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Grim and Cozy Mysteries #1
Murder in the Leaves
If you’re not everyone’s cup of tea…
It could land you in quite the pickle.
Autumn has arrived in the little town of Amber Springs, Oregon—Myrtle’s favorite season. The leaves are turning brilliant colors, there’s a chill in the air, and the Amber Springs University campus is bustling.
Myrtle is an outgoing witch who owns a tea shop at the edge of campus. Her best friend, Edgar, is an anti-social vampire and history professor who spends his off hours helping out at the shop.
When a customer dies after drinking a pot of hawthorn tea, Myrtle and Edgar find themselves in hot water—with little time to solve the mystery and catch the killer.
The investigation takes them through a series of adventures, including a journey into the realm of the fae and leads them into new relationships and a wicked love for sleuthing.
Pour yourself a cup of strong brew and sink your teeth into this charming Paranormal Cozy Mystery!
It could land you in quite the pickle.
Autumn has arrived in the little town of Amber Springs, Oregon—Myrtle’s favorite season. The leaves are turning brilliant colors, there’s a chill in the air, and the Amber Springs University campus is bustling.
Myrtle is an outgoing witch who owns a tea shop at the edge of campus. Her best friend, Edgar, is an anti-social vampire and history professor who spends his off hours helping out at the shop.
When a customer dies after drinking a pot of hawthorn tea, Myrtle and Edgar find themselves in hot water—with little time to solve the mystery and catch the killer.
The investigation takes them through a series of adventures, including a journey into the realm of the fae and leads them into new relationships and a wicked love for sleuthing.
Pour yourself a cup of strong brew and sink your teeth into this charming Paranormal Cozy Mystery!
195 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2022
20 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 4, 2022
Did not finish - got as far as 18% and the "vampire bar" for college students and quit. The mystery wasn't cozy but the book was grim. (see the subtitle) weird and unappealing
Amazon synopsis:
Autumn has arrived in the little town of Amber Springs, Oregon—Myrtle’s favorite season. The leaves are turning brilliant colors, there’s a chill in the air, and the Amber Springs University campus is bustling.
Myrtle is an outgoing witch who owns a tea shop at the edge of campus. Her best friend, Edgar, is an anti-social vampire and history professor who spends his off hours helping out at the shop.
When a customer dies after drinking a pot of hawthorn tea, Myrtle and Edgar find themselves in hot water—with little time to solve the mystery and catch the killer.
The investigation takes them through a series of adventures, including a journey into the realm of the fae and leads them into new relationships and a wicked love for sleuthing.
Pour yourself a cup of strong brew and sink your teeth into this charming Paranormal Cozy Mystery!
Amazon synopsis:
Autumn has arrived in the little town of Amber Springs, Oregon—Myrtle’s favorite season. The leaves are turning brilliant colors, there’s a chill in the air, and the Amber Springs University campus is bustling.
Myrtle is an outgoing witch who owns a tea shop at the edge of campus. Her best friend, Edgar, is an anti-social vampire and history professor who spends his off hours helping out at the shop.
When a customer dies after drinking a pot of hawthorn tea, Myrtle and Edgar find themselves in hot water—with little time to solve the mystery and catch the killer.
The investigation takes them through a series of adventures, including a journey into the realm of the fae and leads them into new relationships and a wicked love for sleuthing.
Pour yourself a cup of strong brew and sink your teeth into this charming Paranormal Cozy Mystery!
September 3, 2022
Myrtle and Edgar are lifelong friends which isn’t as simple as it sounds, as both have lived through centuries as immortals—Myrtle as a witch and Edgar as a vampire. To enjoy this book (and I did) allow yourself a “suspension of disbelief”.
In this lifetime Myrtle owns a tea shop and specializes in brewing teas specific to the individual needs of her customers. Edgar is curmudgeonly professor who helps out at the tea shop. Each is contented and pleased (as much as a curmudgeon can be) with their current existence until a frequent customer dies due to poisoning soon after a visit to the tea shop. Both quickly realize that unless they find the real killer, Myrtle is the most obvious suspect.
In this lifetime Myrtle owns a tea shop and specializes in brewing teas specific to the individual needs of her customers. Edgar is curmudgeonly professor who helps out at the tea shop. Each is contented and pleased (as much as a curmudgeon can be) with their current existence until a frequent customer dies due to poisoning soon after a visit to the tea shop. Both quickly realize that unless they find the real killer, Myrtle is the most obvious suspect.
December 18, 2025
3.0–3.5
Characters are sweet, and I do love that a strong platonic friendship between a female character & a male character is the driving relationship of the story, without any forced romance.
That said, the story is written at times in a dull and passive manner; and one of the main characters—Myrtle—comes off to me as flat, bland, and overly-nice, and portrayed as totally flawless and good. Even scenes focused on her darker memories of times past and the associated sorrow and crippling fear of imprisonment don’t make a strong impression or leave any emotional impact.
So, overall, it’s a cutesy cheesy read. I don’t dislike it, but I feel rather “meh, it’s okay, not terrible, not particularly good.” Just my take on it.
Characters are sweet, and I do love that a strong platonic friendship between a female character & a male character is the driving relationship of the story, without any forced romance.
That said, the story is written at times in a dull and passive manner; and one of the main characters—Myrtle—comes off to me as flat, bland, and overly-nice, and portrayed as totally flawless and good. Even scenes focused on her darker memories of times past and the associated sorrow and crippling fear of imprisonment don’t make a strong impression or leave any emotional impact.
So, overall, it’s a cutesy cheesy read. I don’t dislike it, but I feel rather “meh, it’s okay, not terrible, not particularly good.” Just my take on it.
August 19, 2022
Kindle Copy for Review
This is a new cozy series about a witch who owns a tea shop. She has a best friend who is anti-sociable vampire and history professor who helps out at her tea shop when not teaching.
Things are going well until a customer drops dead after drinking a pot of tea. They will become prime suspects as they try to clear their names.
It is an interesting sleuthing pair with potential.
This is a new cozy series about a witch who owns a tea shop. She has a best friend who is anti-sociable vampire and history professor who helps out at her tea shop when not teaching.
Things are going well until a customer drops dead after drinking a pot of tea. They will become prime suspects as they try to clear their names.
It is an interesting sleuthing pair with potential.
August 29, 2022
An interesting and fun murder mystery. That may seem that fun and murder don’t go together but in this book they do. A college campus tea room is the setting for murder. The owner is a witch and her employee is a grumpy vampire. Together they set out to solve the murder which is well plotted with a few unexpected twists.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
August 31, 2022
When a customer dies in her tea shop the owner, a witch, and her vampire shop assistant become the main suspects.
I enjoyed the unusual pair of sleuths but it did take me a while to get into the book. Since this is the first in the series the author had to do a lot of introductions and world building in the beginning of the book.
I enjoyed the unusual pair of sleuths but it did take me a while to get into the book. Since this is the first in the series the author had to do a lot of introductions and world building in the beginning of the book.
November 19, 2022
Fun Read
This is a fun and, in the end, a very feel good story.
All kinds of paranormal beings, along with the humans.
Bad versus good, of course, with Myrtle, Edgar, and friends coming out victorious.
A really well-written first in series. I look forward to more of their adventures.
This is a fun and, in the end, a very feel good story.
All kinds of paranormal beings, along with the humans.
Bad versus good, of course, with Myrtle, Edgar, and friends coming out victorious.
A really well-written first in series. I look forward to more of their adventures.
August 28, 2022
I had a hard time getting into this one at first. If you’re like me, hang with on it does get better. I ended up really enjoying this unique cozy mystery. I am very interested to see where the authors take the characters in this series.
June 13, 2025
Love this new series. very entertaining.
I always love seeing new characters. This first book in the series did not disappoint. I love tea, so what could be wrong with this mystery. Ready first number two.
I always love seeing new characters. This first book in the series did not disappoint. I love tea, so what could be wrong with this mystery. Ready first number two.
September 19, 2022
Great read
Boy this one really kept Mr guessing. There were several surprises. I love the characters and am looking forward to the next book.
Boy this one really kept Mr guessing. There were several surprises. I love the characters and am looking forward to the next book.
January 24, 2023
Very enjoyable read. Look forward to the next book!!
October 29, 2024
I thought the book was very interesting and well written. I loved the 2 main characters and thought that the world building was fantastical. A nice and new idea to Cozy Mysteries. Can't wait to read more books by these wonderful authors!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews