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A Lacey Doyle Cozy Mystery #7
Silenced by a Spell
SILENCED BY A SPELL (A LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY—BOOK 7) is book seven in a charming new cozy mystery series which begins with MURDER IN THE MANOR (Book #1), a #1 Bestseller with over 100 five-star reviews!
Lacey Doyle, 39 years old and freshly divorced, has made a drastic change: she has walked away from the fast life of New York City and settled down in the quaint English seaside town of Wilfordshire.
With Halloween fast approaching, Lacey lucks out when she’s given a rare, ancient book that’s perfect for her upcoming spooky auction. But after the book is sold to a buyer, the mysterious book vanishes before she can deliver it. Even stranger, the equally mysterious seller has disappeared—just as a body turns up dead.
With her reputation on the line, Lacey finds herself in the fight of her life to save her business and clear her name—and, with the help of her beloved dog, to solve the mysterious disappearance.
Lacey Doyle, 39 years old and freshly divorced, has made a drastic change: she has walked away from the fast life of New York City and settled down in the quaint English seaside town of Wilfordshire.
With Halloween fast approaching, Lacey lucks out when she’s given a rare, ancient book that’s perfect for her upcoming spooky auction. But after the book is sold to a buyer, the mysterious book vanishes before she can deliver it. Even stranger, the equally mysterious seller has disappeared—just as a body turns up dead.
With her reputation on the line, Lacey finds herself in the fight of her life to save her business and clear her name—and, with the help of her beloved dog, to solve the mysterious disappearance.
Audible Audio
First published February 2, 2021
209 people are currently reading
353 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Grace
489 books725 followersDebut author Fiona Grace is author of the LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY series which includes MURDER IN THE MANOR (Book #1), DEATH AND A DOG (Book #2) and CRIME IN THE CAFE (Book #3). Fiona would love to hear from you, so please visit www.fionagraceauthor.com to receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 2, 2021
The series has become 100% unbearable. Lacey is immature, illogical, and annoying. Tom is undeveloped and serves neither plot nor character. Also Lacey doesn’t seem to like him. Lacey also doesn’t like her friends. And the police relationship is nonsensical. Most important, the life or death panic Lacey falls into every time she falls into another murder, which compels her to solve it is not enjoyable or believeable. And—of course—it is hardly clear she actually solves these murders. I blamed lots of my problems with this series on the choice of audio performance. But I read this one and the failure of the series became undeniable—but I also can’t describe enough my abhorrence of the audiobook narration by Mary Sarah.
October 2, 2022
It's October and Gina is super excited for Halloween. Even Finnbar and Boudica get into the fun. Everyone loves Halloween except Lacey. She's preoccupied by a letter from her father she's too scared to open and her mother's excessive obsessive wedding planning on Lacey's behalf. Still, when Lacey learns how Wilfordshire has its own witch legend, she decides to hold a spooky themed auction. In a nearby town she hits the jackpot at a pawn shop where she convinces the bored shop girl to sell her a weird book for 20 pounds. A group of goths comes to town for the auction and one is eager to get his hands on the book, claiming it is a rare, ancient grimoire or spellbook and is convinced it is cursed. Lacey poo-poos such nonsense until her high bidder turns up dead and once again, she's a suspect in a murder investigation. Lacey is determined to solve this one quickly before her reputation is totally ruined.
Pretty much what this review said
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Plus
The murder plot was interesting and different. It was easy enough to guess who by process of elimination. The revelations at the end were so totally lame. Like Lacey, I don't like spooky Halloween or believe in spells and whatever but in this kind of story, it should be a little ambiguous.
I did appreciate how the murderer was handled by the police, at least. The situation was tragic and sensitive and they handled it well without making flippant comments.
The story is full of weird inaccuacies, especially about auctions and this series is written by an American with superficial knowledge of British life and culture. I don't feel like turning on the tablet to access the e-book and share more thoughts and notes.
The one thing that keeps me reading is the hook about Lacey's dad. I skimmed the next one so I know what happens and I think I will probably skim the one after that to see if there are more answers. As for reading the actual plots, I think I'm done.
Pretty much what this review said
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Plus
The murder plot was interesting and different. It was easy enough to guess who by process of elimination. The revelations at the end were so totally lame. Like Lacey, I don't like spooky Halloween or believe in spells and whatever but in this kind of story, it should be a little ambiguous.
I did appreciate how the murderer was handled by the police, at least. The situation was tragic and sensitive and they handled it well without making flippant comments.
The story is full of weird inaccuacies, especially about auctions and this series is written by an American with superficial knowledge of British life and culture. I don't feel like turning on the tablet to access the e-book and share more thoughts and notes.
The one thing that keeps me reading is the hook about Lacey's dad. I skimmed the next one so I know what happens and I think I will probably skim the one after that to see if there are more answers. As for reading the actual plots, I think I'm done.
September 3, 2021
This series became predictable. I listened to all of them via audio. I found myself thinking the main character Lacey, was selfish and not always kind to her friends and fiancee, especially when she decided to "solve the mystery". The series worked for me while I was painting and needed something to listen to and fill the day. I am glad I set the goal to read them all and accomplished it this summer. I would have liked to have heard more information about other items in the antique shop, some additional descriptions of the area where Lacey traveled, sometimes alone and sometimes with her Fiancee.
December 3, 2022
Thank god it’s over? I enjoyed the first book in the series and the next 2, but by the 3rd I began to dislike the heroine. She’s a self centred, whiny, brat who does not deserve her fiancé at all. I want to like the characters I’ve invested time in, but Lacey Doyle is just awful.
March 27, 2024
4 Stars
The Lacey Doyle Cozy Mystery Series by Fiona Grace is a fun cozy mystery series with an amateur sleuth, whodunnit vibes, crime & investigation, suspense, tension, intrigue, drama, and intriguing developments.
Lacey Doyle is almost forty, and newly divorced - and in desperate need of a fresh start. So, she quits her job and her horrible boss and makes a sea change- moving to the charming seaside town of Wilfordshire, and opens an antique shop. But no sooner has she started to settle in, when one of her customers turns up dead- and Lacey is definitely prime suspect in the eyes of the town. She has no choice but to try and solve the crime so she can clear her name. Her fresh start, business, and reputation are on the line.
‘With a business to run, a next-door neighbor turned nemesis, a flirty baker across the street, and a crime to solve – is this new life all that Lacey thought it would be?’
As the series progresses, Lacey seems to attract trouble and mystery- getting drawn into investigations and mysterious developments….. all of which make for a fun read.
Each instalment in the series follows a fairly predictable ‘recipe’- especially after you’ve read a few of the books- but with a few clever touches from the author, she keeps you turning the pages, engrossed till the end. Even though the stories were a little predictable, it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment and appreciation of the stories/series at all- in fact I found it to be part of their ‘charm’.
The Series contains:
-Murder in the Manor (Book #1)
-Death and a Dog (Book #2)
-Crime in the Café (Book #3)
-Vexed on a Visit (Book #4)
-Killed with a Kiss (Book #5)
-Perished by a Painting (Book #6)
-Silenced by a Spell (Book #7)
-Framed by Forgery (Book #8)
-Catastrophe in a Cloister (Book #9)
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Fiona Grace!
The Lacey Doyle Cozy Mystery Series by Fiona Grace is a fun cozy mystery series with an amateur sleuth, whodunnit vibes, crime & investigation, suspense, tension, intrigue, drama, and intriguing developments.
Lacey Doyle is almost forty, and newly divorced - and in desperate need of a fresh start. So, she quits her job and her horrible boss and makes a sea change- moving to the charming seaside town of Wilfordshire, and opens an antique shop. But no sooner has she started to settle in, when one of her customers turns up dead- and Lacey is definitely prime suspect in the eyes of the town. She has no choice but to try and solve the crime so she can clear her name. Her fresh start, business, and reputation are on the line.
‘With a business to run, a next-door neighbor turned nemesis, a flirty baker across the street, and a crime to solve – is this new life all that Lacey thought it would be?’
As the series progresses, Lacey seems to attract trouble and mystery- getting drawn into investigations and mysterious developments….. all of which make for a fun read.
Each instalment in the series follows a fairly predictable ‘recipe’- especially after you’ve read a few of the books- but with a few clever touches from the author, she keeps you turning the pages, engrossed till the end. Even though the stories were a little predictable, it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment and appreciation of the stories/series at all- in fact I found it to be part of their ‘charm’.
The Series contains:
-Murder in the Manor (Book #1)
-Death and a Dog (Book #2)
-Crime in the Café (Book #3)
-Vexed on a Visit (Book #4)
-Killed with a Kiss (Book #5)
-Perished by a Painting (Book #6)
-Silenced by a Spell (Book #7)
-Framed by Forgery (Book #8)
-Catastrophe in a Cloister (Book #9)
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Fiona Grace!
January 20, 2021
In this Halloween-themed story, we have Lacey Doyle, newly divorced and settling comfortably into Wilfordshire, given a rare book, an ancient grimoire, which should be a hot item in her upcoming spooky auction. The bidding as expected goes crazy as people battle over the book. When the book disappears before Lacey can deliver it to the buyer, and the seller has also disappeared, they had no idea the buyer would turn up dead!
With suspicion turning toward Lacey and her reputation on the line, Lacey needs to quickly clear her name and find out where the missing seller and grimoire disappeared to! Will she find her answer? Will it put her life in danger? Is witchcraft to blame for this mess?
This is my first time reading this series and it was a good story. I look forward to more in this series. The characters were quirky enough to be interesting, and the pacing of the story line was good. Grab your copy and find out what’s going on in Wilfordshire!
With suspicion turning toward Lacey and her reputation on the line, Lacey needs to quickly clear her name and find out where the missing seller and grimoire disappeared to! Will she find her answer? Will it put her life in danger? Is witchcraft to blame for this mess?
This is my first time reading this series and it was a good story. I look forward to more in this series. The characters were quirky enough to be interesting, and the pacing of the story line was good. Grab your copy and find out what’s going on in Wilfordshire!
November 15, 2025
I listen to these as audio books. I actually like these easy masterpiece-theater style soft mystery stories, BUT at the end I spent more time getting annoyed about the narrator Mary Sarah's pronunciation of each word. I can deal with the teatrical breathy drawn-out narration, but mis-pronouncing simple words like mind to mindth is a new language to my ears. I constantly rewound to check if I have heard correctly.
I'm sure Mary Sarah does not have a speech impediment since she is a professional narrator, but I wonder if this is a dialect in the UK? I have never heard this before.
mind= mindth
task=taskth
wanted- wanthed
paper=papur
inside-insideth
stunned-stunnedth
out=outth
father-fauther
belonged=belongth
hand-handth
as she went - as she wentth
silent=silentth
I have one book left and I might not be able to listen to more of her narration.
I'm sure Mary Sarah does not have a speech impediment since she is a professional narrator, but I wonder if this is a dialect in the UK? I have never heard this before.
mind= mindth
task=taskth
wanted- wanthed
paper=papur
inside-insideth
stunned-stunnedth
out=outth
father-fauther
belonged=belongth
hand-handth
as she went - as she wentth
silent=silentth
I have one book left and I might not be able to listen to more of her narration.
January 19, 2021
This was a fun read! Halloween themed items for an auction bring a group of Goths to the village and mayhem ensues. People are issuing curses (and not the four-letter kind!) over spilled coffee! The auction really brings out the crazies as they bid on a grimoire. Afterwards, to relax, Lacey and friends decide to go on the ghost tour and find a dead goth! And during all of this, Lacey's mom is calling with ideas for the wedding and Lacey is lamenting what to do about her dad. Is she ever going to find him and find out why he left the family? All in all, a good read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 11, 2024
Silenced by the Spell (A Lacey Doyle Cozy Mystery #7) — Fiona Grace/Narrator: Mary Sarah -- June 22, 2024
This is a Halloween-themed story, with Lacey in charge of auctioning an ancient book she found in a rumbled-down odds and ends store.
But apparently, the book wasn’t supposed to be sold, and it has disappeared before Lacey can return it. And then, of course… dunn dunn dunn dun: a body shows up.
Subplot: Lacey has tracked down dear old Dad.
There are more hijinks as Lacey races to solve the crime while staying ahead and/or out of the way of the police investigation.
The narrator is the same lady with her dramatic voice.
Four stars.
This is a Halloween-themed story, with Lacey in charge of auctioning an ancient book she found in a rumbled-down odds and ends store.
But apparently, the book wasn’t supposed to be sold, and it has disappeared before Lacey can return it. And then, of course… dunn dunn dunn dun: a body shows up.
Subplot: Lacey has tracked down dear old Dad.
There are more hijinks as Lacey races to solve the crime while staying ahead and/or out of the way of the police investigation.
The narrator is the same lady with her dramatic voice.
Four stars.
January 12, 2021
Spooky halloween mysterie.
Is it suicide? Is it an accident? Is it murder? Or is it the curse of the grimoire?
Whatever it is, Lacey is determined to find out, before the local newspaper and gossip destroys her business.
I really enjoyed this Halloween-themed mysterie. Because of the cursed spellbook, the local witch from the past and the outside goths, it really feels creepy!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Is it suicide? Is it an accident? Is it murder? Or is it the curse of the grimoire?
Whatever it is, Lacey is determined to find out, before the local newspaper and gossip destroys her business.
I really enjoyed this Halloween-themed mysterie. Because of the cursed spellbook, the local witch from the past and the outside goths, it really feels creepy!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 10, 2021
Lacey didn't even pretend to follow clues. She just kept randomly accusing people, holding one hostage. At this point, I am blazing through the last books in the series, just because I am dying to know the reason the father left. Noticing this is the theme in more than one of the author's series. I listened to the audio book for this one and noticed several mistakes. Saying dollars instead of pounds. Narrator calling Lacey "Lucy."
August 29, 2021
Lacey doesn't like Halloween, but manages to get into the spirit with an auction of oddities like a real skeleton and an ancient book purported to be a grimoire. In typical fashion Lacey is compelled to solve the murder mystery and accuses the wrong person before realizing who actually "done it."
January 14, 2022
I think these are easy reads, but they are very predictable, I would love for the next one to be different rather than waiting to see which body Lacey falls over sending her business into a decline until she solves the case. Time for a change I think so perhaps I won't read anymore of the series, I don't think I could face another dead body for a while.
April 5, 2022
Silenced by a Spell
Good story, but I'm finding the main character being blamed for murder a bit stale. Even for someone as thick as Superintendent Turner is made out to be, it seems unreal That even he can't figure out Lacey is not a murderer. But at last the AWOL father was found.
Good story, but I'm finding the main character being blamed for murder a bit stale. Even for someone as thick as Superintendent Turner is made out to be, it seems unreal That even he can't figure out Lacey is not a murderer. But at last the AWOL father was found.
May 16, 2023
Overall I really am enjoying this series. Yes, at times the plots seem unrealistic, however, it's refreshing to read a unique voice. I can totally relate to her mom's excitement over her upcoming wedding. I would like to see more of Taren, her annoying neighbor. She totally a laugh out loud character.
January 18, 2024
1) I’m tired of Lacey’s mother and Lacey complaining about her like a teenager. For heavens sake, grow up and set boundaries.
2) Why does Lacey NEVER get a lawyer. And why does Lacey put up with such police harassment.
3) The relationship between Lacey and Tom lacks such depth as to be unbelievable- the impending marriage a farce of fiction.
4) The story line is as thin as stone soup.
2) Why does Lacey NEVER get a lawyer. And why does Lacey put up with such police harassment.
3) The relationship between Lacey and Tom lacks such depth as to be unbelievable- the impending marriage a farce of fiction.
4) The story line is as thin as stone soup.
February 3, 2021
The spell?
Another well written book! Lacey gets in more trouble just trying to make a living. Lacey and her side kicks once again have an auction with some very interesting customers all in black. Read and enjoy this mystery and try not to think about the Occult. Jo
Another well written book! Lacey gets in more trouble just trying to make a living. Lacey and her side kicks once again have an auction with some very interesting customers all in black. Read and enjoy this mystery and try not to think about the Occult. Jo
February 23, 2021
Another fun reed by Fiona Grace. Although I'm beginning to wonder why Superintendent Turner hasn't figured out by now that Lacey is not the murderer. I do love the twists and turns and the chance to see into Lacey's mind as she works out the true murderer.
February 9, 2021
Framed By a Forgery is next
What a fun series. I am a bit sad that it all ends in 2 more stories, but it’s been fun reading these stories!
What a fun series. I am a bit sad that it all ends in 2 more stories, but it’s been fun reading these stories!
June 6, 2021
Another entertaining audiobook in this series.
September 26, 2021
I really enjoyed the Halloween theme and the extra dimension the curse brings. I didn't like that all the goths were portrayed as grumpy and unsociable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2021
I listened to an audio version of this book. It is an enjoyable easy to listen to book but is totally unbelievable
January 10, 2022
Good but the same formula as previous
October 25, 2022
Still enjoying this series. The books are fresh and each plot is new and different. There are some things that tie the books together so best to read them on order.
December 18, 2023
More than a cozy mystery, this one actually had me a little scared. Still a very good read though.
December 4, 2024
Worst of this series. I’ve heard them all on audio. Just too over the top. Most outlandish of all.
May 5, 2025
good stuff
October 15, 2025
Finally a well done mystery worth reading!! Good clues to help the reader figure it out. Much better than some previous ones in the series
January 16, 2023
Luchtig en ontspannend, maar ook voorspelbaar en alweer wemelend van de typ- en taalfouten in het Nederlands helaas.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews