Rise & Fall: Nether Edge Cozy Mystery, #5

By Wendy Meadows

There's magic in the air, in the small town of Havenholm.  There's also a new player in the magical spice game, in the form of a new shop in town.

 

And Cassandra Dean doesn't like it, not one bit.

As poor Cassy starts losing her regular customers to the latest, and bigger, spice shop that's rolled into Havenholm, she decides to get to the bottom of the place's rising success…until two of the mysterious shop's customers turn up dead. Now, in addition to her growing jealousy over the competition, her lackluster love and social life, and her ever-growing curiosity, Cassy has not one, but TWO murder mysteries to help solve.  But, even with her spice shop co-workers, Dot and Patty, as well as Havenholm's crack deputy (and Cassy's crush), James Jones helping her with the cases, Cassy could be on the wrong track.

 

Could these murders be for real?  Or, are they the result of some lame hocus pocus?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Majestic Owl Publishing LLC
• Release date: Mar 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386495314

Wendy Meadows

USA Today bestselling author, Wendy Meadows, is a passionate Cozy Mystery Author whose meticulously crafted stories showcase witty women sleuths and engaging plots. Her primary influences include but are not limited to mystery genre greats Joanne Fluke, Ellery Adams, and James Patterson. To date, she has published dozens of books, which include her popular Sweetfern Harbor Series, Maple Hill Series, and Alaska Cozy Series, to name a few. In a previous life, Wendy worked as a Graphic Designer, earning her Graphic Design Certification at the prestigious New York based Sessions School of Design. With this valuable artistic background, she designs her own book covers. In fact, she began writing fiction soon after designing numerous book covers for other fiction authors. When she isn’t writing about female detectives and their tactful crime solving, you can find Wendy either tending to her hobby farm, playing video games, relaxing on her back porch, or coloring in her growing collection of adult coloring books. She also loves spending quality time with her husband, two sons, two cats, and one adorable Labradoodle. Together, they call “The Granite State” home sweet home. To find out more about Wendy Meadows both personally and creatively, feel free to visit her official website at www.wendymeadows.com

Book preview

chapter one

"W ell, it’s got more options to start with. So, what I’m trying to say is that the range is better."

Cassy would not accept this, but she let the small man continue anyway. Go on… she said, barely containing her contempt.

The store’s bigger too, and well ventilated, continued Donnahue.

So what? The implication that the Spicery had a strong smell was ridiculous. Of course it did, it sold spices!

Go on…

Not that I’m saying you girls aren’t kind to me, but that other place does have the nicest, most helpful people.

A growl made its way to Cassy’s lips, but she held it back. She could feel Herzog winding his way through her legs, his fur bristling. Go on… she said through gritted teeth.

You have to admit, Cassandra; the Spicery is a little on the small side.

She had to assume that the other place was basically a warehouse the way old Donnahue was talking about it. Go on…

Well there’s not much more to say besides… Donnahue paused, his fingers idly playing with his short, cropped mustache. You know, for a magic store, you could make this place a little more mysterious. Put up some dreamcatchers or something. They always look good.

It’s not a magic store, yelped Cassy, aware that she was overreacting a little but annoyed enough she didn’t really care. It’s called the Spicery. We sell spices!

And herbs and blends. A few books too, said Patty who was by now all but cowering somewhere behind the counter from Cassy’s seething rage. She realized now that it had been a bad day to come into work late.

Oh, yes! Thank you very much, Patty. Thanks for that oh-so-helpful input, said Cassy, ladling on the sarcasm. She returned her attention to the diminutive Mr. Donnahue, one of her more regular customers. Leena Donnahue was a regular at the Spicery, but after a recent illness, it had fallen to her husband to get her regular weekly shopping done. Now they were seeing the fallout of putting a man in charge. It’s called the Spicery for a reason, Mr. Donnahue. What you want to do with anything you buy in here after you’ve left is up to you. I may even be able to give you some pointers, but never once have I claimed to be a ‘magic’ shop. Whatever that means. Cassy was not yet finished with her little rant, even as Donnahue backed away. I guess the other place has broomsticks and cauldrons and magical healing crystals and things like that, does it?

Donnahue nodded. They call it The Hocus Pocus Store, he replied sheepishly. I think it’s a good place. I just thought you might want to know about it is all. Came by to keep you informed. Apologies if I upset you in any way.

Before the exchange could go on any longer, Dot swept in from the other side of the store where she’d been keeping an eye on the situation. She got between her boss who had gone rigid with quiet rage, and the poor old Mr. Donnahue who gripped his hat in his hands like it was a life preserver. Willy, Willy, you’ve done us all a favor, said Dot, comforting the man while leading him back to the door which she opened for him. Normally Cassy likes to be the first to know about this type of thing so I can only thank you for keeping us up to date. It caught her off guard is all, but a little competition never hurt anyone. You be sure to come back anytime you need Leena’s liver oil. I’ll have it ready and waiting for you as always.

Donnahue replaced his hat on his head and made his farewells before stumbling back outside, more than a little shell shocked by the encounter. Dot leaned back against the door as it closed behind him.

Cassandra Dean! she said, summoning a commanding tone. Just what do you think you are doing? He’s a good customer and doesn’t need that kind of unwarranted grilling. That’s not how you keep business, you know. Besides, I have an appointment with Leena tomorrow. How am I meant to show my face there now?

So there it was. Dot did have an ulterior motive. Leena was a beautician. Dot had been seeing her on and off for years. Any pretense of a business was just a formality and their sessions were simply excuses to meet and chat.

Air rushed from Cassy’s nostrils like she was an impotent dragon, although she did look red enough to be snorting out fire. "It just makes me so mad. People have no respect for the kind of thing we do here. They think it’s all a game, a marketing gimmick. I studied for years to get where I am today, to learn everything there is to know about every combination of ingredient and catalyst and what effects they have. I’m talking about real magic, Dot. Not some Hocus Pocus, plastic, no good, pre-packaged, version of an ancient tradition passed down through generations of women. This is the real deal. And they think they can just move in and set up shop. Who even does that? It’s not exactly a booming business. It’s not like Havenholm can support two magic stores. Who needs two? Hocus Pocus indeed."

I thought you said this wasn’t a magic store, came Patty’s diminished voice from somewhere at the back of the store. Dot scolded Patty with a withering look.

Strangely, Cassy appeared to calm down.

You’re right. This is the Nether Edge Spicery. The magic is what you bring to what we sell. No gimmicks, no marketing nonsense. Just plain, honest facts and educated advice. It was a sort of Mantra come ethos Cassy had developed.

There was an awkward silence as both Dot and Patty waited for Cassy’s next move. They didn’t have to wait for long.

I’m going over there, she said.

Is that wise? asked Dot still leaning against the exit. Don’t you want to take a moment first? I’ll put a pot of tea on. That lavender infusion we just got in promotes calmness.

I am calm, Dorothy, said Cassy, despite using Dot’s full name being a sign she was anything but calm. I’m going to calmly go over to Hocu—the new shop—and see what the competition is like. She tried to wave Dot to one side. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it isn’t a complete waste of people’s time. Maybe it isn’t run by some untrained charlatan taking our paying customers for a ride. Maybe it is an authentic and genuine place. I would welcome competition like that. Of course, Havenholm needs TWO MAGIC SHOPS!

Cassy stormed up to Dot who dived out of the way when it became apparent that she wasn’t about to stop. The bell above the door rang furiously back and forth as Cassy burst out onto the sidewalk. In the quiet that followed the owner of the Nether Edge Spicery’s departure, Pat crept slowly out from her hiding place and came to stand alongside Dot. Both of them watched as Cassy strode down the street as if looking for a fight.

"I’m confused; is this a magic shop or