A Sprinkling of Murder By Daryl Wood Gerber: Review/Giveaway

Jul 18, 2020 | 2020 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze, Sandra Murphy

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win either an ebook or print copy of the book, and links to purchase it.

Courtney Kelly is the owner of Open Your Imagination, a fairy garden and tea shop in Carmel, California. She encourages customers to build their own fairy gardens in her class, take a kit home, or choose their own décor. Children believe; adults indulge them.

Fiona is the resident fairy. She made a few missteps in the process of getting her wings and now must help Courtney in order to make amends. She’s tiny, sparkly, and mischievous. She loves to ask Courtney questions while other people are around, knowing a reply looks like Courtney is talking to herself. She’s also not above sprinkling contrary non-believers with fairy dust.

Mick owns the dog grooming shop across the way. He’s been after Courtney to move her business so he can take over her lease and expand his shop. On his last visit he says the landlord wants to cancel leases and sell to a developer. Business problems aren’t the only ones Mick has. His wife is plenty upset with him.

Courtney stays up late to sketch out plans for how-to videos, consulting her online friends for suggestions. After she finally gets to bed, she’s awakened by Fiona with an urgent message to go to the shop.

Fiona is justified. On the enclosed patio, is Mick’s body, strangled. There are a number of suspects, but Courtney is at the top of the list since he was found at her store. There was no sign of a break in, so how did he get there?

A murder on the premises is not a way to bring in customers. That’s a reason to ask some questions about the murder. Courtney’s alibi of being online seems weak to the police. Will she be able to find out how Mick got into her patio, who he met there, and why? And in time to save her business?

This is the first book in a new series. I thought Fiona would distract from the story, but she is a vital part, adding humor and magic. She’s part of the story, not a distraction. She did not sprinkle me with fairy dust to make me say that. I’m pretty sure. Not that I know of anyway.

Gerber also writes the Cookbook Nook books (9), the Aspen Adams thrillers (2), the French Bistro series (3), the Cheese Shop mysteries (7), all reviewed here, and the stand-alone, Girl on the Run.

Because she writes so many food-oriented books, there are recipes included from the fairy garden’s tea shop. They include: brie and strawberry tea sandwiches, caramel blondies with salted caramel sauce, chocolate caramel brownies and a gluten-free version, coriander cookies with vanilla icing, custard, lemon cupcakes with lavender frosting plus the gluten-free version, minestrone soup, peanut butter brownies, savory herb scones, white fish with beurre blanc sauce.

There’s also an excerpt from the next fairy garden book, not yet available for pre-order.

To enter to win either an ebook or print copy of A Sprinkling of Murder, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “sprinkling,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen July 25, 2020. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If you are entering via email please include you mailing address in case you win, it will be deleted after the contest. You can read our privacy statement here if you like. BE SURE TO STATE WHETHER YOU WANT PRINT OR EBOOK.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify. A new episode went last week!

You can use this link to purchase this book from indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy, and KRL gets a portion of the sale:

A Sprinkling of Murder (A Fairy Garden Mystery #1)

You can use this link to purchase the book on Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the Arch in St. Louis Missouri. A Murder of Crows, edited by Sandra Murphy (a popular title so you need her name to search), has twenty-one cozy stories. Each features the collective name of an animal and a crime. The animals range from tarantulas, koalas, wolves, bears, jellyfish, toads, cats, dogs, alpaca, goats, penguins and more. No animals were harmed. The people weren’t so lucky. Available at the usual outlets, print or ebook.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.

29 Comments

Glen Davis on July 18 at 9:20am

Sounds interesting! Count me in!
Reply
Karina Thibodeau on July 18 at 10:46pm

I would love a print copy. Thank you for the chance.
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Lynn Brown on July 19 at 10:23am

Thanks for a chance. The covers are cute. I would like a print copy.
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Dawn Psik on July 19 at 10:24am

Would love to win a print copy of this book! Thank you so much for the chance!
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Brittani Stickler on July 19 at 10:36am

I’d love to win a copy! This book sounds like such a fun read!
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Sheryl Sens on July 19 at 10:38am

Oh I’d love a print copy of A Sprinkling of Murder!!! Thanks for this chance
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ellie on July 19 at 10:40am

Print copy please. This author writes wonderful cozies. Thanks.
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Shannon S on July 19 at 11:19am

I would love to win this!! Thanks for the chance!
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Linda May on July 19 at 11:51am

I’ve been wanting to read this book and I would love to win a print copy. Thanks for your great generosity.
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Lisa Sabatini on July 19 at 12:04pm

Oh, sprinkle me with fairy dust! I would love to read this book!
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Milena BEYGEL on July 19 at 12:38pm

I would love to receive the print copy of this book
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Nancy Timmerman on July 19 at 12:41pm

Well, yes I would love to read this in print copy. Thanks for the chance!
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Jennifer Koller on July 19 at 12:57pm

I would love a printed copy! There is nothing better than holding a book in your hands!
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Carl on July 19 at 12:59pm

This sounds like a fun book that lots of folks could enjoy. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. crs(at)codedivasites(dot)com
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- Carl on July 19 at 12:59pm
  
  I forgot to say that I’d prefer a print copy, please. Thanks again.
  Reply
Teresa Warner on July 19 at 1:05pm

Print copy would be my choice, sounds great! tWarner419(at)aol(dot)com
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Jessie Dimovski on July 19 at 1:06pm

I can’t wait to read this book! Thank you for the chance
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Linda Tucker on July 19 at 1:28pm

Would love to win a print copy
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Dianne Casey on July 19 at 1:32pm

This sounds like such a magical book. Can’t wait to read. I prefer a print copy.
diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
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Michell Gross on July 19 at 1:58pm

I would LOVE to win a print copy of this book! Thanks for the chance!
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Mel K. on July 19 at 2:17pm

I’d love a print copy, please. I’d love to read this book!!
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Shirley Weedling on July 19 at 2:33pm

I would love a print copy! ?
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Melissa Basnight on July 20 at 7:19am

I would love a print copy of this book. Thank you for the chance to win this book!
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Sue Brauner on July 22 at 10:12am

looks like a great book. New author for me.
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Tami A Norman on July 22 at 1:51pm

Love the cover. Looks like a great book, thanks for the chance.
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Taylor R Williams on July 22 at 5:00pm

I love her writing and really want to read this – thanks for the chance to own it
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Mary Holshouser on July 22 at 8:48pm

This sounds like a fun read.
I love Daryl’s other series and
I know this one will be good too.
thanks txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
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Pat Lieberman on July 25 at 11:39am

Would love to win a print copy. TY.
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Lorie on July 27 at 10:21am

We have a winner!
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