It's almost time for the grand opening of Aroma Wellness, a dream Emma Brennan has worked hard to fulfill. Employees have been hired, shelves are stocked, therapy rooms are all equipped, the cafe is ready to serve up healthy meals, and the Courtyard of Peace has a fountain that is sure to lighten any weight you are carrying.
Emma knows there are objections from people she may be competing with, but she hopes that they will all see the differences and that there are plenty of customers for everyone.
Then one of those competitors is killed, beaten with an item from a basket Emma gave her to ease tensions. The woman was fine when Emma left, but she soon found herself at the top of the suspect list. With the murder weapon tied to Emma, a witness making accusations, and others who are not fans of the New Age sensation, Emma is going to have to find the real murderer herself. With a little help from her nana, her cousin, her Birman cat, Vivi, and from a surprising source, she hopes it doesn't take long to get to the âessence of foul playâ and get back to living her dream.
This series is a spinoff of the author's Fairy Garden Mysteries, a series I have gotten behind on, but that did not hinder my enjoyment of this story one bit. The author starts the book with the cast of characters to help readers get to know the humans, animals, and fairies.
I enjoyed meeting Emma Brennan. She has a positive drive about her life and her business, and a genuine need to help people however she can. Her interactions with everyone she meets felt sincere. There is a large cast of unique, diverse, and memorable characters. I found it very easy to get invested in Emma and all the others. They were well introduced or reintroduced and continued to grow and hold my interest from the beginning of the story until the final page.
Emma took Willow's death hard and not just because she was the top murder suspect. They were friends, not as close as some people thought, but she still felt the pressure to get justice for the rival spa owner. There were plenty of suspects and several clues to work through. The killer wants Emma to back off and clearly makes their wishes known, but that just strengthens Emma's resolve. The story had a great twist that came out in a suspenseful reveal that tugged my emotions in different directions.
The author's descriptive writing style brings Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, to life along with Emma's spa, home, and even the beach. I could easily envision every place vividly.
Essence of Foul Play is a delightful companion to the Fairy Garden Mysteries. I feel we have barely scratched the surface of Emma Brennan's life, past and future, so I am intrigued to see what the author has in store for her as the series continues.
Be sure to check out the recipes in the back of the book. Everything from an Avocado Face Mask to Lemon Butter Cookies and more are very tempting.
Karen S. (BoysMom) - My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An excellent debut for what promises to be a charming, fun, and magical new cozy mystery series.
Essence of Foul Play is the first book in veteran author Daryl Wood Gerber's charming, fun, and magical new Aroma Wellness Mystery series and introduces readers to the quirky but often contentious residents of Carmel while solving a puzzling and ugly murder. Emma Brennan opens her new spa with its intriguing lineup of alternative self-care treatments in her hometown. Still, she encounters some surprising resistance to her business model, especially from her own mother and her college friend, Willow Shafer, a fellow spa owner who offers only traditional spa services. When Willow is found murdered the morning of Emma's grand opening, Emma immediately becomes âa person of interestâ in her death because a witness reported she saw Emma entering Willow's business the night before.
The main character, Emma Brennan, is not only a new spa owner but now an amateur sleuth as well in order to clear her name as a suspect in the death of her old friend. She continually keeps a tight rein on her emotions, uses calming techniques, and always tries to redirect her frustrations with others in a positive direction. In addition to the mystery, I really enjoyed reading about all the different methods she employed to stay grounded and in control, and the descriptions of the variety of services her spa offered were fascinating. I was ready to book an appointment myself.As the first book in a new series, the author must build an entire community of people who live there but do it in such a manner as not to overload the reader. Ms. Gerber does just this with a subtle and natural hand and even lends further assistance to the reader by providing a cast of characters at the front of the book. Readers familiar with the author's Fairy Garden Mystery series, also set in Carmel, may recognize some cross-over characters who make an appearance. Emma's world is full of quirky individuals and like-minded souls, such as her grandmother, town librarian, and fairy-friendly Lissa Reade. Yet, there are also quite a few cranky, rude, and downright mean-spirited folks among her acquaintances. One publicly proclaims to Emma's face, "We hope your business goes poof." I was shocked but also compelled to keep reading to see if that one would get her comeuppance!
The plot moves quickly, first with all the preparations for the spa's Grand Opening, and as the murder is discovered early in the story, the action and suspense never let up. With all the high emotions in Emma's circle, there were plenty of possible murder suspects along the way to check off the list. But as the story progresses and the red herrings drop off, there is a satisfying final resolution.I recommend ESSENCE OF FOUL PLAY to cozy mystery readers, especially those who would enjoy a spa setting and cool, alternative self-care services.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.