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Evenfall Witches B&B #1
In the Company of Witches
When a guest dies in the B&B she helps her aunts run, a young witch must rely on some good old-fashioned investigating to clear her aunt's name in this magical and charming new cozy mystery.
For four hundred years, the Warren witches have used their magic to quietly help the citizens of the sleepy New England town of Evenfall thrive. There's never been a problem they couldn't handle. But then Constance Graves--a local known for being argumentative and demanding--dies while staying at the bed and breakfast Brynn Warren maintains with her aunts. At first, it seems like an accident...but it soon becomes clear that there's something more sinister at work, and Aunt Nora is shaping up to be the prime suspect.
There's nothing Brynn wants more than to prove Nora's innocence, and it hurts her to know that even two years ago that might have been easier. Brynn, after all, is a witch of the dead--a witch who can commune with ghosts. Ghosts never remember much about their deaths, but Constance might remember something about her life that would help crack the case. But Brynn hasn't used her powers since her husband died, and isn't even sure she still can. Brynn will just have to hope that her aunts' magic and her own investigative skills will lead her to answers--and maybe back to the gift she once thought herself ready to give up forever.
For four hundred years, the Warren witches have used their magic to quietly help the citizens of the sleepy New England town of Evenfall thrive. There's never been a problem they couldn't handle. But then Constance Graves--a local known for being argumentative and demanding--dies while staying at the bed and breakfast Brynn Warren maintains with her aunts. At first, it seems like an accident...but it soon becomes clear that there's something more sinister at work, and Aunt Nora is shaping up to be the prime suspect.
There's nothing Brynn wants more than to prove Nora's innocence, and it hurts her to know that even two years ago that might have been easier. Brynn, after all, is a witch of the dead--a witch who can commune with ghosts. Ghosts never remember much about their deaths, but Constance might remember something about her life that would help crack the case. But Brynn hasn't used her powers since her husband died, and isn't even sure she still can. Brynn will just have to hope that her aunts' magic and her own investigative skills will lead her to answers--and maybe back to the gift she once thought herself ready to give up forever.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 19, 2021
1701 people are currently reading
65825 people want to read
About the author
Auralee Wallace
12 books1,206 followersAfter spending her formative years reading Grimms’ fairy tales and stirring up potions in the creek behind her house, Auralee Wallace knew she would grow up to be a witch. When that didn’t work out, she decided becoming a writer was the next best thing. Now, Auralee is the author of multiple novels, including the Otter Lake mystery series and The Evenfall Witches B&B mysteries. She lives in Ottawa with her husband, kids, dog, and cat.
She can be found on Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, and her website http://auraleewallace.com/.
Auralee is represented by Natalie Lakosil, Looking Glass Literary and Media.
She can be found on Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, and her website http://auraleewallace.com/.
Auralee is represented by Natalie Lakosil, Looking Glass Literary and Media.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,884 reviews
September 19, 2023
Don't let this cover deceive you!
A murder-mystery in a small town with hints of Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Gilmore Girls? Yes Please. This was cute but deals with some tougher topics like family and grief.
Would recommend!
A murder-mystery in a small town with hints of Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Gilmore Girls? Yes Please. This was cute but deals with some tougher topics like family and grief.
Would recommend!
June 12, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up**
In the Company of Witches, the first book in Auralee Wallace's new Evenfall Witches series, is the Practical Magic of Cozy Mysteries. A delightful series starter!!
After the tragic loss of her husband, Brynn Warren moves into the B&B owned by her Aunts, Nora and Izzy, ostensibly to help them run the place.
Warren women have been a staple of the small town of Evenfall for over four hundred years. Although there are whisperings of them being witches, the townsfolk don't actually have any proof of that.
When a local woman, staying at the B&B while her home undergoes some renovations, is found dead, the Warren women are thrown for a loop.
Not only is it upsetting that Constance Graves died inside their home, but it seems Nora is now the authorities number one suspect. That's right, they suspect foul play. Constance was murdered.
Further, you know those suspicions the townsfolk have about the Warrens? Yeah, they're true.
Brynn is a witch of the dead, meaning she can commune with ghosts. In order to clear her Aunt's name, she may need to contact Constance's ghost and find out what really happened to her.
Unfortunately, since her husband passed, Brynn has had a really hard time using her powers. Thus, a bit of old fashioned investigation will have to be incorporated into her mission to help Nora.
Brynn discovers a whole host of family secrets and drama as she dives into Constance's past in order to figure out who would have had the motive to kill her.
Y'all, this was a great start to an all new Cozy series. I really enjoyed getting to know Brynn, Nora, Izzy, Gideon and all the other citizens of Evenfall.
I find with Cozies, the longer the series goes on, the more attached you get to the characters and place. I have no doubt this series will be the same.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. If you love Cozy Mysteries, or Witchy stories, you absolutely should check this one out. Pure fun from beginning to end.
The next book, When the Crow's Away, is expected to be published in April 2022. I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
In the Company of Witches, the first book in Auralee Wallace's new Evenfall Witches series, is the Practical Magic of Cozy Mysteries. A delightful series starter!!
After the tragic loss of her husband, Brynn Warren moves into the B&B owned by her Aunts, Nora and Izzy, ostensibly to help them run the place.
Warren women have been a staple of the small town of Evenfall for over four hundred years. Although there are whisperings of them being witches, the townsfolk don't actually have any proof of that.
When a local woman, staying at the B&B while her home undergoes some renovations, is found dead, the Warren women are thrown for a loop.
Not only is it upsetting that Constance Graves died inside their home, but it seems Nora is now the authorities number one suspect. That's right, they suspect foul play. Constance was murdered.
Further, you know those suspicions the townsfolk have about the Warrens? Yeah, they're true.
Brynn is a witch of the dead, meaning she can commune with ghosts. In order to clear her Aunt's name, she may need to contact Constance's ghost and find out what really happened to her.
Unfortunately, since her husband passed, Brynn has had a really hard time using her powers. Thus, a bit of old fashioned investigation will have to be incorporated into her mission to help Nora.
Brynn discovers a whole host of family secrets and drama as she dives into Constance's past in order to figure out who would have had the motive to kill her.
Y'all, this was a great start to an all new Cozy series. I really enjoyed getting to know Brynn, Nora, Izzy, Gideon and all the other citizens of Evenfall.
I find with Cozies, the longer the series goes on, the more attached you get to the characters and place. I have no doubt this series will be the same.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. If you love Cozy Mysteries, or Witchy stories, you absolutely should check this one out. Pure fun from beginning to end.
The next book, When the Crow's Away, is expected to be published in April 2022. I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
September 26, 2022
If you want a light and easy cozy witchy mystery to get into the halloween spirit, I’d recommend this! I have a really hard time with cozy books in general. I always want to love them, but the low stakes and lack of mental challenges end up boring me to death. So I was surprised when I made it through this one, and still wanted to continue on with the series. This was a fun story, the characters were likable and so are the small town, big old houses, and witch vibes.
Crotchety old Nora is my favorite, and mostly for her I bought book 2. Also Nixie though, and it would be interesting if something happened with her backstory at some point in the series. I don’t want to spoil anything, so that’s all I will say.
Crotchety old Nora is my favorite, and mostly for her I bought book 2. Also Nixie though, and it would be interesting if something happened with her backstory at some point in the series. I don’t want to spoil anything, so that’s all I will say.
July 26, 2022
4.5 Stars — If you loved the aunts in Practical Magic and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, I highly recommend you give this new magical cozy mystery series a try. There's also a curious uncle who reminds me a bit of "we don't talk about" Bruno who adds to the fun.
Brynn, their niece, has been unable to use her witchy powers of communicating with ghosts ever since her husband died. Somehow Brynn needs to get her witchery back to help Aunt Nora when she's accused of murdering a guest in their New England B&B.
I enjoyed the spirited characters and their dynamics and witty banter. The murder mystery was complex and fast paced, and I enjoyed how the family's magical powers helped with the investigation. There are additional layers of emotion and family drama that give the story extra depth. I'm excited to see this series continue! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Brynn, their niece, has been unable to use her witchy powers of communicating with ghosts ever since her husband died. Somehow Brynn needs to get her witchery back to help Aunt Nora when she's accused of murdering a guest in their New England B&B.
I enjoyed the spirited characters and their dynamics and witty banter. The murder mystery was complex and fast paced, and I enjoyed how the family's magical powers helped with the investigation. There are additional layers of emotion and family drama that give the story extra depth. I'm excited to see this series continue! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 1, 2022
I’m so sad I didn’t enjoy this as much as everyone else seems to, but there’s so many meh things about this story. Let’s start with the fact that this isn’t set up like the traditional cozy. Most cozies in my limited experience of them is this: sleuth is introduced, backstory is laid out quickly and isn’t part of the main plot, a body shows up, and the sleuth gets busy trying to find out whodunit. The small town in introduced along with its businesses, residents are introduced, and along the way the mystery is solved. This book did not follow the traditional format I have come to love and expect in cozies.
This felt like the author was trying to merge 2 story ideas into one and it just didn’t work for me. It felt much more like a witchy story of grief and overcoming with a side of cozy mystery vibes. I also didn’t like how Brynn never felt like the main character. Nora and Izzy, Brynn’s aunts felt like they were main characters too. I wouldn’t have been surprised if the other books in the series followed one of them, but I checked and it looks like Brynn is the main character.
Some readers have complained about there being too many characters and that’s a hallmark of cozies, however I feel like because Brynn had limited interaction with them because she was so busy dealing with her own issues and her aunts, we only got to meet them once so they became forgettable. When it came time for the whodunit and why of the murder it was underwhelming. I would have been fine with it being anyone and I would have believed anything at that point, because the pacing was off and nothing ever made me want to continue reading other than the ability to check it off my TBR list.
Sadly, I will not be continuing in this series, but I know so many of you will and that makes me happy. I would say if you like Good Witch, the Hallmark channel series you might like this one.
This felt like the author was trying to merge 2 story ideas into one and it just didn’t work for me. It felt much more like a witchy story of grief and overcoming with a side of cozy mystery vibes. I also didn’t like how Brynn never felt like the main character. Nora and Izzy, Brynn’s aunts felt like they were main characters too. I wouldn’t have been surprised if the other books in the series followed one of them, but I checked and it looks like Brynn is the main character.
Some readers have complained about there being too many characters and that’s a hallmark of cozies, however I feel like because Brynn had limited interaction with them because she was so busy dealing with her own issues and her aunts, we only got to meet them once so they became forgettable. When it came time for the whodunit and why of the murder it was underwhelming. I would have been fine with it being anyone and I would have believed anything at that point, because the pacing was off and nothing ever made me want to continue reading other than the ability to check it off my TBR list.
Sadly, I will not be continuing in this series, but I know so many of you will and that makes me happy. I would say if you like Good Witch, the Hallmark channel series you might like this one.
November 8, 2021
In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace is the first book in the new paranormal cozy Evenfall Witches B&B mystery series. As with most cozy mystery series each book in this series will feature it’s own mystery to be solved within so they can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. There is character development that will carry over from book to book for those that follow the series from the beginning.
Brynn Warren comes from the long line of Warren witches who have been in Evenfall, Connecticut for the last four hundred years. Brynn helps run her family bed and breakfast with her two aunts who of course also practice witchcraft. Brynn though has decided that after the death of the love of her life that she will give up her magic but has yet to tell her aunts.
The trio are now dealing with a very demanding guest, Constance Graves, at their B&B. Constance had rented out the entire B&B during her stay while she has work done on her own home in town but Brynn and her aunts are beginning to wonder if they made a mistake letting her stay. However, when a thump comes from Constance’s room and the ladies find her dead they really regret the choice as Brynn’s aunt becomes a suspect in what seems to be Constance’s murder.
As a huge fan of all different types of books and really a fan of mixing genres in my reading I knew I had to try this new series when I saw In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace. What we have here is your normal cozy mystery taken in the paranormal direction with the characters being witches. This of course gave a whole new avenue to the ‘sleuthing’ you would normally have in a cozy with some nice spells to help along the way. After really enjoying this opener with these new characters I will definitely be interested in coming back for round two to see what the ladies conjure up next.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Brynn Warren comes from the long line of Warren witches who have been in Evenfall, Connecticut for the last four hundred years. Brynn helps run her family bed and breakfast with her two aunts who of course also practice witchcraft. Brynn though has decided that after the death of the love of her life that she will give up her magic but has yet to tell her aunts.
The trio are now dealing with a very demanding guest, Constance Graves, at their B&B. Constance had rented out the entire B&B during her stay while she has work done on her own home in town but Brynn and her aunts are beginning to wonder if they made a mistake letting her stay. However, when a thump comes from Constance’s room and the ladies find her dead they really regret the choice as Brynn’s aunt becomes a suspect in what seems to be Constance’s murder.
As a huge fan of all different types of books and really a fan of mixing genres in my reading I knew I had to try this new series when I saw In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace. What we have here is your normal cozy mystery taken in the paranormal direction with the characters being witches. This of course gave a whole new avenue to the ‘sleuthing’ you would normally have in a cozy with some nice spells to help along the way. After really enjoying this opener with these new characters I will definitely be interested in coming back for round two to see what the ladies conjure up next.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
June 22, 2023
SO freakin cute! if you like the shows Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The Good Witch, & Gilmore Girls, you'll love this! I also cried at the end & teared up two other times, which I wasn't expecting from a cozy mystery. I will absolutely be picking up the sequel because I miss these quirky characters already 😍
August 28, 2025
4.5 stars
A new favorite cozy mystery! The mystery in here was so fun and I was obsessed with the bed and breakfast setting. The heroine lives with her aunts and she's trying to figure out who killed the person staying at the inn, especially when one of her aunts is the prime suspect. I also loved how the heroine had to explore her connection with her magic, especially after she loves some of her abilities to see ghosts after losing her husband a few years ago. I will say, there were A LOT of characters in town, especially once we got to the end, so it was a bit hard for me to keep track of everyone, but this had the best cozy vibes and I couldn't get enough!
A new favorite cozy mystery! The mystery in here was so fun and I was obsessed with the bed and breakfast setting. The heroine lives with her aunts and she's trying to figure out who killed the person staying at the inn, especially when one of her aunts is the prime suspect. I also loved how the heroine had to explore her connection with her magic, especially after she loves some of her abilities to see ghosts after losing her husband a few years ago. I will say, there were A LOT of characters in town, especially once we got to the end, so it was a bit hard for me to keep track of everyone, but this had the best cozy vibes and I couldn't get enough!
November 15, 2022
If "Gilmore Girls", "Practical Magic", and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" (Melissa Joan Hart version) got together and had a child...this book would be the product of that union.
This was the ULTIMATE cozy mystery to read in the Autumn season. For those that enjoy a cozy mystery, PICK THIS ONE UP! Honestly, I will be recommending this book left and right because I had such a fun time reading it.
This book features a small town, a cozy atmosphere, and a quirky family all living under one roof in a B&B. In addition to that, there's a mysterious death of a guest that occurs at said B&B.
As much as I did like the mystery in this book, it truly did take a backseat to the whole experience of the atmosphere and family connection. I just loved the relationships and loved the writing style because it transported you into this world giving you the ability to picture these settings.
That ending though. Talk about an emotional punch to the stomach. It was something the story needed and something that made this book stand out even more.
I'm almost sad that this series doesn't have a huge backlist for me to catch up on because I want MORE. At least there is a second book out and I can only hope that the author is writing more in this series (please Auralee Wallace please).
This was the ULTIMATE cozy mystery to read in the Autumn season. For those that enjoy a cozy mystery, PICK THIS ONE UP! Honestly, I will be recommending this book left and right because I had such a fun time reading it.
This book features a small town, a cozy atmosphere, and a quirky family all living under one roof in a B&B. In addition to that, there's a mysterious death of a guest that occurs at said B&B.
As much as I did like the mystery in this book, it truly did take a backseat to the whole experience of the atmosphere and family connection. I just loved the relationships and loved the writing style because it transported you into this world giving you the ability to picture these settings.
That ending though. Talk about an emotional punch to the stomach. It was something the story needed and something that made this book stand out even more.
I'm almost sad that this series doesn't have a huge backlist for me to catch up on because I want MORE. At least there is a second book out and I can only hope that the author is writing more in this series (please Auralee Wallace please).
July 17, 2023
3.5 stars!! Loved it, very comforting & fun read
October 17, 2021
I love a fun cozy mystery and this one is simply perfect for the witchy season - the setting is in the New England town of Evenfall where for over four hundred years, the Warren witches have low-keyed used their magic to help the townsfolk. All is great until a local dies and fingers point to Nora, one of the Warren witches.
I really enjoyed this magical cozy for a riveting mystery, magic, and murder. I loved the characters, the setting, and determining the whodunnit, with the help of some supernatural to solve this case. This was a fun start of the series and I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.
I really enjoyed this magical cozy for a riveting mystery, magic, and murder. I loved the characters, the setting, and determining the whodunnit, with the help of some supernatural to solve this case. This was a fun start of the series and I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.
June 15, 2023
The concept of a cozy fantasy-mystery involving two witchy aunts and their widowed niece is not exactly a new concept in the genre, but I enjoyed this nonetheless. This is one of my "dessert reads" that are fun and I don't hold my Reviewer lens up to examine them much.
It never grew too "silly" as a cozy, there were genuinely funny moments (there's a scene involving sentient fires burning around town that made me chuckle), and it nicely opens up a series. The narrator, while not giving a breathtaking performance, did a solid job at the funny and touching moments. Now, on to the audiobook of book two.
It never grew too "silly" as a cozy, there were genuinely funny moments (there's a scene involving sentient fires burning around town that made me chuckle), and it nicely opens up a series. The narrator, while not giving a breathtaking performance, did a solid job at the funny and touching moments. Now, on to the audiobook of book two.
March 29, 2022
I had already written a lukewarm but overall not too scathing review about this, intending to just DNF and be done with it.
Luckily or rather not so luckily I kept reading for a few more chapters which allowed me to discover a mountain of absurdity and stupidity in the form of a public town council meeting.
I talk about events in the book up to chapter 30 or so but I try not to spoiler anything major beyond the initial story setup.
The MCs grief:
We discover very early on that the MC has retreated from society and doesn't leave the house she is living in with her 2 aunts and 1 uncle (I think?). We later find out that this is due to grief over her dead husband she hasn't recovered from.
Part of the story is about her overcoming her grief and finding her way back into society and while the portrayal of the sorrow itself is well done, the process of overcoming it is rather shallow. (at least up to the point where I dropped the book)
The inciting incident:
The core conflict that gets the plot moving is a murder than happens in their house which is also a BnB.
One of her aunts gets accused based on flimsy evidence and motive at best but everyone treats it like she is really in danger of going to prison if her name isn't cleared. This serves as the core motivator to get the MC out of her long-lasting retreat from society. She then investigates the circumstances on her own. This whole endeavor seemed weird to me. She doesn't work together with the police and she can not collect physical evidence that would be admissible in court either. It wasn't precisely pointless and she really figures a few things out but as you might expect she gets manipulated quite a lot too because she has no systematic approach whatsoever. She basically just runs around and talks to people for 20 chapters.
The family:
The MCs family is meant to be a little dysfunctional in a cutsie kind of way but the author apparently didn't notice how pathologically dysfunctional this family really ended up being.
The way the two aunts just casually violate personal boundaries constantly and how the MC isn't even mad about it infuriates me. If a family member of mine would've done some of the things they do I would never have talked to that person again in my life. (Well, maybe that is a little too dramatic, but I at least would've felt like that in the moment.) But the MC just waves most of it away and the worst stuff is only worth a stern look. And I am not talking about one single incident. It happens constantly and with manipulative magic spells and spelled food etc. too sometimes.
There supposedly is a kind of karma component to how the magic works but apparently karma is passed out drunk in a dumpster somewhere because what the hell is karma doing not setting their house on fire considering how they casually fling manipulative and intrusive spells around willy nilly against everyone. What the hell would they have to do for karma to actually punish them?!
The plot:
The story doesn't feel like it is going anywhere original. Quite a bit of the story felt like a slog and most of the rest was just a run-of-the-mill cozy mystery but without a love interest.
That is one original thing about this book. It doesn't try to force a dark and handsome love interest into the cozy mystery for a romantic happily ever after which is particularly important because the MC is a grieving widow.
But the book doesn't do anything with it. It's not capitalizing on this difference that breaks the mold! You were brave enough to refrain from a cheesy clichée romance! Do something with that and don't just leave dead air there!
Maybe I just haven't read far enough to encounter precisely this handsome love interest yet.
The overall structure was a bit all over the place which I sometimes enjoy if the story that is being told is interesting and original but the building blocks were all well known tropes and clichées.
Characters:
The aunts and the MC were well crafted if a bit exaggerated in their character traits.
A lot of the other characters are missing depth but not all of them are cardboard cutouts of clichéed tropes at least.
The council meeting (around chapter 30):
The point where I dropped the book was during a town council meeting that is coopted to accuse her aunt of the murder again even though it was specifically stated before that this wouldn't be a topic of discussion.
It instead devolves into a cheap imitation of a trial in a phoenix wright game. The book is going for an exciting fight in a public court but it fails miserably. The only part that is missing is someone shouting "objection". But in contrast to those games, none of the arguments make any sense. The book treats the different arguments and points like they are somehow coherent but there is no consistent logic behind any of them. It's almost as if someone states "this chair is brown and therefore it must be 9oclock" and everyone just implicitly agrees. The author is trying to create a tense situation with high but uncertain stakes but she has nothing to back this up so it just falls flat.
Well, there you have it. Tired clichéed tropes everywhere and the bits that are original are badly executed. Not horrible but not good either.
(The book is better written than this review at least.)
Do not recommend.
Luckily or rather not so luckily I kept reading for a few more chapters which allowed me to discover a mountain of absurdity and stupidity in the form of a public town council meeting.
I talk about events in the book up to chapter 30 or so but I try not to spoiler anything major beyond the initial story setup.
The MCs grief:
We discover very early on that the MC has retreated from society and doesn't leave the house she is living in with her 2 aunts and 1 uncle (I think?). We later find out that this is due to grief over her dead husband she hasn't recovered from.
Part of the story is about her overcoming her grief and finding her way back into society and while the portrayal of the sorrow itself is well done, the process of overcoming it is rather shallow. (at least up to the point where I dropped the book)
The inciting incident:
The core conflict that gets the plot moving is a murder than happens in their house which is also a BnB.
One of her aunts gets accused based on flimsy evidence and motive at best but everyone treats it like she is really in danger of going to prison if her name isn't cleared. This serves as the core motivator to get the MC out of her long-lasting retreat from society. She then investigates the circumstances on her own. This whole endeavor seemed weird to me. She doesn't work together with the police and she can not collect physical evidence that would be admissible in court either. It wasn't precisely pointless and she really figures a few things out but as you might expect she gets manipulated quite a lot too because she has no systematic approach whatsoever. She basically just runs around and talks to people for 20 chapters.
The family:
The MCs family is meant to be a little dysfunctional in a cutsie kind of way but the author apparently didn't notice how pathologically dysfunctional this family really ended up being.
The way the two aunts just casually violate personal boundaries constantly and how the MC isn't even mad about it infuriates me. If a family member of mine would've done some of the things they do I would never have talked to that person again in my life. (Well, maybe that is a little too dramatic, but I at least would've felt like that in the moment.) But the MC just waves most of it away and the worst stuff is only worth a stern look. And I am not talking about one single incident. It happens constantly and with manipulative magic spells and spelled food etc. too sometimes.
There supposedly is a kind of karma component to how the magic works but apparently karma is passed out drunk in a dumpster somewhere because what the hell is karma doing not setting their house on fire considering how they casually fling manipulative and intrusive spells around willy nilly against everyone. What the hell would they have to do for karma to actually punish them?!
The plot:
The story doesn't feel like it is going anywhere original. Quite a bit of the story felt like a slog and most of the rest was just a run-of-the-mill cozy mystery but without a love interest.
That is one original thing about this book. It doesn't try to force a dark and handsome love interest into the cozy mystery for a romantic happily ever after which is particularly important because the MC is a grieving widow.
But the book doesn't do anything with it. It's not capitalizing on this difference that breaks the mold! You were brave enough to refrain from a cheesy clichée romance! Do something with that and don't just leave dead air there!
Maybe I just haven't read far enough to encounter precisely this handsome love interest yet.
The overall structure was a bit all over the place which I sometimes enjoy if the story that is being told is interesting and original but the building blocks were all well known tropes and clichées.
Characters:
The aunts and the MC were well crafted if a bit exaggerated in their character traits.
A lot of the other characters are missing depth but not all of them are cardboard cutouts of clichéed tropes at least.
The council meeting (around chapter 30):
The point where I dropped the book was during a town council meeting that is coopted to accuse her aunt of the murder again even though it was specifically stated before that this wouldn't be a topic of discussion.
It instead devolves into a cheap imitation of a trial in a phoenix wright game. The book is going for an exciting fight in a public court but it fails miserably. The only part that is missing is someone shouting "objection". But in contrast to those games, none of the arguments make any sense. The book treats the different arguments and points like they are somehow coherent but there is no consistent logic behind any of them. It's almost as if someone states "this chair is brown and therefore it must be 9oclock" and everyone just implicitly agrees. The author is trying to create a tense situation with high but uncertain stakes but she has nothing to back this up so it just falls flat.
Well, there you have it. Tired clichéed tropes everywhere and the bits that are original are badly executed. Not horrible but not good either.
(The book is better written than this review at least.)
Do not recommend.
October 15, 2025
Great cozy fall vibes with a strong well told story
October 19, 2021
I LOVED THIS ONE!! A perfect October read. I was so drawn in that I literally did not want to put the book down. Fans of Bailey Cates are going to love this one! Great story. The family dynamic was really interesting and I loved how much the main character grew throughout the book. Brynn was so real. Book 2 will definitely be in my preorder list.
May 31, 2022
DNF - The writing and the story were not for me. It’s called a cozy mystery but I just found it boring with uninteresting characters. This was for my book club so I tried to get into it, oh well.
September 28, 2021
Cozy + solidly plotted. A perfect Hallowread!
September 3, 2023
I laughed. I cried. I read it in 48 hours and immediately handed it to my mother. Highly recommend if you love cozy mysteries.
February 18, 2025
I had such a fun time with this! Just a really solid cozy mystery/fantasy.
October 11, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ gilmore girls x practical magic!!! obsessed with the autumnal details in a cozy mystery!!
June 13, 2024
Mozda knjiga nije objektivna petica, ali meni je ovo bilo toliko zabavno i lepo (koliko vec murder mistery moze biti)
Preporucujem svima koji vole cozy misterije i price o vesticama da OBAVEZNO sacuvaju ovu knjizicu za jedan jesenji vikend uz caj/toplu cokoladu
Prvo sto sam pomislila je Sabrina, vestica tinejdzerka (za odrasle), drugo na sta su me likovi ove price podsetili jesu the Hex Girls iz Skubi Dua - s obzirom da su ovo neke od stvari kojima sam se opsesirala kao klinka jasno je zasto mi je energija ove price sela ko budali samar
Autorka lepo pise, knjiga nije naporna, ima dosta DOBROG dijaloga, jako jako lepih i bitnih tema, preinteresantnih i zivopisnih likova i naravno klasicne uzbudljive whodunit pricice
Preporucujem svima koji vole cozy misterije i price o vesticama da OBAVEZNO sacuvaju ovu knjizicu za jedan jesenji vikend uz caj/toplu cokoladu
Prvo sto sam pomislila je Sabrina, vestica tinejdzerka (za odrasle), drugo na sta su me likovi ove price podsetili jesu the Hex Girls iz Skubi Dua - s obzirom da su ovo neke od stvari kojima sam se opsesirala kao klinka jasno je zasto mi je energija ove price sela ko budali samar
Autorka lepo pise, knjiga nije naporna, ima dosta DOBROG dijaloga, jako jako lepih i bitnih tema, preinteresantnih i zivopisnih likova i naravno klasicne uzbudljive whodunit pricice
October 24, 2025
3.5*
so cute and cozy!! exactly what i needed
so cute and cozy!! exactly what i needed
November 4, 2021
In the Company of Witches is the first book in author Auralee Wallace's Evenfall Witches B&B Mystery series. This is a delightful debut book for this series and honestly one of the best cozy mysteries I have read this year. I was immediately drawn into the story from the very first pages. For me, this book reminded me a little bit of Practical Magic and a little bit of Hocus Pocus. The characters are engaging. Brynn Warren is a sympathetic protagonist that will be relatable to many readers. Brynn lost her husband and is still grieving his passing. She has moved back home to help her aunts Izzy and Nora run the family B&B. Izzy and Nora are the part of the book that reminds me a bit of Practical Magic. They raised Brynn after her parent's death and they both have their own personalities. Nora is the fiery redhead with a bit of a temper to match. Izzy is the peacemaker, but these Warren women have strength and determination. They are joined by their brother Gideon, who is a recluse following his own tragedy. The Warrens must band together to clear Nora's name when she is suspected of murdering a guest staying at the B&B. There are several interesting secondary characters that are shop owners and neighbors.
The mystery was well done. The victim, Constance Graves, while a guest at the B&B, actually lived in town and was not the friendliest person. In addition to her brusque personality, Constance and her siblings had been estranged for years, following the death of their own father. This allows Ms. Wallace to cast doubt on the innocence of many characters. She offers her readers a number of clues to sift through while trying to determine the killer's identity. In the end, I was surprised by the killer's identity but once the motive was revealed, the killer made perfect sense.
As I said, this was a delightful debut book in this series. I will warn readers that Brynn is dealing with the loss of her husband, so if you are like me, you will want to have a tissue (or two) close by at the end of the book. The author did a fabulous job of closing out the story with a poignant moment that fit the plot and characters. I am really excited to see where the author takes this series and can say that I can already predict this will become a must-read series for me.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through outreach from the author's publicist. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and the manner in which I received the book in no way impacted my review.
The mystery was well done. The victim, Constance Graves, while a guest at the B&B, actually lived in town and was not the friendliest person. In addition to her brusque personality, Constance and her siblings had been estranged for years, following the death of their own father. This allows Ms. Wallace to cast doubt on the innocence of many characters. She offers her readers a number of clues to sift through while trying to determine the killer's identity. In the end, I was surprised by the killer's identity but once the motive was revealed, the killer made perfect sense.
As I said, this was a delightful debut book in this series. I will warn readers that Brynn is dealing with the loss of her husband, so if you are like me, you will want to have a tissue (or two) close by at the end of the book. The author did a fabulous job of closing out the story with a poignant moment that fit the plot and characters. I am really excited to see where the author takes this series and can say that I can already predict this will become a must-read series for me.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through outreach from the author's publicist. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and the manner in which I received the book in no way impacted my review.
September 27, 2023
I should love everything about this book (it has been dubbed as “Witchy Gilmore Girls”) but this was a disaster from start to finish.
Flat characters who are echoes of well-established witchy ladies (basically this book used every Practical Magic/Sabrina the Teenage Witch/American Horror Story: Coven trope but tried to put a glib Gilmore Girls/Murder She Wrote sheen over it) with zero originality.
It was saccharine and bad and had no substance behind it. I have no desire to read the second one.
Flat characters who are echoes of well-established witchy ladies (basically this book used every Practical Magic/Sabrina the Teenage Witch/American Horror Story: Coven trope but tried to put a glib Gilmore Girls/Murder She Wrote sheen over it) with zero originality.
It was saccharine and bad and had no substance behind it. I have no desire to read the second one.
August 5, 2024
Loved this for the vibes. Would make a perfect autumnal read so If you’re into cozies add it to your tbr if you haven’t read it.
I love how with cozy series if not the first book, at least one within the first three books typically has someone close to our main protagonist is the main suspect in our murder which throws our protagonist into becoming an amateur sleuth. Gives them so much believable goal motivation and conflict.
In this family’s case, they are witches in a small town and a woman has died at their B&B.
I love how with cozy series if not the first book, at least one within the first three books typically has someone close to our main protagonist is the main suspect in our murder which throws our protagonist into becoming an amateur sleuth. Gives them so much believable goal motivation and conflict.
In this family’s case, they are witches in a small town and a woman has died at their B&B.
July 21, 2025
I loved this so much!
This book has been out for a few years and just got a glam up on the cover.
This new cover drew me in and I am all in to read the next book in the series!
This is like taking Practical Magic & Gilmore Girls and dropping them into a cozy mystery book.
Such an awesome vibe!
Much love to Berkley Romance for hooking me up with a copy of this.
This book has been out for a few years and just got a glam up on the cover.
This new cover drew me in and I am all in to read the next book in the series!
This is like taking Practical Magic & Gilmore Girls and dropping them into a cozy mystery book.
Such an awesome vibe!
Much love to Berkley Romance for hooking me up with a copy of this.
January 11, 2023
This reminds me why I fell in love with cozy mysteries. The Warren's are amazing characters and I absolutely adore everyone of them, although Gideon I have to say is my favorite. A lot of people people say this reminds them of Practical Magic. I fully agree if we are talking about the movie. The similarities are incredible. The ending was so touching and heart warming it brought tears to my eyes. I love this book. I was able to guess who did it, but that did not take away from the enjoyment this book brought me. Highly recommend!
September 29, 2023
The story was fun, that much is true, but boy open the book and you’ll see why I could not get through it: it’s almost entirely dialogue and there were so many people talking that I failed to follow them? And it’s a tiny book :/ Star for small town good witch/gilmore girls/agatha christie vibes, one for the cover and one for .. the toads :’)
July 25, 2023
Meh, it was fine but a little boring.
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