Bookshop Witch

Seashell Cove Paranormal Mystery #1

by T. Thorn Coyle

My name is Sarah Braxton, and I'm a witch.

You might think that's unusual, but trust me, I am not the strangest thing in Seashell Cove.

That name. Seashell Cove. Makes it sound like some sweet, sunny town, with white sandy beaches, and toddlers splashing and shrieking, getting their fat little toes licked by gentle waves.

That's not Seashell Cove at all.

Seashell Cove is a craggy, wind-swept stretch of ocean high up on the Oregon coast. Cliffs with sheer drops? We got 'em. Waves that will creep up on unsuspecting tourists and drag them out to sea to their deaths? We've got those, too. Centaurs that dance around fires in the forest just outside town?

Yeah.

Seashell Cove is dangerous, cold, quirky, and one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.I love it here.

But my best friend's partner has disappeared, and something is messing with the fae spirits next door...




Find out why Kickstarter chose this new "Paranormal Cozies for Freaks and Geeks" a Project We Love.

Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Fantasy, Cozy Mystery, Witches, Ebooks, Cozy

228 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 28, 2021

About the author

TT. Thorn Coyle has been arrested at least four times. Buy her a cup of tea or a good whisky and she'll tell you about it.

A salty-tongued, tattooed mystic, Thorn is author of the alt-history urban fantasy series The Panther Chronicles, the novel Like Water, and two short story collections. The Witches of Portland will be out in Spring, 2018. She has also written multiple non-fiction books including Sigil Magic for Writers, Artists & Other Creatives, Kissing the Limitless, and Evolutionary Witchcraft. Thorn's work appears in many anthologies, magazines, and collections.

She has taught magical practice in nine countries, on four continents, and in twenty-five states. Her other occupations have been numerous, and include working four years each on the Pacific Stock Options floor (as a young Anarchist punk with a blue, flat-top Mohawk), in a woman-run peep show, and full time in the San Francisco soup kitchen she ended up volunteering at for twenty years. All of this, along with her activism, informs her fiction.

An interloper to the Pacific Northwest, Thorn joyfully stalks city streets, writes in cafes, and talks to crows, squirrels, and trees.

Thorn is active on:
Twitter @ThornCoyle
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tthorncoyle
Medium https://medium.com/@ThornCoyle
Patreon https://www.patreon.com/ThornCoyle

http://www.thorncoyle.com

Reviews

[Christi]

I tried. But I could not get into this book. Some of the sentences were awkward, clunky, and/or repetitive. It could be I didn't give this book enough of a chance, but all the inner monologue did not entice me to read further. She goes on and on, setting up every little detail regarding the store and it's displays, peppering in bits about the store cat, the town, and her dating history. Didn't get any better when her uncle showed up.

[S. Wigget · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't exactly urban fantasy--more like Oregon Coast village fantasy. And it's a cozy mystery.

[Violet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5☆ idk, idk what to say, this book started off great but then its kinda turned odd!?
Still enjoyed though, a fun read.

[Violinknitter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I enjoy this author’s presence on social media, and I was hoping this series could be a new comfort read for me.

Sadly, this book turned on my editing brain, which is never a good sign. It’s a mystery, yet the protagonist can’t seem to ask the relevant questions. People will bring up subjects, only to drop them and have the revelation happen off screen. A sense of urgency is raised, only to have the protagonist eat some yummy food and go off to bed instead of doing real investigation.

Oh, and the teens. Sigh, the teens. You know how bad horses are when they’re written by authors who know
diddly-squat about horses? That’s how the teens felt. These poor kids (who barely got names) had practically no personality of their own, they were just set dressing. Teens are people too! You’re allowed to write them as individuals in their own right! (Also someone who is 13 and someone who is 17 will behave *vastly* differently around adults, so generic “teen” doesn’t describe anyone very well at all.)

Anyway, the story was kind of a mess with no clear through line or logic, but the characters were blandly ok to spend time with.

[Shilah Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt Halloweentown vibes from this book. All magical beings living in a human town. I liked the book but just not enough to be something I would read again. This was first in the series and I don’t see myself reading the series. It definitely teaches you to always listen to your gut and be who you truly are though. Great ending to the first book of a series too.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarah is a witch in the small town of Seashell Cove. She hasn't accessed her full powers, but when some local faeries and other spirits of the town go missing, Sarah is first on the scene. With a band of friends, both magical and non-magical, they dive into the mystery of who... or what... is stealing away the spirits.

This book wasn't bad. I enjoyed the author's style and the descriptions but overall I felt just... meh... The ending felt anticlimactic and I wasn't quite sure of Sarah's powers. I believe the author was trying to convey that she had a mental block from the death of her father where she was no longer able (or wanting) to access her abelites, but it didn't really come across like that. As a character, Sarah fell very felt flat.

This was not a bad read, but I doubt that I will read more of the storyline. 3 out of 5 stars, mostly for the intriguing magic system that I wish was explained a bit more. (09/2023)

[Bun Head · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

This book was just ok if that.. After reading the synopsis, I was intrigued as it mentioned all the things I like in a paranormal mystery book but the story itself ended up lacking alot… I dnt feel like I really got to know any of the characters and some of there interactions made no sense to me and alot of them didn’t really add much to the story either. The big reveal of who done it and why was a let down and I have questions about other aspects of the story as well.. I most likely won’t be following this series

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

First in a series. Sarah has recently returned to her home town to run her fathers book store after his death and her mothers a few years previously. Her best friend and ex calls her to say her partner has disappeared and asks for Sarah’s help. An interesting mystery with an occult edge. As the characters develop I see them becoming more well rounded and interesting with back stories. Looking forward to the next in series

[Heather Truitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun quick read. A little over redundant when explaining certain details (multiple times its mentioned about Oregon this/that and the color of her vehicle).

Good story from start to end. Might pick up the next in the series the next time I need a break from a heavy read book.

[Bones99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick fun supernatural read. I'll probably keep reading this series just because I like the rag tag group.

[Wendy Lacey · Rating 1 out of 5]

This author is not one I would chose to read again
The story felt like it was the author’s first attempt I was surprised more books had been written. The story did not flow, the use of initials to describe something like SMA or PNW makes an assumption everyone knows what they mean.
The early comments about someone who used to her girlfriend and is now her best friend and one character using the titles them/ they felt like it was just thrown in to appease someone as it had no relevance to the story.
Just all of a sudden grabbing teenagers who just walked into the shop to get involved in assisting was just strange

[Renae · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seems really incomplete. Who is the bad guy? I mean, we defeated her but I'm so confused. It says this is book one, but it feels like I dropped into the middle of a story that assumes I've already read three other books to explain who all these characters are and how they are related. The action sequences are not particularly exciting and there are several places where I find repetitive vocabulary use to be supremely distracting. It's an ok read and the story could be cute but it needs to be fleshed out so much more before I'll actually understand what's happening or why the big reveal is a big reveal. Or why I should care about anything at all.

[Bridget Book Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edit: I've liked each book in this series more than the last, so I definitely am glad I kept reading. So worth it!

3.5 ⭐ Nice for a quick afternoon cozy mystery read, but I feel like major plot points were solved so quickly that there wasn't time to become invested. The characters have a lot of potential, but I feel like the book was too short for a lot of development. I'll definitely give book 2 a shot, but it's moved down my TBR. Also, the cat needs more page time, but that's personal preference.

[Linda Mundorff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sara is a twenty something living in Seashell Cove, a small beachside community near Portland Oregon. She owns the local Bookshop, an inheritance she received when her father passed away, just months after her mother died. Seashell Cove is a unique community full of interesting and eclectic people; many are human, but many are magical beings. Sara, like her parents before her, is gifted with strong Justice magic, but unlike her parents she has chosen to live more like the humans, that is, until one day her best friend’s partner vanishes, leading a trail to a magical possibility. Now, she must accept guidance from her warlock Uncle Cyrus to tap into her magical craft and help solve not only the mystery surrounding the missing person, which has evolved into missing persons, but then a murder!
This was a clever story, and the author did a thorough exploration of the magical world that is seashell cove. I love the variety of characters, the gender inclusivity, and the close friendships found among a surprising group of individuals. At one point in the story Sara and her make-shift crew of, humans, a garden gnome, and elderly witch decide to search for a group of missing magical creatures. No one thought anything of the mismatched grouping. In fact, it was truly inspiring. I loved the gender inclusiveness, acceptance, and love that everyone felt for each other. A fantastic, recommended read for those struggling with self-worth, fitting in, and feeling isolated.

[Theda Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Endora Braxton is named for her mother's favorite Stevie Nicks song, deliberately misspelled, but definitely magical. She owns a bookstore in the Oregon coast town of Seashell Cove, a magical town with a nice mix of mundane and magical residents.

Things should be calm after Christmas, but magical creatures, including her bestfriend's partner, are disappearing. Sarah finds herself playing the reluctant magical detective having put her magic away after her father's death. Her uncle, a wealthy and powerful warlock, comes to visit and pushes her to take up the role of magical justice that her father had held.

Sarah feels inadequate and unwilling to practice magic, but events force her to make a decision by the return of Saturn in her 28th year or lose her magic, which has consequences of its own.

The book is a lovely adventure with cats, ghosts, a big strong handsome knight, magical creatures, and plenty of spells aflying. Coyle has a deft hand with her storytelling and the book is a pleasure to read and has a satisfying end that sets the reader up for more adventures with Sarah and her burgeoning band of sleuths.

I am looking forward to plunging back into the world to learn more about Seashell Cove and the adventures that await Sarah and her cohort.

[Jae · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the deaths of her parents, Sarah has ignored her magical heritage. Instead, she's trying to make a living by running the bookshop she inherited from her father. However, when her BFF's magical partner goes missing, followed by the disappearance of other magical creatures in the neighborhood, Sarah will need to reclaim her magic to save not just the missing, but all of Seashell Cove.

This was an interesting story, peopled with diverse characters. Sarah's BFF is her ex-GF, and Cecelia's partner is a non-binary creature that uses they/them pronouns. Sarah herself is described as zaftig, and her boyfriend is POC. The premise of this was intriguing, but I felt there was far more telling than showing. Some things were never really explained, such as the fact that everyone was aware of magic and magical creatures and no one thought it odd. The plot sort of careened along, which was exciting, but it also seemed disjointed without any smooth transition from one event to the next. Characters were portrayed well, and I really liked the exuberant teenage girls who insinuated themselves into Sarah's investigation.

This deserves 3.5 stars. I hate to round it down, but four stars seems too generous. I'm giving it an average score, and I hope future installments earn more.

[Necy Jeffers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book because I needed a book that was set in a bookstore. It started out in a bookstore and the FMC inherited the bookstore from her dad after he passed. But it was so much more than just a book in a bookstore.
I enjoyed the story of Sarah and how she goes from a witch afraid to use her powers so a witch who embraces all of it. Including the sucky parts of being a witch. I understood why she didn't want to use it but i felt at times that she complained about it too much.
It became an inconvenience for her. Everyone was coming to her to solve the problems they were having and asking why she didn't use her magic. Not realizing she had purposely shut herself off.
The book never really explained why she was expected to solve all the problems. It mentioned that she was the closest they had to a detective and that it was her family legacy but it didn't go into details. I would've loved to have had a few more details related to this part.
I love that Stefon is the strong silent type but why was he glowing? what is he? And why are teenagers magically inserting themselves into something that has nothing to do with them?
I enjoyed the story. It was a new twist on murder mystery that I hadn't yet read and I enjoyed it. It was a quick read only taking me about a day.

[Lise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarah Braxton finally has her life running on an even keel after the death of her father. Taking over his bookshop and keeping herself alive have been her focus, though recently a new love has entered her life. Not that she wants to call it that - yet. When her best friend (and ex-lover) comes to her with a problem - the disappearance of her partner - Sarah needs to dig deep and access the witchy powers she locked away in grief.

The blurb is fantastic and I was hoping for more of that. A phrase or two irked me and I never made a full connection with the main character. The book leans more towards a paranormal story than a cosy mystery.

[Bonnie Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to tell you if you want a different kind of Witch Craft series this is the book. You follow Sarah Braxton as she tries to figure out who she is and whether or not she wanted to be a witch or not. But she really didn't have a chance because someone is kidnapping the small magical creatures that live in Seashell Cove. The It will take Sarah problem is that whatever is causing kos is unknown to Sarah. But when Sarah is swept up in the whirl wind of the Astrol Plain she starts to figure out what it is. It will take Sarah, Uncle Cyrus, and friends to stop a Sourcess intend on kill more to get what every bad Sourcess wants POWER.

[Chyna Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! Simple quick read, I liked the characters a lot! Cute little story of a witch traumatized in using her powers but she soon learns how it doesn’t have to be a bad thing! I liked how not everyone was a magical being and we had the hooman creatures as well! I will be reading the rest in the series. It was a nice little thrilling mystery. The characters are likable, very descriptive of the character which I don’t feel added anything to the story but, I guess it was fun to imagine what they looked like especially for the task they were doing.

[Lakea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family, borne and found

First read by this author and it was good! Detailed world building with realistic characters, even secondary town characters were given “life”.

There were a few awkward (filler?) parts that slowed the plot down, like you could skip a chapter and still be okay. It was fine though.

I liked the variety of characters and magics. It’s been awhile since I’ve read about Hobs (not the fireplace kind) and I was unfamiliar with Mexican fae.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witchy power!

In a departure from my usual Werewolf / Kindred reading, I found that I thoroughly enjoyed the supernatural beings created by T. Thorne Coyle in book 1. Her writing kept me engrossed and trying to figure out "who done it". The ending was a total surprise; I loved it. The main character, Sarah became quite the kick*ssed heroine after successfully winning out over crippling grief. Looking forward to book 2!

[K.S. Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cozy paranormal mystery. I love the setting and the author's description of the land helps you immerse yourself in the story. They also write very detailed descriptions of each of the characters, which for a standalone might seem like overkill but when setting the reader up for a series makes sense. Having said that, there seems to be so much background to the story that we still don't have answers to.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it a lot!!!

Sometimes it amazes me when a story comes along that seems a lil different. It appears we have written all the stories just have different views, n then comes along a book that teaches me new stuff n entertains me while I'm going. This was deeper into this genre than I have gone before. I admit I had to look up some of what the characters were. I enjoyed it n came back to keep reading. Thanks for entertaining me n teaching me new things!

[Deb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know where all the 5 stars are coming from. This book is so boring and slow. Someone runs in with an emergency, and instead of immediately getting to the point, we have several pages describing what they look like, getting them settled into a chair, getting them a hot drink. It feels like inane filler. That's not cozy, that's ridiculous. I ended up skimming and ultimately didn't care enough to finish.

[Jamie Lindemulder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. If you like cozy mysteries, you should definitely check it out. I started reading it because I wanted a free book to test out my new Nook that I got for Christmas. Some of the parts were kind of corny (Sarah’s boyfriend calls her “babe” a lot, and it just didn’t feel like something he would call her). It was a fun and quick read though, and I will probably be using my Barnes & Noble gift card I got to purchase the rest of the books in the series.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read! I liked the supernatural aspects and how easy it was to follow the storyline even with all the characters. It delivered a solid read with a touch of LGBTQ+ content. I want to find out the mystery of Sarah’s parents and what her ancestors were to make her such a powerful witch. So I’ll probably read the next in the series sometime soon

[Crystal Anderson]

A little slow in the beginning but...

Well worth the read.

My only complaints are a few regular typos and the worst type of typos ever...misspelled character names. At first it was accidentally changing an o to an a...Stefon became Stefan. Then it became accidentally changing the name to a similar sounding name...Rolf became Ralph for a split second.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely filled with fantasy and surprises. Sarah doesn't want to be a witch--but is one unril she has no choice So much is going wrong in her little town of very unusual people. Will she finally decide that being a witch is a good thing? Will she be able to solve all the mysterious happenings around town? Read this book to find out.

[Barb Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bookshop Witch

I really enjoyed this book. Any time a story makes me burst out laughing, it's a great book. It reminded me of the adventure of Frodo and Sam with their elves and dwarves! This crew went in search of missing magical creatures with "a bunch of humans , a garden gnome and a half baked witch. Have fun with this book!