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Wisteria Witches #3

Wisteria Wonders

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Length: 8 hours and 7 minutes

Just when Zara Riddle thought she was handling the whole witch-librarian thing, her friend got zapped into a flamingo. Yes, the pink-feathered kind. Her library coworker Frank Wonder is now four and a half feet tall, and none too happy about it!

The Department of Water and Magic gets involved, but now they want Zara to channel a missing spirit. The fiesty redheaded librarian wants to help, REALLY, but this new spirit is going to be murder on her love life.

With a few timely spells, some top-secret sleuthing, and (of course) the appropriate reference materials, Zara Riddle should have this case solved in no time. If it doesn't kill her.

WISTERIA WONDERS is a complete, full-length novel.

WISTERIA WONDERS is the third book in the Wisteria Witches series, which can be read in any order but will be more fun this way:

#1 - Wisteria Witches (available now)
#2 - Wicked Wisteria (available now)
#3 - Wisteria Wonders (coming January 2017)

If you love author Angela Pepper's wildly funny characters, be sure to check out her other cozy murder mystery series: STORMY DAY MYSTERIES, GHOST MYSTERIES OF THE SOUTHWEST, and DIAMOND FILES.

Audible Audio

First published January 15, 2017

1162 people are currently reading
434 people want to read

About the author

Angela Pepper

60 books592 followers
USA Today Bestselling author Angela Pepper lives with her family in the rainy Pacific Northwest, surrounded by spoiled kitties, deer, raccoons, and the biggest woodpeckers you've ever seen.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,239 reviews2,343 followers
November 30, 2018
Wisteria Wonders
Wisteria Witches Mysteries, Book 3
By: Angela Pepper
Narrated by: Tiffany Williams
This is an Audible book I requested and the review is voluntary. I adore these books! They have everything I need in a fantasy! Lots of creatures living together in a town like it's normal. Great mysteries with great clues but it still leaves me baffled. Fun characters with very interesting quirks and a wonderful plot! I love the humor too! Fantasy, touch of romance, quirky characters, humor, crazy creatures, and a great story all read by a terrific narrator! What else could you want?
Profile Image for Arunimaa.
230 reviews226 followers
May 4, 2021
This was a pretty dramatic installment. In terms of awkward relationship problems.

It was nonetheless fun and throughly hilarious as all its predecessors with its wierd, eccentric characters. So, in terms of plot, I was quite satisfied. However, there were certain character developments ( negative ones ) that I couldn't move past. Chet, for example. The way he treated Zara throughout made me so mad. She is doing him a favour, doing something she has no obligation towards. And yet, he somehow has the audacity to boss her around, not give her enough information which can potentially put her life at risk and then get mad at things that were his fault to begin with.

He was the one who always gave mixed signals right from the start. It was obvious he was into Zara. And then he suddenly comes to her for help in reviving his dying fiance. (not a spoiler. This is revealed somewhere at the beginning and it sets the premise of this instalment). I felt so bad for Zara throughout this one. In fact, I was also pissed at her for not being more pissed at Chet. Like, I get it. Zara is a funny character. She jokes around all the time but I wish she would sometimes be serious as well. Her joking around while being mad sort of takes away the gravity of the entire situation.

Anyway, Chet is a definite no - beau for me. If the author chooses to pursue their romance, I think it's going to be unnecessarily complicated and messy. Zara deserves better.
Profile Image for Katter.
345 reviews9 followers
January 5, 2019
Well, this story was kind of a bummer. I was expecting the usual fun adventure with twists and turns that made me eager to flip the pages faster. What odd things would Zara run into while living in the magical Town of Wisteria? The potential options are skies the limit! I had such high hopes that this book would be just as amazing as the last two. But it wasn't. Gone are the days of fun, for this novel plays out like a soap opera drama bomb.

At the end of the last book I knew that things between Chet and Zara would change due to some foreshadowing, but I didn't know that Miss Pepper would pull a full on whammy! Normally I like unexpected things, however I feel like the major revelation of how things came to be fell flat. It was disappointing and frustrating.

And that is mostly because the reader is strung along to feel one way, only to suddenly be jerked in another direction. That's not fun at all! I dislike when authors toy with my emotions, and I feel bad for Zara. She gets so screwed!

There isn't much I can say without spoiling the whole darn book, but the gist of the entire things is that Zara is being used like a puppet and Chet is a giant butthole! Seriously, he's skeevy and I don't like him! I hope that sudden odd spark of attraction between Zara and Detective Bentley is explored more in the next story. I think they'd be cute together!

Eventually the 'mystery' aspect of the book gets solved in a rather dull and glazed over manner. There was really nothing to be excited about! The whole plot was pretty boring actually and felt a lot like drama filler. It was slow and stalling. The 'reveal' of who dun what kinda came out of left field. Basically the reader has no idea what's going on for a good portion of the novel and then BAM! The bad person is just there and Zara and her "friends" are present to save the day.

To say I am disappointed with this third novel is an understatement. I have enjoyed this series so much and was looking forward to reading a charming cozy story. Sadly I didn't get that this time. The whole situation with Frank gets resolved quickly and then the rest of the pages are filled with emotional turmoil. Bleh!

Even though I was not fond of this installment, I will keep reading this series because I know Miss Pepper can write a good tale, as was shown with her previous books. I just hope that the next one is more of an all encompassing story and not one that runs on drama fumes. I want more Frank, family situations, magic exploration, and perhaps some romance building with a foxy doughnut delivering detective. Fingers crossed!
Profile Image for Anniken Haga.
Author 10 books90 followers
August 10, 2019
I'm sorry to say that this book turned out to be really weak. I'd guessed most of the things that was revieled from before - at least the author is good at forshadowing - but seeing as this was supposed to be some epic conclution to storylines three books long, it was a let down, and honestly, I'm not sure if I will be reading on.
I see a lot of drama in the future books, and the drama in these three books was just at the edge of what was ok for me. Not to mention, the only reason I really want to continue reading this series at this point, is because of Zoey. I want to know if she gets her powers or not, but I don't feel like that is a good enough reason to push through books I'm not enjoying anymore.
Profile Image for Nancy Haddock.
Author 8 books421 followers
July 15, 2017
Another fun read

I'm going through these books like I eat M&Ms - way too fast to make them last. Open another bag - er - book please!
Profile Image for Mia Cobell.
409 reviews15 followers
March 12, 2025
Cozy witch mystery. Pretty much the same formula as the first 2 books. Zara is just as kookie as before but things are starting to heat up in her love life. I’m not sure why this town is so secretive between supernatural beings. Maybe it will get fleshed out on other books.
Profile Image for Elisa .
1,515 reviews27 followers
May 14, 2025
another cute, cozy, easy mystery. they are adorable
Profile Image for Eden.
2,225 reviews
December 10, 2020
2020 bk 405: I know I read this in ebook form - but I think this one just proves the theory that what is read in ebook form is less likely to make it into long term memory as I have absolutely no memory of having read this plot, this story, or of the new characters introduced in this title. Zara Riddle is getting better at her talent of being a host of the dead and near -dead. In WW, she learns that her neighbor has been lying to her about a lot of things, number one being that he has no real interest in her other than he knew she would have this skillset and that he had a fiancee who had been in a coma for a year. But Zara's contact with Chessa opens up a can of worms and someone wants her dead. There were plot twists I didn't see coming. The books have cartoonish covers (which are fun) but the stories are well plotted, show depth to a mother-daughter-aunt relationship, and involve some thinking on the reader's part.
Profile Image for SciFiOne.
2,021 reviews39 followers
September 28, 2023
2023 Grade B

Chapter one in this story is one of the best I have ever read - fun, surprising, upbeat. Sadly, the rest of the book has little in common with chapter one and has a lower tone - downbeat and repetitive. I did speed read a little including areas repeating earlier material for new readers, and depressing areas full of sad angst. But it was still enjoyable with adequate character development and expansion of the magical world of Wisteria. The last chapter was just plain annoying, from the overlong standard celebration party to the ominous "to be continued" final sentences. It is not good to leave a reader in a downbeat state of mind.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, and it is worth reading. But I consider it disposable.
Profile Image for Wolf (Alpha).
922 reviews12 followers
January 29, 2024
Loved this one! I love how we find out what Frank is and I love how he’s accepting of it. I love that the guys from the secret organization come out to help her and Frank. I did not like Chet in this one because he betrayed her trust and led her on. I love that we get to see the friendship between Charlize and Zara form and how the sisters adopt her as their honorary sister.
Profile Image for Kelly.
5,699 reviews228 followers
January 29, 2021
I'm kind of having a hard time figuring out how I feel about this book. Mostly because the level of manipulation Zara uncovered was really gross. Like, REALLY gross. Beyond that, however, she kind of handwaved it when she found out and moved on and that freaks me out even more. While I can sort of wrap my head around why she'd be okay with the things that were done to maneuver her into coming to Wisteria, certain parties kept certain things a secret for WAY too long for me to be comfortable.

There were lies and a sometimes attraction that were cultivated and I'm just...not okay with that. At all.

Beyond Chet's part in it (because, yeah, I'm talking about Chet), Chessa's sisters could have stepped in at any time and told Zara the truth of what was going on. But they didn't. They really didn't even make an attempt to explain until things reached a boiling point. Why does she want to be friends with them after? Probably the only innocent party in all of it was Chessa, herself. And that whole situation was just weird once things were revealed.

So, again, the manipulation was gross, but Zara's acceptance of it weirded me out even more.

I'm going to go on record as saying I seem to have VERY strong feelings about being manipulated and lied to and this whole scenario has left me making a sour lemon face.

In the end, while certain mysteries and dangling threads from previous books were resolved (which was appreciated), the overall story here left me cold. I can accept that Zara helped out a person in need even though it hurt her because she's a genuinely good person. I can't get over how forgiving she was. She literally risked her life on multiple occasions to help people who lied to her repeatedly. She trusted people who didn't deserve her trust and then she forgave them afterwards because the ends justify the means? Yeah. Not okay with that.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Profile Image for Frank Bertino.
1,771 reviews19 followers
March 1, 2017
Witchy Redheaded Help

Zara, my favorite redheaded witch, is at it again with her snarky humor and desire to help. A powerful spirit needs assistance in communicating and returning to her proper place. The spirit connects with Zara and uses her body to act out her love for her boyfriend much to Zara's chagrin. I like the characters and story and how Zara is developing her magical power. Will Zoe come into her power? What will the be the outcome of the cliffhanger? I look forward to another book.
Profile Image for Mary Lou Hoffman.
1,954 reviews35 followers
March 2, 2019
WISTERIA WONDERS is the third book in the Wisteria Witches series. This series does need to be read in the order of release and it is so worth the time invested.

I was warned that listening to this audiobook may cause uncontrolled giggling. I am passing that warning on to you! In fact, there were giggles, squeals of glee, and outbursts of laughter.

I love this series and this book is probably my favorite so far. I loved that the expected and predictable was thrown out the window. I loved the twisted path taken as Zara made more friends and finally kicked Chet in the pants; he’s needed it for three books now. We finally find out why he’s been running hot and cold. It makes sense, even if I’d like to kick him again! Finally, I loved the cliffhanger. Yes, I’m one of those odd ducks that like cliffhangers.

As I look forward to the next book, I have questions: Who is the “family member” with the Aussie accent? What will Zara find in the DWM manual? What silliness and hijinks will ensue next time? I’m looking forward to it!

Narration: Tiffany Williams is, in a single word, perfect. She is a consummate storyteller and the exact type of person I would always want reading a book to me. She reminds me of every Hollywood depiction of a rocking chair librarian with wonderful, dramatic voices that bring the story to life. There are no mispronunciations and the sound quality is spot on. Tiffany Williams is a professional and it shows.

Note: While I received this book as a gifted audiobook copy, my opinions are my own and are given freely.



Title: WISTERIA WONDERS
Series: Wisteria Witches #3
Category /Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Listenability: OK for ears
Received from: Angela Pepper (as an Audible gifted copy)
Profile Image for ✨ Ramille ✨.
30 reviews
July 11, 2024
(I'm writing this review after the fact, so I'll try to keep my comments solely to this book and not the series.)

Right out of the gate, I need to say that this is the book that made me say, "Yup, I'm over Chet." I was liking him less and less as a romantic interest, but this book really sealed that one shut.

And then, cue somewhat coming into the romantic picture... I think I was still simmering over Chet's treatment of Zara throughout the book, so that felt lukewarm at best. I'm not excited for a prospective relationship just yet, but I'm definitely hoping for a little more organic growth at a time that isn't sullied by manipulation.

Speaking of manipulation, I'm kind of mad at Zara for just... accepting it to a degree. Without getting into the details, it's the type of manipulation that would cause people to easily shut others out. But Zara gets upset, and then she seemingly gets over it pretty quickly and without much explanation. For a story told through a first-person narrator, I was expecting a little more introspection on her part.

The main mystery was great, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Zara in action. It was also fun to watch Frank discover his flamingo tendencies through Zara's eyes. All in all, this book was okay. I don't think it was as strong as its predecessors because of how the manipulation and betrayal took something from the story without truly addressing the hole it left. But it won't deter me from this series.
522 reviews8 followers
October 26, 2023
Zara Riddle certainly has her hands full in this one. Not only did Frank, her coworker at the library, turn into a pink flamingo after her prank surprised him, but not knowing that he was a shifter, he didn't know how to turn human again. Also, her neighbor Chet needs her help in order to return his finance’s spirit to her body and awaken her from a coma. Two rather difficult tasks for her to accomplish in this book. Add in Zara’s crush on Chet and her spirit-charmed abilities causing her to experience some of the other woman’s memories and feelings for Chet, and she really has her hands full.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story. It was a fun and amusing tale, even while parts of it left me feeling quite a bit of sympathy for a number of the characters involved. The narrator once again did a great job of differentiating the voices of the characters so that there was no confusion as to who was speaking at any point within the story, and I enjoyed listening to the tale. This was the third book in this series, and I am looking forward to finding out what is next for the characters in the town of Wisteria.

If you enjoy Cozy mysteries, either reading or listening to the audiobook version, I think that you will enjoy this one. It is a very fun tale in an amusing series.
Profile Image for Elissa.
Author 39 books109 followers
March 9, 2019
Swim with the Fishes

Welcome to Wisteria, a town with a bakery on every corner and something in the air which combats calories. (Wish I lived there!) I had just finished book two and felt compelled to jump into listening to book three. This is a good thing, since it is virtually a continuation. And although you could probably enjoy this tale on its own, you really want to know about the flamingo first. In a place infused with magic we are gradually meeting an increasing variety of supernatural creatures (Gorgons, mermaids, various shifters, witches, and more!), and now learn how Zara was drawn to move here. Author Angela Pepper has infused her heroine with a free and easy spirit full of warmth and humor, surrounding her with loving family (and questionable relations), and involved her in rather . . . inventive activities. Narrator Tiffany Williams' rich voice provides a full range of subtleties for the large cast. No more time to review--I'm on to book four!
Profile Image for Claudia.
2,986 reviews39 followers
September 21, 2019
Now, this one was different! :P

First of all, you know a narrator is outstanding when she can make even flamingo-talk sound understandable :P

Zara will find why her relationship with Chet is so weird, and yes, of course, he was hiding something! Nevertheless, he asks for her help; Zara is the only person who can help him, and she really, really wants to be a good witch, so she agrees. But this time the mystery is really dangerous, there are gorgons around, and they are friendly... mostly.

But we learn that there were so many deceptions! coming to Wisteria wasn't really Zara's decision, Zoey is named in a prophecy, and... no, better you find all of this by yourself!

Oh, and Detective Bentley is flirting with Zara, and maybe something will come from it... I'd like that :P

As always, this was funny and very, very entertaining, The characters keep growing, and you simply have to love them.

A lovely, lovely audiobook, fantastically narrated by Tiffany Williams. Don't miss it!
Profile Image for Jessi.
5,616 reviews20 followers
October 25, 2023
Zara's had some changes since she moved to Wisteria but one of the better ones is her friend Frank at the library. Too bad he's just been turned into a flamingo. But was it her magic or is he just a shifter who is just discovering his talents?
He's whisked away to the Department of Water (and Magic.) They are willing to help because they need Zara's skill at finding spirits to capture one in particular. It's one that is particularly dear to Chet's heart.
Zara goes over and above to connect with this spirit which can be dangerous when gorgons are involved. But a lot of the confusion over why she's in Wisteria gets solved as well as some of the feelings that she's had that things here are familiar. We also find out that Zoey has been name checked in a hundreds year old prophecy.
There is so much drama in this series. I'm hoping that there is some ending to a few of the story lines in the next book or two.
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews55 followers
August 4, 2018
The lost can be found

Terrific. When she finally gets her neighbour to tell her the truth she is astonished. He has a finance and she has been on the medical ward for a year now, in a coma. She agrees to see if she can help but only if she can have a manual from DWM. As she investigates she finds that she already has a tenuous link to one of the triplets. Building on this she gets to know the gorgons and has a better understanding of the third triplet. Is this why she has such a connection to her neighbour? Can she find out what is keeping her in a coma and reverse it? What is the Prophecy regarding her daughter? A great read that ends on a slightly sinister note when a voice from the past contacts her. Wonderful to see the characters evolving and a possible new romantic interest is on the way to her.
Profile Image for Kelly Funk.
302 reviews2 followers
January 1, 2025
Zara tries to be a good witch despite everything she’s been through. Since moving to Wisteria, she has found out she’s a witch, met neighbors who turn out to be supernatural beings, been possessed by ghosts and lost hours of time, and almost been killed by a maniacal toaster. But that’s nothing compared to Zara’s newest challenge: Being possessed by a most powerful being who is, in fact, not dead while teaming up with some surly Gorgons (don’t look them in the eye!), and dealing with an angsty teenage daughter whose own abilities were supposed to manifest on her sixteenth birthday and haven’t. Just another typical day in Wisteria chock full of late night swims, impromptu sleepovers, and discovering the truth of how she came to reside in this strange little town in the first place…. Angela Pepper does not disappoint! I haven’t met a Wisteria Witches book yet that I could put down!
Profile Image for Roberta.
1,217 reviews18 followers
December 20, 2019
🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧

Sorry, mild spoilers - I’ve tried to avoid specific plot points, but it’s tricky!

I did not enjoy this instalment as much as the others I have listened to. I found the way that Zara and Chet’s relationship went all skewy a bit too weird, and the betrayal of how Zara ended up in Wisteria was a little too upsetting for my taste. It also made me sad that both Zara and Chet were left with feelings for each other at the end. However, all the things I love about this series are still there, the snark (especially between Zara and Zoe), the magic, the mystery, the magical creatures, etc etc. And as usual, Tiffany Williams totally nails the narration and brings the book to life.
Profile Image for Beverly.
3,878 reviews26 followers
April 4, 2020
Well, as I stated in my review of the second book of this series, they are starting to grow on me. This third book actually had me laughing out loud. Part of my change in attitude might be because I listened to this one (and I do think that the reader, Tiffany Williams, does a nice job) entirely during part of the lock down period of COVID-19. Over the top zaniness just seems to appeal to me right now and these tales certainly are zany!!! One of my favorite things about these books are the characters and the amazing range of types that they represent. Zara is a witch, her neighbor is a shape-shifter and in this book, she makes the acquaintance of gorgon triplets. It's just funny and quirky and a great escape from our current reality.
Profile Image for Teddy.
29 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2019
Sadly the series is getting worse instead of better. Luckily I only bought the first three (and on a low-price special-offer) so I didn't waste too much money on them.

Zara is even moreof a doormat in this one than the previous two - she finds out (again - it's been obvious since book one, so much for continuity) exactly how much she's been manipulated into moving to Wisteria and that her oh-so-hot neighbour has lied to her, yet instead of telling him and his co-conspirators to go-to-hell she continues to help them... Honestly, she might as well thow herself to the groound and invite them to walk all over her.

I don't recommend this book, to anyone, in any way at all.
Profile Image for Stephanie Leon.
63 reviews11 followers
July 31, 2017
Solidly built in the mythos of Wisteria

This book is where the series really hits its stride, I think. It's past most of the set-up, so it can be a full story on its own, without too much explaining to the reader of things that happened before. It makes me wish for several novels to stretch themselves out comfortably, here in the middle, before the series wraps up. I've looked at a list of novels in this series, and it only goes up to Book 5. Hopefully there will be more, but maybe that's just witchful thinking. ;)
310 reviews2 followers
January 7, 2018
Great addition

These books get more crazy as they go along, crazy good that is. I'm in love with Zara and her daughter, they are not to be messed with. Chet has a secret that he's keeping from Sara and it's big. He wants her help bringing his fiancee out of a coma and Zara is the only one who can do it. She has been visited by Chessa, Chets fiancee but she's only getting memories and some of them are explicit. Chet is hoping Chessa will tell Zara how to help her but it's never easy when it comes to anything to do with Zara
Profile Image for Karen.
511 reviews21 followers
April 18, 2025
Another fun read. I'm really enjoying this cozy mystery series.

129 reviews1 follower
June 29, 2017
Fun Series

I love this series because it's so fun to read. I'd love to be friends with Zara, Zoey, Zinnia, and Frank. Chet, on the other hand, needs a swift kick in the booty. I'm tired of him being so underhanded with Zara. I loved the way Zara made some more friends in this book. And now I'm curious about who is calling her. So glad I pre-ordered book 4 and only have to wait a few more days! Read these books-- you'll be glad you did!
77 reviews
May 25, 2018
Very good

This series has been surprising. Most serials with magical characters make the mistake of continually upping the ante until the main character is ridiculously strong, battling to save humanity. These books don’t make that mistake.
Instead, the main characters evolve, develop depth and real complexity. They are people dealing with problems as best they can. Yet, living in a crazy, funny place. It is good to read a series so well crafted.
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