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The Carolina Files #2
Undertow
Three sisters, one power, and an evil out to destroy everything in its path.
The Whitlow witches often rub elbows with all things that go bump in the night, but what will they do when Hell itself comes calling?
A dangerous ritual, decades old, is about to set loose an evil on the town of Henley-on-Hale and the Whitlows are the only thing standing in the way. The sisters must untangle a web of lies to find the truth behind a series of brutal and horrific murders that are taking the lives of local teens and leaving very strange clues behind. Clues that say this is more than just your run-of-the-mill serial killer.
The witches must call on the aid of their allies - old and new - to confront a force unlike any they’ve ever faced before. The fate of the town and its inhabitants hangs in the balance and, should they fail, the evil that could be unleashed on the world would be cataclysmic.
Undertow is the second installment of The Carolina Files, by Willa Blackmore.
Perfect for readers of gritty, fun urban fantasy in the vein of the hit TV show Supernatural.
The Whitlow witches often rub elbows with all things that go bump in the night, but what will they do when Hell itself comes calling?
A dangerous ritual, decades old, is about to set loose an evil on the town of Henley-on-Hale and the Whitlows are the only thing standing in the way. The sisters must untangle a web of lies to find the truth behind a series of brutal and horrific murders that are taking the lives of local teens and leaving very strange clues behind. Clues that say this is more than just your run-of-the-mill serial killer.
The witches must call on the aid of their allies - old and new - to confront a force unlike any they’ve ever faced before. The fate of the town and its inhabitants hangs in the balance and, should they fail, the evil that could be unleashed on the world would be cataclysmic.
Undertow is the second installment of The Carolina Files, by Willa Blackmore.
Perfect for readers of gritty, fun urban fantasy in the vein of the hit TV show Supernatural.
- GenresFantasy
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 22, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 2, 2026
Undertow is the second audiobook in the cozy fantasy series, The Carolina Files. While each book deals with a threat to the town that the Whitlow family must solve, overall series arcs regarding the stone under the Whitlow manor have me recommending you listen to the series in the order of their release.
When a series of teens go missing from the town and some show up dead, the sisters must piece together what is happening, only with the aid of the local sheriff, their aunt, and other secondary townfolk who, like the Whitlow’s are different. The sisters are witches, and each has unique gifts. Henley-on-Hale has residents who aren’t quite human, living among those who are. The Whitlow family has protected this community for centuries.
The tale that unfolded delivered quite the mystery, with demonic sigils & ancient rituals, secrets, and possessions. I loved tagging along with Tula Whitlow as she tried to piece together what evil had come to town, and the reveal is shocking.
While the focus is primarily on Tula, we get to know her sisters and aunt a little better. Her mother is still out of town and urging Tula to step in and handle the stone under the manor. Tula doesn’t think she is ready, but the danger in the town continues to grow. Blackmore mixes snark, humor, and mystery into this cozy urban fantasy with small-town antics.
There is a slow-burning, deny my feelings romance served as a side-dish with a sexy vampire named Victor. The storyline is more complex and developed than book one, as we learn more about our witch siblings and their abilities. The pacing and world-building are well done, and I felt like I was right there with the characters.
Sarah Sampino narrates and really captures Tula, the other characters, and the tone of the overall story. I enjoy listening and recommend grabbing the audiobooks. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
When a series of teens go missing from the town and some show up dead, the sisters must piece together what is happening, only with the aid of the local sheriff, their aunt, and other secondary townfolk who, like the Whitlow’s are different. The sisters are witches, and each has unique gifts. Henley-on-Hale has residents who aren’t quite human, living among those who are. The Whitlow family has protected this community for centuries.
The tale that unfolded delivered quite the mystery, with demonic sigils & ancient rituals, secrets, and possessions. I loved tagging along with Tula Whitlow as she tried to piece together what evil had come to town, and the reveal is shocking.
While the focus is primarily on Tula, we get to know her sisters and aunt a little better. Her mother is still out of town and urging Tula to step in and handle the stone under the manor. Tula doesn’t think she is ready, but the danger in the town continues to grow. Blackmore mixes snark, humor, and mystery into this cozy urban fantasy with small-town antics.
There is a slow-burning, deny my feelings romance served as a side-dish with a sexy vampire named Victor. The storyline is more complex and developed than book one, as we learn more about our witch siblings and their abilities. The pacing and world-building are well done, and I felt like I was right there with the characters.
Sarah Sampino narrates and really captures Tula, the other characters, and the tone of the overall story. I enjoy listening and recommend grabbing the audiobooks. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
July 21, 2026
Undertow by Willa Blackwood—narrated by Sarah Sampino—is book two in The Carolina Files. Although each entry presents an individual mystery for the Whitlow family, I highly recommend listening/reading in publication order due to the series overall arc surrounding the stone beneath Whitlow Manor.
Though she never wanted the role, Tula Whitlow has become the de facto leader of the Whitlow sisters. This installment treats readers to a dark, suspenseful mystery involving missing and murdered teens, demonic symbols, ancient rituals, secrets, and demonic possession.
Although Tula takes center stage, we get a deeper look at her sisters and aunt this time around. We follow Tula as she tries to figure out what’s happening in town and save the kids, all while her mother urges her from afar to deal with the stone under Whitlow Manor. Tula clearly feels unprepared, but with the danger mounting, she has to step up. That said, Tula and some of the other characters did frustrate me at times by getting into situations where the danger was obvious and easily avoidable.
There is a slow-burn romance with a sexy vampire named Victor, though it remains a secondary subplot with minimal progression in this book. Personally, I would have loved to see more of Victor in the story!
While I don’t love any of the sisters, they are tolerable enough, though Aunt Ruby and our sexy vampire Victor are definitely my favorite characters. Something about this installment felt a bit off for me, and I couldn't fully connect with it—perhaps because the story veered away from cozy mystery territory into much darker vibes.
Audio: Sarah Sampino does a fantastic job with the narration, perfectly capturing Tula, the secondary characters, and the overall tone of the story. Her character voices are enjoyable and bring a wonderful Southern charm to the performance. Honestly, I don’t think I would have finished this novel if I hadn't listened to the audiobook, so I highly recommend going the audio route!
Rated: 3 Stars
Audio: 4 Stars
Though she never wanted the role, Tula Whitlow has become the de facto leader of the Whitlow sisters. This installment treats readers to a dark, suspenseful mystery involving missing and murdered teens, demonic symbols, ancient rituals, secrets, and demonic possession.
Although Tula takes center stage, we get a deeper look at her sisters and aunt this time around. We follow Tula as she tries to figure out what’s happening in town and save the kids, all while her mother urges her from afar to deal with the stone under Whitlow Manor. Tula clearly feels unprepared, but with the danger mounting, she has to step up. That said, Tula and some of the other characters did frustrate me at times by getting into situations where the danger was obvious and easily avoidable.
There is a slow-burn romance with a sexy vampire named Victor, though it remains a secondary subplot with minimal progression in this book. Personally, I would have loved to see more of Victor in the story!
While I don’t love any of the sisters, they are tolerable enough, though Aunt Ruby and our sexy vampire Victor are definitely my favorite characters. Something about this installment felt a bit off for me, and I couldn't fully connect with it—perhaps because the story veered away from cozy mystery territory into much darker vibes.
Audio: Sarah Sampino does a fantastic job with the narration, perfectly capturing Tula, the secondary characters, and the overall tone of the story. Her character voices are enjoyable and bring a wonderful Southern charm to the performance. Honestly, I don’t think I would have finished this novel if I hadn't listened to the audiobook, so I highly recommend going the audio route!
Rated: 3 Stars
Audio: 4 Stars
July 22, 2021
Urban Fantasy meets Horror in this tale of kidnap, murder and possession.
This is book two of The Carolina Files Series; Urban Fantasy meets Paranormal meets Horror. The book is set in the town of Henley-on-Hale, North Carolina. A unique town where supernatural beings mix freely with local mundane humans.
Tula Whitlow is one of three witch sisters who run a local Inn for Supernatural beings. The three had let their talents lapse and were living the high life until recently, when trouble landed on their doorstep and they were forced to start learning their witchcraft to defend the town.
Trouble continues to plague the town. A series of gruesome murders of local teenagers comes to light. Demonic sigils found tattooed on the dead teens and daubed at the sites where their bodies are left leads local law enforcement to call in Tula to help investigate. All signs point to a ritual sacrifice which took place 15 years before. Were the teens involved in a demonic cult or are they paying for the sins of their parents?
I really enjoyed this book. The descriptive world building and character development is great; I like Willa Blackmore’s style of writing. It’s well paced and draws you into the story. I like that we see a bit more of what Tula’s sisters can do. I hope we get to know them better as the series progresses. I like that Tula hasn’t suddenly become an all-powerful, all-knowing witch and is having to actually learn her craft and hone her skills. I love Ruby and I like the way she is pulled in to help and uses everything as a teaching moment. I love that Tula hasn’t leapt into a relationship with the vampire, Victor, even though I kind of really want her to.
This story is more complex than the first book and it’s all the better for that. I was completely immersed in this tale from start to finish. I really enjoyed it. I’m excited to see what the next book will hold. This is definitely one of the more interesting new series I’ve read lately. Willa Blackmore is an author to watch.
This is book two of The Carolina Files Series; Urban Fantasy meets Paranormal meets Horror. The book is set in the town of Henley-on-Hale, North Carolina. A unique town where supernatural beings mix freely with local mundane humans.
Tula Whitlow is one of three witch sisters who run a local Inn for Supernatural beings. The three had let their talents lapse and were living the high life until recently, when trouble landed on their doorstep and they were forced to start learning their witchcraft to defend the town.
Trouble continues to plague the town. A series of gruesome murders of local teenagers comes to light. Demonic sigils found tattooed on the dead teens and daubed at the sites where their bodies are left leads local law enforcement to call in Tula to help investigate. All signs point to a ritual sacrifice which took place 15 years before. Were the teens involved in a demonic cult or are they paying for the sins of their parents?
I really enjoyed this book. The descriptive world building and character development is great; I like Willa Blackmore’s style of writing. It’s well paced and draws you into the story. I like that we see a bit more of what Tula’s sisters can do. I hope we get to know them better as the series progresses. I like that Tula hasn’t suddenly become an all-powerful, all-knowing witch and is having to actually learn her craft and hone her skills. I love Ruby and I like the way she is pulled in to help and uses everything as a teaching moment. I love that Tula hasn’t leapt into a relationship with the vampire, Victor, even though I kind of really want her to.
This story is more complex than the first book and it’s all the better for that. I was completely immersed in this tale from start to finish. I really enjoyed it. I’m excited to see what the next book will hold. This is definitely one of the more interesting new series I’ve read lately. Willa Blackmore is an author to watch.
June 19, 2024
Little bit of cozy horror
I loved this book! It was so much fun reading about the town's characters. You don't have to read the series in order but this one does have a small part that gives spoilers of the first book. It wouldn't take much away but I would definitely start with book one because the writing is so good that you will want to read both.
Book two had a dark theme. As in, more toward horror. When I started the series I wasn't sure what to expect. Some paranormal cozy mystery? It's that and then some. Nothing cozy about it. But it's not the kind that leaves you disturbed and wishing you hadn't read it. There's depth and character. The good fighting evil. I love aunt Ruby. She's my favorite. And I am so ecstatic about Karla. Now I just wish Tula would start dating Victor. I know this isn't a romance book but it wouldn't bother me if that was added lol. It will be interesting to see where the books lead with him. As a back story, possibly has something wrong with his health. If that's possible for a vampire. I'm hoping he only has so long to fall in love and have babies or he goes up in ash bahahaha.
I loved this book! It was so much fun reading about the town's characters. You don't have to read the series in order but this one does have a small part that gives spoilers of the first book. It wouldn't take much away but I would definitely start with book one because the writing is so good that you will want to read both.
Book two had a dark theme. As in, more toward horror. When I started the series I wasn't sure what to expect. Some paranormal cozy mystery? It's that and then some. Nothing cozy about it. But it's not the kind that leaves you disturbed and wishing you hadn't read it. There's depth and character. The good fighting evil. I love aunt Ruby. She's my favorite. And I am so ecstatic about Karla. Now I just wish Tula would start dating Victor. I know this isn't a romance book but it wouldn't bother me if that was added lol. It will be interesting to see where the books lead with him. As a back story, possibly has something wrong with his health. If that's possible for a vampire. I'm hoping he only has so long to fall in love and have babies or he goes up in ash bahahaha.
March 20, 2025
I've been back and forth on this one. I actually reached a point of DNF but decided to just go one more chapter - and it did get a bit better. There were just quite a few back-to-back areas that were too much. For 2 characters - one a shifter - to be hit on the back of the head was just too much. The fmc seems to do some really stupid stuff and is either a stellar witch or can't tie her shoes. It felt like there were a few sections that were introduced as a big deal but never followed up on. There was even one section where Everly made a comment about going to the council meeting that night and she'd already been there in the previous chapter. I might come back to the series, but I think I'm going to tap out for a while.
December 5, 2023
Great book and series
The Whitlow's are always at the forefront of finding trouble and trying to wrangle it into submission. When a teen girl ends up dead, Tula doesn't know why but she intends to dig until she figures it. But digging may just land her in a grave. Evil is loose and it takes everyone to figure it out and combat it. This was a really great book and I love the series thus far. 5 out of 5 stars, I highly recommend.
The Whitlow's are always at the forefront of finding trouble and trying to wrangle it into submission. When a teen girl ends up dead, Tula doesn't know why but she intends to dig until she figures it. But digging may just land her in a grave. Evil is loose and it takes everyone to figure it out and combat it. This was a really great book and I love the series thus far. 5 out of 5 stars, I highly recommend.
May 11, 2024
Darker than the first
Stakes are higher, emotions go deeper and the world of Henley-on-Hale gets more description. The rules of witchcraft in the series begin to take shape. Through new characters, the Bentleys are introduced... all in all we get more 3D feeling of the place and history. I'd say the second book is better than the first, albeit much darker and veers more towards horror and away from cosy mystery.
Stakes are higher, emotions go deeper and the world of Henley-on-Hale gets more description. The rules of witchcraft in the series begin to take shape. Through new characters, the Bentleys are introduced... all in all we get more 3D feeling of the place and history. I'd say the second book is better than the first, albeit much darker and veers more towards horror and away from cosy mystery.
June 1, 2024
not as good as I hoped!
Since there is no love interest in this book, it keeps me wanting more out of it, but yet not receiving it. Victor and Tula would be perfect for each other and would make a really neat part of the books. You however, are not allowing it and want to stick him with Karla. so I think I’m ready to be done with these books. I need a little oomph in the books I read.
Since there is no love interest in this book, it keeps me wanting more out of it, but yet not receiving it. Victor and Tula would be perfect for each other and would make a really neat part of the books. You however, are not allowing it and want to stick him with Karla. so I think I’m ready to be done with these books. I need a little oomph in the books I read.
August 24, 2023
An interesting story I enjoyed reading
The main character Tula is entertaining as she realizes the depth of her abilities and begins to start embracing them. Her family heritage is helping their area dealing with the supernatural both good and bad. I will definitely be reading about her next adventure
The main character Tula is entertaining as she realizes the depth of her abilities and begins to start embracing them. Her family heritage is helping their area dealing with the supernatural both good and bad. I will definitely be reading about her next adventure
May 23, 2024
While this was good some of the plot unsettled me a bit. It did not help that I read it late at night. All things considered this series pretty fun so far. I do not love any of the sisters but they are tolerable and Aunt Ruby is a very enjoyable character. I will likely pick up the next book in the series but will probably not opt to read it late at night like this one.
August 12, 2025
Tula and her family are called on to solve another mystery that is threatening their community. When teenagers are being murdered, everyone must work together. This book is darker than the first and just as captivating. The characters are revealing more about themselves and the world building is intriguing.
August 13, 2021
Brilliant
I’ll say it again, I love the Nancy Drew feel mixed with the supernatural. A strong female lead, who doesn’t need a man. Not that I’m opposed to her finding love in the end, it’s refreshing that Tula’s more than that. Looking forward to more.
I’ll say it again, I love the Nancy Drew feel mixed with the supernatural. A strong female lead, who doesn’t need a man. Not that I’m opposed to her finding love in the end, it’s refreshing that Tula’s more than that. Looking forward to more.
April 16, 2023
Interesting series
After reading book three in this series, I'm still not sure how I think about it. It is on the dark side. However, the characters have been developing and we are learning about their backgrounds. I am looking forward to the next book.
After reading book three in this series, I'm still not sure how I think about it. It is on the dark side. However, the characters have been developing and we are learning about their backgrounds. I am looking forward to the next book.
July 25, 2021
Strong, intelligent MC. Excellent writing. Great world building and story. Highly recommend!
January 30, 2023
Undertow
An engaging read kept me me reading until the very end. I can’t wait to start on the next book in the series.
An engaging read kept me me reading until the very end. I can’t wait to start on the next book in the series.
September 12, 2024
Really liked this story to. Love the easy reading, the plots are Interesting enough to keep me wanting to read on. I will finish reading this series.
November 18, 2024
Engrossing.
The character development was great. Each book gives you just a bit more insight into who they are. While each story is completely enthralling.
The character development was great. Each book gives you just a bit more insight into who they are. While each story is completely enthralling.
October 2, 2021
Incredible world building. I could read multiple offshoots of this series in this world that Willa has created. I hungrily await the next book in Tula's series but I want series for all the sisters. And the leap year vamp ;)
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews