Shirley Damsgaard

Witch Way to Murder is the first book in Shirley Damsgaard's Ophelia and Abby cozy mystery series. Ophelia Jensen is the librarian for a small town in Iowa, Summerset. She fled there after the murder of her best friend, Brian, four years ago (see the prologue). Her maternal grandmother, Abby, is from Appalachia, but her late husband brought her to Summerset 53 years ago. The townsfolk think that Abby is an herbalist, but she's a witch. Ophelia has inherited the gift, but she lost all faith show more in magic after the deaths of Brian and her grandfather. Ophelia lives in her own Victorian Cottage with her rescue dog, Lady and her cat, Queenie. Ophelia's emotional condition reminds me of that old Simon and Garfunkel song, 'I am a Rock'. Abby and her pets appear to be the only chinks in Ophelia's wall. Our librarian fears that someone, someday, is going to find out and reveal Abby's secret.

Unlike the song, it's not a deep and dark December. It's only November, but snow is indeed falling on the day handsome, brown-eyed Richard 'Call me Rick' Davis enters her library. There's something off about him right away, so far as Ophelia is concerned. Her bubbly, stacked assistant librarian, Darci, doesn't notice. To Ophelia's alarm, Darci has recommended that Rick talk to Abby for the information he wants..

If Rick seems suspicious to Ophelia, the feeling is probably mutual. He doesn't know a. she's hated being touched since Brian's still-unsolved murder, and b. he's setting off her psychic early warning bells. If you're a sexy man, aren't you going to expect a lady to enjoy having you near instead of babbling and trying to get away from you? show less

They say three time's a charm. As I've said before, this really seems to be the case with most series. This paranormal series follows the same - it's when I fully wanted to continue. In this one Rick, the man missing from the second book, calls Ophelia and her grandmother in to do some investigating out of town, waving goodbye to Henry introduced in book two. The author seems to introduce men only to take them away in the next novel. Strange.

While we leave the familiar town behind, it's show more interesting in the new mountain and lake setting as the author introduces some changes. Thankfully Darcie tags along; I like her humor and she brings a bubbling enthusiasm the series is missing when she's not around. While Ophelia doesn't humorously stumble over a dead body for once, the author changes it to an investigation of a disappearance instead of a murder. The mystery isn't incredibly strong on who the culprit is, but it works on finding out what the mystery actually IS.

Ophelia is still an average character - nothing special, and she gets annoying with being too paranoid of the local Indian. She also buts her nose into situations and gets rude with some of that intrusiveness. Abby is her usual chin-stroking, knowing self. I never got the appeal of her that other fans of the series have. The biggest mystery of all may be why the two are so attached to the girl-child introduced. I never got instant love and connection with a child just because they are a child.

Damsgaard's writing has improved since the first book but she still falls prey to overdoing mannerisms and spelled out character movements. It's almost like picturing teens trying to act out a high school play where they make it incredibly obvious when they're thinking deeply, wondering something, pausing for a moment, or being imitations of characters.

The Trouble with Witches digs into the darkest subject of magic compared to the others. The subject isn't overly detailed but it shows a hidden element of demons that is dark considering this is a cozy mystery.

Overall this is the best of the three, but I missed Henry. This sequel changes it up some by altering the formula, but in doing so shakes away some of it's working humor. By this point I'm more forgiving of flaws since I've fallen further for the series. show less

The Ophelia and Abby series attempts to embrace quirky characters as it's shining draw. To be honest the elderly Abby never worked for me as a convincing quirky character - there's something about her that can irritate or overwhelm. She's charming and she's wise, but she's a little cliche. We now have an aunt introduced, her sister from the mountains, and even if she is cliche as well, she works much better as a quirky player.

She downright amused me with her eagerness to jump into the show more crime-solving gig. On the lookout for crime, excitement, and her moonshine drinks, she adds lots of charm. Ophelia is uneven in her relationships still, which is unfortunate. Tink is still a fun introduction that brings a maternal instinct out of Ophelia, who needed another dimension of believability as a character.

The mystery works well not because it is intricately layered, but because it tugs on the heartstrings as we wonder about the characters abilities and what's going on with them, what guilt may rise for Tink, what Ophelia needs to keep discovering about herself to save the day.

When the culprit is revealed, one comes out of the blue, one is obvious. The idea behind it is rather cheesy but the build-up mystery climbing toward it works well enough. show less

Another charming installment in the Ophelia and Jensen paranormal mystery series.

Despite my slight reservations, I'm delighted to see that Tink has taken a creative role in the story, helping it rather than hindering. I was put off by Ophelia's almost narrow minded and snobbish attitude at first with the local bikers, but that proved right - but I can't get over her judgment of the women.

Either way, interesting enough story. Instead of solving a murder to find out who is guilty, she's show more trying to help prove someone innocent instead. There are a few fingers you could point, but the villains weren't a surprise. The pool of suspects was a wee obvious. The end scene held some intensity in the fight but I miss the awesome display of powers since her climax fight at the end of the first book. Shall we never see that again?

Again the author overdoes the character mannerism repeats, causing almost comical stereotypes. Chin stroking, finger on the nose rubbing, fingers tapping. The author may weave a good story and concept but she creates almost cartoonish characters in some ways. These details should be implied with imagination rather than drawn out.

I hated to hear about Henry, she never has an interesting love interest by book four. I appreciate the author not wanting to focus on that but a little rope thrown in every once in awhile never hurt anyone's interest - I even had hope for Cobra.

Overall another good book in a series that has grown on me. Despite its flaws with cheesy character mannerisms, I've become charmed by the basic characters and the basic town. I'm curious about Ophelia's future and if she ever decides on a guy to actually date. Tink's power is a different sort from the MC and grandmother's, and I find the balance of the trilogy intriguing. Worth a read if you're into this cozy series. show less