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!