Murder Casts A Spell

Petra Paranormal Mystery #1

by Margaret C. Morse

From debut author Margaret Morse comes a story of magically deadly proportions...

Attorney Petra Rakowtiz lives in a world much like ours...except that her latest client is a wizard.

In a society divided into those with magic and non-magic powers, Petra finds herself on the non-magical side of the equation, instead opting for a career making sure that all people—powerful or powerless—get the justice they deserve. Only her ideas of justice are tested when Petra's first murder case falls into her lap after her lead investigator is arrested for killing his ex-girlfriend. While Petra wants to believe he's innocent, her client conveniently keeps "forgetting" to tell her anything that makes him look bad. Suspects begin to pile up, including one who would kill to keep his secret and one who tempts Petra to let her guard down and fall in love again. And the fact that the accused is a wizard sends the press on a hate campaign, claiming his powers are enough to make him a danger to society. Petra might agree that magic can be unpredictable...especially when she suddenly posses those powers herself for the first time. With the Wizard Council threatening to lock her up for her inability to control her new power, and her client's life on the line if she doesn't prove him innocent, Petra has to make the real murderer appear before she herself disappears.

"The book will make you believe in the power of magic in all of us...and the power of love! A really clever mystery wrapped in a fantastically fun new world."
~ Gemma Halliday, New York Times bestselling mystery author

Genres: Mystery, Paranormal

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Margaret loves murder mysteries—the sooner the corpse appears, the better! If not reading crime fiction, she’s writing it. Margaret’s debut novel, Murder Casts a Spell, features lawyer Petra Rakowitz, who turns into a witch during her first murder case. In the second in the series, Murder Lifts the Spirits, Petra must defend herself from a murder charge. When characters can kill with magic, the ways to dispatch a victim dramatically increase. Margaret used to practice law, so she knows a lawyer can transform into a witch.

Margaret lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her wonderful husband Duane and numerous adopted stray dogs. She enjoys cooking, bird watching, and traveling to places that feature beautiful scenery, art, and wine. Visit her at http://www.margaretcmorse.com

Reviews

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Petra's Big Mystery Case . . .

Attorney Petra Rakowtiz was heading to the courthouse when a homeless man stopped her to sign a petition. He was pleased when she agreed and he put a blessing spell on her which may have malfunctioned. She tottered and almost fell until Keegan Flynn, the investigator and office manager for her law firm, gripped her shoulder and steadied her. He sent Ernie to someone who could take care of him since his mental confusion was obvious and his spells could hurt people. Then Petra turned to Keegan who was her client today. He had been charged with using a spell on his ex-girlfriend, Felicia Morlatti, to make her sign a custody agreement. But Petra told him his brother had gone to see Felicia and she agreed to drop the charges, so if she didn’t show up at court, the state would dismiss the case – unless they think Ira had forced her. So it could go either way. The way Keegan wouldn’t look at her and answered her with evasive words made her think she was not being truthful in giving her all the facts.

They waited in the courtroom to see if the case would be dismissed. The detective disappeared for a short time, then raced into the room with a uniformed copy and a Protector Wizard. To everyone’s surprise, he placed Keegan under arrest for murdering his ex-girlfriend! And now Petra could not be his lawyer because she was not death-qualified – which made Keegan’s face go rigid as they led him away. She could temporarily defend him until his family hired another lawyer.

Witnesses said Keegan was at the scene at the time of the murder. But wizards could change their appearance. Was someone impersonating him? Framing him for the murder? To complicate matters more, Petra was starting to show some magical abilities and had no idea how to wield magic, which could get her in big trouble with the Wizards Council if she hurt someone. And the killer may have ideas about stopping her involvement… lethal ideas!

Dealing with lying witnesses, her client who faces the death penalty but hides facts from her, and the Wizards Council watching her spells, Petra still closes in on the murderer. But can she solve the case in time to stop her own murder or the Council’s threat to lock her up?

I enjoyed the mystery, although the start of everything was slightly confusing. (I had to check the title to see if it was Book 2 perhaps.) Grab your copy and see how Petra, the lawyer and new out-of-control magic user, gathers her clues and deals with this mystery.

[Nadine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not your typical cozy

Petra is a lawyer. Her colleague and friend Keegan is a suspect for the murder of his ex and he needs her professional help. She does her best but he’s not telling her everything.

And then there’s a mismanaged spell from a wizard with mental health issues that seems to have awakened latent magic in Petra. She needs to learn how to control those new powers.

I read this as part of ‘A Haunting Homicide’, a boxed set that claims to contain cozy mysteries. But this particular part of that collection is not really a typical cozy. It’s more serious and professional. It’s about racism, drugs, self-mutilation; not very lighthearted. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good that those topics get written about, but I hadn’t expected so much sadness in a cozy.

I liked the story itself, it was good. The whodunit part was clever. But I never really bonded with Petra, she stayed aloof, a bit distant, detached. Maybe it just wasn’t cozy enough for my liking. Maybe Petra was just too angry all the time and too impatient. Maybe everything was too businesslike and descriptive instead of from the heart. (Example, quote: ‘Tears were ready to fall.’ That’s a statement of fact and doesn’t allow the reader inside her heart.) All in all, for me, it was OK.

[Wannee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Legal Paranormal Mystery with Witch Lawyer!!!

Murder Casts A Spell is the first book in the Petra Rakowitz Series and the first book that I read by Margaret C. Morse and it does not disappointed me. It's a captivating, exciting and intriguing story with wonderful magical world that pull me in right from the beginning.

Petra Rakowtiz is a lawyer who is working with magic and non-magic clients. When the chief investigator of her law firm who is also her friend is accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend, Petra is trying to get him out of jail even though he is keeping many secrets from her. Petra also just developed the newly launched power as a witch and has to learn to control it otherwise the Wizards Council will lock her up.

This book is a fun, fast paced and enjoyable paranormal mystery with a unique, cleave and creative story line. There is a lot going on in this book, it's very hard to put down with many twist and turn that keeps me entertained as I try to figure out the mystery and murder. I highly recommend this book to any cozy mystery fans, I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Robbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty decent. It started off a bit weak and felt forced, but as the story started to build and really get going, the writing smoothed out and flowed well enough. There were pieces here and there where I felt that the author was trying to do something but didn't quite pull it off, (e.g. the cardinal becoming a blackbird) but those moments didn't disrupt the flow of the story at all. Overall, I enjoyed the mystery and I thought that the characters were believable and generally likable. Some of the relationships felt a little flat, but it kind of fit with a protagonist whose friends all seem to be colleagues. And I think that there could have been a few more clues to which way the mystery would land. I'd like to have either seen Petra really figure out the mystery or at least look back and see where she should have suspected Mona earlier on. It still works for the story the way that it is, but it would have been a bit more enjoyable to have that kind of realization happen.

[Pamela Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took awhile to hook me, but the middle reeled me in. I liked the ending, but wonder if shapeshifting was so easy why wasn't there such an argument for Keegan's defense earlier. I loved the bird, didn't fall in love with Ira, but am willing to give him time.

[Melissa G · Rating 1 out of 5]

Made 2 chapters and gave up. Not my thing.

[Patricia Curren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my usual genre...wizards, but it was a well done mystery!

[Sharkie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

This book was just odd, and felt like someone who wanted to shove magic into a novel that didn't need it or want it.

The plot just couldn't draw me in.

[Carlyle Labuschagne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting and entertaining read.

I enjoyed this author. I am such a sucker for a mystery... Mix magic and social issues and I am hooked. Def a solid tead.

[Vickie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too serious to be 'cozy'.
Author knows how to write well, this just isn't what I thought it would be.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Casts It's Spell is an interesting book. It is a world where wizards or magicals live side by side with non-magical people. Those with magical powers have to wear special indicators that show when they are using magic. Then there are the homeless magic people who stumble around and try to do spells, but just muck things up. Throughout it all, the world proceeds with crimes and lawyers who represent both magical and non-magical persons. Petra is a lawyer without magical powers. She is representing a wizard who is accused of murdering his ex-wife (non-magical) and witnesses put him leaving the scene of the crime. All is not quite as simple as that however. Wizards can shape shift, and what you see isn't always what you get. Even more surprising is a late in life development of magical powers and the training that must be done to make everyone safe.

This is quite different from many of the wizard books you have read! It is complex with many red herrings. The murders aren't sugar coated, and injuries sound horrible. I credit the author with a lot of creativity. Interesting to read, it took me a while to feel comfortable with the characters and what was happening in the book. I can't help but wonder what will happen in the next book and can it possibly match this one in originality?

I recommend giving this book a try. Descriptions alone make the read worthwhile. I wish I could go to that market! First in a series. I give it 4.5 stars.

Unusual and highly creative!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am sure they are out there, but this is the first legal paranormal mystery that I remember reading. As much as I enjoy all the paranormal cozy series I read, this was a nice change up. Not as involved with the courts as a John Grisham novel, but there are elements of it in the story. And if this series continues I would enjoy seeing a bit more of the courtroom drama.

There was a lot going on in this book, but Margaret Morse made it work very nicely. Not only was Petra dealing with trying to defend her client, but once she starts showing magical abilities and isn’t able to go into the courtroom (for fear that she can’t control her magic and would hurt someone), the way she has to investigate turns the story into a cozy mystery. It will be interesting to see if the next book in the series follows that same formula.

Morse’s characters were very well developed for being a debut novel, and I really enjoyed the magical twists she included. The type of familiar that Petra gets is done in a very unique way, and I can’t wait to read more about the workings of the place she had to go to while working on her powers. And I thought the whole inner demon actually being real, was a very cool concept.

A great beginning to a new genre, and I really, really hope it continues into a series.

[Cecelia Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Petra Rakowitz is a lawyer on her way to court for a custody hearing for the investigator for her law firm, Keegan Flynn. She runs into and old homeless man that pushes a spell on her. Petra feels disoriented until Keegan touches her shoulder. When they arrive in court, they find out that Felecia is not going to show and press charges. While they are waiting, detectives arrest Keegan for the murder of Felicia. As Petra works on proving Keegan innocent, she begins to have accidents with spells. She has never thought she was a wizard because it usually shows up in puberty. Petra is adopted and does not know who her birth parents are. She ends up going to the Farm to either have the spell removed that Ernie put on her or find out if she has latent magical skill that is just manifesting. During her stay, she continues to delve into the murder investigation.

Margaret C. Morse has written a captivating book about the integration of "muggles" and wizards living in an uneasy harmony in Phoenix, Az. Wizards providing a new and terrifying form of murder. I think you will find the transformation of Petra to a wizard as enjoyable as I did!

[Kris Neri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a charmer! Attorney Petra Rakowtiz lives in a world in which magic is out, but well regulated. Not an issue for her, since she never developed magical abilities early in life as wizards are apt to do. When her law firm’s investigator is accused of killing his ex, Petra takes on his case. Since witnesses put him at the scene at the time of the murder, the odds against her client seem insurmountable, yet the case still seems to be more of a natural, rather than a supernatural crime. But magic begins to intrude in both the case and Petra’s life. When a homeless man puts a spell on her, she finds herself possessing unexpected magical abilities that she can’t begin to control. Are these new skills the result of the misplaced spell, or are genuine latent magical abilities rising to the surface within her? MURDER CASTS ITS SPELL’s twists and turns will keep readers guessing right up to its creative conclusion, and its balance of mystery and paranormal elements, along with a nice sprinkling of romance, should engage readers of all three genres. I especially enjoyed the thread featuring Petra's familiar. A strong start to a promising series.

[Clark Lohr]

Attorney Petra Rakowitz lives in a present-day world where the divine pagan figure known as The Goddess (aka The Mother of Mercy), appeared in 1954 & ordered all magical people to disclose & freely display their powers. Reality goes on as usual, in and out of court, except for the many persons gifted with magic ability who have outed themselves. As a relatively new minority group, these people seek the same rights as those of mainstream society.
Petra has long assumed she has no magic blood, but experience will prove her wrong as she seeks to clear the name of her law firm’s investigator, Keegan Flynn, who has been arrested for the murder of his lover, Felicia Morlatti.
Margaret C. Morse, an attorney by profession, has written a colorful novel, adroitly mixing magic and murder. Morse’s heroine, Petra, is an engaging character and she’s one of many in this whirlwind ride to solve the mystery around the murder of Felicia Morlatti. Morse displays considerable imagination in creating magical phenomena, from familiars who pop out of tattoos to glass globes that house fearsome spiders. Make a date with Murder Casts Its Spell.

[B.C. Deeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A New Magical Lawyer Debuts

Murder Casts Its Spell is a debut novel for author Margaret Morse and I sure hope she's hard at work on the next one - and let's hope we're talking series here! Petra Rakowitz is a lawyer who finds herself caught up in a murder trial that pits the magical population against those mortals who fear them. I'll tread carefully here to avoid spoilers but there are twists of the traditional cozy mystery kind as well as surprises that pop out of the wonderful magical world that the author has created. You'll meet a strong cast of characters including a couple of potential romantic interests. I read this book in one sitting and enjoyed every exciting moment of it. I recommend it for both cozy mystery readers as well as anyone who enjoys light paranormals. This one has the best of both genres all rolled up into one great story.

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Casts Its Spell is an unexpected but intriguing paranormal mystery. I really thought it would be a cozy mystery and it does fall into the lighter mystery category but it takes itself seriously and presents unexpected relationships. While Petra is preparing the defense for an employee and friend who has been arrested for murder she is zapped by homeless and mentally lost wizard. Over time it turns out that her latent magic skills have been kicked into gear so she finds herself at a school or dangerous witches, that is those who don't have control of their power so they can be a danger to others and to themselves. Even being isolated at the ranch does not keep Petra from trying to prove that her friend is innocent of the murder of the mother of his child.

[Relina Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Murder Casts Its Spell" by Margaret C. Morse is a murder mystery with a magic twist. Petra Rakowtiz is an attorney from a world where the population is divided by a magical line. Wizards are magic users and then there is everyone else. Adopted as a child, she grew up believing that she was just a normal human, but when a dysfunctional wizard attempts to bless her, Petra begins to notice she may not be as non magical as she once believed. Meanwhile, Petra has to continue working on a case that is both personal and potentially beneficial for her career. Can she keep it together long enough to exonerate her client? Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel. Morse is very detailed with her descriptions and is able to pull her readers into the story.

[Danielle Eisner]

This is an eclectic mix of mystery and romance and paranormal. I love a good mystery and I enjoyed the paranormal and magical flare.

I like Petra and I enjoyed her journey through her new surprise magical powers.

I loved the chemistry with Ira. I want to see more of that. I want to see where things go with him and Petra. I don't know if there is going to be more books, but I hope so because I really enjoyed this book and want more.

If you like a mystery with some paranormal undertones then this book if for you.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read and Great Debut.

Petra is a hard working lawyer called to defend a wizard (and friend) accused of murdering his ex-wife. The magical and non-magical live side by side with magical called to be tagged as such. This is clever mystery that definitely keeps you guessing and weaves mystery and paranormal together seamlessly. I loved the way Petra evolved over the story and learns new skills she never knew she possessed. Writing is fast paced and kept me engaged, this is important to me. Story needs to pull me in and this one did just that.

[Sandy Bartles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wizards and Familiars and Lawyers, Oh, My!

When I began reading this book, I wasn't sure I would like it. It is not the type of book I would normally read. However, the more I read, the harder it was to put down. This is a paranormal book, featuring wizards and familiars, lawyers and Murder. The author did a wonderful job of pulling everything together and keeping you wanting .more. I highly recommend this book.

Even though I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, I also purchased a copy.

[Sandy Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A another enjoyable read

Another enjoyable story with paranormal twist. Petra is the lawyer, non magical. Keegan is the client accused of murder, magical. Petra has a spell put on her by homeless Ernie...and bam, she has uncontrollable magic. She is sent to the dysfunctional ranch to Yvonne her skills...yet she still tries to ingest gate the murder case knowing Keegan is innocent. Along comes It a to the ranch. Maybe some sparks fly. Petra powers come late in life and fast..Read on to see who did it. I won't tell.

[Lester Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry Potter meets Bewitched would be a fast comparison.

I enjoyed getting to know the people in the community and how they handled the difference between magical and non magic. How family know matter their powers are messed up but love each other a d want to protect them in their own way. It was interesting the way each side tried to get along but how fast they blamed the other magic against non magic. Old story with a new twist. I look forward to the next installment.

[Bonnie Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A not-so-cozy paranormal mystery

Interesting premise of a "normal" lawyer defending a wizard in a custody battle who finds her client being accused of murder just as she herself begins developing magical powers she can't control. How can she help her client if she can't help herself? Fresh take on the "human" side of magical beings. Looking forward to more from Margaret Morse!

[BobaFett114 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I will say that it was a bit slow for me to get into, but once I did, I enjoyed it. This is different from any mystery you have ever read. There are enough twists in it that it was very hard to figure out whodunit. There are wizards, shapeshifters, familiars and strange magic! I am not sure if this is going to be a series, but I would enjoy reading about Petra again.

[Denise R. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Imaginative Story

Aside from the fact that this is a great story with well developed characters and lots of twists and turns, it clearly shows Ms. Morse has a well developed imagination. Looking forward to her next book.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming debut book from a promising author I'm keen to read more from her.
Charming, quirky and funny, great story wonderful characters, I would love to visit with again soon.

[Barbara Boykin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

The story line was interesting. I would like to read a continuation of her coming out fully. I enjoyed it. It krypton me interested.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute little cozy. petra lives in a town filled with both magical and non magical beings. she herself was born non magical, but later developed powers