Date Published: March 2006
ISBN: 978-0-06-079353-1
Cozy Mystery with Paranormal overtones
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Gina
On the heels of solving her first murder and beginning to come to terms with her heritage and psychic abilities, Ophelia Jensen finally begins to join the world of the truly living. Making friends, having fun, slowing but surely healing from the death of her best friend, Brian five years before. While she and Rick Davis (Delaney) communicate on and off, the reporter has returned to his life in the big city. All is well and life is smooth. Well almost.
Grandmother Abby is in the middle of trying to block a hogging operation from moving into Summerset. In fact, almost everyone in town is against the big business putting down roots near the town. In between demonstrating against the corporation, Abby maintains her business and lessons with Ophelia. When Ophelia and Darci leave town for a few days to attend a librarians conference, Abby encourages her granddaughter to look into Brian’s murder. Maybe now she will find the answers she seeks. On a break in the conference activities, Ophelia ventures to the police department, at first relieved that nemesis Henry Comacho has moved on, only to find out he’s still involved in finding Brian’s murderer.
Five years ago Comacho questioned Ophelia over and over about the murder, certain she was hiding something. Although what she was hiding wasn’t quite what he expected, he once again begins his pursuit into her secrets. When Ophelia ends up in the middle of another murder investigation he is more certain than ever she knows more than she is saying.
CHARMED TO DEATH is the second book in the Ophelia and Abby mystery series by Shirley Damsgaard. It is a delight to see changes and growth in characters from book to book. In CHARMED TO DEATH it is not only Ophelia whose character is a bit stronger and more self-confident. Abby as well has some changes including a romantic relationship that may or may not make up for what appears to be a decline in her psychic abilities. Lady and Queenie are back but not as present in this book as they were in WITCH WAY TO MURDER. As an animal person I enjoy books that show them in their natural element and behaving true to their species. Ms. Damsgaard has it down pat including how they act and react during a thunder storm. What makes the storm intriguing is what Ophelia sees in a flash of lightening. A great touch.
Comacho is compelling. As a character I felt quite drawn to him and wanted to see a bit of a romantic connection between him and Ophelia although what he offers her at the end of CHARMED TO DEATH has endless possibilities for future investigations that I cannot wait to dig in to.
It was pretty clear to me who the villain was from just about the moment he was introduced. I kept trying to pretend it wasn’t this character so that I could stay involved in the story and try to solve the crime with Ophelia, but it didn't work. The way his twisted reasoning unfolds is interesting and pretty true to form. It was done fairly well, there just wasn’t much suspense.
This is one of those series with unlimited potential and it appears Ms. Damsgaard is more than up to the challenge.
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