Since Katie opened a busy bakery in Savannah serving up sweet treats—with a little spellwork on the side—she’s always on the go. While Katie is on a run in the local marshland preserve to de-swamp her jumbled thoughts, she encounters the shocking sight of her friend, reporter and druid Steve Dawes, standing over a dead body. The way the victim is displayed suggests a magical ritual may have been involved.
It turns out that the deceased was a true-crime podcaster who covered paranormal cases in Savannah. The situation gets stickier than a pecan bun when Katie discovers Steve knew the victim. Steve and Katie have had their differences in the past, but she has his back, so with the help of the ladies of her spellbook club, Katie will have to follow the trail of crumbs to the real killer....
Dust off your broomstick and grab a pastry—there’s a fresh mystery brewing in Savannah! Rituals and Rolling Pins by Bailey Cates finds hedgewitch Katie Lightfoot stumbling across another dead body. After a four-year wait, I was tickled pink to return to the cozy world of A Magical Bakery Mystery series. Cates’ friendly writing style and the familiar cast made it easy to settle right back in. Even the witches’ familiars are back, from a dog, cat, and bird to one slithering companion that curls around a witch’s arm.
Hedgewitch Horticulture
This mystery brews up a little more darkness than earlier
installments without losing its cozy charm. A murder seemingly linked to a
magical ritual puts witchcraft at the heart of the investigation, while the
victim—a podcaster who covered Savannah’s paranormal cases—adds an intriguing
true-crime twist. I had a good time piecing together the clues and solving the
whodunit. Though this is the eleventh book in the series, newcomers can jump in
without feeling lost, thanks to the background woven into the story. With its
engaging characters and blend of baking, witchcraft, and sleuthing, Rituals and Rolling Pins serves up a cozy concoction of sweet treats, curious clues, and a
little hocus-pocus!
That’s a wrap on this week’s bookish magic—but there’s still
time for one more sweet escape! The bewitching Rituals and Rolling Pins is
available on Amazon, along with the other books in A Magical Bakery Mystery series. Follow Bailey Cates on Amazon for email alerts about her new releases.
I’ll be back on Tuesday, November 17, with the heartfelt A Plain Confession by Suzanne Woods Fisher, the third book in the Doctor to the Amish series. Until
then, keep your treats sweet, your reads spellbinding, and your bookmark busy!
The Avid Reader
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. I am not required to leave a review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Her previous writing and publication experiences include textbook and journal articles in the fields of special education and school psychology. She now seeks to answer God’s call to share the good news and grow the church by writing Christian books and devotionals.
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