This is the first book in the Mysty Haven Mystery series and considering it’s the author’s debut, I am amazed at her sheer talent! I already can’t wait for the second book because I couldn’t put this one down. Mysty Haven seems like a cute and wonderful place to live if you are anything but human. Bob loves everything abnormal so naturally, Mysty Haven delivers. What will his research reveal about this odd town, and will anyone believe him? Casey Cardel is a marvelous author who has created such a magical world with humor and paranormal abound. You won’t regret picking up this fun read, I highly recommend it!
Bob is new to the town of Mysty Haven where things aren’t as they seem. After writing an article that his boss at the local newspaper didn’t agree with, Bob got fired. While complaining about his lack of job at his favorite cafe, one of the regulars hires him to find a missing gnome from his garden. Being new to town makes the local police sheriff suspicious of Bob and starts suspecting him of being the thief.
While Bob is trying to uncover the mystery of the missing gnome, he finds out that things seem magical. The locals are acting like the gnomes are alive. But are they really?
After Bob gets into an accident, he meets another police officer, the sheriff’s daughter who doesn’t agree with her father. Someone or something might be targeting Bob. He teams up with the female to now solve two cases. Things seem to be more sinister than just a missing gnome.
This was a fun short read with lots of mythical creatures. I really enjoyed getting to know Bob and watching him come to terms with himself and the people around him. Bob was charming, nerdy and genuinely a sweet guy. He always sees the good in everyone. Ending on a cliffhanger, I am for sure going to read the second book in the series.
Absolutely loved this book!! So many twists that kept me guessing until the end. I need to continue with this story, because I just have to know what happens next. The characters were very well written and I wish I could visit Mysty Haven! This book had everything I needed in a good book. Wonderful characters, mystery, paranormal, and even a recipe at the end! Highly recommended taking the time to read this book.
I love all things paranormal so when I came across this book I knew I had to read it. My fascination with gnomes is kind of a problem so a book with gnomes in it; I was sold. This is a cute mystery with small town vibes yet bigger than normal personalities and adventures.
We meet Bob who was fired from his first job and moves to Mysty Haven to begin again, after getting his masters in journalism. Bob lands a job with the local paper and is sent off to write a story for the front page. However, his lead won’t talk to him about what he really knows, but instead talks about bigfoot and provides a footprint to prove he exists. Bob makes this his story and later is fired the very next Monday. Down and out in this small town he meets a local man in a bar looking for his lost gnome. He takes the job to find the gnome, as our cast of characters grows. Bob during his investigation learns a lot of new things going on that he doesn’t already know. He gets more than he bargained for during his investigation. Will he be able to solve the crime on the Toddler playground.
This book was definitely cute although it did take a couple of chapters to fully uncover the diverse cast of characters and role they played in the book. This storyline is great, the cast of characters is wonderful, and the settings are beautifully described. For a quick read I would pick this one up and give it a go!
Empty nesting is going to be rough on my poor dog. I dressed him up as a garden gnome for Halloween, so naturally, I was intrigued with the title of this book. I am totally hooked, and am waiting for more books in this series! Magic is real in this small town, and the residents do their best to help provide the reader with a magical experience. Garden gnomes, fairies, pixie dust, giants, werewolves, leprechauns, and more await you within the pages of this story.
To be honest, I was drawn to this little story by the cover of the book. I have a heart for gnomes. Bob moves to a new town and gets his first job – writing stories for the local newspaper. What he doesn’t expect is that his first story (a bigfoot sighting) was not what his boss really wanted. Bob finds himself out of work. But what happens next is about to change his world! A guy at the diner asks Bob if he will track down the culprit who has stolen a gnome. Once he starts being a detective, he finds out more about this charming little town then was evident. This was a very quick, fun read.
Good story filled with array of likable characters. It has a nice easy flow so it moves along quickly. At first it seems like any other story but once we get to know the townies…things change. The characters all have secrets that slowly come out as the story moves along. It was neat how they all just led normal lives but OH they have this other side…no big deal. I do like that the characters names kind of reflect what they are..very neat.
This is a nice paranormal mystery book. Its a first time author for me. I enjoyed the idea and the concept. The mystery intrigued me and the paranormals kept me coming back.
This is a short but very comprehensive paranormal mystery. I enjoyed the many twists and turns and the character development. This is my first book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although it is a quick read it is definitely worth it. Bob is an out of work journalist who is trying to solve the mystery of the missing Gnome. What he goes through will have you laughing out loud and thoroughly enjoying all the intricacies of the mystery.
Cute, cute, cute. Classical cozy mystery with gnomes, leprechauns, werewolves, and an investigative reporter trying to solve the mystery of the missing gnomes. Not my typical read, but about six or seven chapters in I was hooked. I see that it is the first book in a series to come, and I think the characters will develop more throughout the series. To me this is a great start to a lovely series in a quirky little mystical town.
I was originally attracted to this book by the witty title and adorable cover art. I ended up enjoying the characters and the storyline along the way. Initially, it took me a bit to get into the book but once I did, I didn’t want to put it down. I loved the subtle mystery surrounding Bob, the little town and whether he would fit in or not. I grew to love the characters, especially Aubri and I found myself wanting to get to know their back story more. I liked that at times I was suspicious of just about every character and that what I feared might happen actually didn’t. I am happy to see that the book left us expecting more because I am definitely open to experiencing more of this paranormal town.
This was a great book. Normally court related books sort of bore me. This one kept my attention and coming back to it. The plot and characters were great. I had a great time reading this book. I think this book displays people in same sex relationships and corrupted people in charge really well.
This is a fun, light-hearted first book in the Mysty Haven Mystery series.
Bob is an investigative reporter with a flair for fact finding and doesn’t let a few grumpy policemen deter him from a case. After being unceremoniously fired from his first reporter job for writing an unexpected piece on Bigfoot, Bob finds himself nursing his wounds in a coffee shop in Mysty Haven. As Bob contemplates his future and the prospects of finding a new job, he inadvertently lands himself a freelance gig helping to locate a recently gone-missing run of the mill garden gnome (or so he thinks). Bob finds himself on an unexpected journey of unearthing plots to open a mystic portal that would allow a dark Fae king to enter the mortal realm. Along with Shauna Barksdale, daughter of Sheriff Barksdale and fellow officer of the law, Bob and Officer Shauna work together to locate the missing gnome, uphold the portal and make a few more mystic discoveries along the way.
I definitely recommend this cute read to anyone who enjoys a good paranormal story with quirky writing and the potential for future character development in subsequent stories!
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book as it was the first work by Casey Cardel that I have read but I was not disappointed. We meet Bob McLarney unfortunately being fired from his first journalist job in the small town of Mysty Haven in northeastern Wisconsin. He graduated from college with his master’s degree in journalism and had a stroke of luck finding a so soon.
With the second stroke of luck Bob is given a front-page story after only one week at the Mysty Haven Weekender. After the other two reporters suddenly become ill, he is being sent to Las Vegas with everything paid for by his boss Tony to meet with an Elvis impersonator named Lennie. Only when Bob gets there Lennie refuses to tell him about being an impersonator and instead is determined to tell him about his recent siting of Bigfoot. Getting evidence in way of a footprint Bob writes the story and sends it to the printers for the Sunday paper, fired Monday morning. In a new town for only two weeks Bob now finds himself in need of a new job when he meets a local man at Maddie B’s coffee shop. Offering Bob $1,000 to find his missing gnome Charlie. Thinking it to be an easy case Bob accepts, thinking back to the gnomes his mother had as a child, a dramatized cartoon character with red pants and a white shirt, the novelty image of a gnome. Meeting with Mr. Weaver at his home seeing the location Charlie was taken from he asks if he has a photo, Bob is stunned to see a gnome in blue pants and shirt posing like Tom Selleck from the famous cosmopolitan cover with a pink corncob pipe in his hand and a mysterious smirk on his face. The only suspect Mr. Weaver points to is the Dhay sisters, Lilly, and Aubri, who have been trying to beat him in the garden competitions for years. Meeting with Lilly Dhay only one time she states that they don’t use gnomes to protect their garden but that faeries are great protectors of gardens. Later calling the local police on Bob for his wrongful investigation. After his run in with the local sheriff and deputy Bob decides to visit Mr. Weaver and tell him what he has told so far. His luck having ran out Bob is on the main road at speed when a squirrel that was eating a sandwich decides to run into the middle of the road, suddenly Bob realizes his brakes aren’t working when his steering goes out. Staring at a big red semi something that he first thought was Bigfoot, later swearing it was a werewolf hits his car off the road saving his life but totaling his first car Emma Jean, a red ’67 Ford Mustang. Waking up he is unnerved by the local doctor, Dr. Stein when he comments that he has a beautiful brain and that he will return later to perform more tests.
Will Bob be able to uncover the truth of Mysty Haven? He must decide if he believes in bigfoot then the possibility that gnomes and faeries could be real also. The world built, the characters depths, and the overall mystery make Better Gnomes and Gardens an adventurous quick read that will have you turning the pages in curiosity of what will happen next. This was an amazing start to a new series, and I can’t wait to see what happens next in the Mysty Haven Mystery Series.
After being fired from his previous journalism job, Bob is looking for a new job. Thankfully he has a few months before rent is due so he frequents the local coffee shop hoping to find gossip to write about.
Seems his luck is turning when an older man approaches him asking him to find out who has taken his missing gnome. He agrees to help. Unfortunately, he soon learns that Misty Haven, the town he has just moved to, is not all that it seems.
I just want to say that I loved the paranormal aspect of this. I love when towns have their own secrets.
Bob is also a witty character. The fact he wrote about BigFoot made me laugh too.
This is short. I wish it was longer but I am excited for the next novel.
Bob is a recent journalism graduate starting out his first job as an investigative reporter in a small town. He learns some new and interesting things while making friends and calling the new town his new home.
The story itself is magical and awakens the imagination of the reader!
I really enjoyed this cosy mystery. It was action packed and full of mystery but also with a fantasy twist which I loved. This author is a new author to me but I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to read more. The characters were really well written and I loved how determined Bob is to prove his stories and creatures of make believe really exist.
Bob is a journalist and he plans to prove to everyone that creatures of fiction truelly exist. However his article isn’t want his publisher wants so he finds himself out of a job. When a surprising job offer shows up he takes it. What does he have to lose after all? So Bob find himself on the hunt for a missing Gnome but what he finds during his investigation is more than anyone could ever expect. Bob’s eyes are opened to things that even he could not imagine.
What happened to the missing Gnomes? Can Bob find them? And what else will he discover along the way?
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this story, but it did not disappoint! We meet Bob, who has moved to a new town for a job at the newspaper, but due to his first story about Bigfoot instead of Elvis impersonators, he loses his job. He ends up taking a job helping one of the towns people find his missing gnome. I found the story hilarious, because it’s clear that something is up with the citizens of Mysty Haven, but Bob doesn’t seem to know what the joke is. People will discuss supernatural things in front of him, but due to the fact they think he understands, and there is usually enough ambiguity that Bob doesn’t seem to understand what is going on, but the residents think he does. We get to meet all sorts of wacky and fun characters throughout the course of the story and we get enough information on them, which I am excited to see what happens next in the series! It was a quick and easy read, that I finished in one sitting and it’s definitely a must read for fantasy lovers who enjoy a mystery twist.
There’s a lot to be discovered in Mysty Haven and in this fun page-turner we get to discover it through the eyes, ears and especially nose of investigative reporter Bob. I loved that little pieces were revealed at a time and not everything was explained at once even when it wasn’t exactly natural. I look forward to more books by this fabulous author!!
Bob has moved to a new place and is beginning to build a life. This small town is such a welcome home, I would love to visit the coffee shop and the tea shop and spend an afternoon with the locals. All of the characters are quirky, and the conversations are funny. Don’t wait, check out this quaint little tale now!
Better Gnomes and Gardens was a delightful, easy read. I enjoyed the fantasy elements to the book. The characters were well written. If you love cozy mysteries, this is the book for you. Mysty Haven is a place I look forward to visiting again in future books.
Better Gnomes and Gardens is a magical book. I loved Bob, the main character, because of his optimism and how he interacts with the residents of Mysty Haven. When Bob gets fired from his job at the Weekender he is presented with a job from a local to find his missing gnome. Bob discovers more than he bargained for while trying to solve the case. This book is suitable for all ages and has good morals. I can’t wait to read the next book since it was left on a cliffhanger. Don’t worry the mystery of the missing gnome is solved and has a happy ending!
Musical Murder Mystery Boxed Set #1: Cozy Theater Mystery Books 1-3 by K.L. Montgomery
These aren’t the first books I’ve read by the author. Musical Murder Mystery Boxed Set is amazing. The books are great and you’ll have a hard time putting it down.
The Sound of Murder (Musical Murder Mystery #1)
Ruby has already been traumatized by the death of her former castmate and mentor. She was framed for the murder and once she was cleared she helped solve it. After a couple of months she’s back to doing her job. Only problem is another murder happens. The quote I chose for Ruby is: “Now you’re just making fun of me. Don’t forget that it’s also the home of the Indiana Hoosiers, Little 5, and, of course, the world -renowned Melody Street Players.”
West Side Murder (Musical Murder Mystery #2)
Ruby has another solved murder under her belt. She doesn’t want to do it again. Or does she? This time it’s another castmate. She doesn’t know what’s going on and she sure as heck doesn’t like it. The quote I chose for Ruby is: “I guess dating just isn’t in the cards for me right now since I took this job, and it basically involves traveling most of the year. It’s good, though. I’m enjoying it, and I’m figuring out who Ruby Ecco is a little more with each production.”
Little Shop of Murder (Musical Murder Mystery #3)
Ruby has three solved murders under her belt now. She’s also in a long distance relationship with someone she met in the first book. Can she solve the case her boss had put her on? The quote I chose for Ruby is: “Rudy…I think you’re awesome, but…Well, I still feel like you’re just this character in the show of my life that swoops in and then back out again. I still feel like I’m playing a role when I’m with you.”
Montgomery brings such an original concept to a murder mystery of bringing the stage of musicals into these three fun-filled, page-turnings stories. The main character and mystery solver, Ruby, is part of a traveling musical troupe and although the casting directors may not feel as though she has leading lady material, she certainly excels in sleuthing. Aspects of these stories reminded me of Nancy Drew is how a mystery follows her and feels the need to solve the case. During the tour of the musical, The Sound of Music, one of the casted nuns, Mother Abbess is murdered and it is up to Ruby to find out how and why. Then in West Side Murder, the traveling musical troupe end up in Florida where the mystery takes back a few years ago of a dead body found at a local retirement community’s golf course. Finally in Little Shop of Murder takes the troupe back to their hometown of Bloomington, Indiana with their production of Little Shop of Horrors and the horrors of the musical is what is feared to becoming a reality.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jennifer Ramoshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJennifer Ramos2022-10-26 20:09:272022-10-27 11:33:54Musical Murder Mystery Box Set #1. Book Review by Jennifer Ramos
Cozy Mystery? Paranormal filled town? Check on both! This was a new author for me and needless to say I finished it rather quickly. Eccentric characters and a book that was impossible not to love!
Loved the town personally and all the characters that helped make it up. The cozy mystery at large, with a missing gnome and poor Bob. The mystery was laugh out funny, and full of mishaps, but in a funny and light hearted way. I could not get enough or ask for more. I enjoyed the authors witting skulls and how they created the story! Looking forward to the next installment! Truly loved this book and author!
I was feeling so happy as I read this, could not put it down. Light and funny. Perfect read for a day of no sun and sipping my hot chocolate. Highly recommend this must read book and author!
This box set was so much fun I devoured the whole thing before I knew it. The story lines were amazing, the characters were well developed, and of course the musical/theatre aspect if it was amazing. This whole series follows Ruby and her theatrical friends, but Ruby seems to find bodies in the most unusual places. Trust me when I say that you will have a ball following her and her friends on the journey to uncover the mystery. After reading these three I sure hope there is more because I can’t wait to see what Ruby and her friends get into next.
Musical Murder Mystery Boxed Set #1 Books 1-3 by K.L. Montgomery – Review by By: K.L. Montgomery 5*
This is such a fun box set. I love Ruby Ecco, she is such an amazing character. However, craziness and murder seem to follow her and her whole cast of musical actors and actresses. In book 1, Ruby is reeling from the recent events. She recently was involved in a murder. However, she was not the murderer or the murdered. She was the understudy of the girl who was murdered. This made her take over the new role. She has been given a back up role for the new musical. Everyone seems to be extra worried about her right now. It doesn’t take long for her to be embroiled in another murder. Another cast member turns up dead and Ruby is called to help solve the mystery. In book 2, Ruby and her Musical Company are now in Florida. This is awesome because Ruby is near her only family, her grandparents. However, once again where Ruby goes murder follows. Someone in the retirement community has died and no one is willing to look more indepth into the murder. Ruby wants to help solve the case, but her grandparents aren’t so sure. In book 3, Ruby is back in her hometown. Its nice to be back home, however, she is handed a long weekend off. She is invited to attend a wedding for her boss’s nephew. However, this isn’t as innocent as it sounds. Her boss is not sure about the woman her nephew is marrying. So she is sending Ruby and her detective skills to look more into the situation. As a musical lover, I loved these stories. I truly enjoyed reading about Ruby. She was the most relatable and lovable character I have read recently. I found myself relating to her on so many levels. Her inner dialogue reminded me of myself. I cannot recommend this boxed set, and series, to anyone! They are so fun!
This was such a fun cozy mystery. I have personally never read anything from this author before but after reading this one I can’t wait for book two. The characters are amazing, the plot was original and has a little bit of everything for everyone, and the paranormal aspect was just perfect. While it was a cozy mystery that didn’t stop me from flipping the pages as fast as could to solve the mystery with Bob. So if you’re looking for a great new mystery don’t look any further.
I like when I find a new author. I really enjoyed this mystery book as it is paranormal based. I like how the author is able to grab the reader and keep their attention. I really like the character development and story. The twist with how the lead character is related to the realm really added to the story. I really enjoyed how easy this was to read and that there was just enough drama and mystery. The characters have such a great chemistry and I did not want to put this book down. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
I love a good cozy with some paranormal touches. Missing gnomes, Bigfoot, fairies, werewolves….the town of Mysty Haven sounds like a perfect place for a mystery. Bob is on the hunt for Charlie, the missing gnome. He has the wildest misadventures trying to find him. I wonder will I was reading if he didn’t just want to pinch himself and ask if this was real. The story has all the elements of the perfect cozy and more. The plot will have you rolling right off your chair. The characters are very entertaining. I enjoyed this book and hope to see more from this author.
This is an absolutely adorable story about a little place called Mysty Haven. A place where those creatures that are not human live. It is in this city that Bob McLarney accepted a job to be a journalist for the Mysty Haven Weekender. However, this does not go well for Bob as he writes his article on Bigfoot instead of what he had been sent to report on. Not everyone seems to agree about his take on Bigfoot. After this fail Bob takes his skills to another effort…finding a missing gnome. Sticking to the task at hand, even when the police suspect him, Bob never gives up on finding the missing gnome. What deep dark mystery will Bob discover in finding the gnome?
This was a cute mystery novel that I highly enjoyed reading. The story was written to keep you flipping the pages to solve the mystery with Bob. If you are looking for a cute mystery read I would highly recommend this book!
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