A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

This is the second in a series that is a wonderful blend of magic and murder mystery. Kailyn has inherited her family's shop AND the family's magical talents. When she discovers the body of her lawyer, she becomes the prime suspect and soon adds murder investigator to her list of talents. I really enjoyed all of the characters and the satisfying mystery itself, especially Merlin. I look forward to reading book 3 in the series.

"It's time to work her crime-solving magic again...

Kailyn Wilde enjoys running her shop, Abracadabra, in the quaint New York hamlet of New Camel, where she lives with her six cats. Her family's been here for centuries, and she'd like to keep up the tradition. But the place may never be the same if a big hotel gets built, so she does her civic duty and attends a town meeting along with her aunt Tilly . . . and Merlin. Yes, that Merlin-though he gets introduced to folks as her "distant English cousin." The wizard is pretty grumpy about being transported here, but there are things about the modern world he doesn't mind-like pizza.

Kailyn was prepared for a heated debate about the hotel, but she wasn't expecting murder. When Tilly finds the body of a board member outside the schoolhouse, Kailyn doesn't want any suspicion cast on the wrong person. She plans to crack this case, even if she has to talk to every living soul in town-plus a few departed ones..."

Just look at that kitty on the cover! Look at it!!!

This was a magical cozy complete with Merlin and a couple of witches and familiars. But it's not your typical witchiness, nope these are 21st century witches, a family with a long history and a fabulous Magick shop full of anything and everything that will cure what ails you. Managed by our main character, Kailyn Wilde who is a bit of a sorceress sleuth in addition to a teleportator in the making. New Camel, not to be confused with Camelot, is a nice little town and not one that necessarily needs or wants big development or high rise hotels coming in. Unfortunately someone wants it so bad they are willing to kill for it and it is up to our intrepid enchantress to solve the who before her Aunt Tilly gets the blame for finding the body. Great story line and Merlin adds that little extra comic relief, now if I could bake as good as Tilly I'd feel transported. Looking forward to the next installment and the blossoming romance. Every good book needs a little mystery, a little come hither stare, maybe even a little witchcraft.

This is the second in a series that is a wonderful mix of magic and murder mystery. Kailyn has inherited the family shop and the family's magical talents. Now she has found the body of her lawyer, become the prime suspect and adds murder investigator to her other talents. While I really enjoy all of the characters and the satisfying cozy mystery, my favorite one is Merlin. When the third in the series comes out I will be ready.

I love books with a little paranormal twist to them so I was excited to snag this one from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's a good solid little book, with an intriguing murder mystery to solve. The main character, Kailyn Wilde, comes from a long line of witches (who prefer to be called sorcerers) and she's stumbled upon a second death in her small town and she's itching to solve it. This book is the second in the Abracadabra Mystery series and while some books can be read as stand alones, this one, cannot. There were so many references to what must have happened in the previous installment, that it knocked my rating down. Other than that, I'm absolutely looking forward to the next one. The characters are quaint, but develop well and I'm curious to see where they head next. Sharon Pape is clearly a good author.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2253568535

3 or 3.5 stars

I love cozy mysteries, I'm a sucker for the Arthurian legend, and I often enjoy a twist of paranormal so I took a chance on this one. With so much catnip, how could I resist? Well, I wish I'd read the first book as I was often confused. You could do this one as a stand alone but I think it would work better if you read in order.

"That Olde White Magick" was a pleasant cozy mystery with some laugh out loud moments. Merlin the wizard is mostly played for laughs and he does provide quite a few. He's the proverbial fish out of water, and he's quite cantankerous. He tries to help Kailyn and her aunt Tilly solve a murder, and fight some controversial development. Kailyn decides to ask questions and see if she can solve the murder. The deceased was an acquaintance of hers but just as importantly, the deceased's vote would have been the swing vote concerning the development. Concerned that the vote, which has been postponed due to the death, may have been the reason for the murder Kailyn conducts an investigation. Meanwhile Kailyn is also trying to improve her magic skills and deal with her ghostly relatives who just can't mind their own business.

Despite all of the magic and the paranormal aspects, this story felt more realistic than many cozies. Pape gave a solid foundation to her world and characters that made the whole story believable.For instance, magick is a skill that must be learnt and practiced. A successful spell does not happen instantly but takes practice and effort. On the investigative end of things, Kailyn runs into stumbling blocks, makes mistakes, and doesn't get people to open up to her and tell her all sorts of useful information that there's no sensible reason for them to share. She thinks, reflects, utilizes resources, and yes, makes mistakes. But she's not ridiculously stupid, just believably amateurish.

Parts of the story were predictable and I never felt the romance between Kailyn and her boyfriend. There were certain circumstances that affected that but even so, I just couldn't see them as a couple. There was no spark or heat between them. What did work was the mystery. I was pleasantly clueless. I say 'pleasantly' because there were lots of clues and red herrings and putting them together and eliminating some was a challenge.

"That Olde White Magick" was entertaining, the mystery was well done, and I enjoyed Kailyn and her wacked out family.

I definitely enjoyed this book more than the first one. Ms. Pape has definitely started to find her own style of writing and I didn't have the problem of the first book where it seemed totally disjointed for the first half of the book. This book flowed much more smoothly.

I still love our main characters, Kailyn, Tilly, and Merlin. They're fun, developed characters and we keep learning more about them as we delve deeper into their lives. In this book, the reason why Kailyn seemed so interested in this case is a bit more logical in my thinking than it was in the first book, which is good. I'm not generally keen on heroines who butt in just for curiosity's sake. I prefer they have a good reason.

The setting descriptions were slightly better in this book. I found myself more able to imagine Kailyn's shop and house much better than I could in the first book of the series.

The plot line moved along at a decent pace. I was semi-surprised by the villain. He didn't enter my mind until just before he was revealed. I did kind of wonder earlier in the book why he was playing such a big role, but it's a small town and I just figured that yes, while he was semi-central to the case, he wasn't that important. Boy was I wrong! It was only towards the end that I started to put it together.

I definitely would recommend this book. You don't even have to read the first book in the series first (though I do recommend it because there is some background information in book one that will make some things easier to understand).

Princess Fuzzypants here:
This is the second Abracadabra book I read and I am becoming quite fond of the characters. Kailey has her hands full as she runs her magick shop in the quaint village where the citizens are torn between believing in her powers or not. Despite the fact that her family has practised white magick for centuries those believers are torn between acceptance and fear.
The fact is the town is also torn between letting a new hotel development go forward or not when one of the town councillors is murdered right before a meeting to air their differences. Kailey’s Aunt Tilley finds the body which means Kailey is bound to uncover the murderer. Complicating matters further is Merlin. Yes, Merlin of days of yore who has landed in their midst without means of returning to his time. He is a handful whom they pass off as a distant and quirky relative.
Of course, the story would be lacking if there was not a super feline assistant. There is also a police officer who does not appreciate her “help” and a reporter boyfriend who is rather “bummed out” when he discovers her talents. The town is filled with interesting characters who add to the enjoyment and the story itself is intriguing. Oh yes her deceased mother and grandmother have the habit of turning up to dispense advice and critiques.
Needless to say, the book provides hours of entertainment.
I give it five purrs and two paws up.

The second book in the series has Kailyn Wilde running the family magic shop in a small picturesque town. Her maybe boyfriend Travis freaked out when she showed her sorcery skills and now they are kind of not seeing each other. They end up working together to find out who murdered one of the town councilwomen and perhaps get closer personally. Another body, several suspects, a missing man, several cats, Aunt Tilly, lots of baked goods and Merlin are all involved in this cozy mystery. Reviewed on Goodreads.

Kailyn Wilde is the proprietor of a magick shop that has been in hr family for centuries. She lives with six cats, two generations of family ghosts, a quirky aunt next door, and Merlin -- yes, that Merlin.

All of this tends to interfere with her love life.

Still, she's keeping in touch with her journalist beau and her community by investigating a murder that seems to be connected with environmental issues in the quaint Northeastern town of New Camel.

In the process she meets new people, irritates the local law enforcement officers, and gets some great chances to work on her teleportation skills. But will she live to tell the tale?

Kailyn is likeable and her friends and family (and her paranormal associates) are fun, too. The story is not plausible and the plot is not tightly woven, but it's a fun read with plenty of surprises from start to finish.

I requested this book from net galley, so I have not read book 1 in the series. I felt that hindered my enjoyment of the book as the author din't really re-cap the past events. Having the wizard Merlin be in modern times and hanging out with the main character and her Aunt, seemed very out of place without having that back story. I felt the Aunt's character should have been stronger, considering she was suppose to be a witch as well, she seemed afraid most of the book.

That said, I did enjoy the main character Kailyn, I thought she was strong and there was a lot of growth for the character as the series continues. I also thought the mystery plot wasn't too predictable and even when you started to have an idea of who the killer might be the situation/motivation leading to the events was still surprising. New Camel as a town and the community was also a cozy setting that I would definitely want to spend more time in.

I would recommend this book, but I'd definitely read book one first. I would also like to see the Merlin character used for more then just comic relief, it seems like a waste to have such a "famous/powerful witch" in the series if you aren't going to make the most of it.

A fun, enjoyable, easy read for fans of magical cosy mysteries. The second in a series by author Sharon Pape.

I absolutely adore the Abracadabra Mystery cozy series! The covers are beautiful and the theme is magical (literally) with a great touch of humor. Merlin (yes, the famous Merlin....) is an added bonus. Go big or go home, right? Love it!

Residents of New Camel, NY are all talking about a proposed new hotel. The town calls a public meeting to discuss the project. Kailyn Wilde, owner of the local magick shop Abracadabra, her Aunt Tilly and a cranky Merlin all attend the meeting. Building a large hotel in town might change the traditions and eclectic feel of New Camel. The Wilde family has been living there and running the magick shop for centuries. Kailyn doesn't want to see drastic changes in the town. But, before any debate about the hotel can start, one of the city board members is found dead. Amanda Roswell's throat has been slashed from ear to ear. Once again Kailyn finds herself smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation!

I love the quirky characters in this series. Tilly is feisty. Kailyn is determined. And Merlin is hilarious and chronically cranky. :) I also enjoy the creative theme of this series. Kailyn is a witch in a long line of witches who have owned the magick shop in New Camel for generations. She often gets visits from the spirits of her dead mother and grandmother, who offer advice on her investigations and honing her magical skills. Merlin loves pizza and television and often gets himself into big trouble.

Although it isn't strictly necessary to read the first book in this series before this one, I do recommend it. A lot of character details -- like how Merlin arrived in New Camel -- are explained in the first book. But, if book 1 isn't available, by all means jump in here at enjoy the story!

I enjoyed this newest addition to the series. The mystery is interesting. The characters are quirky and fun. And, there were plenty of suspects, motives and twists in the plot. I enjoy the humor and creativity of this series. A third book, Magick Run Amok, will be out in May 2018. I definitely plan to read it!

For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.sharonpape.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

While you may feel a bit more up to speed on the Merlin and popping in dead aspects if you had read the previous book in this fantastic series, you can read and enjoy this as a stand alone. Especially if you like trial and error spell casting, gossipy small towns with quirky characters and ecclectic boutique stores. New development is coming to town and the townspeople are split about the profitable benefits versus the damage to their way of life.
Sorceress Kailyn Wilde is also a bit of a snoop. Having successfully discovered a killer before, she can't keep her nose out of the investigation. It doesn't hurt that shegets to spend tie with a handsome newspaper writer.
With a meddling Merlin, who is still discovering new things about the times in which we live and he appeared, and advice offering deceased relatives, Kailyn is trying to balance work and advancing her witchy skills. This is a fun series with plenty of suspects and plot twists.

I think what I like the best about this series so far is Merlin - a sorcerer from the past that somehow ended up in today's world and seeing how he handles new experiences each day. But all of the characters are interesting and all interact well with each other....even the killer until (s)he is caught red handed! The author does a good job of narrowing down the suspects for the reader, but even then I didn't suspect the killer until it was revealed.

You don't have to believe in magick to enjoy these books but I find that aspect intriguing. I'm not sure if I believe in it or not, but I am always open to discovering new things. If nothing else it makes for enjoyable reading.

Since this is the 2nd in the series, I would recommend reading book 1 first. It helps set up some of the back story and the relationship with various characters. You could read this but you might feel a little lost when it comes to the various relationships

I think I just might be falling in love with these characters. It started while I was reading the first book and it just cemented itself when I finished this one. The mix of magic and mystery is just the right touch to balance the story giving it a light-hearted feeling while still being interesting. being visited by dead relatives makes things even more fun and the clowder of cats is just hilarious. When you add Aunt Tilly and Merlin things really get interesting and unpredictable. The book is very well written with just the right touch of details mixed with a quirky investigation. I have to admit that this is a great cozy series that you must read if you like magic at all. I really enjoyed it so it gets 4/5 stars.

I love this series. No really, in fact I have savored reading each book when they come out because they are as good as fresh garden salad or soup. Okay, cheesy but really they have qualities that draw a variety of readers to them and the latest is making my heels click with joy because it is a holiday themed book.

Oh, I really loved this book. Kailyn, Aunt Tilly, and Merlin are a hoot. I enjoyed all the characters as well as the mystery. The story has some twists and turns and it was fun to read about Kailyn's progress on her magick skills. The mystery kept my guessing, in fact, I wasn't sure who the murderer was or why until it was revealed. This is the second book in the series. I want to read the first book. This one made references to events in the first book and though I still was able to follow, it made me want to read the first book.

THAT OLDE WHITE MAGICK by Sharon Pape
The Second Abracadabra Mystery

Pretty much the entire town of New Camel, NY has arrived at a special town meeting since pretty much every resident has a strong opinion about the zoning law change being proposed. But everything is put on hold when a board member is found murdered outside the school just before the meeting begins. Did someone kill her because of her position on the proposal? Curiosity piqued Kailin Wilde decides investigating another murder may be just what she's looking for, not that she intends to put herself in a killer's sights again. Between running her magickal shop, keeping an eye on Merlin (yes, that Merlin), and practicing teleportation, Kailin decides to also work on her relationship with Travis. Perhaps solving a murder together is just what they need to get back on track.

The second Abracadabra mystery has many layers that are filled with fun characters Aunt Tilly provides plenty of humor, along with familial love, while Merlin is brilliant as a fish out of water. Kailin shows strength of character and determination as she investigates the murder and works on relationship issues while remaining true to herself. I truly enjoy how magick is presented and wish I could visit Abracadabra and purchase some Wilde magick. I appreciate the care shown to Sashkatu and hope that all elderly cats are treated with such deference, whether they are familiars or not!

THAT OLDE WHITE MAGICK is a great blend of realistic small town politics and murder spiced with magick.