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Midlife Witchery #20
Chasing the Magical Murderer
The Backside of Forty are about to face their deadliest case yet. When magically gifted university students start turning up dead across London, their bodies drained of power and marked with precise geometric patterns, these seasoned supernatural investigators realize they're dealing with something far more sinister than a regular magical murderer.
As the body count rises, they discover an ancient organization has infiltrated London's universities, using cutting-edge technology to harvest magical essence from gifted students. With victims piling up and their own children at risk, these fierce friends must race against time to stop a group of immortality-obsessed zealots before they can complete a ritual that would forever alter the balance of magic itself.
Blending modern technology with ancient magic, these determined women will need every trick in their considerable arsenal—from phoenix fire to vampire allies and dragon magic—to take down an enemy that's had centuries to perfect their deadly craft. But when one of their own kids is captured and their enemies prove to be magically enhanced beings with powers stolen from dozens of victims, they'll have to risk everything to prevent a catastrophic magical disaster from being unleashed on London.
Get ready for a wild ride through London's supernatural underbelly where middle-aged mom-magic meets quantum physics, and the deadliest weapons might just be sarcasm and a properly brewed cup of coffee.
As the body count rises, they discover an ancient organization has infiltrated London's universities, using cutting-edge technology to harvest magical essence from gifted students. With victims piling up and their own children at risk, these fierce friends must race against time to stop a group of immortality-obsessed zealots before they can complete a ritual that would forever alter the balance of magic itself.
Blending modern technology with ancient magic, these determined women will need every trick in their considerable arsenal—from phoenix fire to vampire allies and dragon magic—to take down an enemy that's had centuries to perfect their deadly craft. But when one of their own kids is captured and their enemies prove to be magically enhanced beings with powers stolen from dozens of victims, they'll have to risk everything to prevent a catastrophic magical disaster from being unleashed on London.
Get ready for a wild ride through London's supernatural underbelly where middle-aged mom-magic meets quantum physics, and the deadliest weapons might just be sarcasm and a properly brewed cup of coffee.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 5, 2025
79 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Trim
370 books769 followersBrenda's Paranormal Women's Fiction
Mystical Midlife in Maine Series
1. Magical Makeover
2. Laugh Lines & Lost Things
3. Hellmouth & Hot Flashes
4. Holidays With Hades
5. Saggy But Witty in Crescent City
6. Nasty Curses & Big Purses
7. Fae Forged Axes & Chin Waxes
8. Demonic Stones & Creaky Bones
9. Underworld Frights & Sleepless Nights
10. Pixie Dust & Brain Rust
11. Magical Hands & Silver Strands
12. Deadly Quips & Furry Lips
13. Enchanted Tattoos & Lost Fools
14. Shady Secrets & Sun Spots
Twisted Sisters Midlife Maelstrom Series
1. Packing Serious Magical Mojo
2. Cadaver On Canal Street
3. Seances & Second Line Parades
4. French Quarter Fae
5. King's Day Magical Mischief
6. Etou-Fae The Hard Way
7. Hurricanes, Heros & Hail Marys
8. Royal Street Romp
9. Levees, Lost Crowns & Loa
10. Mud Bugs & Cherished Hugs
11. Creole Dishes & Deadly Wishes
Brenda's Paranormal Romance Books
DARK WARRIOR ALLIANCE SERIES
1. Dream Warrior
2. Mystik Warrior
3. Pemas Storm
4. Isis Betrayal
5. Deviant Warrior
6. Suvi's Revenge
7. Scarred Warrior
8. Hellbound Warrior
9. Isobel
10. Rogue Warrior
11. Shattered Warrior
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 7, 2025
The Backside of Forty, Fiona, Aislinn and Violet, must fight one of their most personal battles to date, as family members become targeted by a deranged killer. Violet’s twins Ben and Bailey, are studying at a London University and call their mother to inform her of the grisly death of one of their friends. It was not just a simple killing, but a very specific magical killer, collecting specific magical talents by boring into people’s brains, to gain their powers for themselves! Just after they travel into London from Cottlehill and find the kids safe in the library, beside their friend’s body, Fiona senses another magical disturbance and this time Bailey’s friend is found dead in the same manner, in the science lab. Violet wants to take her kids home to Pymm’s Pondside, where the strongest wards are, but allows them back to their flat and they all add to the protections. On top of that, they get two of their gargoyles to help protect them and their flat, whilst the trio look into the murder victims and any previous murders that fit a similar pattern. It seems someone s targeting magical beings with very unique and specific magical talents, all in the aid of attempting to become immortal and as close to a god as they can be! The killer has others they have forced into their century’s long pursuit of immortality and it has come at a huge cost to innocents along the way.
Thanos has been left back at the Hellmouth, which has been acting up recently and they quickly find a correlation between the strange goings on at the universities and the disturbances to the Hellmouth. Someone is collecting different magics and have been planning this for a very long time, hoping that everything will align perfectly this time. With Ben and Bailey having inherited such unique magical abilities, they are clearly targets for this killer. But the killer has had years to perfect their plans and mix the use of ancient magic with modern technology, to enable them to stay well ahead of the Backside of Forty. They have had plenty of time to perfect their ritual murders and can even tangle with time to help them avoid being caught. This may well be one killer, who is far too advanced even for the magical trio. When one of their kids is kidnapped, it seems that all the protections they had put in place to keep them safe, were useless and ineffective against this foe. They need to figure out who is disrupting the Hellmouth, but have to leave that to their partners, whilst Grams tells them to concentrate on the killer and putting a stop to them, before any more university students are killed. If they don’t stop the killer, it looks like their ritual could break open the seal of the Hellmouth and that would be a disaster for the world, as demons could flow in uncontrolled. The trio of mums are left sleep deprived and worried about family, but have to carry on and try to stop a killer, whose true identity they have no clue about. Records don’t go back far enough and there is confusion between a couple of characters, as to who may actually be the killer. A desperate fight to save family at the end, in the one place they thought they would be safe, but which the killer has been planning to have them all used as focal points for their ascension ritual. To feed off of all their magical powers and some of their loved ones have been caught and placed at other concentrations of ley lines, that they have no chance of rescuing. All they can hope is that they can disrupt the ritual somehow, whilst Gadross and his colleagues race to other locations, leaving them to concentrate on those close to home. A shocking final battle to save all those they love and stop the killer, whilst also saving the Hellmouth from being broken open! A non-stop magical ride with a killer hiding behind a false face and everything going to the wire.
I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout, and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Thanos has been left back at the Hellmouth, which has been acting up recently and they quickly find a correlation between the strange goings on at the universities and the disturbances to the Hellmouth. Someone is collecting different magics and have been planning this for a very long time, hoping that everything will align perfectly this time. With Ben and Bailey having inherited such unique magical abilities, they are clearly targets for this killer. But the killer has had years to perfect their plans and mix the use of ancient magic with modern technology, to enable them to stay well ahead of the Backside of Forty. They have had plenty of time to perfect their ritual murders and can even tangle with time to help them avoid being caught. This may well be one killer, who is far too advanced even for the magical trio. When one of their kids is kidnapped, it seems that all the protections they had put in place to keep them safe, were useless and ineffective against this foe. They need to figure out who is disrupting the Hellmouth, but have to leave that to their partners, whilst Grams tells them to concentrate on the killer and putting a stop to them, before any more university students are killed. If they don’t stop the killer, it looks like their ritual could break open the seal of the Hellmouth and that would be a disaster for the world, as demons could flow in uncontrolled. The trio of mums are left sleep deprived and worried about family, but have to carry on and try to stop a killer, whose true identity they have no clue about. Records don’t go back far enough and there is confusion between a couple of characters, as to who may actually be the killer. A desperate fight to save family at the end, in the one place they thought they would be safe, but which the killer has been planning to have them all used as focal points for their ascension ritual. To feed off of all their magical powers and some of their loved ones have been caught and placed at other concentrations of ley lines, that they have no chance of rescuing. All they can hope is that they can disrupt the ritual somehow, whilst Gadross and his colleagues race to other locations, leaving them to concentrate on those close to home. A shocking final battle to save all those they love and stop the killer, whilst also saving the Hellmouth from being broken open! A non-stop magical ride with a killer hiding behind a false face and everything going to the wire.
I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout, and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
August 28, 2025
Look, I didn’t mean to devour this book in one sitting—but when Chasing the Magical Murderer throws magically-drained college kids, tech-enhanced villains, and a coven of sarcastic, fire-wielding, ride-or-die witches into the streets of London… what’s a girl to do?
The Backside of Forty ladies have always delivered drama, danger, and delicious magical chaos—but Book 21? It elevates the game. We’re not talking about hexed handbags or potion mishaps anymore. Nope, this one gets dark, fast. We’ve got ancient cults, rituals powered by stolen essence, and kids—their kids—in the crosshairs. Stakes? Higher than my caffeine intake on a Monday.
What I love most? These women do not back down. Ever. They’re moms, besties, warriors, and magical queens who know how to weaponize phoenix fire and still be home in time for dinner. They're middle-aged, magical, and 100% not here for anyone's immortal nonsense. Add in vampire allies, dragon heat, and more clever banter than a coffee-fueled girl’s night? I lived for every page.
There’s something real special about this series—Brenda Trim blends fierce female friendship with razor-sharp humor and action that doesn't pull punches. These women aren’t damsels. They’re the storm. And if you mess with their kids? You better pray you don’t wake up in a pentagram with all your magic drained and your secrets spilled.
I cackled. I cried. I cheered like I was in the front row of a magical cage match.
If you’re into supernatural thrillers with heart, heat, and heroines who’ve seen some sh*t and came back with glitter and grit—this is the book you chase.
The Backside of Forty ladies have always delivered drama, danger, and delicious magical chaos—but Book 21? It elevates the game. We’re not talking about hexed handbags or potion mishaps anymore. Nope, this one gets dark, fast. We’ve got ancient cults, rituals powered by stolen essence, and kids—their kids—in the crosshairs. Stakes? Higher than my caffeine intake on a Monday.
What I love most? These women do not back down. Ever. They’re moms, besties, warriors, and magical queens who know how to weaponize phoenix fire and still be home in time for dinner. They're middle-aged, magical, and 100% not here for anyone's immortal nonsense. Add in vampire allies, dragon heat, and more clever banter than a coffee-fueled girl’s night? I lived for every page.
There’s something real special about this series—Brenda Trim blends fierce female friendship with razor-sharp humor and action that doesn't pull punches. These women aren’t damsels. They’re the storm. And if you mess with their kids? You better pray you don’t wake up in a pentagram with all your magic drained and your secrets spilled.
I cackled. I cried. I cheered like I was in the front row of a magical cage match.
If you’re into supernatural thrillers with heart, heat, and heroines who’ve seen some sh*t and came back with glitter and grit—this is the book you chase.
September 5, 2025
This series is still going strong. Violet, Fiona, Thanos, Aislinn, Argies, Grams, and the rest all have to deal with a supernatural murderer. But, oh, it is sooo much more series than that. For some reason, the seal to the Underworld goes haywire every time there is a murder. As the mystery of the deaths and the death toll grows larger, the Backside of 40, needs to work quicker, because Vi’s twins- Ben & Bailey are in the thick of it, and it is people they know who are dying. The mystery is thrilling in a way, that made me feel as if my heart was in my throat. I found myself turning the AC on high from worry and fear sweat. We get to learn a bit more about Gadross, and the dark magic involved. Finding out everything was worrisome and heartbreaking for the twins and things get even more serious. It is a race against time itself to stop the evil this time around. Bas, Thanos & Argies work hard with the Bo40, and Grams gets really involved in this one. Wooo, boy, she rocks and is a riot. I love the snark from the Bo40. I really wanted a cameo of Artemis in this one, but there wasn’t one sadly. The really bad thing in this one is that this time around the Big Bad has been around for far longer than anyone realized. I found myself cursing a lot out loud, laughing at weird spots, and sick to my stomach at points. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 5, 2025
I really enjoyed Chasing the Magical Murderer.
The story started out slow for me but once I could really concentrate on it, I really enjoyed it. The Backside of Forty is chasing down magical beings and this time they are having a hard time finding the murderer.
Fiona, Aislinn, and Violet are driving back and forth from Cottlehill Wilds and London to help Violet's twins. There is a magical murderer on the loose on the university campus and it looks like Violet's twins are in the crosshair. Will they find the murderer in time before the twins become the next victims?
The characters are wonderful and there is so much behind the scenes going on that you really get invested in the characters and storyline. I can't believe this is book 20 in the Midlife Witchery series.
Highly recommend if you like paranormal books.
The story started out slow for me but once I could really concentrate on it, I really enjoyed it. The Backside of Forty is chasing down magical beings and this time they are having a hard time finding the murderer.
Fiona, Aislinn, and Violet are driving back and forth from Cottlehill Wilds and London to help Violet's twins. There is a magical murderer on the loose on the university campus and it looks like Violet's twins are in the crosshair. Will they find the murderer in time before the twins become the next victims?
The characters are wonderful and there is so much behind the scenes going on that you really get invested in the characters and storyline. I can't believe this is book 20 in the Midlife Witchery series.
Highly recommend if you like paranormal books.
August 1, 2025
Fiona and the Backside of Forty gang are wearing out the roads driving between Cottlehill Wilds and London. Violet's twins have sent an SOS about a murdered fellow student and another body is discovered before they can leave the campus! This sets off the hunt for a killer who is removing a piece of the brain from magical people. The twins are in danger and it's all hands on deck. But the killer is on a mission and he is good at hiding his identity. Just when you think you know, you will find out you're wrong (or at least the B of F is). This one is a nail biter. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 4, 2025
Chasing the Magical Murderer Book 21 of Midlife Witchery by Brenda Trim is another wild ride of bodies, magic and science?! The BoF have their hands full trying to keep the world safe while searching for one of their own having been kidnapped. Wow! These ladies never get a chance to breathe!! And I love, love, love this part of the blurb:
"Get ready for a wild ride through London's supernatural underbelly where middle-aged mom-magic meets quantum physics, and the deadliest weapons might just be sarcasm and a properly brewed cup of coffee.".
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
"Get ready for a wild ride through London's supernatural underbelly where middle-aged mom-magic meets quantum physics, and the deadliest weapons might just be sarcasm and a properly brewed cup of coffee.".
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 31, 2025
Ignite momma bear energy within the Backside of Forty gals and you will get way more than you bargained for.
This book is fast paced and it reads like you are right there in the middle of all the 'fun'. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plotline - I couldn't stop reading!
If you are a fan of this author and the series, you are not going to be disappointed. Other reviews will give you details - I'm simply encouraging you to just READ IT! I really enjoyed this latest installment of the BOF gang.
This book is fast paced and it reads like you are right there in the middle of all the 'fun'. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plotline - I couldn't stop reading!
If you are a fan of this author and the series, you are not going to be disappointed. Other reviews will give you details - I'm simply encouraging you to just READ IT! I really enjoyed this latest installment of the BOF gang.
September 28, 2025
Violet, Aislinn and Fiona are fighting an extremely dangerous supernatural who can hide behind many faces. However, when the murderer comes after their families the ladies fight back. This book kept me reading until the end, it was hard to put down. A really good read that kept you wondering how they were going to win this time.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 5, 2025
Apocalypse not now - The magical folk of Pymm's Pond save the world from the wicked machinations of ancient evil once again. Friends are manipulated to be enemies and should-be enemies seem to be helping the heroes even as they move the villain's plan forward. Another heartpounding mystical race to the finish line to save the world from one of my favorite authors of paranormal women's fiction.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 20, 2025
Time affects everything
Holy wow! That was intense and god forbid someone think a mother's love, instincts, and protectiveness is something to be laughed at!!! I think the Curator got a little too big for his britches!! the Bof40 slapped him down hard and the effort to get there seriously took its toll on everyone! Loved it and looking forward to more adventures with the Bof40!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Holy wow! That was intense and god forbid someone think a mother's love, instincts, and protectiveness is something to be laughed at!!! I think the Curator got a little too big for his britches!! the Bof40 slapped him down hard and the effort to get there seriously took its toll on everyone! Loved it and looking forward to more adventures with the Bof40!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 20, 2025
I really love this book. I don't really know what I was looking for or thought this was when I read it but it absolutely blew my mind on everything. I was hooked from the very first chapter I know in the title it says paranormal women's fiction and that hook me from the get-go. I am super glad I read it because I am absolutely blown away by this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 12, 2025
The Backside of Forty are back and they have their work cut out for them in this instalment. There’s bodies dripping left and right, drained of power as we embark on one hell of a ride in London and our ladies blend magic with modern technology to take on the baddies and save the day! Exciting, captivating, fun and a little sarcastic, this really made my day!
September 2, 2025
perceived threats and horrifying attempts at revolution yield horrors far worse than death.
facing the unimaginable with bound and chosen Family cannot erase the horrors, the harrowing elements, and the harangued.
intense, affirming and awful in suffering and fortitude.
facing the unimaginable with bound and chosen Family cannot erase the horrors, the harrowing elements, and the harangued.
intense, affirming and awful in suffering and fortitude.
September 10, 2025
Magical Problems
The backside of forty come together to solve another mystery. This time it is magical beings who are being targeted for their powers. It was suspenseful as well as emotional at times.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The backside of forty come together to solve another mystery. This time it is magical beings who are being targeted for their powers. It was suspenseful as well as emotional at times.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews