Yuletide Homicide

Attorney Keli Milanni is at it again. While preparing to celebrate the Wiccan Holiday Yuletide, a celebration of rebirth she finds another dead body. Only this time, she is the only one who thinks it’s homicide.

Keli has come out as Wiccan to her boyfriend, Wes. Stunningly enough, he doesn’t seem to have any issue with her beliefs and practices, she is feeling relieved and happy. When her boss gives her and her colleague Crenshaw a last-minute job just before the Christmas break, she is reluctant but digs in and gets started.

Crenshaw and Keli go undercover at a real estate company owned by mayoral candidate Edgar Harrison. Edgar is an old friend of Keli’s boss. Apparently, Harrison is being blackmailed. It’s up to her to find the culprit. As luck would have it, the morning after the company holiday party, she finds Harrison dead under a hotel Christmas tree. The police rule the death an accident, but Keli doesn’t think it was an accident and sets out to prove it.

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Series: A Wiccan Wheel Mystery – Book #3
Author: Jennifer David Hesse
Genre: Paranormal/Witch Cozy
Publisher: Kensington Books

Rating:

Yuletide Homicide is the third book in the “A Wiccan Wheel Mystery” series. The new book offers a great story with lots of colorful characters and locations. Jennifer David Hesse has crafted characters that are charming, witty, full of vitality, well-rounded, and easily relatable.

Keli is an unusual person; not only is she a practicing attorney; she is also a practicing Wiccan. Her normal routine of solo practicing has its ups and downs, mainly when she needs help solving a crime. That is when she calls on her friends, and fellow Wiccan, Mila. Mila is a perfect example of the type of people Keli needs in her life.

The characters of Farrah and Wes are equally crucial in Keli’s life. Farrah is always willing to jump in and help Keli with an investigation. While Wes is protective and supportive even when he is worried that Keli is getting involved in dangerous situations.

Although this book is an excellent addition to the series, it would have been nice if Mila and the other coven members had played a bigger role in helping Keli with her investigation. Also, Keli’s aversion to being involved with a coven, although not uncommon, is getting to be a bit much without any real explanation. Her interactions with the coven would enhance the story and series. The returning characters are interesting and evolving, but overall, the story could benefit from bringing in new characters that would make the story even more enjoyable for the long term.

The unmasking of the killer and the motive are original. All the readers’ questions are answered, and most will not guess who the killer is until the end of the book. Readers may have some trouble picking up the clues as to the murderer’s identification but not so difficult as to make the ending unbelievable.

This is a well written and entertaining book. Yuletide Homicide will keep the reader on the edge of their seat with twists and turns while anxiously waiting to turn the page to find out what happens next. This book and series are highly recommended to anyone who enjoys their mystery with a touch of magic.