Spell Caster

Paranormal Criminal Investigations #1

by Laura Greenwood

Alternate cover edition of ASIN B07MJZG2PZ

Can magic and science come together to catch a murderer? 

Cassie's world is turned upside down when she's given an unusual blood sample to test. And when a mysterious man shows up at her lab telling her he has the answers she's looking for, she's pulled into a world of murder, investigations, and intrigue. 

Finally able to explore the connection between her powers as a witch and her expertise as a scientist to uncover why paranormals keep turning up dead.
- 
Spell Caster is a reverse harem paranormal mystery set in the Paranormal Council Universe. 

Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Vampires, Shapeshifters, Urban Fantasy, Magic, Audiobook

154 pages, ebook

First published January 31, 2019

About the author

Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of fantasy romance and urban fantasy. She lives in the UK, where most of her books are set, with her partner. When she's not writing, Laura can be found exploring worldwide cusine with her partner, drinking tea, and reading fantasy books. Laura specialises in quick reads, featuring healthy relationships and consent-positive moments, regardless of whether she's writing light-hearted romance, mythology-inspired modern fantasy, cozy fantasy or anything in between.

Discover one of Laura Greenwood's most popular series:
- The Apprentice of Anubis (mythology inspired modern/urban fantasy)
- Forgotten Gods (mythology inspired fantasy romance)
- Jinx Paranormal Dating Agency (mythology inspired paranormal rom-com)
- House of Blood and Roses (vampire romantasy)
- Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries (urban fantasy murder mystery)
- Scales of Justice (mythology inspired modern/urban fantasy)
- Purple Oak Oasis (cozy fantasy romance)
- Falhaven Castle (cozy fantasy romance)

You can find a full book list and more information on her website, or in her Facebook Reader Group.

Happy Reading!

Reviews

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't quite figure this one out

I'm not sure at all why this is a reverse harem novel. I mean I guess it is. It's got one female lead who learns she has 3 Male mates, but despite not even a handful of kisses this isn't a romance. First the characters have zero chemistry, mating is basically a fate thing and they just sort of accept it in the same way you accept finding the morning paper on the porch and know its delivered. Its clinical and not at all romantic. There's no love even mentioned, I mean glad it's not instalove but I wouldn't even call it romance. The mystery wasn't so much predictable as it was easy. The characters faced no struggle at all discovering clues. Cassie got an idea and with a few paragraphs found proof to substantiate her idea. There's no sense of danger, it's almost like a story with all the emotions sucked out of it. Even mystery had emotion, the build up of fear, the sense of danger, the frustration of meeting dead ends are all huge parts of the mystery genre. This story doesn't have any of that. The characters are distinctive but I didn't actually care about them, they were static on the page. Laura Greenwood has some excellent stories, but I wouldn't count this among them. It felt more like a clinical checklist than an engrossing story.

[Laura Greenwood]

Paranormal Criminal Investigations Series:

1. Spell Caster: books2read.com/spellcaster
2. Spell Tamer: books2read.com/spelltamer
3. Spell Wielder: books2read.com/spellwielder
4. Spell Searcher: books2read.com/spellsearcher
- Familiar Magic: books2read.com/familiarmagic

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been wanting to read one of Laura Greenwood's books for a while now, I've bought multiple of her books, but only read one of her co-written books until now. When I was in the mood for a fast paced paranormal read I picked this one up and it fit my mood perfectly. Spell Caster is a fast paced read set in the normal world, but with all sorts of paranormal creatures who live hidden from the normal humans.

I liked how every scenes had value and added to the story. And at a time where sometimes I could only read a chapter or two of this book, it was really nice to have the story progress with every chapter I read.

Spell Caster is told from Cassie's point of view. She's a witch who works at a human lab. One day her boss asks her to test a mysterious sample. After that she's meets three guys who are investigating a murder and the sample is related. The three guys are also her mates. This book has a mix of paranormal, mystery and romance elements. I thought the balance was done well.

While I like mysteries that keep me guessing, there's also something to be said for more straightforward plots. The mystery of who is behind the murders is solved relatively easy and it was nice to have them figure that out soon and move on to figuring out the why and where. The why seemed most difficult to solve. I liked how the mystery progressed, but it also felt like it was missing a little something to really grab my attention here. The show down at the end fell a bit flat, but on the other hand I kinda liked how realistic it felt and how smart the characters acted. I also would've liked a bit more about the motivation and what the bad guy was doing. The wrap up is quite fast and I would've liked a bit more earlier on about what he was doing and why. I think the next book has a different mystery, so not sure if we get more of that.

I liked the set-up for the romance, but for now it's very much in the beginning stages. Cassie meets the three guys and forms a bit of a bond with them. As they are all mates they have this instant connection which makes things a bit easier, but I liked that besides that they still took time to get to know each other and fall for one another as well. For now I am not really feeling the romance yet, but so far I liked Cassie and her guys. I am curious to see where the romance goes. I liked how we see Cassie spend time with each of the guys and also some scenes where they all work together.

The world building was well done. It's sprinkled in here and there and I felt like I got a decent feel for the world and am eager to learn more. The world has different councils for different paranormal species and there's something called the high council as well. I haven't seen that as a concept before, so that was nice. There clearly are plenty of different paranormal and I liked getting a feel for some of their powers. I hope to see more of Cassie's magic in book 2, she's a witch, but I am not quite sure what their powers and limits are. She uses magic a few times, but it's not a big part of the book. The necromancer powers seemed quite fascinating and unlike I've seen before in books. I hope to read more of them. There also is a bit of shifters and vampires and a bit about mates.

To summarize: I liked this fast paced book which combined paranormal, mystery and romance elements. I liked the premise with Cassie helping three guys with their paranormal investigation surrounding some murders of paranormals. The mystery progressed quite smoothly and they found out easy enough who was behind it, it was nice to see a more straightforward mystery, but at the same time it felt like something was missing for me to really get pulled into the story. I liked the characters and the romance from what we've seen so far, but I hope to see more in future books. I liked the world building and the whole concept of the different councils and it was nice to see some unique paranormal skills, especially when it came to the necromancer powers. All in this was a good start to this series and I look forward to read book 2.

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
Sigh. This wasn't bad. It was just sort of a mess. For one, it's called a reverse harem, which infers (though admittedly doesn't say) it's erotic. Most reverse harem books you encounter are, so tying itself into a known erotic trope suggests it is too. It isn't. The steamiest this gets is that Cassie kisses each of her mates once (and they're not even descriptive passionate kisses) and then each man kisses her forehead or the top of her head once. There is no passion or eroticism in this at all. If she was interested, I'd let me 9yo read it.

Similarly there isn't any passion (erotic or otherwise) about the mating. Cassie has a calm conversation with each man and then moves on. It literally could have been a work meeting over coffee. (Once even is over coffee.)

But most importantly, how this four-way mating might work isn't addressed at all. It's clarified that each man is her mate and they aren't each others mates (no menage). But I have a hard time believing that will work with no jealousy. Why would these guys share a mate?

The book would have simply been IMMENSELY improved if the author had left the mate element out and let the book be about Cassie getting a new job and earning her spot on the Paranormal Crimes Investigation team. And I honestly think the author would only have had to cut about 2% of the text to make this true. I cannot emphasize enough how underdeveloped the mate aspect is. It's so underdeveloped that it's just a distraction and detraction in the plot. I think I'd have really liked the book if it was just a paranormal mystery. As it is, I was just disappointed.

Edit: On a side note, the title is Spell Caster, but Cassie doesn't cast a single spell in the book. She uses magic, but never an actual spell. Just saying.

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.

Greenwood has created one fascinating world with this new book. Supernaturals exist but have to become public though they are somewhat organized within their own areas. We meet Cassie a witch who works undercover in an a lab running tests and interference to keep supernaturals a secret. Her world changes when her boss brings her a blood sample that is weird in an off the charts way. Just as she is looking into it three men barrel into her life wanting her to work with them since their cases are essentially connected. This opens the way to a slow burn RH romance with a magical flair that will keep you captivated as the story unfolds. I cannot wait to see where the next book takes us. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.

[Tash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy kindly provided by the author in exchange for a honest review
If you like a bit of a mystery with your romance. Greenwood has you covered with her brand new series. Set in the same world as Paranormal Council Universe, readers are introduced to Cassie a witch with a gift for science . Working in forensics , under secret orders, life should be easy. However with a bombshell dropped on her lap , things get very interesting and opens a can of worms.

Greenwood has a fast paced story here, whilst it's classified RH , it's low on heat. It focuses more on the story and the characterisation of the leads who all have interesting qualities that help them draw together in their mystery that seems to be far from straight forward. It's one that takes a while to get your head around so it no surprise the heat is low . Though you definitely get an eyeful of the guys and they are definitely not hard to like .


What makes this book enjoyable aside from the obvious leads is the mystery elements which plays out to the dying pages and allows for discoveries to take centre stage. Even the leads don't know the full picture so the discoveries are organic and thrilling. It's refreshing to have a criminal investigation like this whilst it's a murder , it's very much about the science behind things and delving into that side of things and understanding how magic can go hand and hand.
Readers will enjoy the thrill of the chase and Cassie as a character. It's a enjoyable first book and hopefully the gang won't have a too long of a wait before they are back with a brand new mystery.


For more of my reviews, visit Thoughts by Tash.And drop by the blog's Facebook page

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m fairly new to this author, and I am quite enjoying catching up on her backlist. This is the first book in the series, and it is such a fun one. It’s not very lengthy, but it’s filled with a mystery, a witch finding her mates, and some great writing. I love that no one is questioning/doubting/denying the mate bonds, and they are all pretty mature about it. I also love a good mystery to go with my romance. I’m excited to read the next one on the series, and I don’t have to wait. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Someone is experimenting on paranormal". Hearing that statement Cassie is drawn into a murder investigation beyond her wildest imagination. Suspicions already aroused by her boss's unusual behavior, the paranormal CSI unit has pulled her into mystery, danger, and death. An unusual love triangle emerges when Cassie, a witch, joins with the team of a vampire, a necromancer, and a bat shifter pathologist.
I enjoyed this book because I love mysteries, and this was especially interesting because of the paranormal aspects so it is an unusual whodunit. Greenwood's strength has always been well drawn characters and the unusual team that forms continues in this story. Unusual twists add suspense to both the mystery and the romantic elements. Its a great read

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[LMR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spell Caster By: Laura Greenwood
Great Series Beginning That Surely Doesn't Disappoint!! One-Click "Spell Caster!"
She's a "Spell Caster" First Class,
Working in a Dreary Human Lab,
Who would just like to take a Stab, at Solving Puzzles...
Outsida Her MAGIC Stifling Lab!
You've Heard IT before, but it Pays to Reiterate...
Be Careful what you Wish For,
Before it's TOO LATE!
Not ADVICE this S€X¥ "Spell Caster" Chose to live By...
As She Explores Mixing MAGIC with SCIENCE!
As a Bonus, or Hindrance, she's also getting Fated Mates in Multiples...
If she Dares to Try IT!
Hang on tight, Dear Readers, & Beware...
Cuz this is just the 1st Installment of "Spell Caster," but it's got some serious Flare!
So, Remember your going on a Ride without a FIRM Resolution in Mind & Sight, but there will be a HFN Moment of Bliss, along with a few Smooching Kiss, Kiss, Kisses!
I was granted an ARC of Laura Greenwood's "Spell Caster" via Booksprout; I recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time... Happy Reading!

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassie Morgan’s boss asked for her help with a sample that wasn’t going through the machines properly. He had tried every machine in the building with the same result. She loved solving puzzles like this, but didn’t want to alert him about her magic. She suspected the blood sample might belong to a paranormal and that’s why the machines couldn’t analyze it. Her analysis pointed to avian shifter blood, but the other tests didn’t support that, even with her using a little magic. She mumbled to herself and a strange man spoke to her. His name was Hadrian and he said he had come to see her! He told her she was correct about it being avian blood, but it had been tampered with before it was extracted and they wanted to know what was introduced. He talked her into helping them.

Still not sure she fully trusted Hadrian , Cassie sat nervously waiting for him. When three men entered, she tingled in reaction to the mating bond! Hadrian introduced her to Zack, who had a bit of a hostile attitude, and Isaac, who seemed friendlier. But Isaac was a necromancer and she doubted she would have that reaction to him. She had met Hadrian in her lab earlier and did not react. However, they discussed the situation where paranormals were being killed. They needed her forensics skills to find out why. They finally told her they worked for the High Council, a mysterious organization that the other paranormal councils knew little about. This time when Hadrian touched her arm, she felt the sparks!

Cassie is grateful for the opportunity to use her scientific skills side by side with her magic without having to hide it away. And she finds that the three men she is working with are all her mates! It makes it so much better when you don’t have to choose! The guys are all very different but very likable, and the four of them make a powerful team of investigators! Their chief suspect will surprise the reader – and the suspense will rise even higher! This is a great start to a new series! Grab your copy and let yourself be amazed!

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The moment I got the e-mail that I could get an ARC of the second book in this series, I didn't hesitate for a moment. I knew that I needed to catch up with the first book first, but I also knew that Laura Greenwood rarely disappoints. I was especially looking forward to reading this book when Greenwood told us on Facebook that the heroine in this story isn't the most outgoing fighting type, but a research nerd. I'm a research nerd too! And I rarely see girls like that in books.

And from the very start I read this book with a huge smile on my face. Cassie is such an amazing character. She was everything I had hoped she would be and more. She was curious, she really cared about researching, she had her heart in the right place and she wasn't afraid to take a few risks, without becoming reckless, and she wasn't afraid to tell people what she actually wanted. She was a strong female character, just not with the fighting skills nor the weapons. I want more heroines like her!

However, Cassie was not the only amazing thing in this story. I also really loved the plot, even though it wasn't too spectacular. The plot fit and followed the characters. They weren't the fighter's type, not even the guys. They mostly used their brains and logic to figure things out. And I quite enjoyed watching them solving the puzzle with intelligence. It doesn't happen often that characters actually do the logical things, but in this case they really did. What a nice change!

Last but not least, Greenwood once again managed to write some really sweet heroes making our heroines life a little better. I loved how all three guys were already working as a unit and were already friends. It always makes the reverse harem forming a little easier, but it also means that we get to see more of the guys sooner. And all three guys were different and unique and had their own story, but they all were amazingly sweet and my kind of guys.

I'm now even more excited about reading the second book than I already was!

[Stephanie Augustine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this may have been my favorite Laura Greenwood novel to date. While I do wish there was a little more details into the case that was presented everything else fell into place. I didn't feel like I need more background information on the characters. The plot never really made me feel the need for one. I really enjoyed the pacing on the novel. One of the good things about her novels being shorter is that I don't have to worry about them being boring or slow paced. Each scene led right into the next at a great place. The case that was being investigated was interesting and that's why I wish there was just that extra detail to go into it.

I instantly latched on to Cassie's character. I liked how honest she was with herself - she knew exactly what she was capable of but didn't have a big ego about it. The boys each complimented themselves well while also being the perfect companion for Cassie. With this novel the romance wasn't heavy at all which I liked because it let the story shine through more. It was interesting seeing all the different types of paranormals working and falling for each other.

NARRATION REVIEW
I liked the narration. It definitely wasn't my favorite and I did find the different inflections of the character voicings to be a little similar but overall it was well done. If you are interested I would consider the narration.

**This has been an Audiobook Obsession review**

[Mariah Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been wanting to read a Laura Greenwood book for awhile now and decided to ask the author which book she would recommend for me. That is how I started out with "Spell Caster" by Laura Greenwood as my first ever book. What intrigued me by this book/series is it follows Cassie who is a witch, a forensic scientist, and she helps track down paranormal criminals. I loved every minute of this book and so glad I went with Laura's recommendation.

I really loved how this book was made. Each and every scene in the story had a point which made the story flow very well. This also made it a quick read as it is around 150 pages. At the end I found myself wanting more to read of this book and just knew I would have to continue on to the next book in the series.

"Spell Caster" is told in Cassie's point of view. She is a witch who works at a lab as a blood analyst and one day she is given an unusual blood sample to test, by her boss. Then a man appears and tells Cassie that the blood sample is related to something more and asked if she wants to go with him to find out more. She does find out that she has multiple mates which is what makes this book a reverse harem novel.

I have never read a reverse harem novel, but I thought the way Laura added the mates into the story was amazing. The romance did not take away from the story. In fact it added to it and made it more interesting. This is only the beginning of their romance and I can't wait to see where the relationships take them all. I definitely can see the future books having more of the bonds between them shown.

For the crime solving and mystery of the book, I think it was well made and more realistic than most criminal stories. There was a chain of command that had to be followed which was relatable and they were not able to do whatever they wanted. I feel like there could have been more description when it came to the ending scenes. I think for these situations it might have been nice to see the points of views of the other characters so we would get a full picture of what was going on while Cassie was alone.

I really enjoyed how Laura created the world. Even though it is set in the now, I still got the feel of how the world would be if paranormal people were in it. It would be like now, with us not knowing about it. I enjoyed getting to learn about all the paranormal people that were living in the world. There were many different types.

Overall I give this book a 4.5/5 stars. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series and following along with all of Cassie's other mysteries that she has to solve. I recommend reading this book and others by Laura Greenwood. I have a feeling I will not be disappointed with any of her books.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

CSI: Paranormal

What a fun paranormal take on crime scene investigation! The heroine of this book works as a CSI lab rat in a nonmagical institution; she happens to be a witch. At work, they don't know this, but they do know to bring her unusual bits of evidence because she seems to be one of the few lab people who can figure strange things out. Of course, she's able to do this with a little bit of magic!

As soon as the book starts, she is brought an unusual blood sample. She determines that it is avian shifter blood. Right as she is working on this, Men In Black type guys show up questioning her about it. The entire team (whom we don’t meet all at once) actually do work for an entity called the High Council, a shadowy uber-Council (as each type of paranormal community has its own council), and they eventually recruit her to their team. Strange deaths are happening in the paranormal world, and the leader of the team believes that she can help them figure it out with her unique CSI skillset. It turns out as well that the men on her team appear to be her mates.

The book has some of the typical errors in punctuation, grammar, and usage that are often seen in modern books, but I didn't find them overly distracting. It was a fun, well-written story that made me keep turning the pages.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can magic and science come together to catch a murderer?
Cassie's world is turned upside down when she's given an unusual blood sample to test. And when a mysterious man shows up at her lab telling her he has the answers she's looking for, she's pulled into a world of murder, investigations, and intrigue.
Finally able to explore the connection between her powers as a witch and her expertise as a scientist to uncover why paranormals keep turning up dead.
-
Spell Caster is a reverse harem paranormal mystery set in the Paranormal Council Universe.

This book tells the story of our main character, Cassie, she is a witch herself, finding her way unexpectedly into a new job working for the PCI (Paranormal Criminal Investigations) Department.
Fantastic new series and already can't wait for more!
The story-line was really good and the characters were great.
This is a great murder mystery and not just a typical reverse harem paranormal novel which is great in my opinion.
You definitely get a feel for the actual emotions building as you read.
This novel has a lot style, humour, emotions all running through it.
I can't wait to see what mysteries unfold in the future for Cassie and the lab.
I look forward to reading more about Cassie and the guys as the story develops further.
It is definitely worth reading and doesn't disappoint.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pamela Gramlisch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassandra Morgan is a witch and she works at a lab checking blood specimens. Her boss Michael asks her to check a specimen that the other lab techs can't figure out. She find out it's an avian shifters blood, but something is wrong with it. She has been placed there by the Witches Council to hide any findings if they are paranormal samples of blood. Then a man appears in her lab. His name is Hadrian and he's a vampire. He also works for the Paranormal Criminal Investigations which is under the High Council. The next day she meets Hadrian again, but with two other men. Isaac is a necromancer and Zack is a bat shifters and sometimes pathologist. They all are looking into who is experimenting on and murdering shifters. They also feel the mate bond to Cassie and she feels it with them too. So there is kissing, but too soon for the sex part. Your getting to know the characters and what they do. I really like the depth Ms. Greenwood goes into in her series. So I'm looking forward to reading the second book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anita Hanekom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this book, the characters were well-crafted with such distinct personalities and I liked each one individually and I really enjoyed them as a team. Cassie is a witch who works at a lab when she is asked to test a blood sample that seems to be confounding all the machines in the lab. One of Cassie's jobs is to make sure that should any paranormal samples that come through get hidden as it is paramount that their existence be kept from the human population. Hadiran, Zack and Isaac (a vampire, a bat shifter and a necromancer respectively) come into her life because supernaturals are turning up dead and the mystery sample has something to do with the crimes. Add to the mystery that needs to be solved these three men just happen to be her mates but with Zack's seeming hostility towards her and the fact that they know absolutely nothing about each other and with a murder to catch not much time to learn things are not easy. Can they catch a killer and build a bond at the same time?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie is a fun lead - a witch with a scientific bent and a love for bright hair colors. Witchy magic plus a forensics lab opens all sorts of interesting possibilities! Add in some more paranormals with skills to round out the team and a juicy mystery full of danger - sounds promising, right?

Mix together a little bit of police procedural, a little bit of urban fantasy and a touch of low heat - fated mated RH romance and in this case you end up with something that feels a lot like a paranormal cozy mystery. It kind of felt like it was playing at different harder/more gritty genres, but didn't really want to commit, so everything stayed kind of light, safe and easy. Villain was pretty dark, but the book itself didn't get graphic - mostly implied and of stage. It was an entertaining read and the characters were all fleshed out enough to be distinct. Science stayed decidedly on the fantasy side but was kind of cute.

Book one in a series, this does have a complete story arc, no cliff hanger.

[Leslie Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore the Paranormal Universe and all of the different stories. I love that this is more of a CSI type series. We have a witch, Cassie, working at a human lab where she sometimes combines her magic with the science to get results. She is intelligent, determined and brave. When approached to join a joint investigation she jumps at the chance to openly use her magic. The three investigators working on the case have more than just results on their minds. Now the guys, with these three I couldn't choose a favorite. They are all fantastic and very individual. Cassie fits perfectly in the team, she may need to learn the new set of rules she will have to play by, but her guys will help with that. I look forward to seeing their relationship grow. I already love this new series and think you will too. I requested an advanced reader copy and am under no obligation to leave this review.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassie had always felt herself to be a bit of an odd duck - a witch and a chemist working in a lab doing bloodwork.

she has a knack for understanding the unusual in samples, and has deduced traits that mark the samples as from paranormals.

while she has been aware of a High Council for Witches, she was not aware of the Paranormal Council as a supe regulating body.

when she meets Hadrian and his team, she thinks something else might be afoot. mate sparks are tingling for her.

not your average day at work when you discovers one or more potential mates.

Cassie just might be seeing the start of her life destiny and calling - and her matebond.

Spooky working are afoot - but Cassie and the boys have the combined skills to get to the root of the situation.

More intriguing investigations seem likely ahead - and I am very much looking forward to reading about them!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the story of our main character, Cassie, herself a witch, finding her way unexpectedly into a new job working for the PCI (Paranormal Criminal Investigations) Department. After a sample of blood shows up for testing at the lab she is currently working for, she becomes wrapped up in a crime investigation regarding paranormals. The story has a good crime drama feel to it mixed up with the paranormal aspects and their challenges of secretly living among humans. She also incidentally learns she has three mates in the process, but that is only touched on briefly, if that was something you were looking for. This book is more about the crime investigation, and their interactions had more of a sweet romantic tone. It was a unique read and pulled you in quickly. I look forward to the rest of the series.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassie works in a lab testing blood. Her boss asks her to test some blood that is not running through the machines properly. There’s something a little off with her boss but she can’t put her finger on it. The next thing she knows she’s being brought into a team of three to help them figure out who is killing paranormals. It is all apparently connected to the blood that she was given to test.

One of the things I really liked about this book is, that even though it’s a reverse harem, there’s not any sort of explicit sex going on. Right now since they just met it’s only kissing. I’m not big on big descriptions of sex scenes, so I’m hoping that it stays that way in the remaining books because this one was really, really good.

I’m really looking forward to the second book in the series and I highly recommend getting it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first book in the Paranormal Crimes Investigation (PCI) series is an excellent read, and I really enjoyed it. While it is a reverse harem story (RH), the romance content is secondary to the murder investigation, and the relationship development is more slow burning than a lot of the other RH books I've read (including some by this author!). I liked this way better as it's more honest, and I look forward to seeing how the characters' relationships continue to develop throughout the series, and how that'll affect the rest of the books' crime solving content too! Definitely recommended reading for Laura Greenwood and paranormal mystery and romance fans, and I can't wait to read the next instalment!
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions

[Helgaleena Healingline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite changing her hair color every other day, Cassie has a very scientific mindset that suits her mundane laboratory job. Her bosses don't need to know that she uses witch magic now and then to solve problems that seem intractable. The paranormal world does not want to be found out, even though it may exist side by side with the regular one.

Then one day a blood sample turns out to be quite unusual-- and she gets a visit from a mysterious man who promises to reveal all of its secrets if she agrees to help him on an investigation into where it came from. Before she knows it she's helping a trio of paranormal investigators track down s serial murderer-- and all three of them give her magical tingles all over.

A new chapter of Cassie's life is about to unfold, and it's exciting and rewarding in more ways than one. Young adult level romance.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

Wow, this had some really interesting ideas in it! Paranormal and Science all thrown together into the mix? Yes, definitely! Of course, I’ve no idea how accurate the sciencey part is, not being a scientist myself or knowing much about that world, apart from via TV and reading books, but it definitely piqued my interest. Oh yes, and add some RH romance into the mix, why don’t you? Lots of different paranormals, all coming together for a bit of action.

The world building wasn’t too bad, although it could have done with a little bit more fleshing out, but the concept was definitely up my street. Plenty of fun and action and a series to keep an eye on! I hope we see more of Cassie soon!

Final rating: ★★★★☆ – Really liked

[Christi Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Spell Caster
Author: Laura Greenwood
Format: Audio
Narrator: Ruth Bailes
Genre: Paranormal suspense with some romantic RH elements, mystery, vampire, shifter, witch, necromancer
Standalone: Yes
Part of a Series: Paranormal Criminal Investigations #1
POV: Cassie
Steam Level: Minimal - some kissing
4/5

I've read/listened to several Laura Greenwood stories. I like how they all (or at least the ones I've read) take place in the same world but are standalone. Spell Caster is a fun start to a new series. It has hints of a RH romance but mainly focuses on solving the murders. While this story goes at a slow, plodding pace it really speeds up when they are close to finding this killer. I look forward to reading more about Cassie and the guys in later books.

I received this audiobook for free Audiobook Obsession. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Goddess of Chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

“So far you’ve managed to get to the bottom of everything we throw at you.”

Cassie is good at her job, and that’s without using her magic. Let her use her magic and she’d find even more answers… or help solve even more cases.

When she’s approached to help three Paranormals solve a case she can’t help but feel like she’s auditioning to join their team… even as she has that nagging feeling they’ve already done their research and know all about her.

This done in one quick read is equal parts intriguing world building and whodunnit, with each member of the team having their own reasons for wanting to solve crimes, when it comes down to it their common ground is indeed wanting to save lives, solve crimes, and arresting the bad guy, and seeing them punished is a great end to a case.

I was gifted with a copy of this book and chose to share my review.

[Renée · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassie and the team are looking into murder investigations which have occurred in the paranormal community. The twists and turns of the story will have you hooked to find out who committed the crimes.

This is just the beginning of a new reverse harem series, which plays a part in Laura Greenwood’s Paranormal Council Universe.

I know this is key for some, but there is no cliffhanger in the story. In no way did this impact me wanting to read more of Cassie’s world.

I’m looking forward to reading more about the developing relationship of Cassie, Hadrian, Issac and Zack, in the future Paranormal Criminal Investigations books.

Absolutely loved Cassie’s story, and I highly recommend Spell Caster.

[Anne Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Cassie's boss gives her a sample of blood to examine, everything changes for her. The sample is strange - she cant work out what it is without using her powers - then a stranger comes to the lab, and Hadrian asks her to work with them to help solve multiple murders. When the next victim turns out to be someone she knows, there is no way Cassie can refuse to help - and that leads her to a situation that she would never have expected! I love this book, and hope it is the beginning of another series by this amazing author

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to a new series of paranormal investigators. The main story, of who was killing paranormals was completed in this book, but the under lying story of Cassie joining her 3 bond mates in paranormal investigations is set to continue in the next book. Although the locations in the story were well described and so were the personalities of her mates, there was no description of what the guys looked like and apart from Cassie’s hair colour changing we don’t know how she looks either. Look forward to the next book to see how the relationships develop.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.