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showell's review
2.0
My five year old daughter told me earlier this week that the secret to finding good books is to look for a cat on the cover. So when it came time to find a mystery with which to while away a lazy Saturday afternoon I picked this one off my to-read shelf. The cat on the cover is adorable.
If you like your mysteries solved not by detective work but through a series of psychic visions and rune-casting, this is the series for you. Spoon-fed answers from the great beyond are not my preferred detection method, but once I stopped expecting Ophelia to actually use her brain and concentrated on the relationship between Ophelia and Abby and Ophelia and Comacho, I liked the book much better.
Damsgaard is a good storyteller, just as long as you expect the right thing out of the story. This book isn't actually about finding a killer, it's about a woman coming to terms with her psychic abilities, and forging an uneasy detente with an adversary from the past. The mystery, such as it is, is the vehicle for that, but Damsgaard is no Agatha Christie. I knew who the killer was half away through. Then it was just a matter of waiting for Ophelia to catch up. I finished the book bc Damsgaard got me caring enough about her characters to want to get some resolution for them, but I'm not sure it's enough to get me to pick up another.
If you like your mysteries solved not by detective work but through a series of psychic visions and rune-casting, this is the series for you. Spoon-fed answers from the great beyond are not my preferred detection method, but once I stopped expecting Ophelia to actually use her brain and concentrated on the relationship between Ophelia and Abby and Ophelia and Comacho, I liked the book much better.
Damsgaard is a good storyteller, just as long as you expect the right thing out of the story. This book isn't actually about finding a killer, it's about a woman coming to terms with her psychic abilities, and forging an uneasy detente with an adversary from the past. The mystery, such as it is, is the vehicle for that, but Damsgaard is no Agatha Christie. I knew who the killer was half away through. Then it was just a matter of waiting for Ophelia to catch up. I finished the book bc Damsgaard got me caring enough about her characters to want to get some resolution for them, but I'm not sure it's enough to get me to pick up another.
amibunk's review
3.0
I am becoming less enamored of this series as I read further installments. Many of the scenarios and much of the dialogue gets repeated with every book. I'll read another, but if the writing or character development doesn't improve then I'll be calling it quits on Ophelia and Abby.
jackirenee's review
4.0
Ophelia Jensen once again finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. This time another friend is found dead and Abby is not able to help Ophelia as she uses her psychic powers to find the killer before he strikes next. It looks like Ophelis is the next victim on his list.
As I had hoped from reading the first book in the series, Damsgaard is maturing as an author and her storyline a big improvement from Witch Way to Murder. In addition, her characters are better developed and much more interesting, although I really wish Abby was a bigger player as I would really like to get to know her better. Darci also takes a bit of a backseat in this book as well. However, a new and very interesting character was introduced who I hope we see more of.
Yet another enjoyable and easy read from Damsgaard. A great book to have if you are traveling or sitting by the pool this summer.
As I had hoped from reading the first book in the series, Damsgaard is maturing as an author and her storyline a big improvement from Witch Way to Murder. In addition, her characters are better developed and much more interesting, although I really wish Abby was a bigger player as I would really like to get to know her better. Darci also takes a bit of a backseat in this book as well. However, a new and very interesting character was introduced who I hope we see more of.
Yet another enjoyable and easy read from Damsgaard. A great book to have if you are traveling or sitting by the pool this summer.
davianareads's review
4.0
These cozy mysteries would be much better if the main character weren’t so annoying.
dlmoldovan's review
3.0
kind of cutesy (is that even a word?). fun and light read. good start of a series.
wildflowerz76's review
2.0
This book...what can I say? This book would have gotten 3 stars, but I knocked off a whole star because I knew who the killer was within a page of when the character was introduced. It was incredibly transparent! And we know how dense I can be about figuring out whodunit or the plot twists or whatever. The writing was just okay and the characters weren't all that likable or fleshed out. However, I'm willing to concede that it would be better had I read the first book in this series before this one. However, it wasn't available. I'll not be reading any more of these.
paperbackstash's review
3.0
It's been over a year since I read the first one - I was excited to continue the series, so ordered the next several in the series. For some reason took awhile to start it, though. Will keep on with the series but my enthusiasm is dampered a little. As with a lot of series, it may spruce back up again though. Let's hope!
I love the concept - small town witch librarian who is slowly coming into her powers, aided by her quirky grandmother, in a cozy mystery setting where she keeps stumbling on dead bodies and has to solve the crimes to prevent herself from being sucked in and killed.
Book two takes to solving an old murder that plagued her since book one, where in her past a friend was murdered. Answers are finally here, and they're depressing. Ophelia has come out of her shell and is allowing friends and dates now, unlike her stubborn demeanor in the first book where she refused to stop being a hermit and meet people.
The mystery is a good one, but I started suspecting the villain because there weren't enough culprits left that would be likely. Comancho was a fun character - I hope he returns in the future, has a charm and animal magnetism about him.
As with a lot of cozies, the writing is too simple, too juvenile, at times. The dialogue goes from flowing smoothly to seeming silly. It's all a little unrealistic with the writing tone and characters aren't sketched out enough yet - especially Ophelia's overreactions with her emotions, particularly where her grandmother is concerned.
I'm hoping the third improves - the concept for the series is fun.
I love the concept - small town witch librarian who is slowly coming into her powers, aided by her quirky grandmother, in a cozy mystery setting where she keeps stumbling on dead bodies and has to solve the crimes to prevent herself from being sucked in and killed.
Book two takes to solving an old murder that plagued her since book one, where in her past a friend was murdered. Answers are finally here, and they're depressing. Ophelia has come out of her shell and is allowing friends and dates now, unlike her stubborn demeanor in the first book where she refused to stop being a hermit and meet people.
The mystery is a good one, but I started suspecting the villain because there weren't enough culprits left that would be likely. Comancho was a fun character - I hope he returns in the future, has a charm and animal magnetism about him.
As with a lot of cozies, the writing is too simple, too juvenile, at times. The dialogue goes from flowing smoothly to seeming silly. It's all a little unrealistic with the writing tone and characters aren't sketched out enough yet - especially Ophelia's overreactions with her emotions, particularly where her grandmother is concerned.
I'm hoping the third improves - the concept for the series is fun.
jaggedrocks's review
3.0
Enjoyable storyline. I am loving Ophelia, Abby, and Darci. Second book was a little better than the first.
angrygreycatreads's review
4.0
Charmed to Death is the second book in a cozy mystery series. I found the 1st, 3rd & 4th books at my local indie book shop, but couldn’t get a hold of the second, so I ordered it on my Kindle….must read in order syndrome. I am not a big reader of paranormal cozies..but I seem to keep saying that lately so maybe I am reading more of them than I think. Anyway, I enjoy this one and will continue reading it. I like the combination of realistic and paranormal elements. The characters Ophelia and Abby are charming and the cast of characters adds plenty of local color.
The mystery was interesting and well paced. Ophelia is growing as a character, in her relationships and in her craft. I am interested to see where this series will go in the subsequent books.
The mystery was interesting and well paced. Ophelia is growing as a character, in her relationships and in her craft. I am interested to see where this series will go in the subsequent books.