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Sonoma Witches #1
Dead Witch on a Bridge
The first in a new paranormal mystery series by USA Today bestselling author Gretchen Galway.
Is her magic strong enough to stop a killer?
On her first assignment as a demon-hunting witch, Alma was unable to kill. Now broke and unemployed at twenty-six, she lives in Silverpool, a remote town in a redwood forest north of San Francisco, where she sells magic-infused jewelry and tries to live a drama-free life.
When fairies draw her to the dead body of her ex-boyfriend, she must defend herself and the hidden power in Silverpool from an influx of supernatural trouble. The only way to make peace—and stay alive—is to find the killer.
Drawing upon years of formal magical training she’d rather forget, and using other abilities she’d like to keep secret, Alma goes up against bloodthirsty fae, a dangerously charming demon, her infamous father, and other ambitious witches with agendas of their own.
This time, an inability to kill might be not just the end of her job, but of her life...
Is her magic strong enough to stop a killer?
On her first assignment as a demon-hunting witch, Alma was unable to kill. Now broke and unemployed at twenty-six, she lives in Silverpool, a remote town in a redwood forest north of San Francisco, where she sells magic-infused jewelry and tries to live a drama-free life.
When fairies draw her to the dead body of her ex-boyfriend, she must defend herself and the hidden power in Silverpool from an influx of supernatural trouble. The only way to make peace—and stay alive—is to find the killer.
Drawing upon years of formal magical training she’d rather forget, and using other abilities she’d like to keep secret, Alma goes up against bloodthirsty fae, a dangerously charming demon, her infamous father, and other ambitious witches with agendas of their own.
This time, an inability to kill might be not just the end of her job, but of her life...
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 10, 2019
1093 people are currently reading
1994 people want to read
About the author
Gretchen Galway
27 books369 followersGRETCHEN GALWAY is a USA Today bestselling author who writes mystery, fantasy, and romance. She lives in Sonoma County, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
February 20, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Kobo Writing Life for this arc.
This was a fun and easy read for me. I doubt I would have found this author on my own as apparently she's written primarily light romances, and while there was a hint of a wisp of romance in this book, it was mostly fantasy. I found most of the characters likeable and all felt well developed. The pacing of the story was good, no noticeable slow or draggy spots. The mystery elements of the story were very well done and felt plausible, as long as you believe in magic. As much as I enjoyed Alma, I absolutely adored Random.
I do hope this series continues.
This was a fun and easy read for me. I doubt I would have found this author on my own as apparently she's written primarily light romances, and while there was a hint of a wisp of romance in this book, it was mostly fantasy. I found most of the characters likeable and all felt well developed. The pacing of the story was good, no noticeable slow or draggy spots. The mystery elements of the story were very well done and felt plausible, as long as you believe in magic. As much as I enjoyed Alma, I absolutely adored Random.
I do hope this series continues.
February 16, 2019
Dead Witch on a Bridge has everything I love in a book - a quirky, interesting main character, a world I can't stop thinking about long after I've finished the book, and the kind of deep immersion into the reading that makes you lose track of time. It's hard to compare Dead Witch on a Bridge to any other paranormal mystery novel because it's so unique - and so, so good.
A fascinating start to a series I look forward to devouring!
A fascinating start to a series I look forward to devouring!
April 25, 2025
Stars: 3.5 out of 5
Though I wasn't particularly fond of the protagonist initially, she grew on me by the end of the book. This is a pretty cosy urban fantasy story about witches, wellsprings, fae, and murder. Yes, there is murder(s), but there are no gory descriptions, so it's all pretty PG-13.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read, though I found Alma to be very gullible and rather clueless for the better part of this book. You would think that with her horrible upbringing, she would be less trusting of people. And speaking of upbringing, dear old dad doesn't win any awards there. But when your only parent is a known thief who only cares about himself, I would think you would develop a healthy distrust of other people, seeing how even your dad probably lied to you and betrayed you over and over again in the past.
I did like that Alma stopped wallowing in her self-pity and actually started developing her magical abilities as the story progressed, and that she finally decided what kind of witch she wants to be. Which is one that doesn't need the approval of the Protectorate to feel important and worthy.
The central mystery wasn't particularly complicated, and I admit that I knew right around the memorial service scene who the villain of the story was, but it was still pretty entertaining. And the dog survives until the end, so that's an added bonus!
I had a pleasant time reading this book, but I don't know if I am invested enough to continue with the series.
Though I wasn't particularly fond of the protagonist initially, she grew on me by the end of the book. This is a pretty cosy urban fantasy story about witches, wellsprings, fae, and murder. Yes, there is murder(s), but there are no gory descriptions, so it's all pretty PG-13.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read, though I found Alma to be very gullible and rather clueless for the better part of this book. You would think that with her horrible upbringing, she would be less trusting of people. And speaking of upbringing, dear old dad doesn't win any awards there. But when your only parent is a known thief who only cares about himself, I would think you would develop a healthy distrust of other people, seeing how even your dad probably lied to you and betrayed you over and over again in the past.
I did like that Alma stopped wallowing in her self-pity and actually started developing her magical abilities as the story progressed, and that she finally decided what kind of witch she wants to be. Which is one that doesn't need the approval of the Protectorate to feel important and worthy.
The central mystery wasn't particularly complicated, and I admit that I knew right around the memorial service scene who the villain of the story was, but it was still pretty entertaining. And the dog survives until the end, so that's an added bonus!
I had a pleasant time reading this book, but I don't know if I am invested enough to continue with the series.
August 14, 2021
I can’t pinpoint exactly why, but I didn’t enjoy reading this book, I didn’t like either characters or plot. If it hadn’t been free I wouldn’t have read it at all as the beginning is all but compelling.
Overall the book fell flat and shallow.
Overall the book fell flat and shallow.
July 9, 2019
Good magical mystery!
May 3, 2024
Fun, easy to read, witchy mystery.
November 4, 2021
This is the first book of a series that I’m surprised doesn’t have more reviews! It’s a mystery set in a contemporary world that has non-magical people living in it with witches and other magical creatures like fae, gnomes, changelings, etc. To be honest, it starts a bit slow and has a few minor writing issues as well as a world that confused me for a chapter or two. But I read this slowly (my bedtime book) and it improved as the story progressed. It didn’t take long to understand the dynamics of the world and the witch hierarchy and how the mystery plot blends into their witchy politics and magic elements. The last third of the book was great. I’m going to continue to read this series and I hope others discover it.
January 15, 2019
4 stars
I’ve been waiting for a new book from this author for a while now and this book doesn’t let you down. This new paranormal series promises to be an interesting read with Alma a very likeable and real main character. The supporting crew of characters all added to the story which was very well written and easy to read.
Slight spoiler ahead!
********
I have given this book 4 stars because while it was excellent my tastes run more to a HEA and a new set of main characters in each book, so I hope that this will happen for Alma in the next book of the series which I will definitely be reading.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an genuine review.
I’ve been waiting for a new book from this author for a while now and this book doesn’t let you down. This new paranormal series promises to be an interesting read with Alma a very likeable and real main character. The supporting crew of characters all added to the story which was very well written and easy to read.
Slight spoiler ahead!
********
I have given this book 4 stars because while it was excellent my tastes run more to a HEA and a new set of main characters in each book, so I hope that this will happen for Alma in the next book of the series which I will definitely be reading.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an genuine review.
July 22, 2019
Interesting enough I bought book 2.
Read
May 14, 2020DNF at 50%
Not for me.
Not for me.
June 28, 2025
This was a nice read, but I was hoping for something more. I enjoyed this first book, but I don't think I will continue the series.
I enjoyed Alma as an MC, and I loved that we have an animal companion for a good chunk of the book. Random was just sooo cute!
And I enjoyed that we have also the fae around, they add some diversity, and this is always a good thing .
But plot-wise I wasn't really so impressed. It wasn't boring, but it wasn't anything to write home about. And the construction of the whole thing, especially considering that this is the first book in a series, was a tad creaky. I am not so sold on the whole thing.
It was nice, I don't regret reading it, but it was just an okay book.
I enjoyed Alma as an MC, and I loved that we have an animal companion for a good chunk of the book. Random was just sooo cute!
And I enjoyed that we have also the fae around, they add some diversity, and this is always a good thing .
But plot-wise I wasn't really so impressed. It wasn't boring, but it wasn't anything to write home about. And the construction of the whole thing, especially considering that this is the first book in a series, was a tad creaky. I am not so sold on the whole thing.
It was nice, I don't regret reading it, but it was just an okay book.
October 16, 2021
Read this for my Book Club (October) Prompt - a book with a witch/vampire protagonist.
Alma is a Witch, living a reclusive life after being 'honourably discharged' from her job as an Agent for the Protectorate. She is more abled than she is led to believe by those in command and slowly rises to her true potential.
Starting out with the mysterious murder of a fellow witch, a 'Protector' on the small town's bridge, Alma's slow and quiet life in the magical obscure town of Silversprings take the ramp up of a 'roller coaster' nature.
Take a dive into the magical world of Witches and Fae and all things magical!
Alma is a Witch, living a reclusive life after being 'honourably discharged' from her job as an Agent for the Protectorate. She is more abled than she is led to believe by those in command and slowly rises to her true potential.
Starting out with the mysterious murder of a fellow witch, a 'Protector' on the small town's bridge, Alma's slow and quiet life in the magical obscure town of Silversprings take the ramp up of a 'roller coaster' nature.
Take a dive into the magical world of Witches and Fae and all things magical!
December 15, 2024
I meant to read this for Halloween but didn’t get to it until now. I enjoyed this book a lot, and I definitely want to read the rest of the series!
November 5, 2025
Great story with a lot of twists and turns
I really liked this book. It was a great story with a lot of twists and turns. I like the main character, Alma a lot. I had fun reading this and will be picking up the next book in the series soon.
I really liked this book. It was a great story with a lot of twists and turns. I like the main character, Alma a lot. I had fun reading this and will be picking up the next book in the series soon.
September 24, 2024
50 pages in and I still have no clue what is happening why I should care
February 22, 2019
(Copy provided by NetGalley.)
In an urban fantasy world that feels comfortingly familiar to a fan of Seanan McGuire and Patricia Briggs, Alma, a witch, becomes involved in tangled plots among witches, fae, and demons when the local Protector goes missing. The Protector, Tristan, is a promiscuous, powerful witch who was responsible for keeping fae, witches, and demons in balance. At first, he seems to have been killed without reason, but of course there was one.
Alma becomes involved despite her history with the Protectorate - an organization of witches that maintains order and seems mostly to pay witches to kill demons. She was fired not long into her tenure there, discharged for an "Incurable Inability," which is a rather harsh reason to fire someone. Her inability? To kill a demon.
There were a few threads introduced that I would have been interested to see developed and woven into the warp, as it were - the relationship between Alma and the mysterious demon Seth was not really fleshed out as it could have been and the nature of the magic wellspring water and its place in the world, for examples. The plot seems to rely too heavily on the Big Reveal at the end, in order to surprise readers. It would have felt more suspenseful if bits and pieces had been revealed over the course of the book, instead of dumped into Alma's report of the events.
Overall, it's an entertaining fantasy murder mystery set in an urban fantasy universe that holds a mixture of magical creatures. The world comes together more thoroughly at the end, and I'm intrigued by it, by the revelation of Alma's unique powers, and by what she learns in the last pages. I'll be looking for a second novel in this series to find out what happens next.
In an urban fantasy world that feels comfortingly familiar to a fan of Seanan McGuire and Patricia Briggs, Alma, a witch, becomes involved in tangled plots among witches, fae, and demons when the local Protector goes missing. The Protector, Tristan, is a promiscuous, powerful witch who was responsible for keeping fae, witches, and demons in balance. At first, he seems to have been killed without reason, but of course there was one.
Alma becomes involved despite her history with the Protectorate - an organization of witches that maintains order and seems mostly to pay witches to kill demons. She was fired not long into her tenure there, discharged for an "Incurable Inability," which is a rather harsh reason to fire someone. Her inability? To kill a demon.
There were a few threads introduced that I would have been interested to see developed and woven into the warp, as it were - the relationship between Alma and the mysterious demon Seth was not really fleshed out as it could have been and the nature of the magic wellspring water and its place in the world, for examples. The plot seems to rely too heavily on the Big Reveal at the end, in order to surprise readers. It would have felt more suspenseful if bits and pieces had been revealed over the course of the book, instead of dumped into Alma's report of the events.
Overall, it's an entertaining fantasy murder mystery set in an urban fantasy universe that holds a mixture of magical creatures. The world comes together more thoroughly at the end, and I'm intrigued by it, by the revelation of Alma's unique powers, and by what she learns in the last pages. I'll be looking for a second novel in this series to find out what happens next.
January 21, 2019
A heroine that believes herself weak and flawed, a forest filled with angry fairies and a powerful witch that knew how to live long but instead is dead in middle of the road. Wait a minute….we are not in Gretchen Galway’s San Francisco anymore!
WOW - not only is this book a tremendous start to a new series, but it is an excellent switch of genres for an author known for her quirky, delightful contemporary romances. Ms. Galway now takes the reader to a small town in Sonoma that is filled with supernatural beings, magic and a protagonist you will love. Alma Bellrose has a nefarious father and a now-soiled reputation; she couldn’t hack it as an agent with the super-selective Protectorate when she was unable to complete her first mission. Now the witch lives in a semi-hidden enclave filled with supernatural beings, fellow witches and “non-mags”, where she spends her days crafting focus bead strings and lying low. But when she discovers her ex-lover (the town’s Protector witch) dead, Alma is forced to get her groove on and seek answers. As she battles the Protectorate, the Fae and her father, Alma discovers along the way that she has far more strength and power that she knew.
Once again, Ms. Galway’s writing is captivating, filled with plenty of character development and suspense while setting the “scene” of the paranormal world she is creating. Of note is that it is told in the first person narrative of Alma; I am not the biggest fan of that POV, but I really embraced it in this book. A spell has truly been cast, as I cannot wait for the next book!
WOW - not only is this book a tremendous start to a new series, but it is an excellent switch of genres for an author known for her quirky, delightful contemporary romances. Ms. Galway now takes the reader to a small town in Sonoma that is filled with supernatural beings, magic and a protagonist you will love. Alma Bellrose has a nefarious father and a now-soiled reputation; she couldn’t hack it as an agent with the super-selective Protectorate when she was unable to complete her first mission. Now the witch lives in a semi-hidden enclave filled with supernatural beings, fellow witches and “non-mags”, where she spends her days crafting focus bead strings and lying low. But when she discovers her ex-lover (the town’s Protector witch) dead, Alma is forced to get her groove on and seek answers. As she battles the Protectorate, the Fae and her father, Alma discovers along the way that she has far more strength and power that she knew.
Once again, Ms. Galway’s writing is captivating, filled with plenty of character development and suspense while setting the “scene” of the paranormal world she is creating. Of note is that it is told in the first person narrative of Alma; I am not the biggest fan of that POV, but I really embraced it in this book. A spell has truly been cast, as I cannot wait for the next book!
August 6, 2019
A dead body in the middle of a bridge. Was magic involved? How could someone have taken down one of the most powerful witches in Sonoma County?
Alma is a witch living in a world of fairies, gnomes, and demons. She’s a demon killer that can’t kill. What’s that about?
This book had a good attention-grabber on the first page, but then turns into a slow crawl. For such a simple scenario (finding out who killed the dead witch on the bridge,) this sure had a complicated plot. I didn’t like it as much as I thought.
Alma is a witch living in a world of fairies, gnomes, and demons. She’s a demon killer that can’t kill. What’s that about?
This book had a good attention-grabber on the first page, but then turns into a slow crawl. For such a simple scenario (finding out who killed the dead witch on the bridge,) this sure had a complicated plot. I didn’t like it as much as I thought.
March 11, 2019
*I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review”.
I have been looking for some really good urban fantasy. Unfortunately, this book was not it.
This book was very pedantic. Take tab A, insert into slot B, viola C. The characters were flat. The story was told at me and I didn’t care about any of it.
I have been looking for some really good urban fantasy. Unfortunately, this book was not it.
This book was very pedantic. Take tab A, insert into slot B, viola C. The characters were flat. The story was told at me and I didn’t care about any of it.
May 15, 2021
Talk, talk, talk
A mystery explored entirely through conversation. I’m fairly certain that the fmc talks with every person from Santa Rosa to San Francisco. Unsurprisingly, after 40 chapters of chitchat it turns out that the first person she had talked to was the perp, all along - and for the most obvious reason.
A mystery explored entirely through conversation. I’m fairly certain that the fmc talks with every person from Santa Rosa to San Francisco. Unsurprisingly, after 40 chapters of chitchat it turns out that the first person she had talked to was the perp, all along - and for the most obvious reason.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2023
Fun start to an engaging series.
May 16, 2024
The story just didn’t flow well in my personal opinion . I couldn’t get into it
August 26, 2019
I read a lot of fantasy, and it’s always a pleasure to find a novel that stands out from the rest. “Dead Witch on A Bridge” uses a lot of familiar ideas, but these combine with well paced writing and strong, interesting characters, to create a really enjoyable novel that feels fresh.
Not quite an urban fantasy, as it’s set largely in a small town, this is very much a contemporary novel of witchcraft and magic. Galway uses ideas you’ll have seen before: a council that regulates witches and their use of magic; magical beings like fairies; dysfunctional families; and a blurring of the line between white and black magic. Despite this, the world feels both new and convincingly real.
Alma Bellrose is a white witch; not that the Protectorate, a council that regulates the use of witchcraft believes that. She was honourably discharged from their service after she proved unwilling to kill demons simply because they were demons, but is viewed with contempt as a result. It doesn’t help that her father is one of the most notorious criminals in the witch world.
Alma is pretty happy with how it’s turned out, though. She lives in a small town called Silverpool near San Francisco, quietly getting by. She uses her magic largely as she wishes, doesn’t take orders from anyone about her life, and is generally under the radar and happy enough.
Then Tristan is murdered – the dead witch of the novel’s title. Tristan had slept with every woman in town – including Alma – but it doesn’t seem likely that’s what led to his death. Alma thinks it’s far more likely to be tied to his role as Protector of the magical spring near Silverpool. And Tristan’s death leads to more upheaval than you’d expect – the non-magical humans are in an uproar about the suspicious death, the magical beings nearby are suddenly running amok and attacking humans, Alma’s demon nemesis arrives in town, the Protectorate comes to investigate – and worst of all, Alma’s father “drops in”.
This novel works on two levels, as something of a murder mystery as well as a fantasy. It’s strong on both levels. We’ve got plenty of doubt about who did what to who when, with tons of credible red herrings littering Alma’s path. On the fantasy side, Galway has built a cohesive world that’s easy to slip into and understand, and which will easily absorb most readers.
The characters are strong, too; each is distinct and believable. Galway has resisted the temptation to over emphasise any one characteristic, while giving each quirks and habits that make them individual.
The writing is good: well paced action and some thoughtful exposition. In addition, this is the first in a series, and although Galway provides a complete story here, she also skilfully plants seeds that could flower in other novels.
I really enjoyed “Dead Witch on a Bridge”. It’s highly readable contemporary fantasy with plenty of strengths and no real weaknesses. I will be looking out for the next novel in the series.
Not quite an urban fantasy, as it’s set largely in a small town, this is very much a contemporary novel of witchcraft and magic. Galway uses ideas you’ll have seen before: a council that regulates witches and their use of magic; magical beings like fairies; dysfunctional families; and a blurring of the line between white and black magic. Despite this, the world feels both new and convincingly real.
Alma Bellrose is a white witch; not that the Protectorate, a council that regulates the use of witchcraft believes that. She was honourably discharged from their service after she proved unwilling to kill demons simply because they were demons, but is viewed with contempt as a result. It doesn’t help that her father is one of the most notorious criminals in the witch world.
Alma is pretty happy with how it’s turned out, though. She lives in a small town called Silverpool near San Francisco, quietly getting by. She uses her magic largely as she wishes, doesn’t take orders from anyone about her life, and is generally under the radar and happy enough.
Then Tristan is murdered – the dead witch of the novel’s title. Tristan had slept with every woman in town – including Alma – but it doesn’t seem likely that’s what led to his death. Alma thinks it’s far more likely to be tied to his role as Protector of the magical spring near Silverpool. And Tristan’s death leads to more upheaval than you’d expect – the non-magical humans are in an uproar about the suspicious death, the magical beings nearby are suddenly running amok and attacking humans, Alma’s demon nemesis arrives in town, the Protectorate comes to investigate – and worst of all, Alma’s father “drops in”.
This novel works on two levels, as something of a murder mystery as well as a fantasy. It’s strong on both levels. We’ve got plenty of doubt about who did what to who when, with tons of credible red herrings littering Alma’s path. On the fantasy side, Galway has built a cohesive world that’s easy to slip into and understand, and which will easily absorb most readers.
The characters are strong, too; each is distinct and believable. Galway has resisted the temptation to over emphasise any one characteristic, while giving each quirks and habits that make them individual.
The writing is good: well paced action and some thoughtful exposition. In addition, this is the first in a series, and although Galway provides a complete story here, she also skilfully plants seeds that could flower in other novels.
I really enjoyed “Dead Witch on a Bridge”. It’s highly readable contemporary fantasy with plenty of strengths and no real weaknesses. I will be looking out for the next novel in the series.
February 7, 2019
Looking for an entertaining cozy with compelling characters and a healthy dose of magic? Look no further. "Dead Witch on a Bridge," the first in Galway's new Sonoma Witch series, fits the bill.
Alma Bellrose was a promising young agent of the magical Protectorate until her very first mission, when she discovered she could not bring herself to kill her given target, a demon. After being dismissed for her "Incurable Inability," she takes up residence among the redwoods of Silverpool, living in relative solitude. That is, until she is awoken by the shrill screams of the fae and races into the night, only to discover her ex-boyfriend lying murdered on a bridge.
It is here the story starts, as Alma begins to realize something more sinister than the death of one man is taking place in the little village. She will have to put aside her own feelings of not being the "right kind" of witch in order to save herself and the lives of those she has grown to care about.
The characters in this novel are well-developed and lend themselves to future installments. My favorites among them are Alma, who is a careful and relatable balance of strength and vulnerability, Willy the gnome, with his endearing and sometimes slightly disconcerting, quiet gravity, and Helen, who is fierce and brilliant. I'm looking forward to reading more involving these distinct and memorable characters.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review
Alma Bellrose was a promising young agent of the magical Protectorate until her very first mission, when she discovered she could not bring herself to kill her given target, a demon. After being dismissed for her "Incurable Inability," she takes up residence among the redwoods of Silverpool, living in relative solitude. That is, until she is awoken by the shrill screams of the fae and races into the night, only to discover her ex-boyfriend lying murdered on a bridge.
It is here the story starts, as Alma begins to realize something more sinister than the death of one man is taking place in the little village. She will have to put aside her own feelings of not being the "right kind" of witch in order to save herself and the lives of those she has grown to care about.
The characters in this novel are well-developed and lend themselves to future installments. My favorites among them are Alma, who is a careful and relatable balance of strength and vulnerability, Willy the gnome, with his endearing and sometimes slightly disconcerting, quiet gravity, and Helen, who is fierce and brilliant. I'm looking forward to reading more involving these distinct and memorable characters.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review
March 4, 2019
***COPY PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY***
I haven't read this author before and I usually don't read 'cozy' mysteries, but since it was free I felt like I had nothing to loose. And lucky me, I found a hidden surprise in this little story!
Alma is a witch that has lost her confidence, feels like she has few friends and a 'no-show' father. But with a lost dog named Random and a sometimes friendly garden gnome, things can change in a matter of moments. But she didn't expect to find her ex-boyfriend dead and her to be a suspect!
Loved how this fantasy/mystery included, a varies of fairies, demons, witches and even humans to carry each chapter expertly along. The writing was unique and had the added bonus of a mini 'cliffhanger' at the end of each chapter which made it nearly impossible to stop reading! I really enjoyed that Alma found friends and enemies in unexpected places, keeping you on your toes to who was going to help Alma find the truth and freedom.
*** Possible slight spoilers ***
Since this is a new series, I hope to see more of Helen, Birdie, the gnome, Alma's growth as a witch, her parents and of course Random! A little love interest for Alma would be good too! Oh, and what about Seth?
The only corny thing I came across is that during one fight scene, Alma shot water out of her braid......just too much like a cartoon.
I don't usually read Romances, but the writing was so enjoyable, I'm going to try this author's other HAE series. Well, at least the first one. :-)
Note to bookclub friends: Clean Read.
I haven't read this author before and I usually don't read 'cozy' mysteries, but since it was free I felt like I had nothing to loose. And lucky me, I found a hidden surprise in this little story!
Alma is a witch that has lost her confidence, feels like she has few friends and a 'no-show' father. But with a lost dog named Random and a sometimes friendly garden gnome, things can change in a matter of moments. But she didn't expect to find her ex-boyfriend dead and her to be a suspect!
Loved how this fantasy/mystery included, a varies of fairies, demons, witches and even humans to carry each chapter expertly along. The writing was unique and had the added bonus of a mini 'cliffhanger' at the end of each chapter which made it nearly impossible to stop reading! I really enjoyed that Alma found friends and enemies in unexpected places, keeping you on your toes to who was going to help Alma find the truth and freedom.
*** Possible slight spoilers ***
Since this is a new series, I hope to see more of Helen, Birdie, the gnome, Alma's growth as a witch, her parents and of course Random! A little love interest for Alma would be good too! Oh, and what about Seth?
The only corny thing I came across is that during one fight scene, Alma shot water out of her braid......just too much like a cartoon.
I don't usually read Romances, but the writing was so enjoyable, I'm going to try this author's other HAE series. Well, at least the first one. :-)
Note to bookclub friends: Clean Read.
July 24, 2019
Alma Bellrose is witch living in the back of the woods Silverspring / Silverpool? after her job as a demon killer went pear-shaped. Not only that, but her father is an infamous witch-thief, and he's done it again. Worse, her sweet little town's protector was found dead, and her former boss is angling to pin it all on Alma. At least she got a sweet doggo in the mix.
This was a surprisingly fun read.
Here's what I didn't like: I wish the magic system was more defined. I get that it's a light one, but I wanted rules and consequences--real--consequences. There wasn't much explanation to how things worked. I wish Livia had gotten her dues, but I suppose given who Birdie is, she did? I guess I wanted her house to burn down. I didn't understand Alma's tattoo at the end, the significance of it
Here's what I liked: Helen, world building, Random, Willy--okay, I liked all the characters, even the antagonists for who they were. The author did a good job with them. I enjoyed how well she wrote in 1POV. It didn't feel like I was being told these things were happening, but it was more immersive than I expected. The pee floor wash was hysterical. Well edited. It felt like I read a finished product.
Overall, this was a light-hearted cozy mystery--no real romantic sub-plot, but that was fine and I didn't feel like it was missing. I'll pick up the sequel.
This was a surprisingly fun read.
Here's what I didn't like: I wish the magic system was more defined. I get that it's a light one, but I wanted rules and consequences--real--consequences. There wasn't much explanation to how things worked. I wish Livia had gotten her dues, but I suppose given who Birdie is, she did? I guess I wanted her house to burn down. I didn't understand Alma's tattoo at the end, the significance of it
Here's what I liked: Helen, world building, Random, Willy--okay, I liked all the characters, even the antagonists for who they were. The author did a good job with them. I enjoyed how well she wrote in 1POV. It didn't feel like I was being told these things were happening, but it was more immersive than I expected. The pee floor wash was hysterical. Well edited. It felt like I read a finished product.
Overall, this was a light-hearted cozy mystery--no real romantic sub-plot, but that was fine and I didn't feel like it was missing. I'll pick up the sequel.
February 8, 2019
I received a free copy of DEAD WITCH ON A BRIDGE by Gretchen Galway in exchange for an honest review. After being fired from the Protectorate, a supernatural law enforcement agency, for being unable to carry out an execution order, Alma has made a life for herself in the town of Silverpool as a jewelry designer and magical focus creator. Awakened by the screams for help from the local fae, Alma rushes out of her house to find Protectorate agent, fellow witch, good friend, mentor, and former lover dead on a nearby bridge. Seeing there is nothing to be done, Alma returns home to find her con-artist father and other sketchy acquaintances have come calling. Instead of investigating the death or other ominous goings-on that develop during the story, the Protectorate is more concerned with harassing Alma about a missing piece of jewelry they believe her father stole. Alma, Protectorate reject, is driven by her nature to do the Protectorate’s job for them by finding the killer and by investigating the other ominous events.
I liked this book. I recommend it to fans of urban fantasy and cozy mysteries. I hope this develops into a series so I can read future books about Alma and her town.
#DeadWitchOnABridge #NetGalley
I liked this book. I recommend it to fans of urban fantasy and cozy mysteries. I hope this develops into a series so I can read future books about Alma and her town.
#DeadWitchOnABridge #NetGalley
May 17, 2020
I enjoyed this story. It was a new-to-me author, and in one of my favourite genres - paranormal suspense.
The writing was good here. Exciting, suspenseful plot, interesting, well-written characters and lots of misdirection for the murder mystery.
The pacing was also good. I read this in two days because the story really kept me engaged.
The tone and a number of the plot points, however were very dark and heavy. I expect that to some extent with this genre, but some authors also manage to include some humour or some light moments to balance the drama. I felt that was missing in this book and while that may have been the author's intent, it made this a three-star rather than a four or five-star read for me.
I also never fully engaged with Alma. I wanted to like her, and I felt she was a nice, laudable character, so I'm not quite sure why I didn't like her more than I did. Perhaps it was how tortured she is about her father, her past, and her abilities, but again, she just felt heavy the whole way through the book.
This is a good story, and if you don't mind unrelenting heavy tone, you may really enjoy this. I liked it, but I'm not sure I would read other books in this series, as I'm not sure it's the right fit for my book interests.
The writing was good here. Exciting, suspenseful plot, interesting, well-written characters and lots of misdirection for the murder mystery.
The pacing was also good. I read this in two days because the story really kept me engaged.
The tone and a number of the plot points, however were very dark and heavy. I expect that to some extent with this genre, but some authors also manage to include some humour or some light moments to balance the drama. I felt that was missing in this book and while that may have been the author's intent, it made this a three-star rather than a four or five-star read for me.
I also never fully engaged with Alma. I wanted to like her, and I felt she was a nice, laudable character, so I'm not quite sure why I didn't like her more than I did. Perhaps it was how tortured she is about her father, her past, and her abilities, but again, she just felt heavy the whole way through the book.
This is a good story, and if you don't mind unrelenting heavy tone, you may really enjoy this. I liked it, but I'm not sure I would read other books in this series, as I'm not sure it's the right fit for my book interests.
January 15, 2019
When I heard that Gretchen Galway was writing a new supernatural series I was excited to read the first book.
Dead Witch on a Bridge is an interesting and enjoyable read. There was quite a bit of time spend time world building and defining the rules for the supernatural elements, like most first books in a series with supernatural elements do.
Alma, our main character is a strong and independent witch. I found her likable and well written. I also got the impression that there was a lot left to learn about Alma that would be revealed in future books in the series.
The secondary characters introduced were interesting They were a little bit less defined than Alma, but I think that they will be fleshed out a lot more in later books, as well.
The storyline of Dead Witch on a Bridge was entertaining and engaging, but like I explained above I saw this as book more as setting the stage for a new series universe than a stand alone.
I hope that the next book is out soon as I think that this is a very promising series.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Supernatural or Urban Fantasy novels.
I received an ARC in exchange of my honest review.
Dead Witch on a Bridge is an interesting and enjoyable read. There was quite a bit of time spend time world building and defining the rules for the supernatural elements, like most first books in a series with supernatural elements do.
Alma, our main character is a strong and independent witch. I found her likable and well written. I also got the impression that there was a lot left to learn about Alma that would be revealed in future books in the series.
The secondary characters introduced were interesting They were a little bit less defined than Alma, but I think that they will be fleshed out a lot more in later books, as well.
The storyline of Dead Witch on a Bridge was entertaining and engaging, but like I explained above I saw this as book more as setting the stage for a new series universe than a stand alone.
I hope that the next book is out soon as I think that this is a very promising series.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Supernatural or Urban Fantasy novels.
I received an ARC in exchange of my honest review.
January 14, 2020
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for me to provide an honest review.
And boy, this is one of the books I'm SO grateful I found via NetGalley!
"Dead Witch on a Bridge" was as fun and quirky as the title of this first book of a new series.
The main character Alma was smart, funny, and feisty despite struggling with her own past- exactly what I love my heroines to be.
This was the first work of this author I've read and I found it very comfortable to ease into the narrative voice and let myself be drawn into this magical world. The world-building was elegantly done and the characters were well-rounded and held my interest througout the novel.
The combination of genres worked very well and the author beautifully interlaced the magical setting of her world with the murder mystery elements. I am a great lover of murder mysteries, and this magical crime novel had a lot of fresh, fun ideas which made reading "Dead Witch on a Bridge" a true delight.
Definitely a book to recommend to my friends and fellow readers!
And boy, this is one of the books I'm SO grateful I found via NetGalley!
"Dead Witch on a Bridge" was as fun and quirky as the title of this first book of a new series.
The main character Alma was smart, funny, and feisty despite struggling with her own past- exactly what I love my heroines to be.
This was the first work of this author I've read and I found it very comfortable to ease into the narrative voice and let myself be drawn into this magical world. The world-building was elegantly done and the characters were well-rounded and held my interest througout the novel.
The combination of genres worked very well and the author beautifully interlaced the magical setting of her world with the murder mystery elements. I am a great lover of murder mysteries, and this magical crime novel had a lot of fresh, fun ideas which made reading "Dead Witch on a Bridge" a true delight.
Definitely a book to recommend to my friends and fellow readers!
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