by Danielle Garrett
Series: Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery #1
Narrator: Amanda Ronconi
Length: 6 hours and 48 minutes
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Narration: 4.5 cups
Holly Boldt has a secret.
Well, technically, she has lots of them. After a scandal uproots her entire life, she is forced to relocate to a halfway house for displaced paranormals. It’s her last shot for a fresh start. But keeping secrets isn’t easy in a town that goes through gossip faster than tissue paper, even for a powerful witch.
When a grisly murder rocks the small town of Beechwood Harbor, Holly finds herself unwillingly entangled in the investigation. With everyone watching, Holly must solve the case before she’s forced to abandon her new-found home and live life as a witch on the run. But with a paranormal investigator tailing her every move, a civil war brewing between her vampire and shifter roommates, and her ghostly landlord on the edge of a breakdown, she can barely think in complete sentences. How is she supposed to track down a murderer?
Holly has to make it work, or risk losing everything … again.
Murder’s a Witch is a cozy witch mystery with a spunky twist. Come see what’s brewing in Beechwood Harbor in this first installment of The Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries Series.
Murder’s a Witch by Danielle Garrett is the first book in the cozy paranormal mystery series Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries. I was in the mood for something witchy, and this looked fun. Narrated by Amanda Ronconi, Garrett delivered an entertaining murder-mystery featuring a halfway house for displaced paranormals.
Holly Bolt, a potions witch is given one last chance for a fresh start and is residing in a halfway house, run by a ghost for paranormals. She lives with a shifter wolf, vampire and a strange man on the third floor who keeps odd hours. The manor is situated in the quiet town of Beechwood Harbor where Holly works fulltime as a barista.
The story that unfolds was an interesting one and begins with a man sneaking around their house. She confronts him, and he claims to be interested in hosting haunted tours in her home. Holly begins to worry its something more. Before she even has time to contemplate what he is up to, she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigating, and her fellow employee is the prime suspect. She vows to clear her friend’s name but must tread carefully, or she’ll soon find herself in trouble with the paranormal community. To complicate matters the ghostly owner of their home is depressed, and the wolf and vampire are fighting.
Garrett did a fantastic job of introducing us to our heroine and key secondary characters while delighting us with a murder-mystery. Twists, suspects and paranormal complications kept me engaged. The town has all the charm one would expect in a small-town and the downside too, like nosey neighbors and town gossips. The murder is the talk of the town.
I love the premise of the halfway house, and we learn a little about the hierarchy in the paranormal world and the agency that monitors these displaced paranormals. I like that the supernatural world lives side-by-side in secret with humans.
This series has five published books out, and all have four plus stars on Goodreads. I am delighted to see them beginning to publish in audio format. Amanda Ronconi was the perfect choice to narrate. She captures Holly, the humor and the suspense of the story.
Murder’s a Witch was a delightful start to the Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries, and I look forward to my next adventure with Holly Bolt.
Tantor Audio brings the Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries to life with the voice of Amanda Ronconi, Murder's A Witch by Danielle Garrett delivered a murder-mystery featuring a halfway house for displaced paranormals. #iloveaudiobooks Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Stefanie
Ah…witches…so dear to my heart. I’ll be checking this series out. It sounds so much more series and intense that a cozy?
Kimberly
I had fun with it and hope you do as well Stefanie.
Stormi Johnson
The narrator alone makes me want this one!! 🙂 So it’s a win win when it sounds good too! 🙂
Kimberly
Hehe. Yes, she did an excellent job 🙂
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
I haven’t heard of this one but it sounds like a book I need to read! I’ve heard Amanda Ronconi is amazing. So this sounds like the perfect combination.
Kimberly
I enjoy her narrations and this was a good match.
Tanya @ Rantings of a Reading Addict
Oh this one sounds like a lot of fun, and Amando Ronconi narrating is definitely a plus!
Kimberly
Agreed Tanya 🙂
Melanie Simmons
I grabbed this book because of Amanda Ronconi. She was perfect for this book. I can’t imagine a better narrator for this story. I will be eager to see more books in this series on audio too. Great review.
Kimberly
Yay. I am glad you enjoyed this as well Meliane
danieal ark
Cozy mysteries is one genre I really want to start reading. I love that there are often witches characters! Love witches! And a hierarchy in the paranormal world?? never read about that! How interesting!
Kimberly
I’ve been mixing them in again and enjoying myself.
Carole @ Carole's Random Life in Books
This sounds like a whole lot of fun and I love Ronconi as a narrator. Glad you enjoyed this one, Kimberly!
Kimberly
It was, and I look forward to the next audio!
Lorna
Amanda Ronconi would be a big reason to get this on audio. This sounds like a really fun listen! Glad you enjoyed your time with it!
Kimberly
She was perfect for this story.
Angela Adams
Catchy cover. Thanks for the post.
Kimberly
You are welcome Angela 🙂
Barbara Strickland
Love the title
Kimberly
It is catchy!
sherry fundin
Title made me smile. Sounds like one for me.
Kimberly
It was a fun one Sherry and I think you’ll enjoy the paranormal elements.
Sophie
I’ve never read cozy mysteries so far contemporary or PNR but I see so many loving the genre. This one is really tempting Kimberly 😉
Kimberly
With the PNR element, this is a good one to try Sophie.
Lily
I love mysterious like these, they are so delightful!
Kimberly
Right. I had fun with this.
Sophia Rose
I already had my eye on this one, but yay, good to know that its as good as it looks from the blurb. I didn’t realize Amanda Ranconi narrated and I like her work. So doubly good stuff here. 🙂
Kimberly
Sweet and yes I enjoy Amanda’s narrations
Angela @ Angel's Guilty Pleasures
This was a fun story to read. I enjoyed it. I haven’t tried the audio. I’m glad to see you liked it.
Kimberly
Glad to see you liked it too Angela, I am looking forward to the next audio.
Mary Kirkland
A paranormal mystery sounds like fun.
ShootingStarsMag
Ooh sounds like a fun read! I do love cozy mysteries, and I’m not sure I’ve ever read a paranormal one. 🙂
-Lauren
Kimberly
I loved the combination,
Debbie Haupt
This sounds delightful and I love the play on words too
Kimberly
It was a fun one and I look forward to the next.
Blodeuedd
I should try another audio cozy 🙂
Kimberly
They are fun, quick listens 🙂
Nadene
Paranormal and mystery a great combination. This would make for a fun read, so I see why you enjoyed it. 🙂
Mary
I love the title to this one. I love that its a paranormal mystery. Do you have audible? Is that where you get all your audio books from? I don’t have it. I need the actual discs for my car. I really don’t listen to audio books on my pc. Maybe I should. This one tho, I would like to read. I just love that its a paranormal mystery. So you get the weird and the mystery.
Thanks for your review!
Kimberly
I receive copies from publishers for review, I am a member of Audible and other audiobook sites. However, the Amazon Kindle edition is 99 cents. I listen using my smartphone or Kindle Oasis.
Melliane
Oh I always have so much fun with books like that and I confess that it’s a new one to me!
Kimberly
This was fun and I am excited to see what happens next.