Secondhand Spirits (A Witchcraft Mystery, #1)

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Secondhand Spirits (A Witchcraft Mystery #1)

by Juliet Blackwell

3.82 · rating details · 1,051 ratings · 184 reviews

Lily Ivory is not your average witch. Her spell-casting powers tend to draw mischievous spirits while keeping normal humans at a distance. But now her vintage clothing store could give her a chance to make friends in San Francisco....

Lily hopes for a normal life when she opens Aunt Cora's Closet. With her magical knack for vintage fashion -she can sense vibrati...more

Paperback, 313 pages

Published July 7th 2009 by Signet (first published May 2009)

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Lists with This Book

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie

Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson

Best Cozy Mystery Series

13th out of 422 books — 367 voters

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Best Supernatural Mysteries

15th out of 52 books — 73 voters

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Community Reviews

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Dec 28, 2011

Stephanie rated it

Shelves: cozy-mystery, 2011

The Five W's of the Cozy Mystery Review

Who is the protagonist?
Lily Ivory, practicing witch and shopkeeper of "Aunt Cora's Closet", a vintage clothing store

What is the premise of the story?
Children have been disappearing, and the dreaded "La Llorona" might be to blame

Where does the story take place?
The San Francisco Bay area

When does the story take place?
present day

Why does the protagonist bec...more

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Nov 20, 2011

Michelle Randall rated it

Shelves: cozy-mystery, witches, vintage-clothing

I discovered author Juliet Blackwell awhile back when I found her Haunted Home Renovation Series, and I loved that first book so much, that I researched the author to see what else she might hve written, and discovered this series, A Witchcraft Mystery.

I loved this book. Lily is our lead, a powerful witch, that we know very little about, so we discover just a little about her history, with so many more mysteries in her as a person herself yet to discover. Bronwyn is actually a wiccan,...more

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Jul 17, 2011

Jadaloves rated it

This book was quite a little adventure. I love mysteries, especially if they involve a little something extra like magic, and Blackwell nailed it with this one. Lily settles in San Francico and opens a shop selling antiques and vintage clothing. While getting new inventory from old Mrs. Potts, she hears the ominous cry of an infamous demon. Despite casting a spell protecting her, Lily soon finds that Mrs. Potts has indeed died and a child has been snatched from the neighborhood.

L...moreThis book was quite a little adventure. I love mysteries, especially if they involve a little something extra like magic, and Blackwell nailed it with this one. Lily settles in San Francico and opens a shop selling antiques and vintage clothing. While getting new inventory from old Mrs. Potts, she hears the ominous cry of an infamous demon. Despite casting a spell protecting her, Lily soon finds that Mrs. Potts has indeed died and a child has been snatched from the neighborhood.

Lily is an interesting sort of witch in that she kind of just wants to lead a normal life and fit in. But she’s good to a fault, and feels responsible when Frances Potts dies. Although she’s powerful, she still has a lot to learn and her best attribute and biggest flaw is her unwavering self-reliance. Lily is sweet, and humble, and doesn’t like to ask for help, even when it’s necessary. But she’s the kind of person that people are happy to help and do things for.

Max is one of those people who fall under her spell, despite his skepticism in her abilities. I liked Max from his very first appearance in the book. He’s very smooth, but not in a slick sort of way. And I like the easy conversation and camaraderie he and Lily have throughout the book. He’s also very handsome, in a rugged way, brave, and protective. My kinda guy for sure.

The pace of this story was excellent, and Blackwell did an awesome job of revealing clues and circumstances at the right time. There were many times I felt as if I was in the novel. The book enveloped me so much in parts to the point I felt my pulse quicken and fear creep into my heart. All throughout the novel I had no idea where the story would end up. Of course I took a guess it being a mystery and all, and I was completely wrong. Definitely kept me hanging on until the very end. And the supporting characters were great too. I especially like her familiar Oscar. He kind of reminds me of Dobby the way he’s described.

Overall, lovely book and great mystery. I will definitely look forward to reading the rest of this series.

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Jan 06, 2011

Deedee rated it

· review of another edition

Don't know why I love these short little reads from authors most folks have never heard of, but I absolutely adore them! This one is a fun, quick read about a vintage clothing store owner, Lily Ivory, who has certain, shall we say, 'gifts' when it comes to her merchandise. She senses the emotions and memories within the items, good or bad, that she finds for her clothing store. She runs the store with her aunt and meets quite a few very unique people along the way in this first in a series by...more

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Oct 28, 2010

Chibineko rated it

· review of another edition

With so many different books crossing multiple genres, most are a bit hard to place in one specific genre, which is one of the things about this book. It's not really that much of a mystery, at least not in the traditional sense. There aren't very many "whodunit" parts to the book & while there is a mystery, much of the book is spent talking about clothes, the past & mystical creatures. Not that that's a bad thing, mind you.

The story follows Lily, a natural born witch who h...more

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Sep 01, 2010

Myhotstylist rated it

LOVED IT!

Meet Lily Ivory, San Fransisco's newest resident witch. She owns and runs a vintage clothing shop in the Haight area. Soon after aquiring a bunch of old clothes from elderly Mrs. Potts, her little neighbor Jessica gets snached by a demon named La Llorna. Soon after, Mrs Potts is found dead in her home in the middle of a pentagram.

Now Lily must work hard to figure out the connection between the two crimes, save the girl, clear her name, and banish the demon. (and...more

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Aug 27, 2010

Tammy rated it

Shelves: mystery, witches-and-magic-users, demons

As a Wiccan I'm always both tempted by and leery of books about witches. That being said, I really like what Blackwell did in this book, how she made her main character, witch Lily Ivory, into a fictional witch with magical powers but also honored the tradition of Wicca without stereotyping Wiccans as either fluffy bunnies or evil wannabes.

I'm always intrigued by a plot having to do with La Llorona/A Woman in White. It's such a sad myth and Blackwell respected by sadness while not s...more

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Oct 26, 2009

Brian Ray rated it

Picked this up because it looked somewhere between mystery and fantasy. No surprise there. We've got a murder. And a witch. And...a real demon. Haven't seen too many books that successfully tie together two genres like this. Traditional mysteries in my experience go the Scooby Doo route, tricking readers into thinking a ghost or zombie (like "Cemetery Dance") is real when it's not. More and more - I've recently been introduced to John Connolly - look like authors are experimenting.
...more

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Aug 31, 2009

Gail rated it

Shelves: mysteries, paranormal-romance

A new book in a new series, Lily Ivy is a natural born witch, a sensitive who can move energy, brew spells, and make things happen. She has moved around all her life and has just settled into what she hopes is a normal life selling vintage clothes in the Haight in San Francisco. She is called to an old woman's house to look at her store of vintage clothing and hears the call of a demon calling for her lost child.

Lily is also visited by a male witch who knew her father and leaves ...more

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Aug 22, 2009

Julie (jjmachshev) rated it

Shelves: 2009-reads

"Secondhand Spirits" is (hopefully) the start of a good mystery series by new-to-me author Juliet Blackwell. This story is a mixture of lore, witchcraft, mystery, and G-rated romance with a touch of history and personal growth thrown in.

Lily is a powerful witch but has always been a loner. She's spent the last several years running from her past, but recently decided to settle down and chose San Francisco for its eccentric aura and people. She uses her 'gifts' sparingly ...more"Secondhand Spirits" is (hopefully) the start of a good mystery series by new-to-me author Juliet Blackwell. This story is a mixture of lore, witchcraft, mystery, and G-rated romance with a touch of history and personal growth thrown in.

Lily is a powerful witch but has always been a loner. She's spent the last several years running from her past, but recently decided to settle down and chose San Francisco for its eccentric aura and people. She uses her 'gifts' sparingly and enjoys finding just the right vintage outfit for her customers at her new vintage clothing store. Not long after opening, one of her recent clothing donors is murdered and a neighborhood child disappears. Unable to ignore the situation, Lily discovers there's quite a history of disappearing children...and the death of her donor may have something to do with it. She's need all her skills to cope with her investigation while under suspicion by the local cops. Seems SHE was the last person (other than the murderer, of course) to see the old woman alive. Lily also has to deal with two new men in her life...and one demon familiar masquerading as a pig! One of her new attractions is a diehard skeptic and the other's a powerful male witch that she can't quite bring herself to trust. What's a witch to do?

While the story does have a light feel, this is not a frothy, comedic mystery at all. I enjoyed the story of Lily and her evolving life as much as the mystery. As she goes from a woman trying to hide her nature to a woman not hiding...but not broadcasting either. A very interesting look at the life of a woman who's always felt (and been) DIFFERENT.

The mystery was well laid out and there were plenty of suspects and clues. I didn't figure out the 'bad guy' til the end when the author 'exposed' them. Looking back, I can see the clues but they weren't 'easy'. I want to read more about Lily and her hunky guys and the author indicates the next book is titled "A Cast-Off Coven" and will be published in June 2010.(less)

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Sep 26, 2011

Connie rated it

SECONDHAND SPIRITS by Juliet Blackwell is 313 pages long in paperback form. It is the first in A Witchcraft Mystery Series.

Lily Ivory is not your average witch. Her spell-casting powers tend to draw mischievous spirits while keeping normal humans at a distance. But now her vintage store could give her a chance to make friends in San Francisco.

Lily hopes for a normal life when she opens Aunt Cora's Closet. With her magical knack for vintage fashion -- she can sense vibrations ...more

· see review

Aug 25, 2011

Mirjam rated it

Shelves: mystery

The first Witchcraft mystery introduces Lily Ivory. Lily is a witch, who is tired of running from herself, so she settles in San Francisco, opens a vintage store and hopes to finally make some friends. Aunt Cora's Closet quickly becomes a hit and things are definitely looking up when a little girl disappears and one of Lily's clients is murdered. Time for the new witch in town to work some magic to figure out what happened to her client and find the missing girl. In her quest she is assisted by ...more

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Aug 31, 2009

Marlyn rated it

Shelves: mystery, paranormal

This is the first book in a new series by Juliet Blackwell (aka Hailey Lind, author of The Art Lover's mystery series).

Lily Ivory has always felt like an outsider because of her "special talents". But she finally gives in to her desire to settle down and belong when she opens a vintage clothing store in San Francisco, thinking that her eccentricities won't seem quite so weird in the Haight-Ashbury area.

Invited to look at a large collection owned by an elderly wo...more

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Jan 18, 2011

Nairabell rated it

Shelves: paranormal-mystery, 5-star, read-in-2011

Reclusive witch Lily Ivory has moved to San Francisco and opened her vintage store Aunt Cora's Closet in hopes of connecting with the wider world and finally having a normal life. Her spell-casting tends to attract mischevious spirits and her powers make her unique even amongst other witches. Lily's gift to sense the vibrations in vintage fashion soon makes Aunt Cora's a hit, but when a client is murdered and children start disappearing across the Bay Area Lily finds her unique talents might be ...moreReclusive witch Lily Ivory has moved to San Francisco and opened her vintage store Aunt Cora's Closet in hopes of connecting with the wider world and finally having a normal life. Her spell-casting tends to attract mischevious spirits and her powers make her unique even amongst other witches. Lily's gift to sense the vibrations in vintage fashion soon makes Aunt Cora's a hit, but when a client is murdered and children start disappearing across the Bay Area Lily finds her unique talents might be the only thing that can solve this mystery.

I really enjoyed this book: Lily is a great lead character, and the author has done a great job of creating a detailed and believable world for her to inhabit. Her descriptions of San Francisco suceed in making you want to visit, and make the book great to read for the setting alone. This doesn't suffer too much for being the first book in a series as the characters are introduced gradually and without info dumping.

I really like Lily's gargoyle familiar Oscar and his favourite guise of a pet pig (so unique given the standard witch's familiar being a cat), and he really lends a paranormal bent to the story. I also like how the other local stores are developed and the characters described, especially how the author doesn't shy away from having a homeless character called Conrad. There is the groundwork for a potential love triangle between Lily, local powerful witch Aidan Rhodes and myth buster Max Carmichael. It isn't particularly prominent and I'm hoping it stays that way; not growing too large or taking over future books to the detriment of the story.

I loved how the story used La Llorona as an integral part of the storyline as it is rare for non-European myths to be covered in paranormal fiction. I also liked how distinct varieties of witchcraft were presented - Lily's natural gifts that had been developed by training within her family, Bronwyn (who work's at the store) and her wiccan coven and also hints of Voodoo and mentions of curanderas (latino magic workers with touches of Christianity).

All in all I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to picking up copies of the second book, A Cast-Off Coven available now, and Hexes and Hemlines the third book out in June 2011.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 47/50(less)

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Jun 26, 2010

CJ - You Carry On As If I Don't Love You rated it

Shelves: san-francisco, fantasy, a-sort-of-cozy-mystery, mystery-meets-supernatural, witches, women-detectives

A surprising refreshing look into witches and the craft. While this book is primarily a mystery it still does a really good job of bringing to life Lily Ivory,a natural witch (one with innate abilities to manipulate or influence), her friends and hinting at the past that she left behind.

The men in her life are complicated and while nothing is quite a love triangle you get the impression that if there was, the reader would be a little confused as to who to root for. Aidan, the male wi...moreA surprising refreshing look into witches and the craft. While this book is primarily a mystery it still does a really good job of bringing to life Lily Ivory,a natural witch (one with innate abilities to manipulate or influence), her friends and hinting at the past that she left behind.

The men in her life are complicated and while nothing is quite a love triangle you get the impression that if there was, the reader would be a little confused as to who to root for. Aidan, the male witch (which isn't as rare as you would think but still one of those 'huh' things) and Max the professional skeptic. While there does need to be a skeptic in all of these books (without them how would the reader be able to lose themselves? the reader is often times the skeptic but if you have one in the story already you can easily side with the character doing the unbelievable things if it is written correctly), it is handled in a decent enough way that you don't want to smack Max in the face. Lily does a very good job of not becoming discouraged or too upset by Max's skepticism and in fact the reader almost believes she welcomes it as opposed to the easy charm of Aidan - she knows who she can trust.

Her familiar Oscar is cute in a not physically adorable way and there is a mystery there between Aidan and Oscar and Lily's possession of said creature.

Lily is learning to accept herself and her powers which could, if she isn't careful, get out of hand. Finally after all these years of travel (she is a worldly woman) she has settled in San Francisco, running a vintage clothing store. Lily's strongest talents lie in brewing and vibrations of old places. Bronwyn, her eventual friend and shopmate is a Wiccan and is the first to accept her. Maya, is the stereotypical San Franciscan art student - funky hair, old soul and outgoing personality.

The mystery is based on the disappearance of a little girl after she leaves the house of Frances Potts whom Lily and Maya are visiting for old clothes. It's a good mystery and it's interesting way in which Lily attempts to solve it. She needs to rely on herself and actually accept the help of Aidan.

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Jul 20, 2010

Patti rated it

Shelves: mystery, patti-s-favorites-of-2010, read-in-2010, i-own-this-book, signed

I heard Juliet Blackwell speak at Poisoned Pen in June, and, as I was/am broke, borrowed Secondhand Spirits from the library. I am so happy I did. A very enjoyable book about a witch in her early 30s still discovering her skills. Lily Ivory has recently settled in San Francisco, opening a vintage clothing store; she has been unable to settle down before, but is determined to stay in San Francisco. Lily is also finally opening up to the concept of making friends, and meets the right kind, rig...more

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Sep 12, 2011

Roxanne rated it

"I learned that goblins can’t read road maps. Oscar tried his best, I’ll give him that, but he wound up wrapping himself up in the unfolded map and screeching. By the time we circled downtown for the third time the map was a torn, wadded up ball on the floor of the Mustang."

Lily Ivory is a witch, she's always felt out of place and never had any real friends. Then she moves to San Francisco where she opens a vintage clothing store and in time comes to realize the town is just ...more

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Sep 23, 2010

Jessica rated it

Juliet Blackwell's Secondhand Spirits is truly a must read! If you like mystery with your paranormal or like Victoria Laurie's series, then this is a must read for you! It has just enough balance of mystery and paranormal to be a fast read! I devoured this in almost 1 day, had to read the last 40ish pages this morning.

It begins with a nice intro with the characters and the mystery of Aidan Rhodes, the male witch and there is a a different use in terminology here with witches, warloc...moreJuliet Blackwell's Secondhand Spirits is truly a must read! If you like mystery with your paranormal or like Victoria Laurie's series, then this is a must read for you! It has just enough balance of mystery and paranormal to be a fast read! I devoured this in almost 1 day, had to read the last 40ish pages this morning.

It begins with a nice intro with the characters and the mystery of Aidan Rhodes, the male witch and there is a a different use in terminology here with witches, warlocks and the like, but Blackwell explains them all easily and entwines the meaning nicely into the flow of the story.

And what a mystery it was. We know what the mystery will be based on the BOC, but we don't know when it all starts, and when it does, WOW! There is definitely an element of danger involved as well, because the murder mystery also involves witchcraft and a very old legend that rings of The Lady or Woman in White. But it is a Spanish version of the story and it's not just a legend!

Lily digs deeper into the mystery, determined to find the missing child who she had seen just before she vanished. And there are quite a few suspects and I was way off on one, but then I remember my "rule" to mysteries, which I can't repeat for spoiler purposes, and sure enough that rule rang true!

There was romance involved as well, yet again we find ourselves a sort of love triangle, but not exactly. There is one main love interest, won't tell which of the two men it is from the BOC and the other just doesn't feel like a love interest to me just yet.

I love a good mystery now and then, but I am picky when it comes to mysteries. I am too much of a supernatural girl to read anything that doesn't really contain the supernatural in some way. Hence my love of Victoria Laurie's mysteries, The Psychic Eye and The Ghost Hunter mysteries, both fabulous series if you like the blend of paranormal and mystery as I do!

Overall I give the book 5/5 stars! A GREAT read!! I will definitely be adding the second book to the series, A Cast Off Coven, to my To Buy List!

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May 22, 2010

Dorri rated it

Shelves: magic-ties, mysterious

From the back of the book: "Lily Ivory feels that she can finally fit in somewhere and conceal her "witchiness" in San Francisco. It's there that she opens her vintage clothing shop, outfitting customers both spiritually and stylistically.

Just when things seem normal, a client is murdered and children start disappearing from the Bay Area. Lily has a good idea that some bad phantoms are behind it. Can she keep her identity secret, or will her witchy ways be forced out ...more

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Feb 17, 2010

Jessica rated it

Shelves: 100-books-in-2009, mystery

Wow this book was a pleasant surprise!
I think that I let the cover lull me into thinking that this would be a more lighthearted mystery, a little bit of girly magic and fluff with a fun mystery to be solved. Boy was I wrong! The magic was all serious stuff, the kind you don't want to mess with because the big shit will hit the fan. The mystery to be solved involved some very unpleasant dark goings-on and a nasty demon. And will all the good and evil, the magic and voodoo and all the super...more

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Mar 11, 2010

Kitty rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, arsenic-and-old-lace, the-otherworld

This is the first in a cozy mystery series, revolving around a witch who runs a vintage clothing store. I grabbed it when I discovered that Juliet Blackwell is another pen-name for Hailey Lind, the author of the Annie Kincaid mystery series. I absolutely love the Annie Kincaid series - very funny, and a rather unique back-story. So I had high hopes for this series. Plus, anything paranormal is usually right up my alley.

Did I enjoy it? Yes. Was it as good as the Annie Kincaid ...more

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Sep 09, 2011

Tracey rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-웃cozy-mystery, xx-2011-fiction-reads, fiction-웃mystery

Great start to a new 'paranormal cozy mystery' series.

Lily Ivory is interesting and I like how the author has made her not so confident in herself. She is a witch but has finally settled into one location and opened her business selling vintage clothing.

In this first book we get introductions to the characters around Lily; those that work with her, the police/detectives and a potential romantic interest. We also meet Aidan another powerful witch in the city who provid...more

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Apr 06, 2010

Lori Whitwam rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, romance, urban-fantasy

4.5 stars.

While the cover makes this look like a chick-lit paranormal romance, it's actually less romantic (though there's some of that, and presumably more in upcoming books) and more gritty. It has strong elements of urban fantasy. It's not at the high end of the fluffy chick-lit spectrum, which I found appealing.

Lily is a likable heroine, not entirely at peace with her witchy nature, trying to make a fresh start in San Francisco. I like the setting of her vintage clot...more

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Jul 31, 2010

Nancy rated it

I am just beginning my adventures into the witchy paranormal types of books. Therefore, I cannot say that I am an expert or can really be a judge of this type of book. Secondhand Spirits has all the prerequisite ingredients for your typical cozy mystery, there is the standard small shop in a small town, a pet - but I do have to say that this one is a bit more interesting and a little on the Harry Potter side, and a dashing man that will sweep the heroine off of her feet.

The story...more

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Jun 22, 2011

Rochelle rated it

Totally uneven and poorly thought out. If the heroine was chased out of town at 8 yrs old then traveled the world, why is she so intent on being a Texan? Why does she have an accent? Why does the entire flow of the book have to stop so we can be treated to repeated examples of her Texanism? Why doesn't the heroine have a deeper curiosity about being gifted with a familiar? Why would she accept a familiar since that is one of the most personal things a witch can do/have? Why doesn't she at least ...more

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Oct 05, 2010

Viccy rated it

Shelves: paranormal

Liily Ivory is tired of roaming the world trying to find her place. She settles down in San Francisco to open a vintage clothing store. As a witch, she likes the gentle aura of well-loved clothing. Her friend, Maya, takes her to met Frances Potts who lives in a once grand house, now in the middle of a run-down neighborhood. Frances has agreed to sell Lily an assortment of her old clothes. The next day, Frances dies and the homicide detectives visit Lily. She begins to investigate and uncovers ma...more

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Jan 05, 2012

Holly Davis rated it

Shelves: cozy-mystery, own, witchy

I was very surprised with this book; I picked it up by title and the little blurb. Thinking, "oh cool finally a cozy witchcraft book." Knowing good and well it would be amazingly off the charts or so far off I would just give my copy of the book away.
So as I read the book I was pleasantly surprised that the book stayed true to what I think of Wicca or Witchcraft. The author took care to go into detail without overdoing the details. With Wicca a taboo too many people I thought it ...more

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Aug 14, 2010

Laura rated it

I really liked this book a lot. Any of my friends know I'm not much for a book without romance being the key factor. I am a changed woman! At least for this book. It is book one in the Witchcraft Mystery series and it was great!
Our heroine is Lily Ivory. She is an incredibly powerful natural born witch who has moved around a lot in life, never really wanting to settle down. But San Francisco changed her mind, and she opened up a vintage clothing shop. In fact, the tagline on the cover is...moreI really liked this book a lot. Any of my friends know I'm not much for a book without romance being the key factor. I am a changed woman! At least for this book. It is book one in the Witchcraft Mystery series and it was great!
Our heroine is Lily Ivory. She is an incredibly powerful natural born witch who has moved around a lot in life, never really wanting to settle down. But San Francisco changed her mind, and she opened up a vintage clothing shop. In fact, the tagline on the cover is Love the vintage, not the ghosts. Lily has only been open about 6 weeks when a super sexy guy walks in and the bell above her door doesn't chime as he walks beneath it. Hmm...
Aidan Rhodes is a male witch who wants Lily to, well he just wants Lily, we're not really sure what it is he wants. We know he worked with her father, who it was implied went over to the dark side, so that's not exactly a point in Aidan's favor. We know he is powerful. And he left Lily with a familiar. What is her new familiar? not a cat, not a dog, but a...Gargoyle!!! (well, he's a gnome, but he looks like a gargoyle). It was a cute little interchange when Aidan left the little guy with her. Lily named him Oscar after Oscar the Grouch...he can turn into a pig when he wants so he can be with Lily in her shop. And of course everyone loves Oscar, and he just loves the ladies.
Now in the first few pages, we've met Aidan, male witch, Oscar, new familiar, and as Lily goes to an old Victorian mansion to scope out some old lady's clothes for her shop, we meet Frances (the owner of the clothes) and we hear La Llorena.
La Llorena is a demon-According to the legend, the 'weeping woman' was abandoned by her children's father, and "the anguished mother took her children down to the water and drowned them one by one, finally flinging herself in to join them in their watery grave." And now she wails for her lost babies and lures other children to their deaths.
so while in Fraces' basement, looking over vintage clothing, both Frances and Lily hear La Llorena wailing. Frances being able to hear her means she is now marked for death. Thus begins the mystery, because right after they hear her, a neighborhood girl goes missing.
Our next big character is Max. Where Aidan is described as just plain beautiful, Max is likened to a "battle-weary medieval knight who had just removed his armor." He comes into the shop looking for some herbs to help him in his quest to see a ghost...but Lily recognizes the name of his tour guide, and tells him not to go with the guy-he's a fraud. Surprisingly Max knows that-Max is planning on busting the guy. But when Lily hears they are going out into the bay for their ghost hunting expedition, she pleads with Max not to go. But how do you convince a man you just met that there's a demon in the water? Meanwhile Lily wants to get the missing neighborhood girl back from La Llorena, but she needs Aidan's help, and the help of all of her new friends.
This book has the beginnings of a great love-triangle, some quirky characters from Oscar the pig/gargoyle, to Bronwyn who's part of the local coven, to the neighboring merchant Sandra (who I soo thought was the villain of the piece), and to Frances herself not being what she seems.
A fun mystery with an Urban Fantasy feel, and a character who sounds like someone I'd like to know, a solid 4 star book for any paranormal mystery/UF lover.
http://www.demonloversbooksandmore.com/2...(less)

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Jul 06, 2010

Danielle Barclay rated it

Secondhand Spirits, by Juliet Blackwell is a delightful paranormal mystery. Blackwell has written enchanting characters in a world that casually unfolds as the protagonist, Lily Ivory, natural born witch, tells her story. Lily is likable but secretive--a point I particularly like--the protagonist has a backstory, she has secrets that will be revealed as the series continues. The author took a smart approach in not revealing too much about the the main character(s) and she doesn't burden the read...more

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May 04, 2010

Leeankh rated it

Well, it was different than what I was expecting. There were excellent and realistic depictions of witchcraft mixed with the more fantastical Hollywood depictions of it. I felt conflicted by this throughout the entire book. I guess I don't understand why the author chose to mix realism with fantasy as much as she did. Weird. I enjoyed the store and the cast of characters quite a bit. I liked the setting, the action, and most aspects of the story. I just didn't like the real versus Hollywood vers...more

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About Juliet Blackwell

Juliet Blackwell (aka Julie Goodson-Lawes, aka Hailey Lind) started out life in Palo Alto, California, born of a Texan mother and a Yankee father. The family soon moved to what were, at the time, the sticks of Cupertino, an hour south of San Francisco. Walking to and from kindergarten every day she would indulge in her earliest larcenous activity: stealing walnuts and apricots from surrounding orc...moreJuliet Blackwell (aka Julie Goodson-Lawes, aka Hailey Lind) started out life in Palo Alto, California, born of a Texan mother and a Yankee father. The family soon moved to what were, at the time, the sticks of Cupertino, an hour south of San Francisco. Walking to and from kindergarten every day she would indulge in her earliest larcenous activity: stealing walnuts and apricots from surrounding orchards.

By the time she graduated middle school, the orchards were disappearing and the valley at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay had become the cradle of the silicon semi-conductor. A man named Steve Jobs was working in his garage in Cupertino, just down the street. Juliet's father advised his daughters to enter the lucrative and soon-to-flourish field of computers.

"Bah" said Juliet, as she went on to major in Latin American Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz (they had, by far, the best parties of any department). Rather than making scads of money in computers, she read, painted, learned Spanish and a little French and Vietnamese, lived in Spain and traveled through Europe, Mexico, and Central America. She had a very good time.

uliet pursued graduate degrees in Anthropology and Social Work at the State University of New York at Albany, where she published several non-fiction articles on immigration as well as one book-length translation. Fascinated with other cultural systems, she studied the religions, folklore and medical beliefs of peoples around the world, especially in Latin America. Juliet taught the anthropology of health and health care at SUNY-Albany, and worked as an elementary school social worker in upstate New York. She also did field projects in Mexico and Cuba, studied in Spain, Italy, and France, worked on a BBC production in the Philippines, taught English as a second language in San Jose, and learned how to faux finish walls in Princeton, New Jersey. After having a son, moving back to California, and abandoning her half-written dissertation in cultural anthropology, Juliet started painting murals and portraits for a living. She has run her own mural/faux finish design studio in Oakland, across the bay from San Francisco, for more than a decade. She specializes in the aesthetic renovation of historic homes.

Finally, to round out her tour of lucrative careers, Juliet turned to writing. Under the pseudonym of Hailey Lind, Juliet penned the Art Lover's Mystery Series with her sister Carolyn, about an ex-art forger trying to go straight by working as a muralist and faux finisher in San Francisco. The first of these, Feint of Art, was nominated for an Agatha Award; Shooting Gallery and Brush with Death were both IMBA bestsellers, and Arsenic and Old Paint is now available from Perseverance Press.

Juliet's Witchcraft Mystery series, about a witch who finally finds a place to fit in when she opens a vintage clothes shop on Haight Street in San Francisco, allows Juliet to indulge yet another interest—the world of witchcraft and the supernatural. Ever since her favorite aunt taught her about reading cards and tea leaves, Juliet has been fascinated with seers, conjurers, and covens from many different cultures and historic traditions. As an anthropologist, the author studied and taught about systems of spirituality, magic, and medicine throughout the world, especially in Latin America. Halloween is by far her favorite holiday.

When not writing, painting, or haranguing her funny but cynical teenaged son, Juliet spends a lot of time restoring her happily haunted house and gardening with Oscar the cat, who ostensibly belongs to the neighbors but won't leave her alone. He started hanging around when Juliet started writing about witches...funny coincidence.
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Books by Juliet Blackwell

A Cast-Off Coven (A Witchcraft Mystery, #2)

Hexes and Hemlines (A Witchcraft Mystery, #3)

If Walls Could Talk (A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery #1)

Dead Bolt (A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery #2)

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Secondhand Spirits (A Witchcraft Mystery #1)

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