A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison is the first book in the NEW “Enchanted Bay” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Crooked Lane Books, coming May 12, 2020.
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 own 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.
Dru’s Musing:
This was a fun and enjoyable light-hearted and fresh new drama that grabbed my attention from the first page to the last. Alex is at sorts in the big city, so she travels to the small town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina and that is where this story take place.
I like how this story was presented with the introduction of the various characters that all have pivotal roles as this multi-arc story unfolds. The mystery was nicely done with suspects aplenty and clues spliced throughout the telling of this tale. When her aunt is the only suspect, Alex takes it upon herself to investigate butting heads with the local detective and with the town’s secret that some desperately want to keep hidden. It is those interactions with the characters that propelled this drama and I enjoyed watching it all play out as one by one, uncovered secrets take center stage as the identity of the killer led to a frenzy fight to the finish. The author did a great job in telling this tale that boasted a quirky cast of characters, engaging dialogue and a small-town atmosphere. I can’t wait to read the next book in this delightfully charming series.
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FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.