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Murder at Witches' Bluff
Renowned author Silver RavenWolf unites puzzling mystery, shocking horror and real magick in this adult-themed novel, creating a page-turning delight. As the nights of the year get longer, this is an ideal book to read curled up in front of a fire, or safely tucked under the covers.
The story of Murder at Witches' Bluff takes place in Cold Springs, an evil place with an evil history. As with many small towns, the citizens have many skeletons in their closets. As the mystery unfolds, you'll wonder if someone is willing to kill to make sure those secrets are not revealed.
Siren McKay returns to this, her hometown, to sort her head out. She has been acquitted of murdering her lover because of the testimony of a stranger. The truth is, she killed the man! But why did she do it? Why did the stranger lie to save her? And why does the entire town hate her so? Is it only because they wrongly think she is a Witch? Do they have other, darker hatred? Is she really a Witch?
Together with Tanner the alcoholic firefighter, and Billy the carousing cop, the three must stop the string of mysterious fires that are ravaging the town. Meanwhile, the body count starts to rise. Can they trust the mysterious Lexi, a retired, wealthy stage magician? What secrets does he know that he is not revealing? Which side is he really on?
And then there is the mysterious and beautiful Gemma, Siren's half-sister. Just how far will Gemma's perversions and hatred of Siren go?
This exciting novel will keep you in heart-numbing suspense as you go through the twists and turns of revelation. For exciting fiction with real magick, this book is a must!
The story of Murder at Witches' Bluff takes place in Cold Springs, an evil place with an evil history. As with many small towns, the citizens have many skeletons in their closets. As the mystery unfolds, you'll wonder if someone is willing to kill to make sure those secrets are not revealed.
Siren McKay returns to this, her hometown, to sort her head out. She has been acquitted of murdering her lover because of the testimony of a stranger. The truth is, she killed the man! But why did she do it? Why did the stranger lie to save her? And why does the entire town hate her so? Is it only because they wrongly think she is a Witch? Do they have other, darker hatred? Is she really a Witch?
Together with Tanner the alcoholic firefighter, and Billy the carousing cop, the three must stop the string of mysterious fires that are ravaging the town. Meanwhile, the body count starts to rise. Can they trust the mysterious Lexi, a retired, wealthy stage magician? What secrets does he know that he is not revealing? Which side is he really on?
And then there is the mysterious and beautiful Gemma, Siren's half-sister. Just how far will Gemma's perversions and hatred of Siren go?
This exciting novel will keep you in heart-numbing suspense as you go through the twists and turns of revelation. For exciting fiction with real magick, this book is a must!
480 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2000
7 people are currently reading
271 people want to read
About the author
Silver RavenWolf
75 books537 followersSilver RavenWolf (Pennsylvania) is a nationally recognized leader and elder of Wicca, and through her writing has been instrumental in guiding the future of one of the fastest-growing faiths in America today. The author of seventeen books, she has been interviewed by The New York Times, Newsweek Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal, and her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Bust Magazine, the Baltimore Sun, the St. Petersburg Times, the National Review, Publishers Weekly, Body & Soul Magazine, and Teen Lit Magazine.
Her many titles include the bestselling Solitary Witch, Teen Witch, To Ride A Silver Broomstick, To Stir A Magick Cauldron, To Light A Sacred Flame, American Folk Magick, Angels: Companions in Magick, Silver’s Spells for Prosperity, Silver's Spells for Protection, Silver's Spells for Love, Halloween, and the Witches’ Night Out teen fiction series. Her new book Hedge Witch is forthcoming from Llewellyn in September 2008.
Her many titles include the bestselling Solitary Witch, Teen Witch, To Ride A Silver Broomstick, To Stir A Magick Cauldron, To Light A Sacred Flame, American Folk Magick, Angels: Companions in Magick, Silver’s Spells for Prosperity, Silver's Spells for Protection, Silver's Spells for Love, Halloween, and the Witches’ Night Out teen fiction series. Her new book Hedge Witch is forthcoming from Llewellyn in September 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 9, 2020
Un culebrón con magia. Una historia de traiciones, mentiras, familias resentidas con secretos sucios, venganzas ancestrales. Tiene muchos personajes con variados intereses, algunos menos desarrollados que otros. Escrito en tercera persona, cada apartado sigue la acción de un personaje. A veces es posible ver los diferentes puntos de vista de una determinada circunstancia. En algunos casos el recurso funciona manteniendo el interés, en otros falla diluyendo el misterio.
April 20, 2018
There were a few errors in my copy, some glaring - apparently one female character had an adam's apple LOL and she was BORN female, so I'm thinking that's a mistake not picked up in editing. All that aside, it was a page turner, it is so refreshing to read Witchy books written from OUR perspective, full of all the lore and craft but not acting in a teachy-teachy sort of way. A breath of fresh air. A pity books of horror and suspense are not to my taste though. It might have had a couple more stars added if they were. Thank you Silver Ravenwolf - love your work!
June 9, 2011
True to its title, Murder at Witch's Bluff has it all, murder, mystery, magick, and even a little romance. As someone who once enjoyed Silver Ravenwolf's non-fictional material as well as her previous book Beneath a Mountain Moon, I was very interested in reading more of her fiction that wasn't geared specifically towards the teenage market.
In this book, Silver has defiantly captured the feel of small town America with all its vices and virtues. The characters, for the most part, are well thought out with a few exceptions. The central character, Siren McKay, is portrayed as a very strong willed woman even in the face of the terrible violence that she was exposed to, and the victim of, in a relatively short amount of time. I absolutely loved the character of Nana Loretta, and the descriptions of her magickal practices were an added bonus.
I also felt that Tanner's struggle with attempting to find if magick and witchcraft had a place in his life is also one that many of us have also struggled with ourselves. I also liked that fact that this book portrayed a gay character (Lexi) who wasn't too stereotypical. Although her part was relatively small, Gemma was completely psychotic as any murderous villain. Though he starts out as a very unsympathetic character, Uncle Jess become more endearing as the author peels back the layers to reveal the man behind all the gruff. Other than Siren herself, I felt as though Serato, was one of the most interesting of characters in the book. At times it almost felt as if he was a narrator, as his observations of the other characters in the book were so accurate and greatly helped to move the story along.
I failed to comprehend the exact purpose for the character of Rachael in the story. It seems that the author either had planned to do more with her and decided not to do so, or that she was always intended to be a throw-away character for the purpose of adding to the list of suspects. I also would have liked at least one scene depicting Siren applying her trade as a hypnotherapist.
Overall the plot was well conceived if not original, although I have to admit that the story did not unfold in the direction that I had previously thought it would. Although there were a few continuity errors and more than a few typos, it did not detract from the over all story itself in my opinion. The mysterious in this novel are numerous, although some will not be as mysterious as others to the observant reader. The pacing is fast throughout the book with virtually no slow spots. Fellow crafters will enjoy the inclusion of descriptions of actual spells and ritual, as well as the inclusion of actual Wiccan poetry that has been found in non-fiction works.
I was a bit disappointed with the fact that the author chose not to include a scene in which the characters who were either absent or unconscious at the book's climax were told the truth about the novel's central mystery and how they dealt with this information; instead the reader is left to infer for himself how they reacted. Although the final scene wraps up all but a few loose ends, they seemed to be inconsequential in the face of what actually transpired.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I felt that the bad far outweighed the good and would recommend Murder at Witch's Bluff to anyone interested in magickal fiction, or just anyone who loves a good story!
In this book, Silver has defiantly captured the feel of small town America with all its vices and virtues. The characters, for the most part, are well thought out with a few exceptions. The central character, Siren McKay, is portrayed as a very strong willed woman even in the face of the terrible violence that she was exposed to, and the victim of, in a relatively short amount of time. I absolutely loved the character of Nana Loretta, and the descriptions of her magickal practices were an added bonus.
I also felt that Tanner's struggle with attempting to find if magick and witchcraft had a place in his life is also one that many of us have also struggled with ourselves. I also liked that fact that this book portrayed a gay character (Lexi) who wasn't too stereotypical. Although her part was relatively small, Gemma was completely psychotic as any murderous villain. Though he starts out as a very unsympathetic character, Uncle Jess become more endearing as the author peels back the layers to reveal the man behind all the gruff. Other than Siren herself, I felt as though Serato, was one of the most interesting of characters in the book. At times it almost felt as if he was a narrator, as his observations of the other characters in the book were so accurate and greatly helped to move the story along.
I failed to comprehend the exact purpose for the character of Rachael in the story. It seems that the author either had planned to do more with her and decided not to do so, or that she was always intended to be a throw-away character for the purpose of adding to the list of suspects. I also would have liked at least one scene depicting Siren applying her trade as a hypnotherapist.
Overall the plot was well conceived if not original, although I have to admit that the story did not unfold in the direction that I had previously thought it would. Although there were a few continuity errors and more than a few typos, it did not detract from the over all story itself in my opinion. The mysterious in this novel are numerous, although some will not be as mysterious as others to the observant reader. The pacing is fast throughout the book with virtually no slow spots. Fellow crafters will enjoy the inclusion of descriptions of actual spells and ritual, as well as the inclusion of actual Wiccan poetry that has been found in non-fiction works.
I was a bit disappointed with the fact that the author chose not to include a scene in which the characters who were either absent or unconscious at the book's climax were told the truth about the novel's central mystery and how they dealt with this information; instead the reader is left to infer for himself how they reacted. Although the final scene wraps up all but a few loose ends, they seemed to be inconsequential in the face of what actually transpired.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I felt that the bad far outweighed the good and would recommend Murder at Witch's Bluff to anyone interested in magickal fiction, or just anyone who loves a good story!
December 29, 2022
Sinopsis: Cold Spring, un pueblo donde las disputas y secretos familiares abundan. Siren Mckay siempre fue considerada la oveja negra de la familia, y esto se reafirma cuando es absuelta legalmente de ser acusada de un crimen. Regresa al pequeño pueblo donde se crio y donde descubrirá que los verdaderos monstruos también tienen rostro humano.
Opinión: Una novela en donde se mezclan intrigas familiares, discusiones internas, un pueblo en medio de la nada lleno de historias y magia, un crimen y hasta algo de romance e infidelidades según la carta del día.
Esta historia empieza con una serie de incendios que surgen en el pueblo de Cold Spring, y que nadie, ni siquiera el jefe de bomberos, es capaz de encontrar la verdadera causa. Más allá de que los protagonistas son humanos, aparecen seres que ayudan a que la trama no decaiga y que el interés por seguir leyendo se mantenga.
Tiene momentos y personajes memorables, aunque al estar narrada en tercera persona, pero desde diferentes puntos de vista de varios de los personajes, hace que se pierda el sentido del misterio, haciendo que se vuelva una historia predecible.
El mayor peso lo sostienen los personajes femeninos y toda la trama mágica en torno a la leyenda de las brujas originales del pueblo, así como las escenas más tenebrosas descritas con bastante detalle, provocando que la novela se desarrolle en subidas y bajadas.
Siento que lo que hizo decaer la lectura de este libro fue el tener constantes puntos de vista, y el romance que se quiso desarrollar. A lo mejor si se quitara ese interés romántico, y se dosificaran las idas y venidas entre personajes, la novela hubiese fluido mejor, sin tantos altibajos.
Opinión: Una novela en donde se mezclan intrigas familiares, discusiones internas, un pueblo en medio de la nada lleno de historias y magia, un crimen y hasta algo de romance e infidelidades según la carta del día.
Esta historia empieza con una serie de incendios que surgen en el pueblo de Cold Spring, y que nadie, ni siquiera el jefe de bomberos, es capaz de encontrar la verdadera causa. Más allá de que los protagonistas son humanos, aparecen seres que ayudan a que la trama no decaiga y que el interés por seguir leyendo se mantenga.
Tiene momentos y personajes memorables, aunque al estar narrada en tercera persona, pero desde diferentes puntos de vista de varios de los personajes, hace que se pierda el sentido del misterio, haciendo que se vuelva una historia predecible.
El mayor peso lo sostienen los personajes femeninos y toda la trama mágica en torno a la leyenda de las brujas originales del pueblo, así como las escenas más tenebrosas descritas con bastante detalle, provocando que la novela se desarrolle en subidas y bajadas.
Siento que lo que hizo decaer la lectura de este libro fue el tener constantes puntos de vista, y el romance que se quiso desarrollar. A lo mejor si se quitara ese interés romántico, y se dosificaran las idas y venidas entre personajes, la novela hubiese fluido mejor, sin tantos altibajos.
April 30, 2025
Un romanzo emozionante e inquietante, una di quelle storie che ti tengono incollata alle pagine fino all'ultima rivelazione. L'autrice intreccia magistralmente mistero, terrore e magia autentica, creando un’atmosfera che oscilla tra il soprannaturale e il reale.
Siren McKay è un personaggio affascinante e complesso, con un passato oscuro che la perseguita. Il ritorno nella sua città natale, Cold Springs, è carico di tensione, e ogni pagina rivela nuovi segreti che si nascondono tra gli abitanti. La domanda che aleggia per tutta la storia "può davvero fidarsi di qualcuno?" mi ha accompagnata in un crescendo di suspense, con colpi di scena che mi hanno lasciata senza fiato.
Gli intrecci tra i personaggi sono intensi e carichi di ambiguità, dalla relazione instabile con Tanner e Billy alla presenza enigmatica di Lexi e Gemma. Ho adorato la profondità della narrazione, che riesce a catturare non solo il mistero e l'orrore, ma anche il senso di isolamento e paranoia che avvolge Siren.
Un romanzo imperdibile per chi ama il thriller con sfumature esoteriche e personaggi indimenticabili. Mi ha trascinata completamente nel suo mondo oscuro e misterioso.
Siren McKay è un personaggio affascinante e complesso, con un passato oscuro che la perseguita. Il ritorno nella sua città natale, Cold Springs, è carico di tensione, e ogni pagina rivela nuovi segreti che si nascondono tra gli abitanti. La domanda che aleggia per tutta la storia "può davvero fidarsi di qualcuno?" mi ha accompagnata in un crescendo di suspense, con colpi di scena che mi hanno lasciata senza fiato.
Gli intrecci tra i personaggi sono intensi e carichi di ambiguità, dalla relazione instabile con Tanner e Billy alla presenza enigmatica di Lexi e Gemma. Ho adorato la profondità della narrazione, che riesce a catturare non solo il mistero e l'orrore, ma anche il senso di isolamento e paranoia che avvolge Siren.
Un romanzo imperdibile per chi ama il thriller con sfumature esoteriche e personaggi indimenticabili. Mi ha trascinata completamente nel suo mondo oscuro e misterioso.
June 6, 2013
New York. Siren McKay, donna tenace dal passato misterioso, viene accusata di aver ucciso il proprio marito ma quando tutto sembra perduto, viene scagionata grazie all'intervento di un misterioso testimone. Decisa a rifarsi una vita ritorna a Cold Springs, la piccola cittadina della Pennsylvania in cui era nata e cresciuta. Questo luogo, tanto ostile quanto spietato, secondo un'antica leggenda fu abitato da una stirpe di streghe che fu massacrata dagli abitanti del villaggio. Siren, mentre un killer le dà la caccia, viene a conoscenza di tutti i segreti del suo passato e delle oscure maledizioni che avvelenano Cold Springs. "Le streghe di Cold Springs" è un thriller dove le streghe sono dalla parte dei "buoni", la stessa autrice del libro, Silver RavenWolf, è una vera sacerdotessa Wicca. Nel complesso è un romanzo carino anche se in alcuni punti risulta prevedibile e scontato.
April 12, 2014
Ci ho provato, ero curiosa di vedere come la leader di vari movimenti neo-pagani se la sarebbe cavata con un libro non didattico.
Ho resistito fino a oltre la metà, ma non sono riuscita ad andare oltre. Classica trama a la harmony, con eroina bistrattata, eroe pronto al salvataggio ed una misteriosa eredità spirituale che serve solo per incuriosire il lettore e portarlo ad approfondire la conoscenza del magico mondo della magia.
Peccato che il tutto sia così scontato da non necessitare di una prosecuzione della lettura.
Ho resistito fino a oltre la metà, ma non sono riuscita ad andare oltre. Classica trama a la harmony, con eroina bistrattata, eroe pronto al salvataggio ed una misteriosa eredità spirituale che serve solo per incuriosire il lettore e portarlo ad approfondire la conoscenza del magico mondo della magia.
Peccato che il tutto sia così scontato da non necessitare di una prosecuzione della lettura.
June 6, 2014
Ho la fortuna di avere questo libro a casa, personalmente l'ho trovato davvero interessante, è bello ritrovare riferimenti a riti e formule realmente esistenti e ricostruzioni fatte da una vera wiccan, ma sottoforma di romanzo che le rende più scorrevoli e contestualizzate.
Chi cerca libri sulle streghe dovrebbe senz'altro leggerlo.
Gli ho dedicato uno spazio anche sul mio blog per chi fosse curioso:
http://animanoirblog.wordpress.com/20...
Chi cerca libri sulle streghe dovrebbe senz'altro leggerlo.
Gli ho dedicato uno spazio anche sul mio blog per chi fosse curioso:
http://animanoirblog.wordpress.com/20...
April 14, 2008
Horrid horrid horrid. She needs to stick to nonfiction. Ugh, did I mention horrid?
January 27, 2011
This was well done
Read
July 30, 2012It has the potential of being a really good book. But it missed the boat.
April 8, 2013
I wrote a review of this book for ForeWord when I was a book reviewer there. The review can be found at: https://www.forewordreviews.com/revie...
Carolina
Carolina
July 18, 2013
Not bad for a novel from a non-fiction writer. I am not a huge fan of mysteries and so the witchcraft was the only thing keeping me turning pages.
November 15, 2013
Es la segunda vez que lo leo, y a mí me encanta, no puedo decir más, no se que tiene, que me gusta, me gusta y me gusta, y ya está.
September 29, 2015
It was fiction and a mindless read. I didn't mind that. Probably far better than her nonfiction stuff!
October 20, 2016
It is a great book to read
February 9, 2007
Sorry Silver...Novel ain't your thing:)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews