Karen S. (BoysMom) - My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fun and unique adventure for the cozy mystery book club sleuths when they find themselves in the Sprite Kingdom of Everglow.
I was so glad to see that there was a new addition to author Elizabeth Pantley's paranormal cozy mystery series featuring the Magical Mystery Book Club. I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of the previous books, and I was not disappointed in the least. Sprites and Scuttlebutt is the sixth adventure for the book club members, and they are faced with not only a murder but a mysterious sleeping disorder that has affected a member of the Queen's household.
While told from the club leader Paige Erickson's point of view, the stories are always an ensemble story, and this book maintains this excellent style. However, this time around, Frank, the enigmatic and oft-times sarcastic library cat, takes on a featured role, and readers are finally let in on some of the details of his mysterious past.The Everglow setting is vivid, colorful, and populated by paranormal creatures, sprites, with a ruling family led by the split personalitied Queen Iris. The author's rich and detailed descriptions of the sprites and their world made this setting come alive.
The mystery involves both a murder and a sudden affliction that makes a member of the Queen's family fall asleep and unable to be awakened, and the book club members must struggle with whether these two things are related or separate. There are many suspects with possible motives or access to the means to have committed these deeds, so there are lots of red herrings for the characters and armchair sleuths to consider. The clues are present to point the way to the final resolution if one is paying attention.The book club members remained much more aware of their chosen book's author's role in crafting their adventure in this story. There were discussions of the different routes an author can take in developing their plot, including cozy mystery tropes and common story structure, which I found quite enlightening. I enjoyed this latest adventure and continue to look forward to more.
I recommend SPRITES AND SCUTTLEBUTT to cozy mystery readers who enjoy a touch of paranormal in their stories and fans of the previous books in the series.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.
