Ghost of a Potion (Magic Potion Mystery, #3)

by Heather Blake

In the latest from the bestselling author of One Potion in the Grave, it’s Halloween in Hitching Post, Alabama, and potion shop owner Carly Bell Hartwell has an especially spooky customer to handle…

With all the ghosts that haunt her at this time of year, Carly doesn’t exactly rush to celebrate Halloween.  Even a costume ball organized by her boyfriend Dylan's mother, Patricia Davis Jackson, holds little allure.  But to please Dylan, who wants peace between the two women, Carly reluctantly agrees to go. 

Gossip around town is that architect Haywood Dodd plans to make a big announcement at the party. But before he can address the crowd, he’s found dead with Patricia standing over him, holding the murder weapon. Anxious to clear Patricia’s name and perhaps broker a truce with her, Carly would love to use her snooping skills to find the real killer. Only she has bigger problems to deal with—ghosts are flocking to her for help, including a very persistent Haywood Dodd…

• ISBN10: 0451416325
• ISBN13: 9780451416322
• Publish Date: 6 October 2015
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Berkley
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 336
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780451416322

Reviews

[Berls]

4.5 stars
I really hope there's more to come with this series as I've really enjoyed it and this book was the best so far! The mystery was much more satisfying, as it kept me guessing most the way. The character interactions were also pretty fantastic, especially with the tension between Carly and Patricia, Dillon's mother. This book had a lot of revelations and twists in it, making it feel almost like a last in the series, though there easily could be more and I hope there will be.

If you like the paranormal aspect, this book really delivers, since most of the mystery revolves around Carly and Delia helping ghosts cross over by resolving issues before they can move on. This lead to some heartwarming moments, some harrowing moments, and some hilarious moments. And best - it brought Delia back into the action a lot, which I had missed in the last book.

Overall, really great and I look forward to more (hopefully). I read it as an audio and Carla Mercer-Meyer really delivered great voices, along with the small-town southern feel.

[Silvara]

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I received this book for free from Obsidian in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


I loved all the Southern-isms in the book. The way the characters talked, the phrases they used for things, the foods and parties and everything. It made the book feel more real, even though I did not grow up in the South, I could picture it all perfectly in my head.

I'm used to cozy mysteries where the business that the main character owns (if they own one at all) plays some part in the mystery. And while this one DID use the potion shop, it was in a very round about way. Most of the focus in this book was on the ghosts and the mysteries themselves. Which is good and as it should be.

I also liked how there were a few side mysteries that Carly had to solve alongside the major one. It wasn't confusing, and it didn't feel like they were filler to make the book longer. They way they fell out was believable and at times funny.

I loved the description of the dress Carly wore to the gala event in the beginning of the book. And I totally knew what was going to end up happening with Louella. I loved all the interactions Carly had with her mama, as well as most of the ones she had with Patricia. I could see Carly and her daddy hiding out from her mama, and all the characters really had that real-person feel to them. They were well-developed enough you could almost expect to run into them when leaving your house.

I didn't have any clue who the killer was before the reveal at the end. And it was done so well, even the explanation as to why they were a killer made sense.

If you haven't read this series yet, you should!

This review was originally posted on Fantasy of the Silver Dragon