Saved by the Spell

Pet Psychic #0.5

by Erin Johnson

The prequel to the Magic Market Mysteries. Learn how Officer Peter Flint solved his first magical murder and gained the trust of his partner.

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

127 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2019

About the author

A 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).

Reviews

[Gemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely little book, it has me excited for the next installment of the magic market mysteries .
Peter is a great character and with Daisy by his side things are going to be interesting.

[Marion Over · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply a cute cozy mystery full of magical wands, magical police and a magical school. Clean enough for anyone to read. It's short but a fun read.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found out about this book from an online book club and thought it was a very enjoyable prequel for a series I've been collecting which recently got some fun new covers with Daisy the German Shepherd on them. I love when prequels make me want to read the series even more than I did before, like there's a little more urgency in wanting to read about Peter Flint and Daisy now. I do realize they're not the main characters since I've read the book blurbs for the series.

The German prison police officer's dialogue was actually written out like he'd pronounce it (which normally I don't like, but in this case it made me laugh and picture Siegfried from Get Smart). I didn't like the guy much, but when good ole Siegfried came to mind, it made me laugh through it even though this guy was dead serious, well I guess Siggy was too! lol. I can't help but wonder if the author had him in mind when writing Muller's character and might be a fan of old TV reruns. Definitely going to make sure I get to the first book in this series soon!

I got my copy free from BookFunnel and voluntarily chose to read and review. My opinions are my own.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love cozy magical mystery series, and this though just the prequel, is a lovely tale about a police officer who is still a junior, and who everyone treats like a kid, using him as a pen pusher when all he wants is to help people, gets to be assigned his first real job. He is sent to the magical arts academy where a group of very well off students who were usually not up to scratch suddenly started getting top marks and were suspected of cheating. However once Peter Flint goes to school undercover pretending to be a fellow student he finds out much more is involved than just cheating. When a fellow student takes his own life running from things only he could see, Peter's hackles rise and he aims to solve the mystery. During his trekking of the clues he finds out that even cops can be corrupt and ends up finding his new partner. I love this paranormal mystery and would love to read further exploits of Peter and Daisy his new partner in crime solving.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The prequel to the Magic Market Mysteries. Learn how Officer Peter Flint solved his first magical murder and gained the trust of his partner."
Flint is a rookie cop in a magical place. I received a complimentary copy of this book. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

[Mary Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Erin Johnson is back with a fun, new cozy series - Magic Market Mysteries. This is a short introductory prequel, under 100 pages. Readers are introduced to rookie officer, Peter Flint. Peter has yet to prove his worth on the streets. His partner is a seasoned officer; not exactly pleased to be saddled with someone fresh out of the academy. Needless to say, their partnership is strained. Young Flint is the butt of many jokes at the Bijou Mer police station. Peter is determined to gain the respect and acceptance of his peers. Easier said than done...especially when his first assignment is going undercover as a high school student.

I enjoyed Johnson's first series, Spells and Caramels. Her stories are lively, humorous, and inventive. There's always a clever sidekick stealing the show, offering comedic relief. In the first series it was that snarky but lovable flame, Iggy. (you know - short for Ignite?) Johnson has a magical sense of imagination. I can depend on her characters to keep it light, entertaining, and deliver laughs. So why the three stars you ask? Three stars isn't a bad thing. I intend to continue this series. I cheated and read the first few pages of Pretty Little Fliers before I finished reading this one. And I can't wait to get back to it. Loved what I read so far!

While I liked this prequel, I felt it aged me. Couldn't get in to the whole high school scene. I felt like the content was better suited to the YA audience. But, I don't want to pick this apart. I'm sure Book One will be the start of another laugh out loud series from Erin Johnson.

[CONNIE BALTHROP · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like Erin Johnson writing. I loved the ending and know I'm going to enjoy her new series.

[CarolKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This prequel is set six years before the rest of the series. Peter Flint is a rookie and being held back by his experienced partner Dick Smite. He's been relegated to doing everything except patrolling or anything else resembling actual police work.

Peter has been picking up coffee and donuts for the crew, for the last six months and never once has he gotten a thank you. He also makes a special stop to get cheese Danishes for Edna, the precinct’s secretary, she thanks him.

One of the things worrying Peter is six-month reviews, if a rookie doesn't have an arrest he's let go. All Peter ever wanted to do is be a police officer and help people like his good friend and mentor retired cop Jack Montperre. If something didn't break for him soon, he'd be out.

Fortunately, his being the youngest both in age and appearance is going to be a good thing for him. Inspector Bon has a case for him, an undercover one at Blackwood Academy of the Magical Arts. It seems there is a cheating ring, and the headmistress is concerned that if she can't end it, she'll not only lose her position, but the school will lose its credibility.

Peter's partner wasn't happy about this at all, and Peter wasn't thrilled either. His memories of high school aren't exactly good ones. He really doesn't have a choice here as he's the only one that fits the bill.

His quarry are the popular, very wealthy students. Their grades have suddenly gone from failing to gold marks in everything. No one can figure out how they are doing it.

The first inkling we get is in the potions class where he meets Arthur a scholarship student. Arthur tells him to stay away from the very students he's investigating. Breen, her boyfriend Zane, Caul and Leigh are in this class but for some reason Caul is missing today.

The class is disturbed when Breen, Zane and Leigh rush to the window and Breen screams at Caul who is racing across the square. Zane and Peter race to follow him but are unable to catch him before he jumps off the cliff.

Now it's not only cheating it's the strange death of one of the cheaters.

It's kind of ironic that Peter gets caught with the illegal potion by a Carclaustra prison guard. Who with his dog Daisy sniffing out he's lying takes him to the headmistress.

Now he has to prove what is slowly becoming more than just a suspicion about the potion.

I love the way this story comes together, with Peter solving everything in spite of the roadblocks thrown at him. The way Daisy comes to be his police dog had me smiling as well.

[Olivia Ganzenmuller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saved by the Spell by Erin Johnson: NA. Urban Fantasy. Coming-of-age. Investigation. Magic. Academy. Animals.

I liked it. My favourite parts were when Peter and Daisy, the truth-sniffing canine, were in the same scene together. The emotion or drive did fall a bit in the middle, but I think it may be that either I wasn't invested in the plot or because Peter didn't interact with a lot of people. So, the text didn't contain as much human intimacy (human/animal interaction), which in turn, may not have allowed for emotion/tension to develop.

Overall, it was short, well-written, and engaging. If you're not sold on this one and haven't tried Pretty Little Fliers yet, I'd definitely recommend giving book 1 a go. The protagonist in the main series, Jolene, has a different flare to Peter and the character interactions are entertaining.

How much I liked it: 4 Stars
Ideas - Plot: 3 Stars
Ideas - World building: 3 Stars
Emotional Highs and Lows: Neutral
Character Depth: 3.5-4 Stars
Animal Characterisation: 4-5 Stars
Execution: 5 Stars

[SciFiOne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2020 grade C

A free short novel prequel to the magic market series. Unfortunately it is not as good as book 1, Pretty Little Fliers. The plot is routine - rookie cop hazed at work by the veterans to the point of losing his job soon, and the cheating snooty rich kids at a boarding school. The book is also overlong (stretched to give it length I suspect) and repeats a lot of information the author has already given the reader, especially the cops mental recriminations of himself. I speed read enough that the post climax closing scene was not as enjoyable as it could have been. Oh well....

An optional and disposable read.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice prequel to help us better understand Officer Peter Flint and his dog, Daisy. The premise is believable: a young looking rookie cop gets sent undercover at a high school. He’s been stuck doing paperwork and this is his first real assignment.

The story contains plenty of high school angst. The plot is captivating as Peter stumbles through his assignment. A cheating case leads to a death and an interesting plot twist to bring Daisy into her relationship with Peter.

This is a quick, fun read.

[Mary Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute start to a new series. This series is set in Bijou Mer. Officer Peter Flint is a new rookie cop and just wants to prove he’s good at his job but his partner won’t let him go out on patrol with him. When an opportunity comes his way to go undercover he takes it against his partner’s wishes. Yes he only got it because he looks like a teenager and can blend in with the kids in the high school but can he break their clicks to find out who’s cheating? When a student dies it’s up to officer Flint to solve this crime before anyone else gets hurt.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good introduction to the series. Rookie officer, Peter Flint, is kept doing paperwork and menial tasks by his partner and is not sure if he will pass his six month review without having made a single arrest. When he is given his first case going undercover at a magical academy to break up a cheating ring , it quickly becomes much more complicated.
I liked Officer Flint and look forward to reading more of his adventures.
I read this book as a book club selection and am happy I did. I will be reading more ofvthis series.

[Ainee Beland · Rating 4 out of 5]

All is well that began weary--Arthur and those other 'clique' groupies involved in the cheating ring will be tried as minors and Smite is off the force and off the street...and Flint has earned a regular beat of his own and with Daisy as his new partner ( she'sspecialy trained police dog from Carclaustra). Flint just needed to make sure that Daisy doesn't bite anybody; uhless she bites a bad- guy...then maybe that was fine. Things were looking up for Flint because he could now protect the people with his dog by his side; they're the crime duos.

[Vi Bakshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great prequel to the series of eight by Erin Johnson. Great reads that are clean, imaginative, and family friendly. Parents and teens will love them alike. It’s difficult to find unique paranormal mystery reads but stick with this author, her work is very entertaining so I highly recommend her books! I was gifted 9 of her works and none of them disappointed me! They have it all including a psychic dog, magic, charismatic characters Officer Flint and Jolene. I am very thankful someone gifted me her first book.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 4 out of 5]

“People will only treat you with as much respect as you demand, kid.”

Cute introduction to the new mystery series. Who can you trust? Maybe not who you think you can. Peter Flint, youngest officer on the Bijoux Mer force goes undercover to find out about a cheating scandal, and gets more than anyone expected. Recommended 4/5

[This book is not on any platforms, it was a gift from the author to her subscribers]

[Liza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suppose that I had issues with the hazing/bullying at the police station. I can see a week or two of hazing - but 6 months?

He was a bit of a weak undercover officer but that was probably more to do with his early time.

The book's a prequel to the series and obviously he had learnt a lot in the 6 years before the series.

[Rebecca Goss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a prequel to the series and introduces readers to police officer Peter Flint. Peter is sent undercover at a magical school which ends up giving him an opportunity to actually perform his job. As, his partner kept him busy with only doing paperwork. It was a fun read with inviting characters.

[Sandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a prequel for the series. It is short and well done. Peter is a rookie, trying to find his place in the police force. With a partner that is less than helpful, he isn't making much progress. Then he suddenly lucks into a case that provides him with a chance to show his stuff. Or is it.
I really liked the characters and the mystery. A wonderful quick read.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ended up reading this after I had read the first couple of books in the series. I love seeing how Peter and Daisy end up together. It is funny to see his first reaction to Daisy and how his feelings change. Her first owner certainly gives us a glimpse into what it can be like to have a walking lie detector in your life.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not usually a fan of novellas but this was probably my favorite I’ve read. It’s a prequel and is a complete story – introduction to a character, full investigation, could be a standalone. I loved the glimpse into Peter Flint’s life and how he started out as well as how Daisy came to be his partner. If I hadn’t already read the whole series, this would definitely push me to start it.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great prequel to the Magic Market series. I read this after reading the first book in the series and it gave me the few answers I didn’t get from reading “Pretty Little Fliers.” Can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what I was going to think about this book when I started. I ended up loving it! I’m not used to a male main character in a cozy, but I’m glad I kept reading and didn’t give up. Plus there is Daisy, a police dog who can sniff out lies! I had to finish for her alone!

[Sarah Hamilton · Rating 2 out of 5]

While it wasn’t necessarily a bad read, this series is not for me and I’m glad it was a freebie. I knew this would be short, but I was shocked how short. There was barely enough time to build up and mystery before it was solved. Honestly don’t see myself reading anything further in this series.

[Betsie Erickson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Saved By the Spell was not a terrible story. As it went on, it picked up and I went from eager to finish it to be done to eager to know how it ends. A quick read. This was a prequel and I might read the series.

[Bernie A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rookie Officer Peter Flint received his first case going undercover at Blackwood Academy of the Magical Arts. He needs to figure out how a few of the kids are cheating on their school work. Things don’t go as he expected. He often feels overwhelmed. A great prequel story. Very enjoyable.

[Angel Graham · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book was mediocre. It's the fact that it ends at 66% and everything after is stuffing. I won't be reading this author again. Book stuffing for clucks. Nope.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute introduction to police officer Peter Flint and Daisy the lie sniffing dog. Definitely drew me in to see what happens next.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute introduction of Peter and how Daisy became his partner.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great prequel to a new series.