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Paranormal Investigation Bureau #1
Witchnapped in Westerham
From USA Today bestselling author Dionne Lister comes an exciting new paranormal cosy mystery series.
All it takes is one morning for Sydney Photographer Lily Bianchi's life to go off the rails and over a cliff.
A well-dressed English woman turns up at her door, swearing she's a witch. If that’s not crazy enough, she explains Lily’s brother, James, has been kidnapped and the Paranormal Investigation Bureau needs Lily’s help finding him.
And the craziest part? The Englishwoman tells Lily she's a witch too. Before she can say, “Where’s my coffee?” she’s on a plane bound for Westerham, England. Unfortunately, England’s not as welcoming as she hoped--she's barely arrived before she gets set up, arrested and almost shot.
Things can only get better from here, right? Yeah, right…
All it takes is one morning for Sydney Photographer Lily Bianchi's life to go off the rails and over a cliff.
A well-dressed English woman turns up at her door, swearing she's a witch. If that’s not crazy enough, she explains Lily’s brother, James, has been kidnapped and the Paranormal Investigation Bureau needs Lily’s help finding him.
And the craziest part? The Englishwoman tells Lily she's a witch too. Before she can say, “Where’s my coffee?” she’s on a plane bound for Westerham, England. Unfortunately, England’s not as welcoming as she hoped--she's barely arrived before she gets set up, arrested and almost shot.
Things can only get better from here, right? Yeah, right…
220 pages, ebook
First published July 16, 2018
2818 people are currently reading
2737 people want to read
About the author
Dionne Lister
58 books404 followersI love reading and writing. I'm a mother to two teens and two Siamese cats. I've got an associate degree of creative writing and am a full-time author. I write paranormal cosy mysteries with heroines who are quirky, kind, and love to right wrongs and get justice. I also love to make people laugh and give them an awesome escape, which is why I tell stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 579 reviews
July 23, 2023
Divertido, lindo y emocionante
Lily es una fotógrafa que vive y trabaja en Australia. Pero el día de su cumpleaños 24 su vida cambia para siempre. Una señora aparece en su puerta diciéndole que su hermano está desaparecido y que ella puede ayudar a encontrarlo con sus poderes de Bruja. Si, bruja, resulta que Lily es descendiente de una poderosa línea de brujos que despiertan sus poderes justo al cumplir los 24 años.
Así que ahora Lily está en Inglaterra aprendido a usar sus poderes para encontrar a su hermano. Pero podrá hallarlo a tiempo? Cuál será el poder de Lily?
Es un libro divertido, predecible y fácil de leer. Me gustó bastante la prota, pero también me gustó el universo y muchos de los personajes que aparecen aquí.
Promete ser una serie para leer cuando quieres algo ligero, entretenido y fácil de leer. Y si, me gustaría leer otros libros de esta serie, pero más adelante.
Lily es una fotógrafa que vive y trabaja en Australia. Pero el día de su cumpleaños 24 su vida cambia para siempre. Una señora aparece en su puerta diciéndole que su hermano está desaparecido y que ella puede ayudar a encontrarlo con sus poderes de Bruja. Si, bruja, resulta que Lily es descendiente de una poderosa línea de brujos que despiertan sus poderes justo al cumplir los 24 años.
Así que ahora Lily está en Inglaterra aprendido a usar sus poderes para encontrar a su hermano. Pero podrá hallarlo a tiempo? Cuál será el poder de Lily?
Es un libro divertido, predecible y fácil de leer. Me gustó bastante la prota, pero también me gustó el universo y muchos de los personajes que aparecen aquí.
Promete ser una serie para leer cuando quieres algo ligero, entretenido y fácil de leer. Y si, me gustaría leer otros libros de esta serie, pero más adelante.
October 2, 2019
Its that witchy season! A fun October read.
November 17, 2019
I really enjoyed this cosy mystery. Lily lives in Sydney and on her birthday a snooty English woman turns up at her doorstep and announces that (a) Lily’s brother in England has been kidnapped, and (b) Lily is a witch! as are her brother and sister-in-law and as were her parents.
Lily goes to England, discovers her special magic power, avoids being witchnapped herself, avoids being killed, and helps the Paranormal Investigations Bureau look into the mystery of her snatched brother.
I will certainly be looking at the rest of the series to see what Lily gets up to next.
Thanks to Netgalley and the author for this copy to review.
Lily goes to England, discovers her special magic power, avoids being witchnapped herself, avoids being killed, and helps the Paranormal Investigations Bureau look into the mystery of her snatched brother.
I will certainly be looking at the rest of the series to see what Lily gets up to next.
Thanks to Netgalley and the author for this copy to review.
December 1, 2019
Fun premise, poorly, poorly executed. SO badly written I had trouble finishing it and only did because I got it from Netgalley and wanted to give it an honest review.
November 1, 2021
A fun, high-energy mystery with cozy, witchy vibes. It was a perfectly lighthearted Halloween read!
October 14, 2018
3.5 Stars. A fun, light read.
When her brother is kidnapped, Australian photographer Lily learns that she’s a witch and she’s brought to England to help find James.
The mystery wasn’t particularly challenging to solve, it seemed fairly obvious who kidnapped James the moment that person entered the picture, and it made some of the characters seem less savvy than they should for failing to see it, so there wasn’t a ton of intrigue here aside from waiting for James to be found.
I did like that Lily figures things out quicker than the rest, and she’s very proactive in the search, even though there are a couple big strong guys in the mix, it felt like she very much took the lead.
Of the two strong guys, one is Lily’s brother’s best friend, William, and though romance doesn’t blossom in this first book in the series, they do share an enjoyable, antagonistic spark that seems headed in a romantic direction.
I thought it was clever to tie Lily’s witch power in to her profession and there’s a small gesture William makes using magic that was quite sweet considering it involved Lily’s favorite thing. Still, I would have liked a bit more magic and spells woven into the story, to have seen more of Lily experimenting with her craft, though at the same time, it does makes sense to me that with the urgency of tracking down her brother there wasn’t time for her mentor to do much teaching, plus I suppose it would have made for a longer book, and I did appreciate the spry pace of this one.
While the book does a good job of conveying Lily’s concern for her brother, it never gets all that emotionally heavy over it, which I might find fault with in some other more serious-minded stories, but here, with humor sprinkled throughout, it wouldn’t have struck the right note to lean too far into the drama, her level of worry and grief were just enough to suit the lively tone of the book.
When her brother is kidnapped, Australian photographer Lily learns that she’s a witch and she’s brought to England to help find James.
The mystery wasn’t particularly challenging to solve, it seemed fairly obvious who kidnapped James the moment that person entered the picture, and it made some of the characters seem less savvy than they should for failing to see it, so there wasn’t a ton of intrigue here aside from waiting for James to be found.
I did like that Lily figures things out quicker than the rest, and she’s very proactive in the search, even though there are a couple big strong guys in the mix, it felt like she very much took the lead.
Of the two strong guys, one is Lily’s brother’s best friend, William, and though romance doesn’t blossom in this first book in the series, they do share an enjoyable, antagonistic spark that seems headed in a romantic direction.
I thought it was clever to tie Lily’s witch power in to her profession and there’s a small gesture William makes using magic that was quite sweet considering it involved Lily’s favorite thing. Still, I would have liked a bit more magic and spells woven into the story, to have seen more of Lily experimenting with her craft, though at the same time, it does makes sense to me that with the urgency of tracking down her brother there wasn’t time for her mentor to do much teaching, plus I suppose it would have made for a longer book, and I did appreciate the spry pace of this one.
While the book does a good job of conveying Lily’s concern for her brother, it never gets all that emotionally heavy over it, which I might find fault with in some other more serious-minded stories, but here, with humor sprinkled throughout, it wouldn’t have struck the right note to lean too far into the drama, her level of worry and grief were just enough to suit the lively tone of the book.
August 3, 2018
This was a good book!
Somewhat different, but good just the same.
Lily lives in a different country from her brother who lives in the UK so there is a time difference. She is waiting for her brother James to call her for her birthday like he does every year. But this year is different! James has been kidnapped and no one knows where he is.
Because he is a witch and works for the Paranormal Investigation Bureau, (PIB) the agency sends a witch to go and get Lily.
The news is all new to Lily, because she does not know she is a witch.
The story takes her back to the scene of the crime and with her special camera she can get special pictures on it!
The witches take her to many areas and she gets into a lot of trouble especially when she visits the crime scene.
The story is funny, sad and very well written. I would recommend it to my family and friends.
Well worth the time to read it. Well done!
Somewhat different, but good just the same.
Lily lives in a different country from her brother who lives in the UK so there is a time difference. She is waiting for her brother James to call her for her birthday like he does every year. But this year is different! James has been kidnapped and no one knows where he is.
Because he is a witch and works for the Paranormal Investigation Bureau, (PIB) the agency sends a witch to go and get Lily.
The news is all new to Lily, because she does not know she is a witch.
The story takes her back to the scene of the crime and with her special camera she can get special pictures on it!
The witches take her to many areas and she gets into a lot of trouble especially when she visits the crime scene.
The story is funny, sad and very well written. I would recommend it to my family and friends.
Well worth the time to read it. Well done!
July 28, 2018
Dionne Lister has never written a bad book in her life as far as I can tell. This book is no exception. I’ve followed her across genres, and I think this is her best story yet. As always, the editing is on point. Hilarious and attention grabbing, Witchnapped in Westerham is a must read.
October 1, 2018
Happy Birthday
She turned 24 and discovered she was a Witch! A fun fast moving cozy mystery with a few quirky characters. A great plot and good development.
She turned 24 and discovered she was a Witch! A fun fast moving cozy mystery with a few quirky characters. A great plot and good development.
October 27, 2019
Very light and fun read! Exactly what I needed.
October 31, 2018
Witchnapped in Westerham is a fun paranormal cozy mystery. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I picked this one up, but I ended up really enjoying it. I liked how it was quite bit different from most cozy mysteries with there not being an actual murder and it even takes a bit before you get to meet some suspects, but it all worked great here. Next to the mystery plot line there's also the plot line of the main character finding out that she's a witch and going to the UK for the first time to help solve the disappearance of her brother.
The pacing of this book was well done, it was fast paced, but not rushed. It doesn't take long for Lily to find out that she's a witch and that her brother is kidnapped, but there's enough before that happens to give a bit of a feel of her life before this big change. I also liked how she doesn't just trust the stranger on her doorstep that tells her she's a witch and her brother is missing. She handled this quite smartly and made sure she had proof of both those things first.
The mystery was interesting, although the culprit becomes obvious quite early after you meet the some possible suspects. The question is more how Lily is going to proof that the culprit has done it and how. I also liked how instead of a murder that the main character stumbles upon, it's the disappearance of her brother. Because her brother is the victim, she immediately gets involved and has a strong motivation to solve this mystery.
For a long time I did keep wondering who was on her side and who not and who she could trust. The further I got in the book the more these things became clear, but it was kinda fun to be kept guessing about some things for a bit. And only some reveals at the end make some things make more sense.
I also liked the paranormal aspect of this story. Lily just finds out that she's a witch and has to learn more about her powers while also solving this mystery. I liked how we learn more about being a witch and the magical community piece by piece. And while Lily finds out some things about her own powers, she's still very much a beginner too and doesn't know what she's doing half of the time, which I thought was well done and realistic. As she doesn't learn everything too fast.
I liked Lily as a main character. I liked how she cared about her brother and dropped everything to go and help him. I thought it was realistic how she reacted to being a witch, a bit hesitant and afraid of her powers at times, but also excited. It also was fun to see her do a bit of exploring and seeing the UK for the first time and i hope to see more of that in later books. I did think she was a bit too obsessed with her coffee at times, but I guess that's just one of her character quirks. I also liked how her photography kept playing a part in the story and tied in with her powers.
There are also some fun characters, like Milicent, Angelica and some of the PIB people Lily meets. And ofcourse Lily's brother, even tough he isn't much in the actual story, you still get to know him a bit by how Lily thinks and talks about him and how other side character talks about him. he seems like a likeable character and I hope we get to know him better in later books. There is also a tiny hint of someone who could be a potential love interest, but it's really minor as the focus is on the mystery they're trying to solve. So we see if and how that develops in later books.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this introduction to this paranormal cozy mystery series. I liked the combination of paranormal and mystery elements. The culprit was clear shortly after you meet them, but I didn't mind as much as most of the challenge is in proving what they did and figuring out the how. It's also a bit unclear for a bit who is on Lily's side and who not, but it all becomes clear later in the book. Lily was a great main character and I felt like she reacted realistically and smart when she find out she is a witch and her brother is kidnapped. I liked her character and her love for photography and how that played a part in the story. The paranormal aspect was interesting too and I liked how Lily is still very much a newbie when it comes to magic, but also figuring some things out now. There is still a lot we don't know about the magical community and magic, but this book was a great introduction overall and I look forward to continuing this series!
The pacing of this book was well done, it was fast paced, but not rushed. It doesn't take long for Lily to find out that she's a witch and that her brother is kidnapped, but there's enough before that happens to give a bit of a feel of her life before this big change. I also liked how she doesn't just trust the stranger on her doorstep that tells her she's a witch and her brother is missing. She handled this quite smartly and made sure she had proof of both those things first.
The mystery was interesting, although the culprit becomes obvious quite early after you meet the some possible suspects. The question is more how Lily is going to proof that the culprit has done it and how. I also liked how instead of a murder that the main character stumbles upon, it's the disappearance of her brother. Because her brother is the victim, she immediately gets involved and has a strong motivation to solve this mystery.
For a long time I did keep wondering who was on her side and who not and who she could trust. The further I got in the book the more these things became clear, but it was kinda fun to be kept guessing about some things for a bit. And only some reveals at the end make some things make more sense.
I also liked the paranormal aspect of this story. Lily just finds out that she's a witch and has to learn more about her powers while also solving this mystery. I liked how we learn more about being a witch and the magical community piece by piece. And while Lily finds out some things about her own powers, she's still very much a beginner too and doesn't know what she's doing half of the time, which I thought was well done and realistic. As she doesn't learn everything too fast.
I liked Lily as a main character. I liked how she cared about her brother and dropped everything to go and help him. I thought it was realistic how she reacted to being a witch, a bit hesitant and afraid of her powers at times, but also excited. It also was fun to see her do a bit of exploring and seeing the UK for the first time and i hope to see more of that in later books. I did think she was a bit too obsessed with her coffee at times, but I guess that's just one of her character quirks. I also liked how her photography kept playing a part in the story and tied in with her powers.
There are also some fun characters, like Milicent, Angelica and some of the PIB people Lily meets. And ofcourse Lily's brother, even tough he isn't much in the actual story, you still get to know him a bit by how Lily thinks and talks about him and how other side character talks about him. he seems like a likeable character and I hope we get to know him better in later books. There is also a tiny hint of someone who could be a potential love interest, but it's really minor as the focus is on the mystery they're trying to solve. So we see if and how that develops in later books.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this introduction to this paranormal cozy mystery series. I liked the combination of paranormal and mystery elements. The culprit was clear shortly after you meet them, but I didn't mind as much as most of the challenge is in proving what they did and figuring out the how. It's also a bit unclear for a bit who is on Lily's side and who not, but it all becomes clear later in the book. Lily was a great main character and I felt like she reacted realistically and smart when she find out she is a witch and her brother is kidnapped. I liked her character and her love for photography and how that played a part in the story. The paranormal aspect was interesting too and I liked how Lily is still very much a newbie when it comes to magic, but also figuring some things out now. There is still a lot we don't know about the magical community and magic, but this book was a great introduction overall and I look forward to continuing this series!
September 24, 2018
A fun paranormal cozy mystery read. Lily waiting for her brother to call to wish her a happy birthday like he always does, falls asleep. She wakes to a strange woman, Angelica, at her door, who tells her that her brother, James is missing and that they are witches just like her mother was. Her brother looked after her after parents went missing. She flies to London to help her sister-in-law, Millicent also a witch, find her brother. Lily, reluctantly; under the tutelage of Millicent learns about what it is to be a witch and what are her special powers. All three women with the help of James' friends from the PIB Paranormal Investigation Bureau) work on helping to find James, while other powers try to stop them.
April 14, 2021
I thought this book was fun. Lily finds out she is a witch when her brother, James, disappears. I enjoyed the characters, the relationships and found the magical powers unique and fun. The mystery is pretty good and while there are little things left hanging (possibly for future books) the main story is wrapped up perfectly. I will be reading more from this series.
October 17, 2022
Review originally posted on A Keyboard and an Open Mind October 16, 2022:
Honestly, if I hadn't been reading this for a readathon I'm already behind on, I don't know that I would have finished it.
I will say one thing - I liked the concept of Lily being able to see the past or the future through her photography. That was cool and I liked that it was tied in with her passion.
The characters were annoying and for so long it felt like little was happening. Some character motivations seemed non-existent - such as Angelica making really snooty, snide comments one moment and then swearing that Lily can trust her the next?
Also I had to go back to the book and look up Angelica's name because I had entirely forgotten, despite the fact that I finished reading half an hour ago. Oops.
Lily is also pretty self-absorbed. I get that her brother's missing and she's worried - but literally risking getting shot because she wants a cup of coffee and instant isn't good enough? I appreciated she got dressed down for that and then I was kind of annoyed when one of the other characters went and got her a coffee anyway.
The villain was so over the top and so cartoonish - not to mention obvious. It wasn't even that it was obvious to the reader and not to the characters - Lily had accurately figured it out by the halfway mark - she just needed proof, and apart from a couple of setbacks, gets it pretty easily.
Oof. I didn't intend to get so ranty in this review. I will say that I didn't realise how established this series was and I only downloaded the book because it was free. I didn't enjoy it enough to continue with the rest of the books
Honestly, if I hadn't been reading this for a readathon I'm already behind on, I don't know that I would have finished it.
I will say one thing - I liked the concept of Lily being able to see the past or the future through her photography. That was cool and I liked that it was tied in with her passion.
The characters were annoying and for so long it felt like little was happening. Some character motivations seemed non-existent - such as Angelica making really snooty, snide comments one moment and then swearing that Lily can trust her the next?
Also I had to go back to the book and look up Angelica's name because I had entirely forgotten, despite the fact that I finished reading half an hour ago. Oops.
Lily is also pretty self-absorbed. I get that her brother's missing and she's worried - but literally risking getting shot because she wants a cup of coffee and instant isn't good enough? I appreciated she got dressed down for that and then I was kind of annoyed when one of the other characters went and got her a coffee anyway.
The villain was so over the top and so cartoonish - not to mention obvious. It wasn't even that it was obvious to the reader and not to the characters - Lily had accurately figured it out by the halfway mark - she just needed proof, and apart from a couple of setbacks, gets it pretty easily.
Oof. I didn't intend to get so ranty in this review. I will say that I didn't realise how established this series was and I only downloaded the book because it was free. I didn't enjoy it enough to continue with the rest of the books
September 25, 2022
A fun read.
In the plot, the main character Lily, a photographer from Sidney travels to Westerham to work with the Paranormal Investigation Bureau to help find her brother, James, who has been kidnapped.
First, the woman who shows up at her door in Sidney, states she is a witch and will transport her to Westerham to help look for and rescue her brother James. All of this is strange enough but Lily had no idea her brother was a warlock working for the PIB. Second, she didn't know she had witch powers. Though she noticed that certain people she photographed, looked different when she reviewed the photo, and then they die!
An interesting storyline with several twists and turns throughout the story.
In the plot, the main character Lily, a photographer from Sidney travels to Westerham to work with the Paranormal Investigation Bureau to help find her brother, James, who has been kidnapped.
First, the woman who shows up at her door in Sidney, states she is a witch and will transport her to Westerham to help look for and rescue her brother James. All of this is strange enough but Lily had no idea her brother was a warlock working for the PIB. Second, she didn't know she had witch powers. Though she noticed that certain people she photographed, looked different when she reviewed the photo, and then they die!
An interesting storyline with several twists and turns throughout the story.
May 30, 2020
Fun witchy read!
Great read, fun and a page turner. Mystery, kidnapping, humor, witches and magic, who could ask for more in a book?
Great read, fun and a page turner. Mystery, kidnapping, humor, witches and magic, who could ask for more in a book?
April 15, 2020
Well this wasn't one of my favorite books. After reading a few books between writing the review and reading the book I'm finding it hard to remember what happened so that sums up how I feel about it. After reading the reviews for this I feel like I seriously missed something. I couldn't connect to the story or the characters.
October 3, 2018
“Witchnapped in Westerham” earns 4/5 Curious Photos…Clever Fun!
It’s always enjoyable starting one’s journey in a series with the first book, and “Witchnapped in Westerham” doesn't disappoint. Donna Lister penned a delightful mystery with the right amount of the paranormal…Ok, I know what's real and what's not, but in this world it all seemed enjoyably plausible. Her descriptive style of the environment, character appearances, and first-person inner thoughts was engaging along with an entertaining banter to illustrate personality, tone (great snarkiness), and emotion. Some of the conclusions were revealed earlier than I prefer. As the reader, I like to challenge my inner Sherlock, but the rationale and explanation finished out the story. A kidnapping? A witchy revelation? A special camera? Totally fun!
It’s always enjoyable starting one’s journey in a series with the first book, and “Witchnapped in Westerham” doesn't disappoint. Donna Lister penned a delightful mystery with the right amount of the paranormal…Ok, I know what's real and what's not, but in this world it all seemed enjoyably plausible. Her descriptive style of the environment, character appearances, and first-person inner thoughts was engaging along with an entertaining banter to illustrate personality, tone (great snarkiness), and emotion. Some of the conclusions were revealed earlier than I prefer. As the reader, I like to challenge my inner Sherlock, but the rationale and explanation finished out the story. A kidnapping? A witchy revelation? A special camera? Totally fun!
January 10, 2019
I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This book was so much fun. English setting, paranormal/witchy activity, AND a cozy mystery?!?!?!?! SCORE!! I enjoyed the setting and plot. The characters, for so many, were well developed and relatable. I enjoyed the mystery, mainly, because it was a mystery to solve but not a murder. Sometimes I wonder why someone always has to be murdered in cozies, why can't they just go missing? It was a little predictable and a slightly cheesy, but isn't that what we love about this genre?!?!
This was new to me author and series and I will definitely continue reading. I would recommend this series to anyone that enjoys cozy or paranormal mysteries.
This book was so much fun. English setting, paranormal/witchy activity, AND a cozy mystery?!?!?!?! SCORE!! I enjoyed the setting and plot. The characters, for so many, were well developed and relatable. I enjoyed the mystery, mainly, because it was a mystery to solve but not a murder. Sometimes I wonder why someone always has to be murdered in cozies, why can't they just go missing? It was a little predictable and a slightly cheesy, but isn't that what we love about this genre?!?!
This was new to me author and series and I will definitely continue reading. I would recommend this series to anyone that enjoys cozy or paranormal mysteries.
April 29, 2020
Really good, Different witch story.
Lily is enjoying her life as a photographer in Sydney, but missing her brother, James. He goes missing on her birthday and just as she is coming into her powers. Their parents disappeared years ago and James is her only family. She comes to England with her mentor, Angelica, and the hunt for James begins. Good storyline and very descriptive.
Lily is enjoying her life as a photographer in Sydney, but missing her brother, James. He goes missing on her birthday and just as she is coming into her powers. Their parents disappeared years ago and James is her only family. She comes to England with her mentor, Angelica, and the hunt for James begins. Good storyline and very descriptive.
August 13, 2020
2.5*
Cute and enjoyable.
Cute and enjoyable.
December 15, 2019
This is a delightful paranormal mystery with great character building, lots of humour and a witchnapping to be solved!
Lily Bianchi is an Australian photographer whose twenty-fourth birthday proves to be a turning point in her life in ways she'd never anticipated. What she had expected was to have a phone call from her older brother to wish her "Happy Birthday", but it never comes. Instead a stranger arrives to tell her that her brother has been kidnapped and that he, the stranger and Lily are all witches! Needless to say, Lily is appropriately sceptical, however she is soon convinced and agrees to fly with her to Westerham, England and so the search for her brother and Lily's introduction to witchcraft begins!
This is a cosy read packed with intrigue, witchcraft and surprises. There are a fantastic array of characters - some to love and others to be extremely wary of. There are some you'll change your mind about as more is revealed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and definitely look forward to reading more in the series in future.
Lily Bianchi is an Australian photographer whose twenty-fourth birthday proves to be a turning point in her life in ways she'd never anticipated. What she had expected was to have a phone call from her older brother to wish her "Happy Birthday", but it never comes. Instead a stranger arrives to tell her that her brother has been kidnapped and that he, the stranger and Lily are all witches! Needless to say, Lily is appropriately sceptical, however she is soon convinced and agrees to fly with her to Westerham, England and so the search for her brother and Lily's introduction to witchcraft begins!
This is a cosy read packed with intrigue, witchcraft and surprises. There are a fantastic array of characters - some to love and others to be extremely wary of. There are some you'll change your mind about as more is revealed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and definitely look forward to reading more in the series in future.
August 4, 2018
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. My heartfelt thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this opportunity. It is very much appreciated.
This is the first book I have read by Dionne Lister and is the first in a coming series. This book is a nice, light and easy read with very likeable characters. It is a fun read which is not too lengthy, and I read it in one sitting. All of the characters are relatable and have their own individual flair and distinct personalities which made the read much more interesting.
I was a little disappointed by the fact that the culprit reveal took place more in the middle of the book than towards the end, but the culprit and reasoning behind his or her actions made sense within the context of the story. Overall, I was pleased by the ending of the book and the fact that it did not end with a cliffhanger, leaving the fates of the characters open for the next instalment in the series which I am eagerly awaiting.
This is the first book I have read by Dionne Lister and is the first in a coming series. This book is a nice, light and easy read with very likeable characters. It is a fun read which is not too lengthy, and I read it in one sitting. All of the characters are relatable and have their own individual flair and distinct personalities which made the read much more interesting.
I was a little disappointed by the fact that the culprit reveal took place more in the middle of the book than towards the end, but the culprit and reasoning behind his or her actions made sense within the context of the story. Overall, I was pleased by the ending of the book and the fact that it did not end with a cliffhanger, leaving the fates of the characters open for the next instalment in the series which I am eagerly awaiting.
November 23, 2020
A cute start to this series. A quick read, but engaging.
Lily is a photographer in Australia, and just turned 24. Her brother James, who lives in the UK, missed his yearly birthday phone call to her. And on her birthday, things start going crazy. Appliances and Lily do not seem to mesh well together. Then, a stranger shows up on her doorstep, telling her that her brother has been kidnapped. And to boot, that both Lily and James are witches. She convinces Lily to fly with her to the UK to help find her brother, and to start training Lily in her witchly powers.
I normally don't like paranormal but this one was fun to read. Lily coming into her powers made for an interesting component to the story. She was a bit secretive when she figured out her powers, but eventually shared and that helped break the case. Our kidnapper was pretty well telegraphed, but we figured out along with Lily how to expose that person. All in all, pretty well written, and it certainly kept my attention. I liked it and even though paranormal is not my thing, I might continue the series.
Lily is a photographer in Australia, and just turned 24. Her brother James, who lives in the UK, missed his yearly birthday phone call to her. And on her birthday, things start going crazy. Appliances and Lily do not seem to mesh well together. Then, a stranger shows up on her doorstep, telling her that her brother has been kidnapped. And to boot, that both Lily and James are witches. She convinces Lily to fly with her to the UK to help find her brother, and to start training Lily in her witchly powers.
I normally don't like paranormal but this one was fun to read. Lily coming into her powers made for an interesting component to the story. She was a bit secretive when she figured out her powers, but eventually shared and that helped break the case. Our kidnapper was pretty well telegraphed, but we figured out along with Lily how to expose that person. All in all, pretty well written, and it certainly kept my attention. I liked it and even though paranormal is not my thing, I might continue the series.
January 24, 2021
_Witchnapped in Westerham_ is an enjoyable book. I read it a while ago at this point so I reread some reviews to remind myself of the story and make sure I was thinking of the same book. I enjoyed it. I didn't think it was terribly written - I don't remember feeling like I wanted to correct my way through it. It wasn't a sit one the edge of your seat thriller; it was just a fun read when one can't fall asleep in the middle of the night. I enjoyed the coffee shenanigans (as opposed to tea ) and the bits of potential romance... I am also thinking that it has a bit of recognition of how social interaction works when management is related to the trouble making employee. That part has got nothing to do with witchcraft!!
August 4, 2018
Lily's birthday passes without hearing from her brother. A woman shows up at her door and insists that Lily go with her to find her brother. Lily has a secret. She can use her camera to see things that have happened. Unsure whether it's real or not, she keeps it to herself. I loved this book and highly recommend it. Although we find out who the enemy is fairly early, it's well written and the characters are believable. I received a free copy of the book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
August 10, 2018
This was such a fun story! It was funny, serious and has snark for miles, all at the same time! This story is an extremely entertaining afternoon getaway that leaves you wanting much more of the storyline! It’s a very solid story that tackles some heavy subjects, and still manages to have a light tone. Very well done, much appreciated, and thank you for the opportunity to review this gem!
August 4, 2019
I didn’t expect to really like this one, I didn’t like the cover much and I thought the jokey girly tone would be annoying. Ended up really enjoying it. Lily is a great character and the story was fast and clever.
November 5, 2019
Great story
This story was intriguing as it started when magic started tho unfold for the first time in her life. Out was a great mystery involving magic that was unique and interesting. Can't wait too read the next one.
This story was intriguing as it started when magic started tho unfold for the first time in her life. Out was a great mystery involving magic that was unique and interesting. Can't wait too read the next one.
November 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It was a great mix of humor, mystery and witchiness. :Lily is thrust into a new world she knows nothing about. She needs to locate her brother in England. Lily and Will are so fun to watch circle each other. It will be interesting to see how their relationship develops. I wanted to read the next book as soon I finished reading this book.
*I received a free copy of this book via the Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
*I received a free copy of this book via the Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
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