Bar Harbor, Maine, is quieter in the off-season, but the population has just increased a bit with the arrival of Ted and Trudy Lancaster. Ted’s taking over for a retiring minister, and Trudy runs a food truck called Wicked ’Wiches. When she stops in at the Island Times office to place an ad, Hayley happily devours the sample sub Trudy offers—and the two become fast friends. When Trudy … When Trudy tragically dies in her truck while catering a Halloween party, suspicion falls on a cranky, competitive caterer who’d made veiled threats to Trudy. But the case becomes more complicated when Hayley’s husband admits he’d seen someone dressed as a witch hurrying away from the food truck—not very helpful when countless women at the party wore the same costume. Now Hayley finds herself sandwiched between witches and witnesses as she considers a smorgasbord of suspects. If she finds the killer, she’ll be a local hero . . .
Includes delectable recipes from Hayley’s kitchen!
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“Death of a Wicked Witch” by Lee Hollis the 13th instalment in the Haley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series.
I love this series, I have only read the last 3 but have purchased the previous 10 and hope to catch up. The stories always catch my attention and this was no exception.
I didn’t suspect the murderer until Haley did. This was a great mystery filled with lots of twists and turns. I love how Haley, Liddy and Mona they are such good friends and it sounds like they have a hoot together pulling Halloween pranks.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends !
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Wickedly Good . Hayley was all over this one. There was a kidnapping, attempted murder, a actual murder and the minister’s wife’s meltdown! So funny at times but then a curve was thrown in for fun and it got serious . Read in a few short hours (because I had to) and enjoyed every second of it.
Hayley makes a new friend when Ted and Trudy Lancaster come to town. Ted is taking over for a retiring minister and Trudy runs a food truck called Wicked ‘Wiches. Hayley loves the samples Trudy brought into the paper to place an ad and the two hit it off immediately. Things take a turn for the worse when Trudy dies while catering a Halloween party. Everyone suspects her competition but a witness saw someone dressed as a witch running from the scene. Hayley can’t let her newest friend down and digs into looking for a killer. Who would have wanted to kill Trudy and why? She just recently moved to town so could she have made enemies that quickly? Follow along as Hayley does what she does best and works her way through all the clues to find a murderer.
Lee Hollis has created another hit with the 13th book (lucky 13!) in the “A Hayley Powell Food & Cocktails” series, Death Of A Wicked Witch. This book will keep readers on the edge of their seats and will give them a few laughs and tons of smiles.
Hayley is almost too used to murder, but when a seemingly nice happy woman is killed during a Halloween party while creating gastric delights in her food truck, it hits home. She had just met Trudy, but immediately liked her and felt they were going to be great friends. And it wasn’t just the sub sandwiches Trudy made that had Hayley enamored. Trudy was a great new character, its to bad she was also the victim. Many of the regular characters are present but not as much as usual, but those that are involved, add to the overall enjoyment of the book.
The killer is not easily picked out, and the motive appears to be somewhat convoluted, but it isn’t actually. There are enough suspects to keep you guessing, and lots of fun to keep you smiling. There are plenty of red herrings and twists and turns to keep readers reading and turning the page. The unveiling is action-packed. The recipes will have you craving food and cocktails. The short inside looks into Hayley’s world are lovely and make the book all come together. Death Of A Wicked Witch has readers craving fall, Halloween, and all things cool and beautiful. Readers will be thrilled with the ending and look forward to the next installment.
really good series
I always look forward to reading Hayley Powell books from author Lee Hollis, and the holiday themed ones are especially fun! The most recent, Death of a Wicked Witch, finds Hayley making a new friend, Trudy, only to discover her lifeless body at the big Halloween party in town. Hayley’s devastated at the loss, and embarks on a mission to prove that Trudy was murdered, and to catch the culprit. A fast paced read, filled with the usual cast of fun characters and scrumptious food and drink recipes – 5 stars!
Honestly, this series never fails me as a great escape and boy, these days we sure need that. If you haven’t read any of the previous dozen Hayley Powell mysteries, this one can be read as a stand alone but if you enjoy it as much as I did, line up the rest and dive in. Hayley and her husband, Bruce live in Bar Harbor, Maine and work for the local paper. One day Trudy Lancaster, new to town, shows up to place an ad for her sandwich food truck – with the catchy name of Wicked ‘Wiches. Her husband is here to be the new reverend. She and Hayley become fast friends but the friendship will be a short one. On the night of the big Halloween party that Trudy has been hired to cater, she is found dead in her truck by Hayley and her daughter, Gemma. Carbon monoxide turns out to be the cause of death but Hayley isn’t convinced. She is determined to track down the killer.
From the setting of Bar Harbor to the very well developed mystery with the requisite red herrings and great characters, this one had me guessing wrong – just the way I like my mysteries. I settled down in a comfy chair with a mug of tea and enjoyed every page.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review
Death of a Wicked Witch by Lee Hollis is book thirteen in the Haley Powell Mystery series. It can be read as a stand alone especially if you are looking for a Halloween cozy.
Bar Harbor, Maine is getting a new minister and a new food truck, When the owner stops in to place an ad for her food truck, Haley gets a sample and knows it will be a hit with delicious sandwiches. She has a feeling she and Trudy will become great friends. Unfortunately, that won’t happen due to Trudy being murdered in her food track at a Halloween party she was hired to cater. When Trudy’s “ghost” is seen around town, Haley jumps into investigating hoping she isn’t next.
This well written Cozy has plenty of suspects that has you guessing to the end. The setting along with the season is perfect. The characters are likeable and provide just the right amount of humor. The family side story has a possible wedding and just adds to the story.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Kensington Books for an honest review.
Bar Harbor finally has a new food truck, Wicked ‘Wiches, featuring specialty subs. Trudy the wife of the new minister runs the truck. The Garbers book her for their annual witches Halloween bash. All women come dressed as witches for the party and the men dress as whatever they want. As the night progresses and the food truck doesn’t open, they break into the truck to find Trudy dead by propane gas. Who would kill the new girl in town? The owner of the previous sole food truck, the wife of the retiring minister, or someone else. Join Hayley as she tries to solve the mystery.
I am new to this series and enjoyed the book. Good story and characters. Lots of recipes.
cozy-mystery, culinary, murder, amateur-sleuth, situational-humor, family-dynamics, friendship, holiday-themed, verbal-humor, small-business, small-town
I hadn’t read anything in this series, but I will now! It’s a really good cozy mystery complete with interesting characters, plot twists, red herrings and misdirections, good laughs, and even recipes. The publisher’s blurb is a good hook and no recap or spoilers here. I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Death of a Wicked Witch by Lee Hollis is an excellent fall-themed cozy mystery which is the 13th installment of A Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery Series.
I love, love, love this series set in the cute coastal town of Bar Harbor, Maine. I love Hayley and Bruce and have read this entire series. By this point, I really feel as if I am a part of the family!
This newest book did not disappoint. It had the hilarious one-liners, dialogue, banter, and plot that I have come to expect from this collection of books. I also love anything Halloween, so I was even more excited to visit the town in a Halloween mood.
I loved the murder/mystery plot and did not figure out who the culprit was until closer to the reveal at the end. It was pretty creative if you ask me.
I love Hayley and Bruce as always and am glad the Gemma and Connor got to play a larger part as well. I also loved the sweet surprise at the end of the book. It definitely sets it up for the next one!
Excellent 5/5 stars
This is what a cozy mystery should be.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.