Title: To Catch a Witch
Series: A Wishcraft Mystery
By: Heather Blake
ISBN: 1683317084 (ISBN13: 9781683317081)
Author’s Website: http://www.heatherblakebooks.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Summary: 
Wishcrafter Darcy Merriweather might be a witch with the ability to grant wishes for others, but wishing isn’t going to help her catch a killer…
When wishcrafter Darcy Merriweather’s personal concierge company is hired by elite runner Abby Stillwell to organize the Wicked Mad Dash, a competition that takes place in the Enchanted Village, Darcy is more than willing to help her friend. As blizzard conditions rage on the morning of the race, Darcy’s main concern is the terrible weather―until Abby goes missing…and is later found dead, buried in the snow.
As Darcy investigates her friend’s untimely death, she learns that she didn’t really know Abby well at all. And those closest to the woman―her secret fiancé, her roommate, her ex-boyfriend, and her co-workers at Balefire Sports―seem to have plenty to hide too. As Darcy digs deeper, she uncovers complicated relationships, a possible embezzlement scheme, and allegations of cheating against a top athlete.
Just when Darcy is convinced she’s hit a dead end in the case, a startling burglary and the hunt for Abby’s elusive ex send Darcy down a dark, dangerous trail. It will take the help from friends, family, and a little bit of magic for Darcy to stop a stone-cold killer from striking again. (Goodreads)
Review:
To Catch a Witch is book 8 in the A Wishcraft Mystery series by Heather Blake. I have read a handful of books by this author and have always enjoyed her stories… and this book is no exception. I enjoy these books because the story telling is clever, characters are interesting and the whodunit is not easy to figure out until the very end.
In this eighth book of A Wishcraft Mystery series, the tale begins in the Enchanted Village, a tourist-themed neighborhood of Salem, Massachusetts. I like how the story gives you just the right amount of back story so that if you were joining the series at this book, you would be able to follow along:
“…It all seemed so familiar to me that it was hard to believe it was only my second February in the village. This coming June would mark two years since Aunt Ve had convinced my sister and me to move here from Ohio to embrace a heritage we had known nothing about until that point in time: the Craft, a hereditary form of witchcraft. My sister and I were witches.” OR “… I’d been appointed an investigator for the Craft-whenever there was a crime in the village involving a Crafter, it was my job to snoop around to ensure that the protection of the Craft and its witches synced with the mortal justice system.”
I also really enjoyed the names of the local businesses:
“The village was thriving with its various witch-themed businesses, such as the Bewitching Boutique, the Magic Wand Salon, the Witch’s Brew coffee shop, and the Crone’s Cupboard to name a few.”
And the names of the characters:
“Glinda Hansel and her mother Dorothy Hansel Dewitt (who is really not a ‘good’ witch)
Okay…. on to the story…. The opening scene has Darcy struggling to put up a banner for the upcoming Wicked Mad Dash. Unfortunately, she has nothing in her arsenal to make this job easy, especially since the weather outside is blistering cold. Finally, banner is hung and Darcy can get on with the myriad of chores she must attend to before the race begins seeing as she is managing this destination (and adventure) race (which draws competitors from all over the country) with its twenty demanding obstacles along a course that goes through the Enchanted Forest.
Darcy’s friend, Abby, is preparing for the race and goes to warm up… never to be seen from again (at least not alive). Darcy asks her sister Harper (a broken hearted Harper at that) to use a spell to locate Abby. Was Abby’s death an accident – after all – she was found dead at underneath the Aural Gorge footbridge. And so the hunt begins to figure out who and why this tragedy happened.
Being introduced to the many citizens of the village during the hunt for the killer was like meeting old friends. The descriptions were well rounded and at times, the towns folks were so funny (gotta love some of Vince’s antics). So many of them may well have had a motive to see Abby gone. The journey to the killer was windy but I found the journey entertaining.
Apart from the murder, there were a number of side stories which really enhanced my enjoyment of the book along with bonding with the village inhabitants. For example – what is Harper’s secret and how will it affect life as she knows it? Will Harper even talk to her ex? Whose alibi will hold up? And just as importantly…who loves who? Talk about convoluted … but in a good way. The reader also must ponder why so many threats to Darcy’s life? And who is the Elder.
Well all of those questions will be revealed when you read this delightful eighth book, To Catch a Witch, in the Wishcraft Mystery series by Heather Blake.
