I'm pleased to welcome Kari Lee Townsend back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Kari starts a new series with THE WELL-KEPT SECRET. The first Wishville Mystery was released last month.
Kathy: A fan of the Sunny Meadows Mystery series, I was delighted to see you start a new series. Was there a specific inspiration for this series?
KLT: Thank you! I’ve always adored cozy mysteries with a twist of the extraordinary, and The Well-Kept Secret grew from my love of small towns in the Northeast with big secrets. The idea sparked when I imagined what would happen if a magical wishing well sat at the center of a quirky New England town—and what if the person guarding it wasn’t entirely human? From there, Wishville, Vermont, and my half-human, half-Dweller heroine, Lyra Wells, came to life.
KLT: I think they offer the best of both worlds—literally! Paranormal and fantasy cozy mysteries let readers experience the comfort of a cozy town, friendship, and community, while adding a shimmer of wonder and danger just beneath the surface. It’s the thrill of asking “what if” in a world that feels familiar. We all crave a little magic once in a while.
KLT: I’ve attended plenty of fall harvest festivals and renaissance fairs, and each time I’m enchanted by the mix of nature, creativity, and community. WishFest in my books was inspired by those events—the laughter, the flicker of lanterns in the trees, the smell of fried dough and pine needles. I wanted readers to feel like they were right there, wandering through the forest with a cup of mulled cider and a mystery unfolding nearby.
KLT: Honestly? It sounds equal parts thrilling and exhausting! I’d love the magic and the connection to nature, but the responsibility of keeping two worlds from falling apart might require more coffee than I can handle. Still, I think Lyra’s role speaks to something a lot of people understand. Balancing two parts of ourselves and trying to find harmony in the process.
KLT: I would! There's something so magical about making wishes and hoping they come true. I’d probably wish for continued inspiration and time to write all the stories swirling in my head. (And maybe for my characters to behave once in a while!) But mostly, more time with my pets. I wish they lived a lot longer than they do.
KLT: I’m a proud plantser—half plotter, half pantser. I love a solid roadmap before I start, but once I begin writing, the story often takes delightful detours. My characters tend to whisper (and occasionally shout) new directions, and I’ve learned to trust them. Some of my favorite twists were happy accidents.
KLT: I love the creative side like designing graphics, countdowns, and promotions that allow me to connect with my readers. It’s an extension of storytelling, just visual and interactive. What I dislike is how time-consuming it can be. I’d rather be writing magical murder scenes than wrestling with algorithms!
KLT: Absolutely! THE WELL-LAID TRAP, book two in The Well-Kept Secret series, arrives next 1-20-26. It follows Lyra, Chief Holden Thorn, and Dweller enforcer Calderis as they investigate the disappearance of a beloved physical therapist before the Summer WishFest—only to uncover a crack in the barrier between worlds. After that will be THE WELL-HIDDEN CLUE out 5-12-26 and THE WELL-PLACED LIE out 8-4-26. I will eventually get back to my other series, but for now I'm riding the fantasy cozy mystery train and hope you will all will join me on this journey.
Thank you so much for having me. For a list of all of my works and social media links, check out my website karileetownsend.com
************************************************************************
Review
The First Wishville Mystery
Lyra Wells straddles two worlds. With a human father and Dweller mother she's part of both worlds yet doesn't fully belong in either. After her father's death and mother's disappearance the Well has chosen Lyra as its guardian. She's responsible for ensuring the four festivals happen each year in Wishville, Vermont thus keeping the treaty between humans and Dwellers intact and the worlds at peace, even though the human world has no recollection of the Dweller world below. But when the new chief of police wants to lower the number of festivals, saying they bring an unacceptable increase in crime Lyra knows she has to act quickly. Unfortunately, the chief isn't the only problem. Something is off and trouble is coming. When antiques dealer Samuel Greer is found dead next to the well Lyra realizes that trouble is already here and about to get worse. Fissures have opened and she sees Dwellers amongst the humans at the current Spring WishFest. It also seems as if the well's magic is blocked. If Lyra can't solve murder the well will not grant its spring wish, the treaty will be broken, and war will erupt once more.
I really enjoyed my first visit to Wishville and Elarion. Wishville, that mortal town filled with wacky characters, differs greatly from the more regal and solemn Dweller world. I like how Chief Thorn slowly opened himself up to possibilities. I'm not a fan of love triangles, but the dynamics between Lyra, Thorn, and Calderis are interesting. As Lyra isn't fully of either world, neither is a perfect match, yet now they must all work together-things could get very interesting! There's plenty of humor to keep you giggling, especially when the Wellies are in the scene, and I love how Vex keeps Lyra grounded, in a sarcastically humorous way.
Wonderful world building, a sassy cat (well half cat half Whispen), a hint of romance, and a bit of magic make THE WELL-KEPT SECRET an enchanting start to a new series.
The Well-Kept Secret (A Wishville Mystery) by Kari Lee Townsend
About The Well-Kept Secret
Cozy Fantasy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Wishville, Vermont
Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
Publication Date: October 28, 2025
A Spring Festival. A Magical Murder. A Secret Buried Beneath the Well.
Wishville, Vermont looks like a storybook postcard—complete with forest festivals, quirky locals, and a centuries-old wishing well that allegedly grants one wish each season. But for Lyra Wells, the magic isn’t just folklore—it’s her full-time job. As the half-human, half-Dweller Guardian of the Well, Lyra must keep the peace between the mortal world and the magical realm of Elarion. That means overseeing every seasonal WishFest, keeping tourists entertained, and pretending her glowing cat sidekick isn’t judging everyone.
But when an all-too-nosy antique dealer is found mysteriously dead by the well—and a rare memory crystal is discovered at the scene—the fragile treaty between worlds begins to unravel, and the ethereal Dweller chief enforcer isn't happy. As the townsfolk whisper about curses and coincidences, something ancient stirs beneath the surface—and it’s not ready to stay hidden.
About Kari Lee Townsend
National Bestselling Author, Agatha, RT Reviewers Choice & Golden Duck Award Nominee. Kari lives in Central New York with her husband & 3 Samoyeds. She's a lover of wine & travel (especially cruising), obsessed with reality TV, loves to try new things, and thinks there's nothing better than getting lost in a good book with at least some element of mystery, romance & humor. She writes cozy mysteries & upper middle grade as Kari Lee Townsend, as well as suspense, romance, romantic comedy & women's fiction as Kari Lee Harmon. She's most known for her Sunny Meadows Mysteries, Kalli Ballas Mysteries, and a crossover series featuring Sunny, Kalli, their detectives, and their crazy families! The Tasty Trio and Greek Mamas are her favorite characters to write about. Granny Gert is based on her late grandmother and Great Grandma Tootsie is based on her husband's late grandmother who lived to be nearly 109 years old!
Author Links- Website
- Kari Lee's Books & Babies | Facebook
- Facebook Author Page
- Amazon
- Threads
- Bluesky
- TikTok
- GoodReads
- Kari Lee Townsend Books - BookBub
- Kari Lee Townsend - YouTube
- Kari Lee's Newsletter
No comments:
Post a Comment