Title: You Can’t Candle the Truth (Glenmyre Whim Mystery Book 1)
Author: Sarah E. Burr
Genre: Cozy Mystery > Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb:
Candlemaker Hazel Wickbury has a secret. She knows when someone is going to die.
Welcome to Crucible, a small town with a storied history. Founded by five prestigious families, Crucible has been tucked away in upstate New York for centuries under the protection of a shield enchantment cast by Jedidiah Glenmyre, Hazel's revered ancestor. The enchanted barrier is meant to protect Crucible from anything bad ever happening to the town. No crime, no awful weather, no natural disasters…a haven from the greater world.
Until the heir to a billion-dollar company is found dead in his home. With the help of her uncanny power, known as a "whim," Hazel realizes foul play is involved. But more than being concerned about a murderer running loose and Jedidiah Glenmyre's protection shield deteriorating, Hazel and her aunt Poppy are worried the town's kind-hearted art teacher will be charged with the sinister crime.
Hazel and Poppy team up with an internationally acclaimed mystery author visiting Crucible to figure out who had it in for the victim. Their fledgling investigation has them questioning if long-time friends have turned into foes and whether blood is really thicker than water.
Determined to prove her friend innocent, Hazel is ready to shine a light on the real killer…if they don't snuff her out first.
Excerpt:
Sofía held up a copy of Full Moon Murder, book three in Constance Crane’s series. “I couldn’t miss the chance to see how Constance pronounces the name ‘Mireille.’”
Both Ione and I snorted.
“What?” Sofía’s sharp, dark gaze bounced back and forth between the two of us.
“She certainly won’t be pronouncing it like that.” Ione grabbed a tote bag from the back of her trunk and ambled over to my side. The waning sun shimmered across her dark skin. She’d come dressed to impress in a sleeveless sundress that showed off her toned arms and enviable physique. “I think pretty much every place in town closed early tonight for her event.”
I eyed her thoughtfully. Maybe it was time to start a Constance Crane book club, if Crucible had so many fans.
“Except Cold Cauldron,” Ione corrected herself. “I think Fitz is expecting everyone to filter over to the brewery for drinks once the reading wraps up.”
“He doesn’t strike me as someone from Constance’s stereotypical reader demographic,” I teased.
Ione smirked. “Oh, he gave me his copy of Hook, Line, and Murder for Constance to sign.” She held up her tote for emphasis.
I giggled, picturing lumberjack-lookalike Fitzgerald Ames devouring a cozy Misthollow mystery.
“We’d better catch up with Poppy.” Sofía began to trot down the road leading back toward town, her thick, dark ponytail swinging. “To give her heart palpitations by letting her think we’d take her seat at the reading, if anything.” She smirked.
Ione and I picked up our pace. “If Poppy thinks you might steal her spot, I’d be more worried about your own safety than hers.” I pointed out.
“Noted,” Sofía said with a snort.
We chatted about our workdays as we hiked up the deserted road, enjoying the natural beauty cocooning us. Trees lined both sides of our path, creating a leafy green canopy overhead and blocking the light from the setting sun. The state park had installed Victorian lampposts along the road, giving the scene an old-timey feel to it.
I caught glimpses of the sparkling lake water through the trees. Lake Glenmyre looked so inviting this time of evening. I imagined sinking into the refreshing waters just outside my cottage, Ezra swimming right beside me.
“You’ve got that silly grin on your face again, Hazel.” Sofía’s teasing jerked me out of my daydream. “Last time I saw you looking like that, Ezra had just held the door open for you at The Corner Store.”
My cheeks felt like they might melt off my face in embarrassment. “I-I was just thinking about how we’re going to be meeting Constance Crane in less than ten minutes.”
Both Ione and Sofía exchanged narrowed glances with each other, as if they didn’t quite believe me.
A few heartbeats later, the forest faded away and downtown Crucible came into view. As Ione had indicated, most storefronts had already gone dark for the day, except for The Poignant Page. Ezra’s bookstore radiated with activity, a line of eager Misthollow fans flowing down the sidewalk.
My stomach momentarily clenched. Maybe I should have followed Poppy’s advice and gotten here sooner. Despite its spacious layout, I worried that there wouldn’t be room in Ezra’s store for us all.
As Sofía, Ione, and I approached the crowd, I scanned the line for Poppy, not spotting her amongst the sea of familiar faces. Where could she have gone?
I craned my neck and stood on my toes, not paying attention to my immediate surroundings. It wasn’t until I heard an “Oh my gosh!” that I sensed something wasn’t quite right, but by then it was too late. Someone smashed into the middle of my back, sending me stumbling forward.
“I’m so sorry, Hazel! I wasn’t looking where I was going.” A worried, male voice wheezed behind me.
I scrambled to push my glasses up onto the bridge of my nose, but not before my accidental assailant grabbed my elbow in a kind gesture to help me regain my balance. In that moment, my gaze flashed to the flustered man. My focus didn’t fly immediately to his face, but rather, to the glaring, pink digital clock ethereally hovering six inches above his head.
I ground my teeth together in both frustration and panic. I hadn’t straightened my glasses quickly enough to obscure the annoying power of my whim. I now knew the man in front of me was destined to die in forty-nine years, three days, seven hours, and five minutes from this very moment.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/you-can-t-candle-the-truth-glenmyre-whim-mysteries-1-by-sarah-e-burr
November is a time to be thankful. What are you most thankful for this year?
I’m thankful for my health and for the wonderful support system I have in my husband, family, and readers.
Why is your featured book worth snuggling up to?
Warmth and goodness permeate the pages of this book like one of Hazel’s famous handmade candles. You’re always welcome to stay a while in Crucible, NY.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs November 1 – 30, 2024
Drawing will be held on December 2, 2024.
Author Biography:
Sarah E. Burr is the award-winning author of the Glenmyre Whim Mysteries, Trending Topic Mysteries, the Book Blogger Mysteries, and the Court of Mystery series. She is the producer and co-host of It’s Bookish Time TV, a web channel featuring live-streamed author interviews. When she's not spinning up stories, Sarah reads everything from mystery to manga, plays video games, and enjoys walks with her dog, Eevee. Stay connected with Sarah and receive free short stories via her newsletter: https://bit.ly/saraheburrbookssignup.
Social Media Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorsaraheburr/
It’s Bookish Time YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrZ707eupbfuiKnLGlr7aig
Sarah’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb5AnjG2Tdb6ESttl4oQqJQ