SWEET TEA WITCH MYSTERIES: SOUTHERN MAGIC by Amy Boyles

Fiction, Paranormal Cozy Mystery, 178 pages

4****

Burb: If only takes a second for life to go to heck-in-a-hand-basket!  In less than twenty-four hours Pepper Dunn loses her job, her boyfriend, and her home. It’s the worst day of her life. But when Pepper discovers she’s a witch and has inherited the most important store in the magical town of Magnolia Cove, Alabama, she’s as happy as a pig in mud. Too bad the shop is a familiar pet store and Pepper doesn’t like animals—not even a teensy bit. Determined to sell the shop and get the heck out of town, Pepper’s plans go haywire when a local storeowner winds up dead and Pepper gets accused of murder. Thrust into a magical mystery, Pepper teams up with a mysterious private detective and a cat so traumatized by the murder that she’s not talking—and that cat could hold the key to Pepper’s innocence. Now Pepper must avoid trouble, solve the mystery, and placate her new grandmother, who keeps a strict ten p.m. curfew that’s enforced by the talking end of her shotgun. Sounds like a simple day in the life—as if. Can Pepper solve the murder or will she become the next victim of the Magnolia Cove murderer? And most importantly, will Pepper learn to love the animals she’s in charge of? 

Thoughts: This is the first book in a series of paranormal cozy mysteries. The main character, Pepper, is positively perfect in that she has the worst luck possible. In one day, she loses her job, her roommate kicks her out, and her boyfriend basically dumps her. Oh, and her car dies. But she manages to get to the twon of Magnolia Cove where her mother’s family is from. And she meets her quirky grandmother (who wields a mean shotgun), her two cousins (who help her get her first flying frying pan – no brooms for these witches!), and learns to talk to animals. All while she’s under suspicion of murdering a fellow shopkeeper. Oh, and she meets a hunky PI who has secrets of his own. This is a fun, quirky paranormal mystery. The only thing I had a slight problem with – and it is minor – but Pepper claims (and shows us) rather vehemently that she is allergic to animals. And yet, she takes on a kitten and an entire pet shop with no problems at all. Still, I enjoyed the story and look forward to more of the books in the series.

Recommendations: recommended.

Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions here are my own and are not influenced by anyone or anything. I was not required to leave a review of this book.