The Witch Is Back

The Witch is Back by Angela M. Sanders brings magic, small-town drama, suspense, and death to the sixth and latest book in the Witch Way Librarian Mysteries series set in fictional Wilfred, Oregon. Librarian Josie Way is a relatively novice witch who gets energy, warnings, and helpful hints from books.

 When her mother suddenly calls from the airport from Josie to pick her up, it only the beginning of an eventful week. Soon poison pen letters are being delivered to the small town’s residents.

Hoping to distract her mother, Josie takes her to an estate sale, where the recently passed Reverend Clarence Duffy lived. Inside the house, Josie hears warnings from the boxed books that have been sold. Tasked with finding the author of the disturbing letters, Josie starts her investigation, but soon, a dead body is found at the bottom of a cliff. Was it an accident or murder?

Of course, things don’t always go smoothly. With the letters unsettling the town’s residents, friendships start to crumble and everyone tends to look at everyone else with suspicion.

Josie has a strong sense of family and community. She loves books and feels compelled to seek justice. The secondary characters were a mixed lot of the unusual as well as ever-day folks that you could meet in any small town. While their depth varied, it felt adequate for their roles in this story. Of the secondary characters, Rodney the cat stole the show.

This was a fun, relaxing, and entertaining read that I did not want to put down. The writing style is warm and friendly and the world building was well done. I was able to vividly see the picturesque library, the town, and the people of Wilford. I also enjoyed the way the historical aspects of the town, as well as some romance, were woven seamlessly into the story. Multiple crimes and danger elevate the suspense level. However, the poison pen author was a little too easy to discern. My only other quibbles are that there are a couple of cliffhangers that I hoped would be resolved in this novel.

Overall, this was a story that quickly drew me into Josie’s world. It was filled with the challenges of suspicions, secrets, a death, ominous feelings, a wildfire, and more. I recommend the Witch Way Librarian Mysteries series to those who enjoy the genre. If you share Josie’s and my love of books and libraries, this may be the next book for you. I’m a fan of the series and am looking forward to reading the next book.

Kensington Publishing – Kensington Cozies and Angela M. Sanders provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for November 26, 2024.