Review - Vampires and Villains by Elizabeth Pantley

 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.

Review:

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.” - ― George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

Elizabeth Pantley transforms the quote above into a very “tangible” reality in her Magical Mystery Book Club series… The stories of MMCB start from an interesting and challenging premise… the eight members (but nine bodies…you’ll see) “find themselves smack-dab in the middle of a murder mystery”, just after reading (or starting reading) out loud the – too big - blurb of a book.

“You don’t just read these. You are actually … transported into the story.” I paused and allowed him to process that thought.

“As in … The Chronicles of Narnia? Or more like Jumanji?” He leaned forward in his chair and searched my face for the answer.

“I hope not like Jumanji!” I gasped. “I don’t think my heart could take it. No, no. More like … um …”

“Becoming a character in a Hallmark mystery channel movie!” Glo smiled and nodded at me. “Right?”

A luxurious scene of the crime, Hawaiian traditions and views, night and day walkers with their preoccupations and inherent worries and dangers they bring, unexpected friendships and life-altering decisions, and of course the magical inn/library, all serve the perfect but not safe environment for the protagonists to play.

Despise finding enough issues with the cozy mystery part, Vampires and Villains was a pleasant read because of the characters. The author successfully created an eccentric group, a bit crazy but funny and reliable. Its eight members/nine bodies, together, fill the role of the amateur sleuth from the classical approach of cozy mysteries stories. Old, young and in between, veterans of the book club or newcomers are unstoppable in creating quick-witted dialogues and a great atmosphere.

So, enjoy the book journey… adventure… pilgrimage… and come and try solving the mystery of the Havoc in Hawaii (no mistake here)!

Description:

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.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Goodreads ** Amazon

About the author:

Elizabeth Pantley says that writing her serveral 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 engaging stories she tells. Elizabeth is also the international 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, a beautiful inspiration for her enchanted worlds.

Website * Goodreads * BookBub * Instagram * Facebook

Author's Giveaway