Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Cursed Claws by Danielle Garrett Narrator: Amanda Ronconi
Series: Nine Lives Magic #3
Published by Tantor Audio on December 14, 2021
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
Length: 5 hours, 32 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm
Have you ever wished your cat could talk to you? If so, allow my story to be your cautionary tale.
Tracking down Aunt Lavender’s kidnapper is proving to be more difficult than running through a swimming pool filled with peanut butter. Every lead we uncover ends with more questions than answers.We’re running out of ideas—and time, too. The mysterious Golden Lotus seems to hold the key to the investigation, but no one can tell us what it does or why Aunt Lavender might have been looking for it.
And if that wasn’t enough to keep both my cranky feline familiar and me completely occupied, we find ourselves thrust into the center of another criminal investigation—this time as the lead suspects.
We have to work together to clear our names and get the Winterspell PD off our tails so we can continue our hunt for Aunt Lavender and the mysterious Golden Lotus.
Time is burning faster than the wick on one of my enchanted candles, and I fear it’s about to sputter out.
After solving another mystery, advancing in her love life, and still wondering how they will ever find Aunt Lavender, Cora the air-illusion witch and Selene her cat familiar find themselves the suspects of the latest mystery to hit Winterspell.
Cursed Claws is the third Nine Lives Magic mystery series and works best read/listened to in order, since the main series plot threads are continuation through the series.
Cora’s in high cotton these days after settling things with her ex and feeling good about where things are at with newer love interest, Clint. Her Wicked Wicks is doing good business enough to hire an assistant even for the off season. The only real fly in the ointment is that she and Selene have hit a brick wall with their investigation into Aunt Lavender’s disappearance.
But, before Cora can get too settled with her situation, Selene catches the assistant with her hand in the candle basket, a rich business capitalist wants her to think big and franchise, and some of her candles cause a malicious mayhem that lands her on police radar. Clint and a few friends stand by her, but this time Cora is in real trouble.
I like how these are light and easy, but are ever so well developed. The mysteries are clever, but also the way the reader is drawn in to Cora and Selene’s hilarious and acrimonious witch-familiar relationship, her romance with Clint, but also her need to finish off the past with ex, Roger, her time with her family, and also her search for her aunt. Cora’s own need to acknowledge and accept her strengths and needs to grow in certain areas. It all blends to make a fabulous story.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much further the romance and their investigation for Lavender advanced in this one leaving me in high anticipation for the next book. All in all, it was sensational and I can heartily recommend it to other paranormal cozy lovers.
Narration:
Amanda Ronconi continues to deliver stellar narration work. She makes Cora and Selene shine and has an easy mastery of all the voices and the tone of the books.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Amanda Ronconi
Amanda is an actress and narrator who divides her time between New York City and Upstate New York. She has a BFA from NYU where she studied at the Stella Adler Conservatory. She has performed in theaters around New York City and regionally at The Alley, Capital Rep and many productions at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.
Her Off-Broadway solo comedy, Shirley at the Tropicana, received critical acclaim and was subsequently featured in The New York Times. Film and TV credits include Daydream Believer (Slamdance 2001’s Best Dramatic Feature winner), The Understudy, Deadly Sins (ID Discovery), IFC’s Get Hit and Chasing Paradise. National network and regional commercials include Chase Bank, Sony and Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Her voiceover work encompasses nearly 100 audiobooks available on Audible.com. She is a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity.
Amanda’s new solo show, Kempner, will debut in 2016.
About Danielle Garrett
From a young age, Danielle Garrett was obsessed with fantastic places and the stories set in them. As a lifelong bookworm, she’s gone on hundreds of adventures through the eyes of wizards, princesses, elves, and some rather wonderful everyday people as well.
Danielle now lives in Oregon and while she travels as often as possible, she wouldn’t call anywhere else home. She shares her life with her husband and their house full of animals, and when not writing, spends her time being a house servant for three extremely spoiled cats.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I am curious as to the kind of mayhem the candles caused. Sounds like a fun read.
Cursed candles! 😉
I haven’t read many paranormal cozy mysteries, but this sure looks good. That kitten is so cute!
I have fallen in love with this niche of mystery. Buahaha! That picture is cute, but Selene would eat cute alive. She’s a feisty feline.
I love the sound of this one. I definitely need to read/listen to more paranormal cozy mysteries. And that cover.. Love it!
Oh yes, it’s a fun genre and this series is a solid one. 🙂
This sounds like such a wonderful series! I really need to give this author a try!
I second that, Carole. I’ve enjoyed both her Harbor Magic/Ghost series and now this new one is fab, too.
This looks cute! I am only listening to her one series, but hope to catch up later.
Yes, keep this on on the list. I think you’d get a kick out of Selene, Kimberly. 🙂
I need a nice easy mystery to listen to. Love Amanda Ronconi’s narration! I’ll check my library and start at the beginning. Wonderful review, Sophia!
These are definitely light and perfect for when you just want to relax with a low-demand book. Yes, the audios are the way to go. 🙂
What a cute cozy cover and story – well not the curse part 😉
Yes, it definitely fits the mood of the book. LOL, curses!
I have yet to read a cozy mystery but this sounds fun.
It was paranormal cozies like these that finally got me to try them. I love this series. 🙂
This sounds like a fun series with how they’re light and easy, but well developed too. I’ve listened to a few of tjis narrator’s books and I liked her style. Great review!
I agree and yes, the narrator is a great match for these, Lola!
You’re reading a lot of her lately. Glad to see her stories are still going well. I do like her work, though it is hard to keep up with her. She writes so fast.
Oh, I know! She releases like half a dozen a year, it seems. I’ve skipped the multi-author Christmas series ones, but that still leaves three open series I’m trying to keep up on and she’s promised to start a spinoff of the Beechwood Harbor Magic books soon, too.
Now we are both caught up! I am enjoying this series. I was a little disappointed that poor Cora’s candles were the center of the issues, again, but I still liked the story. Do you know when the next one will be out?
Purr-fect Potions the ebook is already out, but I’m not sure when the audiobook will release. Yes, it’s a big accomplishment to get caught up on her three series that I’m following. 🙂
Great review Sophia! I completely agree – this book was fabulous. Such a mix of growth and development in so many different areas/levels of her life. And I’m so looking forward to the next book!
Yes! I saw the next book is out in print so I am excited for the audio release to come shortly. 🙂