It’s not every day you have to return to your hometown to bind your borderline-poltergeist grandmother to the family property.Unfortunately, today is that day for Avery Thorn.All Avery wants is to report the binding to the Witch Council so she can fulfill her obligation, but finding a dead body and the Head of the Council on the brink of death isn’t in her plan.Especially when she’s pegged as … plan.
Especially when she’s pegged as the number one suspect.
Now, it’s down to Avery and her cousins–and her sassy feline familiar–to figure out who tried to murder the Head of the Council. Magically bound to find the culprit, the last thing she needs is the new detective getting under her toes.
Unfortunately for her, she finds herself colliding with the hot cop more than she wants. And since her familiar hates him, it’s not always pleasant.
New magic and a devastating tragedy threaten to derail their investigations–but not quite as much as the person who isn’t happy they’re involved…
New magic and a devastating tragedy threaten to derail their investigations–but not quite as much as the person who isn’t happy they’re involved…
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Evie Hart a.k.a Emma Hart diving back into the world of mysteries? Yes, please!!
This book had everything I’ve come to love and enjoy from Hart. From the crazy grandmother who is a ghost to beautiful me — fae and wizards alike — to bat-shit crazy familiars, I loved reading this cozy mystery.
Avery Thorn comes from a long line of powerful witches and add to that her own powers and spitfire attitude, she is a force to be reckoned with. She is sassy, snarky and witty and when she finds herself in the centre of a murder, she is tasked to find the killer and thus ensues the revelation and unravelling of town and clan secrets which eventually leads to Avery finding out the truth about herself.
Hart uses Avery through which the story is told and plus point of having just point of view was that we really get into the details of the Thorn family, the town and its people who I might add are super interesting, especially a certain fae and werewolf. Oh! Add in the hot cop to the mix too! So many beautiful paranormal beings! *sigh*
Dangerous Magic was a great first read and set the tone for the future books that are to come in this series.
If PNR/Fantasy is your thing and if you are in the mood for a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end, look no further! This book kept me on my toes until the end and I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series.
4 Stars!
Avery Thorn is a witch after my own heart. Actually her whole family, familiars and all, are quickly becoming favorites of mine. I’m looking forward to more from this series and can’t wait for the next one!
Dangerous Magic is my newest guilty pleasure. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end while Hart’s quick wit and charming sense of humor shine on the pages like never before. I absolutely cannot wait to see what Avery and the gang stumble into next.
Dangerous Magic by Evie Hart is the first book in her Haven Lake Cozy Mysteries series. A debut novel for this author and a spectacular read. All the finesse and well-crafted work you expect from an established author but with a fresh and magical face. The world-building and magical lore is easy to keep up with and learn as we are slowly introduced to the world of Haven Lake. I absolutely LOVED this. Avery and her family are hilarious and I was definitely feeling a little bit of the “Droelle-ish” vibe from her interactions with Detective Sanders.
The familiars, the secondary characters and the overall plot were all absolutely wonderfully crafted. I normally stick to the smuttier side of romance but this cozy mystery was just as enjoyable a read. I Loved it! Enjoy!
Oh my gosh, I completely loved this story.
Avery Thorn is a witch who has been living in the human world, but comes back home to Haven Lake to deal with some unruly family members. When she returns, she’s thrust into the middle of a mystery that very well may bring death right to her doorstep!
Now, first off, this cast of characters: BOMB. There is not one character I met while reading that I would not want an entire story focused on them. There was so much amazing dialogue, personality, and loads of shenanigans! I can’t think of one point in this story that I was bored. There were also some hilarious Harry Potter references and so many times I was laughing OUT LOUD.
Second, the mystery. I loved the twists and turns, navigating through the multiple groups of people, and getting to make my way all around Haven Lake. I had a couple of hunches about the mystery, but I was still kept guessing through each new turn.
Third, the paranormal angle. I LOVE paranormal! I haven’t read many witch stories, but I absolutely loved the blending of witches, fae, shifters, and many other paranormal types all living in harmony-ish. This was such a fun and interesting world to create, that I feel many more stories could come from.
Needless to say, I’m definitely 100% in on this series and hope to see many many more stories with these characters. Also, I know have a new family I’d love to be a part of: the Thorn family.
***5 ‘Thorn Family’ Stars***
I don’t read many mysteries, much less cozy ones, but when one of my fav authors announced that she was going to dip her toes into this realm I was all for tagging along and I was not disappointed. This book had all the crazy goodness I’ve come to love from the author just based in a different setting. It was a fun read with a ton of crazy, unique characters that I want to get to know a hell of a lot better.
Avery is the epicenter of this story and I loved her. She’s a little spitfire: sassy, snarky, witty and can hold her own against anyone, but she also cares deeply for her family and her word is her bond. She has a few issues to overcome, but is overall a great person and one I’m looking forward to getting to know better as the series progresses.
This was a great first in series read. Having Avery become a tentative detective was a great way to introduce the world, town and the varied and unique inhabitants of Haven Lake without it feeling like an information dump was happening. It all felt natural and made for a great read and kept me on my toes as to who the culprit was. As for the question of romance in the story…as this is a cozy mystery, it is very much in the background, but there is interest and possibility going on and the build up is going to be a lot of fun!
So, if you’re looking for a cozy mystery set in a town inhabited by various paranormal beings and a family of crazy, caring and powerful witches & their familiars with a knack for making the gossip circles, then this is a definite must read for you!
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
I had never read or heard about Cozy mysteries until I heard Emma Hart was writing one under the pseudonym Evie Hart. I was curious and excited to read Dangerous Magic, the first book in her Haven Lake Cozy Mysteries. Here we get the story of Avery, a witch with a grandmother has been causing chaos in her hometown. Suddenly she is thrown right in the middle of a mystery and at odds with a local detective.
I enjoyed reading Dangerous Magic by Evie Hart. It was fun story with great characters. A paranormal/mystery with unique characters and storyline. I am looking forward to reading more from both this author and in this series.
4.5-stars. Happy reading.
Avery Thorn’s been forced to return home to the paranormal community she grew up in after living as a regular human for two years. She’s not thrilled that she has to bind her dead, cantankerous and troublemaking grandmother to the family farm. Even worse, when she goes to the Witch Council to report the binding she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation after walking in to find a dead body.
Magically bound to discover who the murderer is, Avery, along with her cousins Nicole and Dotty and her sassy feline familiar Snow, finds herself going head to head with hot yet annoying cop also tasked with finding the killer.
The threat isn’t gone, however, and danger still lurks in Haven Lake. It will take all of Avery’s intelligence and skills as a witch to not only find a killer, but keep herself from becoming the next victim as well.
When I heard that Emma Hart was taking on a new genre and pen name, I was excited, yet skeptical, because a paranormal cozy mystery is about as opposite from her normal style as you can get. However, I fell in love with Avery and the rest of the Thorn clan immediately and could not get enough of this sarcastic and sassy bunch of females as well as their snarky familiars.
First, this is a great mystery. Honestly, I had no clue who the murderer was until the author revealed it. The investigation and clues were masterfully done to keep readers completely engaged in trying to solve the mystery right along with Avery.
Second, the characters really stole the show. Everyone is so completely unique in personality and the banter between them (and yes, the familiars also talk and are utterly hilarious) is out of this world. There were moments where I found myself getting out looks because I’d start laughing out loud.
Third, there are hints at romance, but it isn’t the main focus, and I really loved that . . .it was a true cozy mystery that is well written and appropriate for even teen audiences.
Avery was fantastic and I can’t wait to see more of her as well as her cousins, aunt, and crazy Grandma Cherry! I also can’t wait for more banter and back and forth between Avery and ‘hot cop” Dax . . . while they may not seem to get along, there is definitely a bit of romance magic waiting to happen.
Dangerous Magic was a really fun mix of magic and mystery with phenomenal dialogue and amazing characters. It was the perfect start to a new series and I can’t wait to see what trouble the Thorn witches find themselves in next. 5 stars!
Cozy Mysteries is my second favorite genre and when one of my favorite authors decided to write one, I was so excited. This book exceeded my expectations.
The world this author created sucked me in right from the beginning and didn’t let me leave even after the book finished. The characters were engaging and well developed. The plot was well thought out and kept me guessing throughout the entire book.
This book has, witches, ghosts, familiars, wolves and a hot detective. It is filled with murder, mystery, crazy families, crazier familiars and of course laugh out loud moments.
I cannot wait for the nest book. I want to dive right back into this world.
“Oh Goddess!”
This cozy mystery was so much fun! I enjoyed every part of this paranormal mystery! I can’t wait for book two and more in the world of Haven Lake. I’ll admit, it’s been a hot minute since I’ve read a cozy mystery but this was the perfect one to remind me why I love them so dang much!
Avery Thorn, a witch in a long line of witches, has been living in the human world for a few years but is forced to come home when her chaos causing, ghost Grandma, needs to be bound to the Thorn Family house. I absolutely love Avery, her Grandma, and the rest of the Thorn gang! They are snarky, sassy, and hilarious!
The magic in this story was wonderful! I’m a sucker for paranormal themes and this one had them in bounds. There was witchcraft, werewolves, fae, elves, and animal familiars. I’ve fallen completely in love with this magical town and everyone who lives there.
I love the hints of a romance that may happen in future books and I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble Avery stumbles upon as the series continues! I highly recommend this cozy mystery!
Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.