Jill Nojack

Natalie Taylor is the High Priestess of a coven in Giles, Massachusetts. All she wants is to stop seeing dead people. Just when she has all the elements needed for the spell to keep the dead away, she finds a body in Corey Woods.

Finally, Natalie has the chance to prove that her long-lost love wasn't guilty of the murders committed years before. With luck, proving his innocence will also get him to move on to the afterlife and leave her in peace. Some of the answers she needs to solve those show more long-ago murders can only be gotten from the dead, the very thing she is trying to avoid at all cost.

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Series: The Maid, Mother, and Crone Paranormal Mystery Series - Book 1
Author: Jill Nojack
Genre: Paranormal/Witch Cozy
Publisher: Kindle Press

The Innocent Dead is a new series and is part of the Witches of Giles Universe written by Jill Nojack. This book is a great beginning to what will be an ever evolving and creative series that should last for many years to come.

Natalie isn’t your typical witch or crone. She not only sees the dead, but it is also her duty to help them move one if she can. William Stanford is one very persistent ghost, who also happens to be the love of her life, and a murder suspect. The character of Natalie in the form of a grumpy old woman who never seems to smile or laugh with any real happiness is unforgettable. She is mean, bossy and outspoken, yet she also knows when to keep her mouth shut and when to help someone, living or dead.

William may be a ghost, but he is dedicated to Natalie even after 50 years. She is his world and always was. He is warm, compassionate and filled with a youthful spirit. The reader will fall in love with William and his strength and determination as well as his antics.

The additional cast of characters are equally enjoyable and graced with the beauty of mind and spirit, as well as a wonderful sense of humor, especially Cassie and Gillian. It is easy to like all of them and relate to one or more, even the decidedly purposefully oblivious chief of police, Denton.

The town of Giles and the businesses sprinkled throughout the story although fictional are described lovingly as a place a person wouldn’t mind visiting or living near. The town is built around a square with a large statue of the real-life Giles Corey who was accused of practicing witchcraft in 1692. It is an interesting and thought-provoking setting.

This story is filled with page-turning action and clues that will lead the reader right up to the killer’s doorstep. However, just when you think the mystery is solved, a wrench is thrown into the works. The reader must go back and look at the other possible suspect from a different point of view. The Innocent Dead is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a good mystery filled with magic, witches, and the occasional ghost.
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The Innocent Dead
A Witch Cozy Mystery
By: Jill Nojack
Narrated by: Brian Callanan
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
This was a different kind of murder mystery. The fist one killed is a very annoying woman in town and I wanted to kill here! But soon many are killed. Soon it is clear it is a serial killer. Is is from years ago and new one. Many believed it was the killer that 'got away' before that came back and started killing again. But there someone in the town show more that knows better, the witch that loved the person accused of being the killer. He was killed also by the killer and is a ghost. She can see him and now she that she is old and can't wait to be with him again. There are lots of twists and turns, clues, great characters, and I always guess wrong...I would be a horrible detective! Something magic but good/sad(?) happens when the witch gets attacked...no spoilers here. Good story and mystery.
The narrator was great about doing all these voices and keeping the story flowing wonderfully! He does the annoying lady too good! LOL Great performance. show less

Cover/Title: It was the title that drew me in this time. I love books with magic. I haven't read a good fae book in a while.

Characters: The characters are ok. I do think that Lizbet went with Eamon a bit too easily. I would think she would be more wary and skeptical, even with the necklace he put on her.

Plot: The Tree of Life is in danger. If the tree is destroyed the fairies will be also. Eamon recruits Lizbet and James to help.

Overall: The story is interesting and fast paced. I loved show more the Arthurian twist (I will let you read to figure that one out). I enjoyed the story but I don't know if I will continue on with the series or not. If book 2 fits a challenge on Goodreads, I might grab it. show less

I received this book to read and review through the Kindle Scout program. The blurb called it a romantic comedy, but, for me, the comedy was sorely lacking throughout most of the book. Tom has been a cat for years and years because of a spell cast by a witch. When she dies, he hopes to return to his normal self. The witch’s granddaughter comes in to take over her grandmother’s house and small store. Tom and Cassie, the granddaughter, spend a lot of time working to remove the spell that show more Tom is living under. The book had an interesting plot, but the plot was not quite enough to hold my interest. There was also a sinister angle to the story, as a creepy town man, Kevin, tries to get Cassie to sell him the store and house and leave the area. As I read the book, I had some difficulty figuring out just what Kevin was up to, as the author did not really make things clear in that respect. The story began well enough, but lost steam for me not far into it. I also did not find much humor in the story, as it progressed, as I said, and never really did gain back any momentum. Frankly, there were several times I was tempted to just put it down and consider the whole thing a wash. In addition, I did not see as much character development, other than Tom, who had more than the other characters though still not a great deal. This is the first part of a series, so perhaps the next books will be better. However, I am not sure I will read them, in all honesty, after reading this one. I enjoy books about witches and their lives, as they work their way along, mixing the paranormal powers they possess with normal, everyday life, especially when a lot of humor is involved, but this book did not cut it for me. show less