Jelly Bean Jiggery-Pokery

Candy & Chaos Cozy Mystery, Book 1

By: Sara Bourgeois

Narrated by: Michelle Price

Welcome to Hemlock Hollow, where witchcraft bubbles beneath the surface.

Blue Bell has spent years hiding her mystical talents while running her candy shop, Sucre Bleu. But when a dead body appears outside new neighbor Ethan Moore's office, she finds herself drawn into a baffling murder.

With help from her sarcastic talking cat Tiffany, quirky sister Pepper, and Ethan's slick investigating skills, Blue follows the clues. Her supernatural gifts give her an edge, but she risks exposing her secret witchy abilities.

Suspicion brews when the police suspect Blue could be the killer. Then it shifts to the victim's wife, his lover, and a shady ex-partner as illicit affairs and dark secrets emerge. But when the investigation stirs up danger, Blue must tap into her full powers or end up in hot water.

Can she catch the killer and clear her name without bringing her magic to a boil? Or will her hidden bewitching talents finally bubble over?

©2023 Sara Bourgeois (P)2024 Tantor

horrible mystery

the main character jumps to all kinds of conclusions with no real evidence. she trusts a new guy in town on a feeding? stupid mistakes and annoying lack of anything believable. the "romance " isn't even enough to draw me in.

DNF

I could not finish this. The story had potential but there were so many inconsistencies! For example, Blue met Kimber at her shop for the first time when the woman was distraught, and proceeded to tell Blue, a complete stranger, about her troubles with Tom. The next time they meet the narration says things like “Kimber’s usual sunny disposition” or her habitual warm smile, as if Blue knew her well. That was jarring, since now both times Blue met her she was upset. There’s a lot of page filler on oven temperatures and ingredients, but nothing about how this candy maker witch simply decides to start investigating a murder. Not even a “I need to clear my name”

I’m also not a fan of the reluctant powerful witch trope.