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Spirits in the Material World

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Amber had finally found her calling. She owned a small but popular bookstore in the heart of Salem, Massachusetts. Surrounded by witches and Wiccans, by pagans and spirits, she treasured every day in the historic cobblestone streets.

But one of her regulars, Mrs. McGillicuddy, needs help with a troublesome spirit. Amber quickly realizes is that this haunting goes far beyond just a run-of-the-mill poltergeist. It delves into the very heart of Salem's troubled history.

* * *

Spirits in the Material World - a Salem Bookstore Cozy Witch Mystery is book one in the series The Magical Supernatural Paranormal Witches of Massachusetts. I live near Salem and visit it regularly - this book is chock-full of my own personal observations, visitations, and delight in roaming the streets and alleys of this amazing location.

One of my ancestors was Ann Foster - a grandmother who gave in to the accusations at the Salem Witch Trials in order to protect her innocent daughter and granddaughter. Ann was put into jail, age 75, and she soon succumbed to the atrocious conditions there.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this series!

I support battered women's shelters.

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 4, 2019

217 people are currently reading
219 people want to read

About the author

Lisa Shea

515 books469 followers
Lisa Shea is a fervent fan of honor, loyalty, and chivalry. She brings to life worlds where men and women stand shoulder to shoulder, steady in their desire to make the world a better place for all. Most of her profits are donated to support battered women's shelters.

Lisa's works are all cleanly written with no explicit intimacy and little language. They are suitable for teens and up.

Lisa has written a wide range of fiction stories. She has medieval romances, modern murder mystery novels, sci-fi adventures, Scottish regency time travel romances, dystopian stories, 1800s-era black-Indian novellas, and Blackstone Valley mysteries.

In short stories, there's a thirty-one part story-a-day mini mystery series set in Salem, Massachusetts through the month of October 2014. There's a time travel series, a Biblical-era series, a zoo mystery series, an art museum mystery series, a diner mystery series with an Asperger's heroine, a romantic proposal series, three sci-fi and two contemporary shorts.

On the non-fiction side, Lisa has written nearly 100 books. There are low carb books, relationship books, green living, journaling, ASP programming, sleep and dreams, wine, wedding and courtship traditions, Melville poetry, and history. There is also a collection of books on self-help topics like working from home, reducing stress, yoga, meditation, using Twitter, running an author signing, and conquering a fear of spiders.

Lisa also writes poetry.

Lisa has thousands of pages online to help aspiring authors learn how to develop time management, write that book, lay it out, and get it published. Visit LisaShea.com for all the details, and free to email with questions!

Namaste.

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5 stars
147 (53%)
4 stars
80 (29%)
3 stars
37 (13%)
2 stars
8 (2%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for ♏ Gina☽.
902 reviews168 followers
May 16, 2020
Lisa Shea has written a delightful story that takes place in and around Salem, MA - the city of legend, the city of tragic history, the city that still captures our interest centuries after the infamous (and horrific) Salem Witch Trials. She knows of what she speaks. One of Lisa's ancestors was Ann Foster, who stepped up and proclaimed herself as a witch after her daughter and granddaughter were accused. Ann was 75 at the time and perished in the damp. unhealthy, and terrible conditions of the jail into which she was thrown.

The author notes that she still lives in the Salem area, and her knowledge of the city is evident in this book. I visited Salem once many years ago, and I have wanted to return - and now I REALLY want to return.

The book revolves around Amber, a young woman who was searching for her place in the world and finally finds it when she inherits a bookstore in Salem. The bookstore is her world, a world that she loves (living my dream there Amber!).

Salem still holds many secrets. Mrs. McGillicuddy, one of Amber's regular customers, comes to her looking for help with a troubled spirit. Did I mention Amber can see spirits? Yes, she can.

The book was a great read, start to finish. I cannot wait to read the rest in the series.
Profile Image for Michelle Stagg.
74 reviews23 followers
May 23, 2021
I really enjoyed this wonderful book. I love reading about Salem, MA. I love learning about the witch trials.
Profile Image for Vicki Scullion.
988 reviews1 follower
October 26, 2024
Interesting paranormal cozy mystery set in Salem. The characters were well developed and the plot moved smoothly. An enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Karen.
189 reviews6 followers
November 6, 2019
Interesting as well as entertaining

A nice surprise awaits the reader of this book. It is well-researched, giving a human face to the horrors of the Salem witch trials. The story is centered around spirits that have been in Salem for 300+ years and a recent death in a period home. Lots of human interest and a good mystery to boot.
Profile Image for Krista.
420 reviews16 followers
June 15, 2020
A bookshop, Salem, and ghosts? I am here for it. A wonderful story set in my favorite place. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and I am really looking forward to the next one
Profile Image for Kirsten.
562 reviews2 followers
May 10, 2020
Do not let the cover art fool you! It is a well written wonderful mystery. Add in the author’s true heritage to the Salem witch trials and you have authenticity bolstering the story as well. Well done!
Profile Image for Nancy Gerards.
195 reviews5 followers
May 3, 2020
Finished in 1 sitting.
A good , fastpasted, well worked out mystery !
The main characters are very likeable,al though the physical descriptions may be a little less, just a the mentioning of price tags on items..
The ending was well worked out
A good start on a new series, I'm waiting for the second book to come out

Profile Image for Catherine.
220 reviews1 follower
May 16, 2020
Well Written Witch Mystery

This book really resonated with me. There were parts, toward the end that were hard to follow, however for the most part, things came together. I only have one question, that really does not need to be answered: Why has Bob been a "boyfriend" for 20 years? Thanks for the story, I enjoyed it.
5 reviews
June 5, 2020
Love it

I'm not a believer of the practice of witchcraft and Wiccans etc, but,, I love a good read of just about anything. Also, I usually find out something I didn't know, as was the case in reading this book. The author has done a very good job of telling of the good side of witchcraft and spirits.
Profile Image for bex.
2,435 reviews24 followers
May 3, 2020
Low 3

First off, don't go in expecting this to read like a cozy. It's more paranormal than cozy and pacing is not that of a cozy. Focused more on ghosts and what happens to them than the recent death. Seriously lacking in investigation on that front.
Author 1 book
May 4, 2020
Spirits and boxes

Delightful engaging book. Good story with suspense til the end. Looking forward to Lisa Shea books in the future. Wordsmoth and wisdom to delight.
955 reviews2 followers
June 10, 2020
A unique story

Not my usual but a great read. Unusual plot with an interesting group of characters made this hard to put down.
Profile Image for CHERYL  YEAGER.
111 reviews1 follower
June 21, 2020
Sarah

Wow, what an exciting story. The characters were so real. I could not wait to finish the story. Great reading.
Profile Image for Susan Dorsey.
Author 10 books12 followers
May 19, 2021
I really enjoyed this witchy mystery! The ghosts and the historical info makes this a must read!
Profile Image for Bonnie Dale Keck.
4,677 reviews58 followers
June 23, 2021
Kindle unlimited, think, got on freebie day.

Seemed to take too long to get anywhere, and some issues such as names but that is on me probably, so 4 or is.
Profile Image for Debbie Tisdall.
50 reviews
December 29, 2020
Wonderful.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Great story line, wonderful characters. I can throughly recommend it. I was fascinated by the history contained in it as well.
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews55 followers
September 5, 2019
Spirit boxes can be the worst punishment possible

What a terrific read. I have read the author's mini series but this is a read that absolutely adored. Ghosts, containment boxes and a possible murder plus a gentle romance - what could be better especially when it is treated in such a matter of fact way. The only improvement it could have is another book out now. Wonderful characters that breathe life and soul into the read.
She's run the bookshop since her aunt's death and now a customer wants a book on how to get rid of ghosts. A secret she has kept close is that she can see ghosts. A young girl's ghost, a handsome detective, a man eater, a flighty sister, a pair of seniors and a more are drawn into why the ghosts can't find each other and the death of a local humanitarian. When the ghost go missing and there is a break in during which she and the detective get injured it points that their investigation is ruffling feathers. Can they find out what happened and why the house has been broken into as well as freeing the ghosts.
138 reviews1 follower
February 14, 2020
I love books, book stores and library's. I'm also interested in all kinds of history and a book that has history and Salem witches that are paranormal will this book just called my name. Read it and you will understand what I mean.
Profile Image for Diane Rapp.
Author 18 books111 followers
October 10, 2019
Love this ghostly mystery

Since I am descended from Rebecca Nurse, the horrible consequences of the Salem Witch Trials fascinates me. A tale about investigating a ghost, trapped in a house for hundreds of years, becomes a lesson in history. We must not forget the hysteria that led to mass executions and failed justice. Read this charming book with interesting characters, a blooming love story, and lessons from history.
Profile Image for Margaret Jones.
113 reviews1 follower
October 31, 2019
Surprise!

I picked up this book expecting the usual cosy, witchy fluff and found a book full of ideas. They were interesting and different to ordinary thoughts. It was well written and flowed along nicely. I liked the cast nd will look for more of this authors writing. Deffently will look for more.
Profile Image for Kelley  McGee .
36 reviews
November 24, 2019
A decent story

While the story line was interesting, the mistakes were very distracting. At times the names of the characters were spelled differently or once, a completely different name altogether! There were quite a few typos and the motivation for the murder were unclear but other than that it was a decent story.
7,766 reviews50 followers
October 4, 2019
Owning a book store opened another world for Amber, and the setting of Salem, was a plus. The ghosts, the pagens and history in this old cobble Street town, was well done. Good beginning to follow for the series.
258 reviews
October 27, 2019
Really good 👍

I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next episode. The characters were likable warm and eccentric. Plot flowed well and had plenty of twists and surprises. Satisfying conclusion.
1 review
January 28, 2020
A good read

I loved the combination of history, a bit of mystery and finding love. I learned some new things about the history of Salem while enjoying the storyline. Would definitely recommend and I will be reading more from this author.
117 reviews1 follower
October 11, 2019
Loved this book

Join Amber as she tries to help friends, reunite 2 ghostly sisters, spend time with the possible new man in her life and find out whu killed a close friend of hers.
9 reviews3 followers
October 15, 2019
This was an absolutely fabulous book!! I will definitely be getting more from this author.
Profile Image for Sarah Atkins Mascorro.
77 reviews
December 1, 2019
Awesome book

This was my first time reading book by Lisa Shea and I really enjoyed it. Great characters and awesome story. Gotta go see what else she has to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews

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