Book Review: A Charming Crime by Tonya Kappes – A Mystery That Missed the Magic
There’s nothing quite like curling up with a cozy mystery—especially one sprinkled with a little magic. A Charming Crime, the first book in Tonya Kappes’ Magical Cures Mystery series, seemed like the perfect blend of small-town charm, witchy vibes, and a whodunit to keep me guessing. Unfortunately, while the premise was enchanting, the execution left much to be desired.
So, let’s dive into the spellbinding (and sometimes head-scratching) world of A Charming Crime and see why this one didn’t quite cast the right spell on me. I didn’t even end up highlighting any lines, you know how I love to include banter and dialogue in my reviews. womp. womp.
The Story: Murder, Magic, and… A Lot of Cat Figure-Eights
June Heal is the protagonist of our tale, a woman with a natural talent for making healing potions. When she moves to Whispering Falls, a seemingly idyllic village full of quirky residents, she quickly learns that her abilities might be more than just good intuition—they might be magical.
Things take a dark turn when a body is discovered, and suddenly, June finds herself wrapped up in a murder investigation. As she digs deeper, secrets unravel, mysteries unfold, and—of course—her cat repeatedly weaves figure-eights around her ankles. (Seriously, did we need to hear about this every other chapter? We get it. Cats love doing that. Move on.)
Throw in a green car that somehow manages to go unnoticed in a small town (because logic is optional), a turtle charm bracelet with a weak backstory, and a plot twist at the end that feels more forced than surprising, and you’ve got A Charming Crime in a nutshell.
Characters: Quirky but Questionable
- June Heal – Our main character, a small-town herbalist-turned-sleuth, who may or may not have actual magic but definitely has a lot of patience for cat-induced ankle weaving. She endures many, many nightmares and has been seeking a cure for those that she inevitably does not find.
- Oscar Park – The love interest, a cop who is supposed to add tension and chemistry but ultimately doesn’t do much beyond existing in the story.
- The Residents of Whispering Falls – An assortment of oddball characters who should have been interesting but didn’t get enough depth to feel real.
I love when small towns in cozy mysteries feel like characters themselves—vibrant, full of secrets, with an atmosphere you can almost step into. But Whispering Falls didn’t quite deliver on that front. It was charming in theory, but the lack of strong character development made it feel more like a backdrop than a living, breathing place.
Plot Holes, “Ding Dongs,” and a Chocolate Craving
Now, let’s talk about the things that made this book a bumpy broomstick ride:
Plot holes the size of cauldron bottoms – A huge one? That old green car. In a tiny, supposedly tight-knit village, it just casually leaves and parks somewhere obvious, and no one notices? Suspicious.
A weak twist that didn’t twist – I love a good twist in a mystery. But when it feels thrown in without careful planning, it’s less of an “Aha!” moment and more of an “Oh… okay?” moment.
Repetitive writing – If I had a charm bracelet for every time I read the phrase “ding dong,” I’d have enough jewelry to open my own shop in Whispering Falls. And while I’m all for feline affection, do we really need to be told about cats circling ankles every single time? We got it after the first few mentions.
On the plus side, the book did manage to make me crave chocolate, haha let’s be real I often do anyway. So, there’s that.
Final Verdict: A Mystery That Needed a Bit More Magic
I wanted to love this book. Truly. A cozy magical mystery? A setting full of potion-makers and hidden secrets? A strong, independent heroine discovering her powers? That sounds like my kind of read! But between the underdeveloped characters, plot holes, and an ending that didn’t quite land, A Charming Crime fell flat.
I gave it 3 out of 5 stars, and I won’t be continuing the series. But hey—if you read it and loved it, I love that for you! (And I’d really love to hear if anyone else kept count of the “ding dongs.”)
Would I recommend it? If you’re looking for a light, easy read and don’t mind some logic leaps, give it a go. But if you’re after a well-crafted mystery with rich world-building and compelling characters, you might want to look elsewhere.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to find a book that truly charms me. Preferably one with a mystery that actually makes sense.
As always, let’s add some music to this review. This time I’m going with something for June. She had nightmares, or were they really just glimpses into potential future outcomes? Who knows.
