Charmed to Death

Continuing story of Ophelia as she begins to learn the art of 'magick' and her grandmother, and experienced white witch. The plans for a corporate pig farm to be built close to the town has the citizens up in arms. Author makes her personal position clear without preaching, and manages to weave old murders, new murders, witchcraft and relationships in an excellent fast read

Opening Sentence: '…While I stood in the clearing, the soft wind ruffled the strands of my hair that peeked out from beneath my hood…’

This is the 2nd book in the Ophelia and Abigail (Abby) paranormal mystery series. 70 something Abby revels in her paranormal powers, but her granddaughter, Ophelia, hates them as they couldn't help her save her best friend from being murdered 5 years before. Now the murderer appears to have followed her to the small town of Somerset in Iowa, and Ophelia may just have to accept, and use, her powers in order to survive.

I am enjoying this cozy paranormal mystery series, which is not all cutesy, it is sort of cozy with attitude. Ophelia is starting to grow as a character in this story - she has to show more accept her power, learn to use it and learn to trust people. A tall order for someone who is in danger of being killed and can't work out who to trust! Her talent is to use Rune stones - trouble is they won't tell her who the murderer is!! Ophelia has to decipher what the stones are telling her and this leads her on several wrong paths. Throw in several suspects, one of which is bumped off. Damn shame about that, I was so sure that the dead one had done it!!!

In the end the murderer is found, and the reasons for the murder are very different - very clever connection between past history and the present. I did finally guess who it was when my main suspect was bumped off - but the why was very clever. there are a few more in this series and I will be working my way through them all. show less

Following her adventures in the series opener, Witch Way to Murder, Ophelia is settling into her position as a librarian in the small Iowa town where her grandmother, Abby has lived for many years. Ophelia doesn't stay out of trouble for long though because both she and Abby are witches and dead bodies just seem to keep turning up around Ophelia. Soon Ophelia is trying to dodge the policeman who made her life a living hell when her friend Brian was murdered while trying to figure out who would have wanted to murder Brian and why.

I liked this better than the first book in the series, partly because a lot of the exposition was out of the way thanks to the first book, but mostly due to the presence of a worthy partner/romantic interest for show more Ophelia - Detective Comacho, who was orginally mentioned in the first book as an antagonist. The chemistry between Ophelia and Comacho is well-done and Damsgaard has them set-up for future collaborations in a way that makes sense. I'm not convinced all the plot threads were that neatly tied up (who was it again who knocked out Abby in the greenhouse and why?) but maybe I just didn't pay close enough attention since I was reading this on a car trip.

After the first book, I decided to give the series one more try, but I liked this well enough that I think I'll pick up the next one once my "to be read" stack gets a little shorter. show less

Quite a readable story of a witch and Librarian who is learning to come to terms with her abilities. I don't hold out much for her abilities as a librarian but her powers as a witch are quite good. Some interesting use of runes in this book make it quite a reasonable read. However I guessed the villain quite early on from some of the clues which weren't very subtle. I'd look forward to getting my hands on more of the same and reading them, only if I happen on them. The portrayal of witches was interesting and well done and the psychic visions well drawn.

It's been over a year since I read the first one - I was excited to continue the series, so ordered the next several in the series. For some reason took awhile to start it, though. Will keep on with the series but my enthusiasm is dampered a little. As with a lot of series, it may spruce back up again though. Let's hope!

I love the concept - small town witch librarian who is slowly coming into her powers, aided by her quirky grandmother, in a cozy mystery setting where she keeps stumbling on dead bodies and has to solve the crimes to prevent herself from being sucked in and killed.

Book two takes to solving an old murder that plagued her since book one, where in her past a friend was murdered. Answers are finally here, and they're show more depressing. Ophelia has come out of her shell and is allowing friends and dates now, unlike her stubborn demeanor in the first book where she refused to stop being a hermit and meet people.

The mystery is a good one, but I started suspecting the villain because there weren't enough culprits left that would be likely. Comancho was a fun character - I hope he returns in the future, has a charm and animal magnetism about him.

As with a lot of cozies, the writing is too simple, too juvenile, at times. The dialogue goes from flowing smoothly to seeming silly. It's all a little unrealistic with the writing tone and characters aren't sketched out enough yet - especially Ophelia's overreactions with her emotions, particularly where her grandmother is concerned.

I'm hoping the third improves - the concept for the series is fun. show less

This is the 2nd book in the series and I am reading it second after the 4th book which I read 1st. Are you with me so far?

Ophelia (town Librarian) & her Grandmother Abby have the "Gift", which has passed Abby's mother by. Abby is having to go this alone, but is guided by her Great Grandmother's Rune Stones. Abby has visions & dreams...which are as horrific as the murders themselves. Abby is being tracked by a serial killer who previously killed her best friend Brian and later several other professional homosexual men. In the mix is the community that is fighting a large corporate "Hog Farm", which pollutes the rivers and land.

I like the series, the books are well written...however I have also been able to figure out the Red Herrings and show more the killers before the conclusion. I am not thrilled with the graphic violence of the murders or her visions. I would prefer there to be more information of her & her grandmother's "Gifts". show less

I typically enjoy mystery and fantasy novels dealing with psychics and witches, however this one had me grinding my teeth half way through. It seems like the author took every pagan belief system, tossed them into the blender, and out came Ophelia and Abby's thing. Even that I would have forgiven, but I just couldn't get over how Ophelia just can't believe in her own powers after having them demostrated over and over through two books.