No Rest for the Wiccan (Bewitching Mysteries, No. 4)

In No Rest for the Wiccan, the fourth installation of the Bewitching Mystery series, we peek once again into the life of book store employee and witch, Maggie O'Neill. Things in quiet Stony Mill, Indiana are heating up and, of course, draw Maggie in. After a strange act of vandalism at the local feed mill, the situation turns ugly when mill owner Joel Turner is found dead. When his widow Libby requests Maggie's help in clearing any spirits from the mill, Maggie can't help but be drawn into the investigation. If that weren't enough to keep her busy, Maggie is also helping her sister Mel out with some not so friendly poltergeists that have taken up residence in Mel's house. With the combination of murder, poltergeists, an almost fanatical religious leader and her up in the air love life, Maggie is feeling a bit overwhelmed. Normally one to keep her "talents" to herself, she is a bit nervous when her sister outs her to her snobby friends. All of this though, keeps the book moving in directions you don't expect with surprises here and there. I don't know if it is because this is the fourth book of the series and I know the characters better than I did back in the first book but No Rest for the Wiccan is my favorite so far. Maggie really seems to have come into her own in this book and I like that she is taking control over her life. For fans of this series, this is a keeper and I can't wait for the next one! Reviewed at Bitten by Books Paranormal Fiction Review Site by Becky

Being a Professional Psychic Medium and Ghost Hunter, I was immediately intrigued with Madelyn Alt's books. Unlike other fiction books out there with psychics and ghost hunters in it, these books are REAL. Madelyn does her research and knows what she writes. Along with being entertaining, having some fantastic characters and a plot to die for (no pun intended), I rate this book 1 million stars. I can't wait for the next one..and then the next...and then....

This is the number 4 in the Bewitching Mystery series and it is by far the best. I'm impressed at the improved quality of the writing as well as the progression of the characters especially Maggie. When I first started this series, Maggie was too immature, whiny, and annoying, but I've stuck with the series because I saw it's potential. In this fourth book we see that life in Stoney Mill, Indiana, is getting more exciting for Maggie her family and friends. Stony Mill is undergoing a change. Even Tom, Maggie's sometimes cop boyfriend, has noticed that there is an unusual amount of trouble in Stony Mill. Now even her very pregnant, bed ridden, gossipy sister, Mel, has a ghost in the house and she begs Maggie to help her get rid of it, so Maggie, Liss and Marcus go to her house and do their magic. Instead of being discreet, Mel gossips about the "witches" and Stony Mill residents now know there are witches at Enchaments. There is another storyline involving one of Mel's friends and her murdered husband. Maggie, Tom and Marcus together solve this mystery. Maggie's love life is still complicated and she feels torn between Tom and Marcus, and although there is no resolution to this story angle, we are provided a hint at the end of the book. One very cute addition to the series is Maggie's new kitten....adorable! All in all a fun, entertaining, well written addtion to the series. I look forward to the next Bewitching Mystery.

This fourth book in the Bewitched series is a wonderful continuation of life as we know it in Stoney Mill, Indiana, with Maggie and her world. Madelyn Alt is such a terrific storyteller that I found myself forgetting that I wasn't there. I was truly scared during the ghost scenes, and it takes a lot to scare me in books. Ms. Alt takes us to a world that is surprisingly normal, one that we can relate to, with the family bickering, relationship problems, and small-town attitudes, and throws in a big splash of her literary magic. All of us at work anxiously await another adventure, and cheer Ms. Alt on!

The Bewitching Mysteries isn't like the old TV show, Bewitched. Not at all. Another reviewer was mistaken - it's Bewitching Mysteries. No Samantha, Darin, Endora, but a wonderful series featuring Maggie O'Neill. The premise of this delightful series is a young lady, Maggie O'Neill, living in Stoney Mill, Indiana getting a job in a wonderful shop called Enchantments. Her new boss, Liss, not only runs a store with beautiful one of a kind objects, but teas and trendy products. Charming is a great description of Liss and Enchantments. There in small town main stream America, there is a secret: Liss is a practising witch. She and others meet in the attic space of Enchantments. Maggie also opens herself to her intuition and finds she is an empath. Rather than judge, she sees the reality these people are hardworking folks who worship and revere the earth, not evil stereotypes. Liss also helps Maggie in her education into the metaphysical. One of the members of the 'coven' is Marcus Quinn, a most handsome,good man, who is attracted to Maggie. Maggie has an on and off again policeman boyfriend, who isn't too thrilled with all of this 'witch business'. Maggie, Liss and their friends delve into mysteries that may have a metaphysical basis. No Rest for the Wiccan investigates a most suspicious death of a husband of Maggie's sister's friend. Something just doesn't add up. Maggie's sister, Mel is pregnant and is on bed rest. It is up to Maggie and her Mom to help the household until the baby comes. Maggie's nieces are delightful and have 'imaginary' friends and seem to have the same gifts Maggie has. The very bored Mel has her socialite girlfriends over to help pass the time, and they do one of the big NO-NO's - they play with a Ouija Board. While many thing the Ouija Board is just a harmless game, it can be a portal allowing not so nice entities into our space. This happens and Mel asks Maggie and Liss for help to rid her house of this evil presence. Together dealing with the entity and the murder investigation, and Mel's friends talking about Liss helping Mel, the town starts to learn more about the witches in Stoney Mill. Madelyn Alt writes with beauty, not just describing, a person or situation, but paints a picture bringing you into the action and feelings. Wiccan is the strongest of the series and is a wonderful read. There is a really cute addition to the Enchantments crew, and the ending of Wiccan is so beautifully written, it leaves fans already wanting to order the next in the series. The only down side I can see is, like the Southern Vampire series, being overpowered by some townfolk who have discovered the wiccan, see Enchantments and vampires as spawns of the devil. While it looks like that conflict will be part of the plots, one hopes that the main thrust will be on the Enchantment crew and their goodness. An excellent series - truly magic!