Are you afraid of speaking up? When Penny Banks, amateur PI and witch-in-training, is asked to be on a talk show she gets a serious case of the butterflies. She hopes that the Voice Spell might help, but it calls for naked chanting under a full moon. Yikes! She’s not quite ready for that. As she tries to find a loophole in the spell, a body turns up in the creek that runs through town. Penny has … runs through town. Penny has to put her magical studies on pause while she gets busy investigating the crime.
The Hillcrest Police Department isn’t happy to have Penny, her cat Turkey, and her witchy, knitting friends poking around the crime scene.
Can Penny gather enough clues to solve the case before the police? Will she learn to use her true voice while she’s at it?
This is book six in the Hillcrest Witch Mystery series. Would you like to read the series in order? Here’s your guide:
Prequel: The Case of the Love Spell
Book #1: The Case of the Power Spell
Book #2: The Case of the Banishing Spell
Book #3: The Case of the Desire Spell
Book #4: The Case of the Trust Spell
Book #5: The Case of the Vision Spell
Book #6: The Case of the Voice Spell
more
5 stars
ARC The Case of the Voice Spell: A Hillcrest Witch Mystery
Hillcrest Witch Cozy Mystery
Amorette Anderson
First edition. April 14, 2019.
Read on: iBooks, KyBook (1, & 3), SmashWords, Kobo, Good Reads, and others as I find them. This, I received for an ARC review.
Started: 14 Avril 2019.
Finished: 17 Avril 2019.
Amazon: ?
Title:
Changing from a lump of fossilized plant matter into the diamond you really are!
I ve got to say that of all the books I ve read, the author has an unique way of using words like “Fwap”.
Moving right along, we start to learn about the new spell and the proper way to cast spells.
We learn a few more of the people whose name seems to indicate the type of work that they do. Sweet, kind of old fashioned homeyness, that we ve come to expect of Penelope s coven.
These lessons must be good for Penelope, she s starting to be honest about herself. Refreshing to say the least.
One of the many good reasons why I like this series is it has characters who defy conventional beliefs. The oldest woman in the knitting club is current on modern devices and uses them to keep abreast of what s happening in the world. It s nice to see others who evolve with the times.
Dr. Puffin appears to have tried to imitate an American Dipper (a bird native to Colorado). He somehow became stuck in the local river.
I would say that after the police relay the standard message of: “You re getting good at investigations, but stand back and let us do our job. You aren t a police officer and you ll impede us. ….” Penelope starts by not questioning any of the “normal” people. Instead she agreed to the SOP from her ex. And calmly got offers of help from her coven.
I still can t understand why a local police department has a total number of officers: 5 (including the Chief(, a Captain, is considered normal for a small mountain town.
{[Normally the police department would have a Captain for the top officer. Their Chief appears to be too worried about keeping his job to actually do his job. The ex-boyfriend knows that Penelope is studying to being a witch and basically ran rather than deal with it. So far on the cases that she s been working with the local police department, she s been correct far above average. This police department wants her to stand back so they (the police department) can take the credit for solving this case.
In most places this tiny, the town council would be investigating the Chief for not doing his job. Whether the next highest ranking officer could would also be investigated as a potential replacement. Why pay that salary for someone who can t or won t do the job?]} {Rant over, back to the story!}
This is interesting: Penelope agrees to stay away from the principals in the case, digs up information that the locals missed, then hands it to her ex. Because one of the leads claims to have been in another country for at least a month, the locals want to blame Penelope for hampering their investigation. Typical police department attitude. If I did something, then skipped the country, gets questioned over the phone, and said anything like I ve been there for a month. Well, I d be sitting behind bars while it was verified. Just saying . . . .
Penelope needs to think things through. Her small town cop shop needs to blame someone for their inability to do their job, so following SOP: They blame the local PI.
She needs to do her job, stay away from her ex, solve a case (100 % away from police department interference), and turn the results of her investigation over to the local newspaper.
Let her town council see what type of officers they have working for the town. Or will the PD try to blame their lack of basic skills on others too?
One thing for sure, Penelope is starting to sparkle. The more she learns about her destiny, the brighter she glows.
To see how this book ends and the parts that you ll need to know for the rest of the series, you ll have to get a copy of your own. Trust me, it s so worth it!
Live life,
John Shrek Walters
This is what being a witch should be like: slightly uncomfortable, deep thinking, metaphorical situations that all members of the coven must go through and find their own answers to i.e. fears and etc. with support. The girls are presented with a situation and must try to interpret what the spell really means and how to go about it. Penny is awesome, funny (along with Turkey-her familiar), intelligent and sassy. This is a very enjoyable must read!
Red Robin
I usually don’t read books that have supernatural tones but this was my year for cozies. As the witchy stories are so abundant in the cozy genre I knew I had to try them. I’ve very glad I did as I love this series! Penny is delightful and I love the interplay between her and her familiar, Turkey. I also love the other characters and how they embrace each other and their differences. We must all have some witchiness in us as all of these spells can apply to mere mortals. Not sure I’ve found my voice yet but I’m not giving up either.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
https://www.amazon.com/review/R1HTGYHBXAD200/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8
Such a fun read. The characters are lovable and funny. I enjoy reading Amorette ‘s books. More, please.
The Hillcrest Witch stories are amazing
Turkey is Penny’s cat and familiar He is an adorable teacher. Penny was told by Chris from the police department that she would be obstructing justice if she investigates this latest murder. Turkey decides she needs to learn about obstructing justice. Each spell in this series is designed to make the coven better witches. The spells are interesting. I look forward to the next book. This series is a fun and entertaining read. Penny and her knitting circle are also a coven of witches. Each is also nosey. They have adorable familiars.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Follow the progress of a coven in training with these witty cozies. Discover how to survive with a portal to other realms in your not quite literal back yard. For the most fun of all, meet Turkey, an entrepreneurial cat, and witch’s familiar.
Things are exciting in Hillcrest. It is nearing the time for Cora’s wedding to Silas, a werewolf alpha, and after that, the birth of their baby. Annie’s relationship with Fred, her friend from the spirit realm, is going well. Marley has started to date Ryan, a local police officer. And things with Max, a vampire, and Penny, the leader of the coven, is steaming up nicely.
Of course not everything can be smooth sailing when you are responsible for a portal to the other realms. Recently, every night around 3 am goblins are arriving and demanding entrance to the Earth realm. Their goal? Gold, they want it and are perfectly willing to steal it. The ladies are getting pretty tired of being roused to turn them away night after night. What will it take to make the goblins of the fire realm see reason?
Then there is their latest cycle in the ASBW, the voice spell. Haven’t they been using their voices all their life? If their studies have taught them anything it is that to be witches, they must learn to experience the world in a new way. Will they master the voice spell? And what will they learn about themselves and the world when they do?
This is the kind of book that will make you laugh even in the middle of a murder investigation 😛
Penny and the coven are working in a new spell when a famous birder is found dead. Penny is asked to keep away, but of course, she won’t. Wouldn’t be Penny if she had do it, would she? And then, the fun begins =D
I love all these women, and I love this series. It’s fun, interesting and with great characters, so give it a try. You won’t regret it.
I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and enjoyable. The characters are well developed. It is interesting seeing how Penny and her friends evolve in this series.
The series is a fun read and a nice change from the ordinary cozy mystery “formula.” This book is no different. Penny and her coven are meant to face their fears and take an irrevocable step toward witch-hood. Hard stuff for anyone to do. I look forward to the next one.
I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving an honest review.
The Goblins are trying to get through the magical gate to our land so they can grab all the good they can carry! Our new Witch Coven must stop them. Can they?
I can’t say enough about how wonderful Amorette Anderson’s Hillcrest Witch Mystery books are! This time we have goblins, bird watching, and a weekend away with Max…if she can complete the Voice Spell and get over her fear of speaking in pubic. Oh, and a murder too! Read, read, read!!
I received a free book for my honest opinion.
Being allowed to read this before it was released was so cool! Each book in the series gets better and better. Reading the development of the characters in their learning to become a witch is not only interesting but funny and endearing. Penny and Turkey are so cute and Penny finally coming into her own, watching her gain the confidence in herself is captivating. I truly have enjoyed each and every book and can’t wait for the next one! I also hope she keeps it going after they finish learning all the spells in the book.
The Hillcrest Witch mystery series keeps getting better and better. A coven of witches learning their way through a book that provides the steps to become a witch. This fun loving group of knitters keeps things hopping with a pinch of mystery, a dash of family and friends, and determination to become the best witches ever they get together weekly and grow as a coven. The voice spell is the best yet. I can’t wait to see what is next for the living group.
It takes a lot to impress me when it comes to reading mysteries and this author has done it multiple times….including this new book in the series. I started reading the series when I received “The Case of the Love Spell” as a freebie. I fell in love with the characters from the beginning. And, Ms. Anderson has written another winner in the series. I’ll always buy any book in this series (even if I’ve previously r received it as a freebie) just so I can post “Verified purchase” reviews on Amazon. The author is a refreshing voice in this genre.
I received an ARC for a honest review.
What can I say to get you wanting to read this book and the series?
Well, Penny, Annie, Cora, and Marley are four average women who are studying to be witches. I think that’s pretty awesome.
The Vision Spell is the next one they need to learn. But the instructions are leaving the women nervous and uncertain. Gremlins are keeping the women up nights and they have to learn the Vision Spell to hopefully defeat them.
Will the women put the uncertainty aside and learn the Vision Spell or be defeated by the Gremlins?
The Case of the Vision Spell gets a 5 from me.
These stories are light and a truck load of fun. They never fail to bring a smile to my face (if u knew me u would realize that is an ultimate compliment). The knitting group aka Coven is a wonderful mixture of young and old, all friends and each unique. They have each others backs and are acquiring very interesting familiars, some adorable like blueberry and turkey and others we haven’t really gotten to know yet. I look forward to receiving each book as it comes out and learning more about this world and the magic within.
Overcoming your fear is the name of this book. Penny and the gang need to the voice spell next. Their fear is keeping them from moving on. Penny of course is trying to solve a murder during all this. Once she finds her voice, everything comes together. I do sometimes wish these weren’t cozy mystery books. I would like to see more from Max and Penny but that’s why they are cozy mysteries not regular ones.
*I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
I think this is the best book in the series so far! Penny’s embracing of being a witch has given her more and more confidence in herself and her abilities. Her friends are following her as well which will only make the transformation that much sweeter for her to know they will all embrace this change in themselves as well thereby being another way of always being best friends.
If you’re looking for a story about how a person can change from being timid and shy to becoming self-assured and confident in herself look no further. This series fulfills that in spades. Penny’s transformation is wonderful to read and picture in your mind as the changes take place.
I do love this series and Amorette’s writing style. It gives us mortals the hope that we can also improve ourselves to becoming the person we really want to be. Kudos Amorette for another outstanding job! I for one am looking forward to the next book to see what happens next; and if you start this series I know you’ll also share that excitement in wondering what new adventures await your friends as well! I do hope you will join me in that adventure!
Goblins are keeping Annie, Penny, Cora, and Marley on their toes, waking them in the night trying to gain entrance into Hillcrest, even though they have been denied entrance several times. Annie is excited, and talks the girls into going to a bird watching event with her. There is a murder and Penny is warned to stay out of the investigation. Does she listen? The coven is working on a new spell “The Voice Spell” which involves nudity and dancing in the moonlight. Do they try to master the spell, none of them are thrilled about getting naked in front of each other. Max wants Penny to travel to another realm with him and stand by his side on a talk show. Will Penny do it, considering she has a problem with public speaking? A very entertaining story. I thought I had the murderer figured out but with all the twists and turns in the murder investigation, I like Penny was second guessing myself. I received an advanced reader copy from the author and am leaving an honest and unbiased review because I want to.