A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison Narrator: Emily Durante
Series: Enchanted Bay Mystery #1
Published by Dreamscape Media on May 12, 2020
Source: Purchased
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
Length: 10 hrs 1 min
Pages: 336
Format: Audiobook
Purchase at Bookshop.org or Audible
Add on Goodreads
Alexandra Daniels hasn't set foot in the quiet seaside town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina in over twenty years. Ever since her mother's tragic death, her father has mysteriously forbidden her from visiting her aunt and cousins. But on a whim, Alex accepts an invitation to visit her estranged relatives and to help them in their family business: an herbal apothecary known for its remarkably potent teas, salves, and folk remedies.
Bellamy Bay doesn't look like trouble, but this is a town that harbors dark secrets. Alex discovers that her own family is at the center of salacious town gossip, and that they are rumored to be magical healers descended from mermaids. She brushes this off as nonsense until a local is poisoned and her aunt Lidia is arrested for the crime. Alex is certain Lidia is being framed, and she resolves to find out why.
Alex's investigation unearths stories that some have gone to desperate lengths to conceal: forbidden affairs, family rivalries, and the truth about Alex's own ancestry. And when the case turns deadly, Alex learns that not only are these secrets worth hiding, but they may even be worth killing for.
A Spell for Trouble is the first in the Enchanted Bay Mystery series featuring former risk assessor, Alex Daniels. After quitting her job in New York, Alex accepts an offer to visit her Bellamy Bay relatives whom she hasn’t seen in many years. Alex is welcomed into the family with open arms and soon joins her Aunt Lidia and cousin, Minka, working at their apothecary shop. But when a troublesome customer is found dead, Lidia is arrested for the murder. Alex is determined to find out who the killer is and prove Lidia’s innocence.
Bellamy Bay is a wonderful oceanside setting and the characters are charming. I loved how the author incorporated Alex’s family’s Polish heritage into the story. The magic was woven into the plot well and it was nice to learn about how the magic worked and the rules around it along with Alex.
A Spell for Trouble was fun. The killer wasn’t a surprise, but getting there was entertaining. I question Alex’s taste in men and she makes some not advisable decisions, but overall I enjoyed the book.
About Esme Addison
Ever since Esme discovered Nancy Drew, she’s wanted to solve mysteries. As a mystery author, she’s finally found a way to make that dream come true. Esme lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband and three boys. When she’s
not writing, you can find her visiting B&Bs, breweries, wineries, and historical sites.
Esme is a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers.
New follower from Coyer 🙂
A Spell for Trouble sounds like an okay book. I like how they weave the Polish ancestry in there.
Thanks for stopping by!
I enjoyed it for the most part, even though some things annoyed me.