A Vision in Velvet: A Witchcraft Mystery, Book 6

For once, I found the title of a fictional work easily understandable and clearly pertinent to the story line. Lily Ivory dons a VELVET cloak that is not only giving off paranormal vibrations but is virtually calling to her. When she secures the clasp at her throat, Lily experiences a VISION in which she witnesses a witch being burned at the stake. And thus, we have the title: A Vision in Velvet.Backing up about an hour or so, we find Lily purchasing a battered old trunk full of dry-rotted clothing – and a well-kept velvet cloak – from an antiques dealer by the name of Sebastian Crowley. Sebastian claims to have acquired the trunk from the relative of an older man who is trying to clean up his condo. Supposedly, the trunk originated in Boston around or before the time of the Salem witch trials and was brought west during the California Gold Rush. Feeling the psychic vibrations from the cloak, Lily purchases the trunk and its contents.The moment she fastens the clasp of the cloak, Lily sees the vision of the witch burning and she hears someone screaming the word “deliverance.” Then she feels as if her fingers are burning off as she observes the witch’s ashes being scooped up by a set of hands positioned just in front of her eyes. Forced out of the vision when her worried friends unclasp the cloak, she remembers that she, herself, has no fingerprints. She was born without them, and her fingertips look as if the prints were burned off.Shortly thereafter, the antiques dealer is shot to death in the park near Lily’s shop. His body is found beneath an extremely old and dying oak tree that the park authority has slated for removal. Not believing in coincidences, Lily decides to investigate the provenance of the trunk and the cloak, hoping to find a clue to the identity of the murderer and a clue to the identities of the people in her vision.With Sailor along to help with a little after hours B&E into the antique store, they learn the identity of the trunk’s seller, Bart Woolsey. Upon talking to him and a college professor who specializes in witchcraft as a religion, Lily determines that “deliverance” is not a concept but the name of the witch who was burned. She also learns that, from the pyre, Deliverance put a love curse on the Woolsey family, a curse that seems to have transcended generations. Based on this information as well as evidence discovered at the murder scene, Lily and her familiar, Oscar, go back to that dying oak tree for answers.Now, the promotional blurb for this book clearly states that Oscar disappears sometime during the story. That word “disappear” is an understatement for what really happens to Oscar when they get to the tree. At that point, the plotline shifts sideways, with Lily’s focus completely on rescuing Oscar, rather than on the solution to the murder. Even the store is essentially left to run itself.Juliet Blackwell has crafted an intense 6th entry in her Witchcraft Mystery series. Once Oscar disappears, the pace of the novel quickens and so does the danger to Lily. And by the end of the novel, you are not really sure if there has been an HEA or not. Blackwell has not left us with a cliffhanger, but she has left us with far more than just a hook leading to another adventure.Too many characters have classified their “help” as favors that require payback. One supernatural character was vanquished far too easily. And one major character, in particular, may become more of a nightmare to Lily than the burning witch in her “vision in velvet.”

There are spoilers for previous books in this review!In the next installment of the Witchcraft Mystery Series by Juliet Blackwell, Sailor has been allowed to return to San Francisco after being banished by Aiden. This is a relief to Lily, who over the course of the first 5 books has really taken a shining to our brooding psychic. The pair get along amazingly and I love their chemistry.Things aren't all wine and roses, however. In what seems to be a normal inquiry about the purchase of an antique trunk filled with clothing, Lily finds that there is one item within that isn't what it seems. It doesn't match the rest of the articles of clothing and has vibrations that should have sent her running. Instead, she does what a lot of cozy mystery protagonists do....she puts it on. I mean, why not? ~ right? Lily finds herself tossed back in time during the burning of a powerful witch.Lily needs to find out what's going on with this cloak and why it's shown up in a trashed trunk full of unusable textiles....and then the dealer who sold her the trunk ends up being murdered in front of a large oak tree in the park. This same tree is one that is scheduled for demolition by the city because it is almost dead and now a hazard. If only the city fathers knew that it was far from dead and is a lot more hazardous than they could even imagine. When the tree seemingly swallows up Oscar during what is supposed to be a meet-and-greet with some of the woodsfolk, Lily is desperate to keep the tree standing long enough to extract her piggy familiar and go head to head with the witch from the past who may using the tree as a conduit to the present.Will Lily get Oscar back and prevent the spirit of the powerful witch from making a comeback?I absolutely love this series. Lily is a fine protagonist that gets more comfortable with her new surroundings in each book. She has friends that accept her for who she is and what she does, a very successful resale shop, and a familiar that sometimes just steals the show. Her brooding companion, Sailor, has some great dialogue and wit.Each story develops nicely and takes the reader on a brand new adventure in the world of the paranormal. The novels are suitable for anyone who wants to read them - teens, adults who don't like sex or swearing, adult who do like those things but also like the cozy mystery scene, too (like me).If you're looking for your next cozy series then I highly recommend Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft Mysteries. They are written well, have great storylines, solid plots, and easy-to-like characters. The dialogue between all characters is smooth and understandable and the novel is an easy, relaxing read.Review copy courtesy of my bookshelf.

The book follows on from previous in series but can be read as a standalone book. The characters are fun and there are constant twists which leave you wondering about what will happen next. So far all the books I've read have left me wanting more. Give this (and the others) a go, you should not be disappointed.

What can I say. Juliet Blackwell has created a fantastic series. I avidly await the next one and devour it in two sittings. I love Oscar the Gargoyle and his grilled cheese sandwich addiction. The author knows her folklore well and is a great mystery writer. Fun ,dark when needs to be and Lily Ivory makes a great Witch come Detective. I highly recommend this series to everyone I know.

I have read all the series so far & thoroughly enjoyed each & every one - I like the characters, the storylines, the setting (I want to visit San Francisco!). I read the Haunted House Renovation series first & loved those as well. Juliet Blackwell is definitely one of my favourite writers. I can't wait for the next ones of both series to come out.

Great read, real page turner. Love the characters .only complaint , not enough books in the series for my liking. Would recommend to those who want something a bit different , with magic in. Not too heavy . I found it a real escape at times. found it hard to put down.

I love this series. Happy light reading with a mystery thrown in. This one ended a bit suddenly with some unanswered questions. I hope the next book has some explanations.