A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “A Spell for Trouble” by Esme Addison the first instalment in the "An Enchanted Bay Mystery".  What a great start to a new paranormal cozy mystery series.

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.

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it over 2 days. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises.  I love that it included mermaids, witches and a fur baby .  The setting of Bellamy Bay was no e too.  I a sucker for a cozy set in North Carolina, I can see this series becoming a favourite.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed.  The story about Alex's mom seems to be one that might be an intricate part of the series.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends. I am looking forward to book two. 

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

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