Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell

Book Details
Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell
Paperback, 336 pages
2009, Signet
ISBN: 045122745X
Series: Book 1 of Witchcraft Mystery

Synopsis
Love the vintage- not the ghosts

Lily Ivory feels that she can finally fit in somewhere and conceal her "witchiness" in San Francisco. It's there that she opens her vintage clothing shop, outfitting customers both spiritually and stylistically.

Just when things seem normal, a client is murdered and children start disappearing from the Bay Area. Lily has a good idea that some bad phantoms are behind it. Can she keep her identity secret, or will her witchy ways be forced out of the closet as she attempts to stop the phantom?

Review
Secondhand Spirits is the start of a great new mystery series. Lily Ivory is a real, live, magical-power having witch. I love that her actions aren't encumbered by karmic fears. She has no qualms about using her abilities to secure prime parking sports and other frivolous, yet harmless, perks. She lives by her own moral compass and does not relate her hereditary witchiness to any religious belief system. She acquires a goblin-like familiar that pretends to be an innocent pet pig allowing him the luxury of being being cuddled by women and the freedom to wander unhindered into changing-rooms.

Lily owns and operates a vintage clothing shop, which I found much more fascinating than I thought I would. Many aspects of the business were portrayed, from the varying sources she acquires the clothing from to how she uses her abilities to match a person to the perfect retro outfit. A soon to be bride and her bridesmaids came in to pick out dresses and the atmosphere was so fun, I felt as though I was there as well.

Lily has two potential romantic candidates. Aidan is a male witch who exudes an air of danger. Max is a skeptic and professional myth-buster who seems to be falling for Lily despite his distaste for the supposed paranormal. Each man seems to have great potential as both heartthrob and heart-breaker.

Many mysterious things happen in Secondhand Spirits, from a missing child to a dead client. With ghosts, demons and other witches involved, the possibility for viable suspects is endless. The book ends in a surprise twist which I never saw coming. Secondhand Spirits is a quality cozy full of witchy fun. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

Rating

Links

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