Kristin's Bookshelf

Peony Dreadful
A Village Flower Shop Cozy Mystery | Book 1
By Nancy Warren
Narrated By Hollis McCarthy
⭐⭐⭐✨

I’ve really loved some of Nancy Warren’s cozy mystery series, especially The Vampire Knitting Club, so I wanted to check this one out. While I haven’t fully committed to the Village Flower Shop mysteries just yet, they’ve definitely interested me enough to keep pressing play!

Peony is a young widow, witch, and flower shop owner surrounded by a genuinely lovable found family that includes her tenants, coworker, coven, and a mother who feels more like a best friend than a parent. The magical elements are subtly woven into the town; some people seem aware that magic exists, but it’s not over-the-top paranormal.

The mystery centers around the sudden death of a wealthy elderly man, and Peony quickly notices things aren’t adding up. Between suspicious behavior, shady townspeople, and plenty of guilty-looking suspects, she naturally decides to investigate the possible murder herself. And because this is a cozy mystery, it eventually leads Peony into danger before she exposes the killer and saves the day.

Also, early prediction: Alex is absolutely a wolf shifter and probably Peony’s future love interest. I’m calling it now.

One thing that did throw me a little? The covers. The book describes Peony as fairly average-looking, but the woman on the cover is basically magical Hallmark model gorgeous. I was having a hard time reconciling the two versions in my head as I listened. 😂

#CozyMystery #ParanormalCozy #NancyWarren #WitchyReads #AudiobookReview