A thrilling and funny supernatural mystery, packed with magic, cats, and murder! Perfect for fans of Sabrina, Supernatural, and Charlaine Harris.Not many people move to Wormwood.
The witches aren’t welcoming.
The fortunetellers are frauds.
And the recent murder is only going to make things worse.
Hazel Salem just wanted a story for her magazine. Instead, she finds herself at the centre of an … worse.
Hazel Salem just wanted a story for her magazine. Instead, she finds herself at the centre of an investigation that’s about to turn into a witch hunt.
If someone doesn’t solve this murder – and fast – it will be out of the cauldron and into the fire for Wormwood’s witches.
If you love talking cats, smart mysteries, and snarky humour, you’ll love this series. Pick up this page-turning supernatural mystery today!
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Delightful cozy mystery. Wonderful and sinister characters abound. There is even an Easter Egg, hiding in plain sight, from another series which I think you’ll enjoy: I did.
I received a copy of this book as a gift. This is my honest review.
Great introduction to Wormwood. This was a cute read. I’m glad the cat had a name change. Read it, you’ll see what I mean.
Witch wannabe Hazel Salem is starting to the hang of running the apothecary store she inherited and is getting her monthly magazine some interest from the Wormwood townies. While working on a story for her latest magazine addition, Hazel finds herself and the witch community in the center of a murder investigation. Can Hazel uncover the truth before things turn into a witch hunt?
While all of this is going on, Hazel gets a visit from 2 women claiming to be her aunts. They have come to Wormwood to move in with her and help her become the witch they believe her to be. Between their misguided help (in some instances), the sarcastic comebacks from Hemlock the black familiar cat, and the situations that Hazel finds herself in, you will be both amused and entertained.
This is the first book in a new paranormal mystery series that I think is well worth reading.
Who did it was it a magical being who did not like Zack? Who are the missing people and why can no one really remember them and why do relatives always come to visit when you do not expect them? Such are the questions answered in this charming cozy. I love Hazel then add the other off the wall characters and you have a mix that is unbeatable. This new series of Ruby’s is so special it puts together the magical and murder mystery in such an excellent way. This is the book to have if you like cozies. The only question I have who is Jesse Heathen? I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Black cats, witches, and a ritualistic murder…
What a great start to a new cozy paranormal series! The story follows our heroine Hazel Salem as she tries to solve a ritual murder in the woods. She is supposed to be from a powerful witch family, but she denies that anything supernatural exists. A pair of black cats adopt her, one is Hemlock her familiar and the other is the silent Hedge. Love Hemlocks snark! Plenty of twists along the way the keep me interested. Can’t wait for the next book!!
I receive an ARC. This is my honest review.
If you like cozy mysteries with witches, talking cats and murder then you will enjoy this book. Even though Hazel Salem is a descendant of a long line of witches, unfortunately, she doesn’t seem to have any magical powers. Hazel lives in Wormwood that has had its first murder in over 100 years. She decides to do some investigating on her own only to discover misleading clues, suspecting other witches and almost being the second murder in Wormwood. I received an ARC from the author for my honest review.
The new Wormwood series is everything I have come to expect from this author! It is skillfully written with a tight plot and great new characters. There are multiple story lines within this witchy cozy mystery and they are all neatly wrapped up. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
Wonderful beginning to a new series! Hazel has come back to Wormwood following her mother’s death. She’s now running the shop that her mother had selling spell bags and various herbs etc. She doesn’t really believe in magic and doesn’t think she has any powers until her aunts show up. They blow into town just as a murder has been discovered. It’s the first murder in over a 100 years! Hazel is determined to solve it even though the cute detective keeps warning her off. Will she solve it? Will she turn out to actually be a witch? Are her aunts really her aunts? You’ll have to read the book to find out but you will really enjoy it.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Hazel Salem was aware of her mother’s witch gifts – just not her own.
And even after the death f her mother, a familiar and a spare find her – but no powers come in.
As she is pondering a recent murder that has some wild ritual overtones – ones that are more than a bit overblown – she is greeted by Linda and Minerva – who introduce themselves as her aunts.
Things get very exciting with a stranger in town, and clashes with a local coven more concerned with power plays than training and good order.
Our Hazel finds her witch sight at last – and it literally changes how she sees her world.
A bumpy road still ahead in this off the wall community – and more great reading ahead for us!
Good murder mystery with some zany characters, including a talking cat familiar named Hemlock and the heroine’s zany aunts. Lots of suspicious activity and I did not learn the main culprit’s identity until heroine Hazel confronted them; then their involvement and motivation became logically clear.
Hazel’s two Aunts show up. (She did not even know she had Aunts.) She really isn’t sure they are really her aunts but goes along with them. They showed up soon after a horrific death in the woods of a stranger in town. The crime scene appeared to be of witchcraft or satanic. Everyone in town was afraid so were showing up at Hazel’s shop to buy protection bags. The police are having no luck in their investigation so Hazel sets out to find out what she can about the murder saying it was for you monthly magazine. The book has twists and turns and several suspects. If you like a good mystery this is a must read. (I just love the cat)
This was a fun book to read. There’s humor, mystery with some suspense.
Made Me Want More!
This cozy paranormal mystery is the first full novel of the series. I am really enjoying this tale of witches, magic and paranormal in southeast England. I would love to sit back and binge read the entire series! The plot, characters and setting are just aces! I wouldn’t want to change a thing. It looks like this series will be best read in order, but each mystery does stand alone. I received this ARC book for free and this is my honest review.
Hazel is just trying to make a living with her inherited store and her new paper. Then her aunts show up, there’s a murder and Hemlock is as sarcastic as ever! Super fun read! I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion. I can’t wait for the next book!
Mandrake and a Murder #2 – Takes place about six months after Hemlock and Hedge ended. There are a lot of secrets and surprises included in this fast paced, intriguing story. More characters join the cast, some good and some intriguing and some not very nice to be polite. The storylines twist here and there and some are concluded, while others carry into the next book – but no cliffhangers, just teases of what’s to come. It’s hard to pick a favorite characters since there are quite a few that are endearing or just plain lovable. There are more likeable characters but the nasty ones make themselves known. 5*
The Witches of Wormwood:
Hemlock and Hedge #1 – A different approach to starting life as a witch after the death of her mother sets up the foundation in this introductory prequel. Basic development of characters but since this is a series, Ms. Loren will be having plenty of character growth as the series progresses. Interesting storylines, which of course will develop more, too.
Again there’s an interesting animal involved; the familiar is a hoot with intelligence. Working together although unbeknownst to Hazel, she and Aziraphale solve the mystery. Aziraphale’s secret comes out along with other secrets. There’s good suspense and intrigue, and the thought process used to solve the mystery is good, but Ms. Loren writes more substantial plots than the usual cozy genre. I contacted the author to review her books. 4*
The Witches of Wormwood end.
Hazel comes from a family of witches but doesn’t seem to have the gift, or does she? Great new series with a story that kept me guessing throughout. I highly recommend and can’t wait for more!
In this first book of the series, Hazel is trying to solve the murder of a visitor to wormwood.
Hemlock is still just as snarky and sarcastic as ever, which makes him kind of adorable ha.
A new ‘detective’ in town has all the ladies in a tizzy, and even Hazel seems a bit affected.
Hazel is starting to see things differently (no spoilers here), and I have a feeling Jesse the detective is going to play an important role in the series.
I’m hooked on this series after only reading the prequel and book one.
Another winner for Ruby Loren.
A new series from this author is always a welcome addition to my reading collection, and this is no exception, the prequel ‘Hemlock and Hedge’ was a fun shortish introduction, but this is the first full book, and it doesn’t disappoint.
The characters are quirky, humorous and very well written, I especially like the new Aunts who turn up, and of course Hemlock the cat, a rather unhelpful familiar to the central character, Hazel Salem.
The mystery is well handled, and as usual the culprit is well concealed right up to the end. So all in all, this is a very enjoyable, satisfying read and I really can’t find anything negative to say about it.
I received an advance copy of the book, and have voluntarily reviewed it.
Ruby Loren has delightfully humorous tone to her writing. This was absolutely marvelous! I loved Hazels aunts as well as her familiar, Hemlock. He has a decidedly snarky personality and I loved it! I look forward to more!
The first book in a new cozy paranormal series follows the struggles of Hazel Salem, a descendant of a strong witch family who doesn’t seem to have any magic! Together with her talking black cat familiar, Hemlock, and Hedge, a silent black cat sidekick, Hazel strives to not only believe her powers will manifest, but believe in magic at all.
Good characters, a well-written storyline, and a twist or two make this an entertaining start to a witchy new series.
I received and ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest opinion. I like it so much, I also bought a copy!