This book was everything I expected and more. I love the characers, the story, and the writing. Anytime you write about magic, the world building has to be solid, and she absolutely did that here.

I am currently going through my Shelf to clear out books that I either DNFed or was not able to write a full review for whatever reason. Unfortunately this is the case with this title.
I hope to pick up a physical copy soon as it seemed to be a very cute mystery that had a lot of fun with its characters and mystery.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, and I hope to read more in the future.

This series is off to a good start. I love mysteries with a touch of paranormal and this one hits the right notes. The characters Kailyn and her Aunt Tilly are engaging and the mystery moves at a breezy pace. Ms Pape is a new to me author and I will be adding her to my ever growing list of authors to read.
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I was pleased with this book. It is always hard to write a good magickal mystery and Ms. Pape did a stupendous job blending realism and magick. The mystery was engaging, and the characters are unforgettable. You need this magick mystery in your life!

Loved it right away! A real magical shop plus a murder mystery is a hit with the first book in the series. All the characters are awesome, even the dead ones. Kailyn and her Aunt Tilly seem to be up for plenty of mischief, but when Merlin enters the scene, look out! I'm so delighted to have had the chance to read this. Can't wait to see what happens next with this trio.

A magical mystery delight that will have you under its spell.

When I started reading cozy mysteries I had no desire to read any with a paranormal aspect to them. However, with authors like Sharon Pape, and a handful of others conjuring up stories like this, even cozy reader purists will surely find themselves with shelves full of “para-cozies”.

MAGICK & MAYHEM, the first installment in the Abracadabra Mysteries was a wonderful escape from everyday life. Ms. Pape made the pages of this book come alive. From chapter one on, I let the magic carry me away to a group of wonderful characters, and a first rate mystery that held me spellbound until the very last page.

If you’re looking for a great new cozy mystery, MAGICK & MAYHEM is the enchanting book for you!

Really good book. I am glad it is all out in the open, oops better read it to find out what I meant.

Princess Fuzzypants here:
Kailyn is a sorceress and since the death of her mother and grandmother, she has been running the family business and taking over the care of the various familiars of those departed. When mom and grand mom visit from the ether, they encourage her to summon her own familiar. Since she lives with five cats, she figures why not summon a dog. Pfft. That was her mistake right there. A dog?
What she does summon is Merlin. Yup, the guy from Camelot and while he is miffed at first, he finds there is much to like about the 21st Century, not the least of which is pizza and ice cream.
Kailyn and her aunt play host to the magician but it is not easy. He gobbles down everything in sight and he does not understand that modern humans do not understand magic. He usually makes matters worse and they are bad enough. Kailyn's best friend is arrested for the murder of her husband and as the investigation both official and unofficial (Kailyn) proceed, it turns out he was not the nice guy he seemed.
This is a book where the relationships between Kailyn, her aunt, Merlin and all the other characters was stronger than the mystery. Yes, there were some surprises. Until the final confrontation, there wasn't much suspense. That is all right.
The other parts were so much fun, I still enjoyed the book. However, if she decides to summon another familiar in future books, she should stick to cats. Just saying ....
I give it four purrs and two paws up.

MAGICK & MAYHEM is a nice little cozy mystery with a sight supernatural twist. This was a fairly quick read with a pretty basic murder mystery and while I enjoyed reading it, there were a few smallish issues I had. The magic aspect didn't seem to connect to the mystery. Magic wasn't needed to do the investigation really; the victim wasn't killed by magic, and the killer wasn't magical in any way.

On the character front, Kailyn is a witch who owns a magic shop and has two ghost relatives (mom and aunt) who hand around with a living witch aunt who works next door. I liked Kailyn's aunt Tilly who is quirky and fun. Her cat Sashkatu is pretty cool too and has a neat personality. Kailyn's ghost mom and aunt bickered a bit to much for my liking.

We see some small spells and potions created for customers but magic is really not necessary to the plot. What we do get is a random appearance by Merlin (yes that one) who hangs around acting like a clueless old guy who can't seem to follow simple directions. He sticks around and gets up to some amusing hi jinks throughout the book. There are some story threads that don't really reach a satisfying conclusion like Kailyn's spell to get a familiar. I'm assuming it's Merlin since he popped up right after she does the spell but it's not made clear and the search for a familiar is dropped.

Ignoring the issues on the magic front the murder mystery was interesting enough for me to stick with to the end. You get your typical quirky small town cast of characters and a decent plot twist of who the murderer is at the end of the story. I'd like to get some more fleshing out of the characters and some more possibly magic-based mysteries in the rest of the series.

Kailyn runs Abracadabra, a shop she inherited from her mother and grandmother, who still show up occasionally to offer advice, welcome or not. Her slightly scatterbrained Aunt Tilly has the shop next door. When the two of them go to the lawyer's office to take care of some paperwork, they find him dead on the floor. Now, not only does Kailyn have to worry about the two of them being seen as suspects, the lawyer also happened to be her best friends husband. With Aunt Tilly and a black cat as backup, Kailyn decides to find out who really killed Jim Hastings. This is a fun cozy, full of unique and interesting characters, humor, and just enough magic. I can't wait for book #2!

Paranormal/witch/magic type books are usually hit or miss with me but this one was a hit! I loved the characters especially Merlin - yes that Merlin. He someone gets to modern time and is like a kid in a candy store sopping up the advances that have been made since his time. I think he really made the story and sometimes stole the spotlight. That isn't to say the rest of the characters aren't good because they do round out the cast and help make the story.

When it comes to the mystery portion - whoa what a shocker when the killer was revealed. While this person is something of a suspect, when you find out why the local attorney is killed you won't be surprised at why he was killed. Can't say too much because you need to read the book and see if you can figure out who and why.

There is a lot of misdirection and red herrings to keep the story hopping and interesting. A series I plan to keep my eye on.

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.

She gets more than she bargained for when Kailyn Wilde and her Aunty Tilly arrive at the lawyer’s office. After losing her mother and grandmother to a terrible accident, Kailyn needs to finalize some legalities about inheriting the family business, but instead finds the lawyers dead body. The detective assigned to the case doesn’t rule them out as suspects but has his sights firmly set on the dead mans wife, Elise, who just happens to be Kailyn’s best friend. Not one to stand by and let her friend go to jail for murder, Kailyn sets out to clear her name.

I love a good cozy mystery and was looking forward to meeting the folks of New Camel. Kailyn is a delight. I honestly didn’t know how she knew when she was coming or going. It wasn’t enough that she was left with a business to run and a house full of cats, one of which lets his opinions be known. She’s also trying to get a handle on why magick is on the blink, causing some inconvenient and often hilarious occurrences. To top it off, while summoning a familiar, something which she should have done earlier, an unexpected visitor arrives, creating it’s own sort of mayhem.

There’s a scene where some puppies get loose that had me laughing out loud, along with the ghostly visits from Kailyns’ mom and grandmother. I suspect that’s where the word Mayhem, from the title, enters the story. Plenty occurs to keep you entertained, including the stunning finale.

Cozy mystery fans need to check out this new series. Get in on the beginning. You’ll be turning the pages quickly, as eager to find out who the villain is as you will be to find out what mayhem happens on the next page.

Kailyn Wilde has her work cut out for her. She inherits her mother and grandmother’s magic shop. Somehow she manages to conjure up a bumbling older magician named Merlin. She, also, has to keep tabs on her Aunt Tilly, a psychic with a shop right next to her magic shop.

Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time - Kailyn and Aunt Tilly find their lawyer’s dead body in his office. Their lawyer happens to be married to Kailyn’s best friend, Elise. All three women find themselves the prime suspects, but they aren’t going to wait for the police to arrest them. They do their own investigation. Kailyn sticks her nose where the police don’t want it and finds more suspects than she ever imagined possible, not to mention a few deep dark secrets as well.

What can be better than a brand new cozy mystery with some magic tossed in? This book reminds me so much of the classic TV series Bewitched – we have Kailyn trying to keep her family’s magic a secret, while her older aunt’s magic spells keep going astray. This book has everything – humor, magic, mystery and a touch of romance. I was totally taken by surprise by who the killer turned out to be.

Magick and Mayhem is a cute, delightful cozy with just the right blend of mystery and romance. I read a sneak peek of the second book in the series and it looks to be just as good.

Magic, Merlin and lots of humour and mayhem, that's the first thing that came to mind when I started reading Sharon Pape's Magic & Mayhem.

A paranormal, fast-paced, hilarious cozy mystery, Magic & Mayhem opens with Kailyn Wilde adjusting to the passing of her mother and grandmother, both witches, and to becoming the only person in charge of their magick shop "Abracadabra".

Narrated from Kailyn's first person perspective, the novel is full of humourous comments, descriptions and events. Set in the small town of New Camel, the mystery is revealed from the beginning when Kailyn and her aunt Tilly go to see their lawyer and find him dead.

"In this town, heavy traffic was five cars lined up at a red light."

Magic & Mayhem has an assortment of wonderful – and less friendly – characters, but all of whom have a role to play. There is Kailyn, whose magic, along with that of her family, has suffered a bug of late, as well as her aunt Tilly, who reads palms – although the accuracy of her readings can be questionable.

Kailyn follows her mother's advice and attempts to summon a familiar, a kind of animal guide believed to help witches with their magic. Instead, she discovers an old man in her basement who goes by the name of Merlin.
To her and Tilly's surprise – and to the reader's – the great wizard himself was somehow thrust forward in time from the Middle Ages to Kailyn's storeroom.

"Did this man really expect me to believe he was the legendary wizard? He looked more like a Don Quixote wannabe."

One of the funniest and most entertaining aspects about Magic & Mayhem is Merlin's adjustment to and discovery of the gadgets of the modern world, from the toilet to the iPod to pizza.

I loved the references to books and movies, as well as all the magic and witch-related terminology which gave Magic & Mayhem a truly magical feel. It made me feel I was part of the story. The overall word choice of the novel was perfect and the narration was highly enjoyable. The imagery too was interesting and impeccable throughout. I have never seen so many perfectly-worded similes in one place.

"The kettle had gone from whistling to screeching like a banshee, by the time I plucked it off the stove. Merlin stood in the middle of the kitchen, rotating like a clumsy ballerina."

After the discovery of the dead body, Kailyn begins her own investigation and several townspeople attempt to help her in any way they can, whether through throwing gossip her way or through actual help. Kailyn's curiosity is commendable, especially after she begins receiving death threats, and with the fact that the best suspect for the murder is her best friend Elise.

"There was no telling what would happen to history if Merlin died in the twenty-first century. It was bad enough that he would return to his time babbling about computers, aircraft, and men on the moon."

As a cozy mystery, Magic & Mayhem fits all the characteristics, having a fair share of quirky characters, cats and a well-penned mystery. I liked how romance did not play a major – or even minor – role in the novel.
Characterisation and setting were among the aspects that drew me in to the novel as well. Each character was well defined and the setting was realistic. Coupled with the fast pace of the novel, I couldn't put the book down.

Almost before I was half way through the novel did I expect to give it a five-star rating. Having finished, I'd definitely give it 10 stars and can't wait to get my hands on the second instalment in the Abracadabra Mystery Series by Sharon Pape. A must-read at all costs.

"If we ever figured out how to send him home, it might to be with a pizza oven."

A nice beginning to a new series.
If you like fantasy, fiction and a few laughs all tangled up in a cozy-mystery, this book will be perfect.
The location of the story is set in a small town called New Camel, where the main attraction is the witchcraft store filled with lotions, creams, potions and spells. The store is very old and it seams like the town evolved around it.
As a small town, nothing of importance happens to make the people fear for their safety, so when a murder occurs it is mayhem. Suspects are pilling up and almost everyone has a motive.
The characters are unique and likable. Hope to see more from this author.

This is the start of a great series! Fun characters, fun mystery, fun story! I'm excited for more!

This is going to be an amazing series if the first book is any indication. I fell in love with the characters, as well as Kailyn's shop, Abracadabra.

There is a lot of humor in this story, from conversations between Kailyn and Aunt Tilly, to the surprising visitor who arrives in the shop, to the descriptions of the behavior of Sashkatu (he's a HUGE diva!). But there is also action and suspense as Kailyn tries to prove her friend Elise didn't murder her husband, and to find the real murderer.

The small town of New Carmel is one I'm going to enjoy getting to know in future books. It has such a sweet feel to it, and so many wonderful residents.

I highly recommend this one to anyone who enjoys cozies and/or paranormal.

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley with no expectation of a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.**

This is a great book; this is the first book in the Abracadabra Mystery series written by Sharon Pape. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Magick & Mayhem is a promising start to a new series by Sharon Pape. Fresh characters, a mystery that kept me guessing, and a little romance makes it well worth the read. Looking forward to more in this series.

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.