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The Witches of Holiday Hills Cozy Mystery #29
Hit Me With Your Best Hex
A witch cozy mystery with a snarky cat familiar
Holiday Hills is finally settling down—until someone breaks into the town’s hex registry and steals powerful magic meant to keep everything in balance. For newly awakened witch and cozy mystery writer Abby Odell, that theft turns everyday life into absolute magical chaos.
Spells misfire, emotions spiral out of control, and the entire town teeters on the edge of disaster. With the Divine breathing down her neck and the police chief struggling to keep order, Abby has only days to uncover who tampered with the magic before the consequences become permanent.
At her side is Cooper, her sharp-tongued Burmese familiar, whose instincts are as keen as his commentary is unfiltered. As Abby follows a trail of secrets, suspects, and unstable spells, she discovers that messing with magic is far more dangerous than anyone imagined—and the thief may be closer than she thinks.
Hit Me with Your Best Hex a magical small-town witch cozy mysterya scene-stealing talking cat familiaramateur sleuthing with escalating magical stakesquirky townsfolk and layered suspectsclever clues, humor, and fast-paced intrigue
Holiday Hills is finally settling down—until someone breaks into the town’s hex registry and steals powerful magic meant to keep everything in balance. For newly awakened witch and cozy mystery writer Abby Odell, that theft turns everyday life into absolute magical chaos.
Spells misfire, emotions spiral out of control, and the entire town teeters on the edge of disaster. With the Divine breathing down her neck and the police chief struggling to keep order, Abby has only days to uncover who tampered with the magic before the consequences become permanent.
At her side is Cooper, her sharp-tongued Burmese familiar, whose instincts are as keen as his commentary is unfiltered. As Abby follows a trail of secrets, suspects, and unstable spells, she discovers that messing with magic is far more dangerous than anyone imagined—and the thief may be closer than she thinks.
Hit Me with Your Best Hex a magical small-town witch cozy mysterya scene-stealing talking cat familiaramateur sleuthing with escalating magical stakesquirky townsfolk and layered suspectsclever clues, humor, and fast-paced intrigue
203 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 31, 2026
36 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Ridder Aspenson
155 books550 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Carolyn Ridder Aspenson writes cozy mysteries, thrillers, and paranormal women's fiction featuring strong female leads. Her stories shine through her dialogue, which readers have praised for being realistic and compelling.
A multiple number one bestseller on Amazon, her first novel, Unfinished Business, was a five-star Reader's Favorite, a Rone Award finalist, as well as a number one bestseller on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. In 2021, she introduced readers to detective Rachel Ryder in Damaging Secrets, also a number one bestseller on Amazon. Overkill, the third book in the Rachel Ryder series, was one of Thrillerfix’s best thrillers of 2021.Reviews have praised her work as ‘compelling, and intense,’ and ‘read through the night, edge of your seat thrillers. Carolyn’s most recent Rachel Ryder novel, Deadly Means, has been submitted for an Edgar Award by her publisher, Severn River Publishing.
Prior to publishing, she worked as a journalist in the suburbs of Atlanta where her work appeared in multiple newspapers and magazines. She wrote a monthly featured column in Northside Woman magazine.
Writing is only one of Carolyn's passions. She is an avid dog lover and currently spoils an American Staffordshire terrier boxer mix. She lives in the mountains of North Georgia as an empty nester (who misses her kids terribly but loves having a lower grocery bill) with her husband, a cantankerous cat, and her very spoiled pup.
Connect with Carolyn via carolyn@carolynridderaspenson.com
A multiple number one bestseller on Amazon, her first novel, Unfinished Business, was a five-star Reader's Favorite, a Rone Award finalist, as well as a number one bestseller on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. In 2021, she introduced readers to detective Rachel Ryder in Damaging Secrets, also a number one bestseller on Amazon. Overkill, the third book in the Rachel Ryder series, was one of Thrillerfix’s best thrillers of 2021.Reviews have praised her work as ‘compelling, and intense,’ and ‘read through the night, edge of your seat thrillers. Carolyn’s most recent Rachel Ryder novel, Deadly Means, has been submitted for an Edgar Award by her publisher, Severn River Publishing.
Prior to publishing, she worked as a journalist in the suburbs of Atlanta where her work appeared in multiple newspapers and magazines. She wrote a monthly featured column in Northside Woman magazine.
Writing is only one of Carolyn's passions. She is an avid dog lover and currently spoils an American Staffordshire terrier boxer mix. She lives in the mountains of North Georgia as an empty nester (who misses her kids terribly but loves having a lower grocery bill) with her husband, a cantankerous cat, and her very spoiled pup.
Connect with Carolyn via carolyn@carolynridderaspenson.com
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 19, 2026
Carolyn's writing is fast-paced and highly entertaining, keeping the story moving and the pages turning. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.
March 4, 2026
The magic in Holiday Hills has become wonky after the Hex Registry has been broken into and restricted magical spells are stolen. With magic spiraling out of control and the town sliding toward chaos, there’s only a short window of time to find the thief and restore the magical balance. This is another fast paced addition to this entertaining series.
February 28, 2026
📖 Book Review
🧹 Familiar Magic, Fading Spark - Even Witches Need a Final Act ✨📚
Hit Me With Your Best Hex is Book #29 in The Witches of Holiday Hills Cozy Mystery, written by longtime cozy mystery author Carolyn Ridder Aspenson. This installment continues the familiar magical whodunit formula the series has relied on for years-sometimes to its benefit, but here, unfortunately, to its detriment.
📚 Series Reading Order (Main Series)
Witches of Holiday Hills (#1)
Witch Way Did He Die (#2)
The Witch Is Back (#3)
Hex Marks the Spot (#4)
A Witch Way to Kill (#5)
Witch, Please! (#6)
A Witchy Business (#7)
The Witch Who Knew Too Much (#8)
Witch Way Out (#9)
The Witch Next Door (#10)
Witch Perfect (#11)
Witch Way Home (#12)
The Witch's Game (#13)
Witch Way or the Highway (#14)
Witch Way You Look at It (#15)
Witch Way to the Altar (#16)
The Witch Who Came in from the Cold (#17)
Witch Way Do You Want It (#18)
Witch Way Out West (#19)
Witch Way Is Up (#20)
Witch Way to Wonderland (#21)
Witch Way Do You Spell Murder (#22)
Witch Way Did He Go (#23)
Witch Way to the Grave (#24)
Witch Way Did She Die (#25)
Witch Way Is Wrong (#26)
Witch Way Is This (#27)
Witch Way Is Murder (#28)
Hit Me With Your Best Hex (#29)
🔮 Spin-Offs & Related Series
Carolyn Ridder Aspenson has also written cozy mystery spin-offs and standalone cozy series, often featuring similar small-town charm, light paranormal elements, and recurring tropes, though none directly branch off from Holiday Hills in a formal narrative crossover.
🧙♀️ Genre, Audience & Tone
•This book falls squarely into the cozy mystery with light paranormal elements genre. It's clean, low-violence, and free of explicit content, making it accessible to a wide audience.
•Recommended Audience: Cozy mystery lovers, paranormal-lite readers, long-time series fans
•Target Age Range: 30+ (though it clearly attracts teens and young adults)
Readers familiar with Aspenson's earlier work will recognize her trademark humor, cozy pacing, and comforting formula. However, this installment reads less like a fresh mystery and more like a repackaging of previous investigations-to the point where predictability undermines suspense. Notably, my ninth-grade granddaughter correctly identified the perpetrator almost immediately, which speaks volumes for a series marketed primarily toward adult readers.
Despite this, the 2-star "OK Read" rating is given with grace-out of appreciation for the author's past successes and the goodwill she's earned over time. Still, after twenty-nine books, this series is overdue for either a bold reinvention or a well-earned, epic send-off.
🔑 Key Features
👉 Book #29 in a long-running cozy mystery series
👉 Light paranormal / witchy small-town setting
👉 Clean content suitable for teens and adults
👉 Familiar recurring cast and investigation style
👉 Easy, fast-paced comfort reading
✨ Pros
✅ Clean and accessible for a broad age range
✅ Familiar characters longtime fans recognize
✅ Light paranormal elements without heaviness
✅ Easy, low-effort reading
✅ Consistent tone across the series
⚠️ Cons
❌ Highly predictable mystery
❌ Recycled investigation structure
❌ Minimal innovation from previous books
❌ Antagonist easy to identify early on
❌ Series fatigue is impossible to ignore
💡 Final Thoughts
Hit Me With Your Best Hex is an "OK Read" that leans heavily on nostalgia rather than originality. While it remains clean, cozy, and readable, it ultimately feels like a compilation of earlier storylines with only surface-level changes to names and settings. Loyal fans may still find comfort in returning to Holiday Hills, but newer readers-or those craving genuine mystery-may find it lacking. Best suited for die-hard series followers, casual cozy readers, or teens looking for safe, light mysteries, this installment makes a strong case that it's finally time to close the spellbook with a memorable finale.
🧹 Familiar Magic, Fading Spark - Even Witches Need a Final Act ✨📚
Hit Me With Your Best Hex is Book #29 in The Witches of Holiday Hills Cozy Mystery, written by longtime cozy mystery author Carolyn Ridder Aspenson. This installment continues the familiar magical whodunit formula the series has relied on for years-sometimes to its benefit, but here, unfortunately, to its detriment.
📚 Series Reading Order (Main Series)
Witches of Holiday Hills (#1)
Witch Way Did He Die (#2)
The Witch Is Back (#3)
Hex Marks the Spot (#4)
A Witch Way to Kill (#5)
Witch, Please! (#6)
A Witchy Business (#7)
The Witch Who Knew Too Much (#8)
Witch Way Out (#9)
The Witch Next Door (#10)
Witch Perfect (#11)
Witch Way Home (#12)
The Witch's Game (#13)
Witch Way or the Highway (#14)
Witch Way You Look at It (#15)
Witch Way to the Altar (#16)
The Witch Who Came in from the Cold (#17)
Witch Way Do You Want It (#18)
Witch Way Out West (#19)
Witch Way Is Up (#20)
Witch Way to Wonderland (#21)
Witch Way Do You Spell Murder (#22)
Witch Way Did He Go (#23)
Witch Way to the Grave (#24)
Witch Way Did She Die (#25)
Witch Way Is Wrong (#26)
Witch Way Is This (#27)
Witch Way Is Murder (#28)
Hit Me With Your Best Hex (#29)
🔮 Spin-Offs & Related Series
Carolyn Ridder Aspenson has also written cozy mystery spin-offs and standalone cozy series, often featuring similar small-town charm, light paranormal elements, and recurring tropes, though none directly branch off from Holiday Hills in a formal narrative crossover.
🧙♀️ Genre, Audience & Tone
•This book falls squarely into the cozy mystery with light paranormal elements genre. It's clean, low-violence, and free of explicit content, making it accessible to a wide audience.
•Recommended Audience: Cozy mystery lovers, paranormal-lite readers, long-time series fans
•Target Age Range: 30+ (though it clearly attracts teens and young adults)
Readers familiar with Aspenson's earlier work will recognize her trademark humor, cozy pacing, and comforting formula. However, this installment reads less like a fresh mystery and more like a repackaging of previous investigations-to the point where predictability undermines suspense. Notably, my ninth-grade granddaughter correctly identified the perpetrator almost immediately, which speaks volumes for a series marketed primarily toward adult readers.
Despite this, the 2-star "OK Read" rating is given with grace-out of appreciation for the author's past successes and the goodwill she's earned over time. Still, after twenty-nine books, this series is overdue for either a bold reinvention or a well-earned, epic send-off.
🔑 Key Features
👉 Book #29 in a long-running cozy mystery series
👉 Light paranormal / witchy small-town setting
👉 Clean content suitable for teens and adults
👉 Familiar recurring cast and investigation style
👉 Easy, fast-paced comfort reading
✨ Pros
✅ Clean and accessible for a broad age range
✅ Familiar characters longtime fans recognize
✅ Light paranormal elements without heaviness
✅ Easy, low-effort reading
✅ Consistent tone across the series
⚠️ Cons
❌ Highly predictable mystery
❌ Recycled investigation structure
❌ Minimal innovation from previous books
❌ Antagonist easy to identify early on
❌ Series fatigue is impossible to ignore
💡 Final Thoughts
Hit Me With Your Best Hex is an "OK Read" that leans heavily on nostalgia rather than originality. While it remains clean, cozy, and readable, it ultimately feels like a compilation of earlier storylines with only surface-level changes to names and settings. Loyal fans may still find comfort in returning to Holiday Hills, but newer readers-or those craving genuine mystery-may find it lacking. Best suited for die-hard series followers, casual cozy readers, or teens looking for safe, light mysteries, this installment makes a strong case that it's finally time to close the spellbook with a memorable finale.
February 1, 2026
Ms. Aspenson delivers another delightfully witchy tale! When the town’s hex registry is stolen, chaos ensues in Holiday Hills. If Abby and friends can’t find the culprit it may be the end of this magical town. Many suspects, plentiful red herrings, and great characters kept me reading until the unexpected ending. Highly recommended! I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Holiday Hills has had more than their share of trouble, but now the hex registry has been broken into. The everyday spells that kept the older witches young were not working. None of the everyday spells seem to work. Cooper may starve without his extra snacks. The Divine has challenged Abby to solve this mystery before the town breaks down. Without her magic, Abby may lose this battle.
February 10, 2026
Hit,Me With Your Best Hex:The Witches of Holiday Hills cozy mystery book29
Great characters, and a strange mystery where magic starts acting un-predictable. The Divine set up a tricky test for Abby and Cooper.
Great characters, and a strange mystery where magic starts acting un-predictable. The Divine set up a tricky test for Abby and Cooper.
February 22, 2026
Good story
The Devine needs a wake up call. Ignoring ppl bc they are not as good as others is wrong. This should not happen. Maybe Abby can fix it.
The Devine needs a wake up call. Ignoring ppl bc they are not as good as others is wrong. This should not happen. Maybe Abby can fix it.
May 6, 2026
Hit me with your best shot
Great story and the least person I expected to commit the crime. Enjoyed this book. Loved the unicorns and the sugar crush.
Great story and the least person I expected to commit the crime. Enjoyed this book. Loved the unicorns and the sugar crush.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews