National bestselling author Heather Blake is back with wishcrafter Darcy Merriweather in her eighth magical Wishcraft mystery adventure.Wishcrafter Darcy Merriweather might be a witch with the ability to grant wishes for others, but wishing isn’t going to help her catch a killer…When wishcrafter Darcy Merriweather’s personal concierge company is hired by elite runner Abby Stillwell to organize … runner Abby Stillwell to organize the Wicked Mad Dash, a competition that takes place in the Enchanted Village, Darcy is more than willing to help her friend. As blizzard conditions rage on the morning of the race, Darcy’s main concern is the terrible weather—until Abby goes missing…and is later found dead, buried in the snow.
As Darcy investigates her friend’s untimely death, she learns that she didn’t really know Abby well at all. And those closest to the woman—her secret fiancé, her roommate, her ex-boyfriend, and her co-workers at Balefire Sports—seem to have plenty to hide too. As Darcy digs deeper, she uncovers complicated relationships, a possible embezzlement scheme, and allegations of cheating against a top athlete.
Just when Darcy is convinced she’s hit a dead end in the case, a startling burglary and the hunt for Abby’s elusive ex send Darcy down a dark, dangerous trail. It will take the help from friends, family, and a little bit of magic for Darcy to stop a stone-cold killer from striking again.
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In this new book Darcy has been hired by local Abby Stillwell to organize the Wicked Mad Dash, an event that pushes athletes up against all kinds of obstacles including bad weather hence the Mad in the title. With blizzard type conditions in the mix this year Darcy hopes that everything will go off without a hitch and will be relieved when its over with no casualties. After the race is has been completed Darcy realizes that Abby hasn’t been seen since before the race started and pulls together search parties to look for the young woman. When she is found dead at the bottom of a gorge she must figure out whether it was just an accident or if someone had it in for Abby. When it is determined that Abby was killed Darcy takes her job as the Elders investigator seriously and begins asking questions and looking for clues. Follow along as Darcy deals with her heartbroken sister, an enemy to her family, a drunk bird all the while searching for a killer. This is such a lovely series that is filled with unique characters, a fabulous setting, and a story line that is truly well written. With each new book I’ve gotten to know the characters, their personalities, and who they really are. This new book had me sad at moments, happy for sure, and on edge wondering what would happen next.
This is one of my favorite series. It was a fun and magical trip back to the Enchanted Village. Darcy Merriwether and the other residents of the enchanted Village are delightful and fun to read about!
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series because of how rich Darcy’s story is beyond the mystery. I often find myself craving that to be the main theme of the books! Darcy’s adventure will leave you on the edge of your seat from start to finish and craving more stories as you close the book for the final time.
Complete review can be found here:
https://cozyexperience.com/to-catch-a-witch-book-review/
Another fantastic addition to a stellar series! Heather Blake brings us back to the Enchanted Village where Darcy’s been hired through her concierge service to help set up and run the annual race. Stepping into the additional role of Elder inspector, Darcy seems to have her hands full. Throw in new friendships that she finds herself questioning, health issues in the family, and the typical drama of every day life and even the most “got it together” woman is going to run herself ragged. With humor and her unwavering belief in others, Darcy manages to pull it all together and leave us longing for the next book to be released.
Thank you to Heather Blake, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for letting me read this book and share my love for it with others.
We return to the Enchanted Forrest with Darcy Merriweather in the 8th book in the Wishcraft Mystery series. In this book, Darcy is hired to help Abby Stillwell organize a competition, the Mad Dash. Simple enough, right? That is, until Abby goes missing. Tragedy strikes when she is located, dead. Determined to find out who or what caused such an awful tragedy, Darcy sets out and starts questioning the town folk. For starters, the location her body is located doesn’t make sense at all to those who knew her. The more people who knew Abby that are questioned, the more surprises that get uncovered. The perpetrator even sends Darcy a message to scare her off. After seeming to hit a dead end in the case, Abbys’ ex boyfriend is spotted around town causing some suspicion and there’s a burglary at Abbys’ house raising more suspicion to her death. How is it that someone so loved by their friends and community ended up dead? Will Darcy be able to uncover the truth before someone else gets hurt?
I have loved every book so far in this series. I’ve read each one via audiobook as I will for the last one. I really love the narrator Coleen Marlow. She does such an amazing job bringing the characters to life. As always with this series, I would definitely recommend it. I partially blame Heather Blake for my love of cozy mysteries. I’m a little sad that there’s only one book left in this series. I rate this book
The only bad thing about this book is that someone had to die. Touches of magic mix with a mystery and Darcy takes the lead to put the world back in order.
To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake is a beautifully written story. My mind is still reeling over from all the information and who committed the murder.
Who would kill Abby?
Darcy Merriweather
Darcy is our sleuth and point of view character. She is someone that I would love to be her friend. Darcy is a likable and relatable character. She is good at figuring at the clues even if a bit late in the game. What I like about her is that no matter what, Darcy is always a family oriented person. Let that be with her soon-to-be stepdaughter Mimi, her sister, her aunt, or anyone that she deems her family by nature. Another thing that I like about Darcy is that despite being kept in the dark about family magic, she takes it head-on.
The Mystery
The mystery, in this one, is a doozy with Abby falling to her death while going out on her warmup run before the race. She didn’t make it to the competition, and no one went off to find her until it was over. The problem is trying to figure out who had the most motive to kill Abby since everyone liked her. Well, someone didn’t, but that motive is hard to find, at least for me. I didn’t figure it out until it was being explained right when it was most important.
However, magic and murder aren’t the only things in this book. There is small-town living, family, doing the right thing, and getting caught up in the wrong thing. But mostly, I feel this sense of love, kinship, and kindness from the main character and most of those around her. Oh, and don’t forget about the familiars, they add the comedy.
Five Stars for To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake
Ms. Blake has done a fantastic job of weaving this story together. From the way, she tells it, to the characters that were there, and of course, the murder. I feel bad for the people that were close to Abby. There is going to be a showdown in the next book.
I am giving To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake five stars and recommend it to anyone that reads cozy paranormal mysteries.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
Ms. Blake has done it again, I am always sure that I am in for a fun read and she never fails to deliver. Darcy is hired by Abby to handle the Wicked Mad Dash the mayhem begins. Little problems arise when Vince starts his antics, then Abby disappears, add problems with her sister and Darcy’s hands are full. There are plenty of twists that kept me guessing, interesting side stories with great characters. I believe that this book can be read as a stand alone but I do recommend that you start at the beginning to get the depth of the characters. I eagerly await the next in this series.
The plots and twists just keep getting better and better with this series! Multiple potential “suspects” that may have committed the murder to keep you guessing as well as many interpersonal relationship advancements or breakups to keep your connection to the characters. Excellent character development allows for you to connect and feel like you are visiting old friends rather than just reading another book. If you have read this series, you definitely should and this book in particular really is a turning point in several characters plot lines. I absolutely can not wait to see what happens in the next book!
I am so glad that Heather Blake’s Wishcraft Mystery series is continuing with a new publisher. This is one of my favorite paranormal cozy series, and TO CATCH A WITCH is well worth the wait. The series gets better, if that is possible, with each additional book.
This time around, Darcy is hired to organize the annual Wicked Mad Dash by Abby Stillwell. Things go from bad with the blizzard like weather to worse when Abby goes missing and is later found deceased. When it becomes apparent that Abby’s death is murder, Darcy is tasked, as the appointed Investigator for the Craft, with getting to the bottom of things. In addition, Darcy is worried about her ill sister Harper and her family’s increasingly aggravating nemesis.
Heather Blake does a fantastic job building this whimsical world in the midst of Salem, Massachusetts. The magical atmosphere, different types of witches, and familiars all seem real. Why shouldn’t it be plausible that a Shakespearian actor turned familiar parrot over imbibe on rum? It really does all make sense and is endlessly entertaining. I enjoy all of the recurring characters, even the nasty ones, and reading TO CATCH A WITCH is like catching up with dear friends.
The mystery is well thought out and the writing nicely paced. I was a bit surprised by the killer’s identity, and that rarely happens. Though the story is indeed lighthearted, the timely undercurrent of racism and elitism is explored.
I adore TO CATCH A WISH and highly recommend it to any paranormal cozy reader.
I received and ARC of this title from the publisher and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
“To Catch a Witch” earns 5/5 Witchy Wishes…Delightfully Fun!
I love a little magic in my cozy. Then add a witch or two, wishes being granted, and a murder to solve, and it’s a perfect choice for me! Starting with the eighth book in the series, with the storyline and characters already well developed, was not a disadvantage. There were enough references to background and character connections to keep me engaged, so newbies feel free to join in with this book! Having a magic theme can be tricky navigating a fine line between plausible and juvenile hocus-pocus. Heather Blake did very well providing a plethora of witches with their powers, their familiars, and their spells in a way that you can easily suspend disbelief and sit back and enjoy. Darcy Merriweather, a resident of Enchanted Village, is helping to organize the annual Wicked Mad Dash event, but things do not go smoothly. A few monkey wrenches are problematic, and entertaining, with pranks from a new crafter, a blizzard, and a missing person later found dead. The investigation puts Darcy on the hunt for one of their own with engaging twists and turns, nail-biting perils, and even a few giggles. But there are other issues and relationships evolving through the series making it very entertaining and popular with cozy fans!
Darcy, Harper, Nick, and the rest of the gang are back with another murder to solve. As Darcy is investigating what happened to one of her friends during the Wicked Mad Dash Competiton, she starts to find out some people are not as they appear. Darcy starts to receive threats to warn her off of her investigation but this does not slow her down. Darcy moves forward with her investigation of the supernatural side and Nick investigates on the official police side, together they will solve this mystery with a little help from their friends and family.
I really loved reading this book. This was one of the first cozy series that really drew me into the cozy genre. I admit I am a little behind in my reading of this series but reading this book was like reading about beloved friends. The characters are so full of life both human and animal. I love Darcy and the other witches but some of my favorite characters are the animals or familiars. One of my favorites familiars is Archie, he has such as larger personality that he adds so much to the storylines. Mrs. Blake has a way with her imagery that helps the reader escape to the Enchanted Village with Darcy and her family and friends. For example, while they are looking for the missing woman the description of finding a certain item in the snow, I could really picture the scene as if I were there with Darcy, Vince, and Harper. Also the descriptions of how sick Harper looks you know that there is more to her illness that just being a little run down. This was a wonderful reading experience; the mystery has several twists and turns to keep the reader engaged until the end of the book. Although knowing the backstories of the characters might help your understanding the characters better, Mrs. Blake does provide you with enough information that you do not feel lost and you can definitely enjoy this book as a stand-alone mystery.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy I received through NetGalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced. I would recommend this book to lovers of cozies and paranormal genres.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We arrive in the Enchanted Village just in time for the annual Wicked Mad Dash and a few pranks from new crafter Vince Paxton. He is still finding his place in the village but Darcy Merriweather organizer of the event and wishcrafter wishes he would just cut it out. Of course, she can’t grant her own wishes but she still wants Vince to use his powers for good instead of the chaos he loves to create. It’d bad enough that a blizzard has created whiteout conditions and the person that hired Darci has gone missing.
A huge search finds the young woman dead, buried under a pile of snow. Since the death happened in the village the elder has asked Darcy to investigate and all she finds is that everyone connected to the woman is hiding something. Darcy is going to need more than wishes to solve the crime. In fact, she is going to need the help of all her friends and family to catch the witch and bring the killer to justice.
Every time I visit the Enchanted Village and these characters I am taken aback by the wonderful world Heather Blake has designed. From the village to the forest to the meadow I fully escape right into the realm this author has created. Her descriptions create wonderful imagery in full color and bring the world so alive. So easy to believe and picture each place we visit.
The characters are so full of life too. Whether it be the witches, their familiars or the visitors to the village they are so genuine. You never question the conversations with Archie, the macaw or with mice, Pepe and Mrs. P. You don’t question the physician’s healing powers or all the different magical abilities the people of the village have. This time the focus on Vincicrafters, witches with innate athleticism, fantastic runners. The Bryant family are Vincicrafters and own the local sporting goods store. The place where the victim worked.
There is also drama around Darcy’s sister Harper, who had broken up with her boyfriend, fell into a dark depression and has dedicated every waking moment to her business. On a related note, Dorothy Hansel Dewitt is brewing up plans to overthrow the elder. And Darcy’s her fiancé, Nick Sawyer, police chief for Enchanted Village and his daughter Mimi have moved into her house and have but his on the market.
The author has packed these pages with such a delightful story and a mystery to solve. It is so well written. Twists, turns, and tense moments all lead to a very surprising ending. It flows at a perfect pace. I love the way Nick and Darcy work together. Mutual respect and sharing. They truly are a perfect match.
The Wishcraft Mysteries are a unique series and each book builds from the last one. I am thrilled that it lives on with a new publisher. The author has included some backstory for new readers but you truly need to read the series from the start in order to enjoy the series to the fullest and really get to know the characters and their place in the village. There is a bit of a cliffhanger to this story too. I am honestly tapping my foot, very impatient for book #9.
I loved To Catch a Witch as much as I have any book in the wonderful Wishcraft series. These books feel more like cozy mysteries than paranormal since witchcraft may be involved but it is not the instrument of murder. Darcy has to use her intelligence to work her way to the resolution because her craft does not offer skills to aid her, but there are a few special aids that she does call on here and there. Those witch aids make the story even more fun for me. I love nontraditional cozy mysteries which is how I classify this book. The story is great but the murder does shroud the plot in sorrow since the victim is such a good person and because…, well the other part you will have to discover as you read.
When a friend is murdered, Darcy quickly zeros in on a group of suspects but finding evidence to follow proves extremely difficult. The effort Darcy and Nick put into uncovering the murder is complicated by the fact that several people are obviously hiding something important. Harper has a health scare, or should I say those her who love Harper have a health scare since she refuses to take their concerns seriously. We all know how stubborn Darcy’s sister can be.
I was excited to get an Advanced Readers Copy of To Catch a Witch from NetGalley. It is my delight to share my enjoyment with my fellow readers.
Loved this cozy mystery. A bit of magic enhanced the great characters and storyline. I would like to read the previous books in the series – just to spend more time with Darcy & her friends & family.
I was absolutely thrilled to be able to read and review To Catch A Witch, Heather Blake’s newest book in her A Wishcraft Mystery series. It is, by far, my favorite paranormal cozy series.
With it’s charming setting and quirky, endearing characters, To Catch A Witch was a wonderful read.
Heather Blake’s storytelling really draws you into the story, I even found myself imagining that I was in Enchanted Village drinking piña colada’s and watching Tom Selleck with Aunt Ve.
Already eagerly awaiting book 9!
I would recommend this book for all paranormal book lovers but especially those that love cozys.
I received a ARC of this book from the publisher, the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake is the eighth novel in A Wishcraft Mystery series. Darcy Merriweather runs As You Wish, a personal concierge service, in the Enchanted Village in Massachusetts. She has been hired by Abby Stillwell to organize this year’s annual Wicked Mad Dash. The proceeds from the race will help pay the medical bills for little Aine Bryant. The event gets off to a bumpy starts courtesy of Vince Paxton and his magical pranks. Abby asks Darcy to go over the bookkeeping ledgers for the race since they are off from the previous years. Abby then departs to warm up for the race, but she does not return. A search commences, and Abby is found dead below Aural Gorge bridge. As Craft investigator, Darcy teams up with her fiancé, Nick Sawyer (police chief for Enchanted Village) to track down Abby’s killer. Darcy is worried about her sister, Harper. She has been running herself ragged since she broke up with Marcus. Her health is in jeopardy and Dr. Dennis Goodwin has some shocking news. To top it off, Dorothy Hansel Dewitt is attempting a coup and the only person who can save the village from her reign of terror is heartbroken Harper. Can Darcy conjure up the killer before her suspects fly off?
To Catch a Witch is an enchanting cozy mystery. It is well-written and has a steady pace which makes for an easy to read story. Heather Blake has created delightful characters for A Wishcraft Mystery series. Darcy has embraced life in the Enchanted Village. She is now running As You Wish, gotten engaged, a wonderful stepmom to Mimi, takes care of their numerous pets, is the Craft investigator, and helps her friends. Darcy has a caring heart and does not like to see anyone hurting. She has also taken to rehabilitating Vince Paxton who found his Craft too dull and has taken to dark magic. If Darcy can turn Glinda around, then Vince should be a piece of cake. There is a humorous scene with Aunt Ve and Archie that involves Magnum PI and Pina coladas. Two of my favorite characters are Pepe and Mrs. P. They are just adorable, and Pepe is a wizard with a needle (I would for him to craft me a dress). The author was creative when making up the magical abilities for her series. They are unique along with the names. The Enchanted Village is a charming small town outside Salem. Each shop is special and suits the owner (no big box stores in this hamlet). If you have not read any of the previous novels in A Wishcraft Mystery series, I do not suggest you begin with To Catch a Witch (you would be missing out on the backstory that is needed to understand the characters and the magic). Each book in the series builds upon the previous one. I thought the mystery was spellbinding and multifaceted. There are several suspects with motive to kill Abby plus it turns out that Abby had a few secrets of her own. There is active investigating and I appreciate that Darcy works with the police to help solve the case. Nick is happy to have her assistance and just warns her to be careful (Nick is a sweetie). You will need to be clairvoyant (or a master cozy mystery sleuth) to solve Abby’s murder. I could have done with less repetition (I do not need to be told the same thing multiple times), but that is my only grievance. To Catch a Witch is packed full of intriguing storylines, and it will keep you riveted until the very end. I wish we did not have to wait a year for the next bewitching installment in A Wishcraft Mystery series.
To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake was an amazing addition to Ms. Blake’s Wishcraft Mystery series. I cannot put into words how much I enjoy this series. I’ve been able to read each in the series and this one did not disappoint me.
Ms. Blake’s writing flows smoothly and is so descriptive that I always feel like I am back in the Enchanted Village visiting old friends. The plot was quickly paced with lots of twists and turns. There were a few small subplots regarding relationships both romantic and magical in the village but nothing that detracted from the mystery. In fact, I was completely caught up in the story from the first page until the end. Oh and that ending already has me wanting to read the next one now. If you like reading cozy mysteries based in a paranormal world, you are going to enjoy this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own. I would like to sincerely thank Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read and review.
We are at the eighth book in the Witchcraft series, and it is still going strong. In the latest installment, Darcy is settling in to her role as sole proprietor of As You Wish, and of course, as is the way with her life, she is soon embroiled in a murder case. As always is the case in books in this series, this book is whimsical, fun, and hard to put down. I love to read these books as Darcy is such a great caring character, trying to keep the residents of her town safe, and trying to keep her family happy. She doesn’t use much magic in this one, but I think that’s a side issue, not the reason for these series, just something to enhance them. The ending was very exciting, and yes, it ended on a tiny cliffhanger, making me want the next book now. If you love cozy paranormal mysteries, you really need to try this series. You don’t need to start with the first one as the author does a great job at keeping the reader up-to-date, but the books before this one were great as well. Highly recommend! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.
Darcy Merriweather is a wishcrafter witch that has the ability to grant wishes and also runs a personal concierge company. She is hired by an elite runner Abby Stillwell to organize a Wicked Mad Dash competition with proceeds going to a local family.
On the day of the race, Abby is found dead at the bottom of a gulley. Everyone loved Abby, so if it was wasn’t an accident, then who wanted her dead? Darcy finds herself trying to weed through a list of suspects including Abby’s best friend, her secret fiancé, her ex-boyfriend, and even her co-workers.
While all this is going on, Darcy has concerns for her sister Harper’s health, tries to help a friend with wedding plans (and keep those plans under wraps from her bad witch mamma), and tries to convince another friend to embrace the “good” side of witchery.
This book has a lot going on but keeps you on your toes trying to figure out who killed Abby and why.