Almost Fangmous, by Elle Wren Burke

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Almost Fangmous, by Elle Wren Burke, is the prequel novella to her Vampire Pet Boutique Mystery series. It is available to download for free in e-book format on BookFunnel when readers sign up for her newsletter.

Josie Wixx is a physically disabled vampire who owns a pet boutique in the cozy town of Arteria Falls, Colorado. It is a hidden vampire town where humans also reside, but by invitation only. When Josie attends a music festival and discovers a dead body, she uses her investigative skills to untangle this mystery.

I had been looking for a cozy mystery featuring a strong amateur sleuth who is physically disabled. I struck gold when I came across this series. It is also a paranormal, which is my favorite theme in cozy mysteries. I had never read a vampire-themed cozy before this one, though. After reading this prequel, I am definitely wanting more.

The setting, the characters, and the mystery are the three main components I look at in a cozy and this one delivers on all three. The town reminds me of something we would see in Halloweentown, except it's extra heavy on the vampires and a bit more edgy. 

The characters are both diverse and loveable. I identify mostly with Josie, who proves that someone can be both disabled and strong. She has experience as an assistant to her private investigator grandfather, so it makes sense she would be inclined to do some sleuthing. Burke has the same disability as Josie, so she writes from the perspective of someone who experiences it in real life. She does a phenomenal job of weaving the challenges of her disability into the plot. Sometimes Josie uses a wheelchair or scooter and sometimes she uses a cane. I think it's important to note that she is not "wheelchair bound". Rather, the wheelchair, scooter, and cane are mobility aids that allow her to move about freely.

The entire story takes place just within several hours in one main area, which makes it feel like a locked room mystery, except that it happens at a music festival. This setting also makes it perfect for summer reading. The mystery is well-crafted and I did not figure out the whodunit. When it was revealed, it all made sense.

Almost Fangmous is a quick, light-hearted read that I highly recommend. I bought signed copies of the next two books in this series, A Fang to Remember, and The Tell-Fang Heart, and I can't wait to dive into them. The third one, A Midsummer Fang's Dream, is not yet available in paperback format, but when it is, I am certain I will want my own copy. I am so happy I discovered this series!