Magick & Mayhem

Sharon Pape

May 2017 · An Abracadabra Mystery Book 1 · Lyrical Press

About this ebook

Catching a killer is tricky business for the owner of an Upstate New York magick shop in this mystery series debut by the author of This Magick Marmot.
 
The tiny town of New Camel, New York, has become a tourist favorite thanks to an old magick shop called Abracadabra. It’s been in the Wilde family for generations. And now, suddenly, twenty-something Kailyn Wilde is about to inherit the family business—as well as its magickal secrets. But the surprises keep coming when Kailyn goes to finalize the estate at the local attorney’s office—and stumbles over the body of her best friend Elise’s husband.
 
As a brash detective casts the blame on Elise, Kailyn summons her deepest powers to find answers and start an investigation of her own. What with running a business, perfecting ancient spells, and keeping up with an uninvited guest of fabled origins, Kailyn has her hands full. But with the help of her uncanny black cat Sashkatu and her muumuu-clad Aunt Tilly, she’s out to catch a killer before someone makes her disappear.

Ratings and reviews

Magick and Mayhem by Sharon Pape is the first book in An Abracadabra Mystery series. Kailyn Wilde has recently inherited her families magic shop called Abracadabra after the unexpected deaths of her grandmother and mother. The two of them may be gone from the earthly plane, but they manage to pop in to chat regularly (and eavesdrop). Kailyn still has her Aunt Tilly who runs Tea and Empathy next to Abracadabra. Kailyn and her Aunt Tilly close their respective shops and head to a meeting with family attorney, Jim Harkens. The office is dark when they arrive and they manage to fall over each onto the floor. Kailyn moves to get up and notices Jim on the floor. Upon closer inspection, she sees a pool of blood. They turn on the lights to find that Jim has been shot in the head. That night Kailyn performs a summoning spell for her familiar (she wants a dog). The families magic has been on the blink the last few months and her deceased elders believe she needs her own familiar. The next day Kailyn is in the shop when she hears glass breaking in her storeroom. She investigates and finds an older man inside. He claims to be Merlin (yes, Camelot’s Merlin). Kailyn wonders if her summoning spell went awry. Kailyn hears that Elise Harkens is a prime suspect in her husband’s death. Kailyn knows Elise would not harm her husband, and starts doing some sleuthing. Kailyn grew up reading Nancy Drew novels and has wanted to try her hand at solving a case. While Aunt Tilly keeps Merlin occupied, Kailyn starts questioning her list of suspects. Travis Anderson, local newsman, is interested in Kailyn as well as the story. The two pair up to clear Elise and find the real killer. Can they find the real culprit and clear Elise? Magick and Mayhem is easy to read and has an interesting premise. Kailyn was a good character and her Aunt Tilly was a fun eccentric. Merlin was an unneeded addition. I wish the author had not included him in the story because Merlin and his antics dominated the story (they had to have someone watch him, he performed magic in public, fascination with food and gadgets, etc.). I was hoping for a talking dog instead (maybe a human trapped in dog form or a human that came back as a dog). I wish the author had provided more background on the characters and the family. We get some of the history, but I would have liked more details. I also felt that the characters needed more development. I give Magick and Mayhem 3 out of 5 stars. Magick and Mayhem felt like a first book for this author (and it is not). The writing did improve in the second half of the book. The murder mystery was the best part of the book. It was complicated (which I loved), but I wish it had been a little harder to solve. I was hoping for more magic in the story. There is very little of it (well, Merlin did cast a few dubious spells). I wondered why the family did not maintain a Book of Shadows (instead of spells written on random pieces of paper and stuffed in trash bags). During the book, Kailyn digs through the bags and sorts through the items. I was curious as to why when she located the item she was searching for, she stuffed everything back into the bags. Why did she bother sorting them in the first place (too nitpicky?)? Magick and Mayhem is a decent first book in An Abracadabra Mystery series. I will be reading That Olde White Magick when it releases in November and hoping for improvement.

About the author

Sharon Pape launched her popular Abracadabra mystery series with Magick and Mayhem and followed up with That Olde White Magick, Magick Run Amok, and Magickal Mystery Lore. This Magick Marmot is the fifth book in the series. Sharon started writing stories in first grade and never looked back. She studied French and Spanish literature in college and went on to teach both languages on the secondary level. After being diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer in 1992, she became a Reach to Recovery peer support volunteer for the American Cancer Society. She went on to become the coordinator of the program on Long Island. She and her surgeon created a non-profit organization called Lean On Me to provide peer support and information to newly diagnosed women and men. After turning her attention back to writing, she has shared her storytelling skills with thousands of fans. She’s won widespread praise for her Portrait of Crime and Crystal Shop mysteries as well as the Abracadabra series. She lives with her husband on Long Island, New York, near her grown children. She loves reading, writing, and providing day care for her grand-dogs. Visit her at www.sharonpape.com.