Butter Witch

Torrent Witches #1

by Tess Lake

The International Butter Festival has come to town! When Harlow Torrent, part-time journalist and full-time Slip witch stumbles upon a dead body, frozen and drained of blood, she's pulled into a murder mystery.

Someone has murdered one of the Butter Festival competitors. Was it Zero Bend, punk sculptor extraordinaire with a history of violence? Perhaps Fusion Swan, a sleazy agent playing the publicity game when his clients meet their untimely end.

Between trying to run her struggling online newspaper, dealing with her highly caffeinated cousins Molly and Luce, fending off three meddling witch mothers who will do anything to get their daughters married off (including drugging food with magic potions) and great Aunt Cass who appears to be running an underground laboratory of some kind, Harlow barely has time to breathe, let alone solve a murder.

Romance certainly isn't on the cards either but the hot scruffy guy new to town seems to have other ideas...

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Witches, Magic

222 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 29, 2015

About the author

I'm all about Cozy Witches! Mystery, murder, magic! Author of the bestselling Torrent Witches Cozy Magic series.

Reviews

[Bookish · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked this book as a story, but it was considerably tainted for me by being a complete imitation (ripoff?) of Amanda Lee's Any Witch Way You Can (The Wicked Witches of the MidWest Series).

Both have the same family structure -- the heroine has 2 other female cousins, their fathers are out of the picture and their mothers are 3 sisters; their grandaunt is also a crabby, weird, protective, unpredictable, wacko and comic figure; the local sheriff is a father figure for the heroine, and has a thing going secretly for one of the mothers; they all live together in an old mansion in a small town, or on the grounds of one; the mothers turn the mansion into a bed and breakfast; their small town tries to capitalize/exploit its weird and wacky somewhat supernatural colorful history; the heroine publishes a local online paper; the heroine's two cousins both have a shop together; dead bodies are discovered; handsome, mysterious, slightly law enforcement-oriented boyfriend; hell, I could go on and on.

As Lee's AWWYC was written in 2012 and this was published in Dec 2015, I'm assuming Lee is innocent of any wrongdoing.

The writing does have typos, grammatical errors, and other annoyances, but not too many. It might have even the potential to be better written than Lee's WWotMW series. But I couldn't actually distinguish the books and kept thinking I was reading the other series. Beyond disappointing.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great first book I can't wait to see where the series is going to go.

I'm really glad I picked up this series fun great characters.

Happy Reading 📕📙📗📓📒📘📓📚📙📚📗📒📓📘📔📓📚📙📕📗📓📚📒📘📗📖

[Karen Beg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good... But way to similiar to Amanda Lee's characters. It would have been so better if she would have changed up the number of aunts or cousins... And their occupations. That might have made it easier to read without constantly comparing.

[Forgetmenot · Rating 1 out of 5]

This isn't plagiarism, but it's still theft. The author took the bones of Amanda M. Lee's Witches of the Midwest series--three cousins, their single mothers, and a rude elderly aunt, all of whom live together. Their boyfriends have similar jobs, the relationships have similar trajectories. Even the immaturity of the characters is mirrored.

There's some promise here but I won't be able to justify buying another of the author's books. Stealing is wrong, whether it's the actual words or the ideas behind them.

[Thibault Busschots · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s a pretty decent cozy mystery story. It’s just a bit too uneventful and slow-paced for my taste.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a nice little mystery. I enjoyed the characters. The MC and her family are quite unique. There is one scene in the book in which the MC doesn't remember part of her day and as people are filling her in on her actions, I found myself laughing. She had quite the day! Overall, a pleasant book.

[Mummy's Naughty Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. I liked the old big family with cousins and aunts. I imagine this family will get into lots of trouble. The story was okay. It didn't completely pull me. There are lots of shady characters in the book. I love the cat. Familiars really make magic stories. It'll be nice to have a clearer view on what a slip witch is and why she keeps sleepwalking.

[Taylor Gamble · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very basic, not enough memorable details, and for a book with “witch” in the title, you would think there would be some decent magic… very slow story and definitely did not keep me on the edge of my seat like a good mystery. Will read the second one just to see if it gets better, but ehhhh. Reminded me a lot of The Good Witch.

[Marie Allcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, entertaining and easy to read. My only issue is with the many similarities with the Wicked Witches of the Midwest series by Amanda M Lee

[Emmalynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad debut.

[Chrissy Loves Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Jessica🎃👻📚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, quirky witch mystery. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Carie Ogden · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun

I really liked this book and the characters. It was cute funny and just over all a really fun read!

[Alicia Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this way more than I thought i would. Great writing. Love the family interaction.

[Viktoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a cozy mystery with a splash of magic, so I expected some easy entertainment without much substance. Instead, I found myself loving Harlow and her dual employment as a news blogger/investigator for wayward ghosts. Oh, and a side of slip witch, whose powers are unpredictable at best.

The Torrent family is made up of women only, all witches, living in a decrepit mansion on a hill. Quirky doesn’t begin to describe this family with two neurotic cousins running a barely sustainable gift shop, three mothers trying to get their daughters matched up and producing grandchildren, and a crusty great-aunt constantly coming up with new schemes to market questionable products on the internet. Oh, and don’t forget grandma, frozen in time and stashed in the basement, and the immortal talking cat.

Things get interesting when the town hosts its annual butter carving competition (who carves butter?). The contestants are flamboyant and, in some cases, dangerous. When Harlow finds one of them tied to a chair and very dead in the butter warehouse, events spin out of control. Harlow and the local sheriff are working against the clock to find the murderer before anyone one else is hurt.

I loved the characters, even the “villains.” A fast paced read, I raced through it in one sitting, then went looking for more. Lucky for me, this is a first in a series that I plan to binge read soon.

[Dew · Rating 2 out of 5]

A witch in her late 20’s who sees ghosts and works at a local newspaper lives in a small theme town with her two cousins who run a local tourist shop. They were abandoned by their fathers and their 3 mothers who are amazing cooks/bakers basically raised them as siblings. They all live in an enormous inherited family home with a crotchety older Aunt who runs an illegal trade, basically lives in her beloved recliner, and gets her jollies by cursing her nieces. The protagonist meets a charming and attractive man who she initially thinks is a drug dealer, but turns out to be an upstanding guy.

It may sound like I am recapping this book, but it’s really a description of Amanda M. Lee’s series Wicked Witch of the Midwest - who coincidentally has two book series that are set in seaside towns, too.

Even if this series weren’t uncomfortably close to plagiarism, the author’s name choices are absolutely bizarre - Harmonious Twang. Fusion Swan. Zero Bend.

Otherwise, the mystery is a bit of a bore and the magic is a quite silly and entirely superfluous to the plot.

[Courtney (BooksStringsandThings) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m so upset I gave this author money for what is boarderline plagiarism. The Midwest Witches series by Amanda M. Lee is the original, 2012 publication of this storyline and these characters and it is so much more well written. The similarities are in no way coincidental. Sure all cozy witch mysteries might be similar but when 8 characters are almost identical to the Midwest Witches books, it’s theft. Don’t buy these books. Pay the original author.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay, but didn't care for it all that much. I was bored for most of it, but I like the idea of the setting/characters - just didn't work all that well. Don't think I'll continue with the series.

2.5 stars

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

My new fascination with paranormal cozies has continued with this series... not loving it as much as Nancy Warren, but it has a different flavor. Cute and sassy. An enjoyable fun little read. On to book 2.

[Sophaun · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5 stars.
Very basic, pretty decent.

[Salimah · Rating 2 out of 5]

These characters aren't fully drawn but it was pleasant enough to listen to while I puttered about the house.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harlow Torrent’s life is already chaotic enough: she’s a part-time journalist, a full-time Slip witch whose magic has a mind of its own, and one of three cousins living in a house full of eccentric family members. When a Butter Festival competitor turns up dead, frozen and drained of blood, Harlow is pulled into a murder mystery that’s stranger than fiction. Between juggling her unpredictable powers, nosy witch relatives, and a mysterious new stranger in town, Harlow finds herself knee-deep in chaos, crime, and community gossip in this cozy paranormal tale.

This book had a lot of charm. The small-town setting was fun, the side characters were endearing, and I especially liked the family dynamic between Harlow and her cousins. The unpredictable nature of her magic added a welcome sense of risk and humor to the story, and the mystery itself took a few turns I hadn’t expected. It’s clear the author knows how to build atmosphere, and there’s a warmth and whimsy to the writing that makes it an easy book to relax with after a long day.

That said, while the ideas were strong, the execution sometimes fell short. There were too many plot threads competing for attention, and with such a short page count, none of them were explored as deeply as I would have liked. Still, I assume that this series expands on those threads later, and I wouldn’t rule out picking up the sequels if the mood strikes me. Overall, it’s a light, quick read with kooky family antics and small-town charm. Vibes-only readers will probably enjoy it more than I did.

3/5 The indestructible cat, though? Immaculate.

[Miss Rachey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t not enjoy this book and I’m now def gonna do the rest of the series, cause why not?

The mystery is super niche - a butter carving contest in the town with a contestant being killed by being drained of blood in a mysterious way…

I feel that Tess is going for Charmed meets Sabrina the teenage witch meets Witches of Eastwick meets Gilmore Girls and it should work, but there are too many family members! I’m sure it’ll all come together as to why as the series progresses, but from book 1, it felt too heavy without a real benefit/value.

Super intrigued by the aunt having a secret lab in the basement and the gran being hidden there.

Looking forward to seeing how Harlow’s “slip” progresses and what powers she ends up having as a result and how it comes to her aid in each of the books as I suspect that’s going to be the recurring theme - there’s a mystery, she solves it by confronting the magical “baddie” and has to use some unknown power to save herself/the town/everyone else.

Love Addams, the cat, esp that he stayed with her the entire time she was frozen and also his deep love for food.

There’s def going to be more to Jack ‘the hot tourist’ as the series progresses…esp with him rocking up at the end.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Butter Witch is a book about a family of witches.
Harlow Torrent is a Slip Witch and the only online
journalist in town. A Slipwitch means that her
powers as a witch always change.
The International Butter Festival which structures
are created in butter instead of ice. All the top
sculptors are in town for the contest.
Harlow goes to the warehouse where the butter is
stored. She finds one is the sculptors dead, frozen
and drained of blood by magic.
What is happening? Will anyone else be killed? How
will Harlow and her family save the town?
An enjoyable read with an unusual plot with plenty
of colorful, zany characters and a feisty amateur
sleuth in Harlow plus Adams, Harlow’s cat who will
entertain throughout the story.
Recipe included.

[Erin]

DID NOT FINISH
Nope, can't do it.

I don't know if it's the narrator, or if it's just the writing. But I cannot stand the 'banter' between the cousins and the moms/sisters.

The main character is so far just beyond ditzy.

I just can't really stand chicklit paranormal. Sigh. I wish I did, but I just can't stand it so far.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I’m listening on audible and I must say that Natalie Duke’s narration is amazing! The delivery of some of the more snarky lines is just *chefs kiss*. Shout out to Tess for writing characters with snarky, sarcastic, hilarious dialogue. Looking forward to the other 9 books in this series.
Oh, also biased since it’s set in a, yet fictional, town on the NC coast.

[Emily Wrayburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't overly keen on this to be honest but it picked up reasonably in the last quarter, hence three stars. It was a little bit repetitive and the characters were all very similar, but it was fun enough.

[Krystin | TheF*ckingTwist · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book Blog | Bookstagram

Uninspired. Witches should be cool not fucking annoying.




⭐½ | 1.5 stars rounded up

[Chantelle Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (Audible Plus Catalog). First of 10 in this cozy series. Light story + good characters. The start was a bit abrupt, as if there was a prequel explaining the history, but it wasn't difficult to get into, regardless.