Pepper discovers a discarded and unopened letter addressed to the aunts in the attic. To her shock, the letter holds the secret to her parents’ disappearance. Pepper can scarcely believe her luck, but the trail soon leads to murder.To make matters worse, Lucas is called away on mysterious business.But it is Pepper’s cat that is the biggest surprise of all . . .
Witches Spells (Witches and Wine, #5)
By morganabest
Pepper is helping her ditzy aunts clean the attic and comes across a letter dated five years previously. It contained information that could lead to the discovery of her parents! Lucas is gone so he will not be able to help her. She sets off to see someone about the contents of the letter and her parents…only to have him end up dead! Now, she will have to sleuth her way into discovering why someone would want him dead over the information he had to tell her in relation to her parents~ Nice little surprise is awaiting the reader about a certain black feline! More twists and turns and Pepper will once again help save the day! But what is coming?
most of peppers aunts’ spells work great. trying to figure out who did it made their search not only complicated, but funny. only to have the spell go wonky in a way no one can guess.the ending was the best! had me standing up and screaming YES
Hilarious and fun, plus a surprise ending. Another good cozy addition to the Witches and Wine series that helps carry the plot along. Definitely worth the read as something big is surely going to happen after this. I personally can’t wait to read on, which I have already done (I read chapter 1 of book 6 because I just had to know).
However…
I feel so sad. I read The Kitchen Witch, Australian Witch: Prequel to The Kitchen Witch, and Sea Witch. I love these books. They are the reason I think Morgana is the best in the cozy witch mystery genre, so now I am wondering what happened.
My notes can be found in the boxset for books 4-6 on Goodreads, but to give you an idea:
1. Chapter 15 should be between chapters 3 and 4. I knew something was missing when I started reading. I made a note in chapter 4 asking, “Why can’t Pepper talk about Lucas? He wasn’t at the scene of the murder, he wasn’t involved in the murder. He didn’t even answer the phone. He is busy.” I wondered if the lack of information was due to an off scene conversation to be learned later… Until a new, secret phone dropped into the story with no answers to the first question. Then at last chapter 15 turned up, taking me back in time right out of the blue and confusing me. THE LUCAS AND PEPPER SCENE WAS MISPLACED!!!! HUGELY!!!! And no, it isn’t a flashback scene.
2. The author works super hard to give Pepper a reason to believe Becket was murdered. The points the character mentally struggles with throughout chapter 3 just keep getting repeated over and over and over like she can’t even convince herself. Then in chapter 4 the aunts debate on whether or not their new cleaning lady is the murderer, making the stretch for a murder mystery forced. Regrettably, this effort gives a dull tone to the beginning. The book does pick up, though. There are a several amazing, fun, hilarious chapters readers won’t want to miss. I am just saying the beginning isn’t thought out but is more of a first draft.
The series is still great. The plot is intriguing and the characters loveable. I hate putting the books down.
Read August 28, 2020
amateur-sleuth, animals, Australia, urban-fantasy, witches, supernatural, suspense
Each of Morgana’s series has its own merits and each book can easily stand alone, but if you are lucky enough to come across one you just want to find more! This one has Pepper mixed up in a murder and a mystery with only the Aunts and her cat to help unravel the peculiar murder and the other investigations. The writing keeps you turning pages, the humor keeps you snurfling, and the characters make you giggle inanely. The publisher’s blurb gives hints and there is no need for spoilers, but that really is only a tease into the real enjoyment!
Morgana Best writes some very entertaining books. I’ve been pulled into every series she writes. The Witches and Wine (formerly, Vampires and Wine) series is probably my favorite. And the development at the end leaves me anxiously awaiting the next installment.