L.L. Gray – Ruff Drafts

The Mystery in the Margins: A Cozy Mystery (Havenwood Paranormal Cozy Mysteries)
by L.L. Gray

About The Mystery in the Margins

The Mystery in the Margins: A Cozy Mystery (Havenwood Paranormal Cozy Mysteries)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Connecticut
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Heroic Rose Publishing (August 25, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 195887339X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1958873397
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1958873217
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1958873212
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CR81NTNC

A quaint bookshop, a sprinkle of magic, and a dash of mystery.

Harper Sullivan yearns for a place to call home, preferably with a delightful bakery nearby. When news arrives that she’s inherited her great-grandmother’s bookshop in the charming town of Havenwood, Harper eagerly seizes the chance. Unbeknownst to her, the quaint bookshop carries more than just shelves of stories—it harbors inherited mysteries and a touch of magical mayhem.

But instead of the cozy haven she envisioned, Harper finds herself entangled in inheritance drama, a surprising cousin rivalry, and a daring book thief on the loose. Can she use her wits and witchy powers to untangle the mystery and safeguard her dreams from unraveling before they even begin?

Crack the case today! Grab your copy and solve the mystery!

GUEST POST

When I started writing The Mystery in the Margins, I didn’t set out to create a world where a rabbit argues with a Maine Coon over chair rights or where the biggest mystery might be how someone makes a baked Brie so good it could bring a tear to your eye.

Wait—scratch that.

That’s exactly the world I set out to create.

Havenwood is a magical town built for magical mundanes—not the kind who gallivant off to steal gold from dragons or save kingdoms, but the kind who have just a sprinkle of magic to make life more interesting. Like being able to bake the perfect cheese puff. Or charm your plants into blooming year-round. Or, in one memorable case, make the world’s most amazing Camembert but fail spectacularly at every other cheese.

At first glance, Havenwood might seem like any other quaint small town, but it has a way of surprising you—just like it surprises Harper Sullivan when she moves there to take over her late Granny Bea’s bookshop, Sullivan’s Spellbooks. On paper, it’s everything Harper’s ever wanted: a cozy shop full of stories, a bakery nearby, and the chance to build a life of her own.

Reality, however, has other plans.

Instead of the peaceful haven she imagined, Harper is greeted by police tape, a rival bookstore trying to swipe her customers (and her patience), and a daring book thief targeting the town’s rarest treasures. As if that weren’t enough, her obnoxious cousin Thaddeus shows up, seemingly intent on complicating her inheritance. Harper’s idyllic plans unravel faster than a poorly tied shoelace, and as the mysteries pile up, so do her doubts. Is she cut out to follow in Granny Bea’s footsteps? Is Havenwood the magical refuge she dreamed of, or will it prove too much for her to handle?

But Havenwood has a way of making chaos feel almost… charming.

Take Honey DeLuca, for instance. The town’s resident baking phenom can whip up pastries so delicious they should come with a warning label. Her brownies? Practically a spiritual experience. Her fruitcake? Well, let’s just say even magic has its limits. Then there’s Sheriff Jackson, Havenwood’s no-nonsense werewolf lawman, who somehow keeps the town’s quirks in check while rocking a mustache that could star in its own western. And, of course, there’s Luna, Granny Bea’s snarky rabbit familiar, who alternates between clever sidekick and walking chaos generator, depending on the day.

Havenwood isn’t about epic battles or chosen ones. It’s about the quiet, everyday magic that sneaks into your life: the smell of freshly baked cookies floating down Enchanted Lane, the way autumn leaves seem to dance as if they’re in on some secret, and the comforting hum of community that ties it all together. It’s about the unexpected moments that remind you how extraordinary life can be, even when it’s messy.

But even in a town like Havenwood, mysteries lurk in unexpected places.

What happened to the rare books in Granny Bea’s collection? Why are they so valuable, and why would someone go to such lengths to steal them? Who is the man in the trench coat Harper keeps spotting around town, always seeming to appear when she least expects it? And most importantly, what’s the secret ingredient in Pixie Pastries’ signature chocolate chip cookies? (Seriously, someone has to find out.)

As Harper tries to piece together the clues, she quickly learns that being a bookshop owner in Havenwood is no ordinary job. For one, she’s constantly balancing her responsibilities with the magical quirks of her customers and her own family drama. Thaddeus, her opportunistic cousin, has made it clear he doesn’t think Harper deserves the inheritance. Add in the Puddletons, the odious couple running the rival bookstore The Dusty Tome, and Harper’s to-do list starts looking more like a recipe for disaster.

Still, it’s not all stress and sleuthing for Harper. One of the things she loves most about Havenwood is its sense of community. Whether it’s a kind word from Bella, her best friend, or a perfectly brewed cup of tea from Aunty Agatha, there’s always someone ready to remind Harper that she doesn’t have to face life’s challenges alone. Even when the challenges involve overly ambitious rabbits and a Maine Coon with a dramatic streak.

When I created Havenwood, I wanted to show that magic doesn’t have to be about saving the world to matter. It can be in the quiet moments: a perfectly timed recommendation from a friend, a cup of tea that feels like a hug in a mug, or the shared laughter over something as ridiculous as a ninja rabbit arguing chair etiquette with a very stubborn cat.

The Mystery in the Margins is my love letter to small-town magic, to the people who remind us that even the ordinary can be extraordinary, and to the unexpected moments that make us pause and smile. It’s about solving mysteries, yes, but it’s also about finding the magic in yourself and the people around you.

So, if you’re dreaming of a cozy town where magic isn’t just in the air but in the hearts of its people, Havenwood is waiting for you. Just don’t forget to check your seat—because if Luna catches you in hers, you’ll have a lot of explaining to do.

About L.L. Gray

L.L. Gray writes warm, witty, and whimsical cozy mysteries filled with magic, mystery, and a dash of humor. Her books transport readers to charming worlds where lovable characters navigate twists and turns with a touch of magic. A lifelong lover of fantasy and myths, L.L. Gray blends humor and heart, crafting stories that feel like coming home. When she’s not writing, she’s often battling gnomes and other magical mischief-makers with her kids or connecting with readers online.

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