery series. I’m looking forward to reading more.

[Review copy from my personal library.]

[Krystyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeing fairies at the bottom of the garden or should it be teacup?

Loved it. Okay it might be too fanciful for some but if you like a good cozy with a supernatural bent then you'll love this. The plot is a well woven and told well whilst the characters are full and relatable to.
Her 50th birthday has hit her like a ton of bricks. Not only because it's the first one since her husband's death but it is pouring. The only bright spark is her senior neighbour who wants her to read his memoirs. Although he seems worried about an old murder that is still unsolved. Unbeknownst to her he leaves her an unexpected gift - a pink fairy! Who almost gives her a heart attack! When he is dead a few hours later, she knows he was murdered. But what did it have to do with the old murder? Together with her BFF they resolve to get justice for both victims. Can they do so?

[Gina Growe · Rating 5 out of 5]

New to this writer and she knocked it out of the park. Just the right amount of character introductions so it was easy enough to keep up with who is who. Intrigue, heartfelt emotions, suspense, whimsy and a great slight of hand in this whodunit. I'm totally hooked and awaiting the next installment...hope it comes soon!

[Christine Wannberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fairies and a murder mystery

I love love love murder mysteries. I also have a taste for fantasy, fairies especially. I loved this book, ready for the next one

[Tchipakkan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to be upfront. I thought fairies would be a pleasant change from the usual witches and shifters, that's why I decided to start this series. But once I started, I really loved the characters. I loved Ray, and would love it if he showed up as a guardian ghost, but can deal with him having a good afterlife. I like Emily and am intrigued at what her mysterious husband is going to turn out to be, and as for Kate, she's a middle aged, gardening, tea loving widow living in central Maine, I feel a bit called out and identify more than someone so much older than she is should. (Don't we all subconsciously identify that we are younger than we feel?) I also already dislike their town manager, and his horrible sister the realtor. Having been asked for the collected foraged foods, she couldn't have simply called Kate to come get them, she had to throw them out? What a bitch! I was also pretty appalled that the minute they confirmed that it was a murder, that the police didn't run over and seal the house. There is no frakking way that a crime scene should have been cleared out like that. That would make me feel that that she's complicit. I hope she gets what's coming to her in a later book.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's difficult to review a new offering in a new series. I did like it although I had some issues with this first book. So, like you do with new people you meet I'll keep an open mind to see if we become "friends" or not in the future. First impressions: Well written and engaging for the most part. The story made sense and I liked the ending wrap up. Again, with a new series where you're just learning about the characters and their characteristics there were a lot of holes to fill. I did not like the whole fairy angle and am not sure how this is going to work in future books. It seemed almost an intrusion into the story and the tale could work just as well without it. It just didn't make sense but, as I said, I'll keep an open mind for later. One other thing I didn't care for-WHY did everyone drink tea all the time?! The only time coffee was mentioned it was almost with distaste. Now I'm an equal-opportunity hot beverage drinker but come on! Sure, be hoity-toity and drink tea leaves steeped in a pot only (btw even the British don't do that!) but sometimes drink something else! Something caffeinated! I'll give the series one more chance...we'll see...

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cozy was an October challenge book from my book club, and for the most part, I enjoyed it. The main character was likeable, although I wish the author had fleshed her out as a character more. All I really knew about her is she's 50, recently widowed, and enjoys solving mysteries. No mention of other family members, children, career, or really anything else to give her a back ground. Oh, and she likes tea. The author mentions that quite a bit.
The mystery itself was interesting, although the killer reveal was not particularly surprising. Also kuddos for the fall vibes, which I expected from the cover and honestly wouldn't mind more of.
Surprisingly, I'm not sure about the fairy angle. The fairy wasn't necessary to the overall plot and didn't add much interest to the book. But since this is the first in the series, hopefully the author will expand on both the main character and the fairy aspect in the next book.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not everything (anything) is as it seems at first glance in this fun book.

Kate Brewer has just lost her husband and she's lonely. There to help Kate in her grief is neighbor Ray Landry, who had lost his wife a while ago. While she is out gardening, Ray drops by and admits to Kate that he's disturbed by a conversation he'd had with a former police officer regarding a body Ray had found years ago in the woods near his house—a woods with fairies. No one has ever believed Ray's fairy talk, but when Ray is found murdered the next morning, she discovers that she should have paid closer attention to Ray's claims—and his hints surrounding the murdered woman from years ago. This is a fun book and charming. Easy read—I will read more of the series.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are fairies real? Ray Landry believes so, and tries to tell his neighbor, 50-year-old widow Kate Brewer, they are, but then he's found dead. It turns out, he had been the one to find a dead woman's body several years before and had decided to write about it in his memoirs. He was silenced, and the police are certain it was due to bad mushrooms he ate, because Ray was old and may have made a mistake while foraging in the forest.

With her friend dead, a manuscript of Ray's memoirs secretly sent to her, and a rather amazing discovery (that goes by the name Minette) in her house, Kate decides to get to the bottom of things and find Ray's killer.

This is a nice introduction to the series. A completely clean read. No recipes. No cliffhanger. Looking forward reading more!

[Tess Ailshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading a particularly bad handful of books full of logical issues and atrocious grammar, I was pleased to find one that actually made sense. This one is not great literature, but is a pleasant story. And it has a fairy. That, when done right, always makes a mystery better!

Not a lot of depth of character, but still a pleasant mystery that hangs together well and doesn't tip the ending from the first chapter. The motive may be a bit thin, but the real reason for a cozy mystery is to let us like the characters, isn't it?

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the first was actually the second

I had read 'Read & Buried' the second of this series before this one. D&B was offered in MY and I'm a sucker for fairies and snarky cats. So I knew I had to find out how Minette the fairy came to be with Ray Landry before he was killed. Now I'm on To the third one. Hope Emily, Kate an Minette enjoy their winter.
Looks like I've adopted another cracking series. & it will be a privilege to watch this small town story grow & grow.

[Dallass · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad, just not for me.

This was a novella sized cosy mystery with a slight paranormal twist, but even that couldn’t help save it. I just didn’t care about the characters, nor did I find it particularly engaging. I wasn’t connecting with the story once it got past the first interaction with the police officer and it wasn’t because it was badly written, it just wasn’t what I was looking for.

2 stars ⭐️

[Bonnie Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read that warms the heart and brings a bit of sadness too. But what really brings the book together is the Fairy; and who she helps Kate find the truth about what happened to their friend Ray and a murder 6 years ago. This series needs 1,000 gold stars because it brings fantasy and murder together that will want you to think about Fairies are real or not. In a way I hope they are. What can I say I'm like Ray in a way.

[Jade Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book

Oh this book is something else, the plot twists honestly had me on my knees. The way it’s written had be captivated. The way the words flow so beautifully and the language in it is wonderful. I sincerely enjoyed the book soooo much. I recommend this book to ANYONE and EVERYONE. Well worth the time I spent reading it. I didn’t get bored once.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate jumps at the chance to help her neighbor solve a murder. He also mentions the fairies,that live in the woods. Shown only to Kate is Minette
a fairy,stays hidden, but close to get clues. Whimsical, and a delight to read, the characters, especially the fairy add a nice touch to the story. As to who did it, took to the end to figure out for sure, Will look for more in this series.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful and deadly

The tiny fairy Minnette and her human sidekick Kate are( I know, should be the other way but Minette is so cute!) a good way to spend ones reading time. The stories are well laid out and the characters believable. Emily makes number 3 for a terrific crime solving trio and I know when I read the last book ,I'll want more!