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Sonoma Witches #6
Hexed in Show
It’s the Elwin Flower Show, where witches throw the biggest garden event of the year. One little murder isn’t going to stop it.
Maybe not even two.
Witch Alma Bellrose’s life has finally settled down. After resolving a series of magical mysteries, she’s enjoying a quiet life with her dog and fae boyfriend, Seth.
But nothing ever stays quiet in Silverpool for long.
Right after her boyfriend leaves on a trip, there’s a supernatural attack on her home. When she rescues one friend, she learns of a sudden and suspicious death of another, leaving her reeling — and determined to find the killer.
Soon she’s at the Elwin Flower Show on the northern California coast, pretending to be a contestant in the biggest botanical event in the world — at least for the fanatical witches who participate.
One mystery turns into two, then three. She starts to doubt everyone, even her most trusted colleague. When she digs up a shocking secret, she races to protect the final target’s life.
And her own.
◆ ◆ ◆
Compelling and unputdownable, Hexed in Show has all the complex worldbuilding, rich characterization, and pageturning twists that readers of Gretchen Galway’s Sonoma Witches series have come to expect.
Maybe not even two.
Witch Alma Bellrose’s life has finally settled down. After resolving a series of magical mysteries, she’s enjoying a quiet life with her dog and fae boyfriend, Seth.
But nothing ever stays quiet in Silverpool for long.
Right after her boyfriend leaves on a trip, there’s a supernatural attack on her home. When she rescues one friend, she learns of a sudden and suspicious death of another, leaving her reeling — and determined to find the killer.
Soon she’s at the Elwin Flower Show on the northern California coast, pretending to be a contestant in the biggest botanical event in the world — at least for the fanatical witches who participate.
One mystery turns into two, then three. She starts to doubt everyone, even her most trusted colleague. When she digs up a shocking secret, she races to protect the final target’s life.
And her own.
◆ ◆ ◆
Compelling and unputdownable, Hexed in Show has all the complex worldbuilding, rich characterization, and pageturning twists that readers of Gretchen Galway’s Sonoma Witches series have come to expect.
- GenresMysteryParanormal
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2023
14 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Gretchen Galway
27 books368 followersGRETCHEN GALWAY is a USA Today bestselling author who writes mystery, fantasy, and romance. She lives in Sonoma County, California.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 26, 2023
I received an ARC copy from the author.
I would definitely recommend this series to anyone that loves with themed adventurous books!
First of all death literally follows Alma around everywhere she goes. It was a bit funny to imagine Darius as Dash. It was such an adventurous book I loved all the twists and turns. I definitely was not expecting the ending to turn out the way it did.
I do hope there is more coming with Sonoma Witch series.
I would definitely recommend this series to anyone that loves with themed adventurous books!
First of all death literally follows Alma around everywhere she goes. It was a bit funny to imagine Darius as Dash. It was such an adventurous book I loved all the twists and turns. I definitely was not expecting the ending to turn out the way it did.
I do hope there is more coming with Sonoma Witch series.
September 17, 2023
I received an ARC from the author, but let me tell you... it was entirely to my benefit! 😈
Coming back to Alma's world was such a pleasure!
I reread all of Sonoma Witches for full effect, but I can tell that that's entirely unnecessary if you want to dive in straight to Hexed in Show. Gretchen Galway does such a good job recapping the early books in the series, that you never really feel lost.
Alma's feeling a little lost however, as her boyfriend leaves for a trip. First of all, Seth! It was so mean that we spend the better part of the book without him, I really missed his strange moods and him ribbing Alma. It was a really great device though, as we see Alma having to rely solely on her (still burgeoning!) witchy skills. Still, he manages to show up for her in a big way, which is really sweet.
And, Darius! We get more Darius! I love him, I really do. I think he is my favorite secondary character, so I was really happy with all the shenanigans Alma and Darius get up to. It was all so fun!
And fun this book was! Fun and cozy in a sense, with a good dose of mystery to keep you wondering. New town, same problems! Murdery people and Alma's beads and power coming to the rescue!
I micro-dosed this book, which isn't at all what I usually do, but I simply just wanted more time with Alma & co. This was a wonderful addition to the series, hope we get more of it!
Coming back to Alma's world was such a pleasure!
I reread all of Sonoma Witches for full effect, but I can tell that that's entirely unnecessary if you want to dive in straight to Hexed in Show. Gretchen Galway does such a good job recapping the early books in the series, that you never really feel lost.
Alma's feeling a little lost however, as her boyfriend leaves for a trip. First of all, Seth! It was so mean that we spend the better part of the book without him, I really missed his strange moods and him ribbing Alma. It was a really great device though, as we see Alma having to rely solely on her (still burgeoning!) witchy skills. Still, he manages to show up for her in a big way, which is really sweet.
And, Darius! We get more Darius! I love him, I really do. I think he is my favorite secondary character, so I was really happy with all the shenanigans Alma and Darius get up to. It was all so fun!
And fun this book was! Fun and cozy in a sense, with a good dose of mystery to keep you wondering. New town, same problems! Murdery people and Alma's beads and power coming to the rescue!
I micro-dosed this book, which isn't at all what I usually do, but I simply just wanted more time with Alma & co. This was a wonderful addition to the series, hope we get more of it!
Want to read
September 10, 2023Coming out Sept. 19, 2023.
September 20, 2023
Good Story, Weak Witch.
I like the story but the MC seemed changed in this book. For one she seems more unhinged and incompetent and despite everyone saying she is scary and powerful, she was fairly useless in the magic department. There was zero progress on her abilities or answers about her demon ancestry powers (rings in her arms). Her crutch on using calming spells and stimulants was also disheartening to see. She was quick to anger and put off gaurd. To make matters worst she is now in a annoying romance which we fortunately don’t have to endure the entire novel but the author introduced another dependent to the story when she doesn’t have time for it. I much prefer her personal growth without all the peripheral characters.
I like the story but the MC seemed changed in this book. For one she seems more unhinged and incompetent and despite everyone saying she is scary and powerful, she was fairly useless in the magic department. There was zero progress on her abilities or answers about her demon ancestry powers (rings in her arms). Her crutch on using calming spells and stimulants was also disheartening to see. She was quick to anger and put off gaurd. To make matters worst she is now in a annoying romance which we fortunately don’t have to endure the entire novel but the author introduced another dependent to the story when she doesn’t have time for it. I much prefer her personal growth without all the peripheral characters.
September 27, 2023
Anxious, alone and frustrated
I really enjoyed the rest of the series, so I was sad about this one. I usually enjoy Alma’s relationships with other people, and this was absent. Everyone had some reason to not be around, or they were emotionally absent or not able to be trusted. She is all alone, and while this shows how anxious and frustrated she was and it was written well enough that I could feel those negative feelings, in the past I’ve enjoyed this series because of the positive feelings I have towards all the characters in it.
I really enjoyed the rest of the series, so I was sad about this one. I usually enjoy Alma’s relationships with other people, and this was absent. Everyone had some reason to not be around, or they were emotionally absent or not able to be trusted. She is all alone, and while this shows how anxious and frustrated she was and it was written well enough that I could feel those negative feelings, in the past I’ve enjoyed this series because of the positive feelings I have towards all the characters in it.
October 21, 2023
Excellent read
I enjoy every book more than the last, which surprises me. It’s because every book is such a wonderful read. I love the author’s writing style. There are enough clues to follow along, but never exactly know, if your guesses are correct, until the end. I also appreciate the fact that the romance is so very subtle that it doesn’t over take the plot. The entire series is an absolute pleasure to read!
I enjoy every book more than the last, which surprises me. It’s because every book is such a wonderful read. I love the author’s writing style. There are enough clues to follow along, but never exactly know, if your guesses are correct, until the end. I also appreciate the fact that the romance is so very subtle that it doesn’t over take the plot. The entire series is an absolute pleasure to read!
September 21, 2023
Great tale
Once again, the magic world with it's twistiness has charmed me. It was great to visit with Alma again with the delicious intricacies and the slow uncovering of the truth. Great read.
Once again, the magic world with it's twistiness has charmed me. It was great to visit with Alma again with the delicious intricacies and the slow uncovering of the truth. Great read.
February 22, 2024
Always a good time
June 18, 2024
Not my fav. It became tedious to read. Too complicated. It is time to start addressing the truth about Alma’s mother. Simple is better in this kind of stories. And old girlfriends of a friend trying to trap her to kill the guy,,, too much.
February 10, 2025
Take comfort with Alma.
There is a good twist that makes sense at the end. If you enjoy books about fae and witch's. You should enjoy the series.
There is a good twist that makes sense at the end. If you enjoy books about fae and witch's. You should enjoy the series.
June 6, 2025
honestly the plot was good but I really didn’t understand the whole Seth side quest thing. It felt really lacking in that part compared to the buildup throughout the book
November 28, 2025
Another cozy mystery story for Alma. It was ok, I guess. I had a feeling like the story was a little bit forced and didn’t like it as much as the previous books.
I also miss Seth’s banter.
I also miss Seth’s banter.
September 18, 2023
This is a fun and engrossing novel which I found just plain enjoyable to read. It’s a novel with a lot of strengths which should appeal strongly to fantasy readers. It may also attract readers who just want to enjoy themselves for a few hours.
This is the sixth novel in the “Sonoma Witches” series, but you can read it independently. Sure, some of the characters will mean more to you if you’ve read the earlier novels, and some of the references to past events will have more resonance. But the plot doesn’t rely on anything that’s gone before, the world building is vivid and wholly explained, and references to past events contain all the information you need to understand this novel.
I’ve been reading this series since the first novel, and continue to find it fresh and original. That’s largely down to a combination of the characters and Galway’s writing style, because a lot of the building blocks of the world building are pretty familiar.
Alma is a Bright (good) witch who’s never got along too well with authority. This culminated when she was fired from the Protectorate, the organization which regulates witches. However, the current leader of the Protectorate knows some of her weak spots, and is adept at using them to get Alma to take on certain investigations.
A witch that Alma used to know has died in circumstances that don’t quite feel right, but which aren’t suspicious enough to warrant an investigation from the Protectorate. Pressured to look into it, Alma needs an excuse to be in Elwin, the scene of the death. It’s home to a lot of witches, and quite a few are hostile to outsiders. Luckily, Elwin is also home to the largest witch flower show in the country. Alma can use entering that as her cover.
There are multiple levels to what’s going on in Elwin, and a murder (or two) may be the least of it.
As with the other Sonoma Witches novels, this functions on two levels: as a murder mystery and as an urban fantasy. It succeeds on both levels.
The mystery plot is twisty, complex, and satisfying. There’s plenty of confusion and false trails, and you’re not likely to work out what’s going on any earlier than Alma does. I found the plot believable (okay, once I’d accepted the world of witches and magic…) and the unwinding of it smoothly handled.
The fantasy elements are infused through both the mystery plot and the worldbuilding. Neither the crimes or the resolution could happen without the use of magic. However, the magic isn’t a “cheat” – it operates according to fairly carefully established rules. It’s also absolutely integral to the story being told.
The world Alma inhabits is vividly drawn, with references to real life events like the recent pandemic. It’s skilfully done, so that readers will believe without even noticing that it isn’t quite the world we live in.
One minor surprise is that I didn’t feel this novel advanced Alma’s personal story much. Earlier novels in the series have all taken a small step forward regarding Alma’s character, history, and on-going life story. This one felt static. However, that won’t bother new readers, and continuing readers aren’t likely to be overly concerned either.
This is just plain fun to read. Strong, often empathetic characters, and a challenging plot make for an absorbing read. Strongly recommended for fantasy readers or those looking for uncomplicated entertainment.
You may also be interested in my review of the first book in the Sonoma Witches series:
https://otherdreamsotherlives.home.bl...
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
This is the sixth novel in the “Sonoma Witches” series, but you can read it independently. Sure, some of the characters will mean more to you if you’ve read the earlier novels, and some of the references to past events will have more resonance. But the plot doesn’t rely on anything that’s gone before, the world building is vivid and wholly explained, and references to past events contain all the information you need to understand this novel.
I’ve been reading this series since the first novel, and continue to find it fresh and original. That’s largely down to a combination of the characters and Galway’s writing style, because a lot of the building blocks of the world building are pretty familiar.
Alma is a Bright (good) witch who’s never got along too well with authority. This culminated when she was fired from the Protectorate, the organization which regulates witches. However, the current leader of the Protectorate knows some of her weak spots, and is adept at using them to get Alma to take on certain investigations.
A witch that Alma used to know has died in circumstances that don’t quite feel right, but which aren’t suspicious enough to warrant an investigation from the Protectorate. Pressured to look into it, Alma needs an excuse to be in Elwin, the scene of the death. It’s home to a lot of witches, and quite a few are hostile to outsiders. Luckily, Elwin is also home to the largest witch flower show in the country. Alma can use entering that as her cover.
There are multiple levels to what’s going on in Elwin, and a murder (or two) may be the least of it.
As with the other Sonoma Witches novels, this functions on two levels: as a murder mystery and as an urban fantasy. It succeeds on both levels.
The mystery plot is twisty, complex, and satisfying. There’s plenty of confusion and false trails, and you’re not likely to work out what’s going on any earlier than Alma does. I found the plot believable (okay, once I’d accepted the world of witches and magic…) and the unwinding of it smoothly handled.
The fantasy elements are infused through both the mystery plot and the worldbuilding. Neither the crimes or the resolution could happen without the use of magic. However, the magic isn’t a “cheat” – it operates according to fairly carefully established rules. It’s also absolutely integral to the story being told.
The world Alma inhabits is vividly drawn, with references to real life events like the recent pandemic. It’s skilfully done, so that readers will believe without even noticing that it isn’t quite the world we live in.
One minor surprise is that I didn’t feel this novel advanced Alma’s personal story much. Earlier novels in the series have all taken a small step forward regarding Alma’s character, history, and on-going life story. This one felt static. However, that won’t bother new readers, and continuing readers aren’t likely to be overly concerned either.
This is just plain fun to read. Strong, often empathetic characters, and a challenging plot make for an absorbing read. Strongly recommended for fantasy readers or those looking for uncomplicated entertainment.
You may also be interested in my review of the first book in the Sonoma Witches series:
https://otherdreamsotherlives.home.bl...
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
October 15, 2023
What a delight to read a terrific new installment of one of my favorite series after a too-long absence.
September 22, 2024
This story sucked me in from the beginning. First, it lured me in with a small mystery and plenty of silliness and shenanigans. But then, once I was too deep to back out, I was hit with the force of the big mysteries… and even more shenanigans and silliness. I love Alma. I love the witch she’s maturing into. I love Seth, and Willy, and Random, and Birdie, and really all her merry band of enablers. Because, as much as all of them want to see Alma take precautions and protect herself, they’re all usually up to their magical eye-teeth in trouble with her. Particularly Darius and the Director. I was caught just as off guard as Alma was to discover what was going on and who was behind it, and I consider that the hallmark of a truly excellent mystery. Now that I’ve reached the end of this book, I kind of hate that it’s over already.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author.
September 16, 2023
Oh my, it is such a pleasure to reconnect with Alma, I was actually missing her! She's so lovable with her deceptively unassuming self, her huge heart, her faultless sense of justice and her unwavering Brightness!
I think that getting to love not only her, but her whole world, her friends and her allies, cheering for her and fearing for her, enjoying her sharp intelligence and soft heart - in short, getting totally immersed in the book until its breathless end - is the mark of a wonderful, talented storyteller, and that's Gretchen for you.
A very good mystery which will keep you guessing, great character development, excellent backstory and attention to detail make this one of my favorite series, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I think that getting to love not only her, but her whole world, her friends and her allies, cheering for her and fearing for her, enjoying her sharp intelligence and soft heart - in short, getting totally immersed in the book until its breathless end - is the mark of a wonderful, talented storyteller, and that's Gretchen for you.
A very good mystery which will keep you guessing, great character development, excellent backstory and attention to detail make this one of my favorite series, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
September 17, 2023
As a hearth witch, Alma is (almost) immune to others who belittle those seeking the “old ways” of earth magic. And, when she meets another earth magic practitioner who is a recluse from society, Alma is sympathetic even after being viciously attacked while attempting to communicate with a being who exists near the other practitioner’s home. As with the other books in this series, the mystery is interwoven with psychological insights into the motives and morals of the individuals who hinder and help Alma’s quest for truth and justice. Highly recommended.
Although it was my pleasure to receive this ARC from the author, it was completely my choice to share my honest review.
Although it was my pleasure to receive this ARC from the author, it was completely my choice to share my honest review.
October 2, 2023
A new Alma story!
Seth is absent for most of this one, with the story focusing more on Alma, her magic and abilities. She's in a different town, participating in a flower show, as a cover for finding answers to the murder of an acquaintance.
I like Darius and he was in quite a bit of this book. There were some fun moments with him.
There were plenty of suspects for the crime, but I couldn't figure out who it really was, or why. The twists in this story surprised me, which I always love!
This was another good addition to the series.
Seth is absent for most of this one, with the story focusing more on Alma, her magic and abilities. She's in a different town, participating in a flower show, as a cover for finding answers to the murder of an acquaintance.
I like Darius and he was in quite a bit of this book. There were some fun moments with him.
There were plenty of suspects for the crime, but I couldn't figure out who it really was, or why. The twists in this story surprised me, which I always love!
This was another good addition to the series.
September 19, 2023
Alma once again finds herself in dangerous situations as a former protectorate is killed. Before that happened though, strange things were happening at home. With Seth gone trying to prevent his own set of issues, she's on her own to solve the mystery. There are plenty of shenanigans as the story unfolds and she's forced to tap into reserves she didn't even know she had to prevent more death and mayhem. Entertaining from beginning to end as this hearth witch solves the crime once again.
September 25, 2023
Finally can post a review because I got this finished. The delay was things like work and kids interrupting my reading time. 😂
Another wonderful installation to the series. I had the pleasure of fitting in the previous books before reading this one, but it can certainly be read as a standalone. As always, love the characters and all their shenanigans, and the way the magic is weaved in. Alma is a very strong person and it’s fun to see what she gets herself into.
Another wonderful installation to the series. I had the pleasure of fitting in the previous books before reading this one, but it can certainly be read as a standalone. As always, love the characters and all their shenanigans, and the way the magic is weaved in. Alma is a very strong person and it’s fun to see what she gets herself into.
December 13, 2024
Hexed in show is a wonderful addition to the Sonoma Witches series. Alma is a smart, savvy MC whose insights and thirst for knowledge always seem to get her in trouble. When you pair her with plenty of quirky, interesting secondary characters and a twisty, fast moving plot, the result is irresistible.
September 23, 2023
Excellent writing, fascinating world building, engrossing story and absolutely wonderful characters. Complex and intelligent. Who could ask for anything more?!?
I like this series more and more with each new book. Alma is great! I hope there are many more books to come!
I like this series more and more with each new book. Alma is great! I hope there are many more books to come!
March 11, 2025
Wowee!!!! Just when you think you’ve seen it all, Ms Galway knocks another one of the park! No spoilers here as it’s a wild ride at times. Just GET it!! Love this series !! Thanks to the author for an ARC for me. Glad I got in early and loved every minute of this latest in this series. 😍
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews