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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The basic mystery is fairly straightforward to the attentive reader. If you pay attention figuring out who is the murderer doesn't require any knowledge outside of what's presented.
As the book and series titles imply, though, there is also a magical element. Josie, like Katie Lightfoot of the Magical Bakery mystery series, doesn't know she's a witch at the start of series. She comes into this knowledge and meets her familiar over the course of solving the murder and saving the library. Her magic and how it relates to books and mystery solving is similar to Violet's in the Magical Bookshop mystery series, but ultimately more nuanced and less dependent on regularly timed rituals.
As the book and series titles imply, though, there is also a magical element. Josie, like Katie Lightfoot of the Magical Bakery mystery series, doesn't know she's a witch at the start of series. She comes into this knowledge and meets her familiar over the course of solving the murder and saving the library. Her magic and how it relates to books and mystery solving is similar to Violet's in the Magical Bookshop mystery series, but ultimately more nuanced and less dependent on regularly timed rituals.
There are cozy mysteries that have the standard formula of interesting newcomer solving mysteries, and then there are those with actual magic woven (or in some cases thrown) in. I have not been a fan of many with the magic angle and not had much luck with them, but every once in a while when I see the start of a new series I give in to an impulse and decide to pick it up.
This time around (as you might have guessed from the elaborate introduction), I liked the magical addition. We have Josie Way, who has taken up a job as a Librarian in a small town in order to hide from people who mean her harm. She loves books and thinks this will be a comfortable hiding place, but things immediately start to get more complicated. First, there is the fact that the library is being contested and up to be converted to a retreat centre (my only doubt throughout was why could the retreat centre not have a library?) then there is the fact that a woman was found dead behind the library the very next day after her arrival. To top it all Josie is 'communicating' with books like she never has before, in an almost unbelievable way - until the most apparent explanation makes sense. You have to be okay with magical realism in your books for this part to be digested. It is introduced slowly and made into a substantial backbone for the narrative, so I personally had no complaints.
The investigation and the mingling of the different characters in town were entertaining and set a pretty good foundation for the series as a whole. I did not see the twist coming because it was placed in a completely different position in the book that I am used to. I liked the way things tied up and the narrative voice(s).
I look forward to revisiting their town soon.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
This time around (as you might have guessed from the elaborate introduction), I liked the magical addition. We have Josie Way, who has taken up a job as a Librarian in a small town in order to hide from people who mean her harm. She loves books and thinks this will be a comfortable hiding place, but things immediately start to get more complicated. First, there is the fact that the library is being contested and up to be converted to a retreat centre (my only doubt throughout was why could the retreat centre not have a library?) then there is the fact that a woman was found dead behind the library the very next day after her arrival. To top it all Josie is 'communicating' with books like she never has before, in an almost unbelievable way - until the most apparent explanation makes sense. You have to be okay with magical realism in your books for this part to be digested. It is introduced slowly and made into a substantial backbone for the narrative, so I personally had no complaints.
The investigation and the mingling of the different characters in town were entertaining and set a pretty good foundation for the series as a whole. I did not see the twist coming because it was placed in a completely different position in the book that I am used to. I liked the way things tied up and the narrative voice(s).
I look forward to revisiting their town soon.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
mysterious
tense
Bait and Witch is the first book in a new cozy mystery series and I am so glad because I need more right away!
Josie has loved books as long as she can remember. So much so, she got a librarian’s dream job at the Library of Congress. Then one day, she overhears a shady deal being with the Senator’s chief of staff. After Josie takes the information up the chain of command, she doesn’t feel safe and flees to small-town Oregon for a librarian job.
Upon her arrival, Josie stumbles upon a dead body in the woods and fears she has been found. Not only does Josie have to deal with that fear, she also just found out the library is on the verge of being sold.
I loved the small-town setting of this book. Books, a cat, a witch, it pretty much has everything I would ask for. I enjoyed trying to figure out who was guilty of murder and who in the town I could trust in general.
The little side stories of the townspeople added a nice touch to the book. It really helped bring the town of Wilfred to life.
I would have liked more information about Rodney the cat and his connection to Josie with the same birthmark. I’m hoping that’s something we can find out about as the series continues!
Josie has loved books as long as she can remember. So much so, she got a librarian’s dream job at the Library of Congress. Then one day, she overhears a shady deal being with the Senator’s chief of staff. After Josie takes the information up the chain of command, she doesn’t feel safe and flees to small-town Oregon for a librarian job.
Upon her arrival, Josie stumbles upon a dead body in the woods and fears she has been found. Not only does Josie have to deal with that fear, she also just found out the library is on the verge of being sold.
I loved the small-town setting of this book. Books, a cat, a witch, it pretty much has everything I would ask for. I enjoyed trying to figure out who was guilty of murder and who in the town I could trust in general.
The little side stories of the townspeople added a nice touch to the book. It really helped bring the town of Wilfred to life.
I would have liked more information about Rodney the cat and his connection to Josie with the same birthmark. I’m hoping that’s something we can find out about as the series continues!
I received this book from NetGalley as an eARC in exchange for a review.
Bait and Witch follows Josie, who is forced to flee her old life to find comfort and safety in small town Wilfred, Oregon. She takes a job as a librarian, only to find out her job is not safe there as part of the town is trying to close down the library to replace it with a retreat center. Drama ensure.
I really enjoyed this story. It was a cute little cozy mystery and was a nice pace. I found myself FLYING through the story and look forward to continuing on with the series.
Bait and Witch follows Josie, who is forced to flee her old life to find comfort and safety in small town Wilfred, Oregon. She takes a job as a librarian, only to find out her job is not safe there as part of the town is trying to close down the library to replace it with a retreat center. Drama ensure.
I really enjoyed this story. It was a cute little cozy mystery and was a nice pace. I found myself FLYING through the story and look forward to continuing on with the series.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
This book was such a pleasant surprise! Josie is new to Wilfred, Oregon, and she's on the run after uncovering corruption at her previous job (she worked for the Library of Congress and the people after her are very scary and very powerful).
Josie intends to stay in Wilfred for a short period of time and takes a position as their new librarian. The library is located inside a beautiful Victorian mansion, and Josie's living quarters are on the top floor. Yes, you read that right. She lives inside the library - could it get any better than that?
Wilfred is much different than DC and Josie experiences a lot of culture shock - which could also be attributed to the fact that she's slowly discovering that she has some magical abilities. Josie discovers a dead body her first day in Wilfred and can't help but think the victim is somehow connected to the people who want Josie dead.
This has it all - an adorable tiny town, hilarious and lovable characters, and a black cat named Rodney who may or may not be Josie's familiar...
I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
Thank you Kensington Books for the ARC!
Josie intends to stay in Wilfred for a short period of time and takes a position as their new librarian. The library is located inside a beautiful Victorian mansion, and Josie's living quarters are on the top floor. Yes, you read that right. She lives inside the library - could it get any better than that?
Wilfred is much different than DC and Josie experiences a lot of culture shock - which could also be attributed to the fact that she's slowly discovering that she has some magical abilities. Josie discovers a dead body her first day in Wilfred and can't help but think the victim is somehow connected to the people who want Josie dead.
This has it all - an adorable tiny town, hilarious and lovable characters, and a black cat named Rodney who may or may not be Josie's familiar...
I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
Thank you Kensington Books for the ARC!