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The Witches of Pinecroft Cove #1

Spirits, Pies, and Alibis

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She's a kitchen witch who can't cook and there's a dead guy haunting her dreams. When Tamsyn's life starts to feel like one big hex, will moving to her aunt's B&B on a remote Maine island work like a charm, or be her worst choice ever?

Tamsyn Bassett is having a bad week. Like, the losing your job and getting dumped by your boyfriend kind of bad. So when her great aunt invites her to spend the summer at her inn, Tamsyn jumps at the chance. Instead of the peaceful getaway she expected, she's immediately confronted with the preposterous revelation that she's descended from a long line of kitchen witches and is the last hope of her generation to keep magic alive in Pinecroft Cove. That she's the world's worst cook could be an issue.

As if navigating a strange new world of spells, magic, and exploding blueberry pies isn't enough to handle, that awkward boy who had a crush on her when they were kids seems to turn up everywhere she looks. Only now that he's a super dreamy doctor, it's Tamsyn's turn to be the awkward one. If she didn't know better, she'd swear someone put a hex on her.

One more thing. Tamsyn's pretty sure she's being haunted, and not by just any ghost but by Doctor Dreamy's dead uncle. If she can't harness her powers in time to figure out the truth behind his mysterious death, she may never have a moment of peace again.

When death strikes the island’s controversial real estate mogul, will Tamsyn’s newly discovered powers be any match for murder?

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2019

447 people are currently reading
263 people want to read

About the author

Nicole St. Claire

10 books33 followers

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5 stars
269 (49%)
4 stars
176 (32%)
3 stars
87 (16%)
2 stars
8 (1%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
Profile Image for Sabrina  F.
38 reviews31 followers
December 15, 2020
Ahh, where do I start?

I can tell you I will recommend this book, albeit to specific audiences. It is certainly not fit for everyone's tastes. If you are looking for a quick cozy mystery, with a little something different, this is the one for you.

I found this story to be surprisingly twisted, and my reasoning is that it had many predictable scenes up until the last 5 chapters. (There's 21) That's where the authoress pulls the rug out from under you and says "Aha! You thought!" I enjoyed this book immensely because I often found myself theorizing the many questionable elements within the story. Who doesn't like a book that challenges your mind in productive and positive ways? I love how Nicole St. Claire implemented the cat, the aunt, the coven, the witchcraft, the ancestors, the slight romance, the car, etc., etc. So much was going on it kept me turning the pages.

I will say the book had its flaws. Which is why it lost a star. In the beginning it felt very rushed, amateur, and trashy. It felt as though Claire felt reluctant (to take the time) to explain how our main character, Tamsyn, got to Pinecroft Cove. Instead of using transitions with much more flow, she used cringe-worthy explanations as to why she had to move so suddenly. This is in the first chapter so I do not feel it is a spoiler, but an (ex) boyfriend all of a sudden leaves Tamsyn. Instead of just a simple breakup, he magically(?) appears with a new girlfriend (where the hell did she come from this entire time? Don't these things take a while because of... oh, I don't know. DATES?), and then they MOVE IN together (don't they know insta-love is cliché and cringey?) into the apartment that TAMSYN paid for. I really wish Claire could have explained that Aunt Gweyn had casted a spell to enforce her nieces arrival. That would have been so much better. Although, Tamsyn may have gotten upset with it. I don't know, but the drastic measures seemed inhuman and unrealistic to me.

When I go to recommend this book to people I will warn them of this: The book does not shine or "really start going" until about chapter 8. Don't worry, the chapters are short. But, yes, it takes a bit of work on the readers part to get to the really good stuff. But I felt it was completely worth it. I am very thankful to have come across this book. (Thanks, Mom!)
Profile Image for B.E..
Author 20 books61 followers
June 29, 2021
Cute book with a good story, likable characters, and an interesting mystery.
Profile Image for Atlanta Whitlock.
907 reviews12 followers
March 11, 2020

At the minute I’m into reading books that are quite spooky and have the witches theme going on, so when I stumbled upon this book by Nicole St. Claire, I was quite intrigued by the cover. She is a completely new author to me and what drew me in when it came to the cover was that it had that cute, cosy feel… I really love covers that have that homely feel to them when you can just curl up in the afternoon and just dive in. Overall I think that Nicole did a good job at writing this book, the writing flowed and the plot did work well, I just found that sometimes I would lose concentration as some scenes ended up having more information than what was needed so it made the book kind of drag on for a little bit. I would of loved to have seen more scenes with Tamsyn and Noah as I found the ones that were in the book to be a bit too short and plus you didn’t get to see the chemistry sparkle between them which I would of loved as well… If anything I think they needed more going on between them as it’s clear they both like each other, but neither of them are willing to even try and tempt each other until the end of the book… I just found that it fell short a little.
Other than that, I thought everything else flowed quite well, I thought Tamsyn was an interesting character, but at the same time it would have been interesting had she actually confided in her Aunt when it became clear that there was more to her than she first realised. I’m intrigued to see what happens in the next book as Nicole does have me hooked on the series, it seems that she has gained me as a fan for her work.

Tamsyn has had a difficult life when it came to growing up, her mother vanished when she was younger, she ended up moving in with her dad and step-mom and left the island that her aunt lives on. Now that she’s older and she’s more confident about life she seems to be doing well for herself…. Well, that is until she receives a letter from her Aunt inviting her back for summer to help out at the Inn…. At first she dismisses it, but when she ends up losing her job and her boyfriend dumps her, she realises she has nothing left and decides to pack up and head back home to her aunt. However, things are a lot different for her once she arrives, with her aunt insisting she’s a Witch and that she’s the last of their family line, will Tamsyn accept her fate or will she ignore it? What will she make of the fact she keeps seeing Noah’s Dead Uncle???? Is it just her imagination or is there more that meets the eye????
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews54 followers
September 13, 2019
The letter, the job, the boyfriend, the ghosts!

Loved it. A fresh feel to this read. The plot is a well worn one - a young woman loses her job, her boyfriend and her apartment but gets an invitation to go back to the one place she was happy. The Inn run by her aunt on a small island. News that she is a witch is shocking as for a kitchen witch she even burns water. Seeing ghosts however is different and no-one seems to understand why. A murdered developer or was it suicide as she claim? As she looks into it she encounters motives and suspects galore. But who is the guilty person? Then there is the fact that she keeps seeing an ancestor who mysteriously disappeared on the water around the island. Exactly the way her mother did. Then there is the boy that wrote her bad poetry as a teen. Now he is a handsome doctor. Will she clear up the murder? Will she stay? What kind of witch is she?
Terrific characters that lend colour and life to the read but don't overwhelm it. Loved her bewilderment and the antic that Gus gets up too. More please.
Profile Image for Kim.
1,161 reviews16 followers
June 30, 2020
This is a fun book. I enjoyed that Tamsyn doesn't just accept what she is being told. She has to learn things about herself for herself. The other characters are interesting and have great chemistry with Tamsyn. The mystery is entertaining with its twists and turns along the journey to the big reveal. The narrator has a nice voice and seems to be a natural storyteller. I look forward to the next in the series.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way, I have been influenced by anyone.
455 reviews8 followers
September 22, 2021
A thoroughly enjoyable read!

I picked this up and couldn't stop reading it. Tamsyn's life in the city just fell apart. The very same day she gets a letter from her aunt that she hasn't heard from in years to come visit. She goes there and learns she's from a family of witches and then becomes embroiled in a murder mystery. Fun and sleuthing are the theme and it is a wonderful story! Looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Lynn Morrison.
Author 80 books233 followers
May 24, 2021
Fun read

I love a good witch cozy and this one hit all the marks. Tamsyn and Noah provided a nice romance subplot. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Sabetha.
Author 20 books131 followers
November 17, 2019
This was a fun read. I loved that the main character isn't insta-accepting of discovering witches are real. Way more believable that she thinks everyone is a lunatic. lol The longbottom effect was a bit strong, but no insta-love so that was great. I look forward to seeing that relationship develop in the next story. Over all the mystery was well laid out, and the foreshadowing was on point. The characters were all unique, and interesting to get to know. Will be checking out the next in series.
Profile Image for Christine.
141 reviews8 followers
August 27, 2019
This is a new author to me and I will definitely be reading more of her books. I was also a paranormal cozy newbie and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I couldn’t put it down till I found out who the murderer was!
Profile Image for Julie Howard.
Author 2 books31 followers
January 26, 2020
I enjoyed this book. This is the first book by this author I have read or listened to but it won't be the last, especially as I have already downloaded book two. I like the characters and the whole quirky magic scene, where the magic doesn't always work.making the book funny. The mystery was good and even though I had guessed the reason with the twist in the tale I wasn't quite right. The story also had the slightly embarrassing start of a romance. Making the story over all a good listen that while listening to the hours will just fly by, like magic.
Tamsyn have just lost her job, her boyfriend and her home receives a latter from an elderly aunt asking her to come and help out at her bed and breakfast. Which is just what Tamsyn needs a fresh start, despite it being the place her mother died so goes. Alone to find out her life hasn't finished being turned upside, the truth is her aunt doesn't really need help Tamsyn is the one that needs the help, help to learn magic because she is a witch. Getting over that fact or trying to come to turns with the strange things going on, Tamsyn agrees to meet her fellow witch's at a party. Only for the hosts uncle to die on the way there in a plane crash. Was it suicide? Something wrong with the plane? An accident or was it murder? The police decide suicide and close the investigation. Tamsyn knows better the ghost and crow that seem to be following her tell her others wise and she sets out to solve the case on her own, with a little bit on help from a grumpy cat, a cute guy that had a crush on her when she was growing up and magic.
I liked the narrator, you could tell which character was speaking as they had there own voices, which is a plus when listening to an audio book.
Profile Image for Nadine.
1,905 reviews2 followers
March 20, 2020
I loved it from the start!

I immediately loved the writing style, I felt myself being pulled in and being excited for what’s to come. It does start very samey as some other cozies I’ve read recently. Woman down on her luck goes back to hometown, where her greataunt has a place for her to stay just when she needs it the most. She doesn’t know she’s a witch and has a mother who disappeared (yes, several recent books also had that trope!). Granted, the other books I read were with an inheritance, so the family member had passed away, but this starting point isn’t new. But that’s okay, as long as it’s original from here on. And it was! I really liked Tamsyn, the protagonist. She comes across a mysterious black cat and I love cats, I think any story is better with a cat, especially one who is mysterious and headstrong. He knows what he wants! And no, Tamsyn isn’t a witch, she knows she’s not! It’s all just hocus pocus talk, LOL. There’s no convincing her! But as the book continues, things happen that definitely point to her being a witch after all! Which of course we, as readers, knew all along. And would someone please teach me that cleaning spell? A very pleasant book, and I can definitely recommend it if you like witchy cozies!
Profile Image for Harmony.
417 reviews7 followers
December 13, 2020
I really tried to like this book. However, like so many books I've read lately, this one was a complete bust. It's so boring and slow that it's painful to read. I kept falling asleep while reading it.

The main character is boring as all get out. All she seems to do is whine about how bad her luck is and how pathetic she is. She's yet another 28 year old who has the maturity level of an 18 year old.

She's an accountant who was fired from her job and is asked by the town doctor to look at the finances of a million dollar estate. Riiiight.

And said doctor? Was once the town super nerd who (OF COURSE) is now super hot and suave, of course he is.

Also, I never could understand why she felt the need to investigate. It had nothing to do with her, it's not her job, she had no emotional ties to the victim. It made zero sense for her to get in the middle of it.

The writing itself is good, I didn't see a ton of grammatical errors. The story should have been interesting, it just didn't click with me. The characters feel flat as does the story. I suppose others will like the book but I didn't. Way too much time was spent describing everything which took away from character/story development.
Profile Image for Laura.
588 reviews
June 2, 2020
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and any opinions expressed herein are my own.

This is the first book in The Witches of Pinecroft Cove series. It starts in a similar vein to a lot of cozies in that the MC loses her job, her boyfriend, and her home which then allows her to, in essence, return back home. In this case, the MC Tamsyn moves in with her great aunt to help with the bed & breakfast and while living there, learns that her family and Tamsyn herself are all witches. Besides being a witch, there's also fun paranormal elements to this story. Tamsyn is a very likeable character - adorable even. I especially liked her conversations with her great aunt - which often brought a chuckle. I really liked that the awkward boy who had a childhood crush on her was now a very handsome doctor and that there was no insta-love between the characters. The mystery was interesting and entertaining.

The narrator, Stephanie Murphy, made you almost feel as if a friend were telling you a story - her voice was warm and inviting with just the right amount of tongue in cheek whimsy.
1,769 reviews23 followers
December 19, 2020
Pies in disguise

I felt so at home sitting and reading this witchy cozey murder mystery Nicole St Claire is a high caliber writer that brings you into the world of her storeys full fabulous and entertaining caracters vibrant and yet inviting through their down to earth and carreing natures.This witchy tale of intreage, mystery and murder as well as humor is a cozey you must'nt miss out on. Aquier "Spirits, Pies,and Alibis "so you yourself can enjoy reading it as much as I have. 🙄😯🤔🙄😊Kat
98 reviews1 follower
December 17, 2020
Learning about yourself is scary, especially if you're not aware of your family's history. Tamsyn did a fanstatical job of not over-reacting in the beginning (even though she did a few times). I'm glad that she held it together and practiced dispite it ending in a huge mess while helping a childhood friend learn more about what happened to his uncle. Not having all the facts is scary but in the end, it's awarding.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
835 reviews2 followers
July 9, 2022
Gave this one three stars because it seemed a little slow and drawn out to me. While I wanted to see how it ended it wasn't enough to hold my interest so that I didn't want to put it down. Returning home after losing her job and her boyfriend, Tamsyn finds that she is a witch but wasn't raised as one. She must learn her way around her fledgling powers. She also gets caught up in a murder investigation. Hope the next one is a little more fast paced.
Profile Image for Kim Allred.
Author 32 books75 followers
April 8, 2023
I've read the whole series (listened actually), and this is a unique story that not only has a m/c running across a dead body in every book, but also includes time travel that brings a special touch to the overall storyline. As expected, we have kooky characters, charming characters, and a really evil witch. I consider this series a potato chip read - full of tasty stuff that might not be good for you (if you plan on getting any chores done), but I dare you to read just one!
Profile Image for Chrissy Busick.
813 reviews47 followers
April 25, 2021
This is a fun paranormal cozy mystery. I can't even imagine losing my job, and boyfriend in the same week. Then getting a letter from a Great Aunt asking me to come live with her. To find out I am a witch on top of it all would be too much for my brain and heart to handle. This is just the beginning of what Tamsyn goes through in this book. It was fun to listen too during my commute to work.
Profile Image for HappyGay Bakunzi.
442 reviews8 followers
July 3, 2021
The best

I read this book in record time I just couldn't put it down. The auntie it awesome and Fuss is adorable. These characters were very realistic to me and not too over the top like some cozy witch books can do. I'm so happy with how this book turned out. I'm getting the second book now
16 reviews
August 1, 2021
Fun light-hearted Read

This book is a tale of witches unleashed. The writing is sometimes skipping along with too little to tie it together, yet it keeps your attention. Slightly fluffy piece that keeps the reader entertained enough to continue to the end. Easy read and definitely a cozy mystery.
Profile Image for Carolyn G. Manuel.
1,070 reviews
May 3, 2023
Good start to series

Tamsyn Bassett is starting over in Pinecroft Cove at her Auny’s B&B after losing her job and boyfriend. Then she finds out that she’s a witch and is not ready to grasp that reality. When she suddenly starts seeing ghosts and a time in the 1920’s she thinks she’s lost it. Fun story.
Profile Image for Mandy Mckee.
38 reviews1 follower
February 2, 2020
Wow

Normally I dont leave reviews for cozy mysteries but this one is well.deserved.
Nicole did a fabulous job with her time-hopping for Tampsyn. Loved seeing lingo that now of days many cannot understand. Kudos
891 reviews5 followers
July 27, 2020
Spirits,Pies and Aibis

This novel was a great start to a down to earth witchy story. If you enjoy these type of mysteries with a witch storyline. Pick it up an dive into a mystery needing to be solved.
139 reviews2 followers
October 2, 2020
Warm fur, loving characters, romance and intrig.

Entertaining and wonderful. Written with whit and I know all the historical references are accurate. I enjoyed this more than any book I picked up in the past year. Keep them coming! PJ
Profile Image for Lida.
117 reviews6 followers
June 3, 2021
I started this series by reading book 5, so jumping back to book 1 was a lot of fun. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Tamsyn figure out her place in the witching world of Pinecroft and Summerhaven. The story is funny, clever, and a great read.
43 reviews1 follower
April 18, 2022
An easy and enjoyable read

Humorous events and a story well told by the main character. A good twist of events which keeps you reading on, with a very intriguing conclusion to the book which keeps you wanting more.
306 reviews2 followers
February 23, 2020
Great read, the characters are vibrant and the mystery is twisted
7 reviews
May 17, 2020
Most enjoyable.

Interesting, fun, spokey in-depth people. And funny. Just wish there more books in series. Can not wait for new book.
Profile Image for Stephen Levesque.
2,794 reviews
May 19, 2020
This started slow but it is a great read and story after the first couple of chapters. Love the characters and story line. Great Reading Everyone! Maine a plus for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews

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