Reviewed by Kim Deister on

4 of 5 stars

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I love cozy mysteries, especially ones with witches in the starring roles. Or, in this case, an ex-witch. No matter! The story is at times hilarious, other times very smart, and always engrossing.

One of the things I love about the author’s series is that while the series itself has an overall story arc, each book also has its own complete arc. Witch Slapped sets the stage for the whole Witchless in Seattle series by introducing that overall arc. And its own mystery is as twisty and turny as one could want in a great whodunit.

The characters are fantastic. The FMC, Stevie Cartwright, is strong and capable, maintaining her sense of fun and humor even as she’s embroiled in a obstacle-ridden time in her life. She’s imperfect and flawed and utterly real. And Belfrey… I love him. He’s a cotton ball bat and Stevie’s familiar and best friend. Even though she’s lost her witchy abilities, Bel is loyal and refuses to leave her side. He’s smart and the perfect companion for Stevie. I also adore Win, the ex-British spy who recently died but whom, inexplicably, can still hear. The author has also created supporting characters who are just as developed and interesting.

Note: This is not really a romance, although there are shades of it. But romance is definitely not the focus of this series. It truly is a mystery at its heart.

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Reading updates

  • 31 January, 2023: Started reading
  • 3 February, 2023: Finished reading
  • 16 March, 2023: Reviewed