A Spell of Murder by Clea Simon

A Spell of Murder (Witch Cats of Cambridge #1) by Clea Simon

Release: November 26, 2019
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Polis Books
Source: Suzyapproved Book Tours
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N

“It’s Harriet’s fault. It’s always her fault, not that she’ll ever admit it.” So begins A Spell of Murder: A Witch Cats of Cambridge mystery, the first in a new cozy series that mixes feline fiction with a touch of the paranormal, and a little romance as well.

Becca, newly single and newly unemployed, wants to believe she has psychic powers. With nothing but time – and a desire for empowerment – she’s studying to become a witch. What she doesn’t know is that her three cats – Harriet, Laurel, and Clara – are the ones with the real power. And when Harriet – “a cream-colored longhair with more fur than commonsense” – conjures a pillow for her own comfort, Becca believes her spells are finally working. Could that be why Trent, the coven’s devilishly handsome leader, has been showing her special attention? Or why Suzanne, a longtime coven member, draws her aside to share a secret – a confidence that may lead to murder?

About the Author:

Before turning to a life of crime (fiction), Clea Simon was a journalist. Starting as a rock critic, she ended up writing about books and other arts. A native of New York, she came to Massachusetts to attend Harvard University, from which she graduated with high honors, and never left.

The author of three nonfiction books and seven mysteries, she lives with her husband, the writer Jon S. Garelick, and their cat, Musetta. She is the author of the Witch Cats of Cambridge mysteries from Polis Books: A Spell of Murder, An Incantation of Cats, and A Cat on the Case.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

A Spell of Murder Review:

I have started reading this series from the first book, and let me say, “A Spell of Murder” is such a cute, cozy mystery and a lovely start to the series.

Firstly, let me say the cast of characters was quirky and adorable. As soon as the story begins, Becca finds herself amidst a murder mystery with the sudden death of one coven member. Becca is friendly in the lead, but she is not perfect and has some flaws. However, she has a beautiful friend in Maddy, one of my favorite characters in the book. It was interesting to see how Becca stepped out of her shell and interrogated various members to solve the case. Moreover, I felt that the author also added a touch of romance well, where we see Becca having feelings for Nathan and Trent.

The author also adds the mystery nicely. There are quite a few suspects from the coven, and each of them is unique, so you wonder who could be behind it. Moreover, the person turned out to be someone I did not expect, making the story fun.

Perhaps the only downside to the tale is how I wish the author had involved Clara to be involved with the case. For most of the book, it felt as though Clara was following Becca on the investigation and just giving an update to Laurel and Harriet later. Also, as much as I liked Laurel and Harriet’s humor, there did not add any value, which was disappointing at times.

Overall, “A Spell of Murder” is a fun story that was charming and had an exciting plot, and I liked how the author executed it.