Murder Under the Magnolias

Grace's Augusta Mysteries, Book 1

By: Charmain Zimmerman Brackett

Narrated by: Nicole Swanson

The first full week in April means a blooming business for Grace Ward, whose floral designs will be part of several parties with the major golf tournament in town. After the murder of a young woman with a mysterious tattoo, Grace finds herself in the middle of an investigation and wonders if these parties she's beautifying are actually fronts for something more sinister.

©2016 Charmain Zimmerman Brackett (P)2021 Charmain Zimmerman Brackett

To Gerald L. Boysworth

This book was wonderfully written. The subject matter is dark. PTSD, alcoholism, human trafficking, all dark. I would worry about anyone who did not find it disturbing. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Very Enjoyable!!

Really liked just about everything about this book. Great job Charmaine and Nicole. Keep up the good work.

Outstanding mystery!

Murder under the Magnolias by Charmain Zimmerman Brackett is a thoroughly engrossing mystery that proves that something rotten can lurk in a beautiful setting. Grace has a gift which helps her throughout the story but her husband Drew the Homocide Detective seems to dismiss it. Simultaneously with both their careers, there is a lot of powerful emotions that Grace and Drew are working through. The narration by Nicole Swanson is great. She gives voice to the many characters and brings the story to life. Can’t wait to read the next in the series!

Gripping mystery

Both the author Charmain Zimmerman Brackett and narrator Nicole Swanson are new to me and I have no idea why that is. Although this is my first book from both of them, it will not be my last. 

Murder Under The Magnolias is a cozy mystery and one that I found thoroughly entertaining.
The narrator did a fabulous job and certainly kept me entertained. Grace Ward owns a small and successful flower shop with her friend Emmie. Her husband Drew has recently been promoted to detective and they are trying to work out issues that they have in their marriage.

Out to dinner celebrating Drew’s promotion, they see a man and a younger woman at the restaurant. The woman has a stunning and unique tattoo which they both notice. Grace has dreams that appear to be premonitions or second sight as my Granny used to say and she is shocked to realize that the woman appears to be the same one she had a dream about the night before.

This was a a book filled with secrets, danger and lies. The intrigue and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat as I listened to this story. Convincing Drew that there is something to her dreams is just one of the hurdles Grace will have to contend with. There were twists, turns and surprises in Murder Under The Magnolias as Grace follows the clues and I have to say that I was taken by surprise on a couple of occasions.

I cannot wait for more in this series

intriguing premise

This is the first in the Grace's Augusta Mysteries by Charmain Zimmerman Brackett. Grace Ward owns a small flower shop that is very busy during Masters Week in Augusta, GA. Her friend Emmie helps her a lot as an employee but more so as her friend.

Grace’s husband Drew has just been promoted to Detective. While celebrating his promotion at a local restaurant, Grace and Drew see an older man with a beautiful girl who has an unusual butterfly tattoo. Grace immediately has an uneasy feeling, that the girl needs help.

That night Grace dreams of something terrible happening to the girl that involves a gun. The next day while delivering flowers to a wedding near the river, Grace sees the body of the girl in the river.

The story centers around human trafficking, trying to find the identity of the dead girl, along with her killer, and dealing with issues in Grace and Drew’s marriage. Grace also has to deal with her prophetic dreams and Drew’s unwillingness to accept them.

The characters are well developed and relatable. The story was well crafted with several surprises at the end.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series!

This is a great book to read and listen to!

I already love this series! Being able to listen to the story brought it alive for me! I had already read it along with the rest in the series. Listening to the first one has me ready to reread the rest! I would enjoy being able to listen to them too!
The story and the narration is great!

Murder Under the Magnolias

A young woman is found murdered right after Grace and her husband saw her with a man. Grace has a feeling that something bad was going on concerning this man. Some orders for floral arrangements have come in to Grace’s business for some upcoming events. Grace starts to have a bad feeling about everything and she’s worried that other people are in danger as well. I enjoyed Grace and her friends. And their adventures when Grace is doing some investigating.

Excellent

Flowers and murder won’t be good for her business, good plot and good narration. Given audio for my voluntary review

Murder is deadly

Murder Under the Magnolia is Book 1 in Grace's Augusta Mystery by Charmain Zimmerman Brackett. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery and the characters are very believable. I felt that there was so much emotion in the story. Grace and her husband, Drew, had some serious problems and added to this storyline is a murder. Grace has dreams about the future I thought this drove Grace to help with the murder investigation. Nicole Swanson gave an excellent performance in the narration. I believe that anyone who loves a good mystery will enjoy this book and series.

Nice cozy mystery

This was a nice cozy mystery. Characters were likable and decent murder mystery plot. A little bit of a twist to have most of the mystery solved by the dreams of Grace (lead female character). But that aspect didn't take anything away from the story. Just enough mystery and action to keep my attention and make it enjoyable.