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The Hollowbeck Paranormal Cozy Mysteries #1
Witch Slap: The Hollowbeck Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, Book 1
Never let your brother date a witch, lest they get turned into a talking cat.
Morgan Winters wants an ordinary
A job at a bookstore, an apartment she can barely afford, and a healthy amount of existential dread. Her brother (AKA "The Ruiner") ruins that when he shows up on her bedroom windowsill, transformed into a talking cat.
He claims it's due to a date gone horribly wrong, but Morgan's not buying it. Still, when he begs her to take him to a witch who can change him back into a human, she reluctantly agrees. Family is family.
When they arrive in Hollowbeck—a suspiciously small and suspiciously magical town—they find the witch.
Only she's dead.
And there's a letter left behind—with Morgan's name on it.
Even though no one knew she was coming.
Morgan could run. She could hide. But she's not the type. She's determined to stick her nose into the middle of the supernatural, figure out who left her the letter, find the murderer—and hopefully sort out Ruiner's cat problem before he leaves another hairball on the rug.
Witch Slap is the first book in The Hollowbeck Paranormal Cozy Mysteries series from Amelia Ash and bestselling author Kim M. Watt. Join Morgan and Ruiner as they explore a small town full of magic, mystery, and murder.
Morgan Winters wants an ordinary
A job at a bookstore, an apartment she can barely afford, and a healthy amount of existential dread. Her brother (AKA "The Ruiner") ruins that when he shows up on her bedroom windowsill, transformed into a talking cat.
He claims it's due to a date gone horribly wrong, but Morgan's not buying it. Still, when he begs her to take him to a witch who can change him back into a human, she reluctantly agrees. Family is family.
When they arrive in Hollowbeck—a suspiciously small and suspiciously magical town—they find the witch.
Only she's dead.
And there's a letter left behind—with Morgan's name on it.
Even though no one knew she was coming.
Morgan could run. She could hide. But she's not the type. She's determined to stick her nose into the middle of the supernatural, figure out who left her the letter, find the murderer—and hopefully sort out Ruiner's cat problem before he leaves another hairball on the rug.
Witch Slap is the first book in The Hollowbeck Paranormal Cozy Mysteries series from Amelia Ash and bestselling author Kim M. Watt. Join Morgan and Ruiner as they explore a small town full of magic, mystery, and murder.
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First published June 25, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
October 3, 2024
⛥☽ Give me a talking cat in a small-town setting, add a bit of mystery to solve, and you've got me hooked. ☾⛥
At first, I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, but one day I was scrolling and saw the cat on the cover. I read the synopsis and haven't looked back since. I'm glad I did because this will now be added to my yearly fall/spooky season reads!
Each character was vividly unique, with their own distinctive personality and voice, which truly brought the story to life. It made everything feel incredibly real, almost as if I were a part of the narrative myself. Additionally, I found the writing style to be thoroughly enjoyable.
I absolutely adored Hollowbeck as a setting. It felt so cozy and vivid that I could completely picture it, to the point where I'd want to visit—minus the murder, of course. The initial descriptions were incredibly detailed, setting the tone perfectly and bringing the town to life. I cherished every moment of it. The town is teeming with supernatural creatures, and I'm eager to learn more about them in the upcoming books because it feels like we've only scratched the surface of what's really going on.
This book is clearly the first installment in a series, leaving some questions tantalizingly unanswered by the end. However, the main mystery gets wrapped up, and I’m mostly thrilled to read more and find the answers to the lingering questions. I love that there's still an air of mystery around the characters and the town. The book ends perfectly, setting up the next one and making me eager to jump right in. Without giving anything away, I feel like things are about to get really interesting, and I can't wait to return to Hollowbeck and dive back into the lives of Morgan, Ruiner, and all the other residents in the upcoming books.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
At first, I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, but one day I was scrolling and saw the cat on the cover. I read the synopsis and haven't looked back since. I'm glad I did because this will now be added to my yearly fall/spooky season reads!
Each character was vividly unique, with their own distinctive personality and voice, which truly brought the story to life. It made everything feel incredibly real, almost as if I were a part of the narrative myself. Additionally, I found the writing style to be thoroughly enjoyable.
I absolutely adored Hollowbeck as a setting. It felt so cozy and vivid that I could completely picture it, to the point where I'd want to visit—minus the murder, of course. The initial descriptions were incredibly detailed, setting the tone perfectly and bringing the town to life. I cherished every moment of it. The town is teeming with supernatural creatures, and I'm eager to learn more about them in the upcoming books because it feels like we've only scratched the surface of what's really going on.
This book is clearly the first installment in a series, leaving some questions tantalizingly unanswered by the end. However, the main mystery gets wrapped up, and I’m mostly thrilled to read more and find the answers to the lingering questions. I love that there's still an air of mystery around the characters and the town. The book ends perfectly, setting up the next one and making me eager to jump right in. Without giving anything away, I feel like things are about to get really interesting, and I can't wait to return to Hollowbeck and dive back into the lives of Morgan, Ruiner, and all the other residents in the upcoming books.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
March 8, 2025
Yay! More new, light, fanciful stories of witches, talking cats, "familiars," frogs and one can only guess at the other characters, though hints are given. Hollowbeck. A cozy little town, which you can only find if it lets you (other than during tourist season).
Amelia Ash along with Kim M. Watt has created wistful mysteries of which "Slap" is the first. I have a feeling I will be breezing through these fun reads. This book one was a delight.
Amelia Ash along with Kim M. Watt has created wistful mysteries of which "Slap" is the first. I have a feeling I will be breezing through these fun reads. This book one was a delight.
June 23, 2024
"Witch Slap (The Hollowbeck Paranormal Cozy Mysteries #1)" by Amelia Ash and Kim M. Watt has some good potential for a paranormal cozy mystery series. My main issue is that the main character seems a bit too immature for her age. I'm hoping she grows and matures some more as the books go on as it seems that maybe what is hinted at in the last paragraph of the book. She's just very abrasive and nothing is her fault, it's because of someone else. It'd be nice to see some bonding or relationship building between her and her brother (turned cat) as well. The constant arguing and threats to each other got a bit old quick.
Despite those character flaws the setting was quite interesting and very witchy paranormal. The cop maybe some sort of vampire. There may be a werewolf bar where owner. Nothing out and out confirmed but very much hinted at. The town itself has to be found because you have the ability to, been invited to or it's the very set time span of tourist season. There's witches and other types of magical beings too.
The mystery part kept me guessing. Though a good chunk of it was over just trying to find the magical book that everyone seemed to want. Since it became more about the book it ended up throwing me off a bit about who the culprit who started all the problems was. In the end, it made sense who did it. It also made sense what had happened to the book.
Despite those character flaws the setting was quite interesting and very witchy paranormal. The cop maybe some sort of vampire. There may be a werewolf bar where owner. Nothing out and out confirmed but very much hinted at. The town itself has to be found because you have the ability to, been invited to or it's the very set time span of tourist season. There's witches and other types of magical beings too.
The mystery part kept me guessing. Though a good chunk of it was over just trying to find the magical book that everyone seemed to want. Since it became more about the book it ended up throwing me off a bit about who the culprit who started all the problems was. In the end, it made sense who did it. It also made sense what had happened to the book.
July 4, 2024
A terrific joint venture
I've been loving Kim Watt's books for some time, and now I can add Amelia Ash to the list of favourite authors, because to judge by Witch Slap, she and Kim are on exactly the same wavelength.
I'm really looking forward to reading more about Hollowbeck, which sounds like my kind of place - good coffee, cake, a library full of really interesting books and, um... frogs... I'm less sure about frogs, especially in the bathroom. But irritating talking cats are great!
I've been loving Kim Watt's books for some time, and now I can add Amelia Ash to the list of favourite authors, because to judge by Witch Slap, she and Kim are on exactly the same wavelength.
I'm really looking forward to reading more about Hollowbeck, which sounds like my kind of place - good coffee, cake, a library full of really interesting books and, um... frogs... I'm less sure about frogs, especially in the bathroom. But irritating talking cats are great!
November 18, 2024
Absolutely delightful! I always feel a smidge bad for books I read while I’m sick, because chances are higher I’ll lose track of characters, and there are a lot of residents of Hollowbeck (fodder for future mysteries, of course), and they all have relatively ordinary names… so for the first half I had some trouble remembering who was who. But I couldn’t put the second half down.
August 8, 2024
What a Fun Read
Great book from start to finish. Reeled me immediately. I read the whole thing in less than 24 hours. A must read.
Great book from start to finish. Reeled me immediately. I read the whole thing in less than 24 hours. A must read.
October 28, 2024
2024 bk 162. Enjoyable. The theme is not new, but the characters are engaging, although the cat does fulfill his role of being annoying, very annoying. I did not guess who did it - so that is a win. Would recommend this for a fun, quick read, but my heart really belongs to Watts Women's Institute.
Read
August 5, 2024DNF @ 16%, so no rating.
The premise of this book is stellar. Even as I was describing it to a friend, it made me excited to talk about. But unfortunately, there was so much description that instead of enhancing the story, it felt really bogged down. Honestly, if some of it was cut, I'd gladly give this book another go. It just cloaks the story in endless details I don't need. If this doesn't bother you, I would definitely give it a go. The premise alone would be worth it.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book.
The premise of this book is stellar. Even as I was describing it to a friend, it made me excited to talk about. But unfortunately, there was so much description that instead of enhancing the story, it felt really bogged down. Honestly, if some of it was cut, I'd gladly give this book another go. It just cloaks the story in endless details I don't need. If this doesn't bother you, I would definitely give it a go. The premise alone would be worth it.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book.
October 31, 2024
If you're going to write a book, you should a) have a firm grasp of correct grammar and b) research the colloquialisms of the country you're setting your book in.
The story itself was fine and fun, but I could NOT look past grammatical errors such as "these ones" and "the amount of people". On top of that, the book is set in Cumbria in the UK, yet the characters are using words like eggplant, cops, block and sheriff which are not native to the British language. This book could easily have been set in the US or anywhere else which uses this language, it totally ruined the immersion in the story for me!
I really want to read the second one to see what happens next but I don't know if I can face more vocabulary and grammar challenges!!
The story itself was fine and fun, but I could NOT look past grammatical errors such as "these ones" and "the amount of people". On top of that, the book is set in Cumbria in the UK, yet the characters are using words like eggplant, cops, block and sheriff which are not native to the British language. This book could easily have been set in the US or anywhere else which uses this language, it totally ruined the immersion in the story for me!
I really want to read the second one to see what happens next but I don't know if I can face more vocabulary and grammar challenges!!
September 8, 2024
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book. The cover and the promise of a talking cat are what immediately drew me to this story and I ended up absolutely loving everything about this.
We follow Morgan, a woman who has recently lost everything in a nasty divorce as she has to help her brother who got turned into a cat to find the witch who can turn him back into a human again. But once they get to Hollowbeck, a town that’s not even on the map and not many people can find, they find out the only person who can possibly help them is dead.
Now it’s up to Morgan and Ruiner (his name's actually Rainier, but he ruins everything hence the nickname) to not only find a way to turn Ruiner back into a human, but also figure out who murdered the witch. Along the way there's some twists and turns that constantly kept me guessing as to what was going on and as I never once suspected the actual murderer this led to an unexpected reveal in the end.
A huge part of the appeal of this book for me was the talking cat character. I love talking animal companions and Ruiner was no exception. I loved his snark and attitude and he kind of reminded me of Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch, also partly because they were both turned into a cat as some kind of punishment. This character definitely added something extra to the whole story, especially because while he is human he started to act more and more cat-like the more the story progressed.
Ruiner's relationship with Morgan was an interesting one. They never really had a great bond and it shows in the way they interact with each other. Ruiner has made some very questionable life choices in the past and Morgan has had to save him more times than she would've liked. But seeing that he is still her brother, she keeps helping him despite everything and this time it's no different. This leads to some interesting banter between the two of them. As someone with a brother, their sibling relationship definitely felt realistic to me. Because even when he does stupid things or annoys you and you don't have the best relationship, he's still your brother and you still care about him and want to help him in whatever way you can. I feel like the writers really did a great job in bringing this across.
I also really loved Hollowbeck as a setting. It sounds very cosy and I can completely imagine what it looks like to the point I'd want to go there. Without the murder, that is. I did feel like the initial descriptions of the setting were a bit too detailed and could've been shorter. But at the same time, it helped to set the tone and bring the town to life and didn't ruin my overall enjoyment of the story in any way. I loved how Hollowbeck is this unknown little town in England that’s not even on the map and everything- from the barter system to the weather -works differently because of the magical influences. The town clearly has a lot of supernatural creatures living in it and I would love to learn more about them in the next books because I feel like we don’t know half of what going on yet.
I also really enjoyed the writing style and the character voices in the book. Everyone was their own character with their own distinctive personality and voice and this really helped the story to come alive and to made everything feel real and almost like I was part of the story.
Because this book is the first part in a series, I was left with some unanswered questions at the end. However, the main mystery from the book is solved and I’m mostly just excited to read more and get the answers to these questions I still have along the way as I am enjoying that there's still some mystery to the characters and the town left. This book also ended on the perfect set up for the next one and it makes me want to dive right into that. Without spoiling, I feel like things are about to get really interesting and I can't wait to return to Hollowbeck and read all about Morgan, Ruiner and all the residents in the sequels.
* I received a copy through NetGalley and leave this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own. *
We follow Morgan, a woman who has recently lost everything in a nasty divorce as she has to help her brother who got turned into a cat to find the witch who can turn him back into a human again. But once they get to Hollowbeck, a town that’s not even on the map and not many people can find, they find out the only person who can possibly help them is dead.
Now it’s up to Morgan and Ruiner (his name's actually Rainier, but he ruins everything hence the nickname) to not only find a way to turn Ruiner back into a human, but also figure out who murdered the witch. Along the way there's some twists and turns that constantly kept me guessing as to what was going on and as I never once suspected the actual murderer this led to an unexpected reveal in the end.
A huge part of the appeal of this book for me was the talking cat character. I love talking animal companions and Ruiner was no exception. I loved his snark and attitude and he kind of reminded me of Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch, also partly because they were both turned into a cat as some kind of punishment. This character definitely added something extra to the whole story, especially because while he is human he started to act more and more cat-like the more the story progressed.
Ruiner's relationship with Morgan was an interesting one. They never really had a great bond and it shows in the way they interact with each other. Ruiner has made some very questionable life choices in the past and Morgan has had to save him more times than she would've liked. But seeing that he is still her brother, she keeps helping him despite everything and this time it's no different. This leads to some interesting banter between the two of them. As someone with a brother, their sibling relationship definitely felt realistic to me. Because even when he does stupid things or annoys you and you don't have the best relationship, he's still your brother and you still care about him and want to help him in whatever way you can. I feel like the writers really did a great job in bringing this across.
I also really loved Hollowbeck as a setting. It sounds very cosy and I can completely imagine what it looks like to the point I'd want to go there. Without the murder, that is. I did feel like the initial descriptions of the setting were a bit too detailed and could've been shorter. But at the same time, it helped to set the tone and bring the town to life and didn't ruin my overall enjoyment of the story in any way. I loved how Hollowbeck is this unknown little town in England that’s not even on the map and everything- from the barter system to the weather -works differently because of the magical influences. The town clearly has a lot of supernatural creatures living in it and I would love to learn more about them in the next books because I feel like we don’t know half of what going on yet.
I also really enjoyed the writing style and the character voices in the book. Everyone was their own character with their own distinctive personality and voice and this really helped the story to come alive and to made everything feel real and almost like I was part of the story.
Because this book is the first part in a series, I was left with some unanswered questions at the end. However, the main mystery from the book is solved and I’m mostly just excited to read more and get the answers to these questions I still have along the way as I am enjoying that there's still some mystery to the characters and the town left. This book also ended on the perfect set up for the next one and it makes me want to dive right into that. Without spoiling, I feel like things are about to get really interesting and I can't wait to return to Hollowbeck and read all about Morgan, Ruiner and all the residents in the sequels.
* I received a copy through NetGalley and leave this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own. *
June 7, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Witch Slap in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Gist
Witch Slap started with a premise that held a lot of potential—a mix of magic, mystery, and dark humor that could have made for an entertaining read. Unfortunately, the book struggled to keep me engaged throughout. From early on, the pacing felt uneven and dragged in many places, which made the story hard to follow and ultimately frustrating.
The Details
One major issue for me was the protagonist’s brother. His presence in the story came off as insufferable and often detracted from the plot instead of adding to it. Rather than feeling like a complex character, he became more of a distraction. Scenes involving him often slowed down the narrative and made it difficult to connect with the main storyline.
Additionally, the book relied heavily on telling rather than showing. Long passages of description and exposition felt like filler, as they rarely pushed the plot forward or deepened character development. This created a sense of stagnation, where I found myself losing interest rather than growing curious about what would happen next.
It’s clear the authors aimed for a quirky, witty tone, but the humor didn’t quite land for me. Sometimes it felt forced or out of place, which clashed with the darker elements of the story. The combination should have been engaging, but instead it often felt disjointed.
The Verdict
Overall, I wanted to like Witch Slap more than I did. The core idea had promise, but the slow pacing, frustrating character dynamics, and excessive telling made it a tough read. If you enjoy paranormal mysteries with strong, fast-moving plots, this book may not meet your expectations. For me, it was a disappointing read that didn’t live up to its potential.
July 23, 2024
Morgan is down on her luck, going through a divorce and working a crappy job when her brother Rainier, (affectionately known as Ruiner because he ruins everything!) shows up on her doorstep as a cat, begging her to help him (case and point). This is both surprising and completely normal as she has spent most of her life dragging her brother out of all sorts of trouble.
So their adventure begins as they travel to Hollowbeck in search of a witch to reverse her brother's curse. Only when they get there, the witch is dead and now Morgan is a potential suspect in her murder.
Hollowbeck reminds me of Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls) but with a magical vibe and just like Gilmore Girls there is a unique cast of characters, who are quirky and loveable.....but also may be murderers.
The sibling dynamic was perfect and the banter between Ruiner and Morgan was so natural. This book literally had me giggling at times at the sibling rivalry and constant bickering. I can only imagine the author has her own annoying sibling who she has drawn inspiration from. Ruiners character was well fleshed out and I could imagine exactly the type of brother he was and the types of shenanigans Morgan was constantly rescuing him from. He was equal parts infuriating and kind of lovable in that way that only siblings can be.
In the next books I would love to see more personal growth from Morgan and Ruiner. There were definitely hints of it in this book, but by the end of the series it would be great to see how they have both matured.
Such a great cozy whodunit mystery with fantasy elements. I can't wait for the rest of the series!
Big Thank-you to Netgalley and Sterling & Stone publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
So their adventure begins as they travel to Hollowbeck in search of a witch to reverse her brother's curse. Only when they get there, the witch is dead and now Morgan is a potential suspect in her murder.
Hollowbeck reminds me of Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls) but with a magical vibe and just like Gilmore Girls there is a unique cast of characters, who are quirky and loveable.....but also may be murderers.
The sibling dynamic was perfect and the banter between Ruiner and Morgan was so natural. This book literally had me giggling at times at the sibling rivalry and constant bickering. I can only imagine the author has her own annoying sibling who she has drawn inspiration from. Ruiners character was well fleshed out and I could imagine exactly the type of brother he was and the types of shenanigans Morgan was constantly rescuing him from. He was equal parts infuriating and kind of lovable in that way that only siblings can be.
In the next books I would love to see more personal growth from Morgan and Ruiner. There were definitely hints of it in this book, but by the end of the series it would be great to see how they have both matured.
Such a great cozy whodunit mystery with fantasy elements. I can't wait for the rest of the series!
Big Thank-you to Netgalley and Sterling & Stone publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
February 8, 2025
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Witch Slap is the first book in a cozy paranormal mystery series by Amelia Ash and Kim M. Watt. Released 25th June 2024 by Sterling & Stone, it's 290 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The later books in the series are also currently available on KU.
This is a funny, quirky, and engaging lighthearted (sometimes silly) paranormal mystery with a talking cat who is a cursed human/brother to the main character, skullduggery, a missing magical tome, and some slapstick alongside heaps of sarcastic drama.
The mystery is well constructed with a direct and engaging action driven plot. The characterizations and descriptions are a trifle trope-y, but overall it's a solid and diverting read for fans of saucy irreverent funny paranormal books.
Four stars. With four books in the series, it would make a good choice for a binge/buddy read (bonus points for being in the Kindle Unlimited library).
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Witch Slap is the first book in a cozy paranormal mystery series by Amelia Ash and Kim M. Watt. Released 25th June 2024 by Sterling & Stone, it's 290 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The later books in the series are also currently available on KU.
This is a funny, quirky, and engaging lighthearted (sometimes silly) paranormal mystery with a talking cat who is a cursed human/brother to the main character, skullduggery, a missing magical tome, and some slapstick alongside heaps of sarcastic drama.
The mystery is well constructed with a direct and engaging action driven plot. The characterizations and descriptions are a trifle trope-y, but overall it's a solid and diverting read for fans of saucy irreverent funny paranormal books.
Four stars. With four books in the series, it would make a good choice for a binge/buddy read (bonus points for being in the Kindle Unlimited library).
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
July 3, 2024
Princess Fuzzypants here: Morgan does not think her life can get much worse. She is living in a hovel and working a dead end job after her divorce from her two timing husband. That is until her brother shows up at her window. He has been the bane of her existence to the degree that she has nicknamed him Ruiner. This time his dilemma tops them all. Ruiner is a cat. What is more he wants her to travel with him to an unknown location where he thinks he can undo the spell that changed him.
After a very creepy drive in her ancient Volvo, they arrive in Hollowbeck. While outwardly it looks like a fantasy, there are some very deep and dark things going on in this mystical spot. Morgan realizes she has stumbled into something very weird when the first resident she meets is a dead witch half stuffed in her own caldron. Things are not going to get any less strange as she meets the citizens. Considering she never believed in magic, she takes it all in her stride. Might there be a reason she was led here. She is not going to know until she solves the murder and mystery that surrounds a book owned by the deceased. In the process she is going to face some great danger but in the end she is going to learn a lot about herself and those around her.
It was a fun story where it was impossible to tell the good guys from the bad guys. No wonder Morgan struggled. Looking forward to seeing where this tale will go next. Four purrs and two paws up.
After a very creepy drive in her ancient Volvo, they arrive in Hollowbeck. While outwardly it looks like a fantasy, there are some very deep and dark things going on in this mystical spot. Morgan realizes she has stumbled into something very weird when the first resident she meets is a dead witch half stuffed in her own caldron. Things are not going to get any less strange as she meets the citizens. Considering she never believed in magic, she takes it all in her stride. Might there be a reason she was led here. She is not going to know until she solves the murder and mystery that surrounds a book owned by the deceased. In the process she is going to face some great danger but in the end she is going to learn a lot about herself and those around her.
It was a fun story where it was impossible to tell the good guys from the bad guys. No wonder Morgan struggled. Looking forward to seeing where this tale will go next. Four purrs and two paws up.
May 9, 2025
Not going to lie, this book grabbed my attention because it’s about a cat. Even better than that, it’s about being turned into a cat. Which, in my opinion, is not a problem I’d want to fix. I would happily accept my fate as a cat. Nevertheless, here’s what I thought about the book.
The main issue with this book is that I don’t think it knows its audience. Genuinely, I have no idea who this book is for. It seems like it’s geared towards a younger audience, but some jokes seem too adult. Our main character is also in her 30s and divorced. That normally isn’t seen in our normal teenage heroines. That being said, her and her brother act much younger. Maybe I just don’t know how siblings work. I was cursed to be an only child after all.
The writing itself is okay. Admittedly I’ve read ao3 fanfics with better writing. Most of the plot lines in this book are half baked. Motives are wonky, character development is hit or miss, and things just seem to happen randomly. The foreshadowing with the townspeople is laid on a little thick though. Seriously, how is Morgan that dumb? How is she missing she’s hanging out with a literal vampire? Cmon girl.
Maybe I am being a bit too harsh on this book. It calls itself a “cozy mystery,” whatever that is. I assume it’s supposed to be an easy read that requires little thought. If that’s the case, it was certainly that.
Side note, I really should give this book two stars. It should lose a star simply because I think the cover is AI. Gross.
The main issue with this book is that I don’t think it knows its audience. Genuinely, I have no idea who this book is for. It seems like it’s geared towards a younger audience, but some jokes seem too adult. Our main character is also in her 30s and divorced. That normally isn’t seen in our normal teenage heroines. That being said, her and her brother act much younger. Maybe I just don’t know how siblings work. I was cursed to be an only child after all.
The writing itself is okay. Admittedly I’ve read ao3 fanfics with better writing. Most of the plot lines in this book are half baked. Motives are wonky, character development is hit or miss, and things just seem to happen randomly. The foreshadowing with the townspeople is laid on a little thick though. Seriously, how is Morgan that dumb? How is she missing she’s hanging out with a literal vampire? Cmon girl.
Maybe I am being a bit too harsh on this book. It calls itself a “cozy mystery,” whatever that is. I assume it’s supposed to be an easy read that requires little thought. If that’s the case, it was certainly that.
Side note, I really should give this book two stars. It should lose a star simply because I think the cover is AI. Gross.
October 12, 2024
I really enjoyed this new (for me) “cosy” mystery. I’m already a big fan of Kim Watt’s books, so thought I’d give this collaboration a try.
Morgan’s brother has been turned into a cat and Morgan’s life has turned into a disaster. So both she and her brother “Ruiner” (actually Rainier, but he ruins everything he touches) have gone seeking help to try and turn him back to human.
They end up at the magical town of Hollowbeck where they stumble on a murder. The person who was murdered was a powerful witch, so who killed her and why? Although the witch was powerful she made enemies as she sold charms for “favours” to most of the townspeople who were then beholden to her.
Morgan determines to stay and find out what’s going on despite receiving several threats to her safety.
The town is full of odd people with even odder ‘familiars’ but mostly they seem friendly and willing to help.
Can Morgan solve the mystery and get help for Ruiner, before she strangles him herself.
This is a fun and fast moving mystery and I thoroughly enjoyed it and have bought the next in the series.
Morgan’s brother has been turned into a cat and Morgan’s life has turned into a disaster. So both she and her brother “Ruiner” (actually Rainier, but he ruins everything he touches) have gone seeking help to try and turn him back to human.
They end up at the magical town of Hollowbeck where they stumble on a murder. The person who was murdered was a powerful witch, so who killed her and why? Although the witch was powerful she made enemies as she sold charms for “favours” to most of the townspeople who were then beholden to her.
Morgan determines to stay and find out what’s going on despite receiving several threats to her safety.
The town is full of odd people with even odder ‘familiars’ but mostly they seem friendly and willing to help.
Can Morgan solve the mystery and get help for Ruiner, before she strangles him herself.
This is a fun and fast moving mystery and I thoroughly enjoyed it and have bought the next in the series.
December 9, 2025
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)
2.5*
First time read the author's work?: Yes -- for both authors
Will you be reading more?: Probably for this series -- Yes for trying others by the authors.
Would you recommend?: Probably
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
2.5*
First time read the author's work?: Yes -- for both authors
Will you be reading more?: Probably for this series -- Yes for trying others by the authors.
Would you recommend?: Probably
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
July 1, 2024
I recieved a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.
I mostly review books for kids, but a rather high percentage of my pleasure reading consists of cozy mysteries with cats on the cover and supernatural mysteries where the narrator discovers she has magic and moves into a magical world, so this one was a natural.
Like most first books in such series, there's a lot of world building which tends to make the story lag a bit. I have to be honest-I rarely reread first books in ANY such series for that reason. But, the world created is compelling and I look forward to the second book, and it's worth picking this one up if you're a fan of the genre.
As is typical of cozy mysteries, while this is an "adult" fiction book, it contains absolutely nothing objectionable and would be a better fit for tween advanced readers than most YA labeled books, and would definitely be a fun read for teens who enjoy mysteries with supernatural elements and cats.
I mostly review books for kids, but a rather high percentage of my pleasure reading consists of cozy mysteries with cats on the cover and supernatural mysteries where the narrator discovers she has magic and moves into a magical world, so this one was a natural.
Like most first books in such series, there's a lot of world building which tends to make the story lag a bit. I have to be honest-I rarely reread first books in ANY such series for that reason. But, the world created is compelling and I look forward to the second book, and it's worth picking this one up if you're a fan of the genre.
As is typical of cozy mysteries, while this is an "adult" fiction book, it contains absolutely nothing objectionable and would be a better fit for tween advanced readers than most YA labeled books, and would definitely be a fun read for teens who enjoy mysteries with supernatural elements and cats.
August 1, 2024
First of all thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me this arc.
I was intrigued by the cover and premise of the book. I expected cosy mystery and I got very cosy story. It had potential, but didn’t live up to all my expectations for it. I enjoyed the scenery where the story takes place. It had so Halloweentown vibes. And the people in it was such interesting bunch of citizens. The writing style was really readable, so it was pretty quick read. The characters was just okay for me, I already forgot most of them after I finished it, so it has to say you everything. BUT I really enjoyed the description of sibling relationship between Morgan and her brother. It was a realistic one and their interactions were always fun. The mystery itself was a little bit lacking, but overal it was enjoyable story.
I can recommend this book for everyone who wants some cosy story with paranormal elements to just switch off and relax.
I was intrigued by the cover and premise of the book. I expected cosy mystery and I got very cosy story. It had potential, but didn’t live up to all my expectations for it. I enjoyed the scenery where the story takes place. It had so Halloweentown vibes. And the people in it was such interesting bunch of citizens. The writing style was really readable, so it was pretty quick read. The characters was just okay for me, I already forgot most of them after I finished it, so it has to say you everything. BUT I really enjoyed the description of sibling relationship between Morgan and her brother. It was a realistic one and their interactions were always fun. The mystery itself was a little bit lacking, but overal it was enjoyable story.
I can recommend this book for everyone who wants some cosy story with paranormal elements to just switch off and relax.
August 21, 2024
Witch Slap by Amelia Ash and Kim M. Watt is a delightful and ridiculas read. A magically cozy mystery that's sassy and fantastical. I loved it!
It follows down on her luck Morgan Winters as she's sucked into one of her brother's crazy problems. Rainier, or the ruiner as she calls him, has got himself cursed and turned into a cat.
This is not a normal occurrence unless you find yourself in certain "magical towns" where anything can happen. Rainier gets Morgan to take him to one of these towns to try and get help from a real life witch. Unfortunately when they arrive the wicked witch is dead and Morgan can't seem to leave the town behind. She's going to have to figure out what happened with the help of a very perky mayor, a frog obsessed inn keeper and a detective who only comes out at night.
Such a fun world to enter and a plot with lots of red herrings. I loved it!!!
If you love paranormal cozy mysteries you will love this and it's perfect for spooky season!
It follows down on her luck Morgan Winters as she's sucked into one of her brother's crazy problems. Rainier, or the ruiner as she calls him, has got himself cursed and turned into a cat.
This is not a normal occurrence unless you find yourself in certain "magical towns" where anything can happen. Rainier gets Morgan to take him to one of these towns to try and get help from a real life witch. Unfortunately when they arrive the wicked witch is dead and Morgan can't seem to leave the town behind. She's going to have to figure out what happened with the help of a very perky mayor, a frog obsessed inn keeper and a detective who only comes out at night.
Such a fun world to enter and a plot with lots of red herrings. I loved it!!!
If you love paranormal cozy mysteries you will love this and it's perfect for spooky season!
August 9, 2024
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC!
3 stars
This was a really fun, cute book. It gave alllll the Halloweentown vibes, which was a movie series I adored as a kid (who am I kidding, I still do). Little cozy town with all the magical peoples. The mystery was fun to follow as we met more of the town residents and got to see the town's quirks.
I did have some issues, like there'd be some moments characters acted too childish, and the bickering between Morgan and Ruiner could get over the top. I also didn't feel super satisfied with the mystery (the character was one we'd known, but I still went "who?" at the reveal because I kept confusing her with another character), but the town was fun enough that I just went along with it anyway.
Overall, a fun little cozy mystery that I could see people enjoying on a cool evening with pumpkin spice and watching leaves fall!
3 stars
This was a really fun, cute book. It gave alllll the Halloweentown vibes, which was a movie series I adored as a kid (who am I kidding, I still do). Little cozy town with all the magical peoples. The mystery was fun to follow as we met more of the town residents and got to see the town's quirks.
I did have some issues, like there'd be some moments characters acted too childish, and the bickering between Morgan and Ruiner could get over the top. I also didn't feel super satisfied with the mystery (the character was one we'd known, but I still went "who?" at the reveal because I kept confusing her with another character), but the town was fun enough that I just went along with it anyway.
Overall, a fun little cozy mystery that I could see people enjoying on a cool evening with pumpkin spice and watching leaves fall!
August 24, 2024
“One cat just leads to another.” – Ernest Hemingway
What is more unbelievable, that Morgan’s brother has been turned into a cat? Or that she’s like, “A cat huh? Weird.” Instead of screaming and running out the house Morgan walks away from her life and saddles herself with her brother the cat’s problems.
Morgan’s brother Rainer, I mean Ruiner, takes her to Hollowbeck, an English village which is sort of a cross between Brigadoon and the Hotel California. There they plan on finding a cure for his felinity. Instead they get mixed up in solving a murder.
The authors quickly create the image of Hollowbeck in our minds. Wonderful descriptions of the town, its shops and the people who live there. It sounds like an incredible place to live.
Too bad someone is a killer.
What is more unbelievable, that Morgan’s brother has been turned into a cat? Or that she’s like, “A cat huh? Weird.” Instead of screaming and running out the house Morgan walks away from her life and saddles herself with her brother the cat’s problems.
Morgan’s brother Rainer, I mean Ruiner, takes her to Hollowbeck, an English village which is sort of a cross between Brigadoon and the Hotel California. There they plan on finding a cure for his felinity. Instead they get mixed up in solving a murder.
The authors quickly create the image of Hollowbeck in our minds. Wonderful descriptions of the town, its shops and the people who live there. It sounds like an incredible place to live.
Too bad someone is a killer.
August 8, 2025
At first, I wasn't sure this book was a good fit for me.
In fact, I went back and reread the first few chapters because I felt like I'd been dropped into a novel and had missed some chapters with vital information. Such as, is magic a known thing in this book universe? Or is it underground knowledge in the human world. I had questions.
However, the story won me over. I like Morgan (though her lack of wonder at maybe discovering magic is real was disappointing) and her ability to take her misfortune in stride. Her brother Ruiner is annoying, but I know he cares for his sister. Not everything is answered in this first book of the series and that's okay. I went on to read the second book, but that's another review. This is a solid 4 stars.
Overall, this is entertaining, unique, and a great series starter. Thank you to the authors, Sterling & Stone, and NetGalley.
In fact, I went back and reread the first few chapters because I felt like I'd been dropped into a novel and had missed some chapters with vital information. Such as, is magic a known thing in this book universe? Or is it underground knowledge in the human world. I had questions.
However, the story won me over. I like Morgan (though her lack of wonder at maybe discovering magic is real was disappointing) and her ability to take her misfortune in stride. Her brother Ruiner is annoying, but I know he cares for his sister. Not everything is answered in this first book of the series and that's okay. I went on to read the second book, but that's another review. This is a solid 4 stars.
Overall, this is entertaining, unique, and a great series starter. Thank you to the authors, Sterling & Stone, and NetGalley.
July 8, 2024
4.5/5
I started the book thinking it's going to be similar to what I always read (but love), but it was not.
The whole setting of a magical town you can't find on a map was so weird but oddly refreshing. The town which is not like the cozy towns of other books, and is actually devoid of phones and internet seems like a dream, but then bad people exist everywhere.
I somehow also liked the main characters and their banters, but I think that they do need to have a good character growth after going through everything in the book.
This book is a collaboration of 2 authors, but I have not read any other books by them, however rhe next part of this book is definitely on my radar now.
I received a free copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I started the book thinking it's going to be similar to what I always read (but love), but it was not.
The whole setting of a magical town you can't find on a map was so weird but oddly refreshing. The town which is not like the cozy towns of other books, and is actually devoid of phones and internet seems like a dream, but then bad people exist everywhere.
I somehow also liked the main characters and their banters, but I think that they do need to have a good character growth after going through everything in the book.
This book is a collaboration of 2 authors, but I have not read any other books by them, however rhe next part of this book is definitely on my radar now.
I received a free copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 17, 2024
I loved this first book in a new series! A collaboration of a couple of excellent authors whose writing is very seamless and complementary. I won't attempt to synopsize the book since so many other readers have done a great job of doing that. Suffice it to say that it's got thrills and chills and so many twists and turns that it kept me guessing until the very end. I thought I had the mystery figured out several times and I was wrong, wrong, wrong :) I read a lot and I usually figure out "who done it" well before the end so this one was really outstanding! I've already pre-ordered the next book in the series. If you enjoy books with quirky locations, quirky characters and a great mystery you'll enjoy "Witch Slap"!
July 29, 2024
This is an extremely entertaining and funny new paranormal cozy mystery, witty and well plotted.
What happens if you're very down on luck and your brother, a sort of loser, flirt with someone from paranormal world and is turned into a cat ?
This novel happens and I had a lot of fun as the banters between Morgan and Ruiner are great. I liked the world building and the fleshed out and quirky cast of characters.
I like the world building, the sense of a picture perfect town with a dark undertone, and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
As I liked it I preordered the last one in this series.
Have fun, read it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
What happens if you're very down on luck and your brother, a sort of loser, flirt with someone from paranormal world and is turned into a cat ?
This novel happens and I had a lot of fun as the banters between Morgan and Ruiner are great. I liked the world building and the fleshed out and quirky cast of characters.
I like the world building, the sense of a picture perfect town with a dark undertone, and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
As I liked it I preordered the last one in this series.
Have fun, read it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
August 8, 2024
“Witch Slap” is a cozy mystery and a bit fantasy as well. Morgan tries to help her brother, Rainier, who was turned into a cat. They venture to this magical little town called Hollowbrook.
First, I must say that I absolutely love the title! So funny! The banter between Morgan and Rainier was quite amusing. It was even funnier when I was picturing it in my head with a cat talking!
I liked our two main characters very much. I wish the other characters in the book had a bit more substance. I wanted to know more about them and I wanted more personalities.
This was a fun little read. I definitely enjoyed it. If you like mysteries with witchy flair, then this is for you. I can see myself continuing with this series. Very cute.
First, I must say that I absolutely love the title! So funny! The banter between Morgan and Rainier was quite amusing. It was even funnier when I was picturing it in my head with a cat talking!
I liked our two main characters very much. I wish the other characters in the book had a bit more substance. I wanted to know more about them and I wanted more personalities.
This was a fun little read. I definitely enjoyed it. If you like mysteries with witchy flair, then this is for you. I can see myself continuing with this series. Very cute.
October 21, 2024
To be honest, Witch Slap isn't the type of book I'd normally gravitate towards but the title hooked me (I'm a sucker for a good pun) and then I saw the words "Paranormal Cozy Mysteries" on the front (all things I'm also a sucker for) and I decided to give it a go. So much fun, so endearing, and so so worth the read! This book is very well-executed, with an energetic and engrossing writing style, a colourful and likeable cast of characters including a protagonist you genuinely wish good things for, a spooky, magical - but not frightening - tone throughout and a really chewy central mystery that kept me guessing until the end. This is the literary equivalent of a cup of tea and a big slice of cake and I'm already looking forward to a second serving with Book No. 2.
December 12, 2024
Average
I don't like giving bad reviews because everyone has different tastes, so this isn't a "bad" review, just average.
I feel like a stranger is telling me the story instead of feeling like I'm drawn into the story, if that makes sense. Morgan finds magic and instead of eye open wonder, she has the "you do you" attitude which baffles me. Me, I'd have the wonder, the scepticism and be asking a thousand and one questions.
It really doesn't seem to have chemistry among the characters except with her brother. I was also hoping it would have humor, it really doesn't have much.
The story does have mystery and has some excitement so it has potential. It also makes me curious enough to keep reading because I'd like to know what happens next.
I don't like giving bad reviews because everyone has different tastes, so this isn't a "bad" review, just average.
I feel like a stranger is telling me the story instead of feeling like I'm drawn into the story, if that makes sense. Morgan finds magic and instead of eye open wonder, she has the "you do you" attitude which baffles me. Me, I'd have the wonder, the scepticism and be asking a thousand and one questions.
It really doesn't seem to have chemistry among the characters except with her brother. I was also hoping it would have humor, it really doesn't have much.
The story does have mystery and has some excitement so it has potential. It also makes me curious enough to keep reading because I'd like to know what happens next.
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