Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Essentials of Murder: An Aromatherapy Apothecary Mystery by Kim Davis! Today we are featuring a review of the first book in this new cozy mystery series. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews, and more! There is also a Rafflecopter Giveaway for a $25.00 Amazon gift card (limited to U.S. only). ENTER HERE!

Essentials of Murder: An Aromatherapy Apothecary Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – California
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harbor Lane Books, LLC. (September 24, 2024)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 283 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DD3W1XPJ

About the Book:

After a scandalous arrest in San Francisco, Carissa Carmichael has moved back to her small Southern California hometown to start over as she opens her Aromatherapy Apothecary shop and reflexology services. A tourist destination, Oak Creek Valley, seems the perfect place to put the past behind her, but it seems no one will let her forget. When she finds the man who threatened to drive her out of business murdered in her shop, Carissa becomes the primary suspect, especially when her fingerprints are found on the murder weapon. Despite her father’s position as Oak Creek Valley’s chief of police, most townspeople assume she’s guilty.

Refusing to run again, Carissa knows she must prove her innocence to save her shop and save her father’s career when the investigating detective turns his focus on her. With suspects acting as slippery as the essential oils she distills, it’s up to Carissa to apply pressure and sniff out the truth before it’s too late.

Includes essential oil and reflexology tips.

My Review:

I absolutely loved this first introduction to the Aromatherapy Apothecary cozy mystery series! Of course I adore my traditional cozy sleuth occupations (I’m thinking of librarians and booksellers), and at the same time it was so much fun to meet Carissa, the new owner of Aromatherapy Apothecary shop and reflexology services. I found it fascinating to read about her background, how aromatherapy works and how she set up her shop. What a great foundation for a mystery series. 

Carissa is also a great character to root for – I love when characters are determined to get back to their authentic selves, despite some tragedy and misfortune. She was surrounded by (mostly) supportive friends and family. One character who shall remain nameless clearly never grew out of her mean girl ways! I also appreciated that while Carissa was working on herself, she didn’t forget to help those around her. 

The mystery was solid and while I had an idea of one suspect, I did not have the entire plot figured out! It helped that the victim was so unpleasant that there was a long list of suspects to consider. 

Great setting and a strong mystery pulled me in and I finished it in a day and a half. Highly recommend, and I’m looking forward to book two! 

About the Author:

Kim Davis writes the Aromatherapy Apothecary cozy mystery series, the award-winning Cupcake Catering cozy mystery series, and the middle-grade fantasy adventure The Board Game Chronicles series. She has also written several children’s nature articles published in a variety of magazines.

Kim Davis is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

She lives in Southern California with her husband and rambunctious mini Goldendoodle, Missy, who has become an inspiration for several plotlines. When she’s not spending time with her granddaughters or chasing Missy around, she can be found either writing on her next book, working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder, or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats to share.

Author Links: ~ Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest  ~

Purchase Links: ~ Amazon     ~ Barnes & Noble ~  Apple ~ Other Online Book Retailers ~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

• September 24 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
• September 24 – Deal Sharing Aunt – SPOTLIGHT
• September 24 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
• September 24 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
• September 25 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT
• September 25 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
• September 25 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
• September 25 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
• September 26 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
• September 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
• September 26 – Guatemala Loves to Read – CHARACTER GUEST POST
• September 26 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
• September 27 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
• September 27 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
• September 27 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
• September 28 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
• September 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW*
• September 28 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT
• September 28 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
• September 29 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
• September 29 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
• September 30 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT
• September 30 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
• September 30 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
• September 30 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST

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