An Arrow to the Heart is No Loving Matter
Helga owns an antique shop in the bustling French Quarter in New Orleans. She’s a witch with fiery silver eyes when her witchiness takes control. But right now she’s burdened with three ghosts who like to keep her company while working. But that’s not the worst of it. When a dead body with an arrow to the heart lies in her path, will she be the one who … path, will she be the one who is blamed? The ornery critter had a jealous wife. Or maybe the arrow has significant meaning. Could Cupid be on the warpath? Is the deadly deed black magic or evil lurking in the mundane world?
Helga’s coven consists of Gwen her sister, and friends from the Shear Magic hair salon. Can they help her or is one of them to blame.
Jacob, the detective in town, is an old school chum of Helga’s. While he may not possess the skills Helga has, he does have a few of his own, not counting his dreamy eyes.
Find out what happens in the first book of the Witches Be Crazy Cozy Mystery Series
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Witches and Antiques in a New Orleans Cozy Mystery – New Series
If the rest of this series is like this first book, we are in for a fun ride! The characters act like real people without unnecessary angst or obsessive compulsions with fashion or foods. This is a very refreshing story where I never felt that any of the characters were idiots. The final reveal was a surprise and that is always a plus in a cozy mystery. I received this ARC book for free from Booksprouts and this is my honest review.
Down the Hatch by Constance Barker is a cool New Orleans witchy mystery.
Can Helga figure out who shot the Quarter’s drunk?
Helga is our witch sleuth. She is trying to mind her own business and work in her family’s antique shop. All that is changed when she finds the same man’s dead body known around the quarter as a drunk. Helga is a different type of witch than I thought that she would be. Technically I didn’t know what I thought a New Orleans witch would be like but probably not someone like Helga. Until I read this story, it’s pretty entertaining. She also is dealing with ghosts in her store that are okay but not that great.
Helga is a character that I’m not sure I would be friends with at all. She is totally different than me, and I don’t know if we would have anything in common. I can’t say that there is anything that I like or don’t like about her.
The Mystery
Earlier in the day, Helga ends up being our prime suspect because she threw the quarter drunk on his butt when he was flirting with her, and she didn’t want anything to do with it. Helga is now the prime suspect even though she called in the body. To clear her name, she is going to have to figure out who killed him. That is a pretty long list as not only was he the quarter’s drunk but the quarter’s drunken flirt. Helga and her detective friend, Jacob, have a lot of hard work ahead to go through all of these potential targets.
Three Stars
Down the Hatch by Constance Barker is the start of an okay mystery series. I’m not really into this one despite it being a paranormal cozy mystery. Ms. Barker has a good story, but she does need to go over and edit the book a bit. Other than that, I am giving it three stars.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Down the Hatch by Constance Barker.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
The next time you go antiquing, take a good look at the shop’s owner. Is her name Helga? Wait! Are you in New Orleans?? Wow! You have to read this. If you had any idea how much magic is all around, why you would be shocked. Ever look at a purchase when you got home and wondered what possessed you to buy that? Did you wonder why the shop owner was making random comments…to no one? Ever see a man who was killed with an arrow to the heart with a face full of lipstick kisses? If you can even answer “maybe” to any of these questions, you have to read DOWN THE HATCH by Constance Barker!
You will be glad you did! Learn witchy secrets as you follow Helga’s quest to solve a murder and keep herself out of an orange jumpsuit! Fun characters, sticky situations, and a wise cat all make this first book of the series make me want to read more!
Our heroine is a witch running an antique shop in New Orleans with three ghosts as her main companions. When she finds a man dead, everyone is quick to point their fingers at her. So it is up to her and perhaps a couple of friends to find the real culprit before it is too late.
Hmmm, cozy with mysteries. This is becoming something of a weakness for me as I really enjoy the combination of mystery and magic. I have found that these stories often include a good dose of humor and this one was no exception. I rather enjoyed both the setting and the characters and look forward to exploring more of both in future books.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes
Wonderful new series. Love mysteries? Love magic? Love fun reads? Join the fun and start from the first book. Will not be disappointed.
Antique shop with ghosts run by witch. Has incident with local drunk, finds body on way home and is main suspect. Has to find who did it. Difference is this world.
I know I am going to love Andromeda!!! Hi there.
I love reading this author. Always has fun, easy to read, if I don’t start the book at night, I can usually finish it in one sitting.
Looking forward to more.
This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC book.
I love reading books by Constance Barker. The characters give the reader something to latch on to and grow with. This is the same with the characters in Down the Hatch. I appreciate the the change in location and type of industry that our main character has. I’m sure as the series develops those two elements will play more into the plot.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An exciting new mystery series involving witches and other supernaturals. It takes places in New Orleans. I loved the connection between Helga and her familiar, Andromeda. I liked the ghosts in Helga’s antique shop. I look forward to more of their adventures!
Another winning series for Constance Barker! Witches, ghosts, faerie type spirits, and murder! How much better can it get?! Such fun characters too!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Set in New Orleans where we all know magic and ghosts and all sorts of supernatural beings walk about so, It should come as no surprise that Richardsons Antiques is haunted by 3 spirits (one who takes a weeping and a wailing to a whole new level ) from different era’s in history, nor should it come us surprise that Richardson’s Antique’s is run by a witch, Helga, who can see the ghosts, some of whom are in her store, and can use her magic to reveal the history of the items she is purchasing for her store, (No “Made in China” antiques in her store!)
When Helga thrown the town’s flirty bar fly out of the antique shop (Helga is the one who won’t say yes, catnip to the casanova that is the very married Thomas Jamison) she thinks nothing of it, until she finds him dead in very unusual circumstances, because she found the body and that she had thrown him out of the store in a rather public manner, the court that is public opinion has already decided it must have been Helga ,
Jacob Brody is not just Helga’s friend he is also the detective investigating the murder of Thomas, he knows Helga is innocent but because she found the body she is a suspect, Determined to not leave any stone unturned, and helping the police in ways that only a witch can she sets about helping find out who killed Thomas Jamieson.
Helped by her familiar cat Andromeda and her sister and friends Helga begins to investigate. Who killed Thomas Jamieson though as she starts to ask questions it becomes who DIDN’T have a reason to kill him! Then it seems someone wants her to stop asking questions, but who?
This is not a bad book, I like the setting on New Orleans it would be nice to hear a little more about it, I did not understand the distribution of magic, how was it that Helga’s sister Gwen can “nudge” people’s minds but Helga cannot do that (though it would have been handy for speaking to suspects) but the book has a nice feel good feel, with a hint of romance to come, I will certainly be looking out for book 2, I think this will grow into an interesting series.
This is book 1 of the Witches Be Crazy Cozy Mystery series. This was a great book. I enjoyed Helga and found the characters well developed. The storyline holds your interest and is well written. If you love witch cozy mysteries then I recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a really good little cozy mystery. There is a touch of romance, lots of ghosts and a murder. The victim is a womanizer and there is no end to the suspects. Unfortunately, Helga is the main suspect after tossing Thomas out of her shop when she had had enough of his flirtatious ways. The ending was a surprise to me. I enjoyed the story and would recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Helga runs her shop with a ghost crying all the time, wanting her necklace. She kicks out a man on then he is found dead by her. Now she has to clear her name with the help of her friends
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Helga is a witch that owns an antique shop in the French Quarter of New Orleans.Her shop is haunted by three ghosts, and they help her solve the murder. When a local drunk named Thomas is found dead with an arrow through his chest, Helga becomes the main suspect. Can she figure out who killed Thomas and clear her name?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Helga tosses out Thomas for causing a scene in Richardson’s Antiques. Unfortunately, she finds his body and must solve this mystery to clear her name and her reputation. I loved the characterization in this novel including Andromeda the cat (part bloodhound?), and shoplifter-spotting ghosts: Orchid, Zephyr, and Roxanne, the weeping child bride.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a great start to a series. The story line was great, the character work was fantastic, and the book had a smooth flow to it. I was highly entertained from beginning to end and found myself laughing throughout the book. I look forward to the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a fun and interesting paranormal cozy mystery. I really enjoyed it! It is clever and unique, and the setting is wonderful..
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Helga is a witch who owns an antique shop in New Orleans where she restores things and finds the right buyer who will appreciate them. She has three ghosts who also hang around her shop. One day, has a visit from Thomas, an annoying drunk, and when she angrily tosses him out, people will remember!
On her way home, Helga finds Thomas’ corpse covered in lipstick kisses, having been killed with an arrow to the heart. With his womanizing ways, that could lead to many suspects! Naturally everyone recalls her tossing Thomas out and they point their fingers eagerly at her! But with her detective pal, Jacob, her three ghostly tenants, family, friends, and her familiar, they are ready to look for suspects and find the true murderer. Can they do that before it puts Helga in danger?
Good start to another cozy series! Join the fun and find out who shot the arrow that killed Thomas!
Helga is the owner of an antique shop in the French Quarter in New Orleans. She seems fond of restoring goods to their former splendor, and matching the right buyer with the right piece
A couple of mostly friendly ghosts help to cut down on pickpockets. A more recently acquired ghost has a wailing problem while searching for her missing necklace
Sister witches, a ghost seeing school friend of a homicide detective, and a host of colorful other creatures and characters make for festive adventures and New Orleans mysteries and mayhem
The flavor and flair of this new series has that New Orleans edge, while preserving the strong character connections and a host of fascinating women, both living and dead
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Love gone wrong. An arrow to the heart. Helga is at her wit’s end. She has a wailing ghost to help, and the town flirt, Thomas was found dead (an arrow to his heart), hours after everyone saw her get angry at him and throw him out of her shop. Now people are pointing at her, but too many others had more motive. The wife he was cheating on, the numerous women he charmed then abandoned , the husbands of the wives he cheated with, the Cupid in town (after all they are experts at shooting bow and arrows), or someone else. But once she tries finding the murderer, she is a target, and possibly those close to her. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review