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Amanda Flower
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Murders and Metaphors (A Magical Bookshop Mystery) Mass Market Paperback – October 29, 2019

by Amanda Flower (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,149 ratings
USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower is back with the third in her more-charming-than-ever Magical Bookshop mystery. Fans of Sofie Kelly and Heather Blake, prepare your bookshelves!

Niagara region booksellers Violet Waverly and Grandma Daisy sleuth the slaying of a sommelier whose book signing turned into her sayonara.

January means ice wine season in the Niagara Falls region, but the festivities leave Charming Books owner Violet Waverly cold, still reeling from a past heartbreak. A past heartbreak who will be present at the annual midnight grape-harvest festival, and no magic in the world or incantation powerful enough could get Violet to attend. But Grandma Daisy, an omniscient force all on her own, informs Violet that she’s already arranged for the mystical Charming Books to host celebrity sommelier Belinda Perkins’s book signing at the party. Little do either Waverly women know, the ice wine festival will turn colder still when Violet finds Belinda in the middle of the frozen vineyard—with a grape harvest knife protruding from her chest.

Belinda grew up in Cascade Springs, but she left town years ago after a huge falling-out with her three sisters. One of those sisters, Violet’s high school friend Lacey Dupont, attends the book signing in the hope of making amends with her sister, but Belinda and Lacey end up disrupting the signing with a very public shouting match and Lacey quickly becomes the prime suspect in the sommelier’s murder.

Violet is sure Lacey is innocent, and to keep her friend out of prison, Violet asks for guidance from her magical bookshop. The shop’s ethereal essence points her to Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, but what have the four March sisters to do with the four Perkins sisters? If she can’t figure it out, Violet, herself, may turn as cold as ice. Violet, Grandma Daisy, Emerson the tuxedo cat, and resident crow Faulkner are back on the case in Murders and Metaphors, USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower’s enchanting third Magical Bookshop mystery.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 3 of 5
    Magical Bookshop Mysteries
  2. Print length
    336 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Crooked Lane Books
  5. Publication date
    October 29, 2019
  6. Dimensions
    4.15 x 0.86 x 6.84 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1643851470
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1643851471
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Murders and Metaphors:
Charming...Cozy fans will be well satisfied."
—Publishers Weekly

"The master of the charming mystical cozy again provides plenty of quirky characters and red herrings to keep you guessing."
—Kirkus Reviews

“I enjoy this series very much...Treat yourself to another enjoyable visit to Cascade Springs, where you can revel in the magic!”
—MyShelf

"Violet and Daisy are fun characters, Faulkner and Emerson add a nice balance of humor, and anybody would risk arrest just to meet Police Chief David Rainwater."
—Kings River Life

Praise for the Magical Bookshop mysteries:
"An enchanting tale of mystery, magical books, and endearing characters. Prepare to be charmed."
—Heather Blake, national bestselling author of The Witch and the Dead on Crime and Poetry

“In her page-turning style, Flower builds effective suspense.”
—Booklist

Praise for Amanda Flower:
"Amanda’s smooth writing style and clever touches of humor instantly caught my attention."
—Shelley Shepard Gray, USA Today and New York Times bestselling author

"Amanda Flower knows how to create pure magic."
—Hannah Reed, bestselling author of the Scottish Highland mysteries

"I look forward to many more stories from Amanda Flower."
—Bailey Cates, New York Times bestselling author of the Magical Bakery mysteries

About the Author

Amanda Flower, a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. She also writes mysteries as USA Today bestselling author Isabella Alan. In addition to being an author, Amanda is a librarian in Northeast Ohio. This is her third Magical Bookshop mystery.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books; Reprint edition (October 29, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1643851470
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1643851471
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.15 x 0.86 x 6.84 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 1,149 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Amanda Flower

Amanda Flower

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Amanda Flower is a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author of over thirty-five mystery novels. Her novels have received starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times, and she had been featured in USA Today, First for Women, and Woman’s World. She currently writes for Penguin-Random House (Berkley), Kensington, Hallmark Publishing, Crooked Lane Books, and Sourcebooks. In addition to being a writer, she was a librarian for fifteen years. Today, Flower and her husband own a farm and recording studio, and they live in Northeast Ohio with their two adorable cats.

Visit her at www.amandaflower.com

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,149 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this cozy mystery series, with one noting how the plot is beautifully woven through the story. They appreciate the characters and find it an easy, well-written read that can be read in any order. The book offers a layer of unexpected fun and includes a bit of magic. However, the editing quality receives negative feedback, with multiple customers mentioning numerous mistakes throughout the text.

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36 customers mention "Storyline"36 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, describing it as an engaging mystery with a charming narrative, and one customer notes that each book is a complete story.

"...The mystery is wonderful and kept me guessing right until the end. It’s filled with suspects who are perfect at keeping me confused...." Read more

"...The books are each a complete story and can be read in any order but I do recommend starting at the beginning to better understand each of the..." Read more

"...The characters, the mystery, all the delicious foods; the magic water that's needed every two days..." Read more

"...The characters in this series, the mystery in this series, and the magic in this series makes it one that leaves you wanting to revisit Cascade..." Read more

30 customers mention "Character development"30 positive0 negative

Customers love the characters in the book, with one mentioning they know more about their pasts.

"...bookshop, an intriguing cat and crow, and characters that change and grow as the series progresses...." Read more

"...(which is the reason for "If there were only more.......") The characters, the mystery, all the delicious foods; the magic water that's needed..." Read more

"...The characters in this series, the mystery in this series, and the magic in this series makes it one that leaves you wanting to revisit Cascade..." Read more

"...The plot moves along at a fair pace. There are some nicely drawn quirky characters including the magic bookshop, which plays around with Alcott's..." Read more

20 customers mention "Readability"17 positive3 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and well written, with one customer noting that it can be read in any order.

"...The books are each a complete story and can be read in any order but I do recommend starting at the beginning to better understand each of the..." Read more

"...Truly remarkable sharing by a very gifted writer. It was definitely a gift from GOD for me to find this story. Thank you, Amanda Flower." Read more

"...: there is are no graphic details of sex or violence and the language remains mild. Overall, is just not that entertaining." Read more

"...This is a book store I would love to visit. Well written & I look forward to next installment!" Read more

15 customers mention "Series quality"15 positive0 negative

Customers love this series, with one customer particularly appreciating the magical tree element.

"...Sounds weird but actually quite charming and fun." Read more

"...The story is intriguing and page-turning but still cute, light, and easy to get through." Read more

"...It makes you want to visit this lovely region but not in winter! Can.t wait for the next book in the series." Read more

"Cute series with a bit of covert magic! Real characters enjoy mysteries surrounding the town’s main attraction...." Read more

10 customers mention "Fun"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, with layers of unexpected fun and a touch of magic, and one customer specifically mentions enjoying the characters Emerson and Faulkner.

"...Sounds weird but actually quite charming and fun." Read more

"This was a fun weekend read! A little bit of magic and a good murder mystery...." Read more

"...The bookstore's and pet's assistance in the story add a layer of unexpected fun. I definitely recommend this series." Read more

"...The characters are all interesting. It really is a different type of magic, I’m going to begin reading all three again...." Read more

9 customers mention "Editing quality"0 positive9 negative

Customers criticize the editing quality of the book, noting numerous mistakes, missing words, and grammatical errors that detract from the story.

"...That said, what the heck was going on with all the editing errors????? Holy cow, after counting the first 30 or so, I gave up counting...." Read more

"...There were a few places with missing words, which my brain automatically filled in...." Read more

"...There were so many editing misses. The mistakes were bad. One sentence had "overhead" when the correct word would be "overheard"...." Read more

"...I wondered it it was self published as there were numerous editing mistakes...." Read more

Love this series. But the cover has a glitch
5 out of 5 stars
Love this series. But the cover has a glitch
I love this book sooo much!! And just a side note. There is a glitch print on the cover of the mass market paperback. Emerson’s face is messed up.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Mark Baker - Carstairs Considers
    5.0 out of 5 stars Local Author Returns to Murder
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Charming Books is providing the books at a signing located at Morton Winery. The author is Belinda Perkins, a local who has become a respected sommelier. However, the evening ends in tragedy when Charming Books owner Violet Waverly finds Belinda’s body in the vineyard. Belinda was the estranged sister of Violet’s friend Lacey, and Lacey becomes the prime suspect. Can Violet figure out the messages that Charming Books is sending her to clear her friend?

    It’s been years since I read the earlier books in the series, but I’m glad I reconnected with the characters. While I normally avoid paranormal themed cozies, I find this premise absolutely charming. The mystery is wonderful and kept me guessing right until the end. It’s filled with suspects who are perfect at keeping me confused. A few of the series regulars were fun but underdeveloped here, but that’s because they had little page time. The regulars we saw more of were great, and I especially appreciated the growth we saw in Violet. I hope to return to the next book in the series soon.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • S. Nelson
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Cozy Mystery and More
    Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I’m enjoying this series because along with a murder to be solved there is a magical bookshop, an intriguing cat and crow, and characters that change and grow as the series progresses. The books are each a complete story and can be read in any order but I do recommend starting at the beginning to better understand each of the characters.
    Helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars If there were only more.......
    Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is not the type reading I expected myself to pick, but after I started everything else fell into 50th place. Let me say the title got my attention (which is the reason for "If there were only more.......") The characters, the mystery, all the delicious foods; the magic water that's needed every two days; throw-in the people who couldn't give a flip about anyone but themselves, along with all the really awesome and spiritual people who care both about themselves and everyone else. Truly remarkable sharing by a very gifted writer. It was definitely a gift from GOD for me to find this story. Thank you, Amanda Flower.
    Helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Lot of Fun!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Book 3 of this series. As much fun as the first 2. Violet Waverly becomes the Caretaker at her family's book store where a real tree grows inside the bookstore. The Caretaker for decades has to water the tree every couple weeks from a magic spring to keep it alive. There is Grandma Daisy who used to be the Caretaker, Emerson the Tuxedo cat, and resident crow Faulkner, who quotes Shaespeare among other things. The bookstore gives "clues" to Violet that take her a while to figure out. This clue is about Little Women, a book that keeps showing up. Sounds weird but actually quite charming and fun.
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  • Linda M. Lynch
    5.0 out of 5 stars So glad to return to Cascade Springs
    Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I love all of the series written by Amanda Flowers. But, if I am to be honest, the Magical Bookstore series is my favorite. That is especially noteworthy because, as a rule, I don't care for stories with a "magic" theme. However, the magic in this series is so beautifully woven through the story that it seems to have become a character in its own right....and a wonderful character at that. The characters in this series, the mystery in this series, and the magic in this series makes it one that leaves you wanting to revisit Cascade Springs over and over again. Please write more and write them soon.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Jim Holroyd
    4.0 out of 5 stars Ice Wine and Little Women
    Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    A cozy wintry mystery, ideal for the holiday season. Violet works in a magical bookshop with her grandmother, Daisy. The area is known for its speciality wineries. A famous wine critic with a sharp pen attends the harvest of the frozen grapes and is slain by a sharper knife. Violet's friend Lacey is the primary suspect, but Violet is convinced another is a murderer and starts poking her nose into the case to the chagrin of her beau the police chief. The plot moves along at a fair pace. There are some nicely drawn quirky characters including the magic bookshop, which plays around with Alcott's Little Women helping Vi's amateur sleuthing. Emerson, the shop's cat and Faulkner the shop's crow provide comic relief, Faulkner coming out with a liberal sprinkling of enigmatic literary quotes. This was an enjoyable mystery. I now want to read Little Women and taste Ice Wine.
    One person found this helpful
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  • An Avid Reader
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not Great
    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I prefer mysteries to be a bit more engaging and sophisticated, but I can appreciate that this series would appeal to a lot of other cozy readers. This one was rather pedestrian and clunky, and didn’t really suit me. I finished it, but it was a slog. I like the classic mysteries and cozies by the likes of Ngaio Marsh (Det. Alleyn) mysteries), Patricia Wentworth (Miss Silver mysteries), Dorothy L. Sayers (Peter Wimsey mysteries), Margery Allingham (various), and also newer ones like Merryn Allingham’s Flora Steele mysteries, Veronica Heley’s Bea Abbot mysteries, Traci Hall’s Scottish Shire Mysteries, and many others. Compelling characters with some depth and smart dialog are what appeals most to me and draws me into a story. For all that this had supernatural elements to it, the characters and the dialog were on the shallow, mundane and ordinary side, so it hadn’t really appealed to me. I think there are a lot of readers who would enjoy this series, however, so I’d recommend giving it a try if you like that sort of light cozy mystery.
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  • Sheila Gallagher
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best book so far
    Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Charming Books is handling a book signing at Morton Vineyards with a famous wine reviewer and author. A murder happens and Violet stumbles upon the body. Mrs. Morton, of course, blames Violet for the bad publicity at the winery. So Vi does as she always does. She investigates especially when one of the suspects is her best friend, Lacey.

    This book was really good. The story was realistic. I had a hard time putting it down. Things happen in the bookstore when David is there and Violet needs to decide to trust him or not. She also learns much about Nathan that she can use to help her close her past. I did not figure out who the murderer was until the murderer comes out at the end of the book. This is the best book of the series so far. I cannot wait to read the next book and I hope more are coming.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Kunde
    4.0 out of 5 stars love the series
    Reviewed in Germany on March 16, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed all the books in the series so far! Looking forward to more to come! Just a little disappointed with typos in the Kindle edition. There were quite a few in the second half of the book
    Report
  • Elaine
    5.0 out of 5 stars Glad it's back!
    Reviewed in Canada on February 13, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I so enjoyed the first two books in this series and ever so glad the author decided to pick it up again. There is just something about the characters, and animals, along with the magical tree!
    Report
  • LOUISE
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved the "chief" characters
    Reviewed in Canada on August 24, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A little mystery a little romance and a happy ending- what more is there ? And the person murdered was unlikable!!
    Report