Hello, friends! It seems like just yesterday that I was first here introducing myself and my hometown of Crucible, New York, to you all. My name is Hazel Wickbury, and I own a homemade candle shop called A Wick in Time. I recently finished installing a candle-making kitchen in the renovated apartment above the store. I absolutely love it so far. It allows me to make candles on-site rather than at home after business hours—which I was doing for the first four years of A Wick in Time’s existence. So, this has been a major change for me, and I’m enjoying having more free time to hang out with my crew:

• My best friend (and aunt), Poppy Glenmyre
• My new boyfriend—swoon—Ezra Walters
• Internationally acclaimed author Constance Crane
• And our long-lost cousin, Detective Holden Whitfield

Most nights, we meet for dinner at one of Crucible’s fabulous little eateries or take turns hosting each other at our homes.

My new candle kitchen—or candle-making emporium, as my friend Iggy calls it—has also allowed me to pursue pet ownership for the first time. I’ve wanted a kitty companion for years, but pet hair and candle wax don’t exactly mix. Finally, with kitchen renovations completed, I’m free to adopt a furry little friend. I am counting the days until I head to Silver Linings Rescue to meet my new housemate.

It will be so lovely to have some company at home. After this summer’s tragic events, I’m still feeling a bit anxious as we head into Halloween here in upstate New York. If you’d asked me a few months ago what my life in Crucible was like, I would have described it as peaceful and just about perfect. Now, I’m not so sure. My beloved town is still recovering from the murder of a respected local businessman, and I’m still recovering from staring down the barrel of a gun held by his killer. Thank goodness candle making is so therapeutic; it’s helped me work through all the negativity I encountered during my first foray into amateur detective work.

I had hoped my first murder investigation would also be my last. After all, I know I can trust Holden to do his job. However, Holden’s been assigned a new partner, and the guy could not be more of a hothead. I had the “pleasure” of meeting Detective Shroud when he and Holden came by A Wick in Time earlier today to ask my assistant manager, Iggy Alewell, all kinds of worrisome questions. From what I’ve gathered, a man has gone missing out on Lake Glenmyre; someone Iggy had a run-in with at Cold Cauldron Brewery just a few nights ago. What’s even more dreadful is that, based on evidence recovered at the scene, the police suspect foul play and Detective Shroud has his sights set on Iggy. This whole scenario is so difficult for me to believe; I mean, I just saw this man’s lifeclock at Cold Cauldron, and he wasn’t fated to die yet.

Oh, I didn’t mention this little “gift?” Yeah, I can see how much time someone has left on this earth. Everyone in the Glenmyre family has a special supernatural ability, what we call a “whim.” Mine is pretty morbid, but luckily, I’m able to wear enchanted glasses that obscure the annoying little lifeclock hovering over the heads of everyone around me. However, in an unlucky moment, I saw the lifeclock for this now-missing person. His lifeclock revealed he had a few weeks left to live. So, that’s a good sign, right? He’s still out there, alive. For now.

Or is my lifeclock reading wrong. . .again? My whim cannot foresee murderous intent, and if the police truly suspect Iggy of the crime, there’s no way Poppy and I can sit on the sidelines. Let’s hope our next amateur investigation won’t be too much for us to handle!

Too Much to Candle, A Glenmyre Whim Mystery #2
Genre: Cozy
Release: October 2022
Purchase Link

Candlemaker Hazel Wickbury sets out again to bring the truth to light.

Iggy Alewell, Hazel Wickbury’s friend and candle shop assistant, is eager to purchase his own home with the advance from his first big book deal. Iggy is on the hunt for something with character, so what could be better than the old Cragmire house that’s rumored to have buried treasure somewhere on its property? Hazel is thrilled her friend has found success, but things in Crucible take a nasty turn when another potential buyer for the Cragmire house goes missing. He was last seen taking a boat out on Lake Glenmyre, and when the rental is found empty, it’s clear to police that foul play is involved.

What’s worse is that Iggy becomes the prime suspect in the man’s disappearance, and Detective Holden Whitfield’s thorny, new partner is certain Iggy is guilty. To clear Iggy from suspicion and dispel the darkness penetrating their beloved town, Hazel and her Aunt Poppy team up again to find a killer before their friend gets burned.

Return to Crucible in Too Much to Candle, Book Two in the award-winning Glenmyre Whim Mysteries.

About the author
Sarah E. Burr is the award-winning author of the Glenmyre Whim Mysteries, Trending Topic Mysteries, and Court of Mystery series. She currently serves as the social media guru for the New York chapter of Sisters in Crime and is the creative mind behind BookstaBundles, a content creation service for authors. Sarah is also the co-host of The Bookish Hour, a live-streamed YouTube series featuring author interviews and book discussions. When she’s not spinning up stories, Sarah is singing Broadway tunes, reading everything from mystery to manga, video gaming, and enjoying walks with her dog, Eevee. Stay connected with Sarah via her newsletter here.

All comments are welcomed.