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Whitewitch Island #3
Dead As A Doornail
Georgia Drake, Just Folks
I unloaded my bags from the back of Olive’s light blue hatchback, waving at the happy pair as I headed down my walkway to the house, loaded with a rather embarrassingly impressive collection of acquisitions in shining plastic bags I’d make sure to reuse and or recycle as was the requirement of normal humans. It might have been apparent my present preoccupation with the sorting of such minor items indicated my current level of domesticity and acclimation to life without the typical magical disposal opportunities available to others like me. And while the ultimate fate of trash might have seemed a trivial topic, I found I was enjoying thoroughly such little shifts in thinking and that giant worries no longer were my own normal.
Never in my life had I thought I, Georgia Eirene Drake, only daughter of the fabled Drake family whose bloodline of Gold Dragon Emissary was only two generations removed, would find herself delighting in tiny aspects of normalcy like sorting plastics and waste into their respective receptacles.
Some might have seen it as the mighty fallen. I chose to find it satisfying.
Georgia never intended to poke her nose into Sam Spencer’s personal affairs, even if the attraction is mutual despite his reluctance to admit it. She even accepts a date with someone else to prove it. But when she’s witness to the death of Sam’s old partner, she uncovers things from her handyman’s past he came home to Whitewitch Island to forget. Trouble is, he can no longer hide from the truth—a truth that makes him a prime suspect for murder. Welcome back to the Whitewitch Island Paranormal Cozies!
I unloaded my bags from the back of Olive’s light blue hatchback, waving at the happy pair as I headed down my walkway to the house, loaded with a rather embarrassingly impressive collection of acquisitions in shining plastic bags I’d make sure to reuse and or recycle as was the requirement of normal humans. It might have been apparent my present preoccupation with the sorting of such minor items indicated my current level of domesticity and acclimation to life without the typical magical disposal opportunities available to others like me. And while the ultimate fate of trash might have seemed a trivial topic, I found I was enjoying thoroughly such little shifts in thinking and that giant worries no longer were my own normal.
Never in my life had I thought I, Georgia Eirene Drake, only daughter of the fabled Drake family whose bloodline of Gold Dragon Emissary was only two generations removed, would find herself delighting in tiny aspects of normalcy like sorting plastics and waste into their respective receptacles.
Some might have seen it as the mighty fallen. I chose to find it satisfying.
Georgia never intended to poke her nose into Sam Spencer’s personal affairs, even if the attraction is mutual despite his reluctance to admit it. She even accepts a date with someone else to prove it. But when she’s witness to the death of Sam’s old partner, she uncovers things from her handyman’s past he came home to Whitewitch Island to forget. Trouble is, he can no longer hide from the truth—a truth that makes him a prime suspect for murder. Welcome back to the Whitewitch Island Paranormal Cozies!
193 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 29, 2021
12 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Patti Larsen
307 books549 followersI write a lot of paranormal books for someone who is afraid of the dark. And I wonder why I have to sleep with the lights on. Sometimes life is a teenaged B horror movie and I'm the one who investigates when the scary music is playing. But the voices are calling and resistance is… Yes. I am a Star Trek geek, too. And a fan of RPG’s. With a slight coolness factor since I've been told I'm allowed to join the pops.
Naw. I like being a nerdy girl :)
Naw. I like being a nerdy girl :)
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 4, 2025
Finally we get a peek into Sam’s past! This is such a fun series. Benny and the ravens are such cool characters and love Georgia! On Georgia’s end she’s very protective of her friends and will go all out to keep them safe. This was an engaging and evenly paced book with progress in the relationship between Sam and Georgia.
January 15, 2025
Third in the Whitewitch Island cozy paranormal mystery series and revolving around a retired investigator, Inquisitor Georgia Drake. The focus is on Sam Spencer.
My Take
Whoa, Sam Spencer’s dark secrets are revealed, and they are. So. Totally. Unexpected. One of those 180s, twice around! That past is the reason for his “friends’” visit. And Georgia discovers Sam’s home and meets his parents.
Poor Georgia. She’s both appalled and giggling at another 180, thinking of how appalled her mother would be at how she’s dressing these days. She’s also starting to understand her parents from a different perspective. And appalled at how little she really knew about Sam. Ya gotta wonder how effective Georgia had been when she keeps missing so many clues!
How it stings, the cruelty of teens toward another. Georgia, with her condescending attitude, does not help Holly’s mother, a very tolerant woman.
Georgia is still amazed at how she’s adapting to these weird habits of normal humans, lol.
Emotions we learn of through Larsen’s use of first person protagonist point-of-view, yep, from Georgia’s perspective. Other conflicts in the story include the town council’s negative attitude toward Harriet — and Harriet is thinking of running for mayor! The corruption of the law that is so wrong. Those hotspots of death magic that keep cropping up. The distress of betrayal.
It was in Dead and Buried , 2, that Benjamin was compromised and there’s a nasty threat hanging over his future. He’s also learning about fun when Sam introduces him to an exciting new game, lol.
Benjamin’s predicament, the illegal use of magic on Georgia’s part, her mother’s interference, her father’s coldness, and Georgia’s skepticism of Olive’s claims to mediumship, and Georgia’s and Mavis’ fears of a new magic emerging are all series conflicts.
On the other hand, there’s Georgia’s meeting with Sam’s parents. What a lovely relief from all the gloom and doom!
It’s a cute series, B-grade, but some sweet characters who are very supportive, for the most part. There are those instances of betrayal, in-family and out, that are so appalling.
The Story
Georgia is starting to question her retiring to Whitewitch Island — the bodies keep piling up.
Then Sam’s past comes back, haunting him with regrets and guilt.
The Characters
Georgia Drake, a.k.a. Georgie-Porgie, is a former inquisitor for Guild Artemis, a woman who can wield magic and necromancy. Benjamin is Georgia’s Hellhound, a Hades Guardian. Conscio and Caprice are a mated raven pair rescued by Georgia. The aid these three bring to Georgia is a crack-up.
Elias Barrow had been Georgia’s partner, a hunter, who died a horrible death. SSA Tabitha Canard is an FBI agent who retired from her magic world to marry a human. She’s also a friend of Georgia’s. Gilles Thesis is the Guild Nemesis Advocate. Guild Hecate is about the actual magic.
Georgia’s family, the Drakes, are VIPs in her world. Her father, Quarian, is the Chief Defender and head of Guild Nemesis. Her brother, Mattew, is following the family plans — unlike Georgia. The suddenly cold Arimanthia is Georgia’s paternal grandmother, married to a Gold Sentinel Dragon.
Whitewitch Island is . . .
. . . located about an hour away from San Francisco. Olive Henry believes she’s a psychic and has a daughter, Holly. Both are neighbors and friends with Georgia.
Harriet Quinn is the sheriff. Dr Mavis “May” Fernsby, a retired necromancer, is the medical examiner. Minera had been Mavis’ twin sister. Dr Karling Chandra is the new forensic tech. Judge Grundle is still disgruntled with Harriet.
Sam Spencer is the local handyman with whom Georgia is fascinated. Sam employs Miles Williams ( Dead Even , 1). Sam’s parents are Josephine “Jo”, an artist who owns Whitewitch Island Pottery, and Lee, who had been a handyman. Yanni had been Sam’s girlfriend in Austin.
Sam's friends include the snotty Dr Anthony Buck, Sam's former partner, and his drunk of a wife, Dr Carol Buck, whose habit may cause her to lose her license. Jake is their sullen son. Martin Hynes, a retired Texas Ranger from Austin, had been friends with Sam. Mr Cullimore is Carol’s and Jake’s lawyer. Derek Dunlop had been a patient. Annie had been Dunlops’ fiancée. Gabriella seems to be someone Carol knows.
Moesha Powers is extremely angry about her father’s, Harish Powers, death. Judge Attenborough was the trial judge. Gary Pious had been the assistant district attorney. Mitchell Stemmons is a warden for the Enforcement and Corrections Group.
Jim Sanger is a coffee rep. The Acropolis is THE hotel on the island where Marsha is a waitress. Queen of Beans is Georgia’s favorite coffee shop. Hitch is the Uber of Whitewitch Island.
The Cover and Title
This cover appears more active with Georgie’s long dark hair blowing in a breeze as her face is turned toward us as she looks off to the right, her body in profile and wearing a grayed cobalt top with a bateau neckline. Behind her is a collage of events in the story with a purple chandelier hanging from the right top, Conscio, the black raven, bating in front of it, and overlapping a wide horizontal beam with some carving. Beneath it appears to be an Art Deco fireplace with a curved top and a naked male statue primping as if a column for the fireplace. The text is all white outlined in black starting with the author's name at the top. The title is below Georgia's shoulder, and at the very bottom of the cover is the series info.
The title refers to several people (and the past), which are all Dead as a Doornail.
My Take
Whoa, Sam Spencer’s dark secrets are revealed, and they are. So. Totally. Unexpected. One of those 180s, twice around! That past is the reason for his “friends’” visit. And Georgia discovers Sam’s home and meets his parents.
Poor Georgia. She’s both appalled and giggling at another 180, thinking of how appalled her mother would be at how she’s dressing these days. She’s also starting to understand her parents from a different perspective. And appalled at how little she really knew about Sam. Ya gotta wonder how effective Georgia had been when she keeps missing so many clues!
How it stings, the cruelty of teens toward another. Georgia, with her condescending attitude, does not help Holly’s mother, a very tolerant woman.
Georgia is still amazed at how she’s adapting to these weird habits of normal humans, lol.
Emotions we learn of through Larsen’s use of first person protagonist point-of-view, yep, from Georgia’s perspective. Other conflicts in the story include the town council’s negative attitude toward Harriet — and Harriet is thinking of running for mayor! The corruption of the law that is so wrong. Those hotspots of death magic that keep cropping up. The distress of betrayal.
It was in Dead and Buried , 2, that Benjamin was compromised and there’s a nasty threat hanging over his future. He’s also learning about fun when Sam introduces him to an exciting new game, lol.
Benjamin’s predicament, the illegal use of magic on Georgia’s part, her mother’s interference, her father’s coldness, and Georgia’s skepticism of Olive’s claims to mediumship, and Georgia’s and Mavis’ fears of a new magic emerging are all series conflicts.
On the other hand, there’s Georgia’s meeting with Sam’s parents. What a lovely relief from all the gloom and doom!
It’s a cute series, B-grade, but some sweet characters who are very supportive, for the most part. There are those instances of betrayal, in-family and out, that are so appalling.
The Story
Georgia is starting to question her retiring to Whitewitch Island — the bodies keep piling up.
Then Sam’s past comes back, haunting him with regrets and guilt.
The Characters
Georgia Drake, a.k.a. Georgie-Porgie, is a former inquisitor for Guild Artemis, a woman who can wield magic and necromancy. Benjamin is Georgia’s Hellhound, a Hades Guardian. Conscio and Caprice are a mated raven pair rescued by Georgia. The aid these three bring to Georgia is a crack-up.
Elias Barrow had been Georgia’s partner, a hunter, who died a horrible death. SSA Tabitha Canard is an FBI agent who retired from her magic world to marry a human. She’s also a friend of Georgia’s. Gilles Thesis is the Guild Nemesis Advocate. Guild Hecate is about the actual magic.
Georgia’s family, the Drakes, are VIPs in her world. Her father, Quarian, is the Chief Defender and head of Guild Nemesis. Her brother, Mattew, is following the family plans — unlike Georgia. The suddenly cold Arimanthia is Georgia’s paternal grandmother, married to a Gold Sentinel Dragon.
Whitewitch Island is . . .
. . . located about an hour away from San Francisco. Olive Henry believes she’s a psychic and has a daughter, Holly. Both are neighbors and friends with Georgia.
Harriet Quinn is the sheriff. Dr Mavis “May” Fernsby, a retired necromancer, is the medical examiner. Minera had been Mavis’ twin sister. Dr Karling Chandra is the new forensic tech. Judge Grundle is still disgruntled with Harriet.
Sam Spencer is the local handyman with whom Georgia is fascinated. Sam employs Miles Williams ( Dead Even , 1). Sam’s parents are Josephine “Jo”, an artist who owns Whitewitch Island Pottery, and Lee, who had been a handyman. Yanni had been Sam’s girlfriend in Austin.
Sam's friends include the snotty Dr Anthony Buck, Sam's former partner, and his drunk of a wife, Dr Carol Buck, whose habit may cause her to lose her license. Jake is their sullen son. Martin Hynes, a retired Texas Ranger from Austin, had been friends with Sam. Mr Cullimore is Carol’s and Jake’s lawyer. Derek Dunlop had been a patient. Annie had been Dunlops’ fiancée. Gabriella seems to be someone Carol knows.
Moesha Powers is extremely angry about her father’s, Harish Powers, death. Judge Attenborough was the trial judge. Gary Pious had been the assistant district attorney. Mitchell Stemmons is a warden for the Enforcement and Corrections Group.
Jim Sanger is a coffee rep. The Acropolis is THE hotel on the island where Marsha is a waitress. Queen of Beans is Georgia’s favorite coffee shop. Hitch is the Uber of Whitewitch Island.
The Cover and Title
This cover appears more active with Georgie’s long dark hair blowing in a breeze as her face is turned toward us as she looks off to the right, her body in profile and wearing a grayed cobalt top with a bateau neckline. Behind her is a collage of events in the story with a purple chandelier hanging from the right top, Conscio, the black raven, bating in front of it, and overlapping a wide horizontal beam with some carving. Beneath it appears to be an Art Deco fireplace with a curved top and a naked male statue primping as if a column for the fireplace. The text is all white outlined in black starting with the author's name at the top. The title is below Georgia's shoulder, and at the very bottom of the cover is the series info.
The title refers to several people (and the past), which are all Dead as a Doornail.
February 24, 2025
This was a very good, well written story, with heart. That last ingredient has been lacking in quite a few of my other books and I miss it. The characters in this series, Georgia and her Hades Hound, Benjamin are quite beloved to me and I hunger for more of their adventures. The plot in this story is easily followed and the premise is finding out who killed the antagonistic person in the group, who approached her handyman, and why. The answers cause a slew of adventures. I most definitely recommend this book.
September 20, 2021
Wonderful books
I really like these books, they draw you in, I like the Ravens and I love Benny. Drugs, corruption and murder all need sorting out then there is the new magic, who or what is the cause? I can't wait to read the next book to see what happens.
I really like these books, they draw you in, I like the Ravens and I love Benny. Drugs, corruption and murder all need sorting out then there is the new magic, who or what is the cause? I can't wait to read the next book to see what happens.
October 28, 2023
This is a Keeper!
There is something so satisfying in reading about Georgia and Benjamin. She is trying not to use her magic on normal humans, but sometimes a girls gotta' do what a girls gotta' do. Enjoy!
There is something so satisfying in reading about Georgia and Benjamin. She is trying not to use her magic on normal humans, but sometimes a girls gotta' do what a girls gotta' do. Enjoy!
April 1, 2024
I absolutely love Benjamin and I'm really intrigued with Georgia and her past. I hope we get to that soon. Sam is a delight and a bright light and I love the ravens. This storyline was really good; weaving Sam's past with the present situations evolving. I can't wait to read the next book!!
April 7, 2025
These are just cutesy stories that move along with enough suspense to keep my interest to the end.
April 1, 2024
I absolutely love Benjamin and I'm really intrigued with Georgia and her past. I hope we get to that soon. Sam is a delight and a bright light and I love the ravens. This storyline was really good; weaving Sam's past with the present situations evolving. I can't wait to read the next book!!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews