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Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery #13
Death of a Wicked Witch
Bar Harbor, Maine, is quieter in the off-season, but the population has just increased a bit with the arrival of Tim and Trudy Lancaster. Tim's taking over for a retiring minister, and Trudy runs a food truck called Wicked 'Wiches. When she stops in at the Island Times office to place an ad, Hayley happily devours the sample sub Trudy offers--and the two become fast friends.
But when Trudy tragically dies in her truck while catering a Halloween party, suspicion falls on a cranky, competitive caterer who'd made veiled threats to Trudy. But the case becomes more complicated when Hayley's husband admits he'd seen someone dressed as a witch hurrying away from the food truck--not very helpful when countless women at the party wore the same costume. Now Haley finds herself sandwiched between witches and witnesses as she considers a smorgasbord of suspects. If she finds the killer, she'll be a local hero . . .
Includes delectable recipes from Hayley's kitchen!
But when Trudy tragically dies in her truck while catering a Halloween party, suspicion falls on a cranky, competitive caterer who'd made veiled threats to Trudy. But the case becomes more complicated when Hayley's husband admits he'd seen someone dressed as a witch hurrying away from the food truck--not very helpful when countless women at the party wore the same costume. Now Haley finds herself sandwiched between witches and witnesses as she considers a smorgasbord of suspects. If she finds the killer, she'll be a local hero . . .
Includes delectable recipes from Hayley's kitchen!
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2020
88 people are currently reading
745 people want to read
About the author
Lee Hollis
49 books817 followersLee Hollis is the pen name for Rick Copp and his sister Holly Simason.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
January 10, 2025
In Death of a Wicked Witch, the 13th book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mysteries, lucky number thirteen plays a huge a role. Author Lee Hollis treats us to some fun Halloween shenanigans involving a costume party, and before the event concludes, a lovely new addition to the Maine setting is found murdered. A rival chef? A jealous woman? A handsy reverend? The tale is quite a clever one, and I'm excited to see more of the future books. Hayley is, of course, in the middle of the investigation, but she almost gets taken out for good this time.
July 31, 2020
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher in return for an honest review. The release date for this book was 28 July 2020
Lee Hollis is one of my favorite cozy mystery writers and she didn’t disappoint with this new book. She has a flair for writing such unique circumstances surrounding a mysterious death. Though I knew early on in the story who the culprit was, the how and why were very interesting to read about. She always has great mini stories woven throughout her novels while also providing awesome recipes. Her books just keep getting better and better.
October 5, 2020
Only thing better than a trip to Bar Harbor, Maine, is a trip to Bar Harbor Maine in the FALL!! Yes, ya’ll its fall again, and im on my way for a visit with Hayley and the gang. Im hoping for lots of pumpkin picking, checking out the fall leaves, and smelling the fresh fall air!! Well I should have known things would never be that easy. When I arrived, Hayley was catching me up on the new town happenings. Most importantly the two new town residents Ted and Trudy Lancaster and the two visiting residents Hayley’s daughter Gemma and boyfriend Connor. Ted is a pastor who is going to be taking over for the local retiring minister, and Trudy runs a food truck. Hayley gave me the thumbs up on Trudy’s truck after trying some of her samples when Trudy came into the newspaper. This is where things started to go off the rails… Gemma tells Hayley she is thinking about breaking it off with Connor, Connor asks Hayley for Gemma’s hand in marriage, and Trudy was in the hospital for food poisoning. Whew it’s a lot, right?? Lol. Worse for Trudy she was going to have her first town gig, and it was a big one the annual Halloween Wicked Witches Ball. Trudy is feeling better, and despite everyone's concern insists on catering the party. At the party the guests were getting antsy for Trudy’s sandwiches, but she wasn’t answering her door. After several attempts we decided to bust in the door...sadly Trudy was dead. Hayley being Hayley I knew my trip was about to get tipped upside down!...
My thoughts:
This series is always “wicked” fun! I will say I didn’t enjoy this one as well as some of the others. I thought there was too much focus on Gemma and Connor...that really took away from the mystery. Hollis still does a good job giving us a great puzzle...I don’t know maybe it was that Gemma annoyed me. For whatever reason it was just too much. This combined with the “handsy” minister, and his wench of a wife... all took away from the cozy feel for me. That being said this was still a fun installment! I loved the name of the sandwich truck “wicked ‘witches”, the red herrings, the cover art, Bruce (not his new/old nasty habit but him), and all the phone Island times articles. I’m looking forward to my next visit already!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Lee Hollis, and the publisher for this opportunity.
My thoughts:
This series is always “wicked” fun! I will say I didn’t enjoy this one as well as some of the others. I thought there was too much focus on Gemma and Connor...that really took away from the mystery. Hollis still does a good job giving us a great puzzle...I don’t know maybe it was that Gemma annoyed me. For whatever reason it was just too much. This combined with the “handsy” minister, and his wench of a wife... all took away from the cozy feel for me. That being said this was still a fun installment! I loved the name of the sandwich truck “wicked ‘witches”, the red herrings, the cover art, Bruce (not his new/old nasty habit but him), and all the phone Island times articles. I’m looking forward to my next visit already!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Lee Hollis, and the publisher for this opportunity.
September 10, 2021
Such a great series and this book was no exception. I couldn't put it down.
October 1, 2020
Hayley Powell sleuths for clues to the murderer of a food truck owner in the thirteenth installment of this mystery series. I thought the story was more character driven than the mystery being center point. Hayley and her husband, Bruce’s daughter, Gemma has a fairly large secondary role as she struggles with her relationship with boyfriend, Connor. The retiring reverend is such a perv, I couldn’t understand why he hadn’t been run out of town long before, and his wife is a shrew. They kind of bummed out the book for me. I read this story for a Halloween theme cozy, and I was disappointed there wasn’t more Halloween celebrating to it. The author shares some great recipes for readers to try at home.
April 25, 2020
Lee Hollis is a talented author and I just love Halloween and fall themed cozies, so when I saw Death of a Wicked Witch, I just knew I had to get it! In this edition of a Hayley Powell Mystery a new couple moves to town. The husband is a minister and the wife owns a food truck called Wicked ‘Wiches. Sadly, tragedy strikes when the food truck owner is found dead in her truck shortly after arriving to town while catering at the local Halloween Ball. Costumes and flimsy leads make this mystery difficult to unravel, but Hayley won’t give up until she gets justice for her new found friend. This who-dunnit is well -crafted with red-herrings and misdirection along the way. Five stars.
October 9, 2020
I love this series. I always enjoy reading about Hayley and the gang and to see what Hayley get herself into next. It'a always a fun read with an interesting mystery to be solved. The location is wonderful too. I love the articals she writes for The Island Times and she names names too. I'm surprised her friends and family still speak to her.
July 31, 2020
This was an awesome book for the Halloween season! Not only does Hayley love Halloween, Bruce hates it and so does Liddy which made Hayley's columns that always appear between chapters even funnier! I really loved reading those this time, and normally they honestly don't do much for me, but these were different. I laughed out loud at the columns where she told about different Halloween pranks, then there was a bet with Bruce was pretty funny too. I like that she kept them recent.
The mystery itself was a good one! It's always sad when a nice person gets killed especially one with a yummy food truck. Hayley and Bruce made a great team checking out clues, and even Gemma got in on the act, since she was home from New York with her boyfriend Conner. Gemma had whole issue of her own to deal with, but the outcome was a good one as you'll see at the end of the book. I hadn't guessed the killer at all, and Bruce was impressed by his wife during the showdown. The running theme was Hayley trying to get Bruce to stop smoking after he'd quit for a long time before that. The way it was worked into the showdown was great!
I'm still not completely caught up with the series, but it's one that since I did start out reading the later books as ARCs, I don't seem to mind going back and reading about how Hayley and Bruce came to be and what the kids got into when they were younger. Liddy and Mona weren't in the main story much, but Mona got to star in one of the columns which to me was the funniest of any of the columns I've read. Super fun and I highly recommend this!
The mystery itself was a good one! It's always sad when a nice person gets killed especially one with a yummy food truck. Hayley and Bruce made a great team checking out clues, and even Gemma got in on the act, since she was home from New York with her boyfriend Conner. Gemma had whole issue of her own to deal with, but the outcome was a good one as you'll see at the end of the book. I hadn't guessed the killer at all, and Bruce was impressed by his wife during the showdown. The running theme was Hayley trying to get Bruce to stop smoking after he'd quit for a long time before that. The way it was worked into the showdown was great!
I'm still not completely caught up with the series, but it's one that since I did start out reading the later books as ARCs, I don't seem to mind going back and reading about how Hayley and Bruce came to be and what the kids got into when they were younger. Liddy and Mona weren't in the main story much, but Mona got to star in one of the columns which to me was the funniest of any of the columns I've read. Super fun and I highly recommend this!
August 3, 2020
I’m always very excited whenever Lee Hollis releases a new book because they are one of my favorite Cozy Mystery authors. DEATH OF A WICKED WITCH is book thirteen in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktail series.
In this book, there’s a nice Halloween theme to it. It might be a little early for that at the time I’m writing this review. However, I really don’t mind. I just really enjoy the easy way that Hollis writes that I can bear it.
Now, this book moves differently than the other books in this series. Usually, a quick death happens within the first chapter or two. However, I felt like Hollis approached this book much more slower. The victim is a nice lady by the name of Trudy Lancaster. To be honest, I actually really liked her character and although the pacing of this book was much slower. I think it worked out because when Trudy is discovered death in her food truck while catering a Halloween party, you have already formed a bond with her character and want to know who killed her.
This then creates a greater drive for the reader to read on and find out what happened. So although I typically prefer an early death, I can understand why the authors decided to take this route too.
There are a lot of good suspects in this book, so it definitely kept things very interesting. I wouldn’t miss out on these books. They’re so easy to follow and very addicting!
September 29, 2020
Well these are just fun and after reading two in less than 24 hours I think I'll be reading many more in this series.
October 31, 2020
I usually really like holiday themed cozies, but this one fell flat for me. The new minister and his wife, Trudy, are in the thick of a murder and there are plenty of suspects. Unfortunately they are all in costume for a Halloween party. So, Hayley is considering a host of potential murderers all the while dealing with drama between her daughter and the boyfriend she brought with her to Trump,
There was plenty going on in this cozy mystery, but there were a number of really obvious twists and I guess I just expected more.
Still a good read. Just not the best of the series.
There was plenty going on in this cozy mystery, but there were a number of really obvious twists and I guess I just expected more.
Still a good read. Just not the best of the series.
October 7, 2023
Trudy and Ted Lancaster are new and welcome additions to Bar Harbor. Trudy runs a food truck called Wicked 'Wiches which specializes in sandwiches. It is only the second food truck in town so all the residents are excited. Everyone that is except for Cloris Fennow, the owner of the other food truck.
It's almost Halloween and Trudy is already making an impression. She is tapped to provide food for the costume party at Mark and Mary Garber's house. Things turn deadly when Trudy's body is found dead inside her food truck.
This is the 13th book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails mystery series. I've only read a couple novellas from the series before but I had no problems jumping in. You can see a lot has happened in the characters' lives and it only makes you more interested in reading the previous books.
There is a lot of action in regards to the mystery. There are other side storylines involving things in the characters' daily lives. It is all interesting and feels like an inside look at a family.
The food descriptions, especially of the sandwiches are good. There are recipes included and we get articles that Hayley wrote after some of the chapters. While they are pretty fun and are a way of including other little snippets of their lives, they are sometimes unwelcome because they come after a chapter with a cliffhanger.
The mystery is really good and layered. The only problem for me was some information was withheld so I don't feel the murder could be completely solved although I certainly suspected the killer. It feels fairly realistic though. Also only part of the story takes place on Halloween so there aren't a lot of Halloween vibes. Overall this is a very enjoyable read.
It's almost Halloween and Trudy is already making an impression. She is tapped to provide food for the costume party at Mark and Mary Garber's house. Things turn deadly when Trudy's body is found dead inside her food truck.
This is the 13th book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails mystery series. I've only read a couple novellas from the series before but I had no problems jumping in. You can see a lot has happened in the characters' lives and it only makes you more interested in reading the previous books.
There is a lot of action in regards to the mystery. There are other side storylines involving things in the characters' daily lives. It is all interesting and feels like an inside look at a family.
The food descriptions, especially of the sandwiches are good. There are recipes included and we get articles that Hayley wrote after some of the chapters. While they are pretty fun and are a way of including other little snippets of their lives, they are sometimes unwelcome because they come after a chapter with a cliffhanger.
The mystery is really good and layered. The only problem for me was some information was withheld so I don't feel the murder could be completely solved although I certainly suspected the killer. It feels fairly realistic though. Also only part of the story takes place on Halloween so there aren't a lot of Halloween vibes. Overall this is a very enjoyable read.
May 12, 2020
This is the 13th book in the Hayley Powell series. This series just keeps getting better. I loved the Halloween theme and definitely will be rereading this around the holiday. There is a new food truck in town called Wicked Wiches that serves sandwiches. The woman that owns and her husband are new to town and she is thrilled when she gets asked to cater an annual Halloween Wicked Witches ball. All is going well until Hayley and her daughter, Gemma, find her dead in her food truck. I loved that Gemma was involved with helping Hayley solve the case. The mystery was great. I had suspicions of where the story was heading but was wrong each time. I love the way everything came together. A five star read. I received a copy of this book from net galley in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2020
Hayley makes a new friend when Ted and Trudy Lancaster come to town. Ted is taking over for a retiring minister and Trudy runs a food truck called Wicked 'Wiches. Hayley loves the samples Trudy brought into the paper to place an ad and the two hit it off immediately. Things take a turn for the worse when Trudy dies while catering a Halloween party. Everyone suspects her competition but a witness saw someone dressed as a witch running from the scene. Hayley can't let her newest friend down and digs into looking for a killer. Who would have wanted to kill Trudy and why? She just recently moved to town so could she have made enemies that quickly? Follow along as Hayley does what she does best and works her way through all the clues to find a murderer.
October 1, 2020
DEATH OF A WICKED WITCH, the thirteenth book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktail Mysteries, hit all the marks for a spooktacular Halloween-themed cozy! From the costumes, to the food, to the party, to even a supposed ghost after a murder takes place, this fast-paced read kept me turning pages to find out what happens next. The majority of cozy mysteries portray the victims as unlikeable characters, but in this book I couldn’t help but feel a deep sadness over the death of a kind-hearted woman. This adds an emotional depth to the story and I found I was more invested in finding out not only who killed her but why. There were clues to follow along with twists and turns that kept me guessing. With an edge-of-your-seat scene leading to the reveal, I turned pages faster and faster until the very last satisfying page was read. To offset the sadness, the authors interjects humor via the central characters. They also lighten the mood with Hayley’s newspaper column, Island Foods & Spirits, with Halloween anecdotes from years gone by along with delicious recipes for food and cocktails.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 15, 2020
What a great mystery! I had no idea who the murderer was until the end when it was revealed! Loved the recipes included as well!
December 18, 2020
It's getting close to Halloween, and everyone is looking forward to the Garbers' annual party, where all the women dress as witches and the men are the ones in the unique costumes. It's been a tradition for a few years, and Hayley is looking forward to it. But while in her office one afternoon, a young, beautiful woman comes in and asks Hayley if she'll place an ad for her in the newspaper. Hayley tries telling her it might be too late, but then she's bribed with a delicious sub sandwich and manages to do it just under the wire. The woman introduces herself as Trudy Lancaster. It seems her husband Ted is taking over from Reverend Stiles, who is retiring, and since they don't know anyone, Hayley invites them to dinner with she and her husband Bruce, who also works for the Times.
But while at the restaurant, they see the Garbers, and Mary Garber immediately asks Trudy if she'll cater the party. But before that night, Hayley has another surprise - her daughter Gemma arrives from New York with her actor boyfriend, Connor. While Hayley thinks everything might not be perfect in their life, Bruce urges her to stay out of it. But then Connor has an accident, and that one event changes things, giving Hayley suspicions about another event. So when she discovers Trudy's body at the party inside her food truck, Hayley's now dealing with a devastated husband, a daughter who can't decide what she wants for her future, and a killer who's living just under the wire...and not only had their own personal reasons for wanting Trudy dead, but have decided that Hayley might have to go also...
This is the latest in the series, and I really enjoyed it quite a bit. We've watched Hayley's kids grow up through the series, and now Gemma has a life of her own and her career is spiraling upward, and while Hayley is happy for her, she's become worried at the present moment. She's also dealing with the fact that Bruce has once again taken up a nasty habit and Hayley is determined to break him of it.
Then we have the murder - which is the gist of the story. Hayley and nearly everyone in town liked Trudy - some exceptionally so - and she wonders if the rival food truck owner is the killer. But then people start seeing someone around town that's frightening them, and Hayley has to wonder if things are connected.
What we get is a very good mystery with characters that are continually developing over time, and I'm glad to see Hayley is finally getting the happiness she deserves with Bruce in her life, and while Mona is absent in this book and Liddy is only a footnote, it really doesn't matter because this time the story features Reverend Stiles and his long-suffering wife, Edie. It's a side of Edie we haven't seen before, and it humanizes her far beyond her reputation as merely being a gossip. We also get to see Hayley and Bruce banter playfully, which causes them to be a little more real in the series.
When the ending comes and the climax occurs, it's no less than anything else we would have expected from Hayley, having proven herself capable of getting out of trouble one way or another time and again; but the reasons for the murder seemed almost unhinged; yet how can anyone tell what will drive someone to commit such a heinous crime in the first place.
In the end, it all came together nicely, with a hint of things to come. I whisked through this in one evening and it was a relaxing read that brought me to Bar Harbor and home again. Recommended.
I was given a free copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
But while at the restaurant, they see the Garbers, and Mary Garber immediately asks Trudy if she'll cater the party. But before that night, Hayley has another surprise - her daughter Gemma arrives from New York with her actor boyfriend, Connor. While Hayley thinks everything might not be perfect in their life, Bruce urges her to stay out of it. But then Connor has an accident, and that one event changes things, giving Hayley suspicions about another event. So when she discovers Trudy's body at the party inside her food truck, Hayley's now dealing with a devastated husband, a daughter who can't decide what she wants for her future, and a killer who's living just under the wire...and not only had their own personal reasons for wanting Trudy dead, but have decided that Hayley might have to go also...
This is the latest in the series, and I really enjoyed it quite a bit. We've watched Hayley's kids grow up through the series, and now Gemma has a life of her own and her career is spiraling upward, and while Hayley is happy for her, she's become worried at the present moment. She's also dealing with the fact that Bruce has once again taken up a nasty habit and Hayley is determined to break him of it.
Then we have the murder - which is the gist of the story. Hayley and nearly everyone in town liked Trudy - some exceptionally so - and she wonders if the rival food truck owner is the killer. But then people start seeing someone around town that's frightening them, and Hayley has to wonder if things are connected.
What we get is a very good mystery with characters that are continually developing over time, and I'm glad to see Hayley is finally getting the happiness she deserves with Bruce in her life, and while Mona is absent in this book and Liddy is only a footnote, it really doesn't matter because this time the story features Reverend Stiles and his long-suffering wife, Edie. It's a side of Edie we haven't seen before, and it humanizes her far beyond her reputation as merely being a gossip. We also get to see Hayley and Bruce banter playfully, which causes them to be a little more real in the series.
When the ending comes and the climax occurs, it's no less than anything else we would have expected from Hayley, having proven herself capable of getting out of trouble one way or another time and again; but the reasons for the murder seemed almost unhinged; yet how can anyone tell what will drive someone to commit such a heinous crime in the first place.
In the end, it all came together nicely, with a hint of things to come. I whisked through this in one evening and it was a relaxing read that brought me to Bar Harbor and home again. Recommended.
I was given a free copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
October 17, 2020
I was looking for a "lightweight" book to read while my husband was getting a lengthy treatment at the doctor's office. Even so, this one was "lighter" than I normally go for.
Still, it was entertaining.
Still, it was entertaining.
August 23, 2020
Probably the best thing was the title of one food truck Wicked 'Wiches'.
August 22, 2020
Lee Hollis has created another hit with the 13th book (lucky 13!) in the “A Hayley Powell Food & Cocktails” series, Death Of A Wicked Witch. This book will keep readers on the edge of their seats and will give them a few laughs and tons of smiles.
Hayley is almost too used to murder, but when a seemingly nice happy woman is killed during a Halloween party while creating gastric delights in her food truck, it hits home. She had just met Trudy, but immediately liked her and felt they were going to be great friends. And it wasn’t just the sub sandwiches Trudy made that had Hayley enamored. Trudy was a great new character, its to bad she was also the victim. Many of the regular characters are present but not as much as usual, but those that are involved, add to the overall enjoyment of the book.
The killer is not easily picked out, and the motive appears to be somewhat convoluted, but it isn’t actually. There are enough suspects to keep you guessing, and lots of fun to keep you smiling. There are plenty of red herrings and twists and turns to keep readers reading and turning the page. The unveiling is action-packed. The recipes will have you craving food and cocktails. The short inside looks into Hayley’s world are lovely and make the book all come together. Death Of A Wicked Witch has readers craving fall, Halloween, and all things cool and beautiful. Readers will be thrilled with the ending and look forward to the next installment.
Hayley is almost too used to murder, but when a seemingly nice happy woman is killed during a Halloween party while creating gastric delights in her food truck, it hits home. She had just met Trudy, but immediately liked her and felt they were going to be great friends. And it wasn’t just the sub sandwiches Trudy made that had Hayley enamored. Trudy was a great new character, its to bad she was also the victim. Many of the regular characters are present but not as much as usual, but those that are involved, add to the overall enjoyment of the book.
The killer is not easily picked out, and the motive appears to be somewhat convoluted, but it isn’t actually. There are enough suspects to keep you guessing, and lots of fun to keep you smiling. There are plenty of red herrings and twists and turns to keep readers reading and turning the page. The unveiling is action-packed. The recipes will have you craving food and cocktails. The short inside looks into Hayley’s world are lovely and make the book all come together. Death Of A Wicked Witch has readers craving fall, Halloween, and all things cool and beautiful. Readers will be thrilled with the ending and look forward to the next installment.
August 2, 2021
I swear, this series just keeps getting better and better. I did not want to put this book down. I love Haley, her friends, and her family. I thought this one was interesting because the murder was a little more personal to Haley. She really liked the victim. I would definitely recommend reading this series in order.
August 28, 2020
This was really a fun story to read. As always, this duo of brother and sister team make a fantastic group of writers! Their books are humorous, silly and outrageous funny...I find myself often simply smiling or laughing out loud at the antics in each story.... These stories captures your attention for the very beginning to the ending....
Of course in each book there is a gruesome horrific murder and our main character, Haley Powell, somehow, manages to get wildly involved, captured, (kidnapped), and then becomes the heroine. I highly recommended these books as a quick quality read to everyone who likes to be relaxed and entertained!
Of course in each book there is a gruesome horrific murder and our main character, Haley Powell, somehow, manages to get wildly involved, captured, (kidnapped), and then becomes the heroine. I highly recommended these books as a quick quality read to everyone who likes to be relaxed and entertained!
July 17, 2020
4.5 stars
This is the thirteenth book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails mystery by Lee Hollis.
Maybe it is just me but I have to laugh at some of the series names on many of the cozy mysteries I read. I understand that it must be difficult to make your series stand out from the rest and claim your mark in your specific cozy genre: paranormal, foodie/culinary, bookish, etc. But the long series names just have me flummoxed. Why isn’t this just a “Hayley Powell mystery” seems more simple to me and the graphic artists designing the covers might be able to find a more creative way of using this tag line on their cover designs too.
But I digress. This book was pretty great. I thought the Halloween theme was a bit early in the season but I am already seeing Christmas books in my ARC list, so I shouldn’t be surprised about the early holiday theme coming up now.
I was excited by the prospect of Trudy Lancaster being a new resident of Bar Harbor but then she ended up dead lying on the floor of her food truck. I am always amazed at how flawless the Lee Hollis books are. This mystery whodunit was spot on the just when you think you have it figured out, you don’t.
The play between Hayley and her husband, Bruce,k really spoke to me how real couples act and how they have to deal with the small day to day problems in their lives while tackling the big problems at the same time. Kudos for that.
This is definitely a series you want to return to over and over. I never tire of it.
If you want to read a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the thirteenth book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails mystery by Lee Hollis.
Maybe it is just me but I have to laugh at some of the series names on many of the cozy mysteries I read. I understand that it must be difficult to make your series stand out from the rest and claim your mark in your specific cozy genre: paranormal, foodie/culinary, bookish, etc. But the long series names just have me flummoxed. Why isn’t this just a “Hayley Powell mystery” seems more simple to me and the graphic artists designing the covers might be able to find a more creative way of using this tag line on their cover designs too.
But I digress. This book was pretty great. I thought the Halloween theme was a bit early in the season but I am already seeing Christmas books in my ARC list, so I shouldn’t be surprised about the early holiday theme coming up now.
I was excited by the prospect of Trudy Lancaster being a new resident of Bar Harbor but then she ended up dead lying on the floor of her food truck. I am always amazed at how flawless the Lee Hollis books are. This mystery whodunit was spot on the just when you think you have it figured out, you don’t.
The play between Hayley and her husband, Bruce,k really spoke to me how real couples act and how they have to deal with the small day to day problems in their lives while tackling the big problems at the same time. Kudos for that.
This is definitely a series you want to return to over and over. I never tire of it.
If you want to read a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
August 5, 2020
3.5 Stars
I’m always very excited whenever Lee Hollis releases a new book because they are one of my favorite Cozy Mystery authors. DEATH OF A WICKED WITCH is book thirteen in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktail series.
In this book, there’s a nice Halloween theme to it. It might be a little early for that at the time I’m writing this review. However, I really don’t mind. I just really enjoy the easy way that Hollis writes that I can bear it.
Now, this book moves differently than the other books in this series. Usually, a quick death happens within the first chapter or two. However, I felt like Hollis approached this book much more slower. The victim is a nice lady by the name of Trudy Lancaster. To be honest, I actually really liked her character and although the pacing of this book was much slower. I think it worked out because when Trudy is discovered death in her food truck while catering a Halloween party, you have already formed a bond with her character and want to know who killed her.
This then creates a greater drive for the reader to read on and find out what happened. So although I typically prefer an early death, I can understand why the authors decided to take this route too.
There are a lot of good suspects in this book, so it definitely kept things very interesting. I wouldn’t miss
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August 20, 2020
Death of a Wicked Witch is the thirteenth book in Lee Hollis’ Hayley Powell Mystery series. The murder mystery moves along at a steady pace, the mystery is interesting and well plotted, and the characters are well developed. There are twists and red herrings that keep the reader guessing. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading light, cozy mysteries.
Hayley Powell is the food columnist for the Island Times in Bar Harbor, Maine, and she humorously writes about her memories of past events and includes tasty recipes in her column. Hayley recently married Bruce Linney, an Island Times crime reporter, and has two adult children, Gemma and Dustin, one brother, Randy, owns a bar, Drinks Like a Fish and is married to Sergio Alvares, Bar Harbor’s police chief. Hayley is thrilled to learn there’s a new food truck in town, Wicked ’Wiches, and when she meets Trudy Lancaster, she’s instantly drawn to her. Trudy and her husband, Ted, recently moved to Bar Harbor because he was hired to take over as minister of the Congregational church. Hayley, Bruce, Trudy, and Ted become fast friends. Hayley is devastated when she discovers Trudy’s body in her food truck during a Halloween party she was catering. At first, the death is ruled accidental, but when Sergio tells Hayley there’s a glitch with that theory, she’s determined to uncover the identity of the person who murdered her new friend.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Hayley Powell is the food columnist for the Island Times in Bar Harbor, Maine, and she humorously writes about her memories of past events and includes tasty recipes in her column. Hayley recently married Bruce Linney, an Island Times crime reporter, and has two adult children, Gemma and Dustin, one brother, Randy, owns a bar, Drinks Like a Fish and is married to Sergio Alvares, Bar Harbor’s police chief. Hayley is thrilled to learn there’s a new food truck in town, Wicked ’Wiches, and when she meets Trudy Lancaster, she’s instantly drawn to her. Trudy and her husband, Ted, recently moved to Bar Harbor because he was hired to take over as minister of the Congregational church. Hayley, Bruce, Trudy, and Ted become fast friends. Hayley is devastated when she discovers Trudy’s body in her food truck during a Halloween party she was catering. At first, the death is ruled accidental, but when Sergio tells Hayley there’s a glitch with that theory, she’s determined to uncover the identity of the person who murdered her new friend.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
July 27, 2020
Death of a Wicked Witch by Lee Hollis is the 13th book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series, and another great addition to the series. Hayley and her new husband Bruce live in Bar Harbor, Maine, and both work for the Island Times Newspaper. This book takes place over Halloween, which is always fun. A new couple just moved to Bar Harbor, Ted and Trudy Lancaster, and the two couples are making fast friends. Trudy runs a food truck, Wicked Witch, serving sandwiches. Ted is the new minster. When Trudy dies in her food truck while catering a Halloween party, Hayley is determined to find out who killed her. This book is fast paced with a well thought out plot and great characters. Once I started this book, I had to keep reading, until I was done. I often find myself laughing out loud, when reading this series. I strongly recommend this book/series for all cozy mystery book lovers like myself.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 11, 2020
When a new food truck comes to town, and the owner is the wife of soon-to-be new minister at Hayley's church, Hayley is very excited to have some new food choices and a new business. However, everyone is not happy, and when the food truck owner is poisoned in an attempt to kill her, Hayley has to investigate. She thinks she knows who the culprit is, but then several other suspects pop up, as well as a real murder. Hayley uses her wits and her researching skills, and finally determines the killer.
July 14, 2020
I received this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Death of a Wicked Witch is the 13th installment in Lee Hollis' Hayley Powell cozy mystery series. It's the first one I've read, but I wouldn't say you need to read the other 12 before picking up this one. Hollis does a great job of giving readers all the necessary information on each character they encounter and is able to pull them into the story from page 1. The story was incredibly fast paced and I read the majority of the book in just a couple of hours. I loved the addition of cocktail and food recipes and will definitely be trying a few of them myself.
When Ted, the new town pastor, and his wife Trudy, the owner of a food truck called Wicked 'Wiches, arrive in town, Hayley and her husband Bruce make quick friends with the couple. However, just a couple of weeks after moving to town, Trudy mysteriously dies while catering the event of the season. Suspicion is quickly placed on her sole competitor, but Hayley and her friends aren't sure it's that cut and dry. Hayley puts her town connections and amateur sleuthing skills to good use and helps find out the truth about her new friend's death.
This was your typical cozy mystery. The town of Bar Harbor was quaint, and I could practically smell the fall air tinged with a sea breeze and pumpkin spice. For such a short book, there was quite the cast of characters which I found a bit hard to follow at times. However, that could be because I haven't read the first 12 books in the series. I loved guessing whodunit and figuring things out with Hayley, and I can honestly say I was surprised in the end. If you're looking for a quick and easy murder mystery (with some delicious sounding recipes thrown in) then this is the book for you.
Death of a Wicked Witch is the 13th installment in Lee Hollis' Hayley Powell cozy mystery series. It's the first one I've read, but I wouldn't say you need to read the other 12 before picking up this one. Hollis does a great job of giving readers all the necessary information on each character they encounter and is able to pull them into the story from page 1. The story was incredibly fast paced and I read the majority of the book in just a couple of hours. I loved the addition of cocktail and food recipes and will definitely be trying a few of them myself.
When Ted, the new town pastor, and his wife Trudy, the owner of a food truck called Wicked 'Wiches, arrive in town, Hayley and her husband Bruce make quick friends with the couple. However, just a couple of weeks after moving to town, Trudy mysteriously dies while catering the event of the season. Suspicion is quickly placed on her sole competitor, but Hayley and her friends aren't sure it's that cut and dry. Hayley puts her town connections and amateur sleuthing skills to good use and helps find out the truth about her new friend's death.
This was your typical cozy mystery. The town of Bar Harbor was quaint, and I could practically smell the fall air tinged with a sea breeze and pumpkin spice. For such a short book, there was quite the cast of characters which I found a bit hard to follow at times. However, that could be because I haven't read the first 12 books in the series. I loved guessing whodunit and figuring things out with Hayley, and I can honestly say I was surprised in the end. If you're looking for a quick and easy murder mystery (with some delicious sounding recipes thrown in) then this is the book for you.
April 19, 2020
This is a great series, and each book just makes me feel a little closer to Hayley and her family.
When Ted and Trudy Lancaster roll into town, Hayley is excited for the potential new friend she has in Trudy.
Fast forward to the big Halloween party, a tragic death, and a murder investigation.
Add a pinch of dating woes, a scorned wanna be lover and stir.
This is a perfect book to escape into.
When Ted and Trudy Lancaster roll into town, Hayley is excited for the potential new friend she has in Trudy.
Fast forward to the big Halloween party, a tragic death, and a murder investigation.
Add a pinch of dating woes, a scorned wanna be lover and stir.
This is a perfect book to escape into.
January 2, 2021
4.5 Stars
Starting off the year with a good book! I have enjoyed all the books in this series and this one was no different. Hayley and her crew are a likable bunch. The murder doesn't happen until a little into the book so we get to know the victim a little. I enjoyed the crossover of this author's other series (chapter 36). I also enjoyed how much Gemma was involved in the case. I can't wait for the next book and her wedding!
Starting off the year with a good book! I have enjoyed all the books in this series and this one was no different. Hayley and her crew are a likable bunch. The murder doesn't happen until a little into the book so we get to know the victim a little. I enjoyed the crossover of this author's other series (chapter 36). I also enjoyed how much Gemma was involved in the case. I can't wait for the next book and her wedding!
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