TITLE: Witch Way To Murder
AUTHOR: Shirley Damsgaard
SERIES: Yes this is the first book in the Ophelia and Abby Mysteries
REASON FOR READING:
This author will be attending RAW and in my insane quest to read at least 1 book by each author her number came up. J
SUMMARY: (from Goodreads)
Thirty-something Ophelia Jensen wants to live a quiet life as a small town librarian. She’s created a comfortable existence with her kooky, colorful grandmother Abby, and if it were up to her, they could live out their days––along with Ophelia’s dog Lady and cat Queenie––in peace and quiet. But, to Ophelia’s dismay, she and Abby aren’t a typical grandmother/granddaughter duo. She possesses psychic powers, and Abby is a kindly witch. And while Ophelia would do anything to dismiss her gift––harboring terrible guilt after her best friend was killed and she was unable to stop it––threatening events keep popping up, forcing her to tap into her powers of intuition. To make matters worse, a strange––yet devastatingly attractive––man is hanging around Ophelia’s library, and no matter how many times she tells him she’s sworn off men forever, he persists. Soon this handsome newcomer reveals he’s following a lead on a local drug ring, and then a dead body shows up right in Abby’s backyard. And much as Ophelia would like to put away her spells forever, she and Abby must use their special powers to keep themselves, and others, out of harm’s way.
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Ophelia is a librarian in a small town in Iowa. She’s pretty much shut herself off from everyone except her grandmother because of an event that happened 4 years prior and made her question her sanity.
Enter Rick Davis who comes to town saying he’s a chemical salesman but is asking a ton of questions of everyone, including Ophelia. Ophelia doesn’t trust Rick and although she thinks he’s incredibly handsome she pretty much knows from the start that Rick is not who or what he says he is. Despite that fact she finds herself semi-attracted to him in a strange way.
Unfortunately a murder happens in town and as much as Ophelia tries to stay out of everything she, her library assistant Darci and Rick kind of get swept into it. Ophelia finds herself doing things she’s never done before and making friends that she’s long denied herself in the process.
As much as this book was a mystery it was almost a self discovery for Ophelia. She found out that keeping people from you isn’t good for your soul. She made a few friends and accepted the fact that she has these psychic powers that she needs to learn to control. I liked Ophelia, as crochety as she was at first she really became a person I would love to have as a friend. (during the first scene in the book she was wearing a t-shirt that said: Tact is for people not witty enough to use sarcasm. I love that!)
I very much enjoyed the book and will eventually look into reading the other 4 books that are currently out in the series. Ms. Damsgaard 6th book in the series The Witch’s Grave is set to release December 28, 2008
She was new to me but I would definitely read her again…Because although Rick and Ophelia weren’t right for each other in the romance department I’m looking forward to seeing if there are any further love interests in the other books. I’m such a die hard romantic!
Are you keeping it or passing it on?
I’ll pass it on
Score: 3 out of 5
Sounds like a cute read. I have a thing for stories with librarians who break out of their boring mold and either became investigator extraordinares or sex nymphos. 😛
It was cute and as I said I’ll probably be checking out further books to see if Ophelia ever falls in love.
Ophelia did break out of her mold but dammit, didn’t turn into the sex nympho! lol I kept waiting for it.
OH, wow, you’re going to RAW on Friday! I can’t wait to hear how it is. This Witch mystery series sounds fun. I like librarians, too! Maybe when you see this author at RAW you can make some suggestions, in the sex department.
LOL CJ! Yep I’ll do it. 🙂