Murder’s No Votive Confidence by Christin Brecher is the first book in the NEW “Nantucket Candle Maker” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Kensington Books, coming June 25, 2019.

Nantucket candle store owner Stella Wright specializes in creating unique candles for every occasion. But someone sets the stage for murder when a Memorial Day celebration becomes a wedding to die for . . .

Jessica Sterling’s candlelight-themed nuptials promises to be the perfect kick-off to the summer’s first official holiday weekend. Stella’s thrilled to have been chosen to provide the decorative centerpiece for the wedding ceremony: a two-foot-tall scented unity candle—a symbol of the happy couple’s love. But it looks like the bride-to-be’s uncle won’t be walking his niece down the aisle after he’s found dead. The murder weapon is Stella’s seemingly indestructible candle, now split in two.

When a beloved local bartender is arrested, Stella’s sure a visiting police captain running the case made a rush to justice. With superstitious brides-to-be canceling orders and sales waxing and waning at her store, the Wick & Flame owner decides to do some sleuthing of her own. Abetted by a charming reporter and challenged by the town’s sexiest cop, Stella’s determined to shine a light on the truth and uncover a killer who’s snuffing out her own flame.

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We are introduced to Stella Wright in a delightfully entertaining new cozy mystery. This was a fast-paced and action-packed tale that grabbed my attention immediately, quickly becoming a page-turner. Stella makes candles and when her candle is found at the scene of a murder and a friend is arrested for the crime, the only thing left for Stella to do figure out who had a stronger motive to want the victim dead.

This mystery was well-thought out with a solid plot that kept me immersed in all that was happening on the page. solid plot that had me immersed in all that was happening. The author did a great job in setting the stage with a few suspects but it was the backstory and clues presented that gave me a clear understanding on the possible motives. There were a few red herrings and surprises that narrowed down the list of suspects and it was fun watching it all play out when the killer’s identity was revealed. Stella is not afraid to put herself out by asking questions (okay, interrogating), following a person of interest and taking the wheel in a boat chase. All added to my excitement while reading. Stella is a likable character and I look forward to learning more about her as well as the supporting cast. I sense a love triangle, which I’m not a fan of, so I hope it is cleared up in the next book and I know who I like. Boasting a lovable cast of characters, engaging dialogue and a small-town atmosphere, this was a nice beginning and welcome addition to the cozy genre.

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FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.