Curses and Classics: A Small-Town Paranormal Cozy Mystery

Agnes Hale Book Club Cozies #3

by Diana Xarissa

A late-night ride, a closed diner, and a body that shouldn’t be there… even without magic, Agnes Hale knows this won’t stay simple.

I was only giving a friend a lift. I didn’t expect to find a body waiting at the other end.

I don’t mind helping Laura get to our weekly book club meetings. It’s become part of the routine.

When we get back to her building, we find her ex-husband sitting dead in a booth in the closed diner downstairs.

Laura swears she had nothing to do with it, and I believe her. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean the police will see things the same way.

Joel doesn’t seem to have been short of enemies, and the more I hear about his past, the more complicated things become.

Laura wants my help. I’d rather stay out of it, but that was never likely to last.

I may not be using magic, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be a little creative.

Which means it’s time to start asking questions.

Curses and Classics is the third book in the Agnes Hale Book Club Cozies series, perfect for readers who love Lucy Connelly, Leena Clover, and paranormal cozy mysteries set in small towns.

Genres: Mystery

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2026

About the author

Diana started self-publishing in 2013 and over a decade later she now has over a hundred books available for readers. Writing remains her passion and she has no plans to stop writing in the foreseeable future.

Diana grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and earned a history degree from Allegheny College. She met her husband, an Englishman, while living and working in Washington, DC. Following their marriage, she moved to Derbyshire. A short while later, the happy couple moved to the Isle of Man.

During their years on the island, Diana and her husband welcomed two children, and Diana completed a master’s degree in the history of the island. In 2008, the family made the decision to move to the US. Now empty-nesters, Diana and her husband are living in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, and contemplating moving somewhere that doesn’t get snow.

Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and Young Adult fiction as D.X. Dunn.

Reviews

[Janice Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

this new series is excellent

Agnus and Rover are delightful. A witch and a cat" the town’s citizens are interesting.
I am looking forward for the next adventure!

[Mags · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another magic slice of fun from Diana. Agnes and Rover are a great double act!

[Anne G. Forrester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

I am thoroughly enjoying this new series; I cannot wait for the next one. It has just enough magic in it to keep me enthralled.

[Cathy Pilgrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I have read through most of Diana Xarissa multiple series. I love all of her books and await the get the next books in all of them.

[Sherry Kilmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful fun series

Agnes and her cat Rover get into all kinds of trouble solving murders in a cozy small town setting with just a little bit of magic. Lots of fun
Relaxing read.

[Yvonne Strahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, easy to read cozy mystery.