I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have to say I had a good start into 2021 in terms of books.
'Death at Peony House' came as a surprise to me. After the first few pages I was pretty sure that I would like it, but how much, I hadn't expected.
We follow the main character Daphne Heartstone (I admit I had to giggle), journalist and sorceress, who is about to get her life back on track. After hitting rock bottom in her pursuit of power, she tries to restore the trust of others in herself. This happens mainly at the expense of her job, as she can no longer put the story above everything, and so Daphne is glad that she gets a tip on a possible break-in and hopefully a new story. Little does she know, however, that she's stumbling straight into a murder investigation, and the two investigators are among those who least want her there. But Daphne can't just let this murder rest, because the ghosts of Peony House have awakened and a supernatural killer is going around.
What I really have to acknowledge to the author is that you can feel the consequences of Daphne's previous behavior. The conflicts are not resolved through a simple conversation and Daphne does not complain about how she is treated. She knows that she was the one who behaved wrong and that she first has to prove that she can be trusted again. The murder case is gradually rolled out as the reader learns about the world of magic. I can't remember getting really bored anywhere and I really liked the characters. With her mother and grandmother, Daphne has two people by her side who can also give readers a better insight into the way magic works.
Personally, I found the ending a bit rushed as it all had to happen within a certain deadline, but it wasn't really a big deal. I'm really happy to have found the series and hope that the other main characters in the other books will pull me into their world as well, as Daphne did. For those interested in a story with a paranormal background, a murder mystery and lively characters, I highly recommend this book.
It hit my weak spot and so I'm giving the book
5 Stars
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