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Witch Way #1
Witch Way to Mistletoe & Murder
When a series of events sends her world spiraling out of control, Harper Jones loses her witch's license, her job, and her fiancé--all within twenty-four hours.
Forced to return to her magical hometown of Whitefall Cove for Christmas with nothing but a suitcase and a broken heart, Harper’s determined to enjoy the holiday and start the new year with a fresh outlook. But when her old nemesis, the high school bully, turns up dead, Harper is implicated in the murder.
Now, with a Detective who doesn't appreciate her amateur sleuthing skills and running a bookstore she purchases on a whim, Harper is in over her head. Determined to uncover the mystery, she'll stop at nothing to solve the case--and pass her re-witching exam all at the same time. But the murderer has other plans...
Witch Way to Mistletoe & Murder is the first book in the Witch Way paranormal cozy mystery series.
Forced to return to her magical hometown of Whitefall Cove for Christmas with nothing but a suitcase and a broken heart, Harper’s determined to enjoy the holiday and start the new year with a fresh outlook. But when her old nemesis, the high school bully, turns up dead, Harper is implicated in the murder.
Now, with a Detective who doesn't appreciate her amateur sleuthing skills and running a bookstore she purchases on a whim, Harper is in over her head. Determined to uncover the mystery, she'll stop at nothing to solve the case--and pass her re-witching exam all at the same time. But the murderer has other plans...
Witch Way to Mistletoe & Murder is the first book in the Witch Way paranormal cozy mystery series.
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2018
1445 people are currently reading
1720 people want to read
About the author
Jane Hinchey
94 books920 followersJane Hinchey is a best selling author of over twenty paranormal cozy mystery and urban fantasy novels.
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Website: http://bit.ly/2OjB1a2
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews
January 31, 2021
I absolutely loved this book. I especially loved Gran. She's hilarious. I hope to continue with the rest of the series.
December 22, 2018
I am a huge fan of cozy paranormal mysteries. In fact, it is almost tied with my absolute favorite: urban fantasy. When an author I like started a new series in this genre, I was ecstatic. I started the book and was at first hesitant. By the time I was about a fifth of the way in, I was in love. I enjoyed this book so much! Great plot, great characters, and some interesting plot threads for the future. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Gran, Harper, Jackson, etc. If you like cozies, give this one a try; I don’t think you’ll regret it. I recommend highly!
October 11, 2023
Book in Emojis: 📚☕️🔪🔫💉🔍👻
Ich fand’s ganz Cozy mit etwas größerem Mystery Anteil.
Die Oma fand ich leider super cringe, ich glaube sie sollte eine süße lustige Oma sein aber das war sooooo komisch 😂
Ich hatte nicht das Gefühl so komplett in die Small town, eine eventuelle romance, die Gruppe an Figuren oder die Mystery eingesaugt zu werden. Es hatte nicht diesen cozy vibe, obwohl sehr viel da war, was es hätte cozy machen können.
Dennoch fand ich es spannend und hatte eine gute Zeit und fand es toll für zwischendurch
Ich fand’s ganz Cozy mit etwas größerem Mystery Anteil.
Die Oma fand ich leider super cringe, ich glaube sie sollte eine süße lustige Oma sein aber das war sooooo komisch 😂
Ich hatte nicht das Gefühl so komplett in die Small town, eine eventuelle romance, die Gruppe an Figuren oder die Mystery eingesaugt zu werden. Es hatte nicht diesen cozy vibe, obwohl sehr viel da war, was es hätte cozy machen können.
Dennoch fand ich es spannend und hatte eine gute Zeit und fand es toll für zwischendurch
February 21, 2019
Witch Way to Mistletoe & Murder - Gran had me rolling on the floor with belly laughs; I love that clotheshorse hussy. This is not your typical cozy murder mystery; there's actually interesting storylines, funny dialog, an interesting variety of characters, almost all likable. This clean story moves at a fast pace and there's plenty of intrigue.
Gran plays a large part in this story, but she's family, she makes things happen and she's a good, loving support for Harper; plus her confidence and personality are over the top. There's substance in this story, not the typical drivel cozy, and the characters act mature and can think. I contacted the author to review her books. 5*
Merged review:
Witch Way Series:
Witch Way to Mistletoe & Murder #1 - Gran had me rolling on the floor with belly laughs; I love that clotheshorse hussy. This is not your typical cozy murder mystery; there's actually interesting storylines, funny dialog, an interesting variety of characters, almost all likable. This clean story moves at a fast pace and there's plenty of intrigue. Gran plays a large part in this story, but she's family, she makes things happen and she's a good, loving support for Harper; plus her confidence and personality are over the top. There's substance in this story, not the typical drivel cozy, and the characters act mature and can think. I contacted the author to review her books. 5*
Witch Way to Romance & Ruin #2 - Gran is absolutely my favorite character; I love her spunk. This is a better read than the first book and it was good, too! The pace was fast and the storylines meshed from the first book into this one and grew with a couple of twists and new characters. There's more growth to all the characters and even the new ones are interesting.
The dialog is filled with plenty of banter between the characters making for an entertaining read. Their humor and quickness of mind kept a perpetual smile or grin on my face. The mystery was better than the usual cozy, but Ms. Hinchey does have substance in her writing.
I did enjoy the sexual tension, which I found well written and not full of the consistent, overdone references to hotness,bodyparts,sexthoughts that so many writers force on the reader with their lack of talent and need to place sex in every sentence. This is one series my great-grandkids can happily read and still see human nature. Next stop AU; not quite a cliffhanger, but the next book is setup and it's a trip down under. I contacted the author to review her books. 5*
Witch Way Series End.
Gran plays a large part in this story, but she's family, she makes things happen and she's a good, loving support for Harper; plus her confidence and personality are over the top. There's substance in this story, not the typical drivel cozy, and the characters act mature and can think. I contacted the author to review her books. 5*
Merged review:
Witch Way Series:
Witch Way to Mistletoe & Murder #1 - Gran had me rolling on the floor with belly laughs; I love that clotheshorse hussy. This is not your typical cozy murder mystery; there's actually interesting storylines, funny dialog, an interesting variety of characters, almost all likable. This clean story moves at a fast pace and there's plenty of intrigue. Gran plays a large part in this story, but she's family, she makes things happen and she's a good, loving support for Harper; plus her confidence and personality are over the top. There's substance in this story, not the typical drivel cozy, and the characters act mature and can think. I contacted the author to review her books. 5*
Witch Way to Romance & Ruin #2 - Gran is absolutely my favorite character; I love her spunk. This is a better read than the first book and it was good, too! The pace was fast and the storylines meshed from the first book into this one and grew with a couple of twists and new characters. There's more growth to all the characters and even the new ones are interesting.
The dialog is filled with plenty of banter between the characters making for an entertaining read. Their humor and quickness of mind kept a perpetual smile or grin on my face. The mystery was better than the usual cozy, but Ms. Hinchey does have substance in her writing.
I did enjoy the sexual tension, which I found well written and not full of the consistent, overdone references to hotness,bodyparts,sexthoughts that so many writers force on the reader with their lack of talent and need to place sex in every sentence. This is one series my great-grandkids can happily read and still see human nature. Next stop AU; not quite a cliffhanger, but the next book is setup and it's a trip down under. I contacted the author to review her books. 5*
Witch Way Series End.
November 12, 2023
Picked this up free based on the premise - though I almost didn't because the cover (though cute) looked kind of YA.
This was a cute, cosy. Excellent characters. A nice, light, writing touch. The world building was good, up to a point. Information pops up throughout the book that caught me by surprise, suddenly there are shifters in the mix. How do the vamps, shifters, witches, necromancers get along? Is it one big happy family? A lot was glossed over when it wouldn't have taken much to set some guidelines.
The witch school appears, our heroine attends, and then never goes again, or tells us when she will return. The only reason for her to go that one time was to drop the most obvious of clues as to what is happening on her future romance front - which I assume will be revealed in future books.
The author threw several red herrings in here to keep the reader from guessing who the murderer was and their motive. A couple of times it worked. Sometimes I was just baffled by the heroine's leaps in logic from very little, sometimes nothing. As in the case of discovering the poison. Going on nothing but the knowledge it was ingested, our heroine discovers which poison was used - ????? How? She didn't even know how it killed her but was able to identify it. It was a discordant early note in this read for me.
There were a couple of other incidents/clues that the heroine instantly leapt on an understood the answer immediately - yet there were a hundred different other potential solutions. She just hits on the right one again, and again, and again.
Be warned this book just kind of stops... on a tiny cliffhanger, not one that you would really get upset about. But there was no wrap up or even a scene where all the characters congratulated themselves on a job well done. It just ends, almost mid-sentence.
There was a heap of potential here. A nice cosy feel. With pretty good characters. The plot and the way the mystery unravels and suspects are set up and discarded though does need some work.
This was a cute, cosy. Excellent characters. A nice, light, writing touch. The world building was good, up to a point. Information pops up throughout the book that caught me by surprise, suddenly there are shifters in the mix. How do the vamps, shifters, witches, necromancers get along? Is it one big happy family? A lot was glossed over when it wouldn't have taken much to set some guidelines.
The witch school appears, our heroine attends, and then never goes again, or tells us when she will return. The only reason for her to go that one time was to drop the most obvious of clues as to what is happening on her future romance front - which I assume will be revealed in future books.
The author threw several red herrings in here to keep the reader from guessing who the murderer was and their motive. A couple of times it worked. Sometimes I was just baffled by the heroine's leaps in logic from very little, sometimes nothing. As in the case of discovering the poison. Going on nothing but the knowledge it was ingested, our heroine discovers which poison was used - ????? How? She didn't even know how it killed her but was able to identify it. It was a discordant early note in this read for me.
There were a couple of other incidents/clues that the heroine instantly leapt on an understood the answer immediately - yet there were a hundred different other potential solutions. She just hits on the right one again, and again, and again.
Be warned this book just kind of stops... on a tiny cliffhanger, not one that you would really get upset about. But there was no wrap up or even a scene where all the characters congratulated themselves on a job well done. It just ends, almost mid-sentence.
There was a heap of potential here. A nice cosy feel. With pretty good characters. The plot and the way the mystery unravels and suspects are set up and discarded though does need some work.
December 18, 2018
Witch Way to Mistletoe & Murder was such a fun story. Harper returns to her hometown Whitefall Cove and moves in with her eccentric Gran. She purchases a book store - The Dusty Attic - spur of the moment, and when her high school frenemy turns up dead in her store Harper, her 2 best friends and Gran, are out to solve the murder. All the characters are so much fun with paranormal elements. There are witches and shifters, a vampire and a guy who speaks to dead people! An Gran, don't forget Gran - such hoot!! A romance between Harper and the sexy detective is hinted at, but of course he is taken so nothing can happen, for now. I can't wait to see where this goes!
August 6, 2019
A wonderful start to a new series!!! The world building, characters and plot are well thought out and executed. I fell in love with all the characters specially Gran! With plenty of action, suspense and drama wrapped up in a paranormal setting I could not put this book down. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
June 6, 2023
A cute paranormal cozy mystery. The characters were fun and quirky and paranormal. Quite refreshing.
October 25, 2023
This was quite a fun paranormal mystery. Harper has just moved back to her magical hometown (filled with witches, shape shifters, fae, vampires, and other assorted magical characters). After using her powers inappropriately (changing her cheating fiancee multiple times into various animals), she's lost her witch license.
Fairly soon in the book there's a murder, and Harper becomes one of the chief suspects, leading her -- of course -- to investigate. She's joined by her Gran (over-the-top older woman who dresses and acts inappropriately most of the time) and two best friends.
I enjoyed this first entry in the series, and look forward to reading more. While most people like the character of Gran, she's the one character I disliked, as she seems to fit into the typical "cozy" mystery role for older women -- they have to behave inappropriate, dress outrageously, and rarely show any common sense.
Fairly soon in the book there's a murder, and Harper becomes one of the chief suspects, leading her -- of course -- to investigate. She's joined by her Gran (over-the-top older woman who dresses and acts inappropriately most of the time) and two best friends.
I enjoyed this first entry in the series, and look forward to reading more. While most people like the character of Gran, she's the one character I disliked, as she seems to fit into the typical "cozy" mystery role for older women -- they have to behave inappropriate, dress outrageously, and rarely show any common sense.
October 25, 2023
I really enjoyed this cozy paranormal mystery. Ready for a witch that lost her magic? A grams that will crack you up like grandma Mauzer in the Stephanie Plum number books?
This was the first book I read by this author and now I want to read more of hee Witch Way books.
This was the first book I read by this author and now I want to read more of hee Witch Way books.
March 30, 2024
I very much enjoyed this book. I expected more magic and more development into the supernatural community, but I enjoyed the characters, especially Gran, the storyline and humor. I will read the next in the series.
January 16, 2024
A great short story.
August 8, 2025
I loved reading this story. I liked Harper, Jackson, and Gran. The members of the murder club were also great. I look forward to more of Jane Hinchey's books.
September 6, 2023
I enjoyed this book but it was mostly due to the Grandmother. Although I enjoyed this I more than likely will not be continuing the series.
September 13, 2019
The very first book of the grand adventures of Harper Jones, who had lost her witch license, her librarian job, and that scoundrel of a ex-fiancee Simon within a very short time period in her old city of East Dondure. She moved back to her hometown of Whitefall Cove under the loving guidance of her quirky Gran’s magical wisdom to figure out what to do next about her magic and professional life. She is more upset over the loss of her witch’s license than the breakup with Simon. The Dusty Attic Bookstore is available for sale and waiting for Harper to buy it, per Gran’s advice. When she finds out that Whitney Sims, Harper’s arch nemesis in high school, is the town’s only realtor available to buy the Dusty Attic book store. After the contracts are signed, Harper scheduled to meet with Whitney to pick up the keys to her new business, but she finds more than a set of keys and dusty books waiting for her. Now, it is up to Harper to solve a mystery and get her witch’s license back in time before she is next!
This is the first book of the Witch Way Series, and a perfect introduction to Harper Jones and her witchy family and friends. Harper is smart and very sarcastic, along with Gran’s wise and very funny advice about her love life. The characters are well-developed for this first book which is a rare thing in a new book series. So it will be interesting how these characters develop in future adventures in this series. The snark between the characters is absolutely spot on and so funny. This is a great introduction of Harper and her crew full of fun and fantasy along with mystery and mayhem, mostly on Gran’s part.
Ms. Hinchey can balance the paranormal fantasy and a well-plotted mystery with a touch of reality with ease. She provided several insightful characters, such as Harper and Jackson, that provided some necessary development in personal growth department for Harper. I love to see characters come to the realization their past loves wasn’t a good thing and the future is bright for a new love interest. A book with a very well devised plot with funny and quirky characters with a dash of magic makes an excellent read anytime.
Ms. Hinchey produced a first rate book to a great paranormal mystery series that provides non-stop action that kept this reader’s interest throughout the mystery. She is a master of excellent paranormal storytelling and created memorable characters, such as Gran and Harper, with a healthy dose of magical mystery for our sleuthing crew. I am a very happy reader when I read a well devised plot line with two of most funniest and quirkiest paranormal characters with a dash of sarcasm and humor that wrapped up in a great mystery story.
I cannot wait to read more paranormal mysteries from Ms. Hinchey. A very nice breezy read for a lazy Sunday afternoon. An excellent book that deserves all five stars. I was given an ARC for an honest opinion.
This is the first book of the Witch Way Series, and a perfect introduction to Harper Jones and her witchy family and friends. Harper is smart and very sarcastic, along with Gran’s wise and very funny advice about her love life. The characters are well-developed for this first book which is a rare thing in a new book series. So it will be interesting how these characters develop in future adventures in this series. The snark between the characters is absolutely spot on and so funny. This is a great introduction of Harper and her crew full of fun and fantasy along with mystery and mayhem, mostly on Gran’s part.
Ms. Hinchey can balance the paranormal fantasy and a well-plotted mystery with a touch of reality with ease. She provided several insightful characters, such as Harper and Jackson, that provided some necessary development in personal growth department for Harper. I love to see characters come to the realization their past loves wasn’t a good thing and the future is bright for a new love interest. A book with a very well devised plot with funny and quirky characters with a dash of magic makes an excellent read anytime.
Ms. Hinchey produced a first rate book to a great paranormal mystery series that provides non-stop action that kept this reader’s interest throughout the mystery. She is a master of excellent paranormal storytelling and created memorable characters, such as Gran and Harper, with a healthy dose of magical mystery for our sleuthing crew. I am a very happy reader when I read a well devised plot line with two of most funniest and quirkiest paranormal characters with a dash of sarcasm and humor that wrapped up in a great mystery story.
I cannot wait to read more paranormal mysteries from Ms. Hinchey. A very nice breezy read for a lazy Sunday afternoon. An excellent book that deserves all five stars. I was given an ARC for an honest opinion.
November 16, 2019
This was a fun book to read, if you don’t factor in that it involves murder. Harper Jones has returned home to Whitefall Cove in disgrace, sort of. Her magic license has been suspended due to her losing her cool and turning her professor boyfriend into various creatures. Why? Because she caught him in flagrante delicto with a student at a university event. Back home, she moves in with her grandmother, who everyone calls Gran, a witch with a style all her own. She's eccentric, man crazy, and a gem of a character. She reminds me of Stephanie Plum’s grandmother, only better. Gran convinces Harper to buy the local bookstore in Whitefall Cove. She does, but before she can take possession of the property, a dead body shows up, and it’s Harper’s high school enemy and realtor. From there on, with the help of her friends, Jenna and Monica the vampire, and the dishy police detective, Jackson Ward, it’s a free fall of an investigation to find the murderer.
The writing is great, and the plot is filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing to the end. The humor is scattered in perfect doses throughout the book and will have you giggling along with the action. And to top it all off, there’s a touch of romantic tension brewing.
The ending was great, and it tied up all the loose ends with a pretty bow, ready and waiting for book 2 in the series. If you enjoy cozy paranormal mysteries, you should enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I thank her for her generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review express my true and honest reactions to reading this book.
The writing is great, and the plot is filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing to the end. The humor is scattered in perfect doses throughout the book and will have you giggling along with the action. And to top it all off, there’s a touch of romantic tension brewing.
The ending was great, and it tied up all the loose ends with a pretty bow, ready and waiting for book 2 in the series. If you enjoy cozy paranormal mysteries, you should enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I thank her for her generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review express my true and honest reactions to reading this book.
January 10, 2025
I cannot give this book a full and proper review because I couldn't get past about 20% in. The difficult part about plotting a cozy mystery is finding a plausible reason for the heroine to insert herself into a murder investigation. In this case, the author didn't even bother with a plausible reason...just said "I want to help!" And the story went even more stupid from there. Sorry. Just couldn't do it.
UPDATE - Yeah. Still have issues but a reread went better. I guess I just decided to accept the inconsistency of a detective supporting amateur sleuthing. It is better than 50 iterations of "stay out of my investigation!!" knowing full well the amateur sleuth isn't going to listen. For a paranormal cozy, it wasn't too bad.
UPDATE - Yeah. Still have issues but a reread went better. I guess I just decided to accept the inconsistency of a detective supporting amateur sleuthing. It is better than 50 iterations of "stay out of my investigation!!" knowing full well the amateur sleuth isn't going to listen. For a paranormal cozy, it wasn't too bad.
May 5, 2021
Murder and Mayhem
(When will writers, witches and the like understand that cat's shouldn't have cow's milk, it isn't good for them and give them terrible diarrhoea)
Back in her home town after having her powers taken away and getting fired, because of the crappy fiance in the cloakroom with the student hot and heavy! Living with her fun and eccentric grandmother, bodys are being being dropped everywhere!l
(When will writers, witches and the like understand that cat's shouldn't have cow's milk, it isn't good for them and give them terrible diarrhoea)
Back in her home town after having her powers taken away and getting fired, because of the crappy fiance in the cloakroom with the student hot and heavy! Living with her fun and eccentric grandmother, bodys are being being dropped everywhere!l
July 18, 2023
A cute debut. When a witch finds her boyfriend/fiancé in the coat room cheating with another woman, she loses control of her magic and well it did not turn out well for him, or her. Stripped of her magic, she’s forced back home, living with her nutty grand mother and buying a bookstore. When her high school nemesis is murdered in the bookstore, she works with the local detective to solve the murder.
June 21, 2019
If you love cozy mysteries and a good laugh.... the this is the book series for you. It’s got murder, betrayal, lies, crushes, best friends and a super snazzy grandma who’s a barrel of laughs. What’s not to love?! Definitely going to be reading the next book!
June 21, 2023
Pleasantly surprised
I did not expect that I would enjoy this book quite as much as I did. This may be a new favorite author.
I did not expect that I would enjoy this book quite as much as I did. This may be a new favorite author.
July 15, 2025
⭐Rating: 5/5
❤️Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
📕Format: Kindle (Free)
📚 Book: Witch Way to Murder & Mayhem by Jane Hinchey
🗓️ First Impression: A witchy librarian loses everything, returns home to open a bookstore, when her high school nemesis/realtor is found dead in the new store.
💋 The Vibe: Fun and witchy
🔥 Chemistry Level: Burgeoning romance
💬 Best Line: “I’m an eighty-year-old witch. I have skills” from Gran, who’s a hoot.
🎭 Drama or Dealbreaker: Sad effects of infidelity
📦 Second Date? : ✅ Yes, already have the second in the series.
📚 Match Made in Book Heaven:
- If you liked: Witch Way Librarian series by Angela M. Sanders
- You’ll love this book
📖 The Brief:
Harper Jones loses her job, fiancé, and life in the big city only to return to her small hometown of Whitefall Cove. Besides her tail between her legs, her magic has been officially blocked by the Drixworth’s Witch Council, limiting her ability to wave a wand to fix everything. She’ll have to reinvent herself the hard way until her eccentric Gran offers to buy the shuttered Dusty Attic bookstore. When she enters the newly signed store for the first time, she finds Whitney, her high school nemesis, dead on the floor, and the real magic begins.
💡 What Makes This Book Special:
A fantastical crew of mismatched paranormal characters delights readers with specialized powers and prose. From Harper's two best friends, one a vampire and the other a Fae, to the wolf and fox shifters, this book was filled with an extraordinary array of interesting personalities and abilities. Gran is the funniest character ever with her sexy witch ways and outrageous love life—a true gem.
🥰Favorites:
The murder mystery is well-developed, with new actions and clues consistently drawing readers deeper into the story. Harper and her crew work with the tall and handsome Detective Jackson Ward as tiny sparks fly on their chase to find the killer. A slew of suspects, including a cheating husband, a backstabbing best friend, and a general public that disliked the irritable Whitney, make the adventure a maze of wonder—a great detective story with a surprising end.
❤️Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
📕Format: Kindle (Free)
📚 Book: Witch Way to Murder & Mayhem by Jane Hinchey
🗓️ First Impression: A witchy librarian loses everything, returns home to open a bookstore, when her high school nemesis/realtor is found dead in the new store.
💋 The Vibe: Fun and witchy
🔥 Chemistry Level: Burgeoning romance
💬 Best Line: “I’m an eighty-year-old witch. I have skills” from Gran, who’s a hoot.
🎭 Drama or Dealbreaker: Sad effects of infidelity
📦 Second Date? : ✅ Yes, already have the second in the series.
📚 Match Made in Book Heaven:
- If you liked: Witch Way Librarian series by Angela M. Sanders
- You’ll love this book
📖 The Brief:
Harper Jones loses her job, fiancé, and life in the big city only to return to her small hometown of Whitefall Cove. Besides her tail between her legs, her magic has been officially blocked by the Drixworth’s Witch Council, limiting her ability to wave a wand to fix everything. She’ll have to reinvent herself the hard way until her eccentric Gran offers to buy the shuttered Dusty Attic bookstore. When she enters the newly signed store for the first time, she finds Whitney, her high school nemesis, dead on the floor, and the real magic begins.
💡 What Makes This Book Special:
A fantastical crew of mismatched paranormal characters delights readers with specialized powers and prose. From Harper's two best friends, one a vampire and the other a Fae, to the wolf and fox shifters, this book was filled with an extraordinary array of interesting personalities and abilities. Gran is the funniest character ever with her sexy witch ways and outrageous love life—a true gem.
🥰Favorites:
The murder mystery is well-developed, with new actions and clues consistently drawing readers deeper into the story. Harper and her crew work with the tall and handsome Detective Jackson Ward as tiny sparks fly on their chase to find the killer. A slew of suspects, including a cheating husband, a backstabbing best friend, and a general public that disliked the irritable Whitney, make the adventure a maze of wonder—a great detective story with a surprising end.
November 2, 2023
This was my first cozy mystery. I guess you’ll always remember your first. ‘Witch Way to Murder and Mayhem’ is the first installment for a series Witch is currently up to six titles. I really didn’t know what to expect jumping into this genre, but it was worth the plunge.
The main character, Harper Jones, is down on her luck. She’s had a few unfortunate incidents in her life that have caused her to move back home, living with her Gran. I liked the main character. She’s up front about the mistakes she made and wants to rebuild her life. She’s the kind of character I could really bond with. Gran is an interesting character. Unfortunately, there are some of her eccentricities that I have imagined from the story that I now cannot unimagine. She is both surprising and off the wall. She also shows the magic potential for the series.
The story plot seems to be a bit contrived, but I think that’s okay. It’s not the reason this genre is popular. The plot is more as a ‘setting’ for the story characters, rather than a brain twisting mystery. There are enough elements to push it forward and get the characters interacting. It’s almost like a murder mystery game; there are only so many suspects and clues, so the deck gets shuffled.
It’s a pretty safe world, kind of a small-town United States. The story doesn’t need to dwell on detail because the place is familiar for the characters, and that’s enough for the readers as well. I thought the werewolf camp on the edge of town could have used some filling out, but it’s not that important. The world is built for the plot, conflict, clues, and confrontations. A touch of mystery for some of the supporting character’s backgrounds.
I like this story. It was a nice light read, exactly what I was looking for in this genre. I’ve been reading too many ‘heavier’ books lately, and this is just what I needed. I know I’ll be back for more in this series when I need it. Five of five stars on Goodreads.
The main character, Harper Jones, is down on her luck. She’s had a few unfortunate incidents in her life that have caused her to move back home, living with her Gran. I liked the main character. She’s up front about the mistakes she made and wants to rebuild her life. She’s the kind of character I could really bond with. Gran is an interesting character. Unfortunately, there are some of her eccentricities that I have imagined from the story that I now cannot unimagine. She is both surprising and off the wall. She also shows the magic potential for the series.
The story plot seems to be a bit contrived, but I think that’s okay. It’s not the reason this genre is popular. The plot is more as a ‘setting’ for the story characters, rather than a brain twisting mystery. There are enough elements to push it forward and get the characters interacting. It’s almost like a murder mystery game; there are only so many suspects and clues, so the deck gets shuffled.
It’s a pretty safe world, kind of a small-town United States. The story doesn’t need to dwell on detail because the place is familiar for the characters, and that’s enough for the readers as well. I thought the werewolf camp on the edge of town could have used some filling out, but it’s not that important. The world is built for the plot, conflict, clues, and confrontations. A touch of mystery for some of the supporting character’s backgrounds.
I like this story. It was a nice light read, exactly what I was looking for in this genre. I’ve been reading too many ‘heavier’ books lately, and this is just what I needed. I know I’ll be back for more in this series when I need it. Five of five stars on Goodreads.
June 16, 2024
Harper Jones has back back home in disgrace and is struggling. She lost her temper when she found her handsome professor fiancé Simon in a Christmas party coat closet passionately kissing a student, lost her magic when she was outraged and went briefly magically berserk and turned him, a human into several different creatures, lost her coveted job as head librarian, and of course her apartment, since she shared it with Simon, the now ex fiancé.
So Harper moves back home to live with her Gran and decides, upon her Gran’s urging, to buy The Dusty Attic and open a bookstore.
Harper meets with her former nemesis, mean girl turned realtor Whitney and signs the paperwork. FYI, Whitney STILL the mean girl, just older and it looks bad on her in her 30’s. Harper agrees to meet Whitney at the Dusty Attic to get her keys for the store but when she enters the store, Whitney is on the floor, dead.
The novel is witty and charming for a cozy murder mystery. A handsome detective shows up to interview Harper and there are periodic discussions between the as Harper theorizes on the potential murderer as well as a hilarious host of family and friends that roll right along with her to help and sometimes hinder (accidentally of course, while hilarity still ensues) but in the end when the killer is revealed, it’s quite quite an unexpected surprise.
An enjoyable mystery and an absolutely worthwhile read
March 11, 2024
As a cozy mystery, it hits all the points. I enjoyed the story and the characters were fun to follow along. It was an easy read, the friends' characters were varied and distinct, Gran was over the top but likable, and the mystery was set up right. All of which is why I marked it at 3.75 stars (rounded up).
However, I wished the author gave us just a bit more understanding of the world. I get it - it's a place where all sorts of paranormal beings are and everyone rolls with it. But people are just dropped in, different beings discussed, and we're supposed to know how it all works. I've not read any of her other books and potentially the world building is discussed there, but I shouldn't have to read the other books to understand it. A line or two would do it for me!
Also, the detective is so quick to include a potential suspect into the investigation, which I found a little hard to believe. I did, however, like the romance. So, I guess I liked it but didn't love it.
However, I wished the author gave us just a bit more understanding of the world. I get it - it's a place where all sorts of paranormal beings are and everyone rolls with it. But people are just dropped in, different beings discussed, and we're supposed to know how it all works. I've not read any of her other books and potentially the world building is discussed there, but I shouldn't have to read the other books to understand it. A line or two would do it for me!
Also, the detective is so quick to include a potential suspect into the investigation, which I found a little hard to believe. I did, however, like the romance. So, I guess I liked it but didn't love it.
December 8, 2024
Witch Way to Murder & Mayhem (Witch Way Series #1) — Jane Hinchey (19 chapters) November 27, 2024
This is the story of a librarian witch who lost her wand and therefore her magic when she turned her cheating fiancé into some sort of animal. She goes back to live at her hometown with her outrageously eccentric granny. There she opens up a book store and meets up with other paranormal characters, including former friends who welcome her home, and frenemies from her school days. She also meets the hunky detective and his by-the-book cop co-worker slash girlfriend. When the aforementioned frenemy is found dead on her store’s floor, she decides to find out what happened.
This was sitting on my Kobo reader, as a freebie and I pick it up to read. Lately, I’ve been all about the audiobooks. But this one really caught my fancy and am I glad it did!
Fun story with great amounts of humor. Loved it! I went and downloaded the books 1-6 set on Kobo Plus.
Five stars.
This is the story of a librarian witch who lost her wand and therefore her magic when she turned her cheating fiancé into some sort of animal. She goes back to live at her hometown with her outrageously eccentric granny. There she opens up a book store and meets up with other paranormal characters, including former friends who welcome her home, and frenemies from her school days. She also meets the hunky detective and his by-the-book cop co-worker slash girlfriend. When the aforementioned frenemy is found dead on her store’s floor, she decides to find out what happened.
This was sitting on my Kobo reader, as a freebie and I pick it up to read. Lately, I’ve been all about the audiobooks. But this one really caught my fancy and am I glad it did!
Fun story with great amounts of humor. Loved it! I went and downloaded the books 1-6 set on Kobo Plus.
Five stars.
December 4, 2023
I always get nervous downloading books on Stuff Your Kindle Day, but when I saw a witchy version of that, I was super excited! The synopsis of this book and the fact that it is rated 4.36 with over 2,000 reviews made me say “ok” to downloading this one.
This was a quick and easy read, and I thought it was so cute! The main character was relatable in the events (& actions) that led her back to her hometown. From there, you can feel the tension between her and her “high school nemesis.” When the nemesis ends up dead in Harper’s newly acquired bookstore, she is thrown into “detective” mode to clear her name and finally get the “fresh start” she hoped for in Whitefall Cove. I was also thrown into “detective” mode because I wanted to figure out this murder mystery and see if Harper can get her powers back! Immediately after finishing this one, I wanted to download book 2!
This was a quick and easy read, and I thought it was so cute! The main character was relatable in the events (& actions) that led her back to her hometown. From there, you can feel the tension between her and her “high school nemesis.” When the nemesis ends up dead in Harper’s newly acquired bookstore, she is thrown into “detective” mode to clear her name and finally get the “fresh start” she hoped for in Whitefall Cove. I was also thrown into “detective” mode because I wanted to figure out this murder mystery and see if Harper can get her powers back! Immediately after finishing this one, I wanted to download book 2!
November 4, 2024
BOOK REPORT
At some point earlier this year I took advantage of an offer to download a bunch of free paranormal cozies. I did so knowing that there would come a time when I would want to read but not to put too much effort into it, either because I was sick or injured or overwhelmed with the world.
Two out of three today, and I am not sick. Unless sick of [gestures wildly] everything counts?
Sigh.
Anywhoodles, this little bit of fluff kept me entertained and mildly intrigued for the part of the time I spent on the outside couch reading it this afternoon. And it was actually good enough that I am seriously considering continuing the series.
Mainly because of the cat, of course.
At some point earlier this year I took advantage of an offer to download a bunch of free paranormal cozies. I did so knowing that there would come a time when I would want to read but not to put too much effort into it, either because I was sick or injured or overwhelmed with the world.
Two out of three today, and I am not sick. Unless sick of [gestures wildly] everything counts?
Sigh.
Anywhoodles, this little bit of fluff kept me entertained and mildly intrigued for the part of the time I spent on the outside couch reading it this afternoon. And it was actually good enough that I am seriously considering continuing the series.
Mainly because of the cat, of course.
September 5, 2023
Harper Jones' downfall encompassed a cheating fiance, a lost job and the removal of her magic - it was time to return to her hometown and start over. Parlaying her career as a librarian into a bookstore owner seemed a no-brainer until her real estate agent (and old nemesis) wound up dead in her new shop. Without magic, Harper feels limited and helpless; luckily, she has good friends and her Gran to back her up.
Though I liked most of the characters in the story, I could not get past my dislike for Gran. There seems to be a new trend of writing older ladies (particularly the grandmother to the main character) as vulgar with a love for tawdry clothing. Frankly, this was the sticking part for me. The rest of the mystery held my interest. As an introduction to a series, the book did a beautiful job of allowing a meet-and-greet for the characters while still producing a riveting whodunit.
Though I liked most of the characters in the story, I could not get past my dislike for Gran. There seems to be a new trend of writing older ladies (particularly the grandmother to the main character) as vulgar with a love for tawdry clothing. Frankly, this was the sticking part for me. The rest of the mystery held my interest. As an introduction to a series, the book did a beautiful job of allowing a meet-and-greet for the characters while still producing a riveting whodunit.
October 5, 2024
After Harper catches her fiancée cheating on her and unleashes her magic on him, she not only loses her job but has her magic taken away. She moves back to her hometown which is home to many different magical people. She buys a bookstore and starts taking a refresher course in witchcraft to help her regain her magic. Shortly after closing on the bookstore, she finds her realtor's body in the store. She and her friends and grandmother start working on finding the murderer to clear Harper who has a not-so-great history with the Realtor. Looking forward to learning more about Harper and her friends in the next book in the series.
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