A Spell for Trouble (An Enchanted Bay Mystery #1) by Esme Addison

A Spell for Trouble

(An Enchanted Bay Mystery #1)

by 

Esme Addison

Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: May 12th 2020 by Crooked Lane Books (first published May 10th 2020)stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Alexandra Daniels hasn't set foot in the quiet seaside town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina in over twenty years. Ever since her mother's tragic death, her father has mysteriously forbidden her from visiting her aunt and cousins. But on a whim, Alex accepts an invitation to visit her estranged relatives and to help them in their family business: an herbal apothecary known for its remarkably potent teas, salves, and folk remedies.

Bellamy Bay doesn't look like trouble, but this is a town that harbors dark secrets. Alex discovers that her own family is at the center of salacious town gossip, and that they are rumored to be magical healers descended from mermaids. She brushes this off as nonsense until a local is poisoned and her aunt Lidia is arrested for the crime. Alex is certain Lidia is being framed, and she resolves to find out why.

Alex's investigation unearths stories that some have gone to desperate lengths to conceal: forbidden affairs, family rivalries, and the truth about Alex's own ancestry. And when the case turns deadly, Alex learns that not only are these secrets worth hiding, but they may even be worth killing for

***

4.5 stars

This is the first book in the Enchanted Bay mystery series by Esme Addison.

The premise: A young woman comes back to her mother's hometown only to discover she has a magical heritage. When she assists her cousins and aunt with their herbal remedy shop, a man her aunt has a public argument with us found murdered.

This is kind of like a coming of age story. The main character, Alex is learning to not only trust herself but learn to trust others too. She has so many things to learn here. There is more than one love interest available here. The son of the family who is at odds with her family's interests is magical, plus the bond is there between them that crackles to life whenever she is around him. Then there is the mundane, the non magical option. Jack is a cop and her lineage is known for their love connections with non magical folk.

There is a whole lot going on just on the surface of the mystery and Alex's introduction to town and how things are done. Then add in all the magical elements and This book is so chock full you will never find yourself uninterested.

The mystery is spot on. The push and pull between the love interest is captivating and the magic is a super special thing to behold. I am all in and ready for the next book in the series. 

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I want to thank NetGalley,the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.