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Mystic's End #1
Mystic Guests
A new beginning in an old town.
A punk ghost raging in the middle of the night.
She wanted to get away from the paranormal—but did she wake it up instead?
Fortuna Delphi's plans to open an art studio while searching out her mysterious origins are derailed when she discovers a punk ghost raging against her in the middle of the night. As his bones are unearthed along with the town's secrets, she is determined to find out who killed the mohawked teen and why. At least, if she can do it without tipping her hand to the townspeople that she's a witch.
Between the hot detective that suspects she's a con-woman up to no good, the smolderingly sexy manager of the local greyhound track that seems to be full of secrets, and a conspiracy theorist reporter determined to enlist Fortuna in her war against the town's corruption, Fortuna's life is becoming more complicated than an Escher painting. And she could be unknowingly related to any of them.
Will Fortuna be able to find out who murdered the ghost in her attic, or will Mystic's End unearth her secrets instead?
Mystic Guests (Mystic's End Mysteries, Book 1) is a funny full-length paranormal cozy mystery.
Mystic's End Mysteries:
Mystic Guests, Book 1
Angel in Demise, Book 2
Sketchy Charms, Book 3
The Art of Scrying, Book 4
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 5, 2020
About the author
Leanne Leeds
52 books100 followersLeanne Leeds is an enchanting storyteller who spins magical tales of mystery, humor, and heart. Her whimsical contemporary paranormal mystery novels whisk readers away to a world where magic feels familiar and adventure waits around every corner.
With a charming voice and sprinkle of good-natured wit on every page, Leanne crafts stories as unexpected as they are captivating. Her quirky characters and serendipitous events intersect in delightfully unforeseen ways, delivering a reading experience as cozy as it is enthralling. Whether reading her paranormal cozies or paranormal women's fiction, readers will find a touch of enchantment in each word.
With a charming voice and sprinkle of good-natured wit on every page, Leanne crafts stories as unexpected as they are captivating. Her quirky characters and serendipitous events intersect in delightfully unforeseen ways, delivering a reading experience as cozy as it is enthralling. Whether reading her paranormal cozies or paranormal women's fiction, readers will find a touch of enchantment in each word.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
September 3, 2020
for this book I have both the audiobook and the kindle version. it was ok, and I was entertained until, Pepper was introduced. talk about infuriating characters! I liked the kindle version of this book better. I didn't like the narration a lot. She did try to give the book life, but her characters' voices felt flat.
Back to Pepper. I can't stand characters with no boundaries or regards for other people's privacy. she is a bully and also selfish. I don't understand why anyone will want her in their lives. she is the reason I'm not going to continue with the series. She doesn't even get introduced until the last third of the book. I have a high tolerance for unreasonable characters, but I hate her so much.
Back to Pepper. I can't stand characters with no boundaries or regards for other people's privacy. she is a bully and also selfish. I don't understand why anyone will want her in their lives. she is the reason I'm not going to continue with the series. She doesn't even get introduced until the last third of the book. I have a high tolerance for unreasonable characters, but I hate her so much.
February 20, 2020
One of the reasons witch Fortuna Delphi moved to the small town of Mystic End was to see if she could find out anything about her origins there, as she had been abandoned as a baby and adopted by someone from California. She also wanted to open an art gallery and perhaps offer some art classes as well. Before she even opened the place, she is visited by the police, Detective Gabe Wilcox, who got a call about her being trouble from a Sheriff in another town! In a derogatory tone, Gabe called her a gypsy, looked into her supply boxes without a warrant, and was generally rude, figuring she was a con artist from a circus out to fleece the town of their hard-earned money.
Getting the gallery all set up for her new start tomorrow, Fortuna was awakened in the night by the shattering of glass downstairs. Expecting mass destruction, all she found was a floating orb who turned into the ghost of Spike, a murdered young man with a Mohawk haircut dressed in leather. He had died twenty years ago in her gallery building and his body was bricked up behind a wall. She wants to help find his murderer. She also meets up with a runaway racing champ greyhound dog named Gideon who wants to be her pet and can show her pictures in his head. Will the gang be able to solve Spike’s murder? Will the detective start to trust her more and give in to his sensed attraction to her?
This was a very enjoyable, well-written book. The story line keeps the reader’s interest from the start. The characters are well-described and likable, and there are all sorts of possibilities for the future stories with all the things going on in this town. Grab your copy and enjoy a fun mystery!
Getting the gallery all set up for her new start tomorrow, Fortuna was awakened in the night by the shattering of glass downstairs. Expecting mass destruction, all she found was a floating orb who turned into the ghost of Spike, a murdered young man with a Mohawk haircut dressed in leather. He had died twenty years ago in her gallery building and his body was bricked up behind a wall. She wants to help find his murderer. She also meets up with a runaway racing champ greyhound dog named Gideon who wants to be her pet and can show her pictures in his head. Will the gang be able to solve Spike’s murder? Will the detective start to trust her more and give in to his sensed attraction to her?
This was a very enjoyable, well-written book. The story line keeps the reader’s interest from the start. The characters are well-described and likable, and there are all sorts of possibilities for the future stories with all the things going on in this town. Grab your copy and enjoy a fun mystery!
February 20, 2020
Great characters, great writing, great storyline.
When I heard that there was going to be a spin off of the Magical Midway I have to admit I was concerned it had been such an iconic series, with amazing characters, Fortuna being one of them, So I was not sure how Leanne Leeds was going to follow it up!
I am pleased to say that she has done it in such a great way, there is a nod to the Midway (How could there not be!) However it does not rely on those connections at all, and it carries itself in such a way that you do not need to have read the previous series at all I believe the Mystic End series and Fortuna will be a stand alone series in its own right!
The characters are great the storyline truly pulls you in, in such a way there is no such thing as "just one more chapter!" I read the book from cover to cover and loved every page of it!
Highly recommend this book and please please do not be afraid to read this if you are new to this author, this really is a "standalone" with a nod to her previous one (though once you finished this one, if you have time till the next one comes out, go ahead and read The Magical Midway)
When I heard that there was going to be a spin off of the Magical Midway I have to admit I was concerned it had been such an iconic series, with amazing characters, Fortuna being one of them, So I was not sure how Leanne Leeds was going to follow it up!
I am pleased to say that she has done it in such a great way, there is a nod to the Midway (How could there not be!) However it does not rely on those connections at all, and it carries itself in such a way that you do not need to have read the previous series at all I believe the Mystic End series and Fortuna will be a stand alone series in its own right!
The characters are great the storyline truly pulls you in, in such a way there is no such thing as "just one more chapter!" I read the book from cover to cover and loved every page of it!
Highly recommend this book and please please do not be afraid to read this if you are new to this author, this really is a "standalone" with a nod to her previous one (though once you finished this one, if you have time till the next one comes out, go ahead and read The Magical Midway)
February 25, 2020
Charming Paranormal Cozy Mystery
I love a good paranormal cozy mystery, and I found this one to be very enjoyable. Our heroine is just moving to a small town, trying to figure out her family history and opening an art store. Things go off the rails for her pretty quickly when a local detective stops by and essentially accuses her of being there to fleece the local residents of their hard-earned money. Soon, a ghost of a punker who was murdered some 20 years ago shows up; he’d like to figure out who his murderer was. It turns out this little town is a hotbed of corruption, and soon the heroine and a reporter are trying to get it all figured out and make it right. I found the heroine’s head a great one to be in. The book is very easy to read, told in a very enjoyable style, written from the deep perspective of the heroine. I think this might be the first book that I've read by the author, but I will definitely check others out as this book was just so fun and well written.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
I love a good paranormal cozy mystery, and I found this one to be very enjoyable. Our heroine is just moving to a small town, trying to figure out her family history and opening an art store. Things go off the rails for her pretty quickly when a local detective stops by and essentially accuses her of being there to fleece the local residents of their hard-earned money. Soon, a ghost of a punker who was murdered some 20 years ago shows up; he’d like to figure out who his murderer was. It turns out this little town is a hotbed of corruption, and soon the heroine and a reporter are trying to get it all figured out and make it right. I found the heroine’s head a great one to be in. The book is very easy to read, told in a very enjoyable style, written from the deep perspective of the heroine. I think this might be the first book that I've read by the author, but I will definitely check others out as this book was just so fun and well written.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
March 26, 2021
Fun snarky characters
Fun start to a series set in a town with a corrupt police department, a dog track that only cares about winning dogs, and a casino that employs many of the town's residents. With a bevy of quirky characters, including a witch, a ghost, a detective, a greyhound, and a reporter who doesn't understand that there are occasionally shades of gray in life, the series promises great fun while solving music.
Fun start to a series set in a town with a corrupt police department, a dog track that only cares about winning dogs, and a casino that employs many of the town's residents. With a bevy of quirky characters, including a witch, a ghost, a detective, a greyhound, and a reporter who doesn't understand that there are occasionally shades of gray in life, the series promises great fun while solving music.
July 16, 2020
Fortuna is a witch who can talk to ghosts; she has other abilities also, but she's trying to keep a low profile while tracking down her origins in Mystic's End. There are other mysteries, including how Spike ended up in her bedroom wall. Spike is one of my favorite characters, along with Gideon the greyhound, who wants Fortuna to adopt him. Unfortunately he's a winner on the track. Miss Bessie and Claire are fun, but I love Irma the librarian. Some of the characters are plain nasty and potentially dangerous.
It's a fun and exciting story. Fortuna's friends from an earlier story--and that sounds interesting too--help her now and then. There'll be a sequel, of course.
It's a fun and exciting story. Fortuna's friends from an earlier story--and that sounds interesting too--help her now and then. There'll be a sequel, of course.
February 14, 2020
When witch Fortuna Delphi moves to the small town of Mystic End to open an art gallery she finds the ghost of Spike, a murdered young man and helps to find his murderer. The very attractive police detective Gabe thinks she is a con artist and up to no good. She friends a greyhound dog named Gideon who can show her pictures in his head. The book was well written and interesting. I’m looking forward to the next one in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 20, 2020
This is the first book in the Mystic’s End Mysteries series and starts with the main character Fortuna Delphi, not her real name obviously, having moved to Mystic’s End to open up an art studio and shop, with her own apartment above. This was to be a new beginning after leaving the paranormal carnival circus life. She has come back to this obscure little town as this was where she was left on the town hall steps as a baby. She hopes to be able to find out who and where she actually came from. She loves art, so opening a studio doing what she loves and hopefully teaching art as well, should make a nice change.
The day before she is due to open up for business, she discovers a teenage punk ghost with a Mohawk hairstyle, and he tells her his body is bricked up in her bedroom wall! She has to let the local detective know, but not reveal in any way, how she knew his body was there!!! She can read his thoughts, but finds him attractive and doesn’t like to read minds of those she might get involved with. She hopes that by finding out what happened to him, some twenty years ago, will allow his spirit to leave the building and find peace. The detective, Gabe, has researched her as a new business owner coming to town and only sees her previous history of fortune telling and being part of circus life. Others even accuse her of being a witch – little do they know!
One visitor is Gabe’s elderly grandmother and her carer, who thinks Fortuna would be ideal for Gabe! What she doesn’t reveal until much later, is that she has quite a close link to Fortuna and isn’t the weird old lady most see her as. The small town is unusual, in that is has a casino, large greyhound track and large entertainment mall, making lots of money for some of the residents of the town. A runaway greyhound is a lovely touch to the story, finding her and wanting to give up the racetrack for a normal life at home with her. Only the fact this is the top earning dog, leaves problems for the racetrack and the kennel owners, who will lose a lot of money if this dog keeps disappearing!
Some residents have different names than when they previously left town, some have made lots of money, others have deep and dark secrets they don’t want to be revealed and there are other some workers who will make you cringe. There are secrets being kept in the town and a feisty local reporter who wants to reveal them all if possible. It seems there are lots of people going missing, a few murders, and lots of burglaries, all of which are case closed according to the police department and seemingly with no suspects ever found. The case of the body found in Fortuna’s wall has been declared an accidental death, which gives you an idea of how the town operates. The very influential local church leader, or should I say the only church in town, seems to have the towns folk almost captivated or brainwashed.
A very strange town that Fortuna has moved into and she now has a mysterious death to solve on behalf of the ghost left behind, and a couple of very hot men after her attention. And all this, before she even manages to get her shop and studio open. Some matters she would have wished to remain secret, have been revealed by those she has contact with, with them believing that all truths should be out and open to all. She wanted a normal life, away from all the paranormal witch hunts and accusations she had previously lived with, but now her life is getting very complicated yet again. A fun read, with some lively main characters to follow as well as Fortuna, and some juicy secrets to uncover! I can’t wait for the next book, Angel in Demise, to see what happens to Fortuna and how her new business goes, now some of her secrets are out in the open. I received an ARC copy of the book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
The day before she is due to open up for business, she discovers a teenage punk ghost with a Mohawk hairstyle, and he tells her his body is bricked up in her bedroom wall! She has to let the local detective know, but not reveal in any way, how she knew his body was there!!! She can read his thoughts, but finds him attractive and doesn’t like to read minds of those she might get involved with. She hopes that by finding out what happened to him, some twenty years ago, will allow his spirit to leave the building and find peace. The detective, Gabe, has researched her as a new business owner coming to town and only sees her previous history of fortune telling and being part of circus life. Others even accuse her of being a witch – little do they know!
One visitor is Gabe’s elderly grandmother and her carer, who thinks Fortuna would be ideal for Gabe! What she doesn’t reveal until much later, is that she has quite a close link to Fortuna and isn’t the weird old lady most see her as. The small town is unusual, in that is has a casino, large greyhound track and large entertainment mall, making lots of money for some of the residents of the town. A runaway greyhound is a lovely touch to the story, finding her and wanting to give up the racetrack for a normal life at home with her. Only the fact this is the top earning dog, leaves problems for the racetrack and the kennel owners, who will lose a lot of money if this dog keeps disappearing!
Some residents have different names than when they previously left town, some have made lots of money, others have deep and dark secrets they don’t want to be revealed and there are other some workers who will make you cringe. There are secrets being kept in the town and a feisty local reporter who wants to reveal them all if possible. It seems there are lots of people going missing, a few murders, and lots of burglaries, all of which are case closed according to the police department and seemingly with no suspects ever found. The case of the body found in Fortuna’s wall has been declared an accidental death, which gives you an idea of how the town operates. The very influential local church leader, or should I say the only church in town, seems to have the towns folk almost captivated or brainwashed.
A very strange town that Fortuna has moved into and she now has a mysterious death to solve on behalf of the ghost left behind, and a couple of very hot men after her attention. And all this, before she even manages to get her shop and studio open. Some matters she would have wished to remain secret, have been revealed by those she has contact with, with them believing that all truths should be out and open to all. She wanted a normal life, away from all the paranormal witch hunts and accusations she had previously lived with, but now her life is getting very complicated yet again. A fun read, with some lively main characters to follow as well as Fortuna, and some juicy secrets to uncover! I can’t wait for the next book, Angel in Demise, to see what happens to Fortuna and how her new business goes, now some of her secrets are out in the open. I received an ARC copy of the book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
November 5, 2020
Nope. Unlikeable characters and uneven storytelling.
I’m not sure why this particular genre suffers so badly from people who walk all over boundaries without suffering consequences, but it’s not cute and it’s definitely not cozy. The main character, Fortuna, starts out interesting enough—but goes from “can’t tell humans about witches” to almost eagerly confirming Ms Bessie’s declarations about their powers, letting people talk to the ghost in her building, telling everyone she’s known for more than 2 minutes she can get telepathic messages from her greyhound…but wait, don’t tell anyone she’s a witch. I’m not sure why she’s concerned about Pepper, the journalist, doing this—Fortuna’s telling people left and right all on her own.
And then there’s that boundary crossing thing that both Gabe and Pepper do repeatedly. Fortuna puts her foot down, tells them to knock it off, they do it again, rinse and repeat. That’s not actually giving someone boundaries to respect; you have to enforce it with, you know, not hanging out or being friends or whatever, when boundaries are violated. Fortuna does nothing but sulk about how people won’t listen to her—well, then stop associating with those people? This is probably most neatly summed up when Fortuna carefully explains to Pepper that she can’t reveal her paranormal abilities and why. Fortuna frames it as writing about her abilities, but clearly explains why these secrecy rules exist. Pepper says she gets it, agrees she’d rather be friends and promises not to write anything—and then actually crows about never agreeing to not just talk to people and tell them everything.
That’s not a friend, that’s a horrible person, and there’s literally no reason for Fortuna to put up with Pepper, but I guess we are supposed to see it as charming? It’s not, it’s just off putting.
Add to that absolutely no movement on the central premise behind Fortuna’s move, finding her birth family, and her active avoidance of Ms Bessie after Ms Bessie served her plot point (going from being a promised pest to literally not appearing at all in the story), and this isn’t something I can recommend.
Leeds does craft an interesting mystery, and has a decent ear for dialogue, but neither makes up for unlikeable characters and uneven storytelling.
I’m not sure why this particular genre suffers so badly from people who walk all over boundaries without suffering consequences, but it’s not cute and it’s definitely not cozy. The main character, Fortuna, starts out interesting enough—but goes from “can’t tell humans about witches” to almost eagerly confirming Ms Bessie’s declarations about their powers, letting people talk to the ghost in her building, telling everyone she’s known for more than 2 minutes she can get telepathic messages from her greyhound…but wait, don’t tell anyone she’s a witch. I’m not sure why she’s concerned about Pepper, the journalist, doing this—Fortuna’s telling people left and right all on her own.
And then there’s that boundary crossing thing that both Gabe and Pepper do repeatedly. Fortuna puts her foot down, tells them to knock it off, they do it again, rinse and repeat. That’s not actually giving someone boundaries to respect; you have to enforce it with, you know, not hanging out or being friends or whatever, when boundaries are violated. Fortuna does nothing but sulk about how people won’t listen to her—well, then stop associating with those people? This is probably most neatly summed up when Fortuna carefully explains to Pepper that she can’t reveal her paranormal abilities and why. Fortuna frames it as writing about her abilities, but clearly explains why these secrecy rules exist. Pepper says she gets it, agrees she’d rather be friends and promises not to write anything—and then actually crows about never agreeing to not just talk to people and tell them everything.
That’s not a friend, that’s a horrible person, and there’s literally no reason for Fortuna to put up with Pepper, but I guess we are supposed to see it as charming? It’s not, it’s just off putting.
Add to that absolutely no movement on the central premise behind Fortuna’s move, finding her birth family, and her active avoidance of Ms Bessie after Ms Bessie served her plot point (going from being a promised pest to literally not appearing at all in the story), and this isn’t something I can recommend.
Leeds does craft an interesting mystery, and has a decent ear for dialogue, but neither makes up for unlikeable characters and uneven storytelling.
December 17, 2020
This was... odd 🤷🏻♀️
Okay. The premise was solid. The murder mystery, while not complicated (you could tell who the culprit/s were very easily), was fun to watch unravel. That isn’t my issue with the book. Where I ran into trouble was with the characters themselves. Fortuna, and her vague backstory, had me interested. However, most of the other characters, especially Bessie, Gabe and Pepper, drove me nuts with their inconsiderate actions and inability to think like a normal person. I don’t mind characters with quirks or flaws, but characters that are stuck at the more extreme end of a personality trait just frustrate me.
Favourite characters were actually Spike and Gideon (after Fortuna of course), and I’m hoping that in the next book - yes, I will read it to see whether Fortuna’s adoption is addressed - that the characters settle down a bit from my initial impressions.
2.5 stars 🌟
Okay. The premise was solid. The murder mystery, while not complicated (you could tell who the culprit/s were very easily), was fun to watch unravel. That isn’t my issue with the book. Where I ran into trouble was with the characters themselves. Fortuna, and her vague backstory, had me interested. However, most of the other characters, especially Bessie, Gabe and Pepper, drove me nuts with their inconsiderate actions and inability to think like a normal person. I don’t mind characters with quirks or flaws, but characters that are stuck at the more extreme end of a personality trait just frustrate me.
Favourite characters were actually Spike and Gideon (after Fortuna of course), and I’m hoping that in the next book - yes, I will read it to see whether Fortuna’s adoption is addressed - that the characters settle down a bit from my initial impressions.
2.5 stars 🌟
May 6, 2020
Fun to read.
A very enjoyable book. Plot was interesting, exciting and different. The characters loveable and some you love to hate as usual. A few minor editing errors like obvious wrong word in wrong place. I think the writers unwillingness to give up any of the characters so she could use them in future episodes made the ending less than satisfying.
A very enjoyable book. Plot was interesting, exciting and different. The characters loveable and some you love to hate as usual. A few minor editing errors like obvious wrong word in wrong place. I think the writers unwillingness to give up any of the characters so she could use them in future episodes made the ending less than satisfying.
February 27, 2020
A new beginning in an old town.
A punk ghost raging in the middle of the night.
She wanted to get away from the paranormal—but did she wake it up instead?
Fortuna Delphi's plans to open an art studio while searching out her mysterious origins are derailed when she discovers a punk ghost raging against her in the middle of the night. As his bones are unearthed along with the town's secrets, she is determined to find out who killed the mohawked teen and why. At least, if she can do it without tipping her hand to the townspeople that she's a witch.
Between the hot detective that suspects she's a con-woman up to no good, the smolderingly sexy manager of the local greyhound track that seems to be full of secrets, and a conspiracy theorist reporter determined to enlist Fortuna in her war against the town's corruption, Fortuna's life is becoming more complicated than an Escher painting. And she could be unknowingly related to any of them.
Will Fortuna be able to find out who murdered the ghost in her attic, or will Mystic's End unearth her secrets instead?
Mystic Guests (Mystic's End Mysteries, Book 1) is a funny full-length paranormal cozy mystery.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
A punk ghost raging in the middle of the night.
She wanted to get away from the paranormal—but did she wake it up instead?
Fortuna Delphi's plans to open an art studio while searching out her mysterious origins are derailed when she discovers a punk ghost raging against her in the middle of the night. As his bones are unearthed along with the town's secrets, she is determined to find out who killed the mohawked teen and why. At least, if she can do it without tipping her hand to the townspeople that she's a witch.
Between the hot detective that suspects she's a con-woman up to no good, the smolderingly sexy manager of the local greyhound track that seems to be full of secrets, and a conspiracy theorist reporter determined to enlist Fortuna in her war against the town's corruption, Fortuna's life is becoming more complicated than an Escher painting. And she could be unknowingly related to any of them.
Will Fortuna be able to find out who murdered the ghost in her attic, or will Mystic's End unearth her secrets instead?
Mystic Guests (Mystic's End Mysteries, Book 1) is a funny full-length paranormal cozy mystery.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
February 12, 2020
Fortuna Delphi has moved to Mystic End, hoping to find out information on her past. She is not expecting to have a detective come to her store about a phone call he received about her. She explains to him why she is here, to open her art gallery and life her life quietly. Fortuna feels like she has satisfied him, he leaves. She hears glass breaking, she rushing in expecting to find a burglar, what she finds is a ghost.
The ghost explains to her who he is and he is stuffed in the wall. He tells her his name is Spike and she know needs to call the police. She calls Detective Wilcox and try to explain who she knew a body is in the wall. While at the police station, she meets Detective Wilcox's grandmother, she makes references to seeing ghosts and other things. Fortuna doesn't know what to make of it.
This is just the beginnings of the crazy events this town that will pull her in. From the dog that turns up to her, to crime rates and many other things. Fortuna is going need to keep her wits about her.
I really enjoyed this new series, looking forward to seeing where this story goes with Fortuna and others. I am hoping to see a relationship develop between her and the detective. Can't wait to read book 2..
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The ghost explains to her who he is and he is stuffed in the wall. He tells her his name is Spike and she know needs to call the police. She calls Detective Wilcox and try to explain who she knew a body is in the wall. While at the police station, she meets Detective Wilcox's grandmother, she makes references to seeing ghosts and other things. Fortuna doesn't know what to make of it.
This is just the beginnings of the crazy events this town that will pull her in. From the dog that turns up to her, to crime rates and many other things. Fortuna is going need to keep her wits about her.
I really enjoyed this new series, looking forward to seeing where this story goes with Fortuna and others. I am hoping to see a relationship develop between her and the detective. Can't wait to read book 2..
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 18, 2020
MYSTIC GUESTS is another fun read from Leanne Leeds and follows Fortuna Delphi as she tries to find her true roots. Ms. Leeds' character and world building will make you feel right at home with these people.
With the Magical Midway era coming to an end, Fortuna has decided to find out her history before she was adopted. She's moved back to her birthplace to open an art store and quietly get to know the town and its residents while looking for clues to her birth parents. As we know, life just doesn't go as planned. Her store came with a punk ghost, a nosey deputy and his eccentric grandmother, including a host of other "friends". Even Gideon, the fastest greyhound at the track decides he prefers life with Fortuna.The two main employers are known to be corrupt and they're not too happy when their prize winning dog keeps running away to the new person in town. Fortuna just can't seem to make any headway into opening her store, or finding information about her past.
You'll just need to read this book to find out how all this comes together. But I warn you, not all questions will be answered in this installment. We're just getting started on this adventure.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
With the Magical Midway era coming to an end, Fortuna has decided to find out her history before she was adopted. She's moved back to her birthplace to open an art store and quietly get to know the town and its residents while looking for clues to her birth parents. As we know, life just doesn't go as planned. Her store came with a punk ghost, a nosey deputy and his eccentric grandmother, including a host of other "friends". Even Gideon, the fastest greyhound at the track decides he prefers life with Fortuna.The two main employers are known to be corrupt and they're not too happy when their prize winning dog keeps running away to the new person in town. Fortuna just can't seem to make any headway into opening her store, or finding information about her past.
You'll just need to read this book to find out how all this comes together. But I warn you, not all questions will be answered in this installment. We're just getting started on this adventure.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 23, 2021
Well that was different! In a good way!
Fortuna Delphi has relocated to Mystic's End, buying up the old abandoned record store and turning into her home and gallery come studio. She has an ulterior motive to her move for she was abandoned as a baby on the steps of the police department, while she was adopted by a wealthy family who gave her a private education and security, she now wants to discretely look into her past.
But Fortuna has secrets of her own and when Detective Gabe Wilcox comes around to warn her that they want no hippie gypsies touting their psychic powers around town and that he'd been warned about her from the Sheriff of Mickwac, Texas warning him to be aware of her she's not off to the best start. Things don't improve when the ghost of Spike tries to drive her out of the building and talking him round she discovers that his body is behind the brickwork in her bedroom!
Can she find a way to fit into her new town, make at least one friend who will respect her privacy and solve the mystery of Spikes' death?
Plenty of originality in the tale, just need to find out if there's a preceding series or whether more revelations about her past will be coming in the rest of the series.
Fortuna Delphi has relocated to Mystic's End, buying up the old abandoned record store and turning into her home and gallery come studio. She has an ulterior motive to her move for she was abandoned as a baby on the steps of the police department, while she was adopted by a wealthy family who gave her a private education and security, she now wants to discretely look into her past.
But Fortuna has secrets of her own and when Detective Gabe Wilcox comes around to warn her that they want no hippie gypsies touting their psychic powers around town and that he'd been warned about her from the Sheriff of Mickwac, Texas warning him to be aware of her she's not off to the best start. Things don't improve when the ghost of Spike tries to drive her out of the building and talking him round she discovers that his body is behind the brickwork in her bedroom!
Can she find a way to fit into her new town, make at least one friend who will respect her privacy and solve the mystery of Spikes' death?
Plenty of originality in the tale, just need to find out if there's a preceding series or whether more revelations about her past will be coming in the rest of the series.
February 7, 2020
Full of fun surprises. Think you know someone and wham. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Fortuna just wants to do her art and teach. She has secret not ready to share yet. Past comes back to hassle her? Her abilities, weak though, let her deal with her unexpected guest. She needs to help him. Past employment comes back to create trouble?
What is going on with the town, the race track, the cop, and his grandmother? read the book to get as hooked as I am.
If have read the Magical Midway series by this author, then you will recognize our heroine. If you haven't, don't worry, this is just a character spin off new series. You will follow the storyline just fine (even if a character or tow pop up for a moment).
Fun, fast, easy to read, enjoyable cozy mystery for all. I couldn't put it down and read it in a
day.
I do have to note that I did read a couple in the other series. This one is more my style. It might be because I did not state at book one and according to author should be read in sequence.
This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC book.
Fortuna just wants to do her art and teach. She has secret not ready to share yet. Past comes back to hassle her? Her abilities, weak though, let her deal with her unexpected guest. She needs to help him. Past employment comes back to create trouble?
What is going on with the town, the race track, the cop, and his grandmother? read the book to get as hooked as I am.
If have read the Magical Midway series by this author, then you will recognize our heroine. If you haven't, don't worry, this is just a character spin off new series. You will follow the storyline just fine (even if a character or tow pop up for a moment).
Fun, fast, easy to read, enjoyable cozy mystery for all. I couldn't put it down and read it in a
day.
I do have to note that I did read a couple in the other series. This one is more my style. It might be because I did not state at book one and according to author should be read in sequence.
This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC book.
February 14, 2020
I have read most of the Magical Midway series and so was interested to see what happened to Fortunal Delphi, one of the characters in that series. This book starts to answer the question. As she is technically a witch, she does have some powers, but unfortunately she doesn't really know their extent. She buys an art shop/studio in the town of Mystic End, which is where her rather mysterious origins are, in the hope that she can get some clarity about those origins.
Needless to say, things don't really go according to plan and she quickly learns that a young man was murdered in her building and his body is bricked into a wall, the way she learns this is novel, she is told about it by his ghost.
The story that follows is very well crafted and covers corruption in the police and local politics, although the local detective is very honest, and very handsome, and she teams up with him to make sure that justice is done.
This is a great start to a potentially very enjoyable new series, and I can't wait to see what adventures Fortuna gets into next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Needless to say, things don't really go according to plan and she quickly learns that a young man was murdered in her building and his body is bricked into a wall, the way she learns this is novel, she is told about it by his ghost.
The story that follows is very well crafted and covers corruption in the police and local politics, although the local detective is very honest, and very handsome, and she teams up with him to make sure that justice is done.
This is a great start to a potentially very enjoyable new series, and I can't wait to see what adventures Fortuna gets into next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 3, 2020
Mystic Guests- Mystic's End Mysteries Book 1” by Leanne Leeds is a tale of one
Fortuna Delphi and her art studio in the sleepy little hamlet of Mystic's End.....IF only the irate teen-aged spirit in her attic would cease haranguing her nightly to punish his murderer ...and the alluring males in town would quit distracting her...by tossing their combined sexual appeal in her direction....then Fortuna wouldn’t have sooo much trouble ferreting out the clues of who killed her resident spook...Spike...after all it’s hard enough to uncover the buried secrets of Mystic’s End....all the while hiding her own from the good citizens in town....not to mention getting her studio ready for opening day...welcoming a new canine family member named Gideon...keeping the local conspiracy nut at bay...AND settling into a new routine ...PLUS researching her own origins!!!! Can Fortuna actually manage ALL of this?!? Read and See! Much enjoyed and Highly Recommended. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Copy of this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Fortuna Delphi and her art studio in the sleepy little hamlet of Mystic's End.....IF only the irate teen-aged spirit in her attic would cease haranguing her nightly to punish his murderer ...and the alluring males in town would quit distracting her...by tossing their combined sexual appeal in her direction....then Fortuna wouldn’t have sooo much trouble ferreting out the clues of who killed her resident spook...Spike...after all it’s hard enough to uncover the buried secrets of Mystic’s End....all the while hiding her own from the good citizens in town....not to mention getting her studio ready for opening day...welcoming a new canine family member named Gideon...keeping the local conspiracy nut at bay...AND settling into a new routine ...PLUS researching her own origins!!!! Can Fortuna actually manage ALL of this?!? Read and See! Much enjoyed and Highly Recommended. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Copy of this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 16, 2021
Better than I expected, but read the other series first
I'll admit that I am a little confused and perhaps the books that follow will clear things up, but Fortuna states that she was made a witch? How, why? And she doesn't know what that means? I may have missed reading another series to get that background.
Fortuna, and I really am not a fan of her name, moves to Mystic's End to find her birth family. Having spent time with the circus, one filled with supernaturals, and being gifted herself, she wants to learn more about where she comes from and her heritage. To go undetected, she plans to opens a art studio, but the day before her grand opening, she meets a ghost. The resident ghost who has no idea how he died, but where his body can be found. Fortuna, not off to a great start with the local detective has to call Gabe back to tell him of her discovery. This leads her to learning just how strange her new home town is, and that solving the mystery of her household's death won't be easy. With the help of a few new acquaintances, she'll put herself out there even if that means sharing a few secrets she never planned on revealing to a group of mere mortals.
I'll admit that I am a little confused and perhaps the books that follow will clear things up, but Fortuna states that she was made a witch? How, why? And she doesn't know what that means? I may have missed reading another series to get that background.
Fortuna, and I really am not a fan of her name, moves to Mystic's End to find her birth family. Having spent time with the circus, one filled with supernaturals, and being gifted herself, she wants to learn more about where she comes from and her heritage. To go undetected, she plans to opens a art studio, but the day before her grand opening, she meets a ghost. The resident ghost who has no idea how he died, but where his body can be found. Fortuna, not off to a great start with the local detective has to call Gabe back to tell him of her discovery. This leads her to learning just how strange her new home town is, and that solving the mystery of her household's death won't be easy. With the help of a few new acquaintances, she'll put herself out there even if that means sharing a few secrets she never planned on revealing to a group of mere mortals.
February 16, 2020
Ghosts, psychics, witches. Fortuna has moved to Mystic End for two reasons. To open an art shop and to possibly find out whom her parents are. She was abandoned as a baby in Mystic End but later adopted by a couple in California. But on the eve of opening her shop the ghost of a dead man named Spike tries to get her to leave. He died twenty years ago in her shop and his body was bricked up behind a wall. He doesn’t remember how he died but Fortuna is going to find out. But even though many of the people in the town she meets are nice and helpful, the town seems to be run by corrupt people running the racetrack and the casino. Crimes are never solved. But she meets a reporter who has been trying to expose the corruption in the town for years. With her witchy powers and the reporters knowledge of the town, can they expose the corruption and make the town a better place to live? And what about the lady who has passed on the torch of being the last mystic in Fortuna? Is she related to her? I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 17, 2021
Fortuna moves to a new location and decides to open an art shop. It's a small town but she figures there would still be enough business for her. She soon meets Gabe, a policeman. What she didn't count on was seeing a ghost right off (she's a witch) and finding out that the ghost is that of a young man whose bones are in the wall of her home.
She also finds out the local police are corrupt but Gabe, one of them, seems to be okay anyhow. She also finds out there's a guy that seems pretty much to run the town since he owns and greyhound race track and a casino. Then there's a Witch's Council she has to deal with.
Actually, even the newspaper seems to be corrupt.
She also would like to find out about herself since she was left on the steps of the police department building as a baby. All this means she's going to be rather busy, to put it mildly. I like the characters, the ghost is sort of unusual and the possible mob boss may prove to be more than just a 2-D character. The series shows a lot of promise.
She also finds out the local police are corrupt but Gabe, one of them, seems to be okay anyhow. She also finds out there's a guy that seems pretty much to run the town since he owns and greyhound race track and a casino. Then there's a Witch's Council she has to deal with.
Actually, even the newspaper seems to be corrupt.
She also would like to find out about herself since she was left on the steps of the police department building as a baby. All this means she's going to be rather busy, to put it mildly. I like the characters, the ghost is sort of unusual and the possible mob boss may prove to be more than just a 2-D character. The series shows a lot of promise.
April 19, 2020
Our heroine is having a rough start to her time in the new town, with a suspicious sheriff and ghosts popping up asking for help. This may take a bit more work than she expected.
This is book one of the series, so a good place to start.
This is a cozy mystery series with witches and ghosts (for starters). I found the story to be well written and easy to read with a very likable, but a bit put upon, main character. The setting is interesting and filled with lots of issues which I suspect will come forward in future books. In the meantime, we get to know the lay of the land and a bit about our heroine, which is expected in a first book. I found the mystery itself to be intriguing and it kept me entertained throughout. Overall, a good start to a new series and I am looking forward to seeing more of our heroine.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is book one of the series, so a good place to start.
This is a cozy mystery series with witches and ghosts (for starters). I found the story to be well written and easy to read with a very likable, but a bit put upon, main character. The setting is interesting and filled with lots of issues which I suspect will come forward in future books. In the meantime, we get to know the lay of the land and a bit about our heroine, which is expected in a first book. I found the mystery itself to be intriguing and it kept me entertained throughout. Overall, a good start to a new series and I am looking forward to seeing more of our heroine.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
February 19, 2020
What a great start to a new series!
Life after the Magical Midway (No, you don't have to have read that series to follow along with this one, but you might want to!) finds Fortuna opening an art studio in the small town of Mystic's End. She was abandoned as a baby in this town and is trying to search out her origins. A punk ghost tries to scare her away from her new property but it's going to take more than that to deter Fortuna! With ghost Spikes help, she finds his bones bricked up in her bedroom wall and sets out to find out what happened to him. The hot detective thinks she's a con-woman, and the equally hot greyhound track owner keep her occupied while she tries to hide her witch powers from everyone. What could possible go wrong?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Life after the Magical Midway (No, you don't have to have read that series to follow along with this one, but you might want to!) finds Fortuna opening an art studio in the small town of Mystic's End. She was abandoned as a baby in this town and is trying to search out her origins. A punk ghost tries to scare her away from her new property but it's going to take more than that to deter Fortuna! With ghost Spikes help, she finds his bones bricked up in her bedroom wall and sets out to find out what happened to him. The hot detective thinks she's a con-woman, and the equally hot greyhound track owner keep her occupied while she tries to hide her witch powers from everyone. What could possible go wrong?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 31, 2021
I wanted to enjoy this series. I had high hopes. The author managed the "cozy conundrum" by going the Scooby gang route. Instead of the MC going out there getting involved with things that are none of her business and asserting that SHE and ONLY SHE must solve this mystery, the MC is surrounded by folks who have a legitimate reason to want to find the solution. Including a journalist/conspiracy theory blogger helps...journalists are genetically required to be sticking their noses into places they don't belong. But in the end, or at least halfway through book 5, I am giving up. The interpersonal drama is just getting too much. And if I have to listen to the MC whine once more about everyone hiding info from her when she is absolutely hiding info from them. People do not have to know every little thing about their friends or even significant others. Just. Too much. I'm done.
February 22, 2020
A witch. A ghost and a crooked town
Awesome. A great read. A body bricked up in a wall, a ghost and a town that has more secrets then Peyton Place or the Borgia's. Terrific characters from the eccentric to the threatening but all imbued with life and colour.
A move to this email town should have gone smoothly. No one knew her name or her origins. Nor did any suspect her witchiness. Now a ghost, a bricked up skeleton, an escape artist of a greyhound and a detective that is trying to cope as he an in a town full of secrets, missing people and unexplained deaths. Can she find out what happened and why the body had been bricked up?
Nice action, more questions then answers but it leaves you wanting to read more.
Awesome. A great read. A body bricked up in a wall, a ghost and a town that has more secrets then Peyton Place or the Borgia's. Terrific characters from the eccentric to the threatening but all imbued with life and colour.
A move to this email town should have gone smoothly. No one knew her name or her origins. Nor did any suspect her witchiness. Now a ghost, a bricked up skeleton, an escape artist of a greyhound and a detective that is trying to cope as he an in a town full of secrets, missing people and unexplained deaths. Can she find out what happened and why the body had been bricked up?
Nice action, more questions then answers but it leaves you wanting to read more.
February 23, 2020
If you are familiar with the Magic Midway-series then you know Fortuna Delphi, as a witch, who helps people find their way. This is her own story now. After teh circuses cease to exist, she moves to the town where she was abandoned as a baby to find out more about herself. Opening a shop seems a good way to start and to blend in. What she had not counted on was to find a ghost - and its body - in her new house.
A nice cozy mystery, reminiscent of the Magic Midway, but a stand-alone, nonetheless, with different characters and less magic....
I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading more about Fortuna's adventures.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A nice cozy mystery, reminiscent of the Magic Midway, but a stand-alone, nonetheless, with different characters and less magic....
I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading more about Fortuna's adventures.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 25, 2020
Fortuna was abandoned as a baby so when she left the circus to move back to mystic springs to search for her family and open an art gallery a hottie comes into her store and starts searching her supplies and accusing her of being a gypsy con artist. She humors him and finds out hes a detective. Later that night shes awakened by a ruckus and discovers its a punk teenager ghost complete with mohawk and dog collar. He tells her he dont know how he died but his body is still there and he was forgotten about. Fortuna decides to find out how he died. This story was so cute. The characters were friendly and charming. The story was fun and entertaining to read. I really like this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 25, 2021
Good read
Let's start with the positives, the characters are fantastic, you can easily love or hate their quirks because they aren't two dimensional, even for a first book that has a lot to cram in its pages. The story is very interesting, and will keep you reading late into the night. The writing is great, no typos or grammar atrocities here. The negative I found is how rushed some bits are and the crowding of details. I am sure that everything will be explained and will have its importance in the rest of the series, but possibly not everything should have been mentioned in the first book.
I will undoubtedly read the rest of the books, but possibly after other series from this author.
Let's start with the positives, the characters are fantastic, you can easily love or hate their quirks because they aren't two dimensional, even for a first book that has a lot to cram in its pages. The story is very interesting, and will keep you reading late into the night. The writing is great, no typos or grammar atrocities here. The negative I found is how rushed some bits are and the crowding of details. I am sure that everything will be explained and will have its importance in the rest of the series, but possibly not everything should have been mentioned in the first book.
I will undoubtedly read the rest of the books, but possibly after other series from this author.
February 3, 2022
Witty, clever and interesting
This book is all that. I have avidly been looking for the right series in this genre for over a year now. For me the "just right" series would include a mature heroine, as in not a teenager, that is neither too silly or too serious. And an author that has pretty unbiased outlook on the world and it's inhabitants, writing without preaching and teachings. Add humor, wit, a love interest and a good idea or two, and I am in heaven. Witty and clever dialogue, amazing world building and a really interesting storyline of course would be a big bonus.
I had kind of given up. The closest I got were really funny harem series, till now. Thank you Leanne Leeds. Please get more books on audio. Already purchased the rest of the series and really would appreciate more.
This book is all that. I have avidly been looking for the right series in this genre for over a year now. For me the "just right" series would include a mature heroine, as in not a teenager, that is neither too silly or too serious. And an author that has pretty unbiased outlook on the world and it's inhabitants, writing without preaching and teachings. Add humor, wit, a love interest and a good idea or two, and I am in heaven. Witty and clever dialogue, amazing world building and a really interesting storyline of course would be a big bonus.
I had kind of given up. The closest I got were really funny harem series, till now. Thank you Leanne Leeds. Please get more books on audio. Already purchased the rest of the series and really would appreciate more.
August 7, 2022
I guess this is a spin-off of the Magical Midway series? Not sure, but I haven't read that. Didn't feel lost without it. Fortuna Delphi just moved to town, and already, people are curious about her. Maybe it's that the place she bought has been vacant for years since it's known to be haunted. Maybe it's that she has a mysterious past that she doesn't like to discuss. Maybe it's just her name, which stands out in a small town like that. Or maybe it's that she jumps right in and starts investigating the murder of the man whose ghost (yup) told her his body was hidden in her walls. She also buys a race dog from the track near town for an outrageous sum, but they have a psychic link, so who can put a price on that?
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