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In a Witch's Wardrobe
A Witchcraft Mystery #4
Juliet Blackwell

Obsidian
July 2012/ 978-0-451-23747-7
Mystery/Cozy/Paranormal


Reviewed by Laura Hinds

Here it is a sultry July, and I'm fortunate enough to be reading and reviewing the current hottest theme in mystery novels: paranormal mysteries. I've been reading Annette Blair, Victoria Laurie, and just finished In a Witch's Wardrobe. As a fan of Juliet Blackwell, I was pleased with the opportunity to review Dead Bolt from her Haunted Home Renovation series several months ago.

Set in eccentric San Francisco, where anything can and does happen, one should not be surprised to learn that there is an active witchcraft community made up of many covens. Lily Ivory, proprietor of Aunt Cora's Closet, a vintage clothing store, has some witchy abilities of her own. When she attends an Art Deco ball, where vintage is the costume de rigueur, Lily should be in her element.

Yet when a woman falls ill, Lily's sensory gifts tell her that the woman is the victim of a curse. While Lily wants to help solve the case of the cursed corsage, she is needed for an even bigger problem. That is, a series of poisonings affecting the covens of San Francisco's Bay Area. It is possible that someone is using their supernatural skills with dark and evil intent, and it's up to Lily to draw them out into the light before there are disastrous consequences.

What I love most about this book is the realism with which San Francisco is depicted. There are all sorts of folks in the Bay Area, and although they are different, for the most part they do tend to stick together. This goes for the covens as well. Magic imbues In a Witch's Wardrobe, yet there is plenty of realism featured as well. There is a touch of romance, solid friendships, and a dash of humor interspersed with magical scenes and paranormal creatures. I remain enchanted by Juliet Blackwell's stories, and I believe you will be too. Enjoy!

Reviews of other titles in this series

Hexes and Hemlines #3
In a Witch's Wardrobe #4
Tarnished and Torn #5
Vision in Velvet #6
Spellcasting in Silk #7
A Toxic Trousseau #8
A Magical Match #9

Reviewed 2012
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