Verse and Vengeance

A Magical Bookshop Mystery #4

by Amanda Flower

With the help of Walt Whitman's works, magical bookshop owner Violet Waverly puts her pedal to the metal to sleuth a bicycle-race murder that tests her mettle.
A bicycle race is not Charming Books proprietor Violet Waverly's idea of a pleasant pastime. But police chief David Rainwater wheelie wants them to enter the Tour de Cascade as a couple, so she reluctantly consents.

The Tour de Cascade is the brainchild of Violet's Grandma Daisy. The race is a fundraiser to build the Cascade Springs Underground Railroad Museum. But not everyone in this Niagara Region village supports the race. As if the bike race weren't tiring enough, pesky private investigator Joel Redding is snooping around Charming Books. It takes all of Violet's and Grandma Daisy's ingenuity to keep Redding from discovering the shop's magical essence--which communicates with Violet through books.

When Redding perishes in an accident during the race, David discovers that the brake line of the private eye's bike was cut. Worse, Violet tops his list of suspects. As Emerson the tuxedo cat and resident crow Faulkner look on, Charming Books steers Violet to the works of Walt Whitman to solve the crime. But no other names ring a bell as culprits, and as David's investigation picks up speed, Violet will have to get in gear to clear her name.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Paranormal, Fantasy, Magic

336 pages, ebook

First published December 10, 2019

About the author

Amanda Flower is a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author of over thirty-five mystery novels. Her novels have received starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times, and she had been featured in USA Today, First for Women, and Woman’s World. She currently writes for Penguin-Random House (Berkley), Kensington, Hallmark Publishing, Crooked Lane Books, and Sourcebooks. In addition to being a writer, she was a librarian for fifteen years. Today, Flower and her husband own a farm and recording studio, and they live in Northeast Ohio with their two adorable cats.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERSE AND VENGEANCE by AMANDA FLOWER is the fourth book in the Magical Bookshop Mystery series. This is a cozy paranormal mystery series that centers on a magical bookshop, Charming Books, and its owner Violet Waverly.

Violet’s grandmother is the town’s mayor and has arranged a bike race as a fundraiser for an Underground Railroad museum. Violet and her boyfriend, Police Chief David Rainwater, are participating in the race when they find private investigator Joel Redding dead. Violet works to identify the killer while keeping the bookstore’s magical capabilities a secret from David. The bookstore communicates with her through a book by Walt Whitman. There are several potential killers and the motive for the murder stays unclear throughout most of the novel.

The characters fit well into the quaint town and include a crow named Faulkner and a tuxedo cat named Emerson as well as Grandma Daisy and many others. Additionally the relationships between the characters do not come across as contrived. There are plenty of internal and external conflicts that are well defined for the main characters. The scenes progressed in a realistic manner and the author did a great job of world-building that gives the reader a clear sense of the fictional town of Crystal Springs, New York.

If you like cozy paranormal mystery books, bookstores, and Walt Whitman then you will likely enjoy this story as much as I did. I only wish I could go into Charming Books and explore the books that would find me while I was there. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Amanda Flower for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

[Natalia R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet Waverly has reluctantly agreed to participate in grandma Daisy's bike race fundraiser for the Underground Railroad Museum. During the race, a private investigator is murdered. Then the body of a man found in Niagara Falls is identified as the ex-husband of police chief David Rainwater's sister. The police are convinced that the murders are connected and they suspect that Violet's favourite student Jo is somehow involved. Violet believes that Jo is innocent and decides to do her own investigation.

Verse and Vengeance is a magical and enjoyable cozy mystery, with a wonderful cast of characters, a charming, picturesque small-town setting, and a well-plotted murder mystery. This is one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery series. When a new installment comes out it feels like catching up with old friends. The plot is complex and nicely paced. I did manage to correctly guess who the culprit was before the reveal but couldn't figure out the motive. I love how literature and magic play a role in helping Violet find clues. Overall, this is a wonderful addition to the series, and I can't wait to read the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming Books’ owner Violet Waverly accompanied her boyfriend and police chief David Rainwater on the fundraising bike ride in Cascade Springs near Niagara Falls although the distance was quite daunting. Her old bike had seen better days, but it took her safely wherever she needed to go. As she and David careened down Breakneck Hill, they didn’t expect what they found at the bottom. Twenty five miles into the race and the person in front of them wasn’t going any further.

The death of Joel Redding, private investigator and bane of Violet’s life, was discovered to be not an accident. With Rainwater and his two police officers on the case, Violet knew she should leave well enough alone. But her good friend and student Jo was implicated in the death and Violet knew she needed to find the evidence which showed Jo’s innocence. The magical essence of Charming Books was directing Violet to the answers – if only she could understand the messages it was sending her. Walt Whitman, long ago poet, had the means to solve the mystery. Violet’s frustration was immense – would she work out the answers?

Verse and Vengeance is the 4th in A Magical Bookshop Mystery series by Amanda Flower and I enjoyed this cosy mystery very much. Violet is a strong young woman, determined and compassionate; sometimes too soft-hearted for her own good. Her Grandma Daisy is an absolute delight; I was enchanted by the magical bookstore and loved Emerson the cat and Faulkner the crow – both permanent residents of Charming Books. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Tracy Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a cute book. It revolves around the Charming Books’ Bookstore and the new owner/Caretaker Violet Waverly. Violet accompanies her boyfriend police chief David Rainwater on a fundraising bike ride that her grandmother (the Mayor) has organized. This fundraiser was set up to help make money to renovate and repair the museum. Two things happen though that throw everything off course....lol, no pun intended.

First, during the race, someone is murdered, and it just happens to be the Joel Redding who has been investigating Violet and her bookstore. The second thing we don't know about yet but will be the end of the book.

Violet, of course, feels obligated to find answers her self. She wants to clear her friend Jo, protect her and protect her shop, but mostly she wants to know why she was being investigated by Joel Redding and what did he know. The magical essence of Charming Books was directing Violet to find the answers. She just wished the essence was a bit more clear with the messages being sent to her.

I really enjoyed this book, and it kept me turning pages until the very end, and after that it had me looking up poetry by Walt Whitman!

Thank you to Netgalley for the Digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#VerseandVengeance #NetGalley

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
This was a great cozy, the case was interesting involving a famous American poet but the best thing about this series are the characters. Violet is terrific as the main character and I’m so happy that she finally came clean to Rainwater about the magical nature of the shop. With the cliff hanger proposal I’m really going to find it hard waiting for the next book in the series to be released. I was surprised that Bertie was the murderer but I’m glad that the nasty character will be out of all their lives.



Cozies Reading Challenge

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We arrive in Cascade Springs just in time for the Tour de Cascade. The bike race is a fundraiser to raise funds to build an Underground Railroad Museum. It is one of the grand ideas of Mayor Daisy aka Grandma Daisy to Violet Waverly, caretaker of the magical Charming Books. Violet hadn’t planned on participating but her boyfriend police chief David Rainwater wants them to ride the course together. She just hopes she can make it the whole way.

As if keeping up with David wasn’t hard enough Private Investigator Joel Redding is making a nuisance of himself by riding right by her trying to take her picture. He has been outside the bookshop for days spying on her too. He is convinced there is something strange going on in the shop and if he discovers what it is he will have a cash windfall spreading the news. Violet and Grandma Daisy are determined to keep their secret especially from the likes of a man like Joel Redding.

In the last bit of the race a man crashes and dies. That man turns out to be Joel Redding and David notices the brake lines on the bike were cut, Someone wanted this man to get hurt and maybe even die and that person got their wish. Sadly, Violet finds herself on that list of suspects. So she has to do something to clear her name. Hopefully, the Essense will be able to help and point her in the right direction.

I am not a fan of Walt Whitman but I am a huge fan of Amanda Flower so I was happy to finally read this book.

I love everything about Charming Books including the mischievous tuxedo cat Emerson and the staunch crow Faulkner. It is the place where the right book will find you. And when it does there are plenty of places to curl up with it and start reading. The tree growing in the middle of the shop guards over the books and gives Faulkner a great place to perch and invoke his wisdom. I am sure if I was ever blessed to enter the shop I would read book after book and never leave.

Ms. Flower has created characters that have a lot of layers and it is nice to see them revealed slowly over the course of the series. Grandma Daisy is a woman on a mission and she will not stop until she succeeds. She is truly a force to be reckoned with, sometimes a little too bull in the china shop but her heart is always in the right place. With Daisy taking on the responsibility of the mayor’s office, Violet has realized she must take the job of caretaker of the shop on fully and learn truly what that job entails. I was thrilled that we learned more about the bookshop’s history. With the murder to investigate and all the summer tourists coming soon, she brings in college professor Richard to take some hours. He has no idea of the magic within the walls but the Essence sure helps him make some wonderful discoveries. Police Chief David Rainwater and Violet don’t get to spend a lot of time together but he knows she is hiding something so their relationship is not just sailing along.

The mystery was well-crafted. At first, I was a little frustrated that a key individual keep disappearing but then I accepted it and like Violet was worried. Walt Whitman’s connection was interesting but I do not enjoy his poetry. Seeing Violet’s frustrations at trying to figure out the clues took me back to the English classes where we studied his works and my frustration and trying to decipher his words for a grade. I passed that section by the skin of my teeth just like I figured out this mystery. I was totally in the dark and solved it when the reveal hit me in the face. LOL

I do love this series and can’t believe I had not read this book when it was released. I truly thought I had until I checked all my lists and saw it was still on my To-Be-Read list. I am so glad that I have now corrected that oversight.

Verse and Vengeance was a delightful way to spend two evenings. I couldn’t wait to get done with work each day so I could escape into this story. No spoiler but the ending made me smile and really excited for the next book in the series. Due to my delay in reading this one I don’t have as long to wait. Crimes and Covers will be out on January 11, 2022.

[Micky Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bookshop has a secret that has been guarded forever by the caretakers, but is that secret about to be outed and will that mean that relationships will change because of the secret. A very interesting and entertaining murder plot is interwoven with the personal storylines of the characters making this book even more intriguing and delightful. The characters are quite well developed and their personal stories strengthen the underlying murder plot. I absolutely can't wait to see what happens in the next book in the characters' lives as things seem to be heating up for several of the characters!

[Mark Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Violet Waverly is upset to see that PI Joel Redding is back in town, and once again staking out Charming Books, trying to learn about the secret of the bookstore. But when he is killed during the first annual Tour de Cascade Springs bike race, she begins to wonder what else he was up to. Will the investigation lead back to Violet’s secret? Why does the bookstore keep putting copies of Walt Whitman’s poetry in her path?

I really enjoyed the third book in the series earlier this year, so I sat down looking forward to this one. Sadly, the mystery disappointed. While there are some developments, the pacing could have been better. Then, in the rush to wrap things up, a major part of the mystery remains unexplained. I don’t normally read paranormal cozies, but I do enjoy the magical essence of this series. We get some additional mythology here, which I appreciated. Likewise, the series characters continue to grow, as do their relationships. Series fans will still enjoy this book even if the mystery could be stronger.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Patrizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ho fatto tardi per finire di leggere questo libro... e devo dire che non sono rimasta delusa. Non sono rimasta sorpresa dal colpevole, forse perché non mi stava proprio simpatico, ma non avevo capito il suo movente. Sono molto soddisfatta dei cambiamenti nella vita privata della protagonista: se non avessi scoperto qualche giorno fa che fra alcuni mesi uscirà un nuovo libro di questa serie, avrei pensato che questo era una degna conclusione di una bella serie.

[JoAn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower is an awesome addition to this series. Can you tell that I love this series?

Ms. Flower's descriptive writing pulled me into the village of Cascade Springs as Violet and David are to begin riding in the Tour de Cascade bike race and I didn't put the book down until the end. Violet and Grandma Daisy are two of my favorite people in the world of cozy mysteries. I feel at home at Charming Books and want to move in each time I read a new book in the series. The mystery is complex as their aren't many suspects and the one person who might know something keeps disappearing before Violet and David can really talk to her. A quickly paced plot that kept me on my toes until the reveal which took me totally by surprise made this, for me, an excellent read. I'm already looking forward to the next book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Everything I've been hoping would happen in Violet's life has come together in a happy way. There were times when she doubted people that she considered friends, but everything worked out and the killer was caught. I was really surprised by the reveal too and had never suspected that person. (Although I can't say that I'm sorry it was that person lol). I don't want to say too much, because there are a number of spoilers in the book. Any fans of Violet and David will be well-pleased.

Grandma Daisy has always been a favorite character, and in this book, Richard who was one of Violet's professors at the college when she was getting her degree, had started working at the bookshop. There was a certain lady he liked a lot, and I was wondering if he'd ever get up the nerve to take her out. It was cool getting to know him a little bit better by reading about his working in the shop during the summer.

I've loved this series since the first book I read and always anxiously wait for the next book! The only reason it took me so long to read this book was due to being on vacation. Attempting to read much of it prior to vacation wasn't working due to all the things needing done before we left.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Flower is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors and I was particularly happy to see that this series found a new home with Crooked Lane Books. This is a wonderful series with likable characters, a quintessential cozy mystery setting and a plot that will keep the reader engaged throughout the story. Violet and her grandmother Daisy are charming characters that are instantly likable with a bit of the paranormal in them. Once again, Violet is involved in another murder mystery, this time it the victim is someone she didn't particularly like and thought was about to discover her secret as caretaker of the Tree. I love the animal characters in the story. Both Faulkner and Emerson are portrayed with some human qualities and provide a bit of mystical help, along with the Tree to help Violet with the clues she needs to solve the murder.

The murder mystery is well crafted and kept me guessing throughout the story. There are not too many suspects in this case but I have to say the killer was not on my radar and came as a surprise in what was a climactic reveal. There are also some nice surprises with respect to Violet's relationship with Chief Rainwater that I think readers will like.

Ms. Flower is a gifted writer who has created a terrific series, placed it in what I consider the quintessential cozy mystery setting and provided her readers with likable, well-rounded characters. Whenever I pick up a book by this author I know I am going to be entertained and transported to a place where I feel like the characters are old friends. I am looking forward to more to come in this series.

I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through Netgalley.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite series and I loved the ending and am so glad there is another book coming. The characters are fun and I liked this story. Apparently the editing could have been better as a person who had this book from the library before me corrected many typos. Still did not make the story any less fun to read.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad that I took a chance on this series - I just love every book that is in it!!

I really enjoy Violet and her grandmother, David Rainwater and all of the characters that revolve around them. I enjoy the mystery aspect of the books [though I will admit, I am not a fan of Whitman and that part of the book was a touch tedious for me - he was so pretentious. Geesh.] and I never saw that end coming, though I thought in a previous book that something could happen along these lines, just not for the reason that happens in this book. I also like how the book touches on how hard it is to keep secrets and just how damaging keeping those secrets can be. All-in-all, this was a great addition to the series and I really hope there will be more as I have grown quite attached to the characters in Cascade Springs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Liz Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ummm, I loved this book. 🫶🏻 So far my favorite one in the series (only one more to go). I teared up, my jaw dropped on multiple occasions, and my interest was peaked the entire time!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet Waverly is the proprietor of Charming Books, a magical bookstore. When you enter its doors, you might think you know what you are looking for, but the book you need will miraculously appear to you. In this fourth book in the series, Cascade Springs is holding a bicycle-race called the Tour de Cascade to raise money to build an Underground Railroad Museum. Violet and her boyfriend, police chief David Rainwater plan to participate, but a dead body derails that plan. The victim is private investigator Joel Redding, who has been snooping around Charming Books to try and discover the shop's magical essence. After the murder, the shop guides Violet to Walt Whitman's books to find clues to who the culprit is.

I enjoy this series with all its literary references, the shop mascots Emerson the tuxedo cat and Faulkner, the resident crow as well as the familiar characters. The mystery is not as simple as it seems, as soon there is another body that is identified as Rainwater's brother-in-law. I was not sure how all this would work out and come together, but I had some ideas. Violet is a great, yet reluctant sleuth. Grandma Daisy is a wonderful character who supports and encourages Daisy. She is a force to be reckoned with, being the mayor who usually gets what she wants. We also meet Richard, a former professor of Violet's who plays a part in solving the mystery. The mystery is well-plotted with interesting clues, a few suspects (Violet and Daisy at one point) and characters that we learn about their pasts. I did not suspect the person who was the killer, but it fit well and the motive was interesting. Verse and Vengeance can be read as a standalone, but it is an enjoyable series, so I recommend you read the series from the beginning.

[Andree · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one. There wasn't too much mortal peril, which is always good. (I do find it gets a bit tedious when there's mortal peril in every single book in a mystery series.) I continue to enjoy the town. Although, sometimes the relationships can be a little... straightforward. In the sense that Violet has one conversation with her long lost father and decides to forgive him for essentially abandoning her. Also, tthe writing group seems to be getting paired off one by one with convenient (and perfect) love interests. And don't get me wrong, I like the couples. But it's feeling awfully convenient.

Speaking of pairing off, the progression in David and Violet's relationship was faster than I was expecting. I mean, I was expecting her to tell him about the store in this book, but not the rest of it. That proposal was really effectively done though. Very sweet.

2020 Reading CHallenge - A book with a bird on the cover

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Verse and Vengeance is my least favorite in this series. 2.5 stars

Violet, Daisy and the magical book shop are all just lovely. I wish I were a Waverly woman chosen to be the Caretaker! But book 4 was a little slow with a lot repetition of Cascade Springs history. I like the tie in history between Walt Whitman, the poet and Abraham Lincoln although fiction, it lead me to read more about Whitman watching Lincoln commuted pass his residence on a daily basis. The last poem by Whitman was touching.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great mystery! When the murdered was revealed, I was shocked! I definitely didn't see that one coming. I loved the whole Walt Whitman theme and what the author did with it....so interesting and intriguing! And the ending...YES!! Perfect! Can't wait to read book 5! Amanda Flower never disappoints. Excellent story teller!

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Final cozy mystery in a four book series. Books, cats and a little magic. Fun books to get lost in.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Verse and Vengeance is the fourth book in Amanda Flower's Magical Bookshop Mystery series and the first that I have had the pleasure of reading.....and let me tell you..... I AM HOOKED !!! There is so much to fall in love with in this series.....

You have main character Violet Waverly and her Grandma Daisy, the bookstore they own called Charming Books, Grandma Daisy is the mayor of their little village of Cascade Springs, they are close to Niagara Falls, Violet is dating the police chief, everyone knows everyone and they help each other out, there are a cat and bird in the bookstore, there is a tree in the middle of the store and the bookstore is magical !!!

I know that is a lot to take in and I haven't even mentioned murder yet !!! And in Verse and Vengeance there are TWO deaths that shake this little town !!!

Grandma/Mayor Daisy is doing everything she can to raise money for renovations to the village hall and the town is getting ready for a bike race.....unfortunately in the middle of the race, a private investigator crashes his bike. After police chief David Rainwater investigates it is ruled murder because the brake lines were tampered with. When a friend and past student, Jo Fitzgerald, becomes a person of interest but is no where to be found, Violet takes it upon herself to try to find her before someone else ends up hurt or dead.

Violet, with the help from the magical bookstore giving her "hints" through putting books in her path, will have you wishing you were in Cascade Springs with her. And Flower knows exactly what to write to have you turning the pages so fast, it will seem like magic.....and if everything else in the book and story don't grab you, the very LAST page will leave you breathless and on the edge of your seat......

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grandma Daisy has pulled together a bicycle race to raise money to help open a museum for the town. Violet has decided to give the race a go because her boyfriend, Chief Rainwater thought it would be a great way for them to spend some time together. Things are going well until the two get close to the end of the race and find that one of the riders has had an accident. The man, Redding, was in the village not that long ago giving Violet a hard time and has sense come back. Violet worries that she might become a suspect when it is announced that the man was actually murdered. Since he has been pack in town Violet has noticed him watching her every move. Violet really gets upset when the first her is pointed at a friend and student of hers. The young girl may have a few issues but there is no way she is a murderer. The shop keeps throwing Walt Whitman's work in her path she must has to figure out what it all means. There are so many ave is a to look into Violet worries that she won't be able to solve this one. Follow along as she kicks into investigative mode and starts her search for a killer. Will she be successful in the end or will she end up a victim herself. This is such a magical read and always leaves me excited for the next book. This book was no exception, I can't wait to see what happens next!!!

[Sue Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

 

 

 

 

Having returned to Cascade Springs, Violet Waverly managed Charming Books now that her Aunt Daisy has become mayor and involved with a museum for the town and it's history. What no one besides them knows is that Violet has taken over as Caretaker for the magical essence for the bookstore. After a sleazy PI threatens to expose her secrets, he turns up dead during a charity bike race. Amanda Flower has several excellent series, but this one is my favorite with a crow named Faulkner, a tuxedo cat named Emerson and a live birch tree growing in the middle of the bookstore. And this fourth entry to the series lives up the the standards of the other. If you like a cozy with a touch of the paranormal, this one's for you! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eeeep!!! Magical bookshop that leaves cryptic literary messages, an independent cat who knows what he wants and doesn't let anyone stand in his way, a crow that makes his home in the branches of the birch tree that grows up through the bookshop...well...this series is called magical for a reason. It is sublimely so! Makes me giddy just thinking about it. :-)

This is the fourth book in the series and I think it's best if you've read the other books first so you get a feel for all that bookshop magic as well as the significant relationships brewing in this quaint small town. Plus the romance picks up and you'll appreciate it all the more if you been rooting for a certain couple from the get go. Happy swoon!

Another solid cozy mystery from Amanda Flower. I'm praying there are plenty more Magical Bookshop Mysteries ahead for us all.

[Wendy Heuvel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cute and charming mystery in the Magical Bookshop Mystery series. I've read other series where I was bored by the fourth book because every book had seemed the same. Amanda Flower does a great job keeping this series interesting all the way through so far. The growing relationships between characters is a great part of the overall plot, and the mystery in this book is just as exciting as the others. Looking forward to another book in this series.

[The Kawaii Slartibartfast · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Another charming entry in the Magical Bookshop series!

A nosy detective is murdered at a bike race. Violet has to figure out why and protect the bookshop's secret

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower is the fourth A Magical Bookshop Mystery. There is a delightful cast of characters in this magical tale. Violet Waverly has just finished teaching another semester at the local college as well as defending her dissertation which has earned her the right to put doctor before her name. She is looking forward to working in the shop and spending time with her boyfriend, Chief David Rainwater. Daisy Waverly is Violet’s grandmother and the new mayor of Cascade Springs. Things are never dull when Daisy is around. She came up with the idea for the Cascade Springs Underground Railroad Museum and ran short of funding when issues were discovered with the foundation of the Village Hall. There is Emerson the tuxedo cat that manages to follow Violet around the village (a master escape artist) and Faulkner is the crow that resides in the magical birch tree and calls out unique quotes as well as dropping books into Violet’s path. There are a variety of charming residents and shop owners plus a curmudgeon or two. I just love the descriptions of this quant town. There are some adorable shops and it is close to Niagara Falls. The mystery was multifaceted with several suspects and good clues. While I could identify the guilty party, it took longer to figure out the why. This was a unique whodunit. I like how everything tied together. Amanda crafted a unique mystery that tied in Walt Whitman. I especially enjoyed how literature with the help of the essence tied into the whodunit. Verse and Vengeance also has romance with David and Violet at the forefront, but there is also Daisy and a certain fellow who is smitten with her. Plus, Violet’s department chair might finally work up the nerve to ask out a certain librarian. There is humor sprinkled throughout the story that had me chuckling. That Emerson is quite a character. Thanks to Amanda Flower’s descriptions, I could envision that cat in Violet’s bicycle basket. Violet’s father returns which brings up old feelings of resentment and confusion. Can Violet and her father find a way to move forward? Verse and Vengeance can be read as a standalone for those new to the series, but why would you not want to read all the books in this enchanting series. The ending of Verse and Vengeance is very special, and I cannot wait for the next book in this enchanting series. Verse and Vengeance is a spellbinding tale with an enigmatic essence, perplexing poetry, a curious cat, dynamic Daisy, a pesky PI, and a flawed foundation.

[Jenna · Rating 1 out of 5]

terrible! so many plot holes and the characters were all boring. every single conversation felt like a video game character on a quest interacting with an npc. jo was the only mildly interesting character but probably only because we didn’t see much of her. i wish we’d seen more, but i don’t blame her for constantly running away from the scenes- ie police and violet, that snitch. she had no concept of people disliking the police. and it was weird that violet kept calling her her friend when it’s a clear student teacher relationship. like violet grow up just get real friends. also violet kept being like “there’s a KILLER on the loose!” when in the last book when someone actively tried to kill her, she didn’t care. felt like a race thing, especially since every non white character was introduced as their race. also, who tf was bryant cloud? he was just another guy killed to up the stakes but the connection didn’t make any sense and there was minimal explanation. finally, the relationship between “rainwater” (why did violet keep calling him by his last name when he was her literal fiancé by the end of the book?) and violet was so forced and not a slow burn like the author clearly wanted. he was not a pleasant character to read and the only thing we knew was that violet thought he was such a noble man bc she said it how many times? oh right, like every other page.

[Mr Francy Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"HERE LIES....WALT WHITMAN?!" - HOMER SIMPSON. <--- THIS QUOTE FILLED MY MIND FOR MOST OF THIS BOOK!

PREMISE: With the help of Walt Whitman's works, magical bookshop owner Violet Waverly puts her pedal to the metal to sleuth a bicycle-race murder that tests her mettle. When Redding (a P.I.) perishes in an accident during the race, David discovers that the brake line of the private eye's bike was cut. Worse, Violet tops his list of suspects. As Emerson the tuxedo cat and resident crow Faulkner look on, Charming Books steers Violet to the works of Walt Whitman to solve the crime. But no other names ring a bell as culprits, and as David's investigation picks up speed, Violet will have to get in gear to clear her name.

THOUGHTS: Good book, but when it began with a quote of Walt Whitman I knew that the name sounded vaguely familiar. Not long later Charming Books Essence tries to get Violet to read from Witman's works and I knew I had to find out how I knew the name. Then I realsied it was from that Simpsons episode where Homer finds a grave stone he once thought was his Mom's only to find out it was Walt Whitman (trust me I played the clip on youtube many times while reading this book! haha). All in all I liked the book. Still love Emerson the cat and loving the essence of Charming books more and more.
The reveal in book 3 shocked me to see how it would effect the series as a whole and I have to say I feel the same way about this one too!!!

4.5 Stars!
xoxo.

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 4th of the Magic Bookshop mysteries set near Niagara Falls, Violet Waverley is caught up in yet another murder: this time of a private detective who is determined to find out the source of the magic at Charming Books, owned by Violet and her grandmother, Daisy, who is now the mayor of Cascade Springs. When the private eye dies during a charity bike race, all eyes turn to the bike shop's assistant (also one of Violet's students at the local community college).

Violet, who is dating the town's police chief, David Rainwater, must decide whether to let him in on the secret to the bookstore's magic (only known by Violet and Daisy) as the bookstore keeps leaving copies of Whitman's Leaves of Grass everywhere as clues to solving the murder of the unlikeable P.I.

Who is behind the dastardly attack? And what happens when Violet's newly-revealed father also comes to Cascade Springs after a six-month absence?

Life is never boring in Cascade Springs, especially when such an idyllic small town, filled with quirky characters, keeps having murders occur within its city limits?