Midsummer Night's Mischief

I was awakened this morning by severe thunder and lightening.  My poor Doozy was very scared.  He got as close to me as he could and was shaking terribly.  Wolfie, our Siberian Husky, also came into my room and laid near my bed (she never gets on the bed).  Our littlest dog, Tuxxe never budged (he sleeps with my mother). That dog is one sound sleeper (he is very ornery too). Many cozy mysteries contain animals (cats, dogs, birds, horses). My favorite series that portrays animals is Paws and Claws Mysteries by Krista Davis.  The books are set in Wagtail, Virginia where pets are most welcome (you can bring your pets with you on vacation).  The books in the series are Murder, She Barked, The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer, and Murder Most Howl.  The next book is Mission Impawsible which will be out in February 2017.  The books have charming characters, a lovely setting, and intriguing mysteries.  I definitely recommend this series if you enjoy cozy mysteries (or if you are thinking of trying a cozy mystery)!

Midsummer Night’s Mischief by Jennifer David Hesse is the first book in the Wiccan Wheel Mystery series.  Keli Milanni is an attorney with Olsen, Sykes, and Rafferty in Erindale, Illinois, but she feels that something is missing.  Keli wants to find love (someone to share her life with).  As a Wiccan, Keli decides to cast a spell.  To be more accurate, she casts a love spell and waits to see what happens.  Hunky Wes Callahan might be the answer to her call.  They meet one night at her local watering hole, but he gets a phone call that takes him away quickly (without getting her number and Keli does not get his).  At work Keli is working on a will for a new client who found a valuable item in her attic.  Eleanor Mostriak found an original Shakespeare First Folio in a trunk in her attic.  It had belonged to her husband, but Eleanor thought it had been destroyed.  The book is quite valuable as there are less than 200 copies in existence and the majority of those copies are in museums or private collections.  The first thing Eleanor did was create a will (that would not be the first thing on my to-do list).  Keli did advise her to get an appraisal, put the folio in a safety deposit box at the bank, and contact her insurance provider.  However, Keli did not follow up with Eleanor on any of these items (but the will is done).  Then Keli gets a call from Darlene Callahan (see a connection here), Eleanor’s daughter.  Eleanor passed away the night before.  Then the folio disappears from Eleanor’s home (she carried it around in her messenger bag and was showing it off).  Darlene is holding Keli and her law firm responsible (around $2 million dollars).  Keli convinces her bosses not to fire her (suspension instead).  Keli will use her vacation time and attempt to find the folio (and save her job).  If she cannot find it, then she will have to face the music.  This will also give Keli a chance to reconnect with Wes Callahan (Darlene’s son) to see if he is the one for her.  Can Keli find the folio before it vanishes?  Is Wes the answer to Keli’s love spell?  You will just have to read Midsummer Night’s Mischief to find out!

Midsummer Night’s Mischief was disappointing to me especially the first chapter.  Keli was more obsessed with her love life than anything else.  Keli acted more like a sixteen-year-old (especially around Wes) than a grown up woman who is an attorney (I would not retain this woman as my attorney).  I did not like how Wicca was portrayed in this story.  It did not seem the right type for a cozy mystery and it was a little confusing for me with the Goddess worship (Keli is keeping this part of her life secret from her co-workers).  The writing is satisfactory, but the pace is a little slow.  The book started to feel like it would never end.  Most likely because I was able to identify the killer right away (the prologue gives a big clue).  The romance (more like lust fest) took precedence over the mystery in the book (especially in the first half of the novel).  We get more of the investigation in the latter part of the story.   I was looking forward to reading this novel when I read the blurb about the Wiccan elements and a Shakespeare First Folio.  They sounded like a great combination (the book needs a little tweaking).  I give Midsummer Night’s Mischief 3 out of 5 stars.  It is okay, but I was just not a fan (the characters need work). The book just did not come together in a good final product (like Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft Mysteries with Lily Ivory and the Magical Bakery series by Bailey Cates). It is only the first book in the series, so I will give the second novel Bell, Book, and Candlemas a chance. 

Bell, Book, and Candlemas will be out in January 2017.  I received a complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest evaluation.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

I want to thank all of you for stopping by!  I appreciate it.  I am off to relax and read (I am worn out).  I am currently reading Much Ado about Muffin by Victoria Hamilton.  Some great new books come out next week.  See you tomorrow.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris 
The Avid Reader