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The Kitchen Witch #5
ExSpelled
ExSpelled (The Kitchen Witch, Book FIVE)
A fun cozy mystery - with witches!
Egged on by Amelia’s recent success in the kitchen, her friends send her to a cooking school on a remote tropical island resort. Her teachers’ tempers reach boiling point when they sample her cooking, and worse still, her classmates begin to die one by one. As a tropical storm brews and the body count rises, can Amelia find the killer before she is expelled, or becomes the next victim?
A fun cozy mystery - with witches!
Egged on by Amelia’s recent success in the kitchen, her friends send her to a cooking school on a remote tropical island resort. Her teachers’ tempers reach boiling point when they sample her cooking, and worse still, her classmates begin to die one by one. As a tropical storm brews and the body count rises, can Amelia find the killer before she is expelled, or becomes the next victim?
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2016
181 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Morgana Best
205 books430 followersUSA Today best-selling author Morgana Best survived a childhood of deadly spiders and venomous snakes in the Australian outback. Morgana Best writes cozy mysteries and enjoys thinking of delightful new ways to murder her victims.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 12, 2020
This is what happens when you plunge into a series at book five. I can tell from the reviews that lots of readers love these books but I managed to start on one where the main character was on holiday, so all her support cast were missing and I did not know her very well and it all fell a bit flat.
However I can see the attraction in a dark witch, just coming into her powers, who appears to be rather accident prone especially around the kitchen. She has some very charming witchy friends who I met only briefly at the beginning and end of the book.
Obviously I have not given the Kitchen Witch a fair chance so I am off to find #1 and start at the beginning. Which is what I should have done in the first place.
However I can see the attraction in a dark witch, just coming into her powers, who appears to be rather accident prone especially around the kitchen. She has some very charming witchy friends who I met only briefly at the beginning and end of the book.
Obviously I have not given the Kitchen Witch a fair chance so I am off to find #1 and start at the beginning. Which is what I should have done in the first place.
January 21, 2026
This was another good book in a great series. In this one Amelia's friends have sent her to a tropical island basic cooking school. When she is there a murder occurs in a middle of a storm when the police can't get in.
I love Amelia as a main character. She is amusing, a little snarky at times, nice at others and just a good character. My complaint if I had one was that we didn't see much of her friends in this book but the story line was really good though I did guess the ending the descriptions of the island, the storm and the kitchen mishaps just made for a wonderful descriptive book.
I love Amelia as a main character. She is amusing, a little snarky at times, nice at others and just a good character. My complaint if I had one was that we didn't see much of her friends in this book but the story line was really good though I did guess the ending the descriptions of the island, the storm and the kitchen mishaps just made for a wonderful descriptive book.
September 10, 2017
Amelia's friends want to surprise her with a vacation, so they sign her up for a Beginner's Cooking School on Paradise Island. Unfortunately, Amelia is afraid that a vacation and a cooking school are mutually exclusive ideas On the boat out to the island, Amelia meets some of the other attendees of the school, several having been there previously.
Being an avid people-watcher, Amelia immediately notices that some attendees are more interested in each other than they are cooking. At dinner the first night, Benedict Fletcher, who seems to complain about everything, is confronted by Owen, one of the school's owners. It turns out that Benedict is a notorious food critic. A short time later the island has been hit by a massive storm that threatens power and knocks out cell service.
Benedict and Laura had already retired for the evening. Fearing a loss of power, Owen passes provides everybody with a flashlight. One of the other guests, Michael Marshall, decides to check on Benedict and Laura and take them their flashlights. When he reaches Benedict's room, he finds both of them dead. Tensions rise when another death occurs.
Who killed Benedict and Laura? Why were they killed? Is there more to the cooking school than meets the eye? Can Amelia solve the mystery before she becomes the next victim?
Morgana Best has another winner with plenty of humor and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing clear to the end.
Being an avid people-watcher, Amelia immediately notices that some attendees are more interested in each other than they are cooking. At dinner the first night, Benedict Fletcher, who seems to complain about everything, is confronted by Owen, one of the school's owners. It turns out that Benedict is a notorious food critic. A short time later the island has been hit by a massive storm that threatens power and knocks out cell service.
Benedict and Laura had already retired for the evening. Fearing a loss of power, Owen passes provides everybody with a flashlight. One of the other guests, Michael Marshall, decides to check on Benedict and Laura and take them their flashlights. When he reaches Benedict's room, he finds both of them dead. Tensions rise when another death occurs.
Who killed Benedict and Laura? Why were they killed? Is there more to the cooking school than meets the eye? Can Amelia solve the mystery before she becomes the next victim?
Morgana Best has another winner with plenty of humor and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing clear to the end.
April 4, 2024
ExSpelled is book five in Morgana Best's Kitchen Witch series. Amelia's friends organized her to attend a cooking school in a remote tropical island resort in the Whitsundays to learn to cook. However, the experience did not go to plan for Amelia because her classmates were dying, and a tropical storm made it impossible for her to leave the island. Will Amelia find the killer, or will they make her the next victim? The readers of ExSpelled will continue to follow Amelia to discover what happens.
ExSpelled is a lovely, cozy mystery and an excellent addition to the Kitchen Witch series. I engaged with the story from the first page and continued to the end. While reading ExSpelled, I sometimes had to laugh at the characters' antics. I love Morgana Best's portrayal of her characters and how they intertwine throughout this book. ExSpelled is well-written and researched by Morgana Best. I like Morgana's Best description of the settings of ExSpelled, which complemented the book's plot.
ExSpelled readers will learn about running a cooking school on an isolated island and some issues facing isolated communities on remote islands.
I recommend this book.
ExSpelled is a lovely, cozy mystery and an excellent addition to the Kitchen Witch series. I engaged with the story from the first page and continued to the end. While reading ExSpelled, I sometimes had to laugh at the characters' antics. I love Morgana Best's portrayal of her characters and how they intertwine throughout this book. ExSpelled is well-written and researched by Morgana Best. I like Morgana's Best description of the settings of ExSpelled, which complemented the book's plot.
ExSpelled readers will learn about running a cooking school on an isolated island and some issues facing isolated communities on remote islands.
I recommend this book.
December 25, 2016
A cooking mystery
Amelia is surprised with an all expense paid trip to a cooking school on an island resort. But before she begins cooking lessons, a classmate is found murdered. Before the police can investigate, the island is struck by a tropical storm lasting several days. Amelia and her classmates investigate on their own, but a few more are murdered. And Amelia's cooking skills still have yet to improve. The murderer reveals them self in a conclusion that is surprising. I am glad to say that the author adds more dimension to these stories as the series develops. A very nice read.
Amelia is surprised with an all expense paid trip to a cooking school on an island resort. But before she begins cooking lessons, a classmate is found murdered. Before the police can investigate, the island is struck by a tropical storm lasting several days. Amelia and her classmates investigate on their own, but a few more are murdered. And Amelia's cooking skills still have yet to improve. The murderer reveals them self in a conclusion that is surprising. I am glad to say that the author adds more dimension to these stories as the series develops. A very nice read.
March 12, 2017
Laughter and Murder, they do go together
Such well meaning friends sending Amanda on a vacation of a lifetime - not! She calls it a cooking intervention. Amanda Spelling is a witch who inherited a cake store. But she cannot cook, at all! So her good friends buy her a week on a tropical island, to learn to cook. This book was hilarious in places, I laughed out loud. My dog thought I was in some kind of distress. And to spice it up, there was a murder mystery. But I have to admit, I missed Amanda's witchy friends from the first 4 books in the series. Ok, I am off to read the next book in this wonderful series.
Such well meaning friends sending Amanda on a vacation of a lifetime - not! She calls it a cooking intervention. Amanda Spelling is a witch who inherited a cake store. But she cannot cook, at all! So her good friends buy her a week on a tropical island, to learn to cook. This book was hilarious in places, I laughed out loud. My dog thought I was in some kind of distress. And to spice it up, there was a murder mystery. But I have to admit, I missed Amanda's witchy friends from the first 4 books in the series. Ok, I am off to read the next book in this wonderful series.
January 12, 2020
The Kitchen Witch Series, ExSpelled, Book 5, by Morgana Best.
I received a free copy of this book via author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
OMG!!! Ms. Morgana Best excelled herself on this book. I can't believe how good this book! is. It kept me in anguish to know what would happen to Amelia at The Paradise Island Cooking School
I have always said that Ms. Morgana Best's books are great, and this one surpassed my expectations!
I really loved it.
I received a free copy of this book via author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
OMG!!! Ms. Morgana Best excelled herself on this book. I can't believe how good this book! is. It kept me in anguish to know what would happen to Amelia at The Paradise Island Cooking School
I have always said that Ms. Morgana Best's books are great, and this one surpassed my expectations!
I really loved it.
Read
October 31, 2019Amelia goes to Cooking School
Amelia friends send her on a fully paid for, tropical island cooking school for beginners, a week long course. First, a horrific tropical storm blows up, then two people are murdered. There is lots of couple swapping, kisses without the misses, going on. The storm heats up, the body count rises and Amelia can't seem to cook at all. Read and enjoy!
Amelia friends send her on a fully paid for, tropical island cooking school for beginners, a week long course. First, a horrific tropical storm blows up, then two people are murdered. There is lots of couple swapping, kisses without the misses, going on. The storm heats up, the body count rises and Amelia can't seem to cook at all. Read and enjoy!
August 12, 2018
I didn't like this one as much as the others, the story was a bit all over the place, the culprit glaringly obvious and for me it lacked the charme of the previous books. I hope the next is back home.
September 21, 2020
Only Amelia could go to a cooking class on an island and end up in trouble. Her friends send her on the adventure to help improve her cooking skills but that's not what happens. This one kept me guessing until the very end!
September 8, 2017
A fun summer read in a series that picks up at the time the previous book ends!
June 14, 2018
Cooking headlines
Loved the storyline - sending a bumbling cook on a boarded cusine course. Can Amelia cope and clear up the mystery? Great for a fun, light read.
Loved the storyline - sending a bumbling cook on a boarded cusine course. Can Amelia cope and clear up the mystery? Great for a fun, light read.
December 13, 2019
5/5 stars for the next book in the Kitchen Witch series! So excited for more of them to be available on audio! Such a fun series with fun characters! Highly recommend!
January 15, 2020
Enjoyed
I have enjoyed this book and all the characters,humor and your story line and I am really looking forward to your next book.
I have enjoyed this book and all the characters,humor and your story line and I am really looking forward to your next book.
June 6, 2021
These truely are cosy mysteries. They are lighthearted and not too dark in nature. They are a refreshing change from either Science Fiction or Horror.
August 21, 2021
An interesting twist on this series. It definitely had Agatha Christie vibes as the murders took place in a common area and then Amelia had to figure out "who done it".
November 19, 2021
Fun mystery. What is up with the onsies? Did I miss a new fashion statement?
February 22, 2022
I think this is my favourite book of the series so far. It felt like the stakes were higher and I loved the creepy atmosphere.
August 3, 2022
3.5 I really like this stories. Thi book was short, fast paced witha a little mystery and kind of funny. It kept me entertained
March 2, 2017
This book is slightly different as Amelia Spelled is given a gift to go to a cooking school in the tropics by her Witch friends.
As Amelia arrives, the school is the only building on the island. Not only that, Amelia learns this school is only a ruse for an adult partner swapping. Amelia is uncomfortable and her food is turning out horribly. Added to this discomfort...two bodies are found, then another one.
There is the tropical storm and having to be saved by the police and Alder, but, this book wasn't as fun as they usually are to me.
As Amelia arrives, the school is the only building on the island. Not only that, Amelia learns this school is only a ruse for an adult partner swapping. Amelia is uncomfortable and her food is turning out horribly. Added to this discomfort...two bodies are found, then another one.
There is the tropical storm and having to be saved by the police and Alder, but, this book wasn't as fun as they usually are to me.
February 13, 2017
Morgana Best is only one of a few authors who I wont hesitate to get every book when they come out....each one is always well written,fun to read with characters who get into trouble,and still make you laugh until you have tears in your eyes. This book was no different. Amelia,cant cook or bake to save her life...so when Amelias friends decide to send her to a beautiful small tropical island for a week for cooking lessons, she knows this will not be a vacation that she will enjoy..but how much trouble can she get into going by herself? This is a fun read yet it has its mysterious moments. As expected,Morgana has done it again with this book too.!
September 20, 2016
Amelia Spelled, apparently one of the worst cooks on record, is given a week's trip to a remote island that houses a cooking school. She is signed up for beginners class along with seven other people. What should have been a week of learning (or burning in Amelia's case) and fun quickly turns into a horror trip as a tropical storm approaches and inundates the island. Day after day of lashing rain and blowing seems to be somewhat tempered by the fact the island has a generator, and life (or cooking) can continue. However it isn't long before there are two murders. Lack of cell phone signal to call the police necessitates a trip through two non-connecting tunnels to the highest point on the island. Although police are called from there and text messages sent, there is another murder on the way back to the cooking school. Paranoia sets in and no one is allowed to go anywhere alone. A person thought to have left the island the previous day is discovered and held in a locked room for being the murderer. However...
You know what? You need to read this for yourself. You can not imagine the terror that is building among the characters, and it is more than I can relate. The author discloses the real reason for the cooking school, which also explains some of the actions of various characters. The trek through the tunnels, the strength of the storm, the muddle and mistakes of Amelia's cooking, and the atmosphere of the cooking school are all well written and told with spots of humor that will be enjoyed by all. Very little witchcraft is used throughout the book, however something about the police boat suggests not all witchcraft is exposed. I recommend this enjoyable book.
You know what? You need to read this for yourself. You can not imagine the terror that is building among the characters, and it is more than I can relate. The author discloses the real reason for the cooking school, which also explains some of the actions of various characters. The trek through the tunnels, the strength of the storm, the muddle and mistakes of Amelia's cooking, and the atmosphere of the cooking school are all well written and told with spots of humor that will be enjoyed by all. Very little witchcraft is used throughout the book, however something about the police boat suggests not all witchcraft is exposed. I recommend this enjoyable book.
October 5, 2016
This is a great book; this is the fifth book in the Kitchen Witch Mystery series written by Morgana Best. Egged on by Amelia’s recent success in the kitchen, her friends send her to a cooking school on a remote tropical island resort. Her teachers’ tempers reach boiling point when they sample her cooking, and worse still, her classmates begin to die one by one. As a tropical storm brews and the body count rises, Amelia needs to find the killer before she is expelled or becomes the next victim. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
January 2, 2020
I don't do book reviews......
I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way
I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way
October 24, 2016
Morgana Best is only one of a few authors who I wont hesitate to get every book when they come out....each one is always well written,fun to read with characters who get into trouble,and still make you laugh until you have tears in your eyes. This book was no different. Amelia,cant cook or bake to save her life...so when Amelias friends decide to send her to a beautiful small tropical island for a week for cooking lessons, she knows this will not be a vacation that she will enjoy..but how much trouble can she get into going by herself? This is a fun read yet it has its mysterious moments. As expected,Morgana has done it again with this book too.
October 5, 2016
ExSpelled!
Amelia at a "cooking" school with strangers on a remote island during a major squall, definitely a recipe for disaster. Great setting for a murder or three. The plot reminded me of an Agatha Christi story. It's good to see Amelia getting comfortable with her inner witch and her detective skills. She's had a lot of practice. Liked that the story took Amelia out of her bakery and placed her in a situation where she had only her wits to rely upon. Clever and fast paced writing kept me turning pages. Looking forward to book 6.
Amelia at a "cooking" school with strangers on a remote island during a major squall, definitely a recipe for disaster. Great setting for a murder or three. The plot reminded me of an Agatha Christi story. It's good to see Amelia getting comfortable with her inner witch and her detective skills. She's had a lot of practice. Liked that the story took Amelia out of her bakery and placed her in a situation where she had only her wits to rely upon. Clever and fast paced writing kept me turning pages. Looking forward to book 6.
November 4, 2016
Another fun filled murderous adventure with Amelia.
What could go wrong sending Amelia on a holiday to a tropical island with a cooking school lol well Amelia still can't cook so I feel sorry for the others at the cooking school and trouble finds Amelia everywhere she goes I don't think being on a tropical island will stop that but it will be fun in some ways to watch Amelia solve the murders on the island.
What could go wrong sending Amelia on a holiday to a tropical island with a cooking school lol well Amelia still can't cook so I feel sorry for the others at the cooking school and trouble finds Amelia everywhere she goes I don't think being on a tropical island will stop that but it will be fun in some ways to watch Amelia solve the murders on the island.
October 3, 2016
Misguided friends, a tropical storm, bodies piling up, everyone's a suspect, kitchen disasters, all make for a great, fun book! It's got suspense, plot twists, zany characters, and an exploding pressure cooker, all while being trapped at a small island resort specializing in cooking school. Lots of situational humor, and a terrific addition to the Kitchen Witch series!
October 2, 2016
Good read
This was a good read and quite interesting. The cooking school was one I would not be wanting to attend. Maybe some day Amelia will be able to cook.
This was a good read and quite interesting. The cooking school was one I would not be wanting to attend. Maybe some day Amelia will be able to cook.
February 2, 2017
Good read
A bad cook sent to relaxation on an island cooking school but... Sinister things are happening and no one knows who the killer is.
A bad cook sent to relaxation on an island cooking school but... Sinister things are happening and no one knows who the killer is.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews