From the author of the Wishcraft Mysteries
Carly Bell Hartwell’s love potions are always in demand in Hitching Post, Alabama, the wedding capital of the South.…
When Katie Sue Perrywinkle walks into the Little Shop of Potions, Carly is surprised and delighted to see her old childhood friend. Katie Sue fled her hometown and a troubled family over a decade ago. But she’s not back for a social visit. She’s come to settle a score with Senator Warren Calhoun, who is in town for his son’s high-profile wedding.
But before Katie Sue has a chance to voice any objections, she’s forced to forever hold her peace. After finding her friend dead, Carly vows to find her murderer. Were the corrupt Calhouns willing to go to any lengths to avoid a scandal? Did Katie Sue’s family take the term “bad blood” to a whole new level? And why did the bride-to-be come to Carly for a love potion? As Carly gets closer to the truth, a killer is planning a very chilly reception.…e imperfect man might be the best mistake of her life . . .
For fans of: Melissa Bourbon
Little Shop of Potions proprietress Carly Bell Hartwell is beyond surprised when Katie Sue Perrywinkle walks through her door; she hasn’t seen her childhood friend in over a decade, and didn’t figure she’d ever voluntarily return to Hitching Post, Alabama. Katie Sue’s cagey about the reason for her visit, but rumor is she’s in town to attend the high-profile wedding of a U.S. Senator’s son – and what’s more, it sounds like she’s got a score or two to settle.
Carly’s determined to track down her old friend and get the real scoop, but before she can do so, the woman turns up dead – the apparent victim of foul play. Who murdered Katie Sue Perrywinkle, and why? Can Carly and her twice-ex-fiancé, Sergeant Dylan Jackson, solve the crime and catch the killer before he or she can strike again?
One Potion in the Grave is the second of Heather Blake’s Magic Potion Mysteries. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, A Potion to Die For, and I’m happy to report that One Potion in the Grave is even better. All of Blake’s books have a wonderfully whimsical feel to them – cozy without being cutesy, like modern fairytales set in the real world – and her latest is charming, funny, poignant, and compulsively readable, to boot.
Blake’s setup is thorough yet efficient. She provides just enough background that new readers won’t feel lost, but returning fans won’t feel the urge to skim. The cast of One Potion in the Grave is simply stellar – full of fun, vibrant characters who are larger than life (I absolutely adore cantankerous, trigger-happy Aunt Marjie), and Blake does a marvelous job of using their interactions to ramp up tension.
The book’s central mystery is elegantly constructed – the dead body pops up in exactly the right place and time, story-wise, taking the reader completely by surprise, and if you’re anything like me, you won’t have a clue whodunit (or how) until the very end. Blake even nails the ending, tying off every single storyline in a satisfying manner.
If you’re looking for a little magic to help get you through the stress of the holidays, or just want a great book that will make you think while warming your heart and making you smile, look no further than Heather Blake’s excellent One Potion in the Grave.
Reviewed by Kat
