Murders and Metaphors: A Magical Bookshop Mystery

Flower graduates to hardcover with her charming third Magical Bookshop mystery (after 2016’s Prose and Cons). Violet Waverly, proprietor of Charming Books in Cascade Springs, N.Y., is one of a roomful of witnesses when wine connoisseur Belinda Perkins storms off after her estranged sister Lacey Dupont’s attempt at reconciliation during Belinda’s return home for a wintertime book signing at Morton Wineries. Moments later, Violet finds Belinda stabbed to death with one of the knives used for the night’s planned cutting of the ice wine grapes. Even though Lacey’s presence makes her immediately suspect, Violet learns all three Perkins siblings had motives for offing Belinda. The bookstore’s magical essence keeps feeding Violet clues, but making sense of them is complicated and time-consuming. Violet’s budding love interest, police chief David Rainwater, doesn’t want to see her in danger, but she realizes that their romance is doomed unless she’s ready to trust him with her family’s secrets concerning the bookshop and the mystic powers of the spring waters. Cozy fans will be well satisfied. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, Seymour Agency. (Feb.)