I’d just finished a very intense, if riveting read and wanted something I could relax and have a giggle with, when I saw this one pop up on my Kindle…
What’s a girl to do when she’s a broke, shunned ex-witch with a very tiny, very hungry bat familiar named Belfry to feed? Hello. My name is Stevie Cartwright, and I’ve been witchless for thirty days. If only there was a support group for down-on-their-luck ex-witches who’ve had their powers slapped right out of them (literally). Just as I was licking my wounds after returning to my hometown of Ebenezer Falls, WA, and navigating my suddenly non-magical existence with the help of my familiar, the only friend I have left in the world–things got sticky.
Poor old Steve, wh
o has a gift for helping ghosts adrift in the afterlife, got involved with helping a small scared boy with powerful angry parents, who didn’t want their domestic dirty linen to see the light of day. So she ends up witchless and down on her luck. While the writing is continually chirpy, the endless grind of struggling to make her dwindling savings go ever further came through very strongly. And if you were thinking ‘eww’ about the bat, frankly Belfry comes across more as a little ball of cotton than a nightmare creature with veined wings and repellently ugly face.
Then there’s the inevitable murder and Steve is discovered in the wrong place at the wrong time… Cassidy gets the pacing spot on in this short but perfectly formed whodunit. I like the fact there are two puzzles running alongside each other in this story – who killed poor Madame Zoltar and who – exactly – is Winterbottom? We find out by the end of this slice of the adventure why Madame Zoltar died and who was the murderer, but as for Winterbottom, Steve’s mysterious benefactor – nope. While there are a number of tantalising clues, we are left wondering exactly who he is and why he elected to assist Steve.
That’s fine, because it gives me an excuse to dive back into this entertaining series for more Steve Cartwright adventuring. Recommended for fans of paranormal cosy mysteries featuring a quirky, humorous protagonist.
8/10
Brainfluff 
This sounds like a bunch of fun! It’s nice to have a light, easy read once in a while, especially when you’ve just read something complex and heavy😁
Yes – I do enjoy whodunits anyway – but a well written SFF murder mystery is always a special joy:)
I’ve never tried a paranormal cozy mystery, but it sounds like fun! Thanks for another great recommendation.
You’re very welcome, Anne:)
While sometimes “light” reads don’t always meet my tastes, this one sounds very promising and with the right balance between fun and seriousness. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
OMG just the first sentences promise fun!!! But I don’t know how you can be an ex-witch…..LOL
Yes – that bit isn’t made very clear. But I didn’t let it worry me too much.
Dee light ful, lighthearted post. If I am in the mood for a lighthearted book, I’ll refer to this one. THANKS!
You’re very welcome, Rae:))
Probably not one for me but I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Lynn 😀
Thank you, Lynn:)
I hadn’t heard of this series before but it sounds like such a fun and unique read. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
It’s great fun, Suzanne. I’m hoping to read more of this series once I’ve trimmed down my TBR pile:)
What a quirky read! I think we all need that light-hearted fare to balance out the heavy stuff. 🙂
Exactly! That’s why I turned to it – and I’m very glad I did:))
I’m mesmerized by that cover! It’s so very…stylish? I guess would be the word? And the story sounds like fun one!
I thoroughly enjoyed it – great fun. It has also stuck in my memory, which doesn’t always happen…
This sounds like a fun story and series. We all need those every now and then. Nice review Sarah and you now have a series to go to when you need a laugh.
Yes – that’s exactly so:))
That sounds like a really fun read, but I couldn’t help and kept glancing at the cover… It doesn’t look standard for paranormal cozies, and it’s a huge turn off for me, both because of the genre it communicates (chick lit which I’m not the target of), and because of more artistic reasons. I know I shouldn’t judge the book by the cover, but it was distracting and discouraging me.
I guess, ultimately, I’ll end up passing with so many other books to read.
You’re right – the cover is different. It is more of a paranormal cosy, rather than a chicklit read, and even now I can bring the plot and the main character to mind, which is quite a feat:))