Date published: August 2005
ISBN: 978-0-06-079348-7
Cozy Mystery with Paranormal overtones
Paperback
Reviewed by Gina
Like her mother, Ophelia Jensen would like to leave a part of her family heritage behind. Unlike her mother, however, Ophelia possesses the skills and powers of that Appalachian/witch heritage. Upset and angry over the one time she relied on those skills and how they failed her, Ophelia has done all she can to leave that part of her life behind. Moving back to Summerset with her dog Lady and cat Queenie, she has buried herself in the safe cocoon of a librarian. Living near her beloved grandmother, Abby and a smidge of vicarious living through her co-worker, the town gossip Darci, Ophelia has come a long way in the healing process following the death of her best friend, Brian. She still blames herself and that her powers couldn’t save him, but she’s gotten back the equilibrium of her life. Until chemical salesman Rick Davis walked into the library and begins to dog her every step. Peppering her with questions about her grandmother, Abby and poking into everyone else’s business Ophelia’s cool begins to crumble. The man asks questions non-stop and it seems every time she turns around, he’s underfoot. It doesn’t help when Abby decides she wants to meet the man Ophelia tries to keep away from her witchy grandmother.
Despite her best efforts to dampen her psychic skills, Ophelia begins to have more and more dreams. Faces and emotions flood into her life along with Rick Davis. At first the idea of trusting Rick is so appalling Ophelia cannot fathom what would possess her grandmother to suggest she do so. It isn’t until she is on the prowl for some answers and Rick is clobbered that she realizes maybe he is one of the good guys. And, it’s appearing the quiet little town of Sommerset has more going on under the surface that Ophelia could ever have anticipated.
WITCH WAY TO MURDER is the first of the Ophelia and Abby cozy mystery series by Shirley Damsgaard and it hooked me from page one. With a great blend of a mystery and the paranormal with some well placed humor and comedic moments courtesy of Darci and the hint of romance, this book keeps the reader turning the pages wondering what will happen next. Ophelia’s dilemma of tamping down her psychic abilities while at the same time recognizing her need and at times desire, to use them, is well done. The reader has a strong sense of just what that push-me-pull-me set of emotions feels like. Abby is the kind of grandmother we’d all like to have, except when she’s telling us what we don’t want to hear—in Ophelia’s case, to learn to use her abilities. The chemistry between Ophelia and Rick is great and I hope in future books we see more of their almost-there romantic fencing. They had just the right amount of spice to make the mystery even better. Actually, make that mysteries because Ms. Damsgaard offers a marvelous blend of several braided into a fabulous read.
While Lady, the dog was fun and added to the story, it was Queenie, the cat I really enjoyed. More likely than not it is because I’m a cat person and Ms. Damsgaard hit the nail on the head with Queenie’s behaviors.
There were times at the beginning of the story, especially around Brian’s death, I felt like I’d landed in the middle of the book. So much so I re-checked the others in the series to be sure I’d started with book 1.
There is some excellent humor around Darci’s role as the town gossip and when other sides of her personality are revealed it is well done. The mystery is nicely done because you want to point the finger at some characters and are sure others aren’t involved only to find out you are completely off the path.
As a bibliophile myself, I admit to a bit of envy that Ophelia works in a library and I look forward to more of this series.
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