Hello my cozy friends,
Today I am reviewing “ Cold Cases and Haunted Places: A Halloween Anthology” by 14 amazing authors. Some authors are new to me and others are old friends. What a great read to get ready for Halloween! A terrific collection of varying stories involving Witches, Ghosts, Reapers and their Familiars.
Feel that chill in the air? It's the most haunted time of the year, and these quirky mysteries need solving…
Sometimes you have to dig up the past, even if it's six-feet under. Solve cold cases, visit haunted locations, and investigate ancient legends in this spooktacular collection of paranormal cozy mystery short stories from your favorite witchy authors. And just in time for Halloween!
Anthology includes stories from:
Amorette Anderson, Sam Cheever, J.L. Collins, Cate Dean, Erin Johnson, Shéa MacLeod, Mona Marple, Nova Nelson, Summer Prescott, Rebecca Regnier, Trixie Silvertale, Lotta Smith, Lily Webb, and Kirsten Weiss.
Haunted Tours & Evildoers
Baking witch, Imogen Banks, and her friends are celebrating Halloween with a haunted tour of the magical island of Bijou Mer. But when one of their party gives up the ghost, the tour participants all become suspects. Can Imogen catch the killer, or will this murder turn into another of the island's unsolved mysteries?
I hadn’t read any of the books previously but I enjoyed this short story about the haunted sewer tour set on the magical island of Bijou Mer. Imogen was interesting, I’m intrigued by her princely beau, and her assorted friends. I can’t wait to read Spells & Caramels series by Erin Johnson.
Reaper Madness by by Nova Nelson
Ted adores his job as Eastwind's reaper. However, a recent dearth of death has him feeling like a spare part. But when the next person passes and he goes to collect her soul, he makes a grim discovery: there's no soul to be found. Can Ted find what's lost in time to avoid a public panic?
I have not read any of the Eastwind’s magical mysteries before but I was pleasantly surprised by this story and now plan to read them.
Bohemian to the Bone by Amorette Anderson
It's Halloween in Hillcrest, and Marley and her witch sisters are planning a party! While digging through decorations, Marley uncovers a puzzling clue. Could it lead to answers about one of the town's most intriguing cold cases?
It was fun to solve a 50 year old cold case with Marley and Penny. I haven’t read any of the Hillcrest Witch Cozy Mysteries before but I will now.
Yesterday’s Fears by Sam Cheever
Some people are willing to kill to keep their sins hidden. Others are willing to die to expose them. When one of Pastor Frederick's parishioners is targeted by a killer, their only hope might come from the ether. And the good pastor knows just the ghost who can help.
I enjoyed this mystery with the ghost Joss who protects Anna. I’m not sure if I have read one of the Yesterday’s Paranormal Mysteries before or not but it was very entertaining.
Charms and Charges by Lily Webb
I am a huge fan of this series and love the protagonist Zoe Clarke! I was super excited to read this short by Lily Webb as it’s been a few months since I visited Moon Grove NC.
In this book magical sleuth Zoe Clarke unknowingly buys Adeline Craft's necklace from a paranormal pawnshop. When the necklace brings Zoe new clues of Adelines disappearance from the beyond, can she solve the case, or will she be next to disappear?
Wicked in the Water by Lotta Smith
Take a look at Mandy's high school days! A looong time before she joins the FBI's Paranormal Cases Division, Mandy and her BFF Katie go on a Halloween double date—to a haunted swamp. A little fright will help ignite romance, right? Except, there's far more lurking in the water.
Druid by Kirsten Weiss
All witch Jayce Bonheim wants is to scare up business for her coffeeshop at PaganCon. But then a druid in distress asks her for help, and the conference turns into a setup for murder. Can Jayce unveil a killer and stop an evil fey before her time runs out?
Ghosts & Bad Toasts by Trixie Silvertale
A haunted asylum. A twisted legend. Can this psychic sleuth save the Halloween partygoers? Mitzy Moon wants to unwind and celebrate, but the spirit world has other plans. If she and her ghostly Grams can't solve the mystery of Great Lakes Haven, her mischief night treats could play deadly tricks!
Murder He Wrote? by Mona Marple
When town medium Connie convinces her spirit sister Sage to spend Halloween at a talk by her favourite author, she has no idea that he's the prime suspect in the murder of his former co-writer. With no shortage of motive, can Connie clear the name of her beloved author, or will there be a plot twist?
Change in the Tide by Cate Dean
When Maggie finds an old compass among her aunt’s latest estate purchases, her best friend Spencer recognizes it right away ~ along with the unsolved murder attached to it. Their investigation leads them to a shipwreck, and a stranger who will do whatever it takes to keep them from discovering the truth.
Charming Chalice by Summer Prescott
Chalice, the long-suffering feline familiar, has been saddled with Winslow, the Winsome Witch, who really needs to practice her spells, before she actually has to use them. Time becomes an issue when Chalice sniffs out a murder on his daily jaunt. Can Winslow rise to the occasion and solve the case?
Hush Magic by J.L. Collins
Indie Warren is a reluctant but powerful witch on a mission. When the animal familiars of Charming Springs lose their mystical magic, they also lose their ability to speak. Will Indie and her feathered friend Goldie help them find their voices? Or will this hush magic keep them silent forever?
Alchemy, Arsenic & Alibis by Shéa MacLeod
Deepwood is a cozy town, but every town has its secrets. As a witch, Edwina Gale has been tasked with keeping those secrets. But all her carefully laid plans unravel when the sheriff blackmails her into helping him solve a mystery, and she finds herself on the wrong end of magic gone awry.
Girls Fright Out by Rebecca Regnier
Marzie Nowak and her empty nest coven booked the perfect girls weekend at a charming B&B. But instead of spa treatments and relaxation, they're terrorized by haunted rooms and an ancient mystery. When the B&B owner disappears the witches need to solve the case and salvage their girls night out!
I would recommend this Halloween Anthology to all my friends that enjoy cozy mysteries. I am looking forward to the next one that comes out!
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.