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Blue Moon Investigations #7
The Witches of East Malling
Tempest Michaels is back! His office burned down, his love life is a joke and he is convinced he is getting fat. It's the perfect time for a new case then.
The client is the son of a man who was killed in freak accident - struck by lightning. That doesn't sound very paranormal until you learn that he was inside his house when it happened and his heart exploded out of his chest.
There are eldritch runes drawn on the victim’s house and his wife, together with several of her friends, has been seen colluding with a mysterious old crone. Is there witchcraft being practiced in the nearby village of East Malling? The client certainly thinks so.
Will he be swift enough to solve the case before anyone else is killed? Will Frank’s witch-sniffer toad sniff out the witch? Will Tempest’s assistant turn up dressed as a boy or a girl?
You can bet there will be bedlam as Tempest and his trusted sausage dogs find themselves pitted against another potentially deadly foe.
The client is the son of a man who was killed in freak accident - struck by lightning. That doesn't sound very paranormal until you learn that he was inside his house when it happened and his heart exploded out of his chest.
There are eldritch runes drawn on the victim’s house and his wife, together with several of her friends, has been seen colluding with a mysterious old crone. Is there witchcraft being practiced in the nearby village of East Malling? The client certainly thinks so.
Will he be swift enough to solve the case before anyone else is killed? Will Frank’s witch-sniffer toad sniff out the witch? Will Tempest’s assistant turn up dressed as a boy or a girl?
You can bet there will be bedlam as Tempest and his trusted sausage dogs find themselves pitted against another potentially deadly foe.
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2018
265 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Steve Higgs
607 books841 followersLet's start this off with an invitation to get some FREE books. No, you didn't read that wrong, we are talking about multiple free books. I love giving away free books because once people delve into the fast-paced mystery thrills I write, they go on to buy lots more.
All I need from you is an email address to send them to. Here's the link you need - https://mailchi.mp/fd47a6eb4ae5/patri...
When I wrote my first novel, Paranormal Nonsense, I was a Captain in the British Army. I would love to pretend that I had one of those careers that has to be redacted and in general denied by the government and that I have had to change my name and continually move about because I am still on the watch list in several countries. In truth though, I started out as a mechanic. Not like Jason Statham, sneaking about as a contract killer, more like one of those greasy gits that charge you a fortune and keep your car for a week when all you went in for was a squeaky door hinge.
At school, I was mostly disinterested in every subject except creative writing, for which, at age ten, I won my first award. However, calling it my first award suggests that there have been more, which there have not. Accolades may come but, in the meantime, I am having a ball writing mystery stories and crime thrillers and will claim to have more than a hundred books forming an unruly queue in my head as they clamor to get out.
Now retired from the military, I live in the south-east corner of England with a pair of lazy sausage dogs. Surrounded by rolling hills, brooding castles, and vineyards, I doubt I will ever leave, the beer is just too good.
Links:
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steve-Higgs/...
Website: https://stevehiggsbooks.wordpress.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stevehiggsau...
All I need from you is an email address to send them to. Here's the link you need - https://mailchi.mp/fd47a6eb4ae5/patri...
When I wrote my first novel, Paranormal Nonsense, I was a Captain in the British Army. I would love to pretend that I had one of those careers that has to be redacted and in general denied by the government and that I have had to change my name and continually move about because I am still on the watch list in several countries. In truth though, I started out as a mechanic. Not like Jason Statham, sneaking about as a contract killer, more like one of those greasy gits that charge you a fortune and keep your car for a week when all you went in for was a squeaky door hinge.
At school, I was mostly disinterested in every subject except creative writing, for which, at age ten, I won my first award. However, calling it my first award suggests that there have been more, which there have not. Accolades may come but, in the meantime, I am having a ball writing mystery stories and crime thrillers and will claim to have more than a hundred books forming an unruly queue in my head as they clamor to get out.
Now retired from the military, I live in the south-east corner of England with a pair of lazy sausage dogs. Surrounded by rolling hills, brooding castles, and vineyards, I doubt I will ever leave, the beer is just too good.
Links:
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steve-Higgs/...
Website: https://stevehiggsbooks.wordpress.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stevehiggsau...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 13, 2025
The Witches of East Malling by Steve Higgs is the 7th book in the Blue Moon Investigations series. Tempest Michaels is hired to investigate the death of a man allegedly killed by a freak lightning accident but who the son believes was murdered by his wife by witchcraft. I was a little disappointed in this book as I felt the solution and culprit was obvious from the start. When you look at the injuries, there is only one answer. I still enjoyed it but thought the humour a bit repetitive. Not the best of the series.
June 16, 2022
Sausage dogs and witches. Fun series without much gore. Just enough comedy to keep it from being downright cozy. I’m becoming partial to the mum in this series.
September 14, 2022
Love this series of books, so many Laugh out loud moments.
October 31, 2018
Laughter and mystery all in one book. Yay!
Tempest Michaels is asked by a Mr.Michael Cotton to look into his father's death, which he believes was from witchcraft perpetrated by his step mother Mabel who didn't seem surprised or upset by her husband's death. His son, Michael Cotton, found out that his stepmother had taken out a huge insurance policy on his father, and he didn't think his father had any idea about it at all..
Then there were the strange symbols on the outside of the house that turned up just prior to his death, and the strange things inside like dreamcatchers hanging in the house. Mabel's friend and one of the of the other suspected witches is Barbara, who's husband died a few weeks before, in the exact same way as Mabels now had. Mabel and Barbara are close friends and spend a lot of time with a couple of other ladies whom Michael Cotton thinks may be witches.
Tempest decides to follow the four women to listen in on their conversations, unfortunately he is spotted and outed as a spy by a very witchy looking woman who has joined the four ladies as they meet in a local tea room. So Tempest sets up Ben, his overly flirtatious friend, to chat up the four ladies and see what they confide in him. Naturally Ben being Ben, he sleeps with each of them, then imparts to Tempest the details about their husbands that they had spoken of to him.
Even with all the information Tempest has accrued, he still cannot conceive of how the murders could have been perpetrated. He is convinced it is a case of murder, not natural death, no matter what the coroner says to the contrary..
In fact the coroner Victoria Mallory, keeps trying to seduce Tempest every time she meets him. Tempest is not in the least bit interested in her sexually, he's more concerned with trying to change her mind concerning the two men killed by lightening, whom she has stated that the cause of death was by misadventure in both cases. She refuses to change her opinion, and Tempest begins to smell a rat. However, he has no proof of her involvement.
The plot thickens as they say.
I enjoyed this story. The plot was gripping and funny at times too, which is always great in a book. Tempest, Big Ben, Jane/James, Hilary and Amanda are all great characters and are so easy to like. I love the way that Tempest never completely believes that witches really exist. Although he gets a bit spooked out once or twice, he still doubts the evidence before him. I loved that all the ladies kept falling for him, but not the one he wants the most, it makes for a great dynamic in the story.
This was a great read and a good laugh in places too. Who would have thought that a detective with two sausage dogs, a business partner he's secretly fallen in love with, a secretary who is gender neutral, and a friend who sleeps around with each woman he meets; could become such a cohesive group that make up the people who deal with investigating the paranormal in such a laid back manner. They make such a good team and each have really well fleshed out personalities, whom I adore.
I look forward to reading much more by this author.
Tempest Michaels is asked by a Mr.Michael Cotton to look into his father's death, which he believes was from witchcraft perpetrated by his step mother Mabel who didn't seem surprised or upset by her husband's death. His son, Michael Cotton, found out that his stepmother had taken out a huge insurance policy on his father, and he didn't think his father had any idea about it at all..
Then there were the strange symbols on the outside of the house that turned up just prior to his death, and the strange things inside like dreamcatchers hanging in the house. Mabel's friend and one of the of the other suspected witches is Barbara, who's husband died a few weeks before, in the exact same way as Mabels now had. Mabel and Barbara are close friends and spend a lot of time with a couple of other ladies whom Michael Cotton thinks may be witches.
Tempest decides to follow the four women to listen in on their conversations, unfortunately he is spotted and outed as a spy by a very witchy looking woman who has joined the four ladies as they meet in a local tea room. So Tempest sets up Ben, his overly flirtatious friend, to chat up the four ladies and see what they confide in him. Naturally Ben being Ben, he sleeps with each of them, then imparts to Tempest the details about their husbands that they had spoken of to him.
Even with all the information Tempest has accrued, he still cannot conceive of how the murders could have been perpetrated. He is convinced it is a case of murder, not natural death, no matter what the coroner says to the contrary..
In fact the coroner Victoria Mallory, keeps trying to seduce Tempest every time she meets him. Tempest is not in the least bit interested in her sexually, he's more concerned with trying to change her mind concerning the two men killed by lightening, whom she has stated that the cause of death was by misadventure in both cases. She refuses to change her opinion, and Tempest begins to smell a rat. However, he has no proof of her involvement.
The plot thickens as they say.
I enjoyed this story. The plot was gripping and funny at times too, which is always great in a book. Tempest, Big Ben, Jane/James, Hilary and Amanda are all great characters and are so easy to like. I love the way that Tempest never completely believes that witches really exist. Although he gets a bit spooked out once or twice, he still doubts the evidence before him. I loved that all the ladies kept falling for him, but not the one he wants the most, it makes for a great dynamic in the story.
This was a great read and a good laugh in places too. Who would have thought that a detective with two sausage dogs, a business partner he's secretly fallen in love with, a secretary who is gender neutral, and a friend who sleeps around with each woman he meets; could become such a cohesive group that make up the people who deal with investigating the paranormal in such a laid back manner. They make such a good team and each have really well fleshed out personalities, whom I adore.
I look forward to reading much more by this author.
February 28, 2022
The next in the series of Blue Moon Investigations features a client who is convinced his step mother killed his father. Who died from a lightning strike to the chest/heart during a thunderstorm, while standing inside his own house. By witchcraft. Further investigations show that he wasn't the first to die this way but how can it be caused. Death by lighting strike inside a house, according to research, is basically zero in statistics and that is without the interesting possibility of a witch calling up the thunderstorm and directing the lightening directly to her prey. At the same time Tempest Michaels finds himself having to fend off a sexually over zealous coroner while also helping a drinking companion whose wife has thrown him out of the house.
An excellent story line with an unexpected ending, and a happy one for all except the widows and the witch. Oh, and Tempest acquires a witch locating toad, called Kevin, as a pet. A fabulous novel as always and I can't wait to start the next in the series.
An excellent story line with an unexpected ending, and a happy one for all except the widows and the witch. Oh, and Tempest acquires a witch locating toad, called Kevin, as a pet. A fabulous novel as always and I can't wait to start the next in the series.
August 30, 2022
"The Witches of East Malling", seventh in the Blue Moon Investigations series, sees Tempest Michaels back at centre stage.
On the face of it the death he is asked to look into has all the hallmarks of the paranormal - a man is hit by lightning - his chest exploding - but he was indoors at the time.
The man's son believes his stepmother is somehow responsible.
And, as Tempest, with a farting frog by his side, begins to investigate it seems obvious that witchcraft is at the root of the death. And it is not the only similar death!
The problem with the series is that Tempest believes that there will always be a rational explanation ... and there always is. It occurs over and over in the series and becomes a weakness - it's a one-trick pony (as is the recurring Mr. Wriggly!) and should not have become a full equine parade.
Even so the series is an easy read and passed the time nicely.
3 Stars.
On the face of it the death he is asked to look into has all the hallmarks of the paranormal - a man is hit by lightning - his chest exploding - but he was indoors at the time.
The man's son believes his stepmother is somehow responsible.
And, as Tempest, with a farting frog by his side, begins to investigate it seems obvious that witchcraft is at the root of the death. And it is not the only similar death!
The problem with the series is that Tempest believes that there will always be a rational explanation ... and there always is. It occurs over and over in the series and becomes a weakness - it's a one-trick pony (as is the recurring Mr. Wriggly!) and should not have become a full equine parade.
Even so the series is an easy read and passed the time nicely.
3 Stars.
February 3, 2021
Steve Higgs finds the most unique ways to kill people in his books. He writes tongue in cheek which keeps me laughing. Here is an excerpt “I needed to pee; the previous cup of tea now ready to leave my system but the liquids ejection system was not currently in a useable state.” This was referring to Tempest having an erection. He also features his penis a.k.a. Mr. Wriggly, as a character in his books and shows Mr. W’s thoughts in italics. I find this amusing though it may not be funny to everyone.
I also like that this series, “the Paranormal Mysteries”, has two protagonists and they are featured in separate books which generally run concurrent.
I will continue to read Steve’s books as fast as he writes them!
I also like that this series, “the Paranormal Mysteries”, has two protagonists and they are featured in separate books which generally run concurrent.
I will continue to read Steve’s books as fast as he writes them!
November 6, 2018
There's just something about a funny cozy mystery that gets to me. I really enjoyed this book. Tempest Michaels owns Blue Moon Investigation Agency. His newest client, Michael Cotton, is a man whose father was killed by lightning inside his house. As if that's not odd enough, he was hit in the chest. Mr. Cotton is convinced it wasn't an accidental death. He thinks father was killed by witchcraft and his stepmother had something to do with it! Tempest and his team are on the case and it's a good one. There's a lot of laugh out loud moments with everything that is going on. I definitely recommend this book.
November 24, 2021
Enjoyed this one as much as all the others; in fact, I haven't read a book by Mr. Higgs that I don't like! (Yet, I still need to read the other two series he has written or is it 3?) I've read most of the False Gods series and now I'm reading Blue Moon. I love Jane/James, Amanda, Big Ben, Hilary, Jagjit, Basic, Patience and Tempest's parents. I even like Tempest, although Mr. Wriggly is a bit much. I figured out the trick before Tempest this time. Didn't think he'd be that slow on the uptake. But the way he was saved from a grisly death made up for it. Recmmended.
September 16, 2023
Spooky occurrences of heart exploding caliber are finally here. This feels like a Dresden Files novel with supernatural and all… right till the end that is. Speaking of the ending, this one was interesting in the fact I called it (villain and all those things), but the way it happened was different than what I expected. I was pleasantly surprised.
Overall, a wonderful quick read. Nothing too difficult about it and it was highly engaging. The Blue Moon Investigation series has so far been pretty good I’ll admit. Might be worth picking up more of them.
Overall, a wonderful quick read. Nothing too difficult about it and it was highly engaging. The Blue Moon Investigation series has so far been pretty good I’ll admit. Might be worth picking up more of them.
Read
September 25, 2020The Witches of East Malling (Blue Moon Investigations #6), my seventh read/listen from author Steve and my second in this series. Well written & enjoyable. Narrator Charles Robert Fox’s voice added to the listening enjoyment. I'm going to have to go backward & catch up as I'm reading books out of order because it's what I have. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
February 12, 2023
Looking for a series on Audible I found this one. I went through books 1 through 9 one right after the other. The stories are interesting and so far have not had repetitive plot lines, which is quite refreshing. The characters are interesting, some of the verbiage that is spewed from the protagonist’s mother is so real that it makes me roll my eyes, and sometimes absolutely laugh out loud. This kind of character development makes continuing on in a series worth the time.
December 13, 2018
So much more than a Cozy Mystery
Yes, read this book but don't start here! Start at the beginning of the series. Definitely best to see the building of the characters and appreciate their background and relationships. The next book is on order and wondering what can possibly happen next. Steve Higgs is a good read.
Yes, read this book but don't start here! Start at the beginning of the series. Definitely best to see the building of the characters and appreciate their background and relationships. The next book is on order and wondering what can possibly happen next. Steve Higgs is a good read.
January 2, 2019
Another 5
Higgs makes everything and everyone come alive. Horrible things happen, but the loyalty of friends and unassuming kindness and gentle humor of the protagonist keep the horror to tolerable levels. I love the atmosphere and the suspense juxtaposed with common human foibles. I highly recommend this author.
Higgs makes everything and everyone come alive. Horrible things happen, but the loyalty of friends and unassuming kindness and gentle humor of the protagonist keep the horror to tolerable levels. I love the atmosphere and the suspense juxtaposed with common human foibles. I highly recommend this author.
March 24, 2024
The book was a lot less rambling than some of the earlier books were and there was some good character development for Hilary. I knew who the killer was early on but I suppose the male - Tempest - ego wouldn't catch on as quickly, which made the book somewhat frustrating to read as he searched for a person who didn't exist.
November 5, 2018
Another wonderfully good read
Once again Steve Higgs presents us with another fun and engaging read. Im addicted to the Blue Moon Detective Agency and its entire crew. The stories are some of the most original mysteries I've read.
Once again Steve Higgs presents us with another fun and engaging read. Im addicted to the Blue Moon Detective Agency and its entire crew. The stories are some of the most original mysteries I've read.
November 14, 2018
A fantastically good read.
Brilliant characters that make you laugh out loud at their antics. A great read for people who like a bit of mystery, bogus supernatural and a jolly good giggle.
Brilliant characters that make you laugh out loud at their antics. A great read for people who like a bit of mystery, bogus supernatural and a jolly good giggle.
November 20, 2018
If you need a mood lifter, Blue Moon Investigations will overfill the bill! The publisher's blurb is a pretty good hook, but the snarks really notch up the plot. Yes, there is a plot complete with twists and red herrings, but everything here is for fun, so enjoy! I most certainly did!
July 30, 2022
Very entertaining!
Not great literature and horribly edited, if edited at all. But a very engaging set of characters and a clever plot. I have read books 1-7 in this series and am really enjoying them.
Not great literature and horribly edited, if edited at all. But a very engaging set of characters and a clever plot. I have read books 1-7 in this series and am really enjoying them.
November 1, 2022
The premise is much like The Widow's Club by Dorothy Cannell. Only the merry widow's are not as hands on. How they get in contact with the 'witch' is not explained. She is a true man hater, willing to dispatch any man just for the joy of it.
November 4, 2024
Fantastic Read!
This is a great series! I have gotten to know and feel for the characters. They are funny, quirky and simply adorable. Read this series, you will not be disappointed!
This is a great series! I have gotten to know and feel for the characters. They are funny, quirky and simply adorable. Read this series, you will not be disappointed!
November 1, 2018
Entertaining read
Interesting mystery. Had some slow parts and way to much emphasis on discussing sex, but overall pretty good. I would read more by this author.
Interesting mystery. Had some slow parts and way to much emphasis on discussing sex, but overall pretty good. I would read more by this author.
December 29, 2018
Interesting and entertaining. Highly recommend this series.
August 13, 2019
At least he didn't sleep with the bad guy this time?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2019
Excellent Tempest novel.
November 14, 2019
Excellent who-done-it, sprinkled liberally with humor and tales of some of my favorite characters. I throughly enjoyed reading it and hope you will as well.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
Read via Kindle Unlimited
April 11, 2020
Another actually shivery story. I've gotten to really like the characters!
April 13, 2020
I am amazed. For once I actually identified the villain early on. I am enjoying these books so much
March 30, 2021
Fun
Steve's books are fun and interesting. They have great characters and interesting settings. Sit down, relax and enjoy. Good reading.
Steve's books are fun and interesting. They have great characters and interesting settings. Sit down, relax and enjoy. Good reading.
July 10, 2021
Easy reading
A bit of fantasy a bit of humour . Death . Murder this book has it all . Very easy to read because you can't put it down will be reading the next one.
A bit of fantasy a bit of humour . Death . Murder this book has it all . Very easy to read because you can't put it down will be reading the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews