A Potion to Die For (A Magic Potion Mystery #1) By: Heather Blake

Plot:

TROUBLE IS BREWING…

As the owner of Little Shop of Potions, a magic potion shop specializing in love potions, Carly Bell Hartwell finds her product more in demand than ever. A local soothsayer has predicted that a couple in town will soon divorce—and now it seems every married person in Hitching Post, Alabama, wants a little extra matrimonial magic to make sure they stay hitched. But when Carly finds a dead man in her shop, clutching one of her potion bottles, she goes from most popular potion person to public enemy number one. In no time the murder investigation becomes a witch hunt—literally! Now Carly is going to need to brew up some serious sleuthing skills to clear her name and find the real killer—before the whole town becomes convinced her potions really are to die for!

Review:

I missed the fact that this was written by the same author that did the Wishcraft Mysteries. I ended up liking this magic system more, but I wish there was more hocus pocus and paranormal elements.

Carly was an alright character and the supporting cast was pretty good. It was kind of sad, though, that the one person murdered wasn’t a bad guy in any way. Normally in a cozy only eh people die.

I do really wish there was more magic in the world and kept hoping more would show up, but it never happened. It was pretty non-magical to be honest. She made potions that were really just herbal remedies with a “special” ingredient. She also had some empathic abilities that she kept under wraps and a little witchy sense to danger.

I thought her relationship with Delia, her “evil” cousin was well developed and I hope there’s more done there in future books. I actually really liked Delia and Dylan, Carly’s love interest.

All in all, it was a really good mystery, but the magic was a bit lacking for my tastes.

3.5/5