Process of Illumination

Hand Lettering Mystery #4

by Daisy Robyns, Jessa Archer

Fall in Cedar Valley is hand letterer Jamie Lang's favorite time of year—the fall farmers' market, the glass pumpkin show, and the annual Zombie 5K Fun Run, zombie costume contest, and zombie dummy competition. This year Jamie and her friends are determined to win the competition for best zombie dummy. Their stuffed zombie bride looks like she has a good shot at winning, too. Until someone swaps the dummy for a real dead body.
 
Jamie would rather leave solving the murder to her handsome friend and chief of police, Ridge Calhoun. But Ridge is short staffed and people are soon telling her gossip and secrets they would never share with Ridge. Each sordid new revelation points to a different suspect. Now it's up to Jamie to untangle this web of deceit before Cedar Valley's trio of zombie events are DOA.
 
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with something new, or if you're a fan of hand lettering, pen and ink art, graphic design, watercoloring, typography, calligraphy, and creative inspiration, this series is for you! Indulge your inner artist and sleuth. Welcome to Cedar Valley, a thriving tourist town and popular wedding venue. Once you slip into town, you'll want to stay and grab a cup of coffee with Jamie while she solves crimes. Get your copy today!
 
Praise for Jessa's Hand Lettering Mystery Series:
 
"…as smartly done as its title and as cute as its cover . . . Witty banter, solid friendships, and a little dash of romantical feelings round out the clever mystery and keep you fully engaged to the end."—Reading Is My SuperPower
 
"Who Shot the Serif? by Jessa Archer is fabulous. The characters, setting, and knowledge of hand lettering are amazing."—Baroness' Book Trove
 
"Immediately you will settle into the town of Cedar Falls–there is even a map in the front of the book! I love maps like these! As you get to know Jamie’s friends, clients, and neighbors, you will wish you lived there too."
—Here’s How It Happened
 
"If you've been looking for a place to start in the cozy world, this is an excellent place to begin!"—That’s What She’s Reading
 
"I quite enjoyed the first book in this new series, from the clever writing to the killer hiding in plain sight. Then there is Jamie’s business, hand lettering, something I admire but cannot do myself. I think I should have paid more attention to my cursive in grade school!"—Storeybook Reviews

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller, Cozy

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 23, 2019

About the author

Daisy writes sweet, funny, warm-hearted cozy mysteries. Her characters are witty, adventurous, and crafty in the nicest way. She loves playing small town sleuth and transporting readers to a world where wine pairs with hand lettering, there's a hint of romance, and justice always prevails.

If you want to know when Daisy's next book will be available, visit her website, www.DaisyRobyns.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter.

Reviews

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. The pace was good and the town was cute. The mystery wasn’t great. The guilty party was fairly obvious and the reasons were easy to figure out. The ending and how the main character figured it out was weak and didn’t involve any prior information but a sudden moment of “illumination” which to me isn’t fair to the reader who wants to be brought along through the whole journey of discovering the truth and seeing the proof laid out neatly at the end. I want to be able to go back through the book and see hints of guilty party that I missed the first time around because the story was that compelling and the writing that clever.

[Sharon Hopper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not always a fan of cozy mysteries. This book appealed to me in October because I am a sucker for seasonal books. I never got around to reading it. It did fit many parameters for a reading challenge so I dug in and read it. Set in Cedar Valley, Washington, I really enjoyed this book. There was a murder, a zombie bride no less. The book was actually about solving the crime without silly heroics but good problem solving. There was a “love interest” but nothing too sweet and gag worthy. I enjoyed the characters who all seemed real and likable with one possible exception. This was number four in a series of five and I would be open to reading the first three.

[Krystyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The zombie bride highlights events

Another good read although the fact that they had a sociopath in the community really wasn't a surprise. This was made more and more obvious as the story unfolded. However for me the winning ticket on this read is the romance that is unfolding (but which man will she choose) and the characters. The characters are warm, inviting and involve you into their lives from the first page to the last.
The Zombie Run is part of the town's Halloween attractions as well as the competition for the best zombie. She and her two besties have created the Zombie Bride! However events lead to the zombie going missing and the contributor of the trashed wedding dress being found murdered in her place (wearing the dress). Who killed the young woman? As the group aided by the Chief and new resident, Kit investigate they come across disturbing facts. A wedding that nearly ended in death, a missing bracelet and an unnatural friendship between two males. But which one killed her? Or was it the wife that believed the rumours of an affair? Or was it the controlling mother who tried to stop the wedding?

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a free book in the middle of a series that I expected very little from, it was friking delightful. Cozy mystery set in a small town outside of Seattle. The main conceit is that the MC detective owns a handlettering shop, so all the mysteries have something to do with that.

The mystery didn't completely make sense (or I wasn't following along closely enough), but the fall and Halloween vibes were 100% and they had a very detailed recipe for cereal milk. Yep, that was a plus for me. Yes, I will be reading more.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this series when I found the first book as a Kindle freebie and liked it enough to continue the series. Like several other series I read, it's set in the Pacific Northwest, so it feels comfortable, even though I've never been there.

I like Jamie, the MC, and would love to visit her shop to see examples of her art. I'm not good at it, but I love hand-lettered cards, mugs and other practical pieces, and I wish these books included examples of her work. Jamie is fortunate to have a good group of people around her, although there is the hint of a possible love triangle, despite her intention to stay away from romance in general.

The murder victim in this story was someone we didn't know much about, but there were still several suspects worth considering, and as the investigation progressed, more names were added to the list. I was never able to make up my mind about who the killer might be, so the revelation at the end of the book was a surprise, although the motive made sense.

There is only one more book in this series and it's part of my Kindle library, so I'll read it eventually, but I'm not in a hurry to say goodbye to these characters, so it might be a while before I get around to reading it.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m very disappointed. This series started out very imaginative and creative and the author seems to be a very good writer. But the storyline, although it’s very interesting, the way that the author went about revealing who the murderer was and what happened was basically the same in the past two books. So she needs to get more creative in the next book.

But I did find the most interesting was the storyline about the mother-in-law, really really good.

[Judith Mosconi · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun series

Jamie has a calligraphy business and shares a store with a friend in a charming small town. There always seems to be a mystery that draws the attention of Jamie and her friends, including the newest hot guy in town who’s got his eye on Jamie and the police chief who happens to be the identical brother of her deceased fiance.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining

This book blends crafting with a murder mystery and a touch of romance for a delightful reading. It involves a small town and believable characters. Enjoy!

[bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3 star

Decent cozy mystery. Good pacing, nice MC, overall it works well and I enjoyed the read. Good distraction on a really bad day.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable as usual. The idea of zombie scarecrows around the town is a playful thing until --- .

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun cozy mystery to read in the fall! I took a star off because the conclusion to the mystery is a lot of conjecture by the main character, but overall very enjoyable.

[Patricia Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story

This was a new to me author and I really enjoyed reading this story. I will be reading more books by this author in the future.

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good

Oh gosh this was so good. I figured out pretty quickly who the killer was but still enjoyed seeing how everything unfolded.

[Samantha Blackwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun quick read!

This was a fun quick read. The plot was well thought out and I did not predict the ending as in some instances.

[Elizabeth F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great mystery story in the series. Love the chemistry between characters. Highly recommend!!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute little cozy mystery with an intriguing plot!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cedar Valley, WA is the home of hand
letterer, Jamie Lang. She has a shop
named Flourish. Jamie also tends to
be an amateur sleuth.
It is fall in Cedar Valley which means it
is time for the annual Zombie 5K Fun Run,
the zombie dummy competition, the dummy
costume contest, the glass pumpkin show
and the fall farmer’s market.
Jamie with her friends, Nora (a makeup
artist) and Angel (owns the coffee show)
are set on winning the zombie dummy contest.
They are entering the life sized Zombie Bride.
But mischief is also afoot in Cedar Valley.
Vandals have run amuck, damaging some of
the displays. But the Zombie Bride ends up
with a dead body inside the wedding dress
and the dummy bride missing.
Time for Jamie to start investigating along
with chief of police, Ridge Calhoun and
business man, Kit Perry.
A distressed wedding dress, a lost antique
bracelet, a controlling mother, rumors of an
affair will all play into solving this well written
complex crime.
In addition to well created characters plus
signs of romance, the reader will learn about
the process of Illumination.
This is book # 4 in the Hand Lettering Mystery
series. It can be read as a stand alone.
I volunteered to read Process of Illumination.
Thanks to Booksprout and the author for
the opportunity. My opinion is voluntary
and my own.
A Kindle Unlimited Read.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halloween Mayhem in Cedar Valley

Let me first say that I absolutely love the hand lettering cozy mystery series, and I am always happy when another book in the series shows up at my favorite book review site. I love the elements of hand lettering that the author weaves into the story, and she has created a main character in Jamie Lang who does have an attention to detail that a hand letterer would have. This comes in handy because she is often embroiled in mysteries, of course! I enjoyed the Halloween and fall aspects of this particular story are. Cedar Valley appears to go all out for it, including a zombie run. But it turns out that one of the number isn't one of the undead but has actually been murdered. And of course, Jamie has to get involved. The people love to gab in the small town but not always with law enforcement.

I like the community that the author has developed for this series. A good cozy needs a community of quirky characters, and this one has it. Unfortunately, in this installment of the series, I felt like the cozy aspect overwhelmed in the mystery aspect. The book is relatively short, but the murder doesn't happen until close to the 20% mark, not leaving as much it time to fully develop the murder plot as I would have liked. The stuff earlier about all the goings-on in Cedar Valley for the festival was definitely fun and interesting, but I always feel like I just want to get to the dead body in a mystery so that the mystery part can start to unwind, take its twists and turns, and still leave plenty of space for red herrings and dead ends. Still, I did enjoy this book, mostly for revisiting favorite characters.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie Lang once again is in the thick of things murderous in the small town of Cedar Falls. Things started out quietly, with Jamie determined to win one of the three separately judged zombie events Cedar Valley sponsors every fall. Her best shot was winning the prize for best life-size zombie where businesses that sponsor the fun run can enter scarecrow zombies that are placed on display all over town and voted on. The winning business gets their name engraved on the coveted zombie trophy and keeps it for a year, and she was tired of coming in second for three years in a row.

Jamie, Nora, and Angel team up to contribute their Zombie Bride entry, but when it is stolen and they find a dead body substituted instead, they team up with Ridge and Kit to investigate the clues that will lead to the murderer -- hopefully. Who is the murderer? Why did the murderer select that victim? Will the murderer be stopped in a timely manner before someone else becomes a victim?

I just love this cozy mystery series! This stories are so well balanced with the mystery itself and the personalities drawn into it. The story line is always interesting, giving the reader lots of information with the twists and turns to keep the reader moving through the pages for answers! Grab your copy and see if you know who the murderer is before Jamie, Kit, Chief of Police Ridge Calhoun, and the rest of the team solve the case!

[Mary Lou Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

PROCESS OF ILLUMINATION is the fifth book in the Hand Lettering Mystery series. Each will stand on its own, but I would strongly suggest reading them in the order of release.

A Halloween cozy mystery that was perfectly executed…. Errr…. Maybe I shouldn’t say ‘executed’ when speaking about a murder mystery… yikes! I loved the twisted fun of zombie decorations, treats, and competitions.

Though this is all about the cozy mystery, there is also a bit of romance in the air. Jamie has two intriguing men to keep her smiling. Both are worth her time, effort, and ice cream.

I liked how the “Illumination” bit was worked into the story and explained. There were even some examples!

This is my favorite of Ms. Archer’s series and I will continue to pick them up as quickly as she puts them out.

Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.


Title: PROCESS OF ILLUMINATION
Series: Hand Lettering #4
Category /Genre: Cozy Mystery
Recommended for: 14+ due to murder
Grammar/editing: received as an unedited ARC / errors excused
Received from: Jessa Archer

[Suzanne Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

With fall, Cedar Creek has a famous festival with a glass pumpkin contest, fall farmers market, zombie 5k run, a zombie decorating contest and a zombie dummy contest. It is Jamie’s favorite time of the year and this year she is determined her team will win. Her team designs a bride zombie dummy but the next day a real dead person is in the wedding dress. Now what?

This is a wonderfully crafted cozy mystery.with interesting characters and a great mystery. The characters are likeable and personable, drawing you into the story. The storyline is full of twists , surprises and unexpected twists. The clues are there and when it is finally solved it all makes sense but, I did not figure it out until the end. This for me is a sign of great cozy mystery. If you enjoy smart characters that solve cozy mysteries then give this book and indeed the whole series a read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Roxx Tarantini · Rating 5 out of 5]

After coming in second for too many years in a row, Jamie was determined that her team was going to win coveted first place in the Zombie Fun Run Zombie contest THIS time!

But when someone starts vandalizing the zombies, well that's just not done!   When they find a dead body in the place where Jamie's zombie SHOULD be, the fun starts in earnest.

While this cozy is part of a series, it's also an excellent stand alone read.   Fun characters, plenty of "suspicious" types to have your inner sleuth hard at work, and just enough twists to keep you turning pages.

Jessa Archer has earned her spot on my "Authors to Watch For" list; I highly recommend you give this one a read!

[I received a copy of this book from the author via BookSprout, for an honest review of the book.   The opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.]

[Mererid Evanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh, zombies. Just what is the appeal of the decomposing undead? Whatever it is, this small town in Washington has fallen hard, with an annual zombie contest no less. But it takes a bitter twist when one of the "zombies" turns out to be actually dead. You'd think that would deter the zombie fans, but no.

Zombie trappings aside, this is a decent mystery, with its roots in dramatic past events. The heroine does well in finding interesting people to interview, even though the main suspects are lying low and saying nowt. The American small town atmosphere, with its neighbourliness, animated gossip and enthusiastic participation, is very well depicted. And the "illumination" angle is cleverly worked in.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fall has hit Cedar Valley and Jamie Lang is jumping for joy as it is her favorite time of year. She can’t wait for the farmers’ market, zombie costume contest, zombie 5K run, and the zombie dummy competition. Jamie has her team together and is set to win the competition for the best zombie dummy. Unfortunately, someone has replaced their dummy with a real dead body. Now she finds herself knee-deep in solving the mystery.

A fun fast-read fall/Halloween themed cozy mystery! This book has it all – quirky characters, humor, a murder mystery, a plucky heroine, and lots of potential suspects to sift through.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can't go wrong when you choose to read a book written by Jessa Archer. She has a special way of writing the story that grabs the reader's attention and holds it until the last word. Her stories are entertaining, the characters are wonderful and you'll fall in love with them and feel like part of their lives. Fantastic work! Process of Illumination is a story you'll love and a great addition to the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Orazi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic cozy mystery in this series! I love how the author so skillfully leads the reader through finding the killers.

This book has Jamie, Nora and Angel participating in the zombie competition and fun run. They go all out making their zombie bride only for it to be stolen and replaced with a dead body. The ladies, along with Ridge and Kit, investigate the leads and take down the murderer during the fun run. Highly recommend!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dorothy Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie, Nora, and Angel partner to create the winning zombie figure at the annual Cedar Valley Zombie Events. Although in competition with the Chief of Police Ridge Calhoun, he and Jamie train together for the Zombie 5k. Together, they make a gruesome discovery that draws Jamie into another mystery. Process of Illumination is a very enjoyable novel with delightful characters. I recommend the entire series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris and Mike had been close friends all through school. Aside from his overprotective mother Pam, Mike had no one closer to him than Chris.

Pam warned more than one girl her heart would get broken if she got too close to Mike.

When his wife got similar threats and winds up dead, who is responsible? Tiger mom? His best buddy? An ex?

A zombie filled episode in this illuminating KU series .

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katie Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book in the Hand Lettering Mystery series but had no trouble following along and didn't feel like I'd missed out on something. Now I'm going to go back to book one and read it. The story is solid and the characters are all likable (except when they're not!). The dialog is natural and the descriptions are good, especially the zombies. I enjoyed learning something new, too. I will definitely read the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather W · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best zombie is a dead one...

Process of Illumination is the fourth book in the Hand Lettering Mystery series. Halloween in Cedar Valley means zombie contests, but what happens when a zombie dummy turns out to be a real dead body. This delightful cozy mystery follows Jamie as she hears the gossip and rumours from the townspeople and had to solve the murder before the town's zombie events get buried. This story is wonderfully written, with humour, quirky characters, suspects galore, and lots of twists and red herrings. Enjoy!!!

I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.