Publishers Weekly
10/03/2022
This enjoyable series launch from Jones (the Cleopatra Jones mysteries as Maggie Toussaint) introduces twins Tabby and Sage Winslow, proprietors of the Book and Candle Shop in Savannah, Ga. The sisters come from a long line of “energetics,” people who can manipulate their own personal energy fields and those of others. They can cause a heart attack, for example, by hastening a person’s heartbeat. Tabby is reluctant to use her abilities after almost causing the death of an attacker, while Sage is less concerned about the repercussions of their abilities. One day, socialite Blithe McAdam has an explosive confrontation in their shop with Gerard, their clerk. Hours later, Blithe is found murdered. When a video of the argument turns up on social media, Gerard is suspect number one, and the sisters set out to clear their friend. The tension rises as they discover new powers that can help them to secretly scour Savannah’s underbelly and uncover the dark secrets of the elite. Appealing characters match the intriguing plot. Paranormal cozy fans will be well satisfied. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
Praise for Snuffed Out:
“[An] enjoyable series launch . . . Paranormal cozy fans will be well satisfied.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Mayhem arrives at the [candle] shop . . . Cozy meets Karma.”
—Kirkus
“A small town cozy murder mystery that will make readers feel like they are part of the community . . . A winner.”
—San Francisco Book Review
“A mystery lover's delight from cover to cover.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Amazing characters, secrets, lies and surprises.”
—Paranormal Romance Guild
“Snuffed Out brings a sharp new twist to the paranormal cozy mystery genre . . . Readers who appreciate intricate plotting and an edgier vibe to their paranormal cozy mysteries will find much to enjoy about Snuffed Out.”
—Diane A.S. Stuckart, NYT bestselling author of cozy mysteries
“'Gripping fun' with a healthy dose of magic, murder, and madcap characters.”
—Carolynn Haines, USA Today bestselling author of the Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series
“Start with a story full of heart and soul and magic and danger, add a cast of very inventive characters, then stir in a city famous for its deep well of dark and deadly secrets, and you’ve got the recipe for Snuffed Out—a first-rate, stay-up-late mystery.”
—Roger Johns, 2018 Georgia Author of the Year and author of the Wallace Hartman Mysteries
“An intriguing cast of characters, a solid whodunit, and a touch of magic mix into a suspenseful brew in this delightful cozy mystery!”
—Nancy J. Cohen, award-winning author of the Bad Hair Day Mysteries
“An inventive take on the paranormal, a twisty mystery, and a satisfying romance. Fans of cozy paranormal mysteries will welcome this new addition to the genre.”
—Victoria Gilbert, author of the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series and the Booklover’s B&B Mystery series
“In Snuffed Out, Valona Jones melts together a rich cast of characters, adds the scent of old scandals and secrets, and devises a wholly original kind of magical sleuthing to light up a nifty mystery. You’ll wish you had a Magic Candle Shop taper of your own to read by!”
—Leigh Perry, author the Family Skeleton Series
Kirkus Reviews
2022-11-16
Shop-owning twin sisters must use their energy flow to solve the murder of a disgruntled customer in order to save an employee from jail time.
Having recently taken over her aunt’s Savannah store, The Book and Candle Shop, Tabby Winslow, along with her fraternal twin, Sage, is ready to put some good energy into the world—literally. Both Tabby and Sage come from a long line of energetics who can feel and feed off energy. The twins are learning how to use their powers to help others, doing things like infusing candles with healing properties. Tabby is happy to try to harness her gift for good, but Sage, who’s open to a wider range of the possibilities of energy work, indulges her petty habit of draining their shop clerk Gerard Smith whenever he’s working. It’s his punishment for cheating on her years before when the two were dating, rationalizes Sage, but Tabby, as the good twin, can’t condone it. Mayhem arrives at the shop one day in the form of Blithe McAdam and her whirlwind of accusations that the sisters’ candles have done nothing for her headaches. Shortly after the visit, Blithe has the headache of her life when she’s bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat. The cops seem to think Gerard might be to blame, especially when the bat is later found at the sisters’ shop, and before long, they’re ready to arrest him. Sage is fine to let him rot, but Tabby knows the only way to spring him is to discover the real killer. Maybe one of the benefits Quig, her friend with benefits, can give her is some help with the investigation. After all, he’s a medical examiner. Tabby hopes that Sage will come around, too, because when the twins work together, they can do amazing things.
Cozy meets karma: more savage in the application of woo-woo skills than most.
