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As the Halloween season approaches, Harlow Cassidy finds herself entangled in the spookiest of mysteries, racing against time to untangle the threads of deceit before they weave a chilling and inescapable knot…


It’s autumn in Bliss, Texas, and Harlow Cassidy is creating the perfect costume for her friend Josie’s Halloween party. She hopes she can sew her own wishes and dreams into the Wednesday Addams dress.

But fashion turns fatal when the Halloween party takes a dark turn. One of the party-goers is found dead next to the toppled barrel of apples and so many people have a potential motive, including Harlow’s good friend Orphie. Not only does Harlow need to get to the truth about the murder, but she also needs to keep her ghostly great-grandmother under wraps before the secret Cassidy charm isn’t so secret anymore.

232 pages, Paperback

Published October 13, 2023

61 people are currently reading
104 people want to read

About the author

Melissa Bourbon

55 books820 followers
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Melissa Bourbon is the national bestselling author of more than forty novels and nonfiction writing resource books. All of her books feature strong female and family relationships, bits of history, and lots of fun.

Melissa used to teach middle school English/Language Arts, but now she teaches creative writing to adults. She founded WriterSpark Academy, an online school for aspiring and new writers seeking to hone their craft.

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5 stars
107 (56%)
4 stars
58 (30%)
3 stars
22 (11%)
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
141 reviews3 followers
October 19, 2023
A Haunted Halloween Tale

The 7th Magical Dressmaking Mystery has Bailey involved with another murder, this time at a friend's Halloween party. Her ghostly great grandmother Meemaw has advanced from making poltergeist noises to human possession in her attempts to convey clues to absolve Bailey's friend of
suspicion and reveal an even greater evil.

It's a good cozy for a chilly October night.
Profile Image for Maria.
3,040 reviews97 followers
November 14, 2023
I missed this series so much and I am glad I was able to read not one, but two new mysteries in this series this year. Harlow and her magical family are back and it was nice to catch up with them again. The murder was well-paced and kept me guessing until the end. I enjoyed the addition of a visitor from her past but had a little difficulty with her Meemaw’s latest antics. Otherwise, it was a wonderful addition to the series and I hope for many more.
56 reviews
October 21, 2023
Really great!

I have missed this series! So happy to read this book and see Harlow’s family growing. I hope the next book includes her wedding!
BTW, the camera is spelled Canon 😄
Profile Image for Melanie Richardson.
127 reviews
October 16, 2023
A Wonderful Return to the Series

Harlow Cassidy continues to carry on the family magic. But as she is in new experiences with new people, she’s beginning to doubt the charm is only about dressmaking. She suspects and worries it’s about death.
Profile Image for Darla Taylor.
1,861 reviews
November 7, 2023
Autumn has arrived in Bliss, Texas and Halloween is coming. Harlow Cassidy is hard at work on her costume for her friend, Josie's party hoping she can sew her own hopes and dreams into the garment. But things turn dark when a party guest is found collapsed near a barrel of apples that has been knocked over and is pronounced dead. When the police suspect murder, Harlow's friend, Orphie, soon becomes a suspect so Harlow sets out to find the real killer with a little help from friends.

I love this series and this book is one of my favorites. It's well-written and the characters are well-rounded. I was drawn into this magical and captivating story and kept hooked from start to finish. The book's a definite page-turner. The mystery is intriguing. All the twists and turns and the red herrings will keep you guessing. I always enjoy returning to Bliss (Hey, it's Texas!!!) to see what Harlow and the gang are up to. The relationships are done well and I love how the characters continue to grow. I sincerely hope that there's more to come as I certainly look forward to each release. Melissa Bourbon is an excellent storyteller creating tales that you live. I highly recommend both book and series which I believe is best read in order to get the most enjoyment and benefit out of things.
Profile Image for Vickie.
2,310 reviews6 followers
November 6, 2023
This is the series that introduced me to Melissa Bourbon's books a few years ago. The premise looked nifty and I read through the series then the wait began for #7. The wait was worth it. This is a fun, fast moving book with plenty of action, mystery, spirits and suspicious death.
My very favorite aspect is the reference to the Netflix show 'Wednesday'. It took me a bit to get to the show, but once I did, I practically binged it. I wanted to pace myself but really had a hard time of it. It's a really excellent show. So that when this appeared in the book, as in Harlow going to all of the holiday parties as Wednesday, doing the dance from the show's prom, dressed in same outfit, spouting dialogue from the show....I was even more in than usual with this series.
Harlow also has her hands full with her Meemaw gaining in her spirit abilities. I'd have been way more exasperated but Harlow loves her family. Things from the past arrive, suspicious death, magic expansion, all kinds of things going on here.
I highly enjoyed having a Halloween book to read during the season. Perfect flavor.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.
Profile Image for Melissa.
10 reviews6 followers
October 27, 2023
A real page turner!

It is great to have Harlow and her family/friends back in a new adventure. There was one surprise that caught me off guard-in a great way.
I thoroughly enjoyed this trip to Bliss, TX. The characters continue to grow and evolve in their personalities and relationships.
212 reviews1 follower
November 4, 2023
Good series!

I read these back to back. The characters grew on me as they developed in the series. I like that the relationships between the people also grow and change. Not the usual easy to pick out the bad guys book. I did not identify these and I usually fo. I have only one complaint. Stop having women scream when they find a body. It is trite and formulaic. Enjoy!
481 reviews4 followers
October 9, 2024
Vigilante Justice, what if it backfired

It's almost Halloween and not only is Meemaw running amuck but the bodies are piling up. What's worse than being at the end if your life, depending on others for your well-being. But there's a vigilante in town who plans on blackmail to make sure the miscreant pays.
1,038 reviews4 followers
June 30, 2025
While I liked the mystery very much, the ghost's antics are a bit over the top.

My biggest difficulty with this book is the inaccuracies in the death scene. As a health care professional, I cringed when CPR was started on someone with a pulse. When the EMT's arrived, they apparently did not have/use even an AED, let alone basic monitoring equipment.
4,417 reviews43 followers
October 16, 2023
Who killed Jaclyn Padesky and why??? I am going to be VERY careful if I ever need home health care!!! i enjoyed this story and recommended the book.
Profile Image for Brenda Ellis.
663 reviews8 followers
October 28, 2023
Perfect Halloween Mystery

Harlow's return was everything I could have hoped for. Lots of suspects, surprises and haunted hijinks. This book was fun from start to finish.
22 reviews4 followers
January 27, 2024
Good reading

I have read and enjoyed the series. Good characters and stories. Recommend for fun reading. Look forward to reading more by this author.
40 reviews
June 13, 2024
Good read

Very readable book would recommend it to anyone who love a good mystery I love a good mystery late night and afternoon enjoy reading.
992 reviews9 followers
September 23, 2024
A very interesting spooky book. Harlow helps solve a murder which is very involved. Lots of questions asked and mostly answered.
570 reviews3 followers
September 24, 2024
love Harlow

And Bliss Texas. Halloween comes with its imaginary spooks and screams but what happens when someone is making people ghosts and sets up Orphie?
Profile Image for Laurel .
1,369 reviews5 followers
October 13, 2024
I honestly did not care for this story. It was slow going and rather dim.
195 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2025
I really enjoyed this book and all the rest in the series. They are all a very very good read.
Profile Image for Regan.
2,071 reviews99 followers
June 9, 2025
Okay read -- I liked the mystery part but the whole possession thing could have been done without.
Profile Image for Kori Arkfeld.
317 reviews4 followers
February 12, 2025
Another good story in this series. The characters and the storyline were a bit confusing and I didn’t feel like it was all necessary but it was a good cozy mystery nonetheless.
Profile Image for amanda.
60 reviews3 followers
April 15, 2025
Book 8 . The story was a little different than the books in the series .over all a good read
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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