Prologues and Potions

Magical Bookstore Mysteries #3

by Sue Hollowell

In a single, fateful night, Arabella's life as a novice witch is shattered when she becomes the chief suspect in a haunting murder. She is jolted by the discovery that the murder involved her grandmother's bones, setting off whispers about a curse from the depths of witchcraft lore.

Her world unfolds into a mysterious domain of dark magic and coven secrets as she confronts the perplexing reality of her grandmother's cryptic involvement and an unshakable alibi she dares not disclose.

Arabella's quest for the truth reveals startling suspects, each harboring a grave motive. As she delves into the shadowy history of the victim, she stumbles upon an eerie revelation. With her freedom on the line, it's up to Arabella to piece together a puzzle that spans generations, where every secret unearthed is more dangerous than the last.

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2024

About the author

Get a free cozy story at https://dl.bookfunnel.com/nn1op4cew3

Sue Hollowell is a wife and empty nester with a lot of mom left over. Finding a lot of time on her hands, and as a lover of mystery novels, she began telling the story of a character who appeared in her head.

The Chemical Bond is a book about Meredith Markette, a young woman who reluctantly enters into the field of law enforcement when her police officer father is killed in the line of duty. Her quest is to discover his murderer and in the meantime come to terms with a tragedy of her youth.

Will this book ever see the light of day? Maybe. Sue really likes the story and character. And writing that book taught her a ton about the publishing industry. Through this experience she has discovered a love of writing stories, and especially mysteries. She hopes you enjoy her books as much as she enjoys writing them.

She and her husband are on the search to adopt a dog, really missing her spaniels that passed a couple of years ago.

Get a free cozy story at https://dl.bookfunnel.com/nn1op4cew3

Reviews

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author in return for an early review on the book.

This latest book in the series finds Arabella being woken up in the early morning hours after she and her friend Danica reburied her grandmother’s bones that the caretaker of the cemetery had dug up and hid! The detective is there to tell her that the caretaker is dead and he wants to know what she knows about it!

Thus begins the new mystery where the detective once again is accusing Arabella of murder and she is forced to defend herself by doing what she can to prove her innocence! Luckily for her she has her best friend back, Danica, Maddie a wise witch mentor, her familiar, Marcel and her growing witch powers to help her prove her innocence!

I enjoyed this cozy mystery where suspects were looked at but it took Arabella being arrested for murder and giving instructions to Danica that broke open the case and brought forth the confession of the guilty party!

This is a great series about a reluctant witch who doesn’t want to use magic because of what happen when she was a child but now after this case is about to finally embrace the magical world once again!

I have enjoyed this series and enthusiastically recommend it to cozy mystery fans everywhere who are looking for a new series to love! This is the third book so by all means get all three books so you can start from the beginning and watch Arabella gain confidence in being a witch and being a confident woman as well in overcoming her shyness around others!

I guarantee you’ll love this series as much as I do!

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Arabella and her intuitive, adorable dog, Marcel are awakened in the very early morning with banging on the front door, she didn't expect to be treated like a suspect in a murder by Detective Derek Reek. Wow! She is still so reticent about using magic, but calls her best friend, Danica also a witch to help investigate the death of the cemetery caretaker, Benny. Since Benny was the one who stole Gigi's bones and was caught so they were returned in time, Derek sees Arabella as the prime suspect. With so many twists and turns and the murder weapon appearing to be one of the garden gnomes on Arabella's lawn. With so much magic involved and a curse that seemed to be put on Gigi's bones, Arabella, Marcel and Danica have their hands full to keep Arabella out of jail and find the murderer. Marcel, a real fashion dog is adorable and he is highly intelligent and uses his cuteness to help as a distraction at times as well as finds some clues. Will Arabella break down and use her magic to help? This is a highly recommended addition to the series and I can't wait for more. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not ordinarily a reader of paranormal books, this one really drew me in! Arabella is a novice witch and now a murder suspect! It seems someone stole her grandmother Gigi’s bones and now that person, Bennie, is dead. Arabella managed to recover the bones, to the relief of Gigi’s spirit, but left Bennie alive. So who killed him? And what would be the motive for stealing the bones? Surely not to have them cursed? Arabella has to delve into the world of dark magic to find the answer. A fascinating quest for truth that makes for a great read! I received a free ARC of this book and write this review voluntarily.

[Javon50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arabella and her dog Marcel are woken abruptly with a loud and persistent knocking on their door. What Arabella finds is Detective Derek Reek who announces that a man is dead, and Arabella is a suspect. Not wanting to use magic but realizing that may be the only way to clear her name, she calls her friend and witch Danica. Together they will investigate the death, find the real killer and clear her name. I enjoy this series with Arabella, Danica, ghost grandmother Gigi and charming Marcel. This is my honest, voluntary review of an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a nice easy to read cozy murder mystery. I really enjoyed reading this book. Arabella is coming into her own and using more magic, however Detective Reed makes her very nervous and uncomfortable. Bennie has been killed and Arabella is the prime suspect. Arabella is going to need help to solve this one. My favourite character is Marcel the French bulldog who likes to wear bow ties. I received an advanced copy and the views and opinions are my own.

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prologues and Potions (Magical Bookstore Mysteries Book 3), my thirty-third highly-enjoyable read from author Sue Hollowell, third in her Magical Bookstore Mysteries. “I received a Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author with Sherbet and Shenanigans (A Belle Harbor Cozy Mystery Book 9) high on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arabella is a novice witch and now a murder suspect! It seems someone stole her grandmother Gigi’s bones and now that person, Bennie, is dead. Arabella managed to recover the bones, to the relief of Gigi’s spirit, but left Bennie alive. So who killed him? And what would be the motive for stealing the bones? Surely not to have them cursed? Arabella has to delve into the world of dark magic to find the answer. A fascinating quest for truth that makes for a great read.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Arabella, it just never fails. She finally gets everything settled with her grandmother's bones and boom! another murder! Of course, she's being accused of murder and has to figure out who's the real murderer. I'm glad she and her old friend Danica has gotten back together as friends, so now Danica's is pulled into the investigation. No more spoilers. Just a really good book in a good series.

[Amary Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great paranormal cozy
I liked the characters and the author amped up the magic element. The book contains mystery, a dog. family and friendship.
Arabella with the aid of family and her Gigi's ghost investigates and solves the death of a victim she was suspected of killing. Moves along and keeps one invested.
I received an arc gratis and give my opinion in the same.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arabella is woken by the detective banging on her door to tell her that Bennie is now dead, released fro custody & she is a suspect! Arabella is slowly coming to terms with her magic & her grandmother says that Bennie was cursed because he stole her bag, but, it shouldn’t have killed him!! But, something had happened that led to it doing so, or so it seems.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best book in the series so far. I came away disappointed with the first, feeling a bit better with the second despite some timeline issues, but nicely surprised with this one. The slow burn character development has finally reached a milestone and I am happy to see the character progress meaningfully.

[Debi Paglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Prologues and Potions” by Sue Hollowell is a great addition to the Magical Bookstore Mysteries series. Arabella is a novice witch, who lives with her ghostly grandmother. Ms. Hollowell has a talent for bringing the setting to life, so, as you read, you feel like you are there. Overall, it’s a charming read for fans of magic and mystery.

[Bonnie J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy from the author.
This is the third book in a great new series. The characters are all likeable. Poor Arabella can't catch a break. Not only is she coming to familiarity with having witch powers and having her dead grandmother, Gigi, around, but now she's accused of a murder. Along with pals Danica and Marcel, she sets out to solve this mystery.

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

All Arabella wanted was to get her grandmother’s bones back but in doing so she became a murder suspect with no alibi, at least not one that can talk. This was a very intriguing cozy mystery with a little humor and magic.

[Antonia Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an intriguing mystery.With a murder, a curse and puzzling circumstances, this will pique your interest and keep you entertained. A great read.