I really enjoyed this first installment in a new series

I really enjoyed this first installment in a new series. Nicole St. Clair and Stephanie Murphy make a winning team for this cozy mystery which has loads of laughs and a fun adventure. I highly recommend this book/audiobook to cozy mystery fans.

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Loved this book

I didn't listen to this book in order with the other but it didn't make a difference. I enjoyed it just the same. Loved the snarky humor. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Loved it

Best cozy mystery I love the characters and the unique way magic is used. Highly recommend.

Ambitious Beginnings Would Give it 3.5

This is the first book in this series and I was surprised by the depth of the story. Although positioned as a supernatural cozy mystery this went further than the typical stories I listen to. There is an impressively large cast of characters and fast switching plot that meant this was not for a casual light listen. At several points the transitions from scene to scene and plot point to plot point happened so quickly I would be lost and have to click back a few minutes to make sure I knew what was going on. That isn't a bad thing, but was just something that was a bit different from the lighter cozies I listen to while driving or doing chores around the house. There is also more detail and depth to the magic being described, as well as a slightly different mechanic in terms of covens that stick within certain families where each family specializes in a specific style of magic, however each person could cast a variety of magic using their medium. The main character, Tamsyn, is a bit of a black sheep and not in line with her family's magic. There is lots of playfulness and humor around her family and the small town community that Tamsyn is coming into. There is also a bit of a cliffhanger in terms of new suggestions about Tamsyn's magic that are given in the last five minutes of the book but not elaborated upon. I am a bit torn about the narrator. Stephanie Murphy is not a bad narrator but I almost felt that she would be great for a children's book, and in this tale found her rhythms and voices to be a little repetitive and left me wanting. But again she is much better than many narrators I have heard but I think my ears wanted something a little different for this story. There were lots of twists and turns in the mystery and suspects and the vaguest of hints of romance, there is no foul language for those that have that concern, and you get a happy ending. This really did feel like an ambitious story that goes into much more detail and description than many cozies I have read but often times that made it a little harder to follow because it was dense and had to race to keep up. Sometimes I think this is just an issue of some stories that flow better when you are reading the print version versus listening to the audible. I would definitely give the second book in the series a go especially if the author continues to develop things that are hinted about at the end of the book. Although there is humor it is not as much as say Beechwood Harbor/Ghost Mysteries or Molly Harper, nor is there the romance here like Kristen Painter's books, the most time is paid to the mystery itself and the mechanics of magic that takes place in Pinecroft Cove. If that is of interest to you then grab your ear buds and dive on in.

FUN & WELL THOUGHT OUT

SPIRITS, PIES, & ALIBIS is the first book in The Witches of Pinecroft Cove series. Of course, this one needs to be read first as it introduces the world and island to the reader. It is yet to be seen if the future books will need to be read in the order of release.

Tamsyn isn’t the usual early 20s, known about witches all of her life, new witch. Though at times, she acts more like a teenager than the near 30 years she is. Still, she’s pragmatic and doubtful of the magic powers she’s being told she holds. She’s told she’s a kitchen witch, but she claims she could “burn water.”

I like that she may be something different from her aunt, and that her mother may have been, also. We may never know about that since her mother disappeared fifteen years ago.

The story is quick and light, but well thought out and interesting. It’s unpredictable and fun. Plus, there are ghosts and witches, a combination sure to capture my imagination and attention.

Narration: Stephanie Murphy is one of the best narrators I have heard. She doesn’t just read the words, but makes you believe she is Tamsyn Bassett discovering the world of witches, learning to bake a magical pie, and encountering spirits. Please, may I have another book with her as the narrator?

Note: While I received this book as a gifted audiobook copy via freeaudiopromocodes(dot)com, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

Title: SPIRITS, PIES, & ALIBIS
Series: The Witches of Pinecroft Cove #1
Category /Genre: Cozy Mystery, Witches
Recommended for: 14+ due to vocabulary & murder
Listenability: OK for most ears

I love this type of story

If you're looking for a wholesome,and fun witch story. Then this is the book for you. I loved everything about it. From being dumped, finding out you're a witch, and a murder mystery to go along with it!

RECOMMENDED WITCH MYSTERY

One of my favourite subjects, a witch that thinks she human and the story begins!
l was very happy with both the storyline and the narrative and would recommend this book to any age group.

Will Tamsyn be able to solve a murder and control her magic?

Spirits, Pies, and Alibis is the first book in the Witches of Pinecroft Cove series. Tamsyn accepts her great-aunt’s invitation to visit her inn after she’s had a really unlucky and bad day. Once she’s there, she finds out about her family’s legacy, that she’s supposed to be a kitchen witch, she’s crushing on a guy who used to have a crush on her, oh, and his uncle was murdered and she can see his spirit! Will Tamsyn be able to solve his murder and get her magic under control?

This book was really fun to listen to, and I really enjoyed this magical world that Ms. St. Claire has set up! Tamsyn was a great mix between being unbelieving at first, to clumsy with her magic, and even by the end, there’s still some mysteries behind her witchiness. I really enjoyed learning about this history of Pinecroft Cove, the side characters were engaging and entertaining, and I loved the mystery behind the murder! It was fun to have the magical elements trying to solve the murder, as well as the whole who did it atmosphere! I also thought that Ms. Murphy did a great job bringing all of the characters to life! I really enjoyed listening to this book and look forward to more from this author!

Great

Really enjoyed Yasmine story ,she moved back to her hometown with her Aunt to find out that she is a witch , but not only that she's thrust into a murder investagation.Looking forward to more of her story's

Fun!

This was a fun story. Everything that could go wrong does for the heroine. But it all works out in the end. Looking forward for the next story.