Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for The Well-Kept Secret (A Wishville Mystery) by Kari Lee Townsend. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
The Well-Kept Secret (A Wishville Mystery)
by Kari Lee Townsend
The Well-Kept Secret (A Wishville Mystery)
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.
Character(s) Guest Post
Coffee and Shadows: A Conversation in Wishville
A Guest Post by Chief Holden Thorn and Chief Enforcer Calderis
Holden: They told us to write a guest post. I don’t usually do these things—paperwork is bad enough—but apparently, people want to “hear from us.” So here I am.
Calderis: You say that as if it is a punishment. Speaking truth is never a waste.
Holden: See? This is what I put up with. Brooding speeches before breakfast.
Calderis: And yet you continue to invite me.
Holden: Invite isn’t the word I’d use. “Stuck with” feels more accurate.
Calderis: And still, here you remain.
Holden: Because Wishville’s my town. My job is to keep it safe. No matter who stirs up trouble. Festivals, tourists, old grudges—it all lands on my desk.
Calderis: Safety is not achieved through paperwork and boots on the ground alone. There are shadows you do not see, forces you cannot touch. That is where I stand.
Holden: Translation: he stares dramatically into the distance while I do the legwork.
Calderis: Stares pointedly at Holden.
Holden: Don’t give me that look. You know it’s true.
Calderis: What is true is that your “legwork,” as you call it, would be far more perilous without someone ensuring balance.
Holden: Balance. That’s your favorite word. You brood about it more than the Wellies gossip, and that’s saying something.
Calderis: Better to brood than to ignore what lurks beneath.
Holden: I don’t ignore it. I just prefer to deal with problems I can prove. Blood on bark. Footprints in the dirt. Witness statements. You start talking about “lurking forces” and half the town will bolt their doors.
Calderis: And the other half will line up at your office with questions you cannot answer. That is why I am here.
Holden: Here’s the thing, people don’t need riddles. They need reassurance. They want to bring their kids to WishFest, eat fried dough, and believe life is simple. My job is to make sure it stays that way.
Calderis: And my job is to ensure their simple joys do not unravel.
Holden: Funny how we both sound like we’re talking about the same thing but never quite agree.
Calderis: That is because you look outward, and I look beneath. Two halves of the same vigilance.
Holden: You ever think about lightening up? Cracking a joke? Smiling, maybe?
Calderis: Why?
Holden: Because people like to know their protectors aren’t carved from stone.
Calderis: Stone does not crack under pressure. People do.
Holden: Shakes his head. You really are hopeless.
Calderis: And yet, here we are, working side by side.
Holden: Guess that’s the part no one really sees. We don’t have to like each other’s methods to get the job done.
Calderis: Precisely.
Holden: So, there you go. Wishville’s got a cop who doesn’t believe in fairy tales and a shadow enforcer who never stops brooding. Somehow, between the two of us, the town’s still standing.
Calderis: And it will remain so.
Holden: See? Brooding again.
Calderis: Pauses. Perhaps. But sometimes, even brooding is necessary.
Holden: And sometimes, so is pie. Which is where I’m headed. You coming?
Calderis: I will…observe.
Holden: Figures.
Stay tuned for The Well-Laid Trap (A Wishville Mystery #2) 1-20-26
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
Purchase Link – Amazon
Enter the Giveaway
Prize: A gift box with a signed paperback of The Well-Kept Secret (A Wishville Mystery) by Kari Lee Townsend, a bookmark, a Miniature Fairy Garden Wishing Well, a Miniature Hand Painted Resin Black Cat with Crystal Ball Figurine, a Wish Token Pewter Coin, a Labradorite Crystal, a Pair of Fingerless Knit Bird Embroidered Moss Green Colored Gloves, a “Just One More Chapter” mug and coaster, a Make a Wish Lavender Ceramic Candle, and a Make a Wish Journal!
The Well-Kept Secret TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 28 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
October 28 – Wine Cellar Library – REVIEW
October 29 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 30 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
October 31 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
November 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 2 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
November 3 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 3 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
November 4 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 4 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 5 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
November 6 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 7 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
November 8 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 9 – Socrates Book Review – REVIEW
November 10 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST
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Thanks for having me! Good luck everyone ;)
You're welcome! Thanks for stopping!