Vampires, VCRs, and Violence (Bewitcher's Beach Mystery 5), by Emily Fluke

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I am always excited when a new installment in the Bewitcher's Beach Paranormal Mystery series is released. I've been reading them from the beginning and watching the series develop into deeper, more complex plots. Vampires, VCRs, and Violence is another strong installment.

Noema is a single mom of werewolf pups. The series is set in the 1990s and she owns Mockbuster, a video rental store. Over the course of the series, she's been searching for her long lost family, while also solving a few too many murders. In this installment, it isn't long before Noema is bitten by a bat. As if that's not enough trauma, a dead body is found in her rental shop. Are the two incidents connected? If so, how? Noema is determined to get to the bottom of these mysteries.

I really enjoyed this book, even more so than the previous one. I loved that we were back in Bewitcher's Beach, which is the setting where it all began. There are references to 90s pop culture that brought back some fun memories for me. For example, it is mentioned that the movie Armageddon was just released. There is a sprinkling of these kinds of references throughout the series and I am here for it.

Noema continues to use her sense of smell to detect emotions. For example, if she smells pineapple pizza, it indicates confusion. I love that the scents and the emotions they symbolize have been consistent throughout the series. So when I come across them, they feel like a natural part of the world the author has built (at least for Noema, since it is her gift).

I appreciate that Detective Sett is open to having Noema work with the authorities on this investigation. The events surrounding the mystery involve her, so it makes sense that she is accepted as a consultant. I love it when the amateur sleuth can work in harmony with the authorities.

The mystery in Vampires, VCRs, and Violence is strong. There are so many layers to it that I did not figure out everything. I enjoyed reading how the pieces fit together. And while there were many layers, it never felt overwhelming. 

Throughout the series, there is a love triangle like no other I've ever read and there are some new developments in this installment. It made me both sad and hopeful at the same time. You'll have to read the books to see how relationships are progressing as characters are more developed.

The one thing that brought this installment down a bit for me was the scattered foul language throughout the book. I'd say the foul word used is mild, but I came across it too many times for me to fully enjoy the book. This won't bother everyone, but if you're familiar with my taste, you'll know I'm not a fan of foul language, even the mild variety. Especially for a cozy mystery, it doesn't work well for me.

I really missed Squeaks, the mouse. He is mentioned, but he is not involved in this story. Squeaks was featured much more prominently in earlier installments and I really came to love him. He's such a unique cozy companion and I thought he really added some fun to the series.

Other than these two minor complaints, I did really enjoy this installment overall. Emily Fluke's style of writing is strong and that's what keeps me coming back to this series. Quotes like "summer melted into fall" keep me engaged. Her descriptions of the setting make it feel like its own character.

I look forward to visiting Bewitcher's Beach again in the next installment, which is set to be released in 2026. As with most cozy mysteries, each installment in the series contains a standalone mystery. However, I highly recommend starting from the beginning with Magic, Movies, and Murder and reading them in order. It's fun to follow the subplots over the course of the series.

Thank you to Emily Fluke for providing me with an ARC of this book.