Review – Vampires and Villains by Elizabeth Pantley #cozy #mystery #paranormal #magic

StoreyBook Reviews 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Paige and her joyful Aunt Glo have learned that the home they inherited comes with a magical library. They put together a book club group of loveable kooks to explore the magic. They’ve recovered from their first book journey, and they all agree on their next book which takes place on a cruise ship bound for Hawaii. Problem is, they were so excited about the cruising idea that they didn’t read the entire blurb on the back of the book. (“It was entirely too long,” explains Zell.) Once on the ship, they meet a charming and likeable man who blends seamlessly into their motley group. Too bad they don’t know why he’s so scarce during the day but shows up to join them every evening for dinner, drinks, and a show. When a dead body shows up on board, their new friend is labeled a suspect. Can they help him out by finding the real murderer? Or is he the real murderer? The book club will need to solve the case to get off the ship, out of the book, and back to their home.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

This is a light, whimsical cozy that has such an intriguing premise – the characters are transported into a book to solve a murder. The book is written while they are figuring out the details, so there is no wrong or right way to investigate.

While it isn’t necessary to read the books in order, I think you will gain a lot more insight into the characters and watch them grow. Ok, so this is only book two, but I imagine there will be a lot more growth between now and future books, so start with the first book now!

Paige, Glo, and the gang have a new member in their book club, Million. He was ordered to join by a judge, and this isn’t the first time that has happened with one of the book club members. He is a cranky 82-year-old but has a lot to offer, especially once they arrive aboard the cruise ship to solve the mystery. I love that they can pick whatever book and setting and be transported there. In this case, their inn becomes the 20th floor of the cruise ship. That is a magical paranormal book for you; all rules are set aside.

I love the interactions between the book club members and the book’s characters. In this case, there are vampires on the cruise ship. This causes a stir when someone turns up dead, and it looks like he was killed by a vampire draining his blood. As you cipher through the book and the clues, when all is revealed, you might find yourself as surprised as I would by who the killer was and their motivation. Definitely not someone I suspected in the least.

I have loved everything that this author has written so far, and I would have been the first to tell you that paranormal-type books weren’t my preference. I have been converted!

I am looking forward to the next book in this series to see where they end up and since a book club member stayed in the book, who will be the new addition to the club?

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Elizabeth Pantley says that writing the Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic book series is the most fun she’s ever had at work. Fans of the series say her joy is evident through the stories she tells. Elizabeth is also the internationally bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents. Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, the beautiful inspiration for the enchanted Destiny Falls world.

 

NoCrySolution​.com | Facebook | Pinterest

 

Instagram |  Website | Amazon

 

Recommended Posts

Book Release excerpt Historical romance Trailer

New Release & Excerpt – Thistle in the Mistletoe by Margaret Izard

  Synopsis A kiss under the Mistletoe brings good fortune, but can a Christmas wedding stop a deadly feud? The soft beauty beside him at the altar would make the perfect bride. Roderick MacDougall would do anything to stop the feud without more bloodshed. Too bad the gorgeous woman is the daughter of his greatest […]

StoreyBook Reviews 
fiction Giveaway Historical

New Release & Giveaway – The Nine Lives of Tito d’Amelia by Ettore Farrattini Pojani

  The Nine Lives of Tito d’Amelia By Ettore Farrattini Pojani Italian Literature / Historical Fiction Publisher: Bayou City Press Pages: 326 Publication Date: October 11, 2024     Synopsis This is the first (and only) English-language version of the award-winning Italian novel, The Nine Lives of Tito d’Amelia. Nine Lives is a love story […]

StoreyBook Reviews 
Book Release excerpt Psychological Thriller

Excerpt – Schroeder by Neal Cassidy

  Synopsis A gripping new psychological thriller by author Neal Cassidy, SCHROEDER, weaves together elements of the literary thriller/horror genre, stream-of-consciousness narration, and critical social commentary. When an ordinary young man wakes up in his quiet neighborhood on a day seemingly like all the others, the city he’s lived in all his life has no […]

StoreyBook Reviews