Ghost of a Potion (A Magic Potion Mystery)

Ghost of a Potion by Heather Blake is the third book in A Magic Potion Mystery series. Carly Bell Hartwell is getting ready for her yearly hibernation (starts at midnight on Halloween and ends at 11:49 p.m. on All Souls Day). Halloween starts the next day and Carly stays inside her home to avoid ghosts (the ones that have not passed over). Carly had experienced a bad ghost seven years previously and has not been able to deal with them since then. That evening Carly is attending an event at the Ezekiel Mansion (they will own the house if the lost heir does not claim it by January 1). It was just restored by the Harpies—The Hitching Post Restoration and Preservation Society (what did you think I meant). Carly’s mother is trying to get her husband into the society (to keep him busy and out of her hair). Carly will be attending with her on-again-off again (currently on) boyfriend, Dylan Jackson (who is also an officer with the Hitching Post Police Department).The evening does not start out well. Patricia Davis Jackson, Dylan’s mother, does not like Carly and hits Carly with a few zingers as a greeting (and tries to ruin her beautiful dress). A little while later they hear screaming. Patricia is standing over Haywood Dodd with a candlestick in her hand. Haywood is dead. Haywood was going to make a big announcement at 10 p.m. and he would not give anyone a hint. Patricia, of course, is the main suspect which means Dylan is not allowed to investigate the case. As for Carly, she saw the one thing she wanted to avoid—a ghost! Haywood Dodd’s ghost noticed Carly and followed her home (she ran the whole way). Carly has no choice but to help Haywood. Carly sets out to solve the murder with help from Dylan (and friends). It looks like Carly is not going to get to hibernate this year. She might even pick up a few more ghosts along the way that she will have to assist (much to her Cousin Delia’s delight).Who wanted Haywood Dodd dead? What was Haywood’s big announcement and did it have anything to do with his death? You will just have to read Ghost of a Potion to find out. Ghost of a Potion is a hilarious book. Hitching Post, Alabama is a charming small town (with a lot going on). Ghost of a Potion has unique, quirky characters and a mystery that will leave you guessing (it is a windy path to the killer). I give Ghost of a Potion 5 out of 5 stars. Ghost of a Potion has humor, romance, magic, and a good mystery. The perfect ingredients for a delightful cozy mystery. While Ghost of a Potion is a part of a series, it can be read alone. However, I think you will want to read the whole series. I cannot wait for the next book in A Magic Potion Mystery series.I received a complimentary copy of Ghost of a Potion from the author (I won a copy on Facebook) in exchange for an honest review.

Ghost of a Potion is the 3rd book in the Magic Potion Mystery series and it's the best one yet!! It's Halloween in Hitching Post and Carly Bell Hartwell's plan to hide out for the next three days to avoid all ghosts is dashed when a friend is murdered at a masquerade ball to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Ezekiel Mansion. To make matters worse, Carly's arch enemy (and the mother of the love of her life) is found standing over the body with the murder weapon in her hand. When the ghost of the victim, Haywood Dodd, asks for Carly's help in solving his murder so that he can cross over, she starts to investigate, and she ends up with two more ghosts that need her help.This book is fast-paced, by turns laugh-out-loud funny and deadly serious, and full of twists and turns. I figured out "who done it' just as Carly did, which is perfect for my taste. I don't like to know too soon.One of the main things I look for in a series is how the characters grow and change over time. This is just the 3rd book but the characters are already really coming in to their own and I can't wait to see where they go from here!

Heather Blake's books are always such a treat, and Ghost of a Potion was no exception. I'm an avid cozy mystery reader, but Blake is on my short list of "absolutely positively must not miss a new release ever!" As a matter of fact I was so excited about this book that I somehow managed to pre-order it twice and didn't notice until two books showed up on my doorstep release day!Every book of hers gives me at least one literal LOL moment (which is typically followed by waking my husband up, oops). And I'm not talking about laugh as I read and then forget it as I move on. Oh no. I laugh out loud, read a couple more sentences and laugh harder, eventually laughing so hard that I lose my place. Then I go back to find my place again, read the same parts, laugh again, and the whole process is repeated a few times until I finally manage to get through the whole scene. Then I just smile as I continue reading, because that's a darn good book.In Ghost, Carly is hoping for a nice, peaceful Halloween. Not an easy thing for an empath who can see the spirits who are between existences this time of year. However, her annual hibernation is interrupted when her boyfriend Dylan's mother is held on suspicion of murder and she must try to put aside her....rocky... relationship with the woman in order to help her. We readers finally find out why Patricia has never liked Carly, and I must admit I was very surprised at that little revelation and the events that followed. I can't wait to see where that story line goes.As always in Hitching Post, we get to visit with some great side characters. Dylan, Delia, Ainsley, Mr. Dunwoody, and of course Carly's family all weave together, creating a believable, quirky town that I'd love to visit.I seriously adore this series. Don't forget to check out the Wishcraft series, also by Heather Blake, along with the Nina Quinn and Lucy Valentine series under the name Heather Webber.

Who doesn’t love Halloween? I can tell you one person. It’s Carley. So when Halloween comes to Hitching Post, she decides to hibernate until November 3. That way there will be no ghosts trying to get her help and since she’s also an empath, she won’t feel what others feel. Sounds like a good plan, right? Well as we all know, the best laid plans….Anyway, as most of the town was at the masquerade ball at Ezikel House, Carley and her boyfriend Dylan watched the clock to protect his mother from being accused of a murder that was going to happen. Well, the murder did happen. Dylan’s mother was caught with the murder weapon, but what transpired after that, I’m not going to tell.If you like paranormal stories with a few twists, you’ll love this series. I’m already looking forward to the next one in the series.

This is a five star read for me because Heather Blake always weaves a cool twitchy tale that is both current and offers a little romance too. Darn good fun read.

As always Heather Blake writes a very readable book and I can not wait to read the next one in this good series!!!!!!

Ok, but now so good as her other series

Excellent as always. Brilliant writer.

You can never go wrong with Heather Blakes Potion series. Carly Bell and her family keep the pages turning!