In a Witch's Wardrobe: Witchcraft Mysteries, Book 4

Well, Ms. Blackwell's done it again: She's written another book which is forcing me to pace myself so I don't gobble it all up in a few days.While I've enjoyed her creative plots that hold together well, I think that the new characters in this story are better written than in the last Witchcraft Mystery. I've been around many Bay Area Neo-Pagans & hipsters & her good characterizations ring true. I'm finding the plot intriguing & the victim a vulnerable, interesting person. I'm loving Sailor even more, even though I'm impressed w/Lily's patience toward him. Sometimes I want to roll my eyes at him & shake him at the same time! Still, he's the perfect foil for Aidan - & vice versa. Inspector Romero's evolving character is also one I've found realistic. I know a lot of people in law enforcement and he's very reminiscent of a few I've known - wary, intelligent, cynical but determined. I've garnered similar reactions from some of them regarding my interest in the occult & I like that she doesn't make him a bumbler, a bully or macho womanizer. He, along with her closer friends, feel like people I know. And of course, there's the adorable Oscar, goblin/familiar who still manages to be a bit mysterious.I love how the author always weaves in social justice issues in her books, as they are reflective of life in San Francisco, these hard economic times & a world rapidly changing due to technology & globalization. She intertwines these ongoing issues in a manner that is very true to life in San Francisco, using her signature humor & respect.I also enjoy how Blackwell uses real events, places & Bay Area fixtures to set a scene, create context or just provide local color - such as the Art Deco Ball, radio station KCEA 89.1, the history snippets of The Haight, what East Bay covens are like & Fisherman's Wharf history.Blackwell is a sensitive, creative writer with a great sense of humor & obvious respect for people that are often ignored or dismissed due to their lack of social status. She's also able to create a main character who's powerful & vulnerable, a bit socially awkward & more at home in her vintage clothing shop helping customers than as a single lady looking for the right man. I like Lily's honesty, her sometimes conflicting needs & how she's growing, often surprising herself with who she's becoming. I love "watching" Lily navigate through these murder cases, which in turn helps her better navigate her relationship w/herself & others.All of the above makes me look forward to more books in this series, to finding out about Lily's mysterious past, her even more mysterious father & if her well-grounded life in San Francisco is exactly what she needs in order to deal with both of these mysteries.

This is one of my favorite paranormal mystery series' and Ms. Blackwell doesn't disappoint! Lily is such a charming character and I loved seeing her grow more confident in this book, both with her magic and her relationships. When a young woman collapses at a ball Lily is attending with her witchy friend, Aiden, she knows black magic is involved and takes on the investigation to find out who has cursed this young mother and why. Oscar, her piggy familiar, lends support and comic relief. There's lots of interesting characters, poisonous plants, angry ghosts and budding romance. Just an all around fun, hard-to-put-down read!

In installment four we find superwitch Lily really starting to open up and get comfortable in her own skin as she develops more and deeper relationships as she is challenged by a new mystery. She has moved on from her prior relationship with Max and now has surprised herself by starting a new, hot relationship with Sailor. Really, she wakes to a bedroom full of flower petals! So cute! This new mystery involves mystical mirrors, alternate dimensions, old legends, and ghosts by the dozens! This series will keep your interest until the very end, it just keeps getting better!

Listened/Read for Fun (Audible/Paperback)Overall Rating: 4.50Story Rating: 4.75Character Rating: 4.25Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought when Finished: In a Witch's Wardrobe by Juliet Blackwell is my favorite in the series so far! That is saying a lot because I have enjoyed each of them.Overall Thoughts: This is one of those cozy mystery series where the characters are done right. Lily doesn't fight/look down on/snub her nose at the law. Instead she works with them. The supporting cast all play very important roles in her life and while flawed they are lovable in their own right. Lily isn't perfect either and that makes her totally easy to relate too. Her internal dialogue while witchy is very identifiable :) The mystery in this one stumped me. I totally didn't figure it out and loved the twists/turns it took a long the way. I like the new characters that were introduced and hope we see more of them. I even like her personal life (though still messy) now. All in all just a darn good read!Audio Thoughts: Narrated By Xe Sands / Length: 8 hrs and 16 minsXe does an excellent job with this series. Her male voices are strong and unique (something I sometimes have a hard time with) and her female voices are spot on. Even when I am reading these stories (because I often flip back/forth between audio/paper), I can hear her doing Lily. I love when a narration just sticks with you! I highly recommend these on audio.Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews