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The Kilorian Sisters: A Witches of Shadow Lake Mystery #1
A Murder Spells Trouble
The Secrets in Shadow Lake Run Deep... Nobody but a chosen few know the real history of the town, or what lies beneath the still surface of the lake... As members of the Kilorian Coven, Addie and her two sisters, Kiera and Willow, were born to the use of magic. Together the three are the sworn protectors of Shadow Lake, tasked with keeping evil at bay and the townsfolk safe. When a dead body is found on Luna Moth Trail Addie is forced to get involed after a strange woman begs her for help. The first officer on scene is the enigmatic Detective Lucian Knight who seems to be more than he appears. He reveals to her that the murder isn't the only incident that has occured in town recently. With the mysteries piling up, could there be something greater at work in Shadow Lake? Will Addie and her sisters be able to solve the murder and keep the town safe?
172 pages, Paperback
Published October 9, 2017
546 people are currently reading
841 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
August 22, 2018
I enjoyed this book. Ms. Emrick does a wonderful job of creating Addie as a complete, complex and interesting character. She does the same with the plot, weaving secondary mysteries and secrets through the story. The other characters are also interesting, each with their own secrets. I thought the mystery was solid if resolved a bit predictably. I really enjoyed the story telling and will read more from this series.
August 23, 2018
Decent writing except a few things, 42 yr old sister is considered an old maid, referring to sisters by calling them sister...younger sister is a sex fiend. Bad witch is named Belladonna Nightshade...can you be more stereotypical? Too many unrealistic aspects ruined it for me.
November 24, 2018
Shadow Lake
KJ Emrick took you to Shadow Lake where magical creatures are amongst the creatures there are three witches that are protectors of the land. The middle sister happens to come across a mortal death and is thrown into a mystery the sisters need to solve.
KJ Emrick took you to Shadow Lake where magical creatures are amongst the creatures there are three witches that are protectors of the land. The middle sister happens to come across a mortal death and is thrown into a mystery the sisters need to solve.
February 5, 2020
I read this book to the end mostly because I was curious about the reviews I was reading here. I’m not sure who the book is aimed at. Perhaps teenagers whose reading skills aren’t there yet but aren’t put off by off-screen sex? There is perhaps a rescuable core here. As a first draft this isn’t too bad. The editor should read “How not to write a novel”. I knew this had editing problems even before she saw a reflection that showed her what she looked like. Calling each other “sister Addie” and “sister Willow” is just weird. There’s a lot of explaining what was just shown. There is no need to explain what the packages she took out are, just what she did with them. The rest we can infer for ourselves. I’m baffled how she can think the policeman was brilliant for figuring out that this might be a murder when the body is obviously posed and there are footprints. There is a lot of silly jumping to conclusions. The culprit was obvious, though there were a few other similar explanations that fit a bit better, and the guilty party should have been obvious to the witches: why would they have completely ignored everything they know about the town given that they consider it to be their main job? Especially when it becomes obvious that this involves their world? Why is the preamble such a minor subplot? Why do they explain things to each other something they both know? Find some other way to let us know. Or just let us figure it out. Why on earth would the villain talk about what they are trying to achieve? So no, the writing is not good. It is amateurish and an editor should have been all over this and got it cleaned up. Read that book “how not to write a novel”. Then maybe I’ll read the books you write after that. There is potential.
February 8, 2022
A quote from the book:
"Esmerelda Norris, murdered by someone—a man, most likely—and laid to rest in gentle repose in the woods along Luna Moth Trail. Sounded like the start to one of those cozy mystery books that her sister Willow liked to read. Only, this was real. There was no fantasy novel spinning around her here."
Maybe it's just me, but I've read a lot of bad witch fantasies lately and I think I've become hypersensitive to them. As soon as I read that line I knew what was coming. The MC is so dumb I wondered if she was supposed to be brain damaged. She forgets things she has known her whole life, like that her sister can sense her presence. She can't walk & chew gum at the same time so she gets lost in her thoughts and apparently goes motionless until the other characters prod her along. She tells lies needlessly. She is jealous of her younger sister's beauty and love life and constantly bickers with her throughout the book. She is supposed to keep a secret of magic but stupidly gives it away. The plot is a big muddle. There just wasn't much to like.
"Esmerelda Norris, murdered by someone—a man, most likely—and laid to rest in gentle repose in the woods along Luna Moth Trail. Sounded like the start to one of those cozy mystery books that her sister Willow liked to read. Only, this was real. There was no fantasy novel spinning around her here."
Maybe it's just me, but I've read a lot of bad witch fantasies lately and I think I've become hypersensitive to them. As soon as I read that line I knew what was coming. The MC is so dumb I wondered if she was supposed to be brain damaged. She forgets things she has known her whole life, like that her sister can sense her presence. She can't walk & chew gum at the same time so she gets lost in her thoughts and apparently goes motionless until the other characters prod her along. She tells lies needlessly. She is jealous of her younger sister's beauty and love life and constantly bickers with her throughout the book. She is supposed to keep a secret of magic but stupidly gives it away. The plot is a big muddle. There just wasn't much to like.
September 13, 2018
Loved the book hate getting suckered in
I get really ticked off reading the first book of a series that is free, then finding out all the rest of the books are 2.99 or 3.99. That is why I pay for kindle unlimited. This author may be good, but she charges way too much for cheap quick read books.
I get really ticked off reading the first book of a series that is free, then finding out all the rest of the books are 2.99 or 3.99. That is why I pay for kindle unlimited. This author may be good, but she charges way too much for cheap quick read books.
December 8, 2019
I had high hopes for this book, but was disappointed. Many of the characters (especially the cat, Doyle) are not likeable and the story itself was annoyingly repetitive - how many times does the reader need to be told that the Kilorian Sisters had to protect Shadow Lake? Which they didn't seem to be doing very well at, anyway! Not recommended.
January 27, 2022
Not a fan of this book. At all. The prologue had nothing really to do with this book and as far as I can tell from looking at the other books in this series it actually doesn’t become a main plot point until the third book. The epilogue is the set up for the second book. Neither of which will I be reading! I went so far as to mark “Not Interested” for all the remaining books in this series on BookBub, that’s how much I don’t want to venture further with this series.
Here’s some nitpicky things that bothered me:
The author misspelled Samhain. In a book about witches! Seriously?!? No it’s not Samhein. Ever. Come on, it’s not that hard. (Page 64 in the Nook version so the editor can FIX it and not piss others off like I was.)
The MC Addie references “The Wiccan Wars of the 1500s” Huh?? Wicca was created in England between the 1920’s and 1950’s, depending on the source of your search. So how exactly were there Wiccan wars in the 1500’s? Yes I know it’s fiction! I read a ton of historical & romantic fiction and no one changes the dates when the Napoleonic Wars took place, or put Napoleon in a completely different time period, for example.
Addie says “curse my Irish eyes” multiple times. Per the story she’s a very strong witch; so strong I don’t believe she’d bandy about a possible curse to her own eyes.
They all refer to themselves as Irish even though their land in New England “has been in her family since before Christopher Columbus set sail for the East Indies and had gotten himself lost.” So the family has been in New England since before 1492 but they’re Irish? Not Irish-American but Irish. Also not Native American. Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620, they were English. Again, puzzled how they (the 3 Sisters) are pure Irish. Oh well.
The youngest sister Willow is a man crazy beotch that acts like a spoiled child. She disdains mortals, or Typics, as they are called in this book. The oldest sister Kiera is an over 40 dried up, frumpy husk of a woman that says “Sister Willow”and “Sister Addie” so much she sounds like an Abbess. The MC Addie is in her own head too much. She is immediately intrigued by the super hot (of course!) detective and thinks he’s so especially smart because he figured out some plainly obvious clues at the crime scene.
And we hear how these three are the “protectors of Shadow Lake” so much that it should be a drinking game. And they don’t seem to be doing that good of a job or are aware of other supernatural beings that are present in the town.
So pass on this one! Save yourself some angst.
Here’s some nitpicky things that bothered me:
The author misspelled Samhain. In a book about witches! Seriously?!? No it’s not Samhein. Ever. Come on, it’s not that hard. (Page 64 in the Nook version so the editor can FIX it and not piss others off like I was.)
The MC Addie references “The Wiccan Wars of the 1500s” Huh?? Wicca was created in England between the 1920’s and 1950’s, depending on the source of your search. So how exactly were there Wiccan wars in the 1500’s? Yes I know it’s fiction! I read a ton of historical & romantic fiction and no one changes the dates when the Napoleonic Wars took place, or put Napoleon in a completely different time period, for example.
Addie says “curse my Irish eyes” multiple times. Per the story she’s a very strong witch; so strong I don’t believe she’d bandy about a possible curse to her own eyes.
They all refer to themselves as Irish even though their land in New England “has been in her family since before Christopher Columbus set sail for the East Indies and had gotten himself lost.” So the family has been in New England since before 1492 but they’re Irish? Not Irish-American but Irish. Also not Native American. Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620, they were English. Again, puzzled how they (the 3 Sisters) are pure Irish. Oh well.
The youngest sister Willow is a man crazy beotch that acts like a spoiled child. She disdains mortals, or Typics, as they are called in this book. The oldest sister Kiera is an over 40 dried up, frumpy husk of a woman that says “Sister Willow”and “Sister Addie” so much she sounds like an Abbess. The MC Addie is in her own head too much. She is immediately intrigued by the super hot (of course!) detective and thinks he’s so especially smart because he figured out some plainly obvious clues at the crime scene.
And we hear how these three are the “protectors of Shadow Lake” so much that it should be a drinking game. And they don’t seem to be doing that good of a job or are aware of other supernatural beings that are present in the town.
So pass on this one! Save yourself some angst.
January 16, 2023
Excellent
A Murder Spells Trouble
A Murder Spells Trouble by K.J. Emrick and S.J.Wells is a fabulous paranormal cozy mystery that casts a special charm on the readers. The book's strong plot and unique characters along with the unexpected twists and turns, extremely thrilling revelations and very high element of suspense weave such a strong magic that I am spellbound.
The Kilorian Sisters, Addie, Kiera, and Willow are three powerful witches and guardians of Shadow Lake that falls between Bellewood and Birch Hollow. The story begins with a young man, Alan Pierson, driving down a lonely road to locate his biological parents in Shadow Lake. He meets with an accident and a mysterious woman comes to his rescue.
Addie Kilorian, who owns the Hot Cauldron Cafe and has Darla assisting her, closes her cafe for the day for a scheduled family meeting with her sisters at Stonecrest, their family home, with her familiar cat, Doyle. On the way, she meets Donna, a terrified traveler, who says she has stumbled across a dead body in the woods. Addie follows her to the spot as Donna calls 911.Addie makes sure that Donna is far away before performing her basic magic. She uses her magical power to invoke the deceased's ghost who says that she was Esmeralda Norris, one of the richest families of the town. The other rich family is the Raithmores. The Police Detective, Lucian Knight, meets Addie who offers her help in the investigation.
What follows next is so exciting and mind blowing that one can't give up reading for a moment. This is a must read book and definitely highly recommended for the lovers of paranormal cozy mysteries.
A Murder Spells Trouble
A Murder Spells Trouble by K.J. Emrick and S.J.Wells is a fabulous paranormal cozy mystery that casts a special charm on the readers. The book's strong plot and unique characters along with the unexpected twists and turns, extremely thrilling revelations and very high element of suspense weave such a strong magic that I am spellbound.
The Kilorian Sisters, Addie, Kiera, and Willow are three powerful witches and guardians of Shadow Lake that falls between Bellewood and Birch Hollow. The story begins with a young man, Alan Pierson, driving down a lonely road to locate his biological parents in Shadow Lake. He meets with an accident and a mysterious woman comes to his rescue.
Addie Kilorian, who owns the Hot Cauldron Cafe and has Darla assisting her, closes her cafe for the day for a scheduled family meeting with her sisters at Stonecrest, their family home, with her familiar cat, Doyle. On the way, she meets Donna, a terrified traveler, who says she has stumbled across a dead body in the woods. Addie follows her to the spot as Donna calls 911.Addie makes sure that Donna is far away before performing her basic magic. She uses her magical power to invoke the deceased's ghost who says that she was Esmeralda Norris, one of the richest families of the town. The other rich family is the Raithmores. The Police Detective, Lucian Knight, meets Addie who offers her help in the investigation.
What follows next is so exciting and mind blowing that one can't give up reading for a moment. This is a must read book and definitely highly recommended for the lovers of paranormal cozy mysteries.
January 7, 2019
Addie and her sisters, Kiera and Willow, form the Shadow Lake coven that is sworn to protect the town and its inhabitants. However, they cannot reveal their true nature to the Typics (non-magical folk). Addie owns and runs a cafe in town. When a woman comes to her, asking for Addie's help after finding a body outside of town, Addie rushes to help. When the police arrive, in the form of Detective Lucian Knight, the other woman has disappeared, leaving Addie to explain the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the dead woman. The detective realizes the victim has been murdered, and he tells Addie he'll contact her to get her statement. Addie has no intention of sitting idly by; not when its her sworn duty to protect Shadow Lake. Together with her sisters, she launches an investigation involving methods both magical and mundane. They uncover secrets about their neighbors they'd never known, and some of the sisters' secrets come out, as well.
This was an interesting story. Addie is a delightful protagonist, and I especially enjoyed her interactions with Doyle, the Kilorians' familiar, a talking cat. Kiera came across as enigmatic and reserved, and Willow just needed a good, swift kick in the panooch. While the core mystery was solved, other plot points were left hanging--enough to whet the appetite for more without leaving me with a WTF feeling. I'll certainly look for more in this series.
This was an interesting story. Addie is a delightful protagonist, and I especially enjoyed her interactions with Doyle, the Kilorians' familiar, a talking cat. Kiera came across as enigmatic and reserved, and Willow just needed a good, swift kick in the panooch. While the core mystery was solved, other plot points were left hanging--enough to whet the appetite for more without leaving me with a WTF feeling. I'll certainly look for more in this series.
January 24, 2023
This was actually a nice read. Always a good choice for around Halloween. I am pretty sure this was catered to a younger audience, I still enjoyed it as a 52 year old. We follow Addie Kilorian, one of three sisters in a family of witches. Their job is to protect the town of Shadow Lake. One day a woman named Donna shows up to inform Addie of a murder that has just happened in the forest. Addie follows this woman to the location where she finds the body of Esmerelda lifeless. When Addie is introduced to Detective Lucian Knight, she starts to have feelings for him. She also knows that the main focus is to get back to her sisters, Willow and Kiera, so she can fill them in on what has happened. From there they form a plan to go speak to the Norris family, but in the meantime they run into other issues at home. By the time that they get to visit the Norris house, it seems the murderer is already inside and chaos ensues.
A lot of twist and turns, very suspenseful, hanging off the edge of your seat. I cannot to read more from the author. My only wish that it would have been a longer read.
A lot of twist and turns, very suspenseful, hanging off the edge of your seat. I cannot to read more from the author. My only wish that it would have been a longer read.
June 22, 2018
The disappearing whistle blower
A very good start to a new series. Three sisters are the guardians of their community but the tension starts to mount when one discovers a body on a local trail. Who was the woman who led her to the body? Why did she disappear? Why was the body dumped on the trail? What does the car accident have to do with the events and where is the driver? The sisters are as different as night and day and their interaction is all too familiar to anyone with siblings. The plot has enough twists and turns to please all. Hopefully answers will become obvious with further books.
A very good start to a new series. Three sisters are the guardians of their community but the tension starts to mount when one discovers a body on a local trail. Who was the woman who led her to the body? Why did she disappear? Why was the body dumped on the trail? What does the car accident have to do with the events and where is the driver? The sisters are as different as night and day and their interaction is all too familiar to anyone with siblings. The plot has enough twists and turns to please all. Hopefully answers will become obvious with further books.
September 8, 2018
It was OK
I’m giving this book 2 stars because it is promising for people who enjoy the style, personally I just found that there are some silly characteristics that I just couldn’t get into you. I also didn’t really enjoy the overall plot, and found the ending kind of week. I just wasn’t my cuppa tea. But it’s definitely worth the read to see if you’d like it or not, there is a lot of magic, they are meant to be secretive, but honestly I find that a little ridiculous. I just really didn’t enjoy the main characters at all. But I do love the talking cats. Super awesome part of the story, and I wish more magical themed books had them.
I’m giving this book 2 stars because it is promising for people who enjoy the style, personally I just found that there are some silly characteristics that I just couldn’t get into you. I also didn’t really enjoy the overall plot, and found the ending kind of week. I just wasn’t my cuppa tea. But it’s definitely worth the read to see if you’d like it or not, there is a lot of magic, they are meant to be secretive, but honestly I find that a little ridiculous. I just really didn’t enjoy the main characters at all. But I do love the talking cats. Super awesome part of the story, and I wish more magical themed books had them.
April 21, 2022
More questions than answers.
Addie, here self said it, there are too many unanswered questions at the end of this story. If you are only interested in reading a book just to pass the time, then this is the book for you, but if you are going to spend time analyzing what is written, then this book is not the one you want. Too many things do not add up.
How can you be the keeper of Shadow Lake and not know that there are shape shifters living among you? Addie's character is very likeable, I can't say the same for Kiera's and Willow's.
Need some light reading, go ahead and read.
Addie, here self said it, there are too many unanswered questions at the end of this story. If you are only interested in reading a book just to pass the time, then this is the book for you, but if you are going to spend time analyzing what is written, then this book is not the one you want. Too many things do not add up.
How can you be the keeper of Shadow Lake and not know that there are shape shifters living among you? Addie's character is very likeable, I can't say the same for Kiera's and Willow's.
Need some light reading, go ahead and read.
March 21, 2019
The three Kilorian Sisters are the protectors of Shadow Lake. Annie, the middle sister run a cafe in this very small town and when a murder gets dropped at her feet by a mysterious woman this book is off and running in a hurry. With the help of the Sheriff, whom she tries to help with this murder but also keep the secret that she and her sisters are witches is a very interesting book. I loved it and can't wait to get into the rest of the series. This book didn't end on a cliff hanger but with a lot of interest to see who and what is going to happen in book two.
August 1, 2018
Shadow Lake a small town, at twenty two he wanted answer, it seemed to be out here in no man’s land. Accident, now awaking to hear ‘ I’ve been waiting for you, the music, controlling him. In town we meet Addie, cafe owner, and a witch, seeing all kinds of evil. Doyle, her talking cat, telling her she is a wimp, when it came to using her magic in public.three sisters guardians of the Lake. Till murder, and a plot with twists and turns, making the readers winder what all is going on.
November 18, 2018
A murder spells trouble
This book is about three sisters who were also witches. They live in Shadow Lake, a town with a magical lake by the same name. The sisters are supposed to protect the lake and people of Shadow Lake. This book starts with Addie, one of the sisters, finding a body out in the woods after a woman comes in to town and asks to borrow her phone to call the police about a dead woman. This is how Addie gets involved and the story takes off.
This book is about three sisters who were also witches. They live in Shadow Lake, a town with a magical lake by the same name. The sisters are supposed to protect the lake and people of Shadow Lake. This book starts with Addie, one of the sisters, finding a body out in the woods after a woman comes in to town and asks to borrow her phone to call the police about a dead woman. This is how Addie gets involved and the story takes off.
October 21, 2020
My this was a good book to read. The Kilorian Sisters protects Shadow Lake from evil, but a very dark spirit has come and set things into motion that the sisters has to deal with these straight away. But it is almost to late because Alan who is one of the sisters son has been in a bad car crash and has disappeared and then a dead body was found on a Nature Trial. Addie and her sisters has to figure it out fast before more bodies get layed out for all 3 sister to fined.
March 4, 2022
I did quite enjoy this story as it was a bit different and liked the witches twist on solving the murder and taking care of their neighbourhood. Elements I found quite amusing while other sections kept me guessing as to who actually carried out the crime. I enjoyed the interaction of each character and they all played their role within the storyline. A bit of fun but it needs to be taken for what it is as do all books.
February 13, 2025
It was...
Good, but it feels like there are far too many plotlines left unanswered. There are also a lot of hurt feelings that could easily be dealt with with a little communication. Once or twice this can be a realistic plot device but it seems that it was used for every interaction in the book and it got to be boring and a little annoying. Compared to the above mentioned issues, the typos were minor.
Good, but it feels like there are far too many plotlines left unanswered. There are also a lot of hurt feelings that could easily be dealt with with a little communication. Once or twice this can be a realistic plot device but it seems that it was used for every interaction in the book and it got to be boring and a little annoying. Compared to the above mentioned issues, the typos were minor.
March 9, 2025
Varje gång jag öppnar iBooks föreslår appen ett gäng gratisböcker jag kan ladda ner - helt (you guessed it) - gratis. Som den snåla person jag är trycker jag mig ibland vidare. Och alltså, en lördag efter ett par drinkar på fredagskvällen är det enkla det bästa, right...?
Jag ska sluta prata nu.
Den här boken är precis så bra som man tror att en gratisbok av en pseudonymförfattare, med en titel bestående av en ordvits och en tecknad pinup-häxa på omslaget ska vara.
Jag ska sluta prata nu.
Den här boken är precis så bra som man tror att en gratisbok av en pseudonymförfattare, med en titel bestående av en ordvits och en tecknad pinup-häxa på omslaget ska vara.
August 30, 2018
Godness, that book was tenuous with all those witches and shifters. I particularly disliked the younger sister, Willow, who seems to be the promiscuous brainless sister and I could not gasp the reason why the eldest called her sisters « Sister... ». I read some Darcie Sweet and I was hooked but this one leaves me unsure if I want to read more.
September 9, 2018
Cute cozy mystery, cliffhanger ending
This is a fun story, with clever dialog and well crafted characters. Appropriate for most any age, no rough language or sexual situations. Good suspense and surprising twists, along with a cliffhanger ending make this a good beginning for a series. Well done!
This is a fun story, with clever dialog and well crafted characters. Appropriate for most any age, no rough language or sexual situations. Good suspense and surprising twists, along with a cliffhanger ending make this a good beginning for a series. Well done!
October 26, 2018
Witch Trouble
I thoroughly enjoyed myself with this storey both fascinating and chilling with a good laugh as well as a murderous mystery and the knowledge that there is a twist with more to come .The caracters are great with maby a little romance to fallow. A storey you don't want to put down.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself with this storey both fascinating and chilling with a good laugh as well as a murderous mystery and the knowledge that there is a twist with more to come .The caracters are great with maby a little romance to fallow. A storey you don't want to put down.
September 14, 2019
Well written short story
Ebook/Paranormal Mystery: This was a freebie book I got on Amazon that I saved to read in the autumn to get me in the spirit of Halloween. I was pleasantly surprised that the book was so well written with a true plot and likeable characters in such a small amount of pages. The ending does set up for the next book without a cliffhanger.
Ebook/Paranormal Mystery: This was a freebie book I got on Amazon that I saved to read in the autumn to get me in the spirit of Halloween. I was pleasantly surprised that the book was so well written with a true plot and likeable characters in such a small amount of pages. The ending does set up for the next book without a cliffhanger.
March 14, 2023
I loved this book . Thought the characters charming . Loved the mystery . Thought the writing was good . To create a world that doesn’t exist and make the reader believe it does , to me is the mark of a creative writer . One has to be open to the fantastical to “ go there “. I went there !
October 24, 2017
confused
maybe I will come back some time later for a catch up.. The whole oldest duster calling the younger guilds Sister Addie, etc kinda a freaked me out.. Willow didn't leave much of a putative impresdipn, and yeah.. The car was the best part.. Lots of lose threads.
maybe I will come back some time later for a catch up.. The whole oldest duster calling the younger guilds Sister Addie, etc kinda a freaked me out.. Willow didn't leave much of a putative impresdipn, and yeah.. The car was the best part.. Lots of lose threads.
December 28, 2017
Yet another brilliant first in a series for KJ Emrick, I really am a huge fan of everything she writes and A Murder Spells trouble was no exception, it's a cute, sweet cozy with a magically murderous twist that kept me guessing and completely entertained the whole way through.
November 2, 2019
The calibration
This was my first book I've read written by the authors. The calibration was well written. The storyline was delightful. The characters where amazing and exciting. Thanks
This was my first book I've read written by the authors. The calibration was well written. The storyline was delightful. The characters where amazing and exciting. Thanks
December 22, 2019
This was a fund book to read, some supernatural acts but considering the main characters are 3 sisters who are witches. It was one of those books that just zipped along, nothing too complicated in the plot line but was an interesting read.
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