Spell Check

Hedgewitch for Hire #10

by Christine Pope

It’s the murder investigation of Selena’s life…but this time she’s flying blind.

Selena’s pregnancy is progressing without a hitch. Well, just one. Her aura-reading gift has disappeared. She’s not thrilled, but her in-laws assure her it’s simply a side effect of marrying into Calvin Standingbear’s shifter tribe. As soon as the baby is born, all will be well.

Probably. Hopefully.

Luckily, Selena doesn’t need her odd little gift when she hires the perfect shop assistant off Craigslist in preparation for her upcoming maternity leave. So she puts that worry out of her mind — only to have it quickly replaced by another.

Her friend Archie has been receiving blackmail letters from someone who hints they know about his secret past as a cursed cat. Unfortunately, it’s pretty hard to brush it off as just a jealous dance competitor when Archie's fiancée Victoria finds the blackmailer sprawled dead on her studio floor. This puts quite a damper on their upcoming wedding…especially when Victoria is arrested for murder.

Without her aura-reading gift, Selena can only reach out to the spirit world with her Tarot and her pendulums. With a blind spot like that, there’s plenty of opportunity for the real murderer to go free. Or get too close….

232 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2023

About the author

A native of Southern California, Christine Pope has been writing stories ever since she commandeered her family’s Smith-Corona typewriter back in the sixth grade. Many reams of dead trees later, she’s happy to announce that her debut novel, Fringe Benefits,was published by Pink Petal Books on April 8, 2010. Her short fiction has appeared in Astonishing Adventures, Luna Station Quarterly, and the new journal of dark fiction, Dark Valentine. Her paranormal novella, Playing With Fire, was released on August 5, 2010.

While Fringe Benefits is a straight contemporary romance, she writes in a variety of genres, including paranormal romance, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and historical romance. She blames this on being easily distracted by bright, shiny objects, which could also account for the size of her shoe collection.

After spending many years in the magazine publishing industry, she now works as a freelance editor in addition to writing fiction. She lives with her husband and an explosively fluffy Pomeranian mix. Her house is pink, but don’t hold that against her.

Reviews

[Emmalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahh Selene if only your aura worked, you could have seen this one coming a mile away. Poor trusting Selene has to solve a murder that hits a little to close to home and clear Victoria’s name in time for her and Archie’s wedding and honeymoon. All while Selene’d magic is on the fritz due to her pregnancy..

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Selena’s going to have to solve this murder old school style! Her pregnancy appears to have interfered with her ability to read auras, well that's what you get when you mix magic with shifter genes!

But with Victoria in the frame for murder, attempting to find an assistant, run the shop and take care of her pregnant self - Selena's plate is overflowing. But she won't let Victoria and Archie's wedding be scuppered by a murder charge!

I love this series of books. The characters are still as fresh as in book 1 and Globe is almost a character itself. Evan Calvin is evolving - he's usually the one telling her to stay out of things and now here he is driving her around like a getaway driver, lol! They have the sweetest relationship, even when she's attempting to get one over on him.

Well crafted story, engaging characters and a twisty mystery. I actually guessed the baddie this time around but I just couldn't figure out how, why and when!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the tenth book of this series, we learn of Selena’s pregnancy. Selena’s pregnancy is certainly not stopping her from continuing her “new” job of finding criminals although she does slow down and now must think not only of any personal danger but also that of her unborn child. However, her best friends (Victoria and Archie) are getting married in a few weeks, but Victoria has been charged with murder. She simply cannot ignore this fact and wants to do her best to clear her name. Needless to say, she has no intention of stopping her sleuthing despite placing herself and her unborn baby in danger to find the real murderer. This book as well as the whole series provides extremely delightful reading. I highly recommend the whole series starting with the first book to get the full impact of the stories and the characters that reappear in most of the series’ books.

Anna

[Stan Hutchings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable cozy mystery solved with just a little supernatural help. It continues the story arc of Selena, Calvin, Hazel, Josie, Archie, Victoria, and the other residents of Globe. It would be better to start at the beginning of the series to appreciate the various characters' personalities and interactions.
During her pregnancy, Selena notices she doesn’t see auras anymore. Calvin and his parents attribute it to the pregnancy. Archie gets an ominous letter threatening to reveal who he is. The blackmailer meets with Victoria, alone, and drops dead. Victoria is arrested for murder. The story continues with Selena’s attempts to clear Victoria’s name by finding the real murderer before the wedding. There are numerous plot twists and turns as various people are suspected and cleared. The identity of the actual murderer is a surprise.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Globe Arizona Hedgewitch, Selena Marx, or otherwise known as Mrs. Calvin Standingbear, wife of Chief Sheriff of the San Ramon Tribe, is soon thrown into another mysterious murder. However, this one is personal since it involves her very best friends and soon to be married Archie and Victoria. Expecting her and Calvin’s first child makes Selena’s sleuthing a bit dangerous. But as always, nothing will stop Selena from solving this mystery and clear her friend of a murder charge. This entire series and their congenial mysteries are extremely enjoyable and entertaining. I highly recommend the book and the entire series.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Selena is going old school as she works to find the real killer in this murder mystery addition to this incredible series. Being pregnant has made Selena lose her aura reading gift and so when Victoria is arrested for murder it’s all hands on deck to solve this before Archie and Victoria’s wedding. It’s an exciting read and highly entertaining and enjoyable as we join in the hunt for a murderer.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blackmail and a dead body!

Selena's pregnancy is going smoothly, but for a lil hitch, she can't see auras.

That's not a problem, till a man drops dead in Victoria's studio.

The man who was trying to blackmail Archie and Victoria!!

At the same time Selena advertises for a shop assistant to help her out, ready for when the baby comes.

But all thing's aren't as they seem.

Loving these books.

I've gone through them that quickly I'll soon have to WAIT for the new one 😯😯😯

[Donna Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good cozy mystery

Christine Pope has once again written another good story with our favorite hedgewitch for hire. Selena is once again embroiled in a murder mystery, but with her pregnancy seemingly messing with her gifts, she has a little bit harder time trying to figure it all out.

[Alysia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like these cozy mysteries, but for some reason, I had a hard time getting through this one. I think at times it just got overly boring. Nothing going on and very predictable. From the beginning, I knew who the murderer was. So I guess I was bored till we finally got to the answer. Oh well. I think I will continue to read the series, but I'm not very enthusiastic about it.

[Hilary Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant Series

Spell Check (Hedgewitch for Hire Book 10) by Christine Pope. Selena’s friend Victoria, is accused of a murder she didn’t commit so Selena is off on another hunt for a murderer.

[Margaret Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another case solved at t last minute!

Thoroughly enjoyed this episode in Selena’s not boring life. So glad for Archie’s outcome. Christine really writes an engrossing story and the characters are so believable.

[M. Mar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divertida y ligera, a pesar de que algunos giros son predecibles me gusta.