Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Witches of Keyhole Lake #5

Murder and Marinade

Rate this book
Noelle and crew take some much-needed time off for a little fun, fried foods, and barbecue, but she should know by now that nothing's that easy. When the main judge at the competition turns up murdered with a barbecue fork, it seems everybody's a suspect, including Bobbie Sue and Earl. Meat's not the only thing being grilled as they look more and more like the prime suspects.

That's not all that's afoot, either. Somebody's stealing secret recipes and and seeking to sabotage the entire competition, and trouble arises at home.

They came for the food and the trophy, but they may end up staying for the amenities at the iron-bar hotel.

Audiobook

First published March 24, 2018

906 people are currently reading
154 people want to read

About the author

Tegan Maher

98 books343 followers
I was born and raised in the South and even hung my motorcycle helmet in Colorado for a few months. I've always had a touch of wanderlust and have never feared just packing up and going on new adventures, whether in real life or via the pages of a great book.

When I was a little girl, I didn't want to grow up to be a writer—I wanted to raise unicorns and be a superhero. When those gigs fell through, I chose the next best thing: creating my own magical lands filled with adventure, magic, humor, and romance.

I live in Florida with my two dogs and when I'm not writing or reading, I'm racing motorcycles with my taller, more handsome half, hanging out at the beach, or binge-watching anything magical on Netflix.

I'm eternally grateful for all the people who help make my life what is today - friends, readers, family. No woman is an island.

To become a part of my readers group and learn about my new releases, giveaways, and other exciting news, check out my website at www.teganmaher.com.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
756 (60%)
4 stars
370 (29%)
3 stars
118 (9%)
2 stars
8 (<1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
Profile Image for ✨ Gramy ✨ .
1,382 reviews
October 23, 2018

I enjoy the humor, the shenanigans, and the quirky characters in this series. Ghosts are an intricate part of the community. This mystery is staged in an entirely new setting with some unsavory characters.

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series to get to know the lovable characters better and to discover what happens with this eclectic group. The depth of atrocious deceit and ruthlessness of the former sheriff makes me appreciate my peaceful and tranquil lifestyle very much indeed.

I was excited to find that Books 1-7 of the full-length books in this series are available through Kindle unlimited. I was disappointed to discover that the short story 'fill'in's' are NOT available through Kindle unlimited, which means there is a small charge for a book of fewer than 50 pages. I did not read the 4.5 and at first felt somewhat confused, but I did not feel that I missed that much, since there was a summary about it mentioned in this book.

This is a clean read that is able to stand on its own. However, it most definitely makes more sense if you read the entire series in the order they were written.

This book concludes with an H.E.A., but the next book in the series is sure to include another murder mystery that needs to be solved.
Profile Image for JoAn.
2,475 reviews1 follower
November 7, 2022
A getaway with Bobbie Sue and Earl to a county fair/arts and crafts festival/barbecue cook-off bring another murder mystery into Noelle and Hunter's life. Poor Noelle even learns she has a new "gift" that she wasn't aware of until she used it accidentally. Plenty of twists that kept me guessing and a chance to see Noelle and Hunter share some time with friends made this an enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Emmalynn.
2,965 reviews31 followers
December 19, 2022
No matter where they go, murder is sure to follow. This time Bobby Sue and Earl are in the hot seat as suspects in the death of a judge at the BBQ fair. Noelle and Hunter are along because Noelle has a tent selling her up cycled furniture and of course the will work on clearing their friends name. Justin, is just to cute in this book, and he his taking his bbq seriously!! Noelle also discovers a new magical ability that may have far reaching consequences, but it does lead to revelations about the Flynn witches history and how Aunt Elizabeth lost her powers+ the mystery of Shelby’s power binding until they were released by that blow to the head.

The characters continue to develop, their bonds and relationships with each other deepen and the town is slowly coming alive and living challenged more and more.
Profile Image for MelMon Sanchez.
587 reviews8 followers
May 20, 2018
It isn't likely that the Flynn witches will get a break when it comes to magic and murder. For Noelle, Reanne and Shelby; things seem to be getting complicated as they maneuver their way into their magical abilities. It's become obvious that there is still so much more to it all, so much more that even Aunt Abby and Aunt Beth may not be able to help.

The Barbecue Competition and Craft fair should have been a most rewarding experience for them all. Regrettably, murder seems to be the main course. And it seems that Earl and Bobbie Sue are quickly put at the top of the murder list menu.

Even through the choas, friendships will be made, pastries will be baked, barbecue will be served and murderers will be brought to justice, with a heaping helping of magic on the side.
Profile Image for Vivian.
769 reviews13 followers
March 27, 2018
I was lucky enough to find this author just as she published her first book in this series - and I am so glad I did. This series is just so much fun to read - humorous, magical in a realistic kind of way, likeable characters, family oriented, small town atmosphere - all the things I like to read in my cozies. I know when I see a new release that I am in for an entertaining read every time. The majority of this book is set against the backdrop of a craft fair and festival - with the author's descriptive writing style, I could almost taste the funnel cakes and lemonade and smell the BBQ wafting from my Kindle! Noelle is attending the fair to sell her hand-made repurposed furniture from her store Reimagined and her fellow townfolks Bobbie Sue and Earl are there for the BBQ competition. However, it all goes horribly wrong when a crooked judge is discovered skewered in the back with a BBQ fork. Add in the theft of several proprietary recipes and there are plenty of suspects to choose from for the killing. The author's sense of humor is always present and I always giggle several times while reading one of her stories! I would highly recommend this series for cozy fans.
Profile Image for Harmony.
417 reviews7 followers
February 15, 2021
This was a good addition to the series. I enjoyed the story.

I adore Noelle. She's not one of those annoying female characters. The kind who are know-it-all, too-stupid-to-live, uber feminists. She's aware of her weak points and uses her strong points. She's got a kind and loyal heart. I'm enjoying seeing her grow and develop through the books.

I adore Hunter. He's a great character. No freaking out over the supernatural and takes things in stride. He makes a great sheriff and an even better boyfriend and friend.

I want in on the betting pool for when they finally get married! LOL.

I'd like to see more of Shelby and Rae in these books. I'm very curious about them, their abilities, and their future friendships and romances.

The mystery in this book was good. The author effectively threw in a couple of red herrings. As usual, I was more interested in the characters and their relationships with one another than trying to figure out the mystery.

4-star rating because the ending didn't meet my 5-star requirement. A happy heart and a smile on my face. I did feel satisfied with the ending. I like things wrapped up with a bow at the end.
Profile Image for Renee Arthur.
433 reviews4 followers
March 31, 2018
Noelle and Hunter, Anna Mae, Earl, Bobbie Sue and Justin are all camping out at a fair for the weekend. Noelle and Anna Mae have a booth and Earl and Bobbie Sue have their BBQ stand along with Earl competing in the adult categories and Justin in the junior division. Everyone is having a great time until someone is murdered. Then meat and beans are stolen from a few competitors and someone has managed to get copies of their recipes and sold them on the internet. Earl ends up as a suspect but there's nothing solid and the fair goes on. Another man that apparently bought one of the recipes ends up murdered too. Hunter helps the sheriff what little he can and Noelle and friends do some digging. The climax is scary awesome when the killer is finally caught. It's another great cozy by Tegan Maher. The usual fun, laughs, magic and ghosts and so well written. I picked this to read to give myself a pick me up and it totally worked. I highly recommend this book.
869 reviews7 followers
July 26, 2018
I'm having more and more trouble with this series. What I need in one of these paranormal cozies is a community that makes me feel like I want to be one of them. I want to be her...I want to live there... For some reason, I don't get that from this series. I think the problem might be simply that I can't relate to the main characters. I don't understand people who have horses when they don't have time to spend with them. I find it not particularly credible that a woman suddenly developed a thriving business retrofitting junk. This just doesn't chime with me. Having said that, I didn't predict the culmination to the whodunit. Perhaps the pieces weren't presented to us or perhaps they were; I'm not judging. The MC doesn't behave stupidly, at least, in her search for answers, so I give the author credit for not falling into that pit of doom.

I don't know if I'll bother with continuing on with the series. I want to like it, but it's just not really "it" for me.
Profile Image for Catherine.
490 reviews
March 20, 2019
Not a Goose Cooked Here

Plenty of BBQ and competition at a fair next county over to the Keyhole Lake ever growing gang of witches, living impaired & just plain folks. Noelle & Hunter take a long weekend off so Now can sell her repurposed goods at a fair where Earl, Bobbie She and son Justin are gearing up for competing in a BBQ showdown. But the death of the crooked judge & some contestants' secret recipes being sold online make Earl & Bobbie Sue prime suspects. Despite selling all her goods, Noe won't consider the weekend a success until she clears her dearest friends of suspicion. And what is this new power she has? Why is everyone telling her not to use it?I
Never a dull moment in Keyhole Lake. Another winner for Regan Maher.
Profile Image for Sandy.
387 reviews47 followers
January 4, 2021
Fast fun reads, always a joy to read.

I love this series. Just a few examples of the writing that being me back again and again...
Some of the living-impaired community had hung around to enjoy post-life rather than crossing over, like Bossy elderly aunt Addy or Belle.
Coralee the owner of Keyhole Lake's beauty parlor, the gossip mill or the town's information dissemination circle.
Country sayings and speech patterns so familiar to me it's like coming home. All y'alls is a word (or 2) & every good self respecting Okie knows how to use it. A warm hug & a bless yer heart can cure loads of hurts. "Ohmuhgawd" not OMG 😲.
and of course a Talking Miniature Donkey named Max!
716 reviews7 followers
November 6, 2022
This is another lovely book in the continuing life of the Flynn witches in Keyhole Lake.

The humor is wonderful. Noelle and Hunter are a delight. The mystery was fine, but, honestly, the who-done-it aspects of these books are secondary at best. What is much more central is the sense of family and community.

We get a bit more information on the history and powers of the line of Flynn witches. And Noelle unexpectedly gets a new, rather risky, ability. Which (not really a surprise) is the magic bullet, as it were, in getting everyone out of the climactic peril situation.

The murder this time is set in a craft fair and fierce BBQ competition. So, yes, I got hungry a lot while reading it.

Anyways, a really fun book.
Profile Image for Brooke.
1,035 reviews52 followers
June 4, 2024
Noelle and her whole gang of magical family and friends never disappoint when it comes to a good time!

This one definitely took me on a wild goose chase of looking for the real culprit of who did what to who! While looking for the whodunnit it also have us more background on Noelle and her family along with more info on some more people in town!

I loved getting to see more about Noelle and how her family came to be as strongly magical as they have become. I loved being able to go to the BBQ competition with Noelle, Hunter and the whole gang and seeing what its all about. There is nothing more fun than being included with people you count as family.

I am so excited to see how Noelle develops more with her magic and where it takes her!
Profile Image for Mike Lewis.
1,761 reviews8 followers
December 4, 2018
A witch in southerner cozy mystery urban fantasy series.

And extraordinarily entertaining witchy southern cozy mystery/urban fantasy series. Hey small Southern town in an area where which is 10 to settle in live over the centuries. This family which is to sisters a cousin when living in it and when aunt who came back as a ghost and each book they run into trouble. Follow along as they figure out how to why win at Cetera. An entire town follows quickie southern people Who all seem to know each other will keep you waiting from beginning to end. No spoilers you must read it to find out but you will not be disappointed check it out
Profile Image for Rhyanna Detuathana.
63 reviews
July 16, 2019
I enjoyed reading the story and how Justin, the kid from the last book has settled into his new family and getting into the whole bbq competition, keeping secrets. I liked how Noelle learned a new magic that comes to her. I look forward to reading the next book.
I highly recommened the whole series. It does help reading them in order but wouldn't have to.

Murder and Marinade: Witches of Keyhole Lake Book 5 (Witches of Keyhole Lake Southern Mysteries)
Profile Image for warywolf3.
222 reviews5 followers
May 20, 2020
It's good

It's a good story, solid world and character building. The only problem I see are occasionally there are words that don't make since or them instead of he. The only reason I mention it is because when it hits me it throws me outta the story for a sec. Otherwise I really love this series and see how the series have piled and spread across each other and are connected I love it when authors do that!!!
Profile Image for Dawn Steenken korzekwa.
115 reviews1 follower
October 11, 2020
Loved it

Another terrific one!! A little FYI though, be sure you read those half stories (novelettes) for this series as well because they give you a ton of background that will be especially handy going into this book. Although Tegan does a terrific job blending it all together, knowing the full story makes it work so much better!! (Kinda like you can pick up any book and start the series because she gives you enough background in each book that it's fine.)
Profile Image for Kay Tuck.
275 reviews4 followers
March 27, 2018
Another great book from Tegan Maher!! I really enjoyed each book and I care for all the characters, family, friends, animals, and ghosts. These books are very entertaining and keeps me guessing until the very end. If you like a great mystery with great characters and ones that keeps you turning the pages this book and series is for you.
Profile Image for Jill DeBellis .
248 reviews
March 28, 2018
A fair to murder

Noelle is at a county fair, with Hunter, to sell her product from new store plus it is a BBQ competition and Bobbie Sue, Earl, and Justin were there as well. Of course, a murder takes place and puts people in the line of fire that Noelle loves. With some unexplained happenings and surprise people showing up you will enjoy this story.
1,170 reviews18 followers
June 21, 2018
An excellent series

Great characters, friendly town including the ghosts, yes there's the odd murder but it's nearly always an outsider so it doesn't worry people much and you have the members of the Flynn family all very talented witches who don't mind getting involved and helping work out who the murderer is. After all in a tourist town murder is bad for buisness.
Profile Image for Vivian.
59 reviews1 follower
July 10, 2018
Noelle and her friends go to a BBQ competition were there is a murder. Two of Noelle's friends become suspects. She and Hunter, alone with some other friends try to solve the murder. Strange things happen and Noelle developes a new power she didn't know she had and it can be a dangerous one if she is not careful. Very good book enjoyed it very much.
506 reviews3 followers
November 15, 2018
Another AWESOME READ!!

A County Fair and a murder!! Can our favorite Witch and her favorite Sheriff find out, who done it?
Wonders abound over who stabbed, the much disliked Judge of the BBQ cookout at the fair. Was it disgruntled losers? Guess, you'll have to read this book to find out...lol
Me? I'm off to read the next book!!
2,931 reviews3 followers
January 1, 2019
Yeah!

Every book is so entertaining. This one included. We discover a new gift, solve another two connected murders, a little guy get a prize, new friends are made. It’s all told in a fun, casual way. No sexy times revealed, just an enduring relationship developing. Now for book 6
414 reviews4 followers
July 14, 2019
Wonderful as always

While I love a steamy romance most of the time, it's great to find a first rate series that is appropriate for younger readers also. With fascinating characters and intriguing storylines, this is a must read series. I look forward to the next book in this series.
15 reviews
May 8, 2020
Great Series

A fantastic cozy mystery series with a paranormal twist. There’s a kooky cast of of lovable characters sprinkled with a sweet romance between Noelle and Hunter. I really love how the stories link together and each builds on the cast of folks around town. I could read about the misadventures of Noelle and her friends for many many books.
Profile Image for Chris B.
216 reviews7 followers
June 6, 2020
This would have been another 5star rating except for some editing errors. The last one threw me right out of the story so much that I went back a few pages because I thought I’d misread it. Noelle just finished saying she rode her bike to the store and then she jumped into the truck. It annoyed me so much to get tossed out the story world that I dropped my rating one emotional star.
Profile Image for Tonya Peterson.
1,615 reviews3 followers
January 19, 2025
Judge killed, and much more

When Noelle and the gang went to the fair to be judged on meat, the judge got killed, and sadly, one of them is their main suspect. The only person to witness anything is a 4 legged ass that is not supposed to be able to talk. One of the main problems going on is not so much the murder but a new development with Noelle.
1,306 reviews2 followers
December 15, 2025
A pretty consistent series with likable characters. A murder mystery to solve but this one didn't bring in the associated ghosts with the victims. Noelle is continuing to grow in her powers - in some unexpected ways. There is still growth with most of the characters which makes the storyline feel like it is moving forward and not stuck in Neutral. I do plan to continue with the series.
Profile Image for Zoë.
475 reviews4 followers
September 16, 2018
Cooking and murder

This was really good. Really well written characters are growing more and developing. The story line was really good and bad several small sub plots running through too.
Profile Image for Dawn Gee.
3,016 reviews12 followers
December 5, 2018
Spunky murder mystery

I love this series because of all the unique characters. The mystery is well written but the character development is what keeps me thoroughly entertained. I haven't the short stories but I plan to. Noelle and her merry band of misfits are awesome.
87 reviews
December 22, 2018
Love these books, this one a particular fave!

Am in love with this genre but found few well written, this one is and I'm truly enjoying..Murder and Marinade in particular as all the characters are so closeknit now And funny, feels like I'm part of the family!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.