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Claire's Candles #1
Vanilla Bean Vengeance
The FIRST BOOK in a BRAND NEW cozy mystery series!
Claire Harris loves nothing more than crafting homemade candles. She has always dreamed of one day opening a quaint candle shop in her home village of Northash, but at thirty-five, she still can't afford to take the risk. Stuck in a dead-end job at the local candle factory, and back living with her parents, Claire knows her life needs a shakeup.
The last place she expected change to come from was the factory itself, but when the owner is shockingly pushed to her death, Claire's life is flipped upside down. She isn't the only person in the village depending on the factory, so when the murder plunges the business's future into uncertainty, Claire feels compelled to solve the crime.
With the help of her retired-detective father and closest friends, Claire uncovers a tangled web of conspiracies, cover-ups, secrets, and lies, but can she uncover the truth before her candle shop dream slips through her fingers forever?
Book 1 in the Claire's Candles Cozy Mystery series! Can be read as a standalone. A light, cozy mystery with a candle-loving British amateur female sleuth, in a small village setting with quirky characters. Written in British English. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes! Contains mild peril.
Claire Harris loves nothing more than crafting homemade candles. She has always dreamed of one day opening a quaint candle shop in her home village of Northash, but at thirty-five, she still can't afford to take the risk. Stuck in a dead-end job at the local candle factory, and back living with her parents, Claire knows her life needs a shakeup.
The last place she expected change to come from was the factory itself, but when the owner is shockingly pushed to her death, Claire's life is flipped upside down. She isn't the only person in the village depending on the factory, so when the murder plunges the business's future into uncertainty, Claire feels compelled to solve the crime.
With the help of her retired-detective father and closest friends, Claire uncovers a tangled web of conspiracies, cover-ups, secrets, and lies, but can she uncover the truth before her candle shop dream slips through her fingers forever?
Book 1 in the Claire's Candles Cozy Mystery series! Can be read as a standalone. A light, cozy mystery with a candle-loving British amateur female sleuth, in a small village setting with quirky characters. Written in British English. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes! Contains mild peril.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2020
1525 people are currently reading
901 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Frost
75 books596 followersAGATHA FROST, an Amazon bestselling author, has written over thirty mystery novels. She lives in the North West English county of Lancashire with her two cuddly beagles and one cat.
When Agatha isn’t writing, she loves reading head-scratching mysteries and thrillers, coffee, baking, and exploring her local countryside on long dog walks.
From a young age, Agatha devoured the great British murder mystery books and television shows, ample inspiration for her Peridale Café and Claire’s Candles series. She loves writing about family women who juggle their ordinary village lives with the challenges of amateur sleuthing.
Add in some good food, close friends and family, cute pets, and plenty of twists and turns, and you have a classic Agatha Frost mystery.
Sign up to the newsletter at www.agathafrost.com
When Agatha isn’t writing, she loves reading head-scratching mysteries and thrillers, coffee, baking, and exploring her local countryside on long dog walks.
From a young age, Agatha devoured the great British murder mystery books and television shows, ample inspiration for her Peridale Café and Claire’s Candles series. She loves writing about family women who juggle their ordinary village lives with the challenges of amateur sleuthing.
Add in some good food, close friends and family, cute pets, and plenty of twists and turns, and you have a classic Agatha Frost mystery.
Sign up to the newsletter at www.agathafrost.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
December 4, 2020
A great start to a new series. I loved the premise, the writing style, and the quaint setting. The mystery kept me guessing and the culprit's identity came as a complete surprise to me - which is always a plus. My hope for the second book is to see more ambition and self-confidence from Claire and also more candle making.
May 2, 2020
I really liked this book, I was hooked from the first chapter. Claire was a likeable character with some flaws, which made her very real. I liked Janet the best, she reminded me of my own mother. There were enough twists and turns in every chapter to keep me intrigued. The who-dun-it was a real shock to me and I was a bit sad as well at that reveal. But I'm glad things worked out for claire in the end. Looking forward for the next book to release so I can devour it just like I did with this one.
September 7, 2023
5 stars! I love Agatha Frost so much!
This cozy mystery series is the bomb! I loved it.
This cozy mystery series is the bomb! I loved it.
December 7, 2020
A nifty new cozy mystery series with a start of a well defined set of characters to work with for future growth development as the readers become familiar with the setting and interaction of these characters. The calming idea of setting foot into Claire's candle shop and smelling the wonderfully exquisite smell of the soothing scents of her candles just enhances the appeal of lighting my own candles while I read along with this series. Excellent plot for a cozy mystery with a You Got Me! ending. I truly enjoy the cozy mysteries I don't guess the culprit the most. Good job Agatha Frost.
April 16, 2021
Claire has been working on a candle factory for 17 years. She has been making her own scents. One is vanilla Bean. And her friend think that their boss stole it. Claire dad is a retired police officer her mom is always picking on Claire to loose weight. Claire and her friend see Their boss fall off a story in their business. They conclude it is homicide. This is alright book. but I might read others.
January 20, 2021
Good read
Was surprised with the ending. Didn’t suspect the character that was the killer. Well written enjoyed this book Would recommend this book
Was surprised with the ending. Didn’t suspect the character that was the killer. Well written enjoyed this book Would recommend this book
March 17, 2020
Fun start to a new cozy series.
March 20, 2020
4 stelle e mezza
Devo dire che ho trovato lo stile dell'autrice più "maturo" rispetto all'altra serie che sto seguendo e ho apprezzato la mancanza di personaggi un po' troppo sopra le righe, che pure imperversano in tanti cozy mysteries. Il tema delle "candele fatte a mano" sembra essere uno dei preferiti al momento, visto che c'è almeno un'altra serie che lo segue, ma devo dire che non mi dispiace.
Per quanto riguarda il libro, mi è piaciuta la storia e la soluzione del mistero è giunta come una vera sorpresa. Un'amara sorpresa... e non dico di più per non fare spoiler.
Devo dire che ho trovato lo stile dell'autrice più "maturo" rispetto all'altra serie che sto seguendo e ho apprezzato la mancanza di personaggi un po' troppo sopra le righe, che pure imperversano in tanti cozy mysteries. Il tema delle "candele fatte a mano" sembra essere uno dei preferiti al momento, visto che c'è almeno un'altra serie che lo segue, ma devo dire che non mi dispiace.
Per quanto riguarda il libro, mi è piaciuta la storia e la soluzione del mistero è giunta come una vera sorpresa. Un'amara sorpresa... e non dico di più per non fare spoiler.
March 16, 2020
New series to me
A very good beginning to the new series. Claire has always dreamed of having her own candle store and producing her own scents and candles but it has always been just put of reach.
The book is very detailed and the plot and subplots well thought out and methodically presented to the reader. The story takes place in a small English village and was very easy to picture in my mind. Good characters who help progress the story forward.
I enjoyed the story with its easy flow and very different theme to me from so many I have read. Agatha Frost has another winning Cozy series.
A very good beginning to the new series. Claire has always dreamed of having her own candle store and producing her own scents and candles but it has always been just put of reach.
The book is very detailed and the plot and subplots well thought out and methodically presented to the reader. The story takes place in a small English village and was very easy to picture in my mind. Good characters who help progress the story forward.
I enjoyed the story with its easy flow and very different theme to me from so many I have read. Agatha Frost has another winning Cozy series.
September 21, 2021
I find a lot of "cozy mysteries" to be sort of silly or have over the top characters... which I'm totally fine with when I'm in the mood for it, but I didn't find this one to be that way at all. I just found it to be a good old fashion mystery with solid characters and a good storyline. The main character, Claire, actually had a reason for wanting to be an amateur sleuth. Her dad was an retired Detective and she grew up around that type of stuff. Loved the small town setting and the writing was really good.
Definitely continuing on in this series!
Definitely continuing on in this series!
November 14, 2022
April
This book is connected to Bloodshed & Brownies. The story has theft, murder, adultery, safety concerns, and family drama. The story was interesting. I felt bad for the murderer. I understand why they did some of what they did. None of it had to happen though.
This book is connected to Bloodshed & Brownies. The story has theft, murder, adultery, safety concerns, and family drama. The story was interesting. I felt bad for the murderer. I understand why they did some of what they did. None of it had to happen though.
February 6, 2021
Review
I am so glad I found a new series! I love cozy mysteries and have read quite a few. This one is very good. It isn't fluffy like most of them. The characters were multi- layered and the plot was interesting. I didn't figure out the murderer at all.
I am so glad I found a new series! I love cozy mysteries and have read quite a few. This one is very good. It isn't fluffy like most of them. The characters were multi- layered and the plot was interesting. I didn't figure out the murderer at all.
February 27, 2021
Definitely cozy
It had all the right ingredients. A decent mystery, imperfect characters, a sweet setting, and humor. It was a light read and makes you want book 2.
It had all the right ingredients. A decent mystery, imperfect characters, a sweet setting, and humor. It was a light read and makes you want book 2.
October 7, 2020
5 ***** stars!!!
What a fantastic start to a brand new series by this awesome author!! Love it! I never give anything away about the book because of spoilers, read it you'll love it! Into the next one!!
What a fantastic start to a brand new series by this awesome author!! Love it! I never give anything away about the book because of spoilers, read it you'll love it! Into the next one!!
March 16, 2020
Sorry to say that this story did not work for me which is a great disappointment.
I have been trying to work out why it felt so flat and a couple of points immediately come to find:
* Our heroine is not a modern woman at all. She does not have a spark of ambition in her work and has not applied for the training or jobs which would have realised her goals and given her more pay. She claims that she has always had one burning ambition - but has not done very much about it in 20 years except tinkering around the edges and dreaming. Evening classes? Online courses on running a business? Small business finance and training? Apprenticeships. All available. And yet once she starts this investigation she is prepared to do illegal things to get to the truth.
* It is very dated. Yes, the factory does send out text messages, but the setting, dialogue, friends and supporting characters could have been written in the 1960s or 1970s. Plus, without giving away spoilers, current safety legislation would be a challenge for the main plot line.
* The motivation for the murder is repeated, then repeated in other characters and then repeated again in more characters.
I did enjoy the characters of her father and grandmother.
Shame that I won't be buying anymore of this series.
I have been trying to work out why it felt so flat and a couple of points immediately come to find:
* Our heroine is not a modern woman at all. She does not have a spark of ambition in her work and has not applied for the training or jobs which would have realised her goals and given her more pay. She claims that she has always had one burning ambition - but has not done very much about it in 20 years except tinkering around the edges and dreaming. Evening classes? Online courses on running a business? Small business finance and training? Apprenticeships. All available. And yet once she starts this investigation she is prepared to do illegal things to get to the truth.
* It is very dated. Yes, the factory does send out text messages, but the setting, dialogue, friends and supporting characters could have been written in the 1960s or 1970s. Plus, without giving away spoilers, current safety legislation would be a challenge for the main plot line.
* The motivation for the murder is repeated, then repeated in other characters and then repeated again in more characters.
I did enjoy the characters of her father and grandmother.
Shame that I won't be buying anymore of this series.
Read
February 28, 2021This book really picked up in the last few chapters. An enjoyable enough read, especially when the action picked up.
My favorite scene was the panicked call to the police and Damon’s Scottish accent. I laughed out loud.
There were some parts of the story that frustrated me, and mainly had to do with characters that were one dimension. Claire is a little overweight, so naturally she gravitates toward a slightly overweight person to be her friend at work.
She can almost always eat no matter what, so when she’s not hungry, she must be really upset. Her mom packed her a salad one day, and she didn’t finish it. But did finish sandwiches, chips, brownies, etc.
Oh and the mom... classic stereotype of mom who wants daughter to get married and have kids. Plus complains about her daughter’s weight. And doesn’t get along with her mother-in-law. And that’s all we know about her. Very one note.
I might give another one of the books in the series a go, although in seeing a sample chapter of book two, it starts out with Claire not being able to button her jeans.
What I wanted more of
- More depth to characters
What I enjoyed
- The action at the end
- The friendship between her and Damon
- The grandmother’s sass
My favorite scene was the panicked call to the police and Damon’s Scottish accent. I laughed out loud.
There were some parts of the story that frustrated me, and mainly had to do with characters that were one dimension. Claire is a little overweight, so naturally she gravitates toward a slightly overweight person to be her friend at work.
She can almost always eat no matter what, so when she’s not hungry, she must be really upset. Her mom packed her a salad one day, and she didn’t finish it. But did finish sandwiches, chips, brownies, etc.
Oh and the mom... classic stereotype of mom who wants daughter to get married and have kids. Plus complains about her daughter’s weight. And doesn’t get along with her mother-in-law. And that’s all we know about her. Very one note.
I might give another one of the books in the series a go, although in seeing a sample chapter of book two, it starts out with Claire not being able to button her jeans.
What I wanted more of
- More depth to characters
What I enjoyed
- The action at the end
- The friendship between her and Damon
- The grandmother’s sass
August 25, 2020
Although this book is realistic fiction the plot has a fairy tale-like quality to it. An overworked, nearing middle-age woman, Claire Harris, who starts from meager beginnings has some unforeseen circumstances play a huge role in affecting her future. A 35 year old woman, who still lives at home and feels like she is stuck in her life, works at a candle factory, and dreams of a better life, owning her own candle shop. When the candle factory is taken over by a power-seeking female owner who makes the workers work double long shifts and produce double the amount of candles, all the factory workers are distraught. After the owner is pushed to her death, the factory is then taken over by a man who appears to be a better leader than the woman, but his appearance is deceiving. When yet another terrible incident occurs involving a member of the factory, and Claire gets involved in trying to solve these mysteries, she uncovers a web of conspiracies, secrets, and lies that change her life forever. This book is a well-written and entertaining quick read. Will Claire get her fairy-tale ending? Read this book to find out!!
August 14, 2020
This one completely surprised me. I enjoy the author's Peridale Cafe series, so expected to like this. But when I first started the story just didn't grab me. Claire -- our lead character -- works in a candle factory in a small English town. She longs to own her own candleshop, experiments with candles in her spare time, but doesn't think she'll ever get her dream. In fact, with her hours cut at the factory, she lives at home with her parents, and sees no real future. Claire's envious of her best friend with the perfect marriage and two kids ... why can't she get her dream? When Claire sees her evil boss shoved out a window, she decides to investigate ... because of course everyone investigates murders in their spare time.
Yep, I had no faith in this one, and came close to putting it down. Thank goodness I didn't, because at some point the story completely sucked me in, and the eventual solution to the murder(s) surprised me, as did a few other things in the story... I also became rather captivated by Claire and her father (her mother i could do without). So yes, I will definitely pick up the next in the series.
Yep, I had no faith in this one, and came close to putting it down. Thank goodness I didn't, because at some point the story completely sucked me in, and the eventual solution to the murder(s) surprised me, as did a few other things in the story... I also became rather captivated by Claire and her father (her mother i could do without). So yes, I will definitely pick up the next in the series.
November 10, 2020
Claire Harris dreams of opening her own candle shop one day. In her free time she works on scent formulas and gifts, her creations to friends and family. For now she is stuck working in a candle factory, where working conditions continue to deteriorate after the previous owner’s daughter has taken over the company.
Everything changes when her boss falls to her death in the factory with Claire as a witness. To make matters worse, the fall was no accident, the woman was pushed. Claire enlists her father, a retired detective inspector, and her friend Damon to help her find the murderer. What they uncover is a tangled web and a list of suspects.
This is the first book in the Claire's Candles Cozy Mystery Series. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. The author did a good job developing each of them. I also liked the small English village that is the setting to the story. The plot moves at a comfortable pace. More than once I found myself cringing at a position Claire placed herself in, all in the name of solving the murder. I recommend this book and look forward to reading the next in the series.
Everything changes when her boss falls to her death in the factory with Claire as a witness. To make matters worse, the fall was no accident, the woman was pushed. Claire enlists her father, a retired detective inspector, and her friend Damon to help her find the murderer. What they uncover is a tangled web and a list of suspects.
This is the first book in the Claire's Candles Cozy Mystery Series. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. The author did a good job developing each of them. I also liked the small English village that is the setting to the story. The plot moves at a comfortable pace. More than once I found myself cringing at a position Claire placed herself in, all in the name of solving the murder. I recommend this book and look forward to reading the next in the series.
July 7, 2020
4.5 stars
This is the first book in a new series: Claire’s Candles, by Agatha Frost.
You wouldn’t think a book like this would be intense, but I felt it was. All the characters just jumped off the page and spoke to me in their own unique ways. Definitely loving this new series of Frost’s!
Claire works for a factory in town that makes candles. She has been making her own aroma blends for awhile and recently her cookbook of blends disappeared. Suddenly, the factory where she works is making a suspiciously similar scent. Turns out the woman in charge found her book and was using it for personal gain. Then the same woman is found thrown from a high window in the factory.
I felt myself hooked from the very beginning. I love candles and wax melts. When you pair it with a cozy mystery this intense, you have a recipe for greatness!
Definitely check out this new series! You won’t be disappointed.
If you love a good cozy mystery, check this one out. What a fun read!
This is the first book in a new series: Claire’s Candles, by Agatha Frost.
You wouldn’t think a book like this would be intense, but I felt it was. All the characters just jumped off the page and spoke to me in their own unique ways. Definitely loving this new series of Frost’s!
Claire works for a factory in town that makes candles. She has been making her own aroma blends for awhile and recently her cookbook of blends disappeared. Suddenly, the factory where she works is making a suspiciously similar scent. Turns out the woman in charge found her book and was using it for personal gain. Then the same woman is found thrown from a high window in the factory.
I felt myself hooked from the very beginning. I love candles and wax melts. When you pair it with a cozy mystery this intense, you have a recipe for greatness!
Definitely check out this new series! You won’t be disappointed.
If you love a good cozy mystery, check this one out. What a fun read!
November 9, 2022
The first in a new series, with something of a tick-box approach to the cosy mystery.
Our main character Claire lives at home with her parents and is working a dead-end job in a local candle company. She dreams of opening her own candle shop, but money is an issue.
When the owner of the factory is found dead, suspicion turns to the man she was kissing in the office. He has an alibi, but someone wanted her dead and Claire is determined to find out why.
Clues fall into her lap and she doesn’t have to break much of a sweat in working things out. Along the way we learn a little more about her life and past, and seeds are down for the ways her story may continue in the future.
Our main character Claire lives at home with her parents and is working a dead-end job in a local candle company. She dreams of opening her own candle shop, but money is an issue.
When the owner of the factory is found dead, suspicion turns to the man she was kissing in the office. He has an alibi, but someone wanted her dead and Claire is determined to find out why.
Clues fall into her lap and she doesn’t have to break much of a sweat in working things out. Along the way we learn a little more about her life and past, and seeds are down for the ways her story may continue in the future.
April 18, 2020
I knew I'd love this new series and characters, because I really like the author's other series. Claire was a great character, and I really liked her work friend and sleuthing buddy, Damon. I hadn't guessed who the killer was at all and I enjoyed the unique showdown that Claire staged. I don't want to say too much, so you'll just have to enjoy this and learn for yourself how Claire's quest for her own shop goes. I'm very anxious to read the next book and I've pre-ordered both books 2 and 3.
July 7, 2020
Pleasantly surprised.
This was a first “cozy mystery” read for me. I enjoyed it, it was light and not overly predictable. It wasn’t anything WOW-worthy but I kept wanting to read. Not a long read so I could see myself reading more Agatha Frost books in between heavier reads. I did not realize this was part of a continuing series about Claire, so I can’t wait to read book two soon (Black Cherry Betrayal.)
This was a first “cozy mystery” read for me. I enjoyed it, it was light and not overly predictable. It wasn’t anything WOW-worthy but I kept wanting to read. Not a long read so I could see myself reading more Agatha Frost books in between heavier reads. I did not realize this was part of a continuing series about Claire, so I can’t wait to read book two soon (Black Cherry Betrayal.)
March 22, 2023
Really cute book! Quaint and likable characters. Solid plot, nicely written. Claire, the main character, is extremely relatable and probably someone that I would hang out with in real life. This is the kind of book that’s a quick read, solid mystery and it’s a snuggle on the couch on a rainy day mystery.
I will definitely be reading more of this author.
I will definitely be reading more of this author.
June 16, 2020
In spite of the fact that this book was written in British dialect and some words I was unsure about, I did love the story line and look forward to reading many more stories with Stella and her friends.
February 1, 2021
I like to read somewhat mindless fiction to help me drift off to sleep at night, but this one pushed the mindless description a little too far.
June 6, 2021
Love the new series
I’ve been a fan since book 1 in Peridale and I LOVE that this new series includes Marley and the vegan cafe. Can’t wait to get to know Claire better. :)
I’ve been a fan since book 1 in Peridale and I LOVE that this new series includes Marley and the vegan cafe. Can’t wait to get to know Claire better. :)
December 9, 2022
Fairly standard cosy.. character arcs were a little obvious and some cookie cutter characters. Drama/plotting mix wasn't for me but it may suit others more. Some good lines/internal monologues.
December 5, 2020
Great cozy mystery
I really enjoyed reading the first book in this new series. I liked how Claire solved the mystery along with her friend and her retired father, a former English police detective. I would recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys reading cozy mysteries.
I really enjoyed reading the first book in this new series. I liked how Claire solved the mystery along with her friend and her retired father, a former English police detective. I would recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys reading cozy mysteries.
November 12, 2022
This was a good start to the series. Claire sees her boss pushed out the window. However, she doesn't see who did it. Now she spends the book trying to solve the murder. Of course, she solves it, and all is well for now.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews