Although this is the eighth book in the Magical Bakery Mystery series by Bailey Cates, this is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was very intrigued by the concept of this series and I have to admit, the cover played a huge part in why I wanted to try this series out. But also, this is the first time I’ve tried reading a Paranormal Cozy Mystery. I’ve read quite a lot of other cozies but they are usually Contemporaries so I was very eager to try this one.

To be honest, I was a little surprised with this book. I really liked the bakery concept but it was the paranormal side that kind of threw me off in the beginning. Now I’m no stranger to paranormal reads. In fact, I really became obsessed with reading because of Paranormal Romance. However, I’ve never read a book that tackles the paranormal quite like one. I don’t know if it’s because it’s a different genre and they handle things different here but I wasn’t sure I was into it at first. For example, Declan, one of the big characters in the series, has a leprechaun inside of him. I guess it was just a little difficult for me to wrap my head around. Maybe I’m just not used to this kind of paranormal.

Anyway, I did eventually get over it. I enjoyed the book but perhaps I had really high expectations. I do plan on going back to read the other books in the series. But I look forward to trying out other Paranormal Cozy Mysteries to see if I’ll enjoy those ones too.

COOKIES AND CLAIRVOYANCE is a nice introduction to the Paranormal Cozy Mystery genre and I look forward to reading more from Bailey Cates in the future.

Cookies and Clairvoyance: A Magical Bakery Mystery
By Bailey Cates
Berkley
September 2019

Review by Cynthia Chow

Hedgewitch Katie Lightfoot’s wedding to Declan McCarthy is fast approaching, but unless the renovations on her Savannah home manage to overcome an increasing number of delays and snafus, it is very possible that her reception guests will be using the on-site porta potties. It’s why Katie is so looking forward to a visit from her father Skylar Lightfoot, who is not only a practicing Shaman but has a surfeit of home construction experience. As it turns out though, his shamanic skills are needed first when local philanthropist Kensington Bosworth is murdered. Katie had hoped that the sight of her dragonfly totem around Bosworth was just a fluke, but her newfound heritage as a lightwitch and catalyst for “things” has her prepared when she receives a call from Savannah Police Detective Peter Quinn. Recently informed – and shown to the extent that it was impossible to deny – of Katie’s talent as a witch, Quinn calls her to the Bosworth mansion when the man is found bludgeoned to death by a magic-related instrument. Kensington Bosworth was collector of a vast array of paranormal books and objects, and it is a distinctly Native American totem that is smeared with his blood. Katie’s father is able to provide a more information on the Ginegosh statue, but Detective Quinn has already focused his attention on Randy Post, the fireman who set up Bosworth’s security system and was seen arguing with him before his death. Randy being one of Declan’s firefighter friends means that for once Declan is all on board with his fiancée’s magical investigation, although they are all warned away by a very unexpected source.

When a spell designed to give her insight into the crime is diverted and goes disastrously wrong, Katie finds herself robbed of her magical skills that she has so embraced for the last two years. Not only does this result in rather abysmal and sad pastries within her Honeybee Bakery, the loss of her magic cuts the connection between Katie and her Cairn terrier familiar Mungo. Preventing her from spiraling into despair are her Uncle Ben and Aunt Lucy, who along with her coven spellbook club continue to search not just for answers to Bosworth’s death but in how to restore Katie’s inherited witch talents.

From the start of this series, the books of Katie Lightfoot and the Honeybee Bakery have always been charming and full of humor and romance. This 8th in the series departs by exploring a magically injured Katie, and she experiences the same fury and depression as anyone with a physical injury. Lashing out at those who care for her, it takes her father and a shamanic journey to give her a glimpse of hope and possible solutions to both the murder and theft of her magic. Reporter and druid Steve Dawes still flirts and irritates Declan, but the Dragoh Druid also provides insight into a mysterious, long-thought defeated druid clan that had caught the interest of Bosworth’s son. A thrilling conclusion leads not just to new discoveries that could complicate Katie’s life, they also set forth a path for her next adventure. Readers will be left hungering for this next exciting installment in Katie’s life, but this latest will more than satisfy with its magical intrigue and even some (non-magic-infused) recipes.