Where There's a Witch (Bewitching Mysteries, No. 5)

If you've been following along in the series, you'll be sympathetic with my gripe about the love triangle between Maggie, Tom & Marcus. It's just been stretched out for far too long in the series. Luckily for us, the love triangle is resolved (although there's always the potential for it to return, I guess). No spoilers, but most fans can guess who Maggie will end up with. This latest volume of the series does focus on the long standing love triangle between the trio, but it also focuses on the tension left after the last book when the town became aware of N.I.G.H.T.S. & the existence of witches. And of course there's a murder. (Can't have a mystery without a murder!) And as always, Maggie seems to find herself in the thick of it when Tara & Evie discover a dead body in an old underground room that was unearthed during the opening ceremonies for the local baptist church. (There was a fair to celebrate a new wing being added onto the church.) If you were worried that this is the last book- have no fear! There is going to be another volume released in the series & we'll get to see much more of the characters! I really have enjoyed this series so far. Yes, there's been a few gripes but overall the quality of the series has endured without falling for most of the cheap gimmicks that many long running series have fallen for. (Ok, so the love triangle was drawn out for way too long.)

Stony Mill, Indiana - just everytown USA, right? Maybe more than many people would like to think. Maggie O'Neal, 29 year old employee of Enchantments, for the most part takes center stage in this best of the series. Felicity Dow, owner of Enchantments lets her young friends/employees go to a local evangelical church's fundraising carnival to have some fun. The event has everything a church planned event usually has, games, frozen lemonade stands, etc., but Maggie hears a fight between a young girl and her boyfriend. As the day goes, Maggie sees the grounds including the gorgeous garden the church has. When the groundbreaking starts for a new wing to the church, the preacher states that the sudden news of witches and paranormal assemblies that had been unveiled (in the last book), they have to do what they can to stop these folks from practicing in their town. After Maggie and the girls leave, one of the girls remembers she left her cell phone at the carnival. The girls were having pizza at Maggie's apartment and Marcus happens to come by. Marcus is a gorgeous Wiccan who is a dear friend of Liss, and in the last book it is revealed that Marcus and Liss were only friends, freeing up the attraction between Maggie and Marcus. Tom the cop, whom Maggie had been dating on/off, was still in the picture, but he has no tolerance for the paranormal and doesn't like Maggie working at Enchantments, much less being part of the NIGHTS group that help with their paranormal gifts. The girls find the cell phone, but also find a body. And a young boy's spirit (Elias) seems to have attached himself to Maggie. Each of the characters shine in this series, but it is Maggie that shines, and grows into who she is. AND she seems to have made a decision on her love life which we all are thrilled for her! The one warning I HAVE to put - the girls use a makeshift OUIJA board on several occassions - the OUIJA is not used casually - it is an instrument that can be used for fun, but also can invite in spirit that you may not want to have around. I remember William Peter Blatty saying on talk shows for kids never to use one - he wrote The Excorcist - I never touched one since. Sorry if I've mispelled their names, but this has stayed with me. The OUIJA does play a part in this book, but I must stress caution if someone is tempted to use one. Maggie grows as a character, our favorite familiar, the black kitty, grows to be a formidable part of the Enchantments group, all grow and we see more of the conflict between the people who don't know and understand the religion of nature and spirit and the established religions. I fear the conflict will get more passionate. But this series is growing, maturing and is a formidable part of the genre. Alt is a talented writer that knows how to write some of the most sensual/chaste love scenes that always make you come back for more. A great read - can't wait for the next one!

Each book it seems that the author keeps on improving. I loved the story, the plot, the who thing. I am soooo glad that she finally was able to create the beginning foundation for maggie and marcus relationship (Romance).... I cannot wait for the next book in this series. This is a great read, if you want to sit and to relax.

Being a Bewitching Mysteries fan, I was patiently awaiting this book's release. I finally got it yesterday and couldn't wait to crack it open. I literally put aside everything else I'm reading. I wasn't disappointed. In this fifth book of the series, Maggie once again finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. This time at a local Evangelical church. Meanwhile the town is buzzing about the elicit (allegedly) practices of Maggie's boss, Liss. And her love life is still a mess. I have to say -- I think this is the best written book of the series so far. It's like the author has finally become confident in her writing ability and her characters and it's a great combination. Not to mention {SPOILER FORTHCOMING} Maggie finally pulls her head out and we get to learn what Tom really is. Plus, she finally makes a choice - Thank Gods! Oh -- and the strong pagan undercurrent of this novel is delicious. It's so wonderful to have a cast of strong pagan characters that work so well together. Bravo! I hope there are more of this series forthcoming, or at least more by this author in the near future.

Nobody visiting Stony Mill, Indiana would believe there is a witch living there. Veteran Felicity Dow is mentoring rookie witch Maggie O'Neal, who is an intuitive, sensitive and a strong empath. Felicity gives her thegift of Maggie finally understanding there is nothing mentally wrong with her because her hunches that seem to always come true and her ability to separate emotions and thoughts of others always frightened her; now she knows she is not alone and what her skill means. A carnival is operating as a fundraiser to enlarge the Baptist Church. The highlight comes when the machines start digging the first hole but almost immediately they must stop. A hole is found in the ground that leads to a room. The outside is decorated with all kinds of crosses. The next day they find the body of Ronnie Maddox who Maggie overhead in a violent argument with Tyler Barnett. An Ouija reading conjures up the spirit of Elias, a child who died in the underground room; he attaches himself to Maggie who has no earthly idea the danger she is about to face. There is a certain magic brought to this fine book by caring Maggie, but she is not the only psychic in this eerie part of Indiana. Her interactions with the spirit are fascinating as the reader tries to comprehend what he wants of her. There is a strange case of conservatism and fundamentalism in the Baptist Church as they mount a hate campaign to ostracize and demonize Felicity and her friends. This breeds an atmosphere of hate and distrust of which the new witch on the block could a victim. Madelyn Alt places a social spin with hate crime in the middle of her terrific Hoosier fantasy that will have readers not just believing in the spirit world, but walking along aside the heroine in the spirit world. Harriet Klausner