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Lily Dale Mystery #7
Toil and Trouble
Double double, toil and trouble . . . Bella Jordan faces ghosts, witches and a very real foe in the new instalment of
New York Times
bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub’s heart-warming cozy mystery series set in Lily Dale, New York’s Spiritualist home.
A relative newcomer to Lily Dale, the quirky New York lakeside village populated by spiritual mediums, young widow Bella Jordan doesn’t have time to believe in supernatural entities. She has enough to tackle, what with running Valley View guesthouse, wrangling her seven-year-old son Max and their growing army of pets, and dealing with her lovable but meddlesome neighbors.
So when Pandora Feeney, Valley View’s highly eccentric – and reputedly highly psychic – owner, portentously predicts that something wicked this way comes, Bella’s more worried about the fact that Pandora’s announced she plans to move back into the guesthouse than about approaching danger. Besides, the local theatre is putting on a performance of Macbeth, so it’s no wonder that sorcery and black magic are in the air.
Lily Dale is safe. Bella’s sure of it. Even if one of her female guests at Valley View is setting her oddly on edge and Max is seeing witches behind every corner. Little does Bella know that a storm is coming, with the power to blow her life, and Max’s, right off course . . . or far, far worse.
This charming, characterful cozy mystery series, which invites readers to draw their own conclusions on whether or not ghosts are real, is a great choice for fans of Charmed, The Good Witch and cosy paranormal mystery series like The Vampire Knitting Club, the Bailey Ruth Ghost novels and Charlaine Harris' Harper Connelly mysteries.
A relative newcomer to Lily Dale, the quirky New York lakeside village populated by spiritual mediums, young widow Bella Jordan doesn’t have time to believe in supernatural entities. She has enough to tackle, what with running Valley View guesthouse, wrangling her seven-year-old son Max and their growing army of pets, and dealing with her lovable but meddlesome neighbors.
So when Pandora Feeney, Valley View’s highly eccentric – and reputedly highly psychic – owner, portentously predicts that something wicked this way comes, Bella’s more worried about the fact that Pandora’s announced she plans to move back into the guesthouse than about approaching danger. Besides, the local theatre is putting on a performance of Macbeth, so it’s no wonder that sorcery and black magic are in the air.
Lily Dale is safe. Bella’s sure of it. Even if one of her female guests at Valley View is setting her oddly on edge and Max is seeing witches behind every corner. Little does Bella know that a storm is coming, with the power to blow her life, and Max’s, right off course . . . or far, far worse.
This charming, characterful cozy mystery series, which invites readers to draw their own conclusions on whether or not ghosts are real, is a great choice for fans of Charmed, The Good Witch and cosy paranormal mystery series like The Vampire Knitting Club, the Bailey Ruth Ghost novels and Charlaine Harris' Harper Connelly mysteries.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published July 1, 2025
10 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Corsi Staub
83 books1,882 followersNew York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub is the award-winning author of more than ninety novels, best known for the single title psychological suspense novels she writes under her own name. Those books and the women’s fiction written under the pseudonym Wendy Markham have also appeared on the USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookscan bestseller lists.
Her current standalone suspense novel, THE OTHER FAMILY, is about a picture-perfect family that that moves into a picture-perfect house. But not everything is as it seems, and the page-turner concludes “with a wallop of a twist,” according to #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben.
Her critically acclaimed Lily Dale traditional mystery series centers around a widowed single mom—and skeptic—who moves to a town populated by spiritualists who talk to the dead. Titles include NINE LIVES; SOMETHING BURIED, SOMETHING BLUE; DEAD OF WINTER; and PROSE AND CONS, with a fifth book under contract.
Wendy has written five suspense trilogies for HarperCollins/William Morrow. The most recent, The Foundlings (LITTLE GIRL LOST, DEAD SILENCE, and THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER), spans fifty years in the life of a woman left as a newborn in a Harlem church, now an investigative genealogist helping others uncover their biological roots while still searching for her own.
Written as Wendy Markham, Wendy’s novel HELLO, IT’S ME was a recent Hallmark television movie starring Kellie Martin. Her short story “Cat Got Your Tongue” appeared in R.L. Stine’s MWA middle grade anthology SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN and her short story “The Elephant in the Room” is included in the Anthony Award-nominated inaugural anthology SHATTERING GLASS.
A three-time finalist for the Simon and Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award, she’s won an RWA Rita Award, an RT Award for Career Achievement in Suspense, the 2007 RWA-NYC Golden Apple Award for Lifetime Achievement, and five WLA Washington Irving Prizes for Fiction.
She previously published a dozen adult suspense novels with Kensington Books and the critically-acclaimed young adult paranormal series “Lily Dale” (Walker/Bloomsbury). Earlier in her career, she published a broad range of genres under her own name and pseudonyms, and was a co-author/ghostwriter for several celebrities.
Raised in Dunkirk, NY, Wendy graduated from SUNY Fredonia and launched a publishing career in New York City. She was Associate Editor at Silhouette Books before selling her first novel in 1992. Married with two sons, she lives in the NYC suburbs. An active supporter of the American Cancer Society, she was a featured speaker at Northern Westchester’s 2015 Relay for Life and 2012 National Spokesperson for the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation. She has fostered for various animal rescue organizations.
Her current standalone suspense novel, THE OTHER FAMILY, is about a picture-perfect family that that moves into a picture-perfect house. But not everything is as it seems, and the page-turner concludes “with a wallop of a twist,” according to #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben.
Her critically acclaimed Lily Dale traditional mystery series centers around a widowed single mom—and skeptic—who moves to a town populated by spiritualists who talk to the dead. Titles include NINE LIVES; SOMETHING BURIED, SOMETHING BLUE; DEAD OF WINTER; and PROSE AND CONS, with a fifth book under contract.
Wendy has written five suspense trilogies for HarperCollins/William Morrow. The most recent, The Foundlings (LITTLE GIRL LOST, DEAD SILENCE, and THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER), spans fifty years in the life of a woman left as a newborn in a Harlem church, now an investigative genealogist helping others uncover their biological roots while still searching for her own.
Written as Wendy Markham, Wendy’s novel HELLO, IT’S ME was a recent Hallmark television movie starring Kellie Martin. Her short story “Cat Got Your Tongue” appeared in R.L. Stine’s MWA middle grade anthology SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN and her short story “The Elephant in the Room” is included in the Anthony Award-nominated inaugural anthology SHATTERING GLASS.
A three-time finalist for the Simon and Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award, she’s won an RWA Rita Award, an RT Award for Career Achievement in Suspense, the 2007 RWA-NYC Golden Apple Award for Lifetime Achievement, and five WLA Washington Irving Prizes for Fiction.
She previously published a dozen adult suspense novels with Kensington Books and the critically-acclaimed young adult paranormal series “Lily Dale” (Walker/Bloomsbury). Earlier in her career, she published a broad range of genres under her own name and pseudonyms, and was a co-author/ghostwriter for several celebrities.
Raised in Dunkirk, NY, Wendy graduated from SUNY Fredonia and launched a publishing career in New York City. She was Associate Editor at Silhouette Books before selling her first novel in 1992. Married with two sons, she lives in the NYC suburbs. An active supporter of the American Cancer Society, she was a featured speaker at Northern Westchester’s 2015 Relay for Life and 2012 National Spokesperson for the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation. She has fostered for various animal rescue organizations.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 23, 2025
Bella Jordan and her young son Max manage Valley View a Guest House in Lily Dale, New York.
Lily Dale is a community of spiritual mediums. Bella isn’t a medium, but she found it a good place to raise her son on her own. She is starting a relationship with a handsome veterinarian named Drew Bailey and life feels like it is getting better after her husband’s death.
The village has it’s share of quirky characters including some of the guests who don’t seem dangerous until one day they do.
When a woman from high school Jane Anderson, shows up accusing Bella of calling her pig face back in high school, Bella finds it difficult to explain that she would have remembered doing that. The woman behaves strangely. When she flirts with Drew, she makes Bella uncomfortable. She trusts Drew and the woman is only there for a couple of days, so she decides to ignore her.
Bella’s young son, Max, doesn’t like the woman because he knows his mother wouldn’t have made fun of her.
Jane seems familiar to Bella, but she doesn’t remember her from her past. So, Bella sends a message to a high school friend to see if she remembers her.
Bella is given a dire warning about a duck in a pool, a Danish, and something wicked. The woman repeated Something Wicked This Way Comes. Bella recognizes the quote from her and Max having seen MacBeth recently with her male friend Drew. She tells her friend that she will be careful but though her friend says she is a medium, Bella is a skeptic.
Max starts seeing witches. Bella blames that on the play as well. Max had crawled on her lap during the scene with the witches.
A storm knocks the power out one night and Bella wakes to the sound of someone downstairs. She goes down in the dark and finds the back door open. She has the feeling that someone in the dark is watching her. She locks back up and plans to check with Drew to ask if he forgot to lock up. Max finds mud prints on the stairs the next day.
When she finds odd things missing and someone destroys the screen on her laptop, she becomes more concerned. There is also a mother and young girl staying at a friend’s guest house. The mother calls for Max to have a play date but Max refuses. The little girl is a bully.
When Bella and Max become targets of danger, Bella uses all of her talents to figure out who the enemy is and stop them before she or Max become victims.
This isn’t a mystery with a body, but it did cause me anxiety for Bella and Max. They are vulnerable and someone is trying to hurt them. There are so many characters with secrets from the past. The quirky characters have abilities that make it a little more humorous and a little spooky. The friend who made the warning also remembers her past lives and shares little tidbits along the way. This was an interesting read. I would like to read more.
Thanks to both NetGalley and Severn House for giving me an advance readers copy for my honest review.
To see more of my reviews go to Virginia-Gruver.com
Lily Dale is a community of spiritual mediums. Bella isn’t a medium, but she found it a good place to raise her son on her own. She is starting a relationship with a handsome veterinarian named Drew Bailey and life feels like it is getting better after her husband’s death.
The village has it’s share of quirky characters including some of the guests who don’t seem dangerous until one day they do.
When a woman from high school Jane Anderson, shows up accusing Bella of calling her pig face back in high school, Bella finds it difficult to explain that she would have remembered doing that. The woman behaves strangely. When she flirts with Drew, she makes Bella uncomfortable. She trusts Drew and the woman is only there for a couple of days, so she decides to ignore her.
Bella’s young son, Max, doesn’t like the woman because he knows his mother wouldn’t have made fun of her.
Jane seems familiar to Bella, but she doesn’t remember her from her past. So, Bella sends a message to a high school friend to see if she remembers her.
Bella is given a dire warning about a duck in a pool, a Danish, and something wicked. The woman repeated Something Wicked This Way Comes. Bella recognizes the quote from her and Max having seen MacBeth recently with her male friend Drew. She tells her friend that she will be careful but though her friend says she is a medium, Bella is a skeptic.
Max starts seeing witches. Bella blames that on the play as well. Max had crawled on her lap during the scene with the witches.
A storm knocks the power out one night and Bella wakes to the sound of someone downstairs. She goes down in the dark and finds the back door open. She has the feeling that someone in the dark is watching her. She locks back up and plans to check with Drew to ask if he forgot to lock up. Max finds mud prints on the stairs the next day.
When she finds odd things missing and someone destroys the screen on her laptop, she becomes more concerned. There is also a mother and young girl staying at a friend’s guest house. The mother calls for Max to have a play date but Max refuses. The little girl is a bully.
When Bella and Max become targets of danger, Bella uses all of her talents to figure out who the enemy is and stop them before she or Max become victims.
This isn’t a mystery with a body, but it did cause me anxiety for Bella and Max. They are vulnerable and someone is trying to hurt them. There are so many characters with secrets from the past. The quirky characters have abilities that make it a little more humorous and a little spooky. The friend who made the warning also remembers her past lives and shares little tidbits along the way. This was an interesting read. I would like to read more.
Thanks to both NetGalley and Severn House for giving me an advance readers copy for my honest review.
To see more of my reviews go to Virginia-Gruver.com
June 1, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
In "Toil & Trouble", Wendy Corsi Staub delivers a beguiling blend of suspense and the supernatural, crafting a narrative that is equal parts eerie and emotionally evocative. The novel plunges into the heart of a town steeped in witchcraft lore, weaving its historical hauntings with modern-day psychological tension. Staub’s mastery of atmosphere is evident from the start—her prose shrouds the reader in a creeping unease, as if the ghosts of Salem themselves linger between the pages.
Staub balances rich character development with tightly wound plotting. Her protagonist, a woman caught between skepticism and an inheritance of supernatural secrets, is rendered with depth and nuance. As the novel unfolds, Staub does not merely rely on external frights; she meticulously layers emotional stakes, ensuring that the threats—whether spectral or flesh-and-blood—carry genuine weight.
Structurally, "Toil & Trouble" excels in pacing. The chapters flow seamlessly, propelling the reader deeper into the tangled mysteries that link past and present. While some moments rely on familiar tropes of occult thrillers, Staub’s execution is refined enough to keep them fresh and engaging. Her use of shifting perspectives and time jumps adds a compelling texture, reinforcing the novel’s themes of generational fate and the cyclical nature of fear.
For readers seeking a thriller that dips into the arcane without sacrificing psychological realism, "Toil & Trouble" delivers. Staub’s knack for suspense thrives here, and while the supernatural elements shimmer at the edges, it’s ultimately the human drama that resonates most. The novel may not rewrite the rulebook for occult thrillers, but it certainly stands as a polished, atmospheric entry in the genre.
A gripping blend of psychological suspense and witchcraft lore, infused with a haunting atmosphere and emotional depth.
In "Toil & Trouble", Wendy Corsi Staub delivers a beguiling blend of suspense and the supernatural, crafting a narrative that is equal parts eerie and emotionally evocative. The novel plunges into the heart of a town steeped in witchcraft lore, weaving its historical hauntings with modern-day psychological tension. Staub’s mastery of atmosphere is evident from the start—her prose shrouds the reader in a creeping unease, as if the ghosts of Salem themselves linger between the pages.
Staub balances rich character development with tightly wound plotting. Her protagonist, a woman caught between skepticism and an inheritance of supernatural secrets, is rendered with depth and nuance. As the novel unfolds, Staub does not merely rely on external frights; she meticulously layers emotional stakes, ensuring that the threats—whether spectral or flesh-and-blood—carry genuine weight.
Structurally, "Toil & Trouble" excels in pacing. The chapters flow seamlessly, propelling the reader deeper into the tangled mysteries that link past and present. While some moments rely on familiar tropes of occult thrillers, Staub’s execution is refined enough to keep them fresh and engaging. Her use of shifting perspectives and time jumps adds a compelling texture, reinforcing the novel’s themes of generational fate and the cyclical nature of fear.
For readers seeking a thriller that dips into the arcane without sacrificing psychological realism, "Toil & Trouble" delivers. Staub’s knack for suspense thrives here, and while the supernatural elements shimmer at the edges, it’s ultimately the human drama that resonates most. The novel may not rewrite the rulebook for occult thrillers, but it certainly stands as a polished, atmospheric entry in the genre.
A gripping blend of psychological suspense and witchcraft lore, infused with a haunting atmosphere and emotional depth.
July 9, 2025
It was my fault for picking this book up and not realizing it was fairly far a long in the series. However, the stories are pretty independent of each other and I was able to understand what was going on based on the bit of backstory we received in the beginning. This is book 7 in the series and it seems as though Bella Jordan still does not believe in the spiritual or supernatural even though she's been exposed to them since moving to Lily Dale, a village which is primarily populated by mediums and the like.
Bella has taken over running the Valley View Guest House which is owned by Pandora Feeney who visits Bella and tells her something wicked is coming which seems funny since the local theater is also putting on a performance of Macbeth. However, soon a lady who claims she's from Bella's past saying that Bella bullied her but Bella does not remember doing this. The woman is also flirting with Bella's new "boyfriend", Drew.
So much seems to be happening which helps the story move with great pacing. Even though this was my first one, I felt as though I got to know the characters well an was invested in their lives and stories. I kind of like that we don't have to have a murder with every mystery. Sometimes we just get a mystery of what's going on and the characters make it fun to find out.
Bella has taken over running the Valley View Guest House which is owned by Pandora Feeney who visits Bella and tells her something wicked is coming which seems funny since the local theater is also putting on a performance of Macbeth. However, soon a lady who claims she's from Bella's past saying that Bella bullied her but Bella does not remember doing this. The woman is also flirting with Bella's new "boyfriend", Drew.
So much seems to be happening which helps the story move with great pacing. Even though this was my first one, I felt as though I got to know the characters well an was invested in their lives and stories. I kind of like that we don't have to have a murder with every mystery. Sometimes we just get a mystery of what's going on and the characters make it fun to find out.
July 1, 2025
2 1/2 stars. An atmospheric thriller cozy that doesn't feature a murder but plenty of menace when Bella, living in Lily Dale, a town in New York State filled with psychics, receives a warning from one telling her she will soon be in danger. But Bella, a skeptic, is far more worried about raising her son as a single mom after the death of her husband and running the guest house. But when a guest arrives who puts her nerves on end, she begins to wonder if there is something there.
Lily Dale is a real town in New York State filled with psychics and this series plays up the atmosphere but also makes it filled with eccentric and caring characters. Supernatural phenomena circles the edge of the story but it can also easily just be dismissed as coincidence. I really enjoy seeing Bella and her son bloom in a town after so much misfortune in their lives. New friends, a new love and some danger and mystery make for an interesting series.
This book hits some hot spots for me so I didn't enjoy it as much as some but overall a good book and a good series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Lily Dale is a real town in New York State filled with psychics and this series plays up the atmosphere but also makes it filled with eccentric and caring characters. Supernatural phenomena circles the edge of the story but it can also easily just be dismissed as coincidence. I really enjoy seeing Bella and her son bloom in a town after so much misfortune in their lives. New friends, a new love and some danger and mystery make for an interesting series.
This book hits some hot spots for me so I didn't enjoy it as much as some but overall a good book and a good series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
June 25, 2025
Having been warned that something wicked her way comes, Bella find her self, questioning her behavior and others to rent her. From the mother of a new classmate to a guest at the house. things are odd and feel off. She can’t quite put her finger on what it is that’s off, but it seems Pandora was right in her proclamation. Can Bella figure out what it is before the wickedness does irreparable damage to her or her son?
I really love this setting for this series. Lily Dale is actually a real place and the author does a great job of weaving in her story in the setting. Bella is just a loving widowed mother that you want to embrace and help along the way. So you soon find yourself trying to figure out what’s going on right along with her while rooting for her every step of the way. This is a great series, especially for those who love mysticism along with their cozy mysteries.
I really love this setting for this series. Lily Dale is actually a real place and the author does a great job of weaving in her story in the setting. Bella is just a loving widowed mother that you want to embrace and help along the way. So you soon find yourself trying to figure out what’s going on right along with her while rooting for her every step of the way. This is a great series, especially for those who love mysticism along with their cozy mysteries.
October 7, 2025
Though the town is populated by spiritual mediums, Bella doesn’t buy into all that quirkiness. She is busy running Valley View guesthouse and caring for her young son Max, not to mention all their pets. Then some strange things begin to happen, things that were alluded to by Pandora Feeney, the eccentric and supposedly psychic owner of Valley View. People are on edge, and just maybe, something wicked is coming this way. This cozy will charm you whether or not you believe in ghosts and things that go bump in the night. Because night is coming, and so is the storm. And a very real foe is hides in the shadows. The unusual characters, the friendships that Max has with his classmates, and the strange occurrences in the town all add to the intrigue. This well written mystery is entertaining from beginning to end.
March 27, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the opportunity to read "Toil and Trouble" in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is the seventh book in the Lily Dale Mystery series. Bella Jordan and her son Max have come to live in Lily Dale, New York after the death of her husband. Chance the cat had led them to the Valley View Guesthouse that is owned by Pandora Feeney a psychic who is predicting trouble is coming. Bella thinks it has more to do with the production of Macbeth being put on than any spirits talking to Pandora. Nadine the mischievous spirit also lives in the guesthouse and some new characters have come to town.
Ms. Staub always makes this series fun and interesting, full of rich character descriptions.
This is the seventh book in the Lily Dale Mystery series. Bella Jordan and her son Max have come to live in Lily Dale, New York after the death of her husband. Chance the cat had led them to the Valley View Guesthouse that is owned by Pandora Feeney a psychic who is predicting trouble is coming. Bella thinks it has more to do with the production of Macbeth being put on than any spirits talking to Pandora. Nadine the mischievous spirit also lives in the guesthouse and some new characters have come to town.
Ms. Staub always makes this series fun and interesting, full of rich character descriptions.
June 22, 2025
When I picked up this book, I had no idea it was part of a series—but that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed it. The story was short, sweet, and surprisingly easy to get into. The writing flows in a way that makes it effortless to read, and I quickly found myself falling for the characters. That said, I did feel like I was missing some of their depth and backstory. Now that I know it's part of a larger series, I definitely want to go back and start from book one. I have a feeling the emotional payoff will be even greater when I experience the characters' full journey.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Severn House and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Severn House and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2025
Bella manages a guesthouse in Lily Dale, a small village for spiritualists. Bella is not one, but was drawn here after the death of her husband and has found a welcoming home and friends for herself and her young son. The story begins with Bella receiving a warning of danger from a friend’s spirit guide. Shortly after, Jane checks in and seems odd. But there is also the new woman and her daughter staying with a friend, so which is the danger?
The story moves quickly and is a fun read. Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the ARC.
The story moves quickly and is a fun read. Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the ARC.
April 28, 2025
Bella has had a time. Her husband has died and she and her son, Max are now managing a guesthouse in Lily Dale. The place where all the psychics live. Or it seems like all of them live here.
Bella isn’t quite convinced however many strange things happen.
Now Pandora is back early and wanting to move into the house. Until she has a vision of trouble coming for Bella.
Ghosts, witches, this one has something for everyone. Are there ghosts? You’ll have to decide that one!
NetGalley/July 01, 2025 Severn House
Bella isn’t quite convinced however many strange things happen.
Now Pandora is back early and wanting to move into the house. Until she has a vision of trouble coming for Bella.
Ghosts, witches, this one has something for everyone. Are there ghosts? You’ll have to decide that one!
NetGalley/July 01, 2025 Severn House
July 1, 2025
Toil and Trouble is book #7 in the Lily Dale Mystery series by Wendy Corsi Staub.
This was another interesting visit to Lily Dale. Bella is warned that something wicked is coming. She experiences some disturbing things at her house. Who is the stranger that knows Bella, but she doesn’t actually remember her? This was a very suspenseful story that drew me in from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down.
Thank you to the author, Severn House, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This was another interesting visit to Lily Dale. Bella is warned that something wicked is coming. She experiences some disturbing things at her house. Who is the stranger that knows Bella, but she doesn’t actually remember her? This was a very suspenseful story that drew me in from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down.
Thank you to the author, Severn House, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
June 19, 2025
This series has so much going for it. Lily Dale is a great place for the setting.
Psychics, mediums and a protagonist who has a healthy skepticism.
The main cast of characters are ones that I have grown to enjoy.
The pace, plotting & writing are top notch and kept me engrossed and entertained.
I highly recommend this series and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Psychics, mediums and a protagonist who has a healthy skepticism.
The main cast of characters are ones that I have grown to enjoy.
The pace, plotting & writing are top notch and kept me engrossed and entertained.
I highly recommend this series and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
June 25, 2025
A fast read mystery novel continuing the Lily Dale series. Enjoyable but seemed to have more filler, possibly because it focused on the same characters as the previous book and repeated a lot of information regular readers would already know. An interesting plot line though that will leave you turning the page to find out what is going on.
July 10, 2025
Love this series and this Bella Jordan book is another winner. I live only 20 minutes away from Lily Dale and it’s such a quirky little place that WCS portrays perfectly. Love seeing all the local references, especially the radio station WDOE’s well known and loved Dan Palmer!
July 6, 2025
Another Good Read
This author never fails to deliver a solid read. I wish Jiffy had a bigger role in this story..she has him spot on.
This author never fails to deliver a solid read. I wish Jiffy had a bigger role in this story..she has him spot on.
July 6, 2025
I absolutely love the Lily Dale Mystery series! From quirky characters to a well-defined setting, readers feel like they’re a part of Lily Dale right along with Bella, Max, and the whole crew!
July 22, 2025
I love Lily Dale, so I thoroughly enjoy these books! I also love WCS's books!!
July 27, 2025
I don’t read a lot of cozy mysteries but this is one series I will follow to the very end!
August 23, 2025
Great addition to this series, Set in Lily Dale a western NY Community of spiritual mediums
June 11, 2025
Severn House provided an early galley for review.
I am proud to say that I have known the author for most of my life (we went to the same schools and church growing up). I am also familiar with Lily Dale, the real life community not far from our hometown of Dunkirk. I look forward to checking out Wendy's newest books set there.
This story, like the previous one in the series, is character-driven. Wendy seems very comfortable with her cast which shows in the interactions and dialogue. It is a nice touch that the chapters which focus on Bella's son Max tend to be written in a more juvenile fiction structure and tone (fitting for parts of the story told from the viewpoint of a seven year-old); the sentences here are less complex and more straight-forward.
The action of the plot really kicks into high gear around the 70% mark which gives the reader an eagerness to keep reading steadily to the dramatic conclusion.
I am proud to say that I have known the author for most of my life (we went to the same schools and church growing up). I am also familiar with Lily Dale, the real life community not far from our hometown of Dunkirk. I look forward to checking out Wendy's newest books set there.
This story, like the previous one in the series, is character-driven. Wendy seems very comfortable with her cast which shows in the interactions and dialogue. It is a nice touch that the chapters which focus on Bella's son Max tend to be written in a more juvenile fiction structure and tone (fitting for parts of the story told from the viewpoint of a seven year-old); the sentences here are less complex and more straight-forward.
The action of the plot really kicks into high gear around the 70% mark which gives the reader an eagerness to keep reading steadily to the dramatic conclusion.
August 18, 2025
another great one!
Very good read. Love this series and I hope there will be another. Good action and love the characters and story line.
Very good read. Love this series and I hope there will be another. Good action and love the characters and story line.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews