Hi, everyone! Hazel Wickbury, here. Without fail, my day always begins with a beautiful view of Lake Glenmyre. Named after my ancestor, Jedidiah Glenmyre, one of the founders of my hometown Crucible, New York, the lake’s crystalline waters greet me outside my bedroom window. I’m lucky enough to live in a cozy cottage on the lake’s edge. Sounds pretty picturesque, right? Not only is my cottage home, it’s also the headquarters of my candle-making empire. All right, so it’s not really an empire. . .but I’m working on it.

Four years ago, I decided to get serious about my candle making and opened my own shop in downtown Crucible. I bought a small storefront, whipped up all my favorite fragrances (don’t ask me to pick a favorite, they’re like my children), and voila! A Wick in Time was born. I absolutely love being a small business owner. It takes my mind off of. . .well, the fact that I can see when everyone around me is going to die.

Okay, that sounds way too dramatic. Thanks to my Great-Aunt Ruthie, I don’t actually have to see those glaring little lifeclocks all the time. My “enchanted” glasses obscure the glowing countdown hovering over everyone’s heads. But sometimes, the frames slide down my nose and I get a glimpse. It’s rough, to say the least.

You see, the Glenmyres aren’t your average family. We’re not witches, mind you. . .but we’re not exactly normal. Everyone on my mom’s side has what we call a “whim.” Little abilities or powers that can be as helpful or harmful as their wielder makes them. My aunt Poppy, who’s only two years older than me and my best friend, can see colorful auras around a person revealing their mood or feelings. My mom, before she died, could touch a book and learn everything within its pages. Great-Aunt Ruthie could also see when someone was going to leave this world for the next. We Glenmyres are a bit of an odd bunch.

Poppy believes Grandmaster Jedidiah and his wife were actual witches who fled Salem, Massachusetts during the height of the Witch Trials. They settled in Crucible, founding the town with four other reputable families. Grandmaster Jedidiah even cast a protection enchantment, woven into the very fabric of the town, shielding it from natural disasters and crime. To this day, Crucible is one of, if not the, safest places in the world.

But Kevin Finchmore’s sudden death has changed that. When I saw his lifeclock by accident, the heir to a billion-dollar energy corporation had nearly fifty years of life left. My whim is only ever wrong about a person’s demise when murder is involved. How something so gruesome could happen in Crucible under the protection of Grandmaster Jedidiah’s enchantment makes me wonder if the shield is deteriorating. And if that’s the case, as the last of the living Glenmyres, it’s up to Poppy and me to save Crucible from whatever darkness is heading our way.

But we’ll trim that wick when we come to it. For now, I need to get my double boilers simmering. I forgot I needed to whip up a batch of Need a Latte Love candles for A Wick in Time. Since I can practically make candles in my sleep, I should be able to get these prepped before the store opens. Cheers!

You Can’t Candle the Truth, A Glenmyre Whim Mystery #1
Genre: Cozy
Release: November 2021
Purchase Link

Candlemaker Hazel Wickbury has a secret. She knows when someone is going to die.

Welcome to Crucible, a small town with a storied history. Founded by five prestigious families, Crucible has been tucked away in upstate New York for centuries under the protection of a shield enchantment cast by Jedidiah Glenmyre, Hazel’s revered ancestor. The enchanted barrier is meant to protect Crucible from anything bad ever happening to the town. No crime, no awful weather, no natural disasters. . .a haven from the greater world.

Until the heir to a billion-dollar company is found dead in his home. With the help of her uncanny power, known as a “whim,” Hazel realizes foul play is involved. But more than being concerned about a murderer running loose and Jedidiah Glenmyre’s protection shield deteriorating, Hazel and her aunt Poppy are worried the town’s kindhearted art teacher will be charged with the sinister crime.

Hazel and Poppy team up with an internationally acclaimed mystery author visiting Crucible to figure out who had it in for the victim. Their fledgling investigation has them questioning if long-time friends have turned into foes and whether blood is really thicker than water.

Determined to prove her friend innocent, Hazel is ready to shine the light on the real killer. . .if they don’t snuff her out first.

About the Author
Sarah E. Burr lives near New York City. Hailing from the small town of Appleton, Maine, she has been dreaming of being Nancy Drew since she was a little girl. Since she wasn’t finding any mysteries in corporate America, Sarah decided to leave her career in healthcare technology and create some mysteries of her own. Her latest novel, You Can’t Candle The Truth, introduces readers to candle shop owner Hazel Wickbury. Sarah is also the author of the Court of Mystery series, featuring her fearless heroine, Duchess Jacqueline Arienta Xavier. When she’s not spinning up new stories, Sarah is off seeing Broadway musicals, reading up a storm, video gaming, and enjoying walks with her dog, Eevee. Stay connected and receive access to free short stories by signing up for Sarah’s newsletter at saraheburrsignup.

All comments are welcomed.