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Pet Psychic #1
Pretty Little Fliers
She talks to the animals. But when they witness a murder, who will squawk first?
Cursed and almost powerless, Jolene’s definitely down on her magical luck. Forced to disguise her taboo shifter abilities, she barely makes ends meet by working as a pretend pet psychic. So she eagerly says, “Oui,” to a job securing testimony from a parakeet that watched a woman’s fatal fall.
Teaming up with a true blue police officer and his lie-sniffing German Shepherd, Jolene works hard to hunt down suspects. But with an after-hours affair, a disgruntled neighbor, and risqué photos all seemingly connected to the crime, untangling the truth is bound to get hairy.
Can Jolene protect her cover and pluck out the clues before she falls from grace?
Pretty Little Fliers is the first book in the delightful Magic Market paranormal cozy mystery series. If you like charming characters, picturesque French settings, and spellbinding twists and turns, then you’ll love Erin Johnson’s pet-friendly tale.
Buy Pretty Little Fliers to swoop into a wild case today!198 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2019
1463 people are currently reading
776 people want to read
About the author
Erin Johnson
90 books715 followersA native of Tempe, Arizona, Erin spends her time crafting mysterious, magical, romance-filled stories that’ll hopefully make you laugh.
In between, she’s traveling, napping with her dogs, eating with her friends and family, and teaching Pilates (to allow her to eat more).
In between, she’s traveling, napping with her dogs, eating with her friends and family, and teaching Pilates (to allow her to eat more).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
January 10, 2024
After Jolene lost her magical powers, she only had her "talking to the animals" ability left, but being a shifter was frowned upon, so Jolene pretended to be a Pet Psychic in order to make ends meet. When Jolene helped save Officer Peter Flint's partner, dog Daisy - a lie detector police dog - Peter hired Jolene as a consultant on the murder of a woman from a nearby apartment. With several suspects, both Jolene and Peter weren't sure who the culprit was. But when a second body was found, and Peter's boss closed the case after arresting a person, Jolene was sure the wrong person was heading to jail. Could she discover the killer?
Pretty Little Fliers is the 1st in Pet Psychic series by Erin Johnson and it was a bit silly, plenty strange but lots of fun - and the cover is cute! Daisy is adorable - though she didn't like Jolene! And some of the creatures Jolene spoke to were pretty creepy! I'm sure Peter, Jolene and Daisy will have fun solving the next mystery in this paranormal cosy series. Recommended.
Pretty Little Fliers is the 1st in Pet Psychic series by Erin Johnson and it was a bit silly, plenty strange but lots of fun - and the cover is cute! Daisy is adorable - though she didn't like Jolene! And some of the creatures Jolene spoke to were pretty creepy! I'm sure Peter, Jolene and Daisy will have fun solving the next mystery in this paranormal cosy series. Recommended.
November 21, 2019
I was nervous to read this . The start of a new series .
Erin's last series the spells and caramels series was magical. Every one if the books was pleasure to read, the characters were so likeable and had a brilliant chemistry. The bar was set high!
So this new series...
Smashed it ! I'm loving it .
The characters are just as appealing with undeniable chemistry.
Brilliant.
UPDATE:
The audio book is equally brilliant! To hear the narrator do Daisy is wonderful, and the insects and other animals too.
The budgie is the cutest thing ever! A fab audio.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Erin's last series the spells and caramels series was magical. Every one if the books was pleasure to read, the characters were so likeable and had a brilliant chemistry. The bar was set high!
So this new series...
Smashed it ! I'm loving it .
The characters are just as appealing with undeniable chemistry.
Brilliant.
UPDATE:
The audio book is equally brilliant! To hear the narrator do Daisy is wonderful, and the insects and other animals too.
The budgie is the cutest thing ever! A fab audio.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 8, 2020
Johnson's first book in the Magic Market Series started off well. I was giggling through the first chapter. And, then it began. The incessant use of - the brow lift. OMG! Arched brow. Thick brow. Lifted Brow. Creased brows. Raised brow. Heavy brows. Bushy, black, pinched, drawn-on, hiked brow. The number of times brow was used for effect – 136!! The plural form was repeated 73 times. In fact, "brow" was used TWICE in one paragraph. Incredibly distracting. There was more brow-raising than hair-raising mystery going on here. I couldn't get past it. Do we need to have facial expressions described in every sentence? I'd like writers to trust I'm intelligent enough to understand situations and emotions. I get it! "Don't beat it into me", I said, raising a brow. Pfft. Listen, I adore Erin. I love her Spells and Caramels series. It's very creative. This new series seems to have lost a bit of its magic. I can't say I liked the MC very much. Jolene is kind of a sloth and rather disgusting. I had a difficult time picturing anyone taking her seriously. I doubt the sexy cop would even look in her direction. Peter is oblivious. He doesn't seem to notice down-on-her-luck Jolene is slouching around in ratty old sweats, stinking up the place. Eww. Why?
Nope. Do not identify, not even on my worst days. Jolene is written this way to indicate her extreme misfortune. Once a shape shifting lawyer, Jolene's powers have been cursed. We only get a smidgen of info as to why/how she has lost her abilities to wield magic. Apparently, shifters are outcasts on the magic island of Bijou Mer. Uh...I imagine that being a dirty, stinky bum won't do you any favors either. I'm hoping that Johnson uses Book 2 to investigate what I suspect to be the best part of the story. Will I even read Book 2, Friday Night Bites? Of course. I may not have loved this book (and probably nitpicked more than I needed to) but, for the most part, I did stay 'til the end. As I said, I really like Erin's lively imagination. Her stories add an element of fun to my reading life. Erin has written many a cozy mystery. She's proven her power to enchant readers with spells and caramels. I'll continue to shop around in the Magic Market. I do love sweet, sweet Peter and his canine partner, Daisy. Perhaps Jolene was inspired by the investigative teamwork. Despite the cliché bickering between fiercely loyal dog and the female lead, this trio has promise. Perchance Peter could use his magic wand to clean Jolene up. And, watch those brows!
"I stumbled back and tugged at my shirt, attempting to smooth it. The wrinkles weren't entirely his fault. I sniffed my pit and crinkled my nose.I'd been wearing my favorite band tee for several days straight at this point, sleeping in it even, and the humid summer weather wasn't doing me any favors. I'd have to check the cushions for laundry money."
Nope. Do not identify, not even on my worst days. Jolene is written this way to indicate her extreme misfortune. Once a shape shifting lawyer, Jolene's powers have been cursed. We only get a smidgen of info as to why/how she has lost her abilities to wield magic. Apparently, shifters are outcasts on the magic island of Bijou Mer. Uh...I imagine that being a dirty, stinky bum won't do you any favors either. I'm hoping that Johnson uses Book 2 to investigate what I suspect to be the best part of the story. Will I even read Book 2, Friday Night Bites? Of course. I may not have loved this book (and probably nitpicked more than I needed to) but, for the most part, I did stay 'til the end. As I said, I really like Erin's lively imagination. Her stories add an element of fun to my reading life. Erin has written many a cozy mystery. She's proven her power to enchant readers with spells and caramels. I'll continue to shop around in the Magic Market. I do love sweet, sweet Peter and his canine partner, Daisy. Perhaps Jolene was inspired by the investigative teamwork. Despite the cliché bickering between fiercely loyal dog and the female lead, this trio has promise. Perchance Peter could use his magic wand to clean Jolene up. And, watch those brows!
October 20, 2019
Pretty Little Fliers by Erin Johnson is the debut of the Magic Market Mysteries. I enjoyed reading this creative new tale. The authors writing style is casual and friendly. I was quickly immersed into the story. We return to Bijou Mer from Erin Johnson’s Spells & Caramels series where we enter the seedy section of the island. Darkmoon Night Market is where the poor live and criminals conduct their activities. Jolene used to a well-paid lawyer until a certain co-worker revealed that she was an owl shifter (shifters get a bad rap). A curse has taken away her ability to shift as well as her magical powers. She can, though, talk to animals and insects which is why she hung out her shingle as a pet psychic. When a woman is murdered across the street, Jolene gets hired by Officer Peter Flint. Jolene is eager for the work because she is close to being evicted and she does like to eat. I found myself laughing frequently while reading Pretty Little Fliers. It is an entertaining story. We meet a variety of unique characters as Officer Flint, Daisy (Officer Flint’s canine partner) and Jolene investigate the murder. There are a variety of suspects and they uncover some unusual information. Daisy and Jolene do not get along which led to some witty exchanges. This case may be just what Jolene needs since she has just been going through the motions the last four and half years. I enjoyed reading this magical cozy mystery and am eager to read Friday Night Bites. Pretty Little Fliers is a spellbinding tale with a saucy secretary, peculiar plants, secret snapshots, and a bewildering botanist.
January 18, 2024
Good start for a new series. I am not a fan of talking animals so I’m not sure why I bought this but they were funny in this series, not the annoying ones who are always trying to get your attention like toddles, but added to the mystery and the story overall. I loved knowing what the cockroaches and rats in the apartments were thinking. Jolene, herself, was amusing but a little annoying. I’m guessing she’ll grow on me as the series goes on. I found her ease in eating the murder victim’s food hilarious. I have the rest of the series on audio so I will continue with the next one and see where it goes.
October 31, 2019
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Pretty Little Fliers by Erin Johnson is a magnificent first book in this new series by Ms. Johnson. I love these new characters and a different outlook on Bijou Mer's citizens.
Can Jolene help Peter and Daisy find the killer?
Jolene
Jolene is our main character and point of view character throughout the whole book. She is a cautious and thoughtful character as we were first introduced to shifters in the Spells and Caramels series, and now we have one as our main point of view character. Jolene was cursed, which is a huge thing since now she can't shift and lost most of her powers. Well, except for the ability to talk to animals and now to hearing and talking to all the animals. She was a lawyer before she was cursed, but now she is a pet psychic that is working with the police for her ability to hear the animals' thoughts.
I like this character a lot, and she is different than Imogen. However, they are both orphaned, but for Jolene, she grew up in this world while Imogen wasn't. I don't have a dislike for her, but I hope that she does trust Phil enough at some point to tell him the truth about herself.
Peter Flint and Daisy
Peter Flint is the police officer and Jolene's love interest in this series. These two will be interesting as he is a police officer through and through. By that, I mean that he wants to do well with his job, but he also wants the truth about it. His dog is Daisy, who is a golden lab, can tell when someone is lying or telling the truth. Daisy's attitude when she realizes that Jolene is a shifter is pretty hilarious. Daisy is the Iggy of this series, and I adore it.
I love these two a lot, and I can see some things, not going too well with the three of them. Peter is a great guy, and Daisy is a wonderful girl who only wants what is best for Peter.
Five Stars
Pretty Little Fliers by Erin Johnson is another fantastic book and the start of another excellent series. I can't wait to get back into the world of Jolene, Peter, and Daisy so that I can be laughing out loud all over again. I am giving this book five stars as I adore anything from Ms. Johnson, and this book is no exception. Along with my rating, I am recommending it to anyone that loves cozy paranormal mysteries.
Next Books in the Series
Can Jolene help Peter and Daisy find the killer?
Jolene
Jolene is our main character and point of view character throughout the whole book. She is a cautious and thoughtful character as we were first introduced to shifters in the Spells and Caramels series, and now we have one as our main point of view character. Jolene was cursed, which is a huge thing since now she can't shift and lost most of her powers. Well, except for the ability to talk to animals and now to hearing and talking to all the animals. She was a lawyer before she was cursed, but now she is a pet psychic that is working with the police for her ability to hear the animals' thoughts.
I like this character a lot, and she is different than Imogen. However, they are both orphaned, but for Jolene, she grew up in this world while Imogen wasn't. I don't have a dislike for her, but I hope that she does trust Phil enough at some point to tell him the truth about herself.
Peter Flint and Daisy
Peter Flint is the police officer and Jolene's love interest in this series. These two will be interesting as he is a police officer through and through. By that, I mean that he wants to do well with his job, but he also wants the truth about it. His dog is Daisy, who is a golden lab, can tell when someone is lying or telling the truth. Daisy's attitude when she realizes that Jolene is a shifter is pretty hilarious. Daisy is the Iggy of this series, and I adore it.
I love these two a lot, and I can see some things, not going too well with the three of them. Peter is a great guy, and Daisy is a wonderful girl who only wants what is best for Peter.
Five Stars Pretty Little Fliers by Erin Johnson is another fantastic book and the start of another excellent series. I can't wait to get back into the world of Jolene, Peter, and Daisy so that I can be laughing out loud all over again. I am giving this book five stars as I adore anything from Ms. Johnson, and this book is no exception. Along with my rating, I am recommending it to anyone that loves cozy paranormal mysteries.
Next Books in the Series
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Pretty Little Fliers by Erin Johnson.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
December 24, 2020
Jolene is a pet psychic on a magic-filled island called Bijou Mer--and can converse with all sorts of animals. After she helps officer Flint save the life of his lie-detecting dog Daisy, he hires her to consult on a murder to question a parakeet witness. So many shady suspects in the Darkmoon District--who wanted the photographer dead? Erin Johnson offers a unique and entertaining twist on the paranormal mystery.
October 19, 2022
Challenging.
The story hangs on a crime, a woman is murdered, and the main character joins forces with a local cop to solve it.
The best thing about the book...
she's a shifter who cannot shift because of a curse, but she can speak to animals. Like an UF Dr Doolittle.
And in the rush to solve the crime in under 200 pages, the best part of the book is all but ignored.
Somewhere between 2 and 3 Stars but it was entertaining enough so 3 Stars.
The story hangs on a crime, a woman is murdered, and the main character joins forces with a local cop to solve it.
The best thing about the book...
she's a shifter who cannot shift because of a curse, but she can speak to animals. Like an UF Dr Doolittle.
And in the rush to solve the crime in under 200 pages, the best part of the book is all but ignored.
Somewhere between 2 and 3 Stars but it was entertaining enough so 3 Stars.
January 3, 2021
Well this is a good start to the series. We have a cursed shifter who can't shift and has no magic but she can talk to animals. She's poor and lives in the slums when a cop comes with his injured dog. This is not just any dog but a truth detecting dog. It's a fun little read. I liked the characters and can't wait to see what happens in future books.
October 28, 2019
I had the privilege of being introduced to Erin Johnson’s writing about a year ago and I devoured her adorable and witty Spells & Caramels series so I was so excited for be apart of the eARC review team for her new Magic Market Mystery series.
There is a free prologue to this series, you can get by signing up for Johnson’s newsletter, called Saved By the Bell that was a perfect introduction to the new series.
Pretty Little Fliers was such a fun start to a series I see being just as fun and as amazing as Johnson's first one. First can we just take a moment to admire the titles of the Book one and the prologue! Johnson creates a unique story with heartwarming characters. She brings to light intense situations, but makes this moments easier to handle by throwing in perfectly timed humor.
I am excited to see where Johnson takes this series and where the adorable and loveable Jolene ends up. Make sure to go check it out on amazon. It's just release and only $0.99 on kindle right now!
May 4, 2021
I enjoyed Erin Johnson's other series, so I decided to give this one a try as well. I liked the idea of a main character who talks to pets and was curious how that would play into the mystery. Unfortunately this book didn't quite work for me.
I was hoping for a light and fun cozy mystery, but this one didn't quite have that vibe I was looking for. It at times has a more gritty dark world vibe with how down on her luck Jolene is and she lives in a bad part of town. It didn't quite have that cozy comfortable vibe. It also doesn't have the close group of characters that I had expected from the author's other series.
The mystery didn't really grip me, but there was a nice twist toward the end. I also liked seeing how Jolene cared about justice and wanted to help solve this. It felt a bit unrealistic how Jolene got involved. She is hired as a consultant, but she mostly just acts as a partner for the police officer and there aren't as many animals she talks to. There is a parakeet that has some valuable info, which was fun. I didn't care for her interactions with Daisy the dog, both were rude to the other and while it was supposed to be funny, it just felt annoying to me.
I didn't really like Jolene. I understood she didn't have a good life and I felt bad for her. Her tough outside layer made sense, but at times she just acted rude or in a way I didn't like. I did appreciate how she was willing to do or act or ask what was needed to get the case solved. Peter the detective was the most likable character probably, he seemed a bit too naive for a police officer, but he seemed capable and I liked how he gave Jolene a chance.
To summarize: Unfortunately this one didn't quite work for me. I liked the idea of a main character who could talk to pets. The story had a bit of a gritty feel at times and didn't feel as cozy as most cozies. The mystery wasn't gripping me, but there was an interesting twist toward the end. the investigation is pretty straightforward and more police procedural than amateur sleuth as Jolene is a consultant and tags along the police officer. I felt bad for Jolene, but never really quite warmed up to her. I didn't like how Jolene and Daisy the dog interacted with each other. Peter the police officer was a likable character, he was a bit naive, but had a certain kindness that made me like him.
I was hoping for a light and fun cozy mystery, but this one didn't quite have that vibe I was looking for. It at times has a more gritty dark world vibe with how down on her luck Jolene is and she lives in a bad part of town. It didn't quite have that cozy comfortable vibe. It also doesn't have the close group of characters that I had expected from the author's other series.
The mystery didn't really grip me, but there was a nice twist toward the end. I also liked seeing how Jolene cared about justice and wanted to help solve this. It felt a bit unrealistic how Jolene got involved. She is hired as a consultant, but she mostly just acts as a partner for the police officer and there aren't as many animals she talks to. There is a parakeet that has some valuable info, which was fun. I didn't care for her interactions with Daisy the dog, both were rude to the other and while it was supposed to be funny, it just felt annoying to me.
I didn't really like Jolene. I understood she didn't have a good life and I felt bad for her. Her tough outside layer made sense, but at times she just acted rude or in a way I didn't like. I did appreciate how she was willing to do or act or ask what was needed to get the case solved. Peter the detective was the most likable character probably, he seemed a bit too naive for a police officer, but he seemed capable and I liked how he gave Jolene a chance.
To summarize: Unfortunately this one didn't quite work for me. I liked the idea of a main character who could talk to pets. The story had a bit of a gritty feel at times and didn't feel as cozy as most cozies. The mystery wasn't gripping me, but there was an interesting twist toward the end. the investigation is pretty straightforward and more police procedural than amateur sleuth as Jolene is a consultant and tags along the police officer. I felt bad for Jolene, but never really quite warmed up to her. I didn't like how Jolene and Daisy the dog interacted with each other. Peter the police officer was a likable character, he was a bit naive, but had a certain kindness that made me like him.
July 9, 2022
I think I have to admit that I got suckered by a gorgeous cover at least a little bit here. I guess I was hoping for something with a lot more animal involvement, and was disappointed that there wasn't really that much.
I've read a lot of books where characters need to hide their magic affiliation from a nonmagic world, but this is my first one where there's a certain kind of natural magic that needs to be kept hidden. Granted, I don't read many shifter books, but the magic world in this series seems very different from most of the paranormal cozy mystery stuff I've read. How exactly did Jolene land in her disgraced position at the lowest dredges of the magic underworld? There are a lot of plot holes in terms of the magic world, and I'm not sure if these will get solved in later books, but I guess this is worth sticking around for.
As for the mystery itself, this one was different than a lot of other ones for me as well because of the way the suspects are revealed. Normally, I feel like the MC is a very central member of the town and is someone who knows a lot of people and the goings-on of said people. Having a protagonist like Jolene, who knows almost nobody relevant, is an interesting take, and the way the suspects and clues unfolded made it really hard to pin down any one suspect.
I also feel like the story uses a lot of main character immunity as an element. That's not a plot point I see in many cozy mysteries, nor is it one I'm overly fond of in general. In Pretty Little Fliers it seems like Jolene is expected to be fully in on the case, but because of her lack of connections and also of general personality, she never seems like she has a lot to lose. I do not enjoy this element, especially not the way it's used here.
I have the second book in the series (also free on Amazon at one point or another), so I'm willing to give that one another try, especially because I want to know more about the magic world, but it's not necessarily a top priority even in terms of continuing cozy mysteries.
I've read a lot of books where characters need to hide their magic affiliation from a nonmagic world, but this is my first one where there's a certain kind of natural magic that needs to be kept hidden. Granted, I don't read many shifter books, but the magic world in this series seems very different from most of the paranormal cozy mystery stuff I've read. How exactly did Jolene land in her disgraced position at the lowest dredges of the magic underworld? There are a lot of plot holes in terms of the magic world, and I'm not sure if these will get solved in later books, but I guess this is worth sticking around for.
As for the mystery itself, this one was different than a lot of other ones for me as well because of the way the suspects are revealed. Normally, I feel like the MC is a very central member of the town and is someone who knows a lot of people and the goings-on of said people. Having a protagonist like Jolene, who knows almost nobody relevant, is an interesting take, and the way the suspects and clues unfolded made it really hard to pin down any one suspect.
I also feel like the story uses a lot of main character immunity as an element. That's not a plot point I see in many cozy mysteries, nor is it one I'm overly fond of in general. In Pretty Little Fliers it seems like Jolene is expected to be fully in on the case, but because of her lack of connections and also of general personality, she never seems like she has a lot to lose. I do not enjoy this element, especially not the way it's used here.
I have the second book in the series (also free on Amazon at one point or another), so I'm willing to give that one another try, especially because I want to know more about the magic world, but it's not necessarily a top priority even in terms of continuing cozy mysteries.
July 26, 2022
I absolutely adored Johnson's Vampire Tea Room series and figured I'd give one of her others a try while waiting for the next release in that. The premise for this - pet pychic helping solve crimes by talking to animal witnesses, teamed up with a cop and his K9 partner - sounded like great fun, but the book didn't really grab me. I never really warmed up to Jolene and was missing the sweetness and charm I so enjoyed in the other books by this author I've read.
April 23, 2023
Fun fact: the words "brow," "brows," and "eyebrows" appear 145 times in this 223-page book. 🤨
November 1, 2019
Welcome to the Magic Market Mysteries, Erin Johnson’s new series. It’s set in the same fantastical, magical world as the Spells and Caramels series but stars a whole new cast. We met Detective Peter Flint in the prequel novella, Saved by the Spell, and in this first full-length mystery we meet series star, Jolene.
As far as main characters go she’s an intriguing one. She’s a shape-shifter. If you remember from the Spells and Caramels series, there’s an awful lot of prejudice against shifters. This books gives readers some more insight into that issue and explains how Jolene’s life got turned upside down after being ‘outed’ as a shifter. She’s also not as magical as she should be living in a, you know, magical world! But you’ll have to read the book to find out what I mean. Despite her circumstances, Jolene is kind, spunky and clever.
Perhaps, it would be great if Jolene wasn’t always in need of a bath, shampoo or load of laundry…. but I suppose her circumstances may account for that. I guess Peter really does see beyond the surface as he seems to be interested in our down-but-not-beaten heroine. They make an excellent crime-solving team, even with Daisy, the lie-detecting dog, trying to get in between them. Their covert snarky ‘discussions’ are quite amusing.
The mystery to be solved is who killed Bim, an employee in a business opposite Jolene’s apartment. Peter and Jolene’s investigations take them all around the Darkmoon District and even to visit a snooty, wealthy lady in the ‘posh’ part of the island. When Bim’s side job is revealed, the number of potential suspects increases and motives abound. Throw in a few red herrings and you have a pretty well-plotted mystery with good clues planted throughout.
I look forward to reading more about Jolene and her shenanigans. Hopefully we’ll also soon find out the truth about the curse she was hit with and if it’s possible for her to get her powers back.
If you like cozy mysteries with a touch of fantasy, magical worlds, humour and colourful characters, this is a series you won’t want to miss.
As far as main characters go she’s an intriguing one. She’s a shape-shifter. If you remember from the Spells and Caramels series, there’s an awful lot of prejudice against shifters. This books gives readers some more insight into that issue and explains how Jolene’s life got turned upside down after being ‘outed’ as a shifter. She’s also not as magical as she should be living in a, you know, magical world! But you’ll have to read the book to find out what I mean. Despite her circumstances, Jolene is kind, spunky and clever.
Perhaps, it would be great if Jolene wasn’t always in need of a bath, shampoo or load of laundry…. but I suppose her circumstances may account for that. I guess Peter really does see beyond the surface as he seems to be interested in our down-but-not-beaten heroine. They make an excellent crime-solving team, even with Daisy, the lie-detecting dog, trying to get in between them. Their covert snarky ‘discussions’ are quite amusing.
The mystery to be solved is who killed Bim, an employee in a business opposite Jolene’s apartment. Peter and Jolene’s investigations take them all around the Darkmoon District and even to visit a snooty, wealthy lady in the ‘posh’ part of the island. When Bim’s side job is revealed, the number of potential suspects increases and motives abound. Throw in a few red herrings and you have a pretty well-plotted mystery with good clues planted throughout.
I look forward to reading more about Jolene and her shenanigans. Hopefully we’ll also soon find out the truth about the curse she was hit with and if it’s possible for her to get her powers back.
If you like cozy mysteries with a touch of fantasy, magical worlds, humour and colourful characters, this is a series you won’t want to miss.
November 21, 2019
I’ve been waiting for Erins next series with serious anticipation since finishing Spells & Caramels. If you haven’t read Saved by the Spell yet, I suggest picking it up as it will give you some fun backstory for Officer Flint and Daisy.
I am in love with the characters in this series! It seems to be a the writing style of Erin to make all characters feel like main characters and I absolutely adore it! Give the story so much depth! I can’t wait to get more information on all of the key players.
If you’ve read her previous series, then you know that shifters aren’t well loved by the magical community and I am so thrilled that Erin choice this as the focal point for her next dive into the vast magical world she built for us.
If you love cozy mysteries, you will love all of Erins books, she takes the genre to a next level that I am so impressed with.
I am in love with the characters in this series! It seems to be a the writing style of Erin to make all characters feel like main characters and I absolutely adore it! Give the story so much depth! I can’t wait to get more information on all of the key players.
If you’ve read her previous series, then you know that shifters aren’t well loved by the magical community and I am so thrilled that Erin choice this as the focal point for her next dive into the vast magical world she built for us.
If you love cozy mysteries, you will love all of Erins books, she takes the genre to a next level that I am so impressed with.
November 25, 2019
Really Good Story! Not heavy on the romance, but noticeable. Characters seem to be real and alive. While Jolene has been in a crumby situation for years, after being cursed, she isn't a victim. She seems strong and determined... willing to do a lot in order to survive, but still has standards and morals. Great MC for any book. And Peter and Daisy are good, strong characters too. Instead of being a hardened cop, he's somewhat social and intuitive and smart. And he really wants to help. Daisy is protective of her human. She's happy being Peter's partner and totally not thrilled with his shifter friend, Jolene. Really amazing start to what I hope is a long series!
October 28, 2019
The start of another fun series!
We are back in Bijou Mer but the seedy side of town. Our main characters are a shifter that has lost most of her powers to a curse, a sweet police officer and a somewhat snarky dog that can detect lies. Jolene can communicate with animals and uses these powers to try to help solve a murder. Her and the German Shepard Daisy don't see eye to eye. Daisy doesn't like shifters. Murder, risqué pictures, talking animals, what's not to like? Fun start to a new series.
I received an ARC. This is my honest review.
We are back in Bijou Mer but the seedy side of town. Our main characters are a shifter that has lost most of her powers to a curse, a sweet police officer and a somewhat snarky dog that can detect lies. Jolene can communicate with animals and uses these powers to try to help solve a murder. Her and the German Shepard Daisy don't see eye to eye. Daisy doesn't like shifters. Murder, risqué pictures, talking animals, what's not to like? Fun start to a new series.
I received an ARC. This is my honest review.
September 19, 2021
Didn't like
Jolene has a bleak existence, with rent overdue and no food to eat. Even when she is hired as a consultant, she doesn't bother to bath or wear clean clothes. She is able to talk with animals, but uses her talent to torment the police dog. I did not like her at all.
Jolene has a bleak existence, with rent overdue and no food to eat. Even when she is hired as a consultant, she doesn't bother to bath or wear clean clothes. She is able to talk with animals, but uses her talent to torment the police dog. I did not like her at all.
March 21, 2020
This was a rough one for me. I'm not sure if it was because I was listening to it on audio and I didn't care for the narrator, or if it was the book itself, but I could barely finish it. I really liked the premise, a magic market. A "pet psychic" who is really a shifter, making a living by talking to people's pets. When a police officer brings his sick dog to her office for help, she takes him to her friend, who has an illegal vet clinic in town. After she is able to "talk" to his dog and save her life, the police officer recruits her to help on a case in which the only witness to a murder was a parakeet. After that, it just go hard for me to listen to. The dog's voice made me cringe and I found her to be super annoying. I really wanted to like this book, and maybe if I try another one, I will read it instead of listen to it.
December 26, 2020
Having read the prequel, Saved by the Spell, a Novella, when I came upon Pretty Little Fliers, Book 1 of the Magic Market Mysteries series, I grabbed it. And look forward to the next in the series.
Ms. Johnson has created a fun universe where it appears everyone has magic of one sort or another—except our heroine. She had magic, at one time, and then ran into a spell that deleted it. At one time, our heroine had a life, a job as a lawyer, the ability to shift, an affianced—then she met someone who didn’t like her and wham, zam, not anymore ma’am. So she get’s to live in the slums as a pet psychic, gets involved in a murder, falls for the hunka hunka cop who is sweet, but borderline clueless, and I’m not gonna tell you anymore!
I easily put this book on the shelf labeled: Calorie-Free Reading. It’s fun. Period. And we need fun in our lives. A great story for bedtime, no adrenaline gushing, no foul language (well, not in our language anyhow), no graphic descriptions of torture or anything else. If my preteen daughter wanted to read it, I wouldn’t hesitate to loan it to her.
Ms. Johnson has created a fun universe where it appears everyone has magic of one sort or another—except our heroine. She had magic, at one time, and then ran into a spell that deleted it. At one time, our heroine had a life, a job as a lawyer, the ability to shift, an affianced—then she met someone who didn’t like her and wham, zam, not anymore ma’am. So she get’s to live in the slums as a pet psychic, gets involved in a murder, falls for the hunka hunka cop who is sweet, but borderline clueless, and I’m not gonna tell you anymore!
I easily put this book on the shelf labeled: Calorie-Free Reading. It’s fun. Period. And we need fun in our lives. A great story for bedtime, no adrenaline gushing, no foul language (well, not in our language anyhow), no graphic descriptions of torture or anything else. If my preteen daughter wanted to read it, I wouldn’t hesitate to loan it to her.
November 20, 2022
Full marks for good editing which, in my opinion, is too often ignored in favor of rapid release publishing.
The story has an interesting concept, with the cursed shifter being poly-lingual with animals. The author strove for a "clean" read without curse words, but the main character came across as more of a surly 12-year-old with an aversion to personal grooming than a down on her luck lawyer. Even so, it's a quick, easy read and the mystery's solution was logical.
I purchased this as part of a three book set, so we'll see how/if the character develops in book 2.
The story has an interesting concept, with the cursed shifter being poly-lingual with animals. The author strove for a "clean" read without curse words, but the main character came across as more of a surly 12-year-old with an aversion to personal grooming than a down on her luck lawyer. Even so, it's a quick, easy read and the mystery's solution was logical.
I purchased this as part of a three book set, so we'll see how/if the character develops in book 2.
February 5, 2020
Great paranormal mystery
I simply loved the world-building concept. Fantastic idea that draws me in. I’d love to read more - even wish to have this made into a tv series. Great character dynamics and a backstory that has potential to develop throughout the series. Can’t wait to see where this series goes. Definitely one I’d enjoy adding to my bookshelf.
I simply loved the world-building concept. Fantastic idea that draws me in. I’d love to read more - even wish to have this made into a tv series. Great character dynamics and a backstory that has potential to develop throughout the series. Can’t wait to see where this series goes. Definitely one I’d enjoy adding to my bookshelf.
March 27, 2021
Really enjoyed the book a lot of cute little twists.
February 2, 2020
A cursed shifter witch
Even though she had been cursed and could no longer change, Jolene is an owl shifter and a witch. She teams up with a hunky policeman and his partner, a dog, after she witnesses the death of a woman. Although I figured out who the murderer was, I still liked reading this book because of the humor and I like the characters. I will continue reading this series.
Even though she had been cursed and could no longer change, Jolene is an owl shifter and a witch. She teams up with a hunky policeman and his partner, a dog, after she witnesses the death of a woman. Although I figured out who the murderer was, I still liked reading this book because of the humor and I like the characters. I will continue reading this series.
January 29, 2020
Great Well-written Story
This is a nice twist on the cop and supernatural sidekick. Peter, the cop, and his lie detecting dog Daisy enlist Jolene to solve a murder mystery. Our protagonist was an owl shapeshifter and an accomplished lawyer. She’s been cursed, outed as a shapeshifter, and has lost all her magical powers. She has a new gift - she can talk to all animals.
The mystery has its share of plot twists, dead ends, and great revelations that intermingle with developing the characters and a budding romance.
There are a few minor editing errors, but not enough to detract from the story. This was fun to read and you have to root for Jolene.
This is a nice twist on the cop and supernatural sidekick. Peter, the cop, and his lie detecting dog Daisy enlist Jolene to solve a murder mystery. Our protagonist was an owl shapeshifter and an accomplished lawyer. She’s been cursed, outed as a shapeshifter, and has lost all her magical powers. She has a new gift - she can talk to all animals.
The mystery has its share of plot twists, dead ends, and great revelations that intermingle with developing the characters and a budding romance.
There are a few minor editing errors, but not enough to detract from the story. This was fun to read and you have to root for Jolene.
February 1, 2020
Easy read
I loved this book. It gives another view to magic. Also it was a way read. I was able to follow along with the story and in the end I was very close to guessing who the murderer was.
I loved this book. It gives another view to magic. Also it was a way read. I was able to follow along with the story and in the end I was very close to guessing who the murderer was.
April 9, 2020
I really enjoyed this fun little mystery. I really enjoyed the banter between Jolene and the dog. Yes, you read that right. Jolene is a shifter who has a job as a pet psychic. The dog doesn't like shifters but grudgingly works with her. I will most likely read more of this series.
February 10, 2021
Sassy smart mouthed leading lady makes this book great.
I fell I love with Jolene with in the first chapter. She is funny, sassy and smart mouthed. The hints of flirting between her and Pete seem real and normal. This cute paranormal mystery romance was super fun to read.
I fell I love with Jolene with in the first chapter. She is funny, sassy and smart mouthed. The hints of flirting between her and Pete seem real and normal. This cute paranormal mystery romance was super fun to read.
August 16, 2020
I fell in love with Johnson's first series so I was more then ready to give this new one a chance. I was not disappointed in the least as we travel back to the magical world we visited before. This time we meet Jolene a pet physic though not by choice. She used to be a shifter but a curse took that away from her yet left behind the ability to talk to animals. Down on her luck she witnesses the death of a woman across the street from her place who just happened to own a bird. So when the cops come talk to her she manages to worm her way into a consultant job on the case so she can pay her rent. This leads to quite the chaotic investigation as things play out all over the place. Makes for a intriguing investigation as well as a great intro to some new characters. I look forward to reading more in the series. A must read for fans of paranormal cozy mysteries. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
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