I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this book. I must apologise that it has taken me so long to supply my review. Severe chronic illnesses have affected my life in recent years (not COVID) and have left me unable to write reviews. I have still read the books, left myself notes, but can’t give the level of review I usually give. It is my hope to return to that level in the future, and will include posting detailed reviews here, to my blog, to Amazon Australia, and Goodreads.

Please accept my apologies, along with the following basic review:

Although a Pagan, but not a Wiccan, I have been enjoying this series. I can't remember if I've gotten them all via Netgalley, or bought a few myself. But I do love how the wheel of the year is embraced and described within... even if it's a wiccan POV. 🤪

Love that Keli is striking out on her own, still can't keep out of trouble, and is still strong in her faith through out. Blessed be!

Keli Milanni is an attorney in Edindale, Illinois — and a very in-the-broom-closet Wiccan. While she has opened up about her faith to her best friend and her boyfriend, she keeps it a secret from her clients and the community-at-large. Or, at least she tries to keep it a secret. When she becomes embroiled in a murder investigation, however, she finds herself being pulled deeper into the local Pagan community; and, even worse, finds herself the subject of police suspicion and media speculation. When rumors begin to swirl and clients begin to cancel, Keli realizes that the only way to save her career is to solve the murder herself. But doing so requires Keli to draw on her faith in new and unexpected ways ….

There are very few mainstream mystery series which take “alternative spiritualities” seriously. Hesse’s Wiccan Wheel Mysteries is one of those few, which is why it is also one of my favorites. I have followed it from the beginning, and it only gets better with each book.

Keli is a terrific protagonist: deeply ethical, hard-working, and loyal. She is passionate about her work, and loves to help people solve their problems. She is also intelligent and curious and, best of all, faithful. Keli is a devout Wiccan who walks her talk; she is thankful and prayerful, turning to the Goddess both to express gratitude and to request aid. (I particularly like the scene in which Keli casts a prosperity spell by planting a garden.)

Over the course of the series, Keli has been gradually pushed further and further out of her closet and out of her comfort zone. Watching her evolve has been fascinating and satisfying. In the first book, Midsummer Night’s Mischief, Keli is completely private about her beliefs; she is paranoid that someone will see her shopping at Moonstone Treasures (the local metaphysical store) and only reluctantly discusses spiritual issues with the proprietor, Mila. By the fifth book, May Day Murder, Keli has opened up to her best friend and boyfriend, Mila is a trusted confidante, she is willing to discuss her beliefs with other Pagans, and she is attending the public Beltane ritual. I couldn’t help but cheer Keli on as she became more self-confidant and self-aware in her spirituality.

Then, of course, there is the mystery at the heart of May Day Murder. Not only does Keli stumble across a murder scene and find herself caught up in the official investigation, but she is also the subject of harassment, the focus of a smear campaign, and the victim of a sinister stalker.

Good thing she has magic and her faith to keep her strong.

May Day Murder is a great addition to the Wiccan Wheel Mystery series. Highly recommended, but the books are best read in order.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I am happy to be back reading this series. Keli has just left the law firm that she has been working and started her own practices. She is looking forward to the celebration Beltane. But it would not be a Keli story without a little bit of murder mystery. We all know that Keli needs to solve what happened to her friends deceased ex. Will they figure it out before this puts more uneasiness in the Wiccan community? Will they do this before it interfers with the May Day Festivities? I love this series and it is always amazing reads.

Kell Milanni struck out on her own, leaving her cushy job at an established law firm and setting up her own private practice. However, she still is keeping her Wiccan beliefs quiet, that is until finding a dead witch gets her known as the witch lawyer. To save her practice, and keep from being the Prime suspect, she uses her special knowledge of the Wiccan community to figure out what happened. Within the first few pages, I knew I was going to enjoy this book. Interesting characters. Even though this was #5 in this series, I had no problem getting up to speed with everything I needed to know for this story. I'm adding the series to my favorites list.

May Day Murder is book #5 in the Wiccan Wheel Mystery series. This book, like the previous ones in the series, stands on its own and is a delight to read. I love the characters and setting and look forward to the next book. This is one of my favorite series and the author never fails to deliver.

Keli has the perfect life, a sexy live in boyfriend who adores her, her solo legal practice, a great group of friends, and a supportive group of fellow Wiccan ladies even though she is still in the proverbial closet about her spirituality. That is everything was going smoothly until it wasn't. They say that people are placed in your path for a reason but Keli isn't quite sure as to why Erik the Druid was placed in her path other than to figure out who killed his ex-girlfriend and for what reason. It seems that Erik has brought along some bad luck or as he claims, a possible hex from the ex. The bad luck is contagious as Keli is associated with the murder and becomes known as the Witch Lawyer. I really enjoyed learning about the festival of Beltane as well as a great message regarding the power of positive thoughts and actions. I also like the way the relationship between Keli and Wes continues to progress and evolve. Great book, great story, can't wait for the next one!

Princess Fuzzypants here: Keli tries very hard to keep her Wiccan beliefs separate from her law practice but it seems to be getting harder and harder. Things seem to be conspiring to draw her deeper into it and to broadcast it to the world. The death of a practising witch who had a rousing business in spells both good and bad is the start of her problems. She and the ex boyfriend of the witch discover the body. Although she only met the guy that day, the assumption is they are an “item” in spite of the fact that she lives with her boyfriend.
Not only is she a suspect but it seems everything starts to spiral downwards. When things get really bad, she tries her own magic to thwart whomever is sending bad vibes her way. Keli doesn’t know who to trust as she gets pulled deeper and deeper into a group of people who share the witch’s beliefs and have since high school.
The story does a good job in confusing the issue so that the reader isn’t certain who is behind all the evil deeds. I did suspect the one who was the killer but not without having lots of other thoughts. There is also another story line buried in the story that did not get resolved so it will be interesting to see where it all takes us next.
Four purrs and two paws up.

Attorney Keli Milanni has hung out her shingle, and is looking forward to being her own boss.

But as Beltane approaches, she does a favor for a friend, and gives erik, a Druid from a nearby town, a ride to his ex-girlfriend's house so he can pay back a loan. But when they arrive, they find his ex dead, and the local police think Keli and Erik have something to do with it.

Keli is determined to clear her name, but she has other problems of her own. Someone is trying to sabatogue her new business, and is causing a lot of havoc in Keli's life. It's up to her, her boyfriend Wes, and Keli's best friend, Farrah, to get to the bottom of things before Keli meets her end in a most horrible way.

I have not read all the books in this series, but I have loved each one that I've read. Jennifer David Hesse is a gifted storyteller, and that means her story are full of life. I love Keli, who is determined to make it on her own. She is a little disconcerted by the fadct that her involvement in this case basically outs her as a Wiccan, and she becomes the go to attorney for Wiccans with problems. But she embraces it, despite the reaction she gets from some of the people she'd known for sometime, and to me that makes her a perfect character.

There is a great deal of action in this story, and it made me turn the pages as quickly as possible, burning the midnight oil to see not only whodunit (of which I was wrong) and to see what happened to Keli.

This book ends with a clue about the next story, and it makes me want to find the author and ask her to write faster, please. I can't wait to see what is in story for Keli and her gang next.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

Attorney Keli Milanni is looking forward to Beltane, the time-honored Wiccan holiday that celebrates life with feasting, ceremonial dancing, and ancient Celtic rituals. Having recently opened her own practice she is still getting used to the fact she is the business. When she decides to help out her friend Erik who is blaming his bad luck on his ex whom he believes put a curse on him. When the ex turns up dead and Keli finds herself a person of interest she begins to believe she may be cursed too. Can Keli uncover what is really going on and who the murderer truly is or will she miss the May Day festivities?

Although this is the 5th book in the series it was my first book. I had no trouble following the storyline or understanding the characters relationships. The characters are interesting and the mystery is full of red herrings. This is a quick fun read which I would recommend to cozy mystery fans.

I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book supplied by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.

This is book 5 in the Wiccan Wheel Mystery series and it's a good one. Keli has opened her own law office and is basically coming out as a witch. She is helping new friend David who seems to be cursed by a witch in a neighboring town. The holiday of Beltran is soon approaching and it seems David's luck is running out. Lots of good information on the Wiccan religion and their culture and holidays. Also the return of all Keli's friends and fellow Wiccans. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I absolutely love this series and May Day Murder doesn't disappoint!

Wiccan lawyer Keli Milanni is an intelligent amateur sleuth that you cannot help, but love. Jennifer David House really has done her research. The Wiccan aspects of the book are in detail and true!

I cannot wait for more in this series!

Keli Milanni is a smart modern gal struggling to get her solo her law firm financially stable since she left a big law firm.
Wes Callahan, a tattooed bartender, is Keli's boyfriend and I enjoy the move away from the CRI (Cop Romantic Interest). Mila is the owner of New Age gift shop Moonstone Treasures and a Wiccan mentor for Keli. Farrah is her best friend and trusty sidekick who is laid up with a bum knee in this book. The multiple suspects surrounding Erik and the victim Denise provide a colorful cast with a myriad of motives.

Edindale and a neighboring town are the prime setting with a few wilderness areas included. The beginning of spring blossoms in the book and enveloped me as I read through a snow storm.

The plot begins fairly simple but the motive is murky as police and media complicate matters by claiming it was a witch-on-witch killing. Subplots include Keli dealing with her Wiccan private beliefs becoming publicly known and how that will affect her new law firm and somebody sabotaging her business in addition to the murder.

The pacing kept a steady forward momentum with just enough twists. The killer reveal was deliciously tense and dramatic! Nicely done there, I must say. The wrap up was touching and also left one subplot to carry into the next book as a dangling mystery. It effectively makes me want to read the next book to see the answer.

Keli is a touch too trusting in this outing. I found myself thinking in a couple of scenes that she was trusting a stranger too much. Otherwise, the book has a solid mystery with the subplots that all kept me flipping pages. This was only the second book in the series I've read and I had no problem understanding references etc. I like the simple weaving of Wiccan beliefs in the story without too much detail.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

Keli has opened her new solo law practice. And no surprise it’s a bit of a struggle. However, the problems aren’t quite what she expected. Keli finds herself involved in a murder meeting Erik. Somehow everything seems to point to Keli and she has no idea why. In addition, everyone starts to identify her as a witch. Erik always seems to be in the picture, but why?

I enjoyed this book. It is the first Wiccan Wheel Mystery for me but I’m sure it won’t be the last.

May Day Murder: A Wiccan Wheel Mystery
By Jennifer David Hesse
Kensington
March 2019

Review by Cynthia Chow

The road to hell may be paved with good intentions, but it’s a simple favor that lands attorney Keli Milanni in the midst of a murder investigation and the primary suspect. When Moonstone Treasures owner Mila Douglas asks Keli if she wouldn’t mind giving customer Erik Grayson a lift, Keli is happy to help out a friend of a friend. So it’s alarming when Keli learns that Erik the Druid, in town for the upcoming Beltane Fire Festival, barely knows Mila and asks for yet another favor as he confronts an ex-girlfriend. Erik believes that Denise Crowley hexed him until he repays her for money he borrowed, but before he can sever the curse they find Denise dead in her home. Keli no longer hides her Wiccan practices since leaving her old law firm to open her own office, but that doesn’t mean that she’s ready to be outted as a witch and publicly tied to a witch’s murder. Unfortunately, a newspaper article does a lot to shove her out of the witch closet, with the result being that she loses some of the few clients who followed her from the law firm of Olsen, Sykes, and Rafferty.

Worried that her implication in the death of a witch will cost Keli her new law practice, she decides to do what she can to find answers and prove her innocence. A suspicious detective isn’t subtle with his belief that Keli and Erik probably conspired in the murder, and it’s not helping that she seems to find herself more and more involved in local Edindale Wiccan activities. For as much as being the “Lawyer to the Witches” initially costs Keli her more conservative clients, it also brings a new particular set of those requiring someone with her specialty. A Wiccan fighting a custody battle, a necromancer being fined for not having a taxidermy license, these are but the start of what could be an extraordinary new branch of law.

The author pulls of the trick of making Wicca and Wiccans seem so ordinary and natural, especially when faced by the irrational prejudices of certain segments of society. The exploration of Beltane as a celebration of May Day is truly fascinating, and it’s combined with clues left in Norse-themed tarot cards. A Witches’ Web social media network for Pagans brings modern-day technology to an ancient religion, and its utilization is as ironic as it is practical. The suspense is kept at high levels through ominous threats and a radio crank call-in, but what really delivers is how readers and Keli constantly waiver in their trust of Erik. Her own boyfriend certainly questions the druid’s motivations, especially as he seems to be spending a lot of time around Keli and is more than a little captivated by her. The relationship between Keli and Wes is a mature one based on trust, and it’s one that continues to evolve as she shares Wicca with the man she loves. Humor is kept at high levels with her usual BFF Farrah Anderson sidelined by a skiing injury but definitely present with her opinions, and a new mystery promises further intrigue for Keli. Readers will more than look forward to joining her as she grows as a Wicca, feels comfortable with her choices, and becomes Edindale’s Lawyer for the Witches.

Spring is ushering in a multitude of changes in Keli's life. Now operating her own legal practice, and finally coming into her own as a practicing Wiccan, Keli is ready to just enjoy the changes in her life, Her relationship with her wonderful boyfriend Wes is going well, they even live together! And although business is slow, Keli is really enjoying working independently.

All of that changes when she is introduced to Erick and unknowingly becomes a suspect in a murder case when his ex-girlfriend Denise is found dead.

This was a fun cozy with just the right touch of some supernatural elements. It did have a lot of interesting information relating to Pagan, Wiccan, and Druidic traditions.

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 5 in the series.

I like the characters, I like that Keli has her own law practice now. The story was interesting and quick moving. But I felt like Keli acted a bit out of character with Erik.

My biggest complaint about this book was the secondary mystery that was slyly slipped in and left unsolved at the end. I feel like that's the new version of a cliffhanger, done to make sure the reader comes back to read the next book and it really annoys me. As a result, I dinged it a full star. I am curious about how things will end, but not enough to overcome my annoyance.

This is the 5th book in this wonderful favorite series. I have read and recommend the entire series for your reading enjoyment. The writing is well crafted, the sleuth is always challenging and the charcters are likable and add to each book. This was a ARC from Net Galley. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley. My opinions are my own.
In this next in series our protagonist Keli Milanni is continuing her studies as a practicing wiccan. Her spiritual practice is slowly being revealed to those close to her. She is running her own law practice now and finding it challenging to keep her Wicca practice separate from her work. The paranormal aspect is very fun to read about and interesting. Its no wonder this series is so popular as the author weaves magic perfectly into her charcter and each plot. I love learning about the practice of Wicca in each book. Up until now she has hid her practice as a witch and is moving toward reveling it . This is her focus and inner struggle with this next in series. Her boyfriend Wes now lives with her and is supportive and her good friend Farrah is very close to her and helps her with her sleuthing.

When she finds the body of a stranger the police immediatly looking at her as the only suspect. As she scrambles to prove her own innocence, hold onto her business and use her Wicca practices to help her she is pulled in many directions one which puts her in danger . She calls on a friend that is a Druid and others within her Wicca coven to help her prove her innocence by finding the right suspect.
The conclusion was satisfying and a surprise ending to this avid mystery reader. I loved the whodoneit and the clues provided throughout the mystery. This was a fun read and I look forward to the next in series.

I’ve missed a couple books in this series, but I honestly didn’t feel like it when I dived right in to this fifth addition to the Wiccan Wheel series. Keli has her own firm and is doing OK when she is drawn into the murder of a new acquaintance’s ex-girlfriend. Keli can’t help herself and uses her spare time to investigate the murder, especially because she’s considered a suspect as she and this new acquaintance discovered the body. Along the way, she realizes she may have been hexed because nothing goes right in her life after discovering the body and starting the investigation. I quite enjoyed this book, and most of the way through the book I smugly thought to myself “I know who did it.” Well, guess what? I was wrong! If you love paranormal cozies, definitely give this one a try! I highly recommend this book and was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.

Keli is back for another installment of the Wiccan Wheel mysteries this time investigating the death of a witch. A simple good deed of giving a stranger a ride brings her face to face with a dead young woman. Who killed her, the ex-boyfriend Keli drove to her house? or one of her high school friends? Is the fact that she was a practicing witch involved with her death? This story not only gets Keli wrapped up in the victim's world but also brings her further out of the broom closet, revealing her Wiccan nature to the people around her. How will this affect her relationships and new career path? This is what is exciting me for the next instalment of the series, not to mention the mysterious gifts she's receiving at her new office! Over all, I enjoyed this mystery, it wasn't too obvious and there were lots of exciting tidbits along the way. I can't wait for the next one!

This story is definitely a unique twist in cozies. The protagonist, Keli Milanni, is a wiccan lawyer that finds herself involved with "witchy people" in trying to solve a murder entangled with hexes and curses. However, she soon finds herself a victim of harassment or maybe even a curse or two.

This is an intriguing and sometimes suspenseful story. It moves along at a good pace giving readers lots of information but yet keeps the murderer unknown until the end.

Thanks to Kensington books and NetGalley for an ARC of this story. The opinions expressed are my own.