A centuries-old mystery. A deadly secret. A witch discovering her true power.
When bookstore owner Isobel Shadow and her magical book club, The Charmed Circle, receive a cryptic black envelope inviting them to the infamous Astor Manor, the timing is chilling—a man has just been poisoned to death on its doorstep. Determined to uncover the truth, they step into the abandoned estate, only to find themselves entangled in a chilling mystery.
As whispers of a powerful potion surface, so do dangerous enemies—including a killer who will stop at nothing to claim its power. With magic surging through her veins and secrets threatening to consume her, Isobel must uncover the truth before history repeats itself… and before she becomes the next target.
Perfect for fans of paranormal mysteries, witchy reads, and spellbinding twists, this gripping tale of magic, murder, and self-discovery will keep you enchanted until the very last page.
Murder at Astor Manor” is the first book in Wynnie Harlowe’s A Charmed Circle Paranormal Cozy Mystery series. It is a blend of mystery, magic, and self-discovery. Isobel Shadow is a bookstore owner who’s just starting to discover her magical abilities. When she and her newly-formed book club, The Charmed Circle, are invited to the long-abandoned Astor Manor amidst the upheaval of a recent death by poisoning, things quickly take a dark turn. What was intriguing about this book was how Isobel’s magical journey unfolded. The man’s death is just the tip of the iceberg as whispers of a potent potion and a long-buried secret surface, pulling Isobel and her friends deeper into a web of magic, danger, and betrayal. The atmosphere in Astor Manor is eerie, with the feeling that every shadow holds a new secret. The mystery, the magic, and Isobel’s journey all come together for a story that is thrilling. I can’t wait to see where Harlowe takes the series next.
A very good paranormal cozy read. I enjoyed how the past and present mysteries were linked together. Great cast of characters new to their craft and discovering what they’re capable of as they go. A bit of the background of them is missing but I think that’s due to them being introduced in a different book. Not sure if that’s due to was like a prequel to this series or not. Quick fun read with tons of witchy and paranormal elements!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was an ARC reader for this book, and I read it in one sitting. It is THAT good! If you love cozy, murder mysteries, you will completely devour this book. Story of self-discovery, sisterhood, friendship, and witchy beings trying to solve yet another Murder in their tiny town. Isobel is trying to figure out her magic in this book while trying to make friends. Freya is away starting her bakery, so we dont get to hear about her using spells yet. I hope we get to see more from Freya and have them come together and realize their abilities together would be stronger together. The secret that comes out between the sisters puts a strain on their relationship, but I know they will pull through and be stronger for it in the end. Celeste is the best. Being Isobel's familiar is something I want to know more about. I love the Charmed Coven also! I need book #3. I highly recommend this series!
Murder at Astor Manor: A Charmed Circle Cozy Mystery By Wynnie Harlowe Narrated by Paige Huntzberry
I received a complimentary copy to read and an audio copy and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Murder at Astor Manor is a delightful cozy mystery with a magical twist. Isobel Shadow, bookstore owner and newly discovered witch, is a likable and relatable protagonist. As she begins to explore her magical heritage, she forms close bonds with a circle of fellow witches in her hometown of Willowdale—The Charmed Circle. Their growing friendship adds warmth and depth to the story, as well as humorous and heartfelt moments.
The murder mystery at Astor Manor is atmospheric and intriguing, with enough twists to keep readers engaged without becoming overly complicated. The presence of Celeste, Isobel’s enigmatic cat (or perhaps familiar?), adds just the right amount of whimsy.
Though this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, there are hints at earlier events in Isobel’s life that may be explored in a previous installment. That said, the story holds up well on its own, and you won’t feel lost if this is your first visit to Willowdale.
I listened to the audiobook version, and while narrator Paige Huntzberry has a lovely, expressive voice, it did take some time to adjust to the performance. At times it felt more like a straightforward reading than an immersive experience, and certain moments came across as slightly breathless. Still, it was a pleasant listen overall, and I look forward to future installments in both print and audio.
Perfect for fans of cozy witch mysteries with a side of sisterhood and sleuthing.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Isobel Shadow has recently learned that she is a witch, so she is still dealing with that and what direction it will take her. Her new friends Corrine and Coral and Betsy were helping her understand the different types of witches that focus on a certain kind of magic, such as cosmic witches tied to astrology and astronomy, things connected to the sky; green witches were tied to nature; a seer was a type of witch who could see the future, although not always reliably; and gray witches, who found themselves between black and white magic, not afraid to use a little of the dark arts but not too much to get them in trouble. Her friends were willing to teach her a few simple charms, but Isobel wasn’t too sure she was ready.
When their group, The Charmed Circle, was invited by invitation to the site of a recent murder, Isobel is interested in looking closer at what happened. Will Astor Manor have any secrets to reveal to them? Desmond’s poisoning on the Manor’s doorstep could be a challenge to investigate. Are these young witches powerful enough to deal with something like this? Or could Isobel become the next victim if she gets too close to the answers?
Isabel Shadow has recently found out she is a witch. She is dismayed as she isn’t having much luck in casting spells. She owns a bookstore where she has a book club which has 4 witches. They have met for the first time trying to choose a name for their club. They decide The Charmed Circle will be the name of their book club. Isabel discovers a note that seems to have mysterious appeared. It is an invitation to Astor Manor. The owner had recently bought the place and then ended up dropping dead. When Isabel tells the book club members, she is as mystify as they are being invited to go to the Manor. Why? They decide they will go but can’t figure out why they were invited. There are secrets, a mystery and more in Astor Manor.
I enjoyed following Isabel’s journey to learning about spells, talking to an author and reconciling with her sister. The novel kept my interest throughout the book. I enjoyed reading it. I can’t wait for the next book to come out!
Disclaimer: I received an arc copy of this book from the author. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
This is a new author for me to read and I did enjoy reading it but soon realized I should have read Murder at the bookstore first as I am missing some of the important info about Isobel & Freya the two sisters who are the main character in this series. I will go back now and read this book. Isobel and three other witch have formed a book club named the Charmed Circle which seem to fit very well with this group and at the first meeting they get an invitation to Astor Manor where there has been a murder of the new owner but they decide to go anyway as a group. Isobel and her sister had just found out that they are witches and are having trouble preforming simple spells but she keeps trying with help from her new friends. There are lots of twist and turns after they get to the Manor with them trying to find a potion that was hidden away back in 1692 before the owner at that time was burn as a witch. This is a very interesting story line and if you enjoy paranormal books this will be just what you will want to read. The author has given you a great base for her series with this book
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my honest and voluntary review. I just finished book two of A Charmed Circle mystery series,"Murder at Astor Manor". In this story, Isobel and her friends receive a mysterious invitation to visit an old derelict manor where a man had recently been murdered. Isobel had been trying to find out who killed him before they went to the manor. None of the Charmed Circle knows what they've been invited for and are naturally very cautious about going. Turns out, there's a bottle with immortality potion somewhere inside that they need to find. Many things happen and later, many things are discovered through talking to a friend named Betsy. I can't give any information other than that or I'll end up giving away the story! Anyway...I'm not sure how I feel about this story. It's not bad, but I didn't think it was great, either. It just seemed kind of bland and flat. The characters were rather one dimensional and I couldn't get a feel for any of them. Like I said, it wasn't bad. Just not the best story I've read. Give it a try. You might enjoy it. Especially if you already have read book one.
"Murder at Astor Manor" is Book 1 of A Charmed Circle Paranormal Cozy Mystery series. I really loved the characters and the entire plot and storylines. Even though this book is supposedly the first in the series, many of the main characters are first mentioned in Wynnie Harlowe's book "Murder in the Bookstore", A Shadow Sisters Mystery. That book follows the story of Isobel and Lily Shadow, two sisters who find out they are witches in a small Massachusetts town. However, this book is mostly about Isobel and her group of witchy friends, as well as Isobel's cat trying to solve the murder of a billionaire who bought Astor Manor. Be sure to read the Prologue very carefully because there are a few surprises from it 330 years later. I gave this book 5 stars. I received a copy of this book via BookFunnel and this is my honest review.
Though paranormal cozy and witches is not my usual choice, this was a book with a well developed story line. The main character, Isobel has recently learned that she and her sister Freya are witches. She is becoming friends with Betsy, Corrine, Coral & Elory - who are also witches. They have created a book club which they aptly named The Charmed Circle. Setting up her bookshop and trying to learn spells is keeping her busy. She is also trying to decide if her cat Celeste is her familiar. The Charmed Circle receive an invitation to Astor Manor, which is the site of a recent murder. Isobel feels this might lead them to discover something that would help solve the murder. If you are a paranormal or not, you would enjoy this.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Murder at Astor Manor is book #1 in the Charmed Circle Paranormal Cozy Mystery series by Wynnie Harlowe.
This is the first book in the series, but there is another book, “Murder in the Bookstore” introducing Isobel and her sister. I think it would have been helpful to read that to understand what traumatized Isobel so much that she didn’t want to talk about it. Isobel owns a book store and has recently discovered she is a witch. She lacks confidence in her ability, but is finding people who want to help her. There were definitely twists at the end I wasn’t expecting. I look forward to reading the next book to see how things go for Isobel.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I would give this book 3.5 stars. I felt like I was missing something with the vague reference to events and relationships formed in the first book, so I stopped at 15%, read the first book, then continued on with this installment.
Isobel Shadow has recently been made aware that she’s a witch. While exploring that revelation, she becomes tangled up in a murder and a mystery involving a historic mansion with a witchy history.
The book was good, but I felt like some relationships needed further development. The first book was told from a dual perspective whereas this one was just from Isobel’s POV, so I’m interested to see how the next installment is narrated. Overall, this was a quick, cozy paranormal read.
Audiobook: This was my first experience with this author's work, and it was entertaining. I enjoyed the small-town setting. I liked Isobel Shadow, and I appreciated her struggle with her identity as a witch and with her uncertainty about her powers as a witch. I liked all the twists as the paranormal mystery was slowly revealed. There were several references to the previous story, so I would strongly recommend that the prequel be read first. I thought Paige Huntzberry's narration was great, and her performance enhanced my enjoyment of the story. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.
"Murder at Astor Manor" was my first book by Wynnie Harlowe. I adore her style! I enjoyed the suspense created throughout the first half of the book by the looming meeting at Astor Manor and the thrill of the second half. I liked how Isobel was playing detective and piecing clues together to solve the murder of a stranger, and how I was able to discover these clues along with her. It is a truly satisfying paranormal cozy mystery. I can't wait to go back and read the prequel.
I had not read the book prior to this one and it did not affect the flow of the story at all. The main characters are fun to get to know. Two are holding secrets that are revealed in the story. One that has to do with the mystery! A mysterious invitation to an abandoned manor which tests the relationships between the 4 main characters. Working together helps them solve more than one mystery. Luckily one other person has their back - though they don't know it until the end - and helps save them in their adventure. This adventure helps to strengthen the bond between the characters. The adventure into the mansion can get your heart beating a bit. I would recommend.
I have never read anything by Wynnie Harlow before, OMG this was fantastic!! This is part of The Charmed Circle Cozy Mystery series. Isobel Shadow has recently learned she is a witch. The few spells she has cast did not work. Isobel owns Willowdale Books. She hosts a magical book club recently named The Charmed Circle. A murder has recently happened at Astor Manor that was owned by Desmond the deceased. The Charmed Circle receives a cryptic black envelope, inviting them to Astor Manor. Do Isobel and her friends go, what does this mean? Love the plot, great setting, and strong intense interesting characters. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Wynnie Harlow!!!!
We don't meet the victim before the inciting incident and Isobel has no connection to him or any suspects. She has anxiety about the general concept of murder, due to the previous book's events. This seems to be her only reason for taking an interest in the murder. Most events only seem to occur because the plot needs them to.
The narrator has a very youthful voice, better suited to middle grade or maybe young adult works. One character gets a slight English accent but otherwise everyone has the same voice. The audio quality itself is great.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Five GIANT stars! Isobel is back in this witchy cozy mystery that is just as magical as the author’s first. The clever plot, which leads the Charmed Circle to a 'haunted' manor, kept me guessing until the very end. The witty dialogue and vivid descriptions of their witchy world are absolutely brilliant. I'm completely charmed by these characters and their adventures. What I wouldn’t give to join their Charmed Circle! Highly recommend for anyone craving a delightful and suspenseful read. The writing is brilliant, and the story is pure magic. I’m hooked!"
The story keeps building until a nice, comfortable ending.
Isobel has recently learned that she and her sister Freya are witches. Isobel begins her search for her talents with her friends who make up the Charmed Circle.
They receive a mysterious invite to the Astor Manor after a recent death. What they learn is that they have to find an immortality potion.
Their search leads to answers that they didn't expect, and Isobel learns that she can be and is a witch.
Good, entertaining story that builds on friendship and life. A nice start to a fun series.
When four witches are invited to the home of it's recently deceased owner, they are left wondering what the purpose of going there is. Following ominous clues they end up using their combined energy to unlock the final clue in this paranormal mystery, only to be confronted by the deceased owner's wife who enters with a gun pointed at them. Will they be able to escape or is this the end. Looking forward to more by this author.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest and voluntary review.
What a lovely feel good story, it is well written and easy to follow. Freya and Isobel being apart for the first time meant lsobel had to rely on her new witch coven as they battled their way through this murder mystery. I guess Isobel is learning on the job about her magic, as she was practicing new spells to help with clues. I really enjoyed a previous book written by this author Wynnie Harlowe called "murder at the book store" and can recommend this book as well. Now seriously, this cat familiar...is she going to start talking?
The Charmed Circle receives a mysterious invitation to the manor where someone recently died. Who could be behind this? A really fun cozy mystery with wonderful characters that are slowly forging friendships through challenges. A storyline that keeps drawing you in, up to the final big surprises. A very interesting book to read.
I received a copy of this book from the author. I am leaving a voluntary and honest review.
This is a well written paranormal cozie with good pacing. Isobel is trying to come to grips with recently learning that she is a witch. She is becoming friends with Corrine, Coral & Elory - also young witches. They receive an invitation to Astor Manor, the site of a recent murder. Isobel feels pulled to help solve the murder. Running her bookshop, learning spells and deciding if her cat Celeste is her familiar is keeping her busy enough.
Just read this book. It was a page turner and the suspense was amazing. I was on edge of my seat and I couldn’t even put it down. Who was the killer and they be revealed in this moment and time and place. Could the clues leads to the one person where they least expect. Danger is around the corner. This characters was captivating and dramatic with a lot of emotions and action packed of chaos. I definitely recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed. I received advance copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion. Trina Jones
Murder at Astor Manor: A Charmed Circle Cozy Mystery (A Charmed Circle Paranormal Cozy Mystery Book 1), my second enjoyable 173-page supernatural cozy mystery from author Wynnie Harlowe. “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 as they are published. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018.
This was a pretty good read. Interesting characters who are quirky and flawed, and not all of them are as they seem. Finding her witchy feet, Isobel was new to everything. It gave her journey some hiccups, which were interesting. I thought the book flowed rather well and my interest was kept to the end. I received a copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving my opinion of the tale.
This is not my usual trope, but I enjoyed reading it. The story is a mix of self-discovery, mystery and magic. Isobel is a book store owner who is starting to realize her magical abilities. Her book club is invited to the long-abandoned Astor Manor after a recent death from poison, things quickly turn dark. The story kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next and how things would end. I received a copy of the book and this is my honest review.
A mysterious death, a mysterious note and a mysterious house are a chilling combination for the Charmed Circle Book Club ladies to explore. A show of strength, courage and trust unites the ladies in a magical way. I enjoyed this book.
I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am voluntarily writing this review.
I was lucky to receive an ARC copy of this book and although I hadn't read the prequel to the series it didn't detract from this book. It's very well written, I loved the plot and the characters are wonderful - I'd love them as friends! If you like mysteries with a little witchy paranormal activity included then give this a read, you won't be disappointed.
When Isobel, receives an invitation for her Charmed Circle Book Club, she and her fellow witches head to Astor Manor to decipher the death of a man by poison. Isobel is a new-found witch is just learning her calling. A fast paced, an interesting storyline, great characters. A tad slow at times but its put to good use to follow the story. I read this as an ARC from BookFunnel. This is my review.