Book Review of 'The Sign of the Calico Quartz' by Jan Drexler

Hello Audiobook Lovers!

I'll be the first to admit that I have only recently became an audiobook lover. I used to be one of those people whose mind would wander too much while listening and gave up time and time again, but for some reason this year I've listened to several audiobooks while doing mundane tasks and now I look forward to listening to audiobooks, especially when the story is great and the narrator does a wonderful job, like the audiobook I am featuring today.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this cute Cozy Mystery and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours.

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Sign of the Calico Quartz audiobook by Jan Drexler, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Sign of the Calico Quartz
Series: The Sweetbrier Inn Mysteries
Author: Jan Drexler
Narrator: Gillian Wiggin
Publisher: Swift Wings Press
Audiobook Release Date: July 24, 2024
Genre: Cozy Mystery

Solving a murder is easy, right? All you need to do is follow the clues, and they will lead you to the culprit.

At least that’s what Emma Blackwood thought before she and her cat, Tim, came to the Black Hills to work in Aunt Rose’s Sweetbrier Inn. Before she found a dead body in her living room. Before the hunky Deputy Sheriff accused her of murdering the poor guy. And before the real killer put her name on their list of victims.

For this fan of Agatha Christie and a plethora of television crime dramas, it’s an intriguing situation that demands her skills. Investigating might not be as simple as it looks in fictional mysteries, but Emma’s organized mind and OCD tendencies start making sense of the clues…until she finds a second body with no apparent connection to the first.

Sifting through evidence is easier with the help of her new friend, Becky, who provides baked goods for the inn, and Aunt Rose is always willing to take time from writing her mysterious memoirs to give support and advice. Wil, the inn’s chef, moves things along with a barbed comment or two, and Tim the cat and Rose’s corgi, Thatcher, make themselves available for fuzz therapy and to point the way to another clue.

The list of suspects grows as Emma learns more about the inn’s guests and their reasons for visiting the Black Hills. From the honeymoon couple to Mysterious Montgomery, to the famous reality show ghost hunter, to the gold seekers, no one is the person they appear to be. Even Rose’s good friend Clara is hiding secrets in her pink chenille bathrobe.

But as Emma pursues the investigation, things start to get personal. Can she identify the murderer before disaster strikes?

My Review

This was such a cute start to a new series!

This is the first novel that I’ve read by this author, and I fell in love with her writing style and overall storytelling. I liked Emma from the start with her astute and playful personality and love that the murder mystery began quickly, seeping you into the charade swiftly. There are quite a few players quickly thrown in but the impressive writing and energetic narration by the talented Gillian Wiggin made it feel seamless and coherent. I quickly fell in love with the Sweetbriar Inn and all of the cast of characters, especially Emma’s aunt Rose, the always professional Sheriff Cal, and the adorable four-legged friends Thatcher the corgi and Tim the cat.

I enjoyed the overall mystery though I figured out who was behind the shenanigans before the final reveal. Honestly, it didn’t even matter. I loved the ending so much and it’s got me hungry for more from this series. I think that the experience from some books is enhanced when you can listen to them and The Sign of the Calico Quartz is a great example of this. Listening to the audiobook really brought this world to life and it was so fun following this mystery while I handled household chores. It made cleaning so much more enjoyable and was overall a pleasure to listen to.

My Rating: ★★★★★

More Books In This Series

About the Author

Jan Drexler lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband where she enjoys hiking and spending time with her family. She spins stories of History, Mystery, and Sweet Romance. Her works include several historical romance novels, including the award-winning Mattie’s Pledge, and The Sweetbrier Inn Mysteries cozy mystery series.

Connect with Jan by visiting jandrexler.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates. Those who sign up for her newsletter will receive a free e-book copy of The Sign of the Calico Quartz!

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $15 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 8, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 15, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!