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Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery #1
Murder's a Witch
I’m a witch with a problem. Okay, make that lots of problems.
Following a slight misunderstanding with magical law enforcement, I wind up expelled from the hidden supernatural community known as the Seattle Haven. My parole office dumps me in a tiny beach town with nothing but my collection of worldly possessions and a warning that this is my last shot.
I don’t think I’m cut out for the human world, but when stuck between a prison cell and a haunted halfway house, I suppose I’ll take option B.
Things start out better than expected, I even manage to make a few friends, but when my boss at the local coffee house is found dead in an alley, I get tangled up in the investigation, and might have to blow my cover to prove my friend’s innocence.
Add to that a fussy ghost landlady, warring vampire and shifter roommates, and my rapidly dwindling savings, and I’m beginning to wonder if I might have been better off serving that prison sentence after all.
It’s too late now. I’m in the thick of it and come hex or high water, I’ll get to the bottom of this murder, even if it means permanent banishment from the magical world.
***
Murder’s a Witch is the first book in the Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries series. A series of spunky paranormal cozy mysteries that are perfect for fans of Amanda M. Lee, Kristen Painter, and Angie Fox.
Come join the fun in Beechwood Harbor, the seaside town where witches, shifters, ghosts, and vamps all live, work, play—and mostly—get along!
Following a slight misunderstanding with magical law enforcement, I wind up expelled from the hidden supernatural community known as the Seattle Haven. My parole office dumps me in a tiny beach town with nothing but my collection of worldly possessions and a warning that this is my last shot.
I don’t think I’m cut out for the human world, but when stuck between a prison cell and a haunted halfway house, I suppose I’ll take option B.
Things start out better than expected, I even manage to make a few friends, but when my boss at the local coffee house is found dead in an alley, I get tangled up in the investigation, and might have to blow my cover to prove my friend’s innocence.
Add to that a fussy ghost landlady, warring vampire and shifter roommates, and my rapidly dwindling savings, and I’m beginning to wonder if I might have been better off serving that prison sentence after all.
It’s too late now. I’m in the thick of it and come hex or high water, I’ll get to the bottom of this murder, even if it means permanent banishment from the magical world.
***
Murder’s a Witch is the first book in the Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries series. A series of spunky paranormal cozy mysteries that are perfect for fans of Amanda M. Lee, Kristen Painter, and Angie Fox.
Come join the fun in Beechwood Harbor, the seaside town where witches, shifters, ghosts, and vamps all live, work, play—and mostly—get along!
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2016
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July 3, 2021dnf for now
September 12, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -Audiobook
Me: I need to stop starting so many series and finish the series I’ve already started.
Also me: Starts a New Series.
🥴🙄😂
Me: I need to stop starting so many series and finish the series I’ve already started.
Also me: Starts a New Series.
🥴🙄😂
December 4, 2021
This is a cozy mystery, and this is the first book in the Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery. The beginning was boring, but it slowly picked up. I have to say when the book got going I fell in love with this cozy witch mystery. I love all the characters in this book, and I love all the different types of characters that is it this book and book series.
February 15, 2018
Holly Bolt, a potions witch is given one last chance for a fresh start and is residing in a halfway house, run by a ghost for paranormals. She lives with a shifter wolf, vampire and a strange man on the third floor who keeps odd hours. The manor is situated in the quiet town of Beechwood Harbor where Holly works fulltime as a barista.
The story that unfolds was an interesting one and begins with a man sneaking around their house. She confronts him, and he claims to be interested in hosting haunted tours in her home. Holly begins to worry its something more. Before she even has time to contemplate what he is up to, she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigating, and her fellow employee is the prime suspect. She vows to clear her friend's name but must tread carefully, or she'll soon find herself in trouble with the paranormal community. To complicate matters the ghostly owner of their home is depressed, and the wolf and vampire are fighting.
Garrett did a fantastic job of introducing us to our heroine and key secondary characters while delighting us with a murder-mystery. Twists, suspects and paranormal complications kept me engaged. The town has all the charm one would expect in a small-town and the downside too, like nosey neighbors and town gossips. The murder is the talk of the town.
I love the premise of the halfway house, and we learn a little about the hierarchy in the paranormal world and the agency that monitors these displaced paranormals. I like that the supernatural world lives side-by-side in secret with humans.
This series has five published books out, and all have four plus stars on Goodreads. I am delighted to see them beginning to publish in audio format.
I've enjoyed the narrations of Amanda Ronconi and in truth, weighed heavily on my decision to start the series. She captured Holly, the residence of the manor and the small-town charm. I am hoping she continues to narrate the series. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
The story that unfolds was an interesting one and begins with a man sneaking around their house. She confronts him, and he claims to be interested in hosting haunted tours in her home. Holly begins to worry its something more. Before she even has time to contemplate what he is up to, she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigating, and her fellow employee is the prime suspect. She vows to clear her friend's name but must tread carefully, or she'll soon find herself in trouble with the paranormal community. To complicate matters the ghostly owner of their home is depressed, and the wolf and vampire are fighting.
Garrett did a fantastic job of introducing us to our heroine and key secondary characters while delighting us with a murder-mystery. Twists, suspects and paranormal complications kept me engaged. The town has all the charm one would expect in a small-town and the downside too, like nosey neighbors and town gossips. The murder is the talk of the town.
I love the premise of the halfway house, and we learn a little about the hierarchy in the paranormal world and the agency that monitors these displaced paranormals. I like that the supernatural world lives side-by-side in secret with humans.
This series has five published books out, and all have four plus stars on Goodreads. I am delighted to see them beginning to publish in audio format.
I've enjoyed the narrations of Amanda Ronconi and in truth, weighed heavily on my decision to start the series. She captured Holly, the residence of the manor and the small-town charm. I am hoping she continues to narrate the series. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
February 26, 2019
I was determined to finally read an audiobook with another narrator, as all the ones I had listened to so far were narrated by Nicole Poole. I love her style, but I wanted to broaden my audiobook horizons. One of my blogging friends recommended this one. Murder's Witch is a fun paranormal cozy mystery book. And after a rocky start I found myself quite enjoying it.
Having only listened to one narrator so far I had a bit of trouble getting used to the different style of this narrator. I think this problem will get less when I listen to more audiobooks, but for now it was quite the challenge to get used to a different narrator. I think I also started reading it in the wrong mood. Besides needing to get sued to the narrator, the story wasn't fully gripping me at first and Nick and Adam both got on my nerves. I struggled through the first few hours, but then suddenly I had a different mood and had listened enough to get used to the narrator, the mystery was in full swing and from then onward I was into the story and had fun listening.
The mystery was quite interesting and I liked how it got resolved. Peg, the owner of the coffee shop where main character Holly works gets murdered and it shakes up the whole town. Holly's best friend Cassie is the main suspect so ofcourse Holly gets involved to clear her friend. I liked how Holly was such a good friend to Cassie and was there for her. It made sense for Holly to get involved in the mystery and I liked for the most part how she handled it. I also liked how there was a bit of an unique progression the mystery made toward the end and it deviated a bit from most cozy mysteries, which worked here. I wans't too surprised at the murderer, but the mystery was still a good one. I like how the paranormal aspect was light when it came to the mystery, but the magic did play a role in how she solved it.
Holly was a nice character. I didn't like her interactions with Nick and Adam at first as she seemed a bit rude to them. But I did appreciate how she changed her behavior when she realizes she was wrong. She is also a great friend to Cassie. And I liked getting a feel for her character and how she's finally finding a place for herself here in Beechwood Manor. There are some hints about trouble in her past which is the reason why she is here, but we don't get the details. I think/ hope that will play a role in future books. I also liked Boots (I think that's how you spell it?), her familiar. He seemed like a typical cat and then there's the scene he shows his true familiar powers, which was great.
There is hint of possible romance and a love triangle in this book. Both Nick and Adam seem possible love interest and her relationship with both grows quite a bit over the course of this book. I actually disliked both of them at the start of the book, but by the end I had changed my opinion and they seemed nice enough now that they adjusted their attitude's toward Holly a bit. I don't have a strong preference for either yet and both seem like they would be a good fit for Holly, but both in a different way.
I liked the paranormal aspect. It was quite present throughout the course of the book, with holly being a witch and the manor being full of paranormal creatures that she interacts with. I liked how it was a part of the book and quite present, but there are also enough non magical scenes. It was blended well into the story. I also liked the fact that Holly was a potion witch, it was quite interesting and not something I see often in books.
It took me some time to get used to the narrator's style, but by the end of the book I was quite enjoying the narration. I liked how she did Holly's voice and most of the side characters were well done too. Although I think she did the female voices better than the male ones.
To summarize: While I had some trouble getting into the book at first, as the story progressed I got more into it and had fun listening. The mystery was done well, I especially liked the slightly unique twist at the end as it was different from most cozies. Although I wasn't too surprised by who the murderer was. I liked Holly as main character and how much she cared about her friend Cassie. I liked how she is finding her place here in Beechwood Harbor. I also liked her familiar Boots. There is a bit of a romance set-up with two potential love interests. I didn't like Nick or Adam at first, but they grew on me as the story progressed and they grew more likable. The paranormal aspect was well done and nicely balanced with the other elements of the story. I liked the narrator, although it took me some time to get used to her style, which made the start of the book a bit of a struggle. I liked how she did Holly's voice. I thought she handled the female voices better than the male voices. All in all this was a fun paranormal cozy mystery series and I plan to continue this series.
Having only listened to one narrator so far I had a bit of trouble getting used to the different style of this narrator. I think this problem will get less when I listen to more audiobooks, but for now it was quite the challenge to get used to a different narrator. I think I also started reading it in the wrong mood. Besides needing to get sued to the narrator, the story wasn't fully gripping me at first and Nick and Adam both got on my nerves. I struggled through the first few hours, but then suddenly I had a different mood and had listened enough to get used to the narrator, the mystery was in full swing and from then onward I was into the story and had fun listening.
The mystery was quite interesting and I liked how it got resolved. Peg, the owner of the coffee shop where main character Holly works gets murdered and it shakes up the whole town. Holly's best friend Cassie is the main suspect so ofcourse Holly gets involved to clear her friend. I liked how Holly was such a good friend to Cassie and was there for her. It made sense for Holly to get involved in the mystery and I liked for the most part how she handled it. I also liked how there was a bit of an unique progression the mystery made toward the end and it deviated a bit from most cozy mysteries, which worked here. I wans't too surprised at the murderer, but the mystery was still a good one. I like how the paranormal aspect was light when it came to the mystery, but the magic did play a role in how she solved it.
Holly was a nice character. I didn't like her interactions with Nick and Adam at first as she seemed a bit rude to them. But I did appreciate how she changed her behavior when she realizes she was wrong. She is also a great friend to Cassie. And I liked getting a feel for her character and how she's finally finding a place for herself here in Beechwood Manor. There are some hints about trouble in her past which is the reason why she is here, but we don't get the details. I think/ hope that will play a role in future books. I also liked Boots (I think that's how you spell it?), her familiar. He seemed like a typical cat and then there's the scene he shows his true familiar powers, which was great.
There is hint of possible romance and a love triangle in this book. Both Nick and Adam seem possible love interest and her relationship with both grows quite a bit over the course of this book. I actually disliked both of them at the start of the book, but by the end I had changed my opinion and they seemed nice enough now that they adjusted their attitude's toward Holly a bit. I don't have a strong preference for either yet and both seem like they would be a good fit for Holly, but both in a different way.
I liked the paranormal aspect. It was quite present throughout the course of the book, with holly being a witch and the manor being full of paranormal creatures that she interacts with. I liked how it was a part of the book and quite present, but there are also enough non magical scenes. It was blended well into the story. I also liked the fact that Holly was a potion witch, it was quite interesting and not something I see often in books.
It took me some time to get used to the narrator's style, but by the end of the book I was quite enjoying the narration. I liked how she did Holly's voice and most of the side characters were well done too. Although I think she did the female voices better than the male ones.
To summarize: While I had some trouble getting into the book at first, as the story progressed I got more into it and had fun listening. The mystery was done well, I especially liked the slightly unique twist at the end as it was different from most cozies. Although I wasn't too surprised by who the murderer was. I liked Holly as main character and how much she cared about her friend Cassie. I liked how she is finding her place here in Beechwood Harbor. I also liked her familiar Boots. There is a bit of a romance set-up with two potential love interests. I didn't like Nick or Adam at first, but they grew on me as the story progressed and they grew more likable. The paranormal aspect was well done and nicely balanced with the other elements of the story. I liked the narrator, although it took me some time to get used to her style, which made the start of the book a bit of a struggle. I liked how she did Holly's voice. I thought she handled the female voices better than the male voices. All in all this was a fun paranormal cozy mystery series and I plan to continue this series.
May 20, 2023
Love me a witch book! this was so fun! Holly is a banished witch who is now living in a paranormal halfway house with a vampire, a ghost, a shifter, and a yet to be disclosed paranormal creature. I loved the banter between all these characters. The mystery was very well plotted for a cozy, but I have to say the characters in this book stole the show. There is also a potential love triangle on the horizon. Excited to read more in this witchy cozy romance/mystery series!
November 18, 2021
Mon avis en français
My English review
I’ve heard a lot about this series and was curious about this first volume!
Holly is a witch who had to leave her world after some transgressions to live on Earth. She isn’t happy about that! On top of that, she’s now living in an old mansion run by a stressed-out ghost, and where her roommates are a sexy werewolf, a vampire who dreams of winning a beauty pageant, and Garry, a terrifying man whose nature nobody knows. But here’s the thing: her new life is going relatively well and she’s even found a job at a coffee shop where one of her co-workers has become her best friend. That is, until she stumbles upon the dead body of her manager in the alley behind the shop… Worse than that, all suspicions are on her best friend! Determined to find out who’s responsible, Holly must team up with the town’s private investigator aka paranormal detective while hoping he doesn’t discover her secret. Not an easy task!
I had a great time with the novel and was curious to find out who the culprit was. I was also wondering what would happen with Nick, the detective and Adam the werewolf. I was a little dubious about one point of the investigation, but it wasn’t a big deal.
It was a nice cozy, the characters are great and I’m pretty curious to see them again in the sequel!
My English review
I’ve heard a lot about this series and was curious about this first volume!
Holly is a witch who had to leave her world after some transgressions to live on Earth. She isn’t happy about that! On top of that, she’s now living in an old mansion run by a stressed-out ghost, and where her roommates are a sexy werewolf, a vampire who dreams of winning a beauty pageant, and Garry, a terrifying man whose nature nobody knows. But here’s the thing: her new life is going relatively well and she’s even found a job at a coffee shop where one of her co-workers has become her best friend. That is, until she stumbles upon the dead body of her manager in the alley behind the shop… Worse than that, all suspicions are on her best friend! Determined to find out who’s responsible, Holly must team up with the town’s private investigator aka paranormal detective while hoping he doesn’t discover her secret. Not an easy task!
I had a great time with the novel and was curious to find out who the culprit was. I was also wondering what would happen with Nick, the detective and Adam the werewolf. I was a little dubious about one point of the investigation, but it wasn’t a big deal.
It was a nice cozy, the characters are great and I’m pretty curious to see them again in the sequel!
December 22, 2016
Murder’s a Witch is book one in the Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery by Danielle Garrett. It’s a cozy mystery, light and thoroughly entertaining.
Holly Bolt is not your normal Witch. She has been banished to Beechwood Harbor. I found Holly to be a delightful character with a mysterious past. I am wonder why Holly is banished. I did read another reviews review and they mentioned a prequel that explains this, so I’ll have to go and find it.
All the secondary characters were amusing and fun. It’s a great cast that includes a shifter, a vampire and a ghost plus a pesky P.I..
Their is a possible love interest or two, but this is not a romance book. It’s a mystery. A murder occurs, a friend is the main suspect, and Holly has a desire to find the true culprit to help her friend out.
Murder’s a Witch is a light magical mystery full of twists and turns. I’m curious to see what happens next with this cast of characters.
Rated: 4 Stars
November 24, 2022
I picked this up without holding out much expectations or anything but it really surprised me in a good way.
This was such a light hearted and fun book with every supernatural creature you could think of -witches, vampires, shapeshifters, ghosts and even gargoyles!
The murder mystery in itself was a super engaging one and although I started doubting the culprit somewhere during the middle of the book, it was still fun to follow the characters through the end and see how they solve the crime.
I loved Holly and Adam's banter and I really hope she ends up with him and not Nick!
Will definitely continue with the series.
This was such a light hearted and fun book with every supernatural creature you could think of -witches, vampires, shapeshifters, ghosts and even gargoyles!
The murder mystery in itself was a super engaging one and although I started doubting the culprit somewhere during the middle of the book, it was still fun to follow the characters through the end and see how they solve the crime.
I loved Holly and Adam's banter and I really hope she ends up with him and not Nick!
Will definitely continue with the series.
November 27, 2018
This was a fun cute story. Good narration by Amanda Ronconi (audible reveiw)
I enjoyed it. I little relief from the serial killer, murder mysteries I have been reading lately. Even though this was a murder mystery, it was a light fun read.
The story line was good, it did take a while to get into the characters and it is written in the first person which did cause a bit of filler internal thoughts that were kind of unnecessary and sometimes annoying. But it was still a fun little read/listen.
As for the narration, it was good. Amanda Ronconi did a good job on the male voices and her reading voice is good. She reads with emotion as called for.
This was a free read free listen with KU.
I enjoyed it. I little relief from the serial killer, murder mysteries I have been reading lately. Even though this was a murder mystery, it was a light fun read.
The story line was good, it did take a while to get into the characters and it is written in the first person which did cause a bit of filler internal thoughts that were kind of unnecessary and sometimes annoying. But it was still a fun little read/listen.
As for the narration, it was good. Amanda Ronconi did a good job on the male voices and her reading voice is good. She reads with emotion as called for.
This was a free read free listen with KU.
March 13, 2019
This book was not really great. The idea in itself is nice, but the book is better suited for 10-14 years old. Also it is very slow. Seems like things take ages tohappen. This is ok by me, if I read a character driven novel, which was not the case.
Maybe the next parts will get better, so if I’m in the mood,I might give it another try.
Maybe the next parts will get better, so if I’m in the mood,I might give it another try.
March 4, 2023
Murder is a witch, is the first book in the Beechwood Harbour Magic mystery series. This is the second Beachwood Harbor series. I have read, and it looks like this series will be as excellent as the first one was.
Holly is a witch who lives in a manner with a vampire, a shifter and various other roommates …
A murder occurs, and it appears that one of Hollys friends may be responsible !
Holly needs to solve the murder and save her friend.
These are really fun, murder mysteries with supernatural and human characters as well. If you like anything witchy or anything supernatural, this is definitely a series for you.
Holly is a witch who lives in a manner with a vampire, a shifter and various other roommates …
A murder occurs, and it appears that one of Hollys friends may be responsible !
Holly needs to solve the murder and save her friend.
These are really fun, murder mysteries with supernatural and human characters as well. If you like anything witchy or anything supernatural, this is definitely a series for you.
August 27, 2019
I have been meaning to try this series since I've seen several book pals really enjoy them. Finally, took the opportunity. I had a blast getting to know Holly, her fat cat familiar, her quirky roommates, and of course the mysteries and other complications that come with a witch who has her secrets.
Holly has landed in small town Beechwood Harbor as a sort of last chance to get her act together. She is determined for this to be a last stop and a home. She's made friends at the coffee shop where she works and has gotten to know a few of her roommates save the creepy one upstairs.
Then her crotchety boss is murdered and her best friend, Cassie is accused.
Holly has to produce some of that old black magic if she is to get to the bottom of things and keep a snoopy PI with an interest in the paranormal from figuring out the mansion she lives in really is haunted. And, is the flirtatious shifter really interested or is she a game with him?
I liked the blend of paranormal and cozy mystery with a dab of romance. It was an easy read with a light touch even though it had a murder in the center of it all. It was fun having several paranormals involved and hiding in plain sight with the humans. Each character is fun and particularly Holly and her friends.
The mystery wasn't that tough to figure out, but it was still engaging watching how Holly would get to the bottom of it. There's a secondary plot thread that added quite a bit of excitement and added to the mystery.
It's early to tell, but there are whiffs of romance happening. Maybe even a potential triangle. Stay tuned...
All in all, it was a nice start to a series and I look forward to the next installment. Definitely a series I can recommend to paranormal cozy mystery fans.
COYER Summer Scavenger Hunt Clue- first in series 1 pt.
Holly has landed in small town Beechwood Harbor as a sort of last chance to get her act together. She is determined for this to be a last stop and a home. She's made friends at the coffee shop where she works and has gotten to know a few of her roommates save the creepy one upstairs.
Then her crotchety boss is murdered and her best friend, Cassie is accused.
Holly has to produce some of that old black magic if she is to get to the bottom of things and keep a snoopy PI with an interest in the paranormal from figuring out the mansion she lives in really is haunted. And, is the flirtatious shifter really interested or is she a game with him?
I liked the blend of paranormal and cozy mystery with a dab of romance. It was an easy read with a light touch even though it had a murder in the center of it all. It was fun having several paranormals involved and hiding in plain sight with the humans. Each character is fun and particularly Holly and her friends.
The mystery wasn't that tough to figure out, but it was still engaging watching how Holly would get to the bottom of it. There's a secondary plot thread that added quite a bit of excitement and added to the mystery.
It's early to tell, but there are whiffs of romance happening. Maybe even a potential triangle. Stay tuned...
All in all, it was a nice start to a series and I look forward to the next installment. Definitely a series I can recommend to paranormal cozy mystery fans.
COYER Summer Scavenger Hunt Clue- first in series 1 pt.
March 16, 2019
I read this from KU in preparation for reading more of this series. It has the elements which I enjoy in a cozy mystery without having many of those I don't. I thought it was fun and well-written.
July 13, 2023
I read many of Ms. Garrett's Ghost Mystery books so I thought I'd give this a try. It did not disappoint. I already knew Holly and Siren's Song coffee shop from the ghost mystery. It was great to see Holly's life as a witch. I love the idea of the landlord being a ghost and renting her rooms to supernatural beings. I was surprised by who the murderer was. On to book 2.
June 5, 2022
Ce 1er tome de la série "Holly Boldt" est un petit cozy mystery paranormal très sympa ! On fait la connaissance de Holly, donc, sorcière exclue de sa communauté pour des raisons que nous ne connaîtrons pas pour le moment, et qui a trouvé refuge depuis quelques mois dans une coloc pour surnaturels, dans la petite ville humaine de Beechwood Harbor.
Il y a vraiment une ambiance sympa dans ce roman, avec cette routine quotidienne au café dans lequel travaille l'héroïne et ses séances de préparation de potions. Seulement entre un meurtre aussi brutal qu'inattendu et un nouveau coloc mystérieux et inquiétant, la petite vie tranquille de Holly va connaître un sacré coup d'accélérateur.
La plume de l'autrice est très agréable, les évènements s'enchaînent avec fluidité, elle fournit jusque ce qu'il faut de descriptions, il y a de l'action, un poil de suspense, tout est bien équilibré. Je m'attendais à quelque chose de plus "badass" car ces derniers temps, j'ai beaucoup lu d'urban fantasy, et curieusement, ce tempo plus cozy m'a bien plu !
J'ai bien aimé les interactions entre Holly et les autres personnages, que ce soit sa collègue Cassie, Boots a.k.a son familier (un chat), ses colocs Adam et Lacey, mais aussi avec Posy, la ... gardienne de la maison dans laquelle vivent ces surnaturels.
Les piques constantes entre Lacey la vampire fan de concours de beauté et Adam le métamorphe qui ne rate pas une occasion de se moquer d'elle sont savoureuses à lire.
Puisqu'on est dans un cozy mystery, il y aura bien une enquête (de meurtre) à résoudre, et c'est assez bien fait, et encore une fois, bien dosé par l'autrice.
J'ai passé un moment très sympa avec ce petit roman, et je me réjouis d'ores et déjà de lire la suite, afin de retrouver tous ces personnages, cette ambiance cozy et de découvrir leurs nouvelles aventures !
Il y a vraiment une ambiance sympa dans ce roman, avec cette routine quotidienne au café dans lequel travaille l'héroïne et ses séances de préparation de potions. Seulement entre un meurtre aussi brutal qu'inattendu et un nouveau coloc mystérieux et inquiétant, la petite vie tranquille de Holly va connaître un sacré coup d'accélérateur.
La plume de l'autrice est très agréable, les évènements s'enchaînent avec fluidité, elle fournit jusque ce qu'il faut de descriptions, il y a de l'action, un poil de suspense, tout est bien équilibré. Je m'attendais à quelque chose de plus "badass" car ces derniers temps, j'ai beaucoup lu d'urban fantasy, et curieusement, ce tempo plus cozy m'a bien plu !
J'ai bien aimé les interactions entre Holly et les autres personnages, que ce soit sa collègue Cassie, Boots a.k.a son familier (un chat), ses colocs Adam et Lacey, mais aussi avec Posy, la ... gardienne de la maison dans laquelle vivent ces surnaturels.
Les piques constantes entre Lacey la vampire fan de concours de beauté et Adam le métamorphe qui ne rate pas une occasion de se moquer d'elle sont savoureuses à lire.
Puisqu'on est dans un cozy mystery, il y aura bien une enquête (de meurtre) à résoudre, et c'est assez bien fait, et encore une fois, bien dosé par l'autrice.
J'ai passé un moment très sympa avec ce petit roman, et je me réjouis d'ores et déjà de lire la suite, afin de retrouver tous ces personnages, cette ambiance cozy et de découvrir leurs nouvelles aventures !
April 27, 2018
Murder's a Witch was not the best paranormal cozy that I have ever read. The characters were ok, the story was ok....everything was just ok. I guess I find that I prefer a witch who struggles a little bit more with her magic; who isn't perfect in every spell that she tries. While in her situation Holly feels she isn't perfect--she is living in the human world, in a halfway house for displaced paranormals--she is mature in her magic. She does call on her ancestors for aid but once she does, all is well. I like some struggle and some error here and there. But I guess witches don't make mistakes in these books. Just murdering humans.
October 22, 2023
Quite interesting ways the main characters from Danielle Garrett's books seem to meet new people.
Having read a big chunk of the Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mystery series I know about some of the characters mentioned in this series. It's fun getting the chance to follow Holly around after hearing about her from Scarlet's point of view. Some of the charters in this series have already caught my attention and have me wanting to continue on to see what happens next.I'm also looking forward to see if/how any of the characters from the Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mystery series cross over into these books.
Having read a big chunk of the Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mystery series I know about some of the characters mentioned in this series. It's fun getting the chance to follow Holly around after hearing about her from Scarlet's point of view. Some of the charters in this series have already caught my attention and have me wanting to continue on to see what happens next.I'm also looking forward to see if/how any of the characters from the Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mystery series cross over into these books.
October 14, 2022
3.5 stars
September 24, 2024
I liked listening to this book, but I’m not sure it’s one I’d enjoy just sitting down and reading. My biggest problem is the potential love triangle. I really don’t like those.
A few swear words, but not many and otherwise very clean.
A few swear words, but not many and otherwise very clean.
April 1, 2018
My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.
I will admit that I grabbed this audiobook because I thought the cover was cute, the blurb sounded interesting and most important of all, I LOVE Amanda Ronconi. This isn’t the first time that I saw a favorite narrator listed and I decide to look more closely at the book. I’ve found some really great stories by browsing by narrator. It is something I highly recommend. This was another winner for me.
So this book is about Holly Boldt. She’s a witch. She’s lived the majority of her life in Havens, which are almost like a parallel world for supernaturals. However, she’s been banned from the Haven and now has to live on Earth. She is living in a house with three other roommates (werewolf, vampire and unknown), all of which are supernatural. The owner of the house is a ghost who still lives in the attic. The SPA, which is kinda like a government for supernaturals, does all the legal stuff for the ghost homeowner.
There isn’t much of a mystery at the beginning as the author builds the world and introduces several characters. While it takes a bit for the suspense to get underway, I found that I still enjoyed the story. I had fun with the characters as I was getting to know them.
Then Holly’s boss turns up dead. Not only dead, but murdered. Holly works at a coffee shop. Her boss was bludgeoned to death with a bottle of peppermint syrup. Eww. The issue then because that Holly’s best friend, who also argued with the shop owner the night before her death, also spilled peppermint syrup on her shoes. You can see the problem.
I should also add that there is a new guy in town, a private investigator. He also does paranormal investigations on the side, which has the tenants of Beechwood Manor a little on edge. There is also the new owner of the coffee shop. Also, one of the “unknown” tenant of the house is acting weird. So there are plenty of suspects to go around.
I thought this was a quick and fun listen. I really enjoyed the story. I felt it had some humor too it. The suspense was great. I really enjoyed my time with all of the characters. This is my first cozy mystery. I really enjoyed it. I’m excited to get more of these books under my belt. I need to find more of these paranormal cozy mysteries.
Narration
What can I say Amanda Ronconi? If you haven’t tried her, I highly recommend her. I know her mostly from Molly Harper’s books, but I’ve listened to her narrate a few other things. She is a great narrator. Especially, if the book has humor in it. There is something about the way she reads a book that really brings out the humor. You can’t help but laugh out loud. Again, look this woman up. She is a lot of fun.
**I like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I will admit that I grabbed this audiobook because I thought the cover was cute, the blurb sounded interesting and most important of all, I LOVE Amanda Ronconi. This isn’t the first time that I saw a favorite narrator listed and I decide to look more closely at the book. I’ve found some really great stories by browsing by narrator. It is something I highly recommend. This was another winner for me.
So this book is about Holly Boldt. She’s a witch. She’s lived the majority of her life in Havens, which are almost like a parallel world for supernaturals. However, she’s been banned from the Haven and now has to live on Earth. She is living in a house with three other roommates (werewolf, vampire and unknown), all of which are supernatural. The owner of the house is a ghost who still lives in the attic. The SPA, which is kinda like a government for supernaturals, does all the legal stuff for the ghost homeowner.
There isn’t much of a mystery at the beginning as the author builds the world and introduces several characters. While it takes a bit for the suspense to get underway, I found that I still enjoyed the story. I had fun with the characters as I was getting to know them.
Then Holly’s boss turns up dead. Not only dead, but murdered. Holly works at a coffee shop. Her boss was bludgeoned to death with a bottle of peppermint syrup. Eww. The issue then because that Holly’s best friend, who also argued with the shop owner the night before her death, also spilled peppermint syrup on her shoes. You can see the problem.
I should also add that there is a new guy in town, a private investigator. He also does paranormal investigations on the side, which has the tenants of Beechwood Manor a little on edge. There is also the new owner of the coffee shop. Also, one of the “unknown” tenant of the house is acting weird. So there are plenty of suspects to go around.
I thought this was a quick and fun listen. I really enjoyed the story. I felt it had some humor too it. The suspense was great. I really enjoyed my time with all of the characters. This is my first cozy mystery. I really enjoyed it. I’m excited to get more of these books under my belt. I need to find more of these paranormal cozy mysteries.
Narration
What can I say Amanda Ronconi? If you haven’t tried her, I highly recommend her. I know her mostly from Molly Harper’s books, but I’ve listened to her narrate a few other things. She is a great narrator. Especially, if the book has humor in it. There is something about the way she reads a book that really brings out the humor. You can’t help but laugh out loud. Again, look this woman up. She is a lot of fun.
**I like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2019
As a mystery novel, Murder is a Witch is awful. As a light paranormal romance, Murder is a Witch is hardly distinguishable from any other novel of the genre.
Oh, the usual cozy tropes and clichés are all accounted for, from the small town gossips, to the prick of a lead investigator who targets the town’s doe eyed sweetheart, to the “cat lady “protagonist who, despite her inability and unwillingness to defend herself, undertakes to solve a murder and confront the perpetrator (the Miss Fortune and Low Country series are beautiful exceptions), but this was hardly the best I’ve read.
To continue, the “detective work” you might expect from even a cozy mystery happens by chance; with exception to the B&E so typical of the cozy, most of the major clues are discovered through tangential confrontations/conversations with characters who have little to do with the murder or the victim thereof.
Add to that the promise of a love triangle, one comprised of two overprotective alpha men and a damsel in distress who hurls empty threats, reluctantly wields magic, and fumbles/freezes ala Bella Swan in a fight, and you’ve got a starter-kit for your basic PNR.
Also, Holly is just this side of TSTL. Anyone familiar with Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan will recognize how. Moreover, part of what annoyed me about Holly was that she seemed to forfeit all of the little mental battles with the men with whom she interacted. She rarely stood her ground, which is a huge minus for me.
It was almost like the author was struggling not to write a kickass heroine.
Worst of all, the murderer couldn’t have been more obvious. I’m not joking; the killer is literally the first person you’ll think of, maybe the second. Bottom line, the most shocking thing about the “reveal” will be that it was so obvious.
Honestly, even if you take into account the whole “book one” thing, this one reads like a first or second draft of a potentially lovely manuscript.
This is further evidenced by the occasional, but ultimately distracting, cases of redundant usage and awkward syntax. Note that I’m no grammarian; this review is undoubtedly rife with gaffs. The difference is that I’m not a professional author trying to keep paying customers engaged in a story.
All that aside, the paranormal stuff is interesting, and the light and fluffy nature of it all is a welcome respite from the horror novels and darker mysteries I’ve been reading lately.
I have the box set and will continue the series through book three. We’ll see what we see.
Oh, the usual cozy tropes and clichés are all accounted for, from the small town gossips, to the prick of a lead investigator who targets the town’s doe eyed sweetheart, to the “cat lady “protagonist who, despite her inability and unwillingness to defend herself, undertakes to solve a murder and confront the perpetrator (the Miss Fortune and Low Country series are beautiful exceptions), but this was hardly the best I’ve read.
To continue, the “detective work” you might expect from even a cozy mystery happens by chance; with exception to the B&E so typical of the cozy, most of the major clues are discovered through tangential confrontations/conversations with characters who have little to do with the murder or the victim thereof.
Add to that the promise of a love triangle, one comprised of two overprotective alpha men and a damsel in distress who hurls empty threats, reluctantly wields magic, and fumbles/freezes ala Bella Swan in a fight, and you’ve got a starter-kit for your basic PNR.
Also, Holly is just this side of TSTL. Anyone familiar with Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan will recognize how. Moreover, part of what annoyed me about Holly was that she seemed to forfeit all of the little mental battles with the men with whom she interacted. She rarely stood her ground, which is a huge minus for me.
It was almost like the author was struggling not to write a kickass heroine.
Worst of all, the murderer couldn’t have been more obvious. I’m not joking; the killer is literally the first person you’ll think of, maybe the second. Bottom line, the most shocking thing about the “reveal” will be that it was so obvious.
Honestly, even if you take into account the whole “book one” thing, this one reads like a first or second draft of a potentially lovely manuscript.
This is further evidenced by the occasional, but ultimately distracting, cases of redundant usage and awkward syntax. Note that I’m no grammarian; this review is undoubtedly rife with gaffs. The difference is that I’m not a professional author trying to keep paying customers engaged in a story.
All that aside, the paranormal stuff is interesting, and the light and fluffy nature of it all is a welcome respite from the horror novels and darker mysteries I’ve been reading lately.
I have the box set and will continue the series through book three. We’ll see what we see.
March 12, 2017
When Holly Bolt is banished to Beechwood Harbor as punishment, she doesn't expect to like where she ends up. However surprisingly, it feels like home and she has actually started making friends. Then her boss at the coffee shop is brutally murdered, and she learns that part of having friends is helping them out when they are the main suspect in a murder case! Also new to the town is Nick who is PI and has an interest in paranormal tours, specifically the house (Beechwood Manor) where Holly lives. And if all that isn't enough, the shifter who lives in the house has taken an interest in Holly and she doesn't know how to handle that. Besides Adam, the shifter, there is also Posy (ghost) who is the "owner" of the house; Lacey, a vampiress, and Gary, who is an unknown new resident. Holly is the designated peace keeper between Adam and Lacey who fight frequently.
As Holly tries to clear her co-worker and friend Casey of the murder, she gets assistance from both Nick and Adam, and Adam is more than a little jealous of Nick! Meanwhile problems escalate at the house with Gary becoming loud and violent. It turns out Gary is a Gargoyle, and Gargoyles have very little regards for humans and even witches. It takes both her familiar-a 20 pound cat named Boots-and Adam-shifted into a 160 pound dog who is almost bear like-to keep Gary from harming Holly.
So many little mysteries and details combine to make this a delightful book. Holly is busy trying to be a witch but not blow her cover in this non-magical community. She is very self-sufficient and resourceful. I like the characters-both supernatural and human-and the way they see or don't see what is really going on. It is a fun book that I recommend for anyone who likes witches and supernatural stories. If you join the author's mailing list at this time, you will be sent a free prequel to the series called A Witch of a Day. If you read that first you will get Holly's background and find out why she was banished to Beechwood Manor to begin with.
As Holly tries to clear her co-worker and friend Casey of the murder, she gets assistance from both Nick and Adam, and Adam is more than a little jealous of Nick! Meanwhile problems escalate at the house with Gary becoming loud and violent. It turns out Gary is a Gargoyle, and Gargoyles have very little regards for humans and even witches. It takes both her familiar-a 20 pound cat named Boots-and Adam-shifted into a 160 pound dog who is almost bear like-to keep Gary from harming Holly.
So many little mysteries and details combine to make this a delightful book. Holly is busy trying to be a witch but not blow her cover in this non-magical community. She is very self-sufficient and resourceful. I like the characters-both supernatural and human-and the way they see or don't see what is really going on. It is a fun book that I recommend for anyone who likes witches and supernatural stories. If you join the author's mailing list at this time, you will be sent a free prequel to the series called A Witch of a Day. If you read that first you will get Holly's background and find out why she was banished to Beechwood Manor to begin with.
May 25, 2018
This book is sooooo slooooow. 'I stood up and I moved my legs and I walked to the other side of the room. There was an armchair there and I stretched out my arms and I shoved the chair aside. I was looking for a book and I looked for my glasses in my blouse, but I couldn't find it. I squinted at the bookcase, going from cover to cover. When I finally saw the right book, I picked up the book and stroked the cover with my hand and then I opened the book and went through the pages with my fingers and then I was looking for a certain page and my cat made a sound and I found the page, on the page were letters and then I read something interesting.' Gaaah. It's like a cure for insomnia.
This book is so boring that I find myself with enough time rewrite sentences in my head to half it's length or less, like the equivalent of doodling because I'm that bored. Did nobody edit this book? Murder me. Murder me now. How does this book have an average rating of 4.06 stars, how?!
This book is so boring that I find myself with enough time rewrite sentences in my head to half it's length or less, like the equivalent of doodling because I'm that bored. Did nobody edit this book? Murder me. Murder me now. How does this book have an average rating of 4.06 stars, how?!
May 7, 2019
Murder's a Witch is the first book in the Beechwood Harbor Mysteries and was a fun start to a series.Holly is a witch and she has had some troubles which made her have to relocate to another halfway house for displaced paranormals. She lives with a very handsome shapeshifter and a vampire. There is also another tenant but we don't find out a lot about him till later and he is not there long. When her friend is accused of murder she must try and figure out what actually happened. Not only does she have to deal with that but there is a paranormal investigator snooping around and she has to make sure he doesn't find out what they are while she tries finding a killer.This has some fun characters that I think I will end up enjoying the more I get into this series. I liked Holly, Adam and the rest as I can't remember their names...lol. I also enjoyed the mystery and found it interesting how they got the person to confess after learning who it was that committed the murder.
October 25, 2018
Is Murder's a Witch a marketing ploy to get us to read more of her books? It's a genius. My fondness for paranormal fantasy and witches has been rekindled. Holly Boldt is a potion's witch that comes to live in a halfway house for displaced paranormals in Beechwood Harbor. The elusive reason why she ends up living with 4 other paranormals is not explained until we read the prequel novella,
Witch of A Day
, but we have a vampire, a shapeshifter wolf, a gargoyle and a ghost.
I don't know what it takes to write good characters but Danielle seems to have it in spades.
I loved all the characters in this book!
Even the ones who are bad.
I don't know what it takes to write good characters but Danielle seems to have it in spades.
I loved all the characters in this book!
Even the ones who are bad.
August 20, 2019
WoW! I really enjoyed this book and can not wait to read more into the series. The world sounds amazing and so creative. The story follows Holly, a witch, that lives in Beechwood Harbor Manor with supernatural room mates. Holly works at the local coffee shop and one day she arrives at work to find her boss dead. Nick, the new PI in town, and Holly are on the case. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I just love all the characters and highly recommend this book. This is just the series for cool Autumn/Halloween nights.
January 25, 2019
This is a well-written cozy mystery with friendships, romance, magic and a cat. The prequel, A Witch of a Day, set up the series and this is the first book. A bunch of misfit paranormals are living in a half-way house owned by a ghost. Holly is now living there with a ghost, a shifter, a vampire, a gargoyle and her cat. Her boss is murdered, and her best friend is the main suspect. Can they all keep their secrets safe from the people of the town?
October 29, 2020
I was in the mood for a light, Halloween-ish book. This one was really delightful. I enjoyed the characters' interaction with each other. I really like the take on the paranormal. The mystery was fun, too, without being heavy. The whole book was light and fun. Perfect for October. Perfect for listening to while I worked in the yard. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.
June 29, 2018
Light paranormal fun with a spunky main character.
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