Murder isn’t always crystal-clear . . . especially when the prime suspect discovers she’s a witch. Violet Mooney owns The Full Moon crystal shop in quaint North Harbor, Connecticut. Still grieving her beloved grandmother’s recent unexpected death, she takes comfort in her fat orange cat Monty and her work. Not everyone in town is thrilled with her business, however. When disagreeable town … councilwoman Carla Fernandez picks a fight over Violet’s “voodoo shop,” the two have a very public confrontation. Of course, when Carla turns up dead, Violet gets little sympathy from the police as suspect #1. But the shock of two policemen showing up at her door pales in comparison to the sudden appearance of her estranged mother Fiona and a surprise sister, Zoe. What Fiona reveals will rock her world and her sense of self—and reawaken her long-dormant mysterious power. Good thing. She’s gonna need it . . . Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com
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Witch Hunt
Cate Conte
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Murder isn’t always crystal-clear . . . especially when the prime suspect discovers she’s a witch.
Violet Mooney owns The Full Moon crystal shop in quaint North Harbor, Connecticut. Still grieving her beloved grandmother’s recent unexpected death, she takes comfort in her fat orange cat Monty and her work. Not everyone in town is thrilled with her business, however. When disagreeable town councilwoman Carla Fernandez picks a fight over Violet’s “voodoo shop,” the two have a very public confrontation. Of course, when Carla turns up dead, Violet gets little sympathy from the police as suspect #1.
But the shock of two policemen showing up at her door pales in comparison to the sudden appearance of her estranged mother Fiona and a surprise sister, Zoe. What Fiona reveals will rock her world and her sense of self–and reawaken her long-dormant mysterious power. Good thing. She’s gonna need it . . . (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Violet owns The Full Moon crystal shop and she really enjoys what she does. But when a member of council accuses her of having a seance in the street and a loud altercation ensues, she is upset. She becomes even more upset when that council member is found dead, and she is the prime suspect. Add to that the fact that her friend is lying to her, her boyfriend is not very attentive and having her mother and sister show up in her life, and she is about ready to lose her mind. She has not seen her mother in years, and she did not even know she had a sister. She cannot catch a break and nothing is as it should be. The things her mother tells her are mind-blowing and she does not know how to process it.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. There was so much going on in Violet’s life and I found myself reading eagerly to see what would happen next. The mystery was well plotted and fast paced. There were enough suspects to consider and suspects to consider.I really enjoyed trying to figure this one out.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted magical cozy. If you like great characters, a magical setting anda intriguing mystery, give this book a try.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Witch Hunt is the first book in the new “Full Moon Mysteries” series by Cate Conte, published by Kensington Books. This is an engaging and lively read from start to finish.
Violet didn’t know that magic was real, or that she was a witch. She spent her entire life thinking it was all make-believe. It isn’t until her grandmother dies that her mother and a sister she never knew show up to shed light on the family secret. It becomes troublesome for Violet when she realizes that nothing she believed is the whole story and that her family, especially her father, have secrets she never even guessed could exist.
Violet is an interesting character; she could be a poster child for naiveté if it weren’t for the fact that she is not a child. In many ways, she is immature, too trusting of her ideas of the past and the world around her. As a witch, she is hard to believe. I would have liked her grandmother to have played a more significant role in this story instead of starting with her being already dead. I think it would have made for a better understanding of all the characters. Fiona is not a character I can empathize with; she does not appear to be a mother who cared about her child. She left her to the care of her father and grandmother without ever seeing her or explaining why she wasn’t around, then to top it off, she doesn’t even introduce Violet to her sister. For these reasons, most readers will have a difficult time liking the character or feeling any sympathy towards her.
I enjoyed the location for this book; it is described well and gives readers a sense of what it would be like to grow up or to live there as an adult. Having magical residents, witches, and others, play a more significant part throughout the story would have made the book more interesting. Hopefully, their role will be expanded in the next installment. The murder was not unexpected from the moment the victim enters the story. The suspects are easy to pick out and understandable without too many twists and turns to confuse readers. In the end, the motive is a bit of a surprise, but perhaps the killer is not.
Witch Hunt is the debut book in this series, and overall it was entertaining, but as with any new series, it will grow and expand. I feel that many readers will enjoy the read and that there is an excellent opportunity in future volumes to bolster the main characters’ quarks and personalities and mold the supporting cast into people who will be fun and entertaining in the next book.
I am a fan of Cate Conte’s Cat Cafe series so when I heard she was writing a new series that was a paranormal cozy mystery series I was interested. This is a wonderful start to a new series. It is well written and keeps the reader engaged with delightful characters, a quick pace, a strong plot, and the element of magic. Violet Mooney is in for a surprise when she starts her day. Little does she know that not only is she going to become a suspect in the murder of a disliked town council member, but everything she thought she knew about herself was going to be turned upside down. I really enjoyed Violet and I am looking forward to getting to know her, her mother Fiona, and her sister Zoe better in future books. If you are a fan of paranormal cozies, I would recommend you give this book a try. The author does a nice job of blending the human and magical worlds.
The mystery was well done. As I said, the victim was a member of the town council who seemed to have a problem with more people than not. The author provides many viable suspects as she peels back the layers causing Violet to rethink those she has known and to with whom she is close. While the identity of the killer is not a surprise – she is certainly someone Violet has on her suspect list – I was a bit surprised by the motive.
This is a terrific start to a new paranormal cozy mystery that has great potential to keep readers coming back for more. There is a lot Violet has to learn about her newfound powers and the family she is just getting to know. That should make for many more adventures to come.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.
I gave up at 63%. I wasn’t interested in Violet and what was going on at that point. Things were moving too slowly for me and the mysteries weren’t developing. Come on, someone shows up 27 years later and you don’t jump on it and want copious explanations?
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
What an enjoyable read! An easy read that I devoured in one sitting.
This is the first of a new series and I’m glad I discovered it at the beginning-look forward to the next installment.
Our heroine, Violet, has a secret heritage that she is unaware of and when she breaks a necklace that was a gift from her beloved grandmother, strange things start to happen. Add that to the fact that she is a person of interest in a murder and what follows is a charming cozy mystery.
Violet Mooney owns a crystal store in North Harbor, Connecticut that she calls The Full Moon. While she’s still grieving her grandmother’s unexpected death, Violet loves helping her customers find the right stones. But when town councilwoman, Carla Fernandez, is found murdered and she’s brought in for questioning, she thinks that she’s had the shock of a lifetime. That is, until a woman claiming to be her mother shows up along with her sister. And, if that wasn’t enough, they tell her that she’s a witch!
I bought this book because I like stories about witches and I love Cate Conte’s Cat Cafe series. I’m so glad that I did. 🙂 The book is well-written with well-rounded characters, some of whom you’ll like and others you won’t. I really liked Violet and the way she dealt with things especially after learning she’s a witch and coming to terms with that. I also loved the way the author included the history of witches. I am very eager for another book in this series and highly recommend this one.
This is a new series off to a good start, setting the stage for what looks like an engaging cozy series. I have read her other series, the Cat Cafe and this didn’t disappoint. Violet lives in North Harbor, Connecticut and owns The Full Moon crystal shop. She does readings and sells crystal related items. At this point in her life she is dealing with the very recent death of her beloved grandmother and is trying to work through her grief. Not everyone in town sees the benefits of crystals and she has an altercation with a town councilwoman who has a major issue about a seance. Words are exchanged and both women walk away. Violet soon gets an unwelcome visit from the police – the dead body of the councilwoman is found outside the yoga studio Violet frequents and Violet’s scarf is part of the crime scene. If she wants to stay in business and out of jail, she decides to do some investigating of her own.
While Violet is trying to stay out of jail, she also has to deal with the witchy side of her life. Turns out she is one and she is going to have to deal with this new talent. Add to that her mother has turned up after a very long absence and she has another daughter with her. Life has become very complicated indeed.
This series seems to have a bit of everything that I enjoy in a cozy. It has a small town setting, well developed characters, a bit of romance, strong friendships, a witchy angle and a well plotted mystery that kept me guessing. Add a great cat companion, Monty and I had no trouble putting this new series on my TBR list.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
I’m a huge fan of Liz Mugavero’s Pawsitively Organic Mysteries and and her alter-ego, Cate Conte’s Cat Cafe Mystery series, so when I saw Cate launched a new series, I was all-in.
Violet Mooney is a Connecticut resident who owns a crystal shop. When one of the local councilwomen aggressively confronts Violet in a coffee shop one morning about her unorthodox shop, things get quite heated. After returning home and calling it a day, Violet is questioned by the local police after the councilwoman is later found dead….with an item owned by Violet at the scene. The hits keep coming when Violet leaves the police department and walks into a confrontation with two women who claim to be her long-lost mother and sister. It’s been 27 years so who is this person and if it really is her mother, why now after all these years? The family reunion is anything but joyous for Violet, especially after learning she’s from a long line of witches.
Witch Hunt is a wonderful first book in this new series. I was completely engaged in the story from beginning to end. Violet’s past collides with her present, blindsiding her with a life she was never told about. Raised as a human, Violet is anything but. Her reaction to her mother and the wildly spun tale of her heritage was apt. I felt her disbelief, irritation, and sense of abandonment. Violet’s fear of being arrested for something she didn’t do permeated the pages as she tried to rectify her mother’s return, her discovery of witches, and find out who really killed Carla. The story flowed along and was well-written. The author did a wonderful job of stacking the deck of suspects. I didn’t consider the culprit until almost the big reveal and even then I questioned the motive. Of course, everything fell into place perfectly. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
I was provided a copy of this book to review.
First of New Witch Cozy Series
This is a pretty good story. Because it is the beginning of a new series, it was tough keeping track of all the new characters. Once I got all of them straight in my head, the read went smoothly. The mystery part was a no-brainer in spite of all the red herrings the author threw out. The witch story was much more interesting. It is also the paranormal or magic side that will lead me to read the next in series. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Witch Hunt by Cate Conte has Violet Mooney living in North Harbor, Connecticut with her cat and she owns The Full Moon, a crystal shop. She is picking up coffee with her best friend, Sydney when Councilwoman Carla Fernandez comes up and starts berating her about a supposed séance. After a very strange day, Violet goes home and takes a long nap. She is awakened by two policemen pounding on her door. Carla was found dead outside the yoga studio that Violet attends with Violet’s new scarf on the body. Violet is taken to the police station to give her statement and she is shocked when her estranged mother, Fiona appears with her other daughter, Zoe. Fiona reveals surprising information to Violet that she has hard time accepting as truth. Violet avoids her mother while searching for Carla’s killer. She does wonder if the powers her mother hinted that she has are real because they might come in handy. Witch Hunt is the debut of A Full Moon Mystery series. Violet Mooney is grieving the loss of her grandmother, Abigail who died a month prior. Violet is grateful for her friends in North Harbor now that she is without her grandmother and father. She owns a crystal shop called The Full Moon where she provides consultations. I have mixed feelings about Violet. She seems awfully naïve for a 32 year old woman and her attitude left a lot to be desired at times. I hope we see growth in Violet’s character as the series progresses plus, she needs a new boyfriend. As Fiona said Todd is subpar. The mystery of who killed Carla had several suspects and a red herring. Violet asks questions and does some snooping along with eavesdropping. She likes to think about the case and speculate. I did feel that the case information was repetitious. I was able to pinpoint the killer soon after the crime, but I did not know why until much later. I thought Witch Hunt was nicely written with steady pacing. The magical element was interesting, and I enjoyed how Fiona left glitter everywhere. I would like to see the magical element ramped up in the future (more witches using their power and learn more about the witchy world). There is a lot happening in this debut novel with a murder, Violet’s boyfriend acting sketchy, Sydney acting oddly, appearance of Violet’s mom and sister, learning about new magical powers, a mysterious black cat, and a critical reporter. Witch Hunt is a spellbinding new cozy mystery with a mystifying moggy, curative crystals, glorious glitter, a callous councilwoman, a bothersome boyfriend, a fetching friend, and mysterious magic.
This first book in a new paranormal cozy mystery series was so fun. Witches, crystals, energy healers, long lost family, glitter, and murder!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #WitchHunt #cozymystery #paranormalcozy
This was a fun book in a new series. I liked the characters. Looking forward to the next book.
I loved Witch Hunt! It’s not your typical “witchy” cozy mystery book. On the surface, North Harbor, CT is a typical but quaint town, but through the events that unfold in Witch Hunt, we and Violet, discover that it’s much more!
Violet recently lost her grandmother, who, along with Violet’s dad, raised Violet after her mom left when Violet was five. Her dad’s been gone for several years, and though she’s got some close friends, Violet still feels the hole that her grandmother filled. In spite of things, Violet carries on with running her crystal shop and trying to live her life. She’s doing a pretty good job of it, she thinks, until an unlikable character confronts Violet in a very public setting with a very loud complaint.
Of course, that’s where the mystery begins…with that unlikable’s death! You may be thinking, okay, this sounds like other books I’ve read, but it’s got some real twists and revelations that I loved! I’m not going to give spoilers, but when I read (and hopefully review!), I’ll be talking more about the big revelation that reminded me of a series dear to my heart!
Though I like Violet, she’s not my favorite character in Witch Hunt. I’d have to say Zoe takes that top spot with Fiona close behind. I’m sure as the series progresses and Violet becomes more comfortable with who she really is, she’ll grow on me more. There are lots of other side characters I grew attached to as well. Though this is the first book in the series, most of the characters have some good depth to them already. I can’t wait to see how they grow throughout the series.
I give Witch Hunt 5 stars and can’t wait for the next book!
This was an enjoyable first book of a new series. Violet, Fiona and Zoe are fun characters with a lot of potential. The mystery was almost secondary to the revelation about Violet’s mother and her introduction to the magical world. There were a lot of characters and back stories to take in during one book but I am very invested in the characters so it will be interesting to see how Violet adapts to the magical world.,
#releaseday #netgalley #witchhunt
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Witch Hunt – Cate Conte @cateconteauthor
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Violet the owner of her own store where she sells her kristals and give aura readings to help her clients out.
I loved reading this book, the surprise when she got to know that she is a witch, and that one of the neighbors is murdered and to get the answer she needs to get her own name cleaned, makes her go all detective mode I loved the flow and the different characters and can’t wait to get the next book and to see where Violet is going.
The murder is solved in the end but one of the other subjects in the book is an open end. And will get another book .
Blurb;
Murder isn’t always crystal-clear . . . especially when the prime suspect discovers she’s a witch.
Violet Mooney owns The Full Moon crystal shop in quaint North Harbor, Connecticut. Still grieving her beloved grandmother’s recent unexpected death, she takes comfort in her fat orange cat Monty and her work. Not everyone in town is thrilled with her business, however. When disagreeable town councilwoman Carla Fernandez picks a fight over Violet’s “voodoo shop,” the two have a very public confrontation. Of course, when Carla turns up dead, Violet gets little sympathy from the police as suspect #1.
But the shock of two policemen showing up at her door pales in comparison to the sudden appearance of her estranged mother Fiona and a surprise sister, Zoe. What Fiona reveals will rock her world and her sense of self—and reawaken her long-dormant mysterious power. Good thing. She’s gonna need it . . .
Genre: detective, paranormal, mystery, thriller
Stars;
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#murder #detective #surpriseread #bookstagram #bookreview #tbrpile #reading #cats #witches #cute #kristal #aurareading #creative #photography
WITCH HUNT by Cate Conte
The First Full Moon Mystery
Violet Mooney has had one heck of a day. She gets verbally assaulted by a local councilwoman while getting her morning coffee, she loses her favorite new scarf, her friend and mentor discovers a strange odor at the Full Moon and cancels all of Violet’s appointments and closes the shop. After a quick errand there’s nothing for it but to go home, take a nap, and hope all will be better when she wakes. That’s not to be the case as she’s woken up by two police officers with even more alarming news. The councilwoman has been murdered, Violet’s scarf was at the scene, and everyone heard their very public heated argument. If being questioned about murder wasn’t bad enough, the person who comes to meet her at the police station isn’t her boyfriend, but rather the mother who left her 27 years ago. The mother who claims she’s a witch…and tells Violet that she is too. Violet now has to come to terms with her unexpected heritage while making sure she’s not arrested for murder.
WITCH HUNT opens up a new paranormal world and I absolutely love it! I was so thrilled when I discovered the book featured a crystal shop, and even more so when I discovered that the author wasn’t just trying to fill a niche, but actually knows about crystals and their metaphysical properties. Despite being surrounded by healing crystals, Violet has entered a surreal world where things are not going at all well. I really appreciate that those nearest and dearest to her are acting remarkedly suspicious. Her entire world is in upheaval and the fact that no one is as they seem is a perfect manifestation of it. I love Fiona and Zoe. I’m curious to learn more about Xander. And I really want some of those fries. I’m also very suspicious of another character, who, for spoiler purposes shall remain nameless. I think there’s a lot more going on there and this person may well be a part of the family that wants to challenge the Witches Council.
WITCH HUNT is a fun new paranormal mystery. Engaging characters with lots of secrets add spice while what looks to be a long running subplot has me eager to see what happens next as Violet takes her place in this new world.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
A fascinating new para-witch cozy series! Crystal shop owner, Violet Mooney, lives with her orange cat, Monty, in North Harbor, Connecticut where she operates the Full Moon Crystal Shop.
I loved the way this mystery felt like a magic carpet ride as I was swept away into Violet’s worlds—both Earthly and the Magickal realm which she is totally surprised to discover she belongs in, too! Short, fast-reading chapters fly by as different characters are introduced and the tension in the mystery builds toward the ending. There are multiple surprise reveals that kept me interested, and Crystal’s mother and sister provide some chuckles. I know a bit about natural gemstones, myself, and the author is spot on in her crystal readings for customers. I happily rate this novel, Witch Hunt, 5 Stars!
I honestly reviewed a galley arc provided by the author in a contest I won. Thank you.
I’ve been on a reading binge of cozy paranormals, and this was a first for this author for me. At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book. It seemed a little slow, but not bad. Then, after the murder, things really picked up. By the last half, and especially by the end, I knew this was going to become a favorite. This book was well-written, I loved the very quirky characters, and the plot was very engaging. I kept guessing who had done it, and I was completely wrong. However, the journey to the end was fun. I really liked this book, and I can’t wait to see what the next one will bring. Highly recommend! I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
WITCH HUNT by Cate Conte is the first book by this author that I have read. This witch cozy mystery novel is set in a small town in Connecticut. Violet Mooney owner The Full Moon crystal shop in downtown North Harbor. She is still grieving her grandmother’s death, but enjoys her cat Monty and her work. However, not everyone likes having her shop in town and when a town councilwoman harangues her publicly and then ends up dead later that day, Violet’s life is turned upside down.
Violet is someone you can root for, but I did not really connect with her. She seemed befuddled through most of the story line. However, she did have a distinct voice with flaws and virtues. Her goals were clear and her motivations seemed believable. She seemed to be somewhat naïve for her age. The story line was interesting and had plenty of red herrings. The ending was a surprise to me. Themes include murder, grief, family dramas, environmentalism, trust, secrets and much more.
Overall, this book was enjoyable and entertaining despite containing (for me) too much information on crystals. If you enjoy witch cozy mysteries set in small towns, then this may be the book for you.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Cate Conte for a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
A fun cozy paranormal story. Nice quick read with plenty of crazy to keep your interest. Violet Mooney owns a crystal shop in Connecticut and has to deal with problems from those who don’t like the idea of her shop or beliefs. When one of them turns up dead she is the main suspect. Quirky characters and a good story make for a enjoyable read hope there will be more from these characters .