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Hannah Hickok #1

The Dirty Coven

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Hannah Hickok is at a crossroads in her life. She’s single, out of a job, and living in an apartment she absolutely hates in a suburb of Detroit. All that changes when she receives a registered letter and finds out she’s inherited a performance town.Casper Creek is located in Kentucky, on top of a small mountain, and is fashioned after notorious towns from the old west. Workers dress up, man the saloon, and put on a variety of performances several times a day. A city girl, Hannah is out of her element. She’s determined to give it a shot, though.Cooper Wyatt is head of security at Casper Creek and the last thing he wants to do is break in a new owner … especially one who has no idea about the paranormal world she’s about to be immersed in. You see, Casper Creek is home to a variety of individuals, including two covens of witches who enjoy doing battle.Hannah is barely in town when a body drops and a mystery unfolds. The workers at Casper Creek have more on their minds than performances. Unfortunately for them, Hannah is about to find out their big secret. Even worse, she’s about to find out she comes from a long line of witches … and magic is in her genes.Casper Creek is full of colorful people. They’re all going to have to come together if they want to fight pure evil. Will they manage it in time? It’s almost high noon and the magic fight is about to begin.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 31, 2019

1282 people are currently reading
815 people want to read

About the author

Lily Harper Hart

238 books765 followers

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5 stars
1,413 (56%)
4 stars
685 (27%)
3 stars
329 (13%)
2 stars
50 (2%)
1 star
15 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
Profile Image for Cora Foerstner.
Author 69 books13 followers
February 8, 2021
I thought about giving this a lower rating; however, I decided on two stars because people who like romance novels with a simple mystery and a ghost plot might enjoy this book.

The story was short on mystery, and they solved the mystery within a page or two. Plus, there’s a mysterious book that a “bad” witch wants to get her hands on, but Hannah’s grandmother left it to Hannah, who isn’t curious enough to find out how to open the locked chest. Reference to the mysterious book show up early. Reader beware: you never find out about the book, and Hannah never bothers to figure out how to get it.

Characters: Hannah is the most developed, but she acts like an 17 or 18 rather than an adult. Cooper is the love interest, and he’s supposed to be ex-military and the head of security—couldn’t suspend my disbelief on this. He didn’t behave like a war hardened military man, and he was far too distracted by Hannah to do his job. When he confronted people, he threatened to call the sherif, yet he doesn’t—like a parent who threats a kid he’s going to get in trouble, but the kid always gets a pass. The rest of the characters are flat and most behaved like teens.

“Cooper and Hannah are soooo cute”--several characters, the ghost and the old sherif included, say this. If I’d been reading a paperback, I would have thrown it across the room when the sherif says “you two are so cute.” Do adults say this to two people who have known each other for a day?

I originally gave the book three stars, but as I wrote the review, I realized I couldn’t stay with the three stars.
Profile Image for Tyrannosaurus regina.
1,199 reviews26 followers
September 18, 2019
Well, this was certainly different from the rest of the paranormal mysteries I've been reading lately. Much more good vs. evil than cozy, but with characters I'm interested to spend more time with. Too bad I'm bored with everyone being on the "Cooper and Hannah are soooo cute" train because it was tonally the same from character to character and didn't have nearly enough basis for me.
Profile Image for Jana Gundy.
1,919 reviews17 followers
June 17, 2019
Another fantastic series!

What a great series this is going to be. I love all of this authors stories and this is another that will be added to that list. Hannah is a fun, witty and intelligent character. Cooper is a bit on the tough side but he can resist Hannah. I love how they interact and also that they are kind to one another and not the typical jerks that tends to play out in cozy mysteries.
Profile Image for Dallass.
2,249 reviews
December 27, 2019
Fun paranormal cosy with a western twist

I’m not usual a fan of western themed stories. They just don’t appeal to me. However, I really enjoyed this first book in Hannah’s journey to discover herself. The setting was very atmospheric, and the characters were, for the most part, quite fun. My one complaint is that Cooper always threatened to call Boone - why didn’t he just do it and save a lot of hassles.

Anyway, a fun story.

3.5 stars ⭐️
Profile Image for Susan Clark.
549 reviews2 followers
July 14, 2021
Fun Paranormal Mystery

Lily Harper Hart has done it again! Immediately the reader is rooting for the heroine. Equally quickly we are comfortable with and trust the hero. Everything progresses naturally, and we are all eager to find out what is really happening. BRAVO! More, please. 😊
7 reviews
July 7, 2024
Theme towns, paranormal, and a love interest. What more could you want?

Really enjoyed this. I recommend this as a fun short read. I'll check out more by this author. Can't wait to see more of Maddie, Cooper and the rest of Casper Creek.
Profile Image for Miss W Book Reviews.
1,781 reviews154 followers
January 10, 2021
The Dirty Coven by Lily Harper Hart is the first book in the Hannah Hickok Series.
This is a fantastic start to a new series, I could not put it down.
Hannah Hickok inherits a town in Kentucky that is old west performance town
from her grandmother that she has never met that recently passed away.

The characters were so great and while I would not normally be drawn to a western theme,
this is a fantastic book and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Sharon Beijer.
22 reviews
July 9, 2025
Started this, stopped, started again, etc. Finally gave up. The writing was just so juvenile and repetitive.
Profile Image for Helen Dalgarno.
7 reviews3 followers
June 8, 2019
Amazing

What an amazing start to a new series. I loved everything about the book and can't wait for the next in the series.
Profile Image for Dew.
762 reviews63 followers
February 13, 2024
I am going to DNF this first book and try the second in the series because the fmc is just too dim-witted as she bumbles around the narrative, but there does seem to be a cute idea at the heart of the series.

What do I mean? The fmc dropped out of college for a guy. She immediately moved in with him and just didn’t think twice about how their bills were paid even though groceries magically appeared in the refrigerator and they had a private driver. She then immediately went to work for her boyfriend’s family. Even after catching her boyfriend/fiancé cheating on her twice, she never clues into the idea that she might be in a precarious situation.

In terms of the narrative of the magic town, the fmc can’t listen when she is directed to the back road to drive into down. When she arrives, it turns out that she doesn’t own a leash and just lets her untrained dog run around wildly. I guess it’s supposed to be some kind of “meet cute” when her out-of-control dog chases after a corralled horse. Later, much like with losing her job or the issue with the back road, the mmc has to painstakingly explain to her that she doesn’t have to leave the house in her pyjamas and can change into street clothes.

From a technical perspective, the author gave most of the characters two first names instead of any kind of surname - Tyler James, Cooper Wyatt, Patrick Flynn.
Profile Image for Elisa.
3,232 reviews44 followers
June 5, 2019
A spectacular start to another new and very exciting series from Lily Harper Hart.

A Wild West cosplay town sounds like an absolute dream place to me I just LOVE the idea and wow Hannah Hickok just inherited one!!! Sign me up I'd be there with spurs on lol

The added supernatural twist was intriguing and I am looking forward to more developments there, the handsome security guy is a keeper and I have to say I really love everyone especially Abigail and mostly I love how everyone loved Abigail so much I can't wait for more this series has a lot of promise, blending mysteries into a cosplay town in a wild west setting with supernatural suspense is a definite winner for me.
Profile Image for amanda stoward.
181 reviews
September 17, 2020
Not her best

The book is very juvenile if you take 10 years off the characters it would be more realistic. My grove is cooper is head ex military and of security yet can’t keep a young girl out or or friends who also break a order he is a joke which brings the book down, there is also no depth to the back up characters and if you want someone to believe in the supernatural why didn’t they show her a shifter or vampire in the first few days? So many holes.
56 reviews
October 8, 2020
High school level writing at best.

It's a shame that the writing level isn't better because some of the story line is very interesting. But it reads amateurish at best. Surprised me since it's sold so well.
Profile Image for Fee.
1,210 reviews8 followers
January 6, 2021
no, no, no. I loved the premise, but my enthousiasme ended there. The plot is ridiculous. The writing is not good either. Especially the dialogue is cringe worthy. And the writer has a thing for the word 'though'. It's annoying.
Profile Image for Sue-Dee Numb.
323 reviews3 followers
August 7, 2019
Highly recommend

This is such a good book,it is a little different from other's in this genre. Don't get me wrong it's still a young woman on the brink of ruin when out of the blue she received a letter telling her she was now the sole heir to a property, only to arrive to discover.....(get ready to be shocked) she's a witch!! (Truly shocked aren't you!!) The is the obligatory hot guy who is attracted to Hannah, but he trots time fight the attracting.

Ok so I've just told you it's the same a event other book of this type, but it is the differences that make this so good, rather than a bookshop, or a magical shop or a house, no Hannah Hickok has inherited a town, and not just any town it's a western themed town where the bank is robbed regularly at 2pm each day. The bar sells beer, whisky and the occasional mai tai complete with umbrella! But there is more than meets the eye going on. On her first day a body is found and from three the book takes of at a stay gallop and the pace doesn't stop till the last page.
The differences see enough to make this book interesting, in a sea of cozy witchy books i really found rid one to stand out. Give it a try you've nothing to lose!
Profile Image for Spinneretta.
2,858 reviews20 followers
April 18, 2024
Good

A surprise inheritance from the grandmother she never knew, sends Hannah Hickok to the Wild West themed town of Casper Creek. As the new owner, Hannah isn’t quite sure where she fits in, but the security chief Cooper knows he will have to open her eyes to the supernatural world, which hides beneath the cosplay exterior of the town.
Hannah isn’t too pleased to find out that someone has been murdered in her new hometown, and she’s not sure that she believes in the supernatural thing, but she’s determined to find some answers…

This is the first in series, and introduces us to Hannah, a woman a little down on her luck, but just beginning to find her backbone.
The denizens of the town are interesting people, and as Hannah’s eyes are opened, we begin to see even more interesting and intriguing things.
It’s a cute story, with some fun characters, and an intriguing background story just getting started. I’m looking forward to seeing where that leads, and I hope in the future that Hannah realises she may have been a doormat, and possibly even mercenary, but she wasn’t a jerk (unlike her ex who definitely deserves the title!)
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews55 followers
June 4, 2019
A town of her own! Shame the evil witch wants it.

A great read. Okay we've already read books about Grandmother dying and you suddenly find out you are a witch but this really does have a nice fresh feel. Plus two murders and a bad witch with her evil coven. Wonderful characters - naivety in some, confident in others but all feel as real as anyone you can meet. Plus it has a goofy dog and a ghost with other paranormal still to declare what they are. Fast paced, sneaky humour and a dash of romance.
Her ex-fiance has just gotten her 'fired' but she does have a bit of breathing space. But a letter from a lawyer changes all that. She's been left a town. A whole town! Packing up is easy and with her faithful but goofy dog she is soon on her way. A murder, a western cosplay town, another murder, the ghost of her Grandmother, finding out she is also a witch and not forgetting the evil coven whose leader wants her grimoire, her town, the security man she's falling for and possibly her life. Will she be able to withstand the attacks? Will she find the killer?
Profile Image for Amanda Jane.
1,337 reviews10 followers
February 7, 2020
Meet Hannah and Casper Creek

Hannah Hickok is on her own, she's ditched her cheating fiancé and now he's got daddy to put her in her place, either quit or go work in the company's worst office with no hope of progression.. well that's what happens when you ditch your studies for the golden boy and make a stand when he treats you like garbage..

She renegotiates the severance package and heads off for her dingy flat to find a letter.. a life-changing letter. The granny she doesn't remember has recently died and left her everything..

"Everything" is the wild west town of Casper Creek, a tourist destination where the visitors watch as the bank is robbed, cowboys roam the streets and they can drink in real saloon.

"Everything" also includes some paranormal powers, a devoted workforce and some enemies determined to take the lot.

Can Hannah find her feet and save her inheritance from the coven nextdoor?
201 reviews4 followers
August 26, 2025
This was a 2.5 star that I generously rounded up although I don't honestly believe it should be.

This was absolutely juvenile which is in direct opposition to my belief this author is older (and I say that as an older reader) The dialogue was cringe, Cooper constantly saying I'm going to call Boone, if you don't leave I'm calling Boone, you better get out of here or I'm going to call Boone or whatever their names are, just absolutely drove me nuts. Is he retired from the military or 12 years old?! Hannah isn't the worst FMC I've ever read and at least her skepticism about magic was genuine. You two are so cute/adorable together? Come on. It simply didn't fit the age and/or sex of the speaker. The shipping was ridiculous.

So glad it was short.
470 reviews
June 8, 2019
Fantastic new series!

As usual, this author delivered another great book! This is the first in a new series and if the future books are anything like this one they will be nothing short of awesome. If you enjoy your cozy mysteries with paranormal people\creatures, snark, and a dash of romance you'll definitely enjoy this new series! The characters are fun and relatable as well as entertaining. The mystery is interesting and wrapped up by the end. There are also larger threads that will likely weave through the series but do not make it difficult to read the books on their own if you wish. Highly recommend this book!
Profile Image for Mike Lewis.
1,761 reviews8 followers
June 17, 2019
A great new series

This was my first book by this author. She right under other pet names as well and I read most of those books. This book was extraordinarily entertaining and a very well written story. Great cast of characters as well. A young woman from Detroit who is in a bad spot in her life in here it’s a western theme town in Kentucky for my grandmother she never knew. She decides to go there and start a new life. Once she arrives if you weird things start happening. I will not give out any spoilers but you will definitely be entertained and enjoy it. Plenty of mystery a bit of humor and throw in some snarky wit. Check it out and enjoy
Profile Image for Diane ~Firefly~.
2,205 reviews86 followers
October 7, 2022
Hannah ditches her fiancée (he was cheating) and loses her job, but luckily, she inherits a town from the grandmother she never knew.

What I enjoyed:
* A performance town is definitely a fairly unique setting for a series, then add in magic
* Jinx, the dog is adorable
* Hannah and Cooper seem cute together and no signs of a love triangle

What could have been better:
* Not the best mystery
*
Profile Image for Angela Griffin.
1,680 reviews5 followers
August 23, 2020
Three and a half stars

This is nice for a series premiere. Hannah Hickock is a surprisingly pragmatic lead and very likeable. She accepts reality and makes it work for her. The only other moderately sketched character is Hannah's nemesis, Astra. Their dynamic is confusing and anticlimactic. The murderer and motive is a big surprise, mainly due to that storyline being a bit rushed. The characters and the premise have sufficient potential to encourage me to return to Casper Creek.
15 reviews
January 3, 2024
Oh this was a fun easy to read story. Fun characters that I am looking forward to learning more about in the next books in the series. Hannah was down on her luck broke up with her soon to be husband was let go from her job and lived in a not so great area of town. when she learned she had inherited a town!!! the town is a cosplay of a western town. so she moves not only does she have a new start but she finds out she is not just human!!! I suggest you read and enjoy this fun fast paced story to learn more about Hannah and all of her new acquaintances.
Profile Image for Rhonda Jones.
2,794 reviews17 followers
June 10, 2019
Loved It

I really enjoyed this book. Hannah is a sweetheart. The book introduced interesting characters which I hope to get much better acquainted with in future books. The mystery was kind of like one more thing Hannah had to deal with. Her life has turned upside down and so much better than it was before. The characters pulled me in and the mystery kept the book fast paced. Good book.
Profile Image for Ellen Adams.
19 reviews2 followers
June 12, 2019
Great book.

I wasn't sure that I would like this book at the beginning, but it c a ought my interest very quickly quickly. Hannah is a great heroine, funny and smart, and she doesn't sit around feeling sorry for herself. She accepts her part in her past mistake and moves ahead quickly. The story moves pretty fast and held my interest throughout. It's also funny and c harming. I looking forward to the next one.:
122 reviews
June 18, 2019
Worth a read

If you enjoy the paranormal witch type books with a hot guy included then I’m sure you would like this book. Hannah gets a town left to her in a will and moves from her home, ending up in a world of trouble, meeting lots of new people not to mention a ghost. Jinx the dog is a great addition with his own personality, quirks and a tongue that is ready to welcome everyone in return for a tickle 😉
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews

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