A Spell For Trouble
Aleksandra Daniels hasn’t set foot in the quiet seaside town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina, in over twenty years. Ever since her mother’s tragic death, her father has mysteriously forbidden her from visiting her aunt and cousins. But on a whim, Alex accepts an invitation to visit her estranged relatives and to help them in their family business: an herbal apothecary known for its remarkably potent teas, salves, and folk remedies.
Bellamy Bay doesn’t look like trouble, but this is a town that harbors dark secrets. Alex discovers that her own family is at the center of salacious town gossip and that they are rumored to be magical healers descended from mermaids. She brushes this off as nonsense until a local is poisoned, and her aunt Lidia is arrested for the crime. Alex is certain Lidia is being framed, and she resolves to find out why.
Alex’s investigation unearths stories that some have gone to desperate lengths to conceal: forbidden affairs, family rivalries, and the truth about Alex’s ancestry. And when the case turns deadly, Alex learns that not only are these secrets worth hiding, but they may even be worth killing for.
Series: An Enchanted Bay Mystery – Book #1
Author: Esme Addison
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Witch
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Page Count: 331
Rating: 
A new witch series “An Enchanted Bay Mystery” from Crooked Lane Books A Spell For Trouble is the debut cozy for author Esme Addison.
Characters in this book are somewhat eccentric and unique. Alex seems to be a bit on the distrustful side, and she takes some warming up too in order to truly be likable. After the first half of the story, readers will begin to enjoy Alex and get to know her. The fact that her personality evolves throughout this book is an excellent indicator of what she will become as other volumes are added to the series. Lidia is a beautiful character; she has depth and substance already and is easily understood. Alex’s cousins are complete opposites from each other, and from Alex, this works in the author’s favor. The characters will grow over time, but for now, they will hold the reader’s interest.
The setting of Bellamy Bay is enchanting. I hope we get to learn more about the town and the secret witch world that plays such an intricate part in this first book. The mermaid aspect of this story was a bit hard for me to enjoy. It seems a bit outdated and runs the risk of being too unbelievable. Hopefully, the author will give us more detail and bring the mermaid myth out of the stone age and into the 21st century.
The victim was common and ordinary in so far as not deserving what befell him. All of the suspects and there are enough to keep the mystery alive; even the witch ones are intriguing; all are easily believable with motives that can and should be interesting to most readers. The resolution of the crime is fraught with twists and turns and takes readers on a journey worth their time. I knew who the killer was almost as soon as the character was introduced, which made it difficult to continue reading to the end.
I found some aspects of A Spell For Trouble a bit too common, and other elements too far fetched. I found having a love interest and possibly a triangle this early in the series distasteful and not within the personality the author established at the beginning of the book for Alex’s character. The witchcraft aspects could have been done better; it seemed a bit hokey. I want to read the next installment if for no other reason than to find out more about Alex’s cat, Athenia and Aunt Lidia. Overall this was a good beginning in a new witch based cozy series that has potential and room to improve.
Other witch based cozies readers enjoy are Morgana Best’s highly entertaining “Vampires and Wine” or Delia James‘ delightful “A Witch’s Cat Mystery”.
About the Author:
Ever since Esme discovered Nancy Drew, she’s wanted to solve mysteries. As a mystery author, she’s finally found a way to make that dream come true. A former military spouse, Esme lives in Raleigh, NC with her family. When she’s not writing or dreaming up new mysteries for her sleuths to stumble upon, you can find her dancing her calories away in Zumba, patronizing her local bookstores or visiting the beach, the mountains and all historical sites in between.
Contact Esme: https://esmeaddison.com/contact/
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