The Witch is Back by Angela M. Sanders brings magic, small-town drama, suspense, and death to the sixth and latest book in the Witch Way Librarian Mysteries series set in fictional Wilfred, Oregon. Librarian Josie Way is a relatively novice witch who gets energy, warnings, and helpful hints from books. When her mother suddenly calls from the airport from Josie to pick her up, it only the beginning of an eventful week. Soon poison pen letters are being delivered to the small town’s residents.

Hoping to distract her mother, Josie takes her to an estate sale, where the recently passed Reverend Clarence Duffy lived. Inside the house, Josie hears warnings from the boxed books that have been sold. Tasked with finding the author of the disturbing letters, Josie starts her investigation, but soon, a dead body is found at the bottom of a cliff. Was it an accident or murder?

Of course, things don’t always go smoothly. With the letters unsettling the town’s residents, friendships start to crumble and everyone tends to look at everyone else with suspicion.

Josie has a strong sense of family and community. She loves books and feels compelled to seek justice. The secondary characters were a mixed lot of the unusual as well as ever-day folks that you could meet in any small town. While their depth varied, it felt adequate for their roles in this story. Of the secondary characters, Rodney the cat stole the show.

This was a fun, relaxing, and entertaining read that I did not want to put down. The writing style is warm and friendly and the world building was well done. I was able to vividly see the picturesque library, the town, and the people of Wilford. I also enjoyed the way the historical aspects of the town, as well as some romance, were woven seamlessly into the story. Multiple crimes and danger elevate the suspense level. However, the poison pen author was a little too easy to discern. My only other quibbles are that there are a couple of cliffhangers that I hoped would be resolved in this novel.

Overall, this was a story that quickly drew me into Josie’s world. It was filled with the challenges of suspicions, secrets, a death, ominous feelings, a wildfire, and more. I recommend the Witch Way Librarian Mysteries series to those who enjoy the genre. If you share Josie’s and my love of books and libraries, this may be the next book for you. I’m a fan of the series and am looking forward to reading the next book.

Kensington Publishing – Kensington Cozies and Angela M. Sanders provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for November 26, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of THE WITCH IS BACK (Book 6 of the Witch Way Librarian Mystery series) by Angela M. Sanders in exchange for an honest review. Nothing remains settled for long in Wilfred, Oregon. This time, someone is sending poison pen letters to the residents. Librarian Josie Way is preoccupied with her mother’s unexpected visit, and the surprisingly ominous whispers from the personal library of the recently deceased Reverend Duffy. When one of the pastor’s sons dies by a seeming misadventure, can the poison pen letters be related? Josie determines she must learn the truth behind the letters and the unexpected death. Josie also debates whether to share her secret with her boyfriend.

I liked the book and enjoy the series. I recommend this book to fans of paranormal cozy mysteries featuring small towns, libraries, and chatty books.

#TheWitchIsBack #NetGalley

How can you not like a book with this cover, it has a cat and books what else do you need to pick this up?

This is book 6 in the Witch Way Librarion Mysteries by Angela M. Sanders. It was my first book by this writer and in this series. The book can definitely be read as a standalone. But I enjoyed the story a lot, so I'll definitely read the previous books in the series.

We follow librarian Josy who lives in the small-town Wilfred. She is a witch and books 'talk' to her. She is dating Sam the police officer in town. One day her mom comes to visit her town. She works in real estate and she takes her to the Aerie. The house of the recently passed Reverend.

The next couple of days people in town receive letters with threats. She is wants to find out who the author is of the letters and makes it her mission to question everyone. Then the dead body of one of the sons of the Reverend is found in the Aerie. Are the letters and the murder connected? Will she find out who the author is?

If you love small-town mysteries with a bit of a paranormal twist, books, and cats, this book is for you!

We're back for the 6th installment of Angela M. Sanders's series Witch Way Librarian Mysteries: <i>The Witch is Back</i>.

Warning: minor spoil ahead (not a huge one, I promise)!

I've read the five previous books, so I'm well-versed in the world that Sanders has created. Of course, there's another dead body in Wilfred, Oregon, so the local librarian and neighborhood Book Witch is on the case to solve the mystery. And Josie's mother has shown up and is ready to be Josie's sidekick as long as it doesn't get in the way of her hanging out with a mysterious stranger.

Josie, on the other hand, is wrestling with whether she should finally tell Sam about her truth. Of course, this is all pushed to the breaking point when Wilfredians start receiving blackmail letters. Even Josie receives a mysterious letter claiming to know her secret.

As you can imagine, between the letters, the dead body, and her parents' apparently crumbling marriage (that's the minor spoil), Josie has her work cut out for her.

Critique:

I like these books. I've found them highly entertaining to read. I think Sanders has done a great job of creating a world for Josie to exist in that's unlike any that I've seen in cozy mysteries. Sure, the basics for a cozy mystery are all there, but Josie's unique witchy powers are something different and fun.

As for this book specifically, I really enjoyed the story. It kept me guessing. I had several pieces figured out along the way, but not everything fell into place until Sanders finally got us to the climax, which is what you want in a good mystery. You want to be as smart as the sleuth but not so smart that the book starts to feel tedious along the way.

As a whole, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good paranormal cozy mystery. If you think you would like this series, I would start with book one and make my way through the series instead of jumping right into book six. That's not to say that someone who just reads book six wouldn't enjoy the book, but you'd definitely get a few spoilers from earlier books if you just jumped in the deep end.

Overall, I want to thank the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book before publication. Although I am grateful for their generosity, this review is 100 percent my own.

I am apparently the only person who feels this way, but I could not connect to this one at all. I think I'm done with this series. I really liked the way it started, and it does have potential, but it feels like the characters aren't developing or changing from book to book anymore and as a result the series feels stagnant. I listened to the last two as audiobooks, which helped as I liked the narrator, but I found myself reading this one with the sense that nothing had moved forward from the last three books. It felt repetitive and dry and couldn't hold my attention. Unfortunately this one was a miss for me...

If you like cozy mysteries about books with a little witchy paranormal thrown in then you will like this book. I read this book not knowing it was part of a series, it’s book number six of the Witch Way Librarian Mysteries. I had no trouble jumping in at book six and figuring out what was going on. I would like to go back and start from the beginning because I did enjoy this book. I thought her magic was very interesting, books spoke to her (seems fitting for a librarian). I thought that was an interesting take on a witch that I hadn’t read before.

I thought the mystery was interesting. Suspicious letters start arriving to people in town revealing hidden secrets about them. Josie receives a letter saying “I know your secret” and she becomes worried. When the body of the reverend's son is found dead you have to wonder are the letters and the murder connected? Who is taunting the townspeople? With the help of Josie’s magical mom and her cat Rodney they tackle this mystery.

Thank you Kensington Publishing for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

A well-written, captivating cosy murder mystery with quirky characters, a lot of books, magic, and a cat.

It's the sixth book in the Witch Way Librarian Mysteries series but can be read as a stand-alone. I haven't had read any of the previous books but had no issues understanding the plot or getting acquainted with the characters.

I very much enjoyed reading it and it most certainly wasn't the last book from the series I have read.

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Transparency disclaimer: Receiving an eARC of this story via NetGalley did not influence my review in any way, shape, or form.

so much fun!! spooky yet cozy! this was a perfect read around spooky season that was very memorable. i loved the ideas, plot and characters. i will definitely check out more from this author

The Witch is Back (Witch Way Librarian Mysteries, #6) by Angela M. Sanders opens with Josie and the rest of the town receiving poison pen letters. On top of that her mom is in town and wants a divorce. Can Josie investigate who wrote these letters while convincing her mom not to get a divorce?

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) for approving my request as I couldn't wait to find out what happens in this installment. I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review.

From the very beginning, I was drawn into the story and didn't want to put the book down. That takes some talent in my opinion. I absolutely love the characters of this series . . . they feel like they're part of my family and friend group! With that being said, there are some that get on your nerves at times, but it's like that in real life with real people.

Although I figured out who the culprit was behind the poisoned pen letters, I didn't figure out who the murderer was behind Benjamin's unfortunate death. I had a few guesses but couldn't settle on any of them. I was disappointed in myself over that!

The author did a fantastic job of wrapping up the story to give it closure. However, she did leave a couple of small cliffhangers to entice the reader to continue with the next book when it comes out. I for one can't wait for it! I know, patience is a virtue, and it's not my strong suit, lol.

If you're a fan of paranormal and cozy mysteries, then The Witch is Back (Witch Way Librarian Mysteries, #6) by Angela M. Sanders is the book, and series, for you! The expected publication date of this story is November 26, 2024. Five out of five stars.

I really enjoy this series but this wasn't my favorite. The mystery fell flat and I was hoping for more excitement with the romance development. The way the previous book ended was such a cliffhanger that the beginning of the next installment fell flat.

I've been a fan of this series which sees Josie. a librarian, learning to use her witchy powers alongside her trusty cat so this latest installment was a fun read because it moves the story forward. Josie's mom Nora has come to town to think about her marriage just as someone is sending out poison pen letters to the people in town. But who? And why? This sees Josie fess up to her boyfriend Sam at long last-a move that deepens their relationship. I liked this not only for the mystery but also for Nora. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for cozy fans.

Poison pen letters and a visit by her mother, means local librarian and novice witch Josie Way is both busy and confused. Tasked by the other residents of Wilfred, Oregon, to find the letter writer only adds to what Josie is already dealing with, especially why her mom is visiting unannounced and alone. When she  receives her own poison pen letter, she knows it's time to tell her boyfriend Sam about her deepest secret, but then a dead body is discovered, and things really get serious.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing/Kensington Cosies., but the opinions expressed are my own. I love this series, especially the setting and the way Josie's magic is linked to books. There is also a back story that seems to gain momentum and jeopardy with each new book. Highly recommended.

The Witch Is Back by Angela M. Sanders is a captivating cozy mystery that had me on the edge of my seat until the final page.

I enjoyed this book. A good read with magic poison pen letters a d a murder mystery for Josie to solve. I would highly recommend it.

“The Witch Is Back” is a must read for lovers of cozy mysteries and magic! Murder is back again in the town of Wilfred. Ominous poison pen letters are being delivered to the townsfolk. The letters contain gossip and secrets that are putting everyone on edge. Josie and Rodney, our favorite cat familiar, must solve the mystery! I love this series so much. Each new installment progresses the overall storyline- introducing more of Josie’s family and new town residents, and more romance. The mystery kept me intrigued. I really enjoy the atmosphere of the library and the small town.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A good cozy mystery. With poison pen letters and murder it gives Josie a lot to research. Enjoyed this one and would recommend.

Poison pen letters lend themselves to a great premise in this paranormal series.
Interesting characters and a well paced whodunit.
I loon forward to the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Loved reading this book and series. 1 of my favorite authors. Looking forward to more books in this series

To begin with, Josie is a strong witch whose power comes from books. The books speak to her and help her as a librarian to guide people to the book they need. Josie’s mom comes to visit and is reevaluating her marriage, which upsets Josie. Josie must also confront her own fears and admit to her boyfriend that she is a witch. Her mom is finally accepting her own powers.
Everyone in the town of Wilfred is receiving poison pen letters and it is ruining the close knit community. Josie is elected to find who is sending them. There is also a mysterious stranger (whom her mom is spending time with), a death made to look like a suicide, and all the quirky residents.
This cozy paranormal mystery is fun and suspenseful. I recommend this book and the series.
Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

I mostly enjoyed this book, although I was really frustrated that they couldn’t see who the poison pen letters writer is. It’s SO obvious. lol. I like the complexity of the story, the characters & setting. They feel real. This book does have a cliffhanger though which I also find annoying. #TheWitchisBack #NetGalley