Hexes and Hemlines (A Witchcraft Mystery, #3)

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Hexes and Hemlines (A Witchcraft Mystery #3)

3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 · rating details · 1,303 ratings · 130 reviews

With her vintage clothing store taking off, Lily Ivory is finding that life in San Francisco suits her just fine. But her ability to sense vibrations from the past, so useful in locating secondhand gems, has landed her in the middle of a new mystery...

Lily gets called away from Aunt Cora's Closet when the police need a witch's take on a strange case. Malachi Zazi was stabb...more

Paperback, 314 pages

Published June 7th 2011 by Signet (first published April 19th 2011)

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Aug 02, 2012 Kristen rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am still liking this series, although this book has me a bit confused about where it's going to go from here.

Lily Ivory is a witch. And for most of her life she's kept that under wraps, because it hasn't done her any favours to let people know about her powers, and she's been running from place to place most of her life to avoid complications.

But now, Lily's decided to stay put in San Francisco, where she runs her vintage clothing shop Aunt Cora's Closet in the famous hippy Haight Ashbury area...more I am still liking this series, although this book has me a bit confused about where it's going to go from here.

Lily Ivory is a witch. And for most of her life she's kept that under wraps, because it hasn't done her any favours to let people know about her powers, and she's been running from place to place most of her life to avoid complications.

But now, Lily's decided to stay put in San Francisco, where she runs her vintage clothing shop Aunt Cora's Closet in the famous hippy Haight Ashbury area. She also somhow seems to keep getting caught up in murders and mayhem.

This time around Lily's been asked to look at a murder scene that is filled with bad luck symbols - broken mirrors, ladders to walk under - the works. But Lily doesn't sense anything. And that is the weirdest thing of all since she always senses SOMETHING.

Then, when Lily's employee Bronwyn asks her to look into the same murder because her son-in-law is involved and could be under suspicion, and a hex is left for Bronwyn shortly thereafter, Lily realizes something nasty is going on and she's determined to get to the bottom of it no matter who tries to stop her!

The character of Lily clearly has a very complicated back-story, and as the series progresses, we get a bit more information about it, but I think the author has a plan for how future books will play out and the readers have to keep coming back if they want the full story.

Lily seems to have very unique perspectives on right and wrong and what her powers entitle her to do, and that is different from most fiction about witches. Lily also doesn't have full control of her powers because of her unfortunate childhood - her mother didn't want her to be a witch and tried to exorcise her at 17 leading to a bad scene and a fast run out of town.

So Lily needs friends and help with her powers. There are several magical people in town who might be able to help Lily in this area. The only problem is that she doesn't trust any of them.

Overall, this series is a fun, easy read, with interesting stories and characters with a nice combination of uniqueness and conflictions. I will continue with this series as I am enjoying it.(less)

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Nov 11, 2011 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-blog

Lily Ivory is pulled away from her vintage clothing store, Aunt Cora’s Closet, to give the police a witch’s take on a strange crime scene. Rationalist Malachi Zazi has been found stabbed to death in his apartment surrounded by symbols of the very bad luck he was trying to disprove. When a suspect from his own Serpentarian Society is identified by the police Lily is shocked to find that it’s someone she knows. As bad luck strikes all of the Serpentarian Society members, Lily begins to wonder if i...more Lily Ivory is pulled away from her vintage clothing store, Aunt Cora’s Closet, to give the police a witch’s take on a strange crime scene. Rationalist Malachi Zazi has been found stabbed to death in his apartment surrounded by symbols of the very bad luck he was trying to disprove. When a suspect from his own Serpentarian Society is identified by the police Lily is shocked to find that it’s someone she knows. As bad luck strikes all of the Serpentarian Society members, Lily begins to wonder if it’s coincidence or if something darker is in play.

Juliet Blackwell’s Hexes and Hemlines is one of those light mysteries that are perfect for a summer beach read or a slow weekend. The murder plot gets a bit lost in Lily worrying about her shop and her employees as well as descriptions of various vintage clothes that were lost on me. There were also a few nitpicky little things, like the author taking a full paragraph to describe one of the love interest guys’ eyes both times it comes up. Aside from that the writing is fairly tight and it makes for a fast read.

There were nitpicky things though such as the bit where Lily mentioned having a thing with snakes. This kept coming up and kept coming up but didn’t resolve until late in the story with a flow shattering expository passage. The descriptions for Max’s eyes didn’t sit right with the rest of the story. The first time could have been passed off as Lily being caught off guard at seeing him again, but the second time just felt out of place. It seems a bit funny, but Hexes and Hemlines could have also safely dropped a good deal of the talk about magic. It got to a point where it almost felt like Blackwell thought her audience would forget that Lily’s a witch if they weren’t reminded every few pages. The repetition took something away from it for me, so it wound up feeling like a clue by four hanging over every problem.

All said Hexes and Hemlines is a decent weekend mystery. It’s not terribly memorable but it’s also a fun, quick read. I doubt that I would read another book in this series, but I would give a non-magic mystery series by Blackwell a try. I’m giving this one a three out of five for being entertaining if somewhat forgettable.
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Oct 11, 2011 Suspense Magazine rated it 4 of 5 stars

The imagery alone is worth the price you’ll pay for a Juliet Blackwell Witchcraft Mystery. Dressed in the vintage clothing that she sells in the Haight Ashbury section of San Francisco in her shop Aunt Cora’s Closet, with a pig . . . or was that a half ogre/half gargoyle familiar named Oscar, Lily Ivory must be a sight to be seen. Always dressed for an occasion, this newly relocated and only partially trained witch has definitely found a home where she can comfortably fit in with the other eccen...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Gail rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've grown weary of late of the mysteries-with-a-gimmick series but this one cheers me and gives me hope. In this third entry of Juliet Blackwell's witchcraft series, vintage clothes store owner and natural witch, Lily Ivory is asked by a police officer to assist him in viewing the scene of a crime. The man is surrounded by symbols of bad luck and is impaled by a large shard of glass from a shattered murder.

This opens up a larger mystery as the victim is from the Serpentarian Society, a group th...more

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Jul 03, 2011 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've read some reviews saying this wasn't as good as other books in the series. I don't agree. As with the other stories, the mystery takes a back seat to the characters and their ongoing stories. However, I did find this mystery a *bit* more puzzling than the first two--not a lot, but a bit. Lily had to use her magic various ways to out the culprit. This book gives a bit more background on Sailor, Aiden, Oscar, and Bronwyn, too. (Max is still Max.)

Basic plot... Lily is asked by her friend Detec...more

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Jun 16, 2011 Marlyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, paranormal

SFPD Inspector Carlos Romero asks witch Lily Ivory to look at an unusual murder scene on the thirteenth floor of an apartment building. Lily sees several symbols of bad luck: a ladder in front of the door, a broken mirror, a black cat, and an open umbrella. The victim is Malachi Zazi, son of the infamously eccentric "Prince High" Zazi, a self-professed Satanist.

Malachi's doctrine was Rationalism, and to prove it, he started a group called the Serpentarians. The group had thirteen members, who wo...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Jeannie and Louis Rigod rated it 5 of 5 stars

Oh, I just adore this series. My only problem is that I would enjoy reading one novel per month in it...poor Author groans.

Seriously, I love the location, San Francisco, Ca. I love the characters or find them extremely interesting, such as our lovely witch sleuth, Lily, her mentor, Aidan, her friends, Bronwyn, Maya, and of course, who can't be enamored with Oscar, the Pig. There are several other characters that are now gaining the stage...like Sailor and his Auntie, Herve and I could go on and...more

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Dec 31, 2012 C. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: up-to-2012

Because I buy interesting stories discovered on sale, it can be years before they’re read. This served me well with Juliet Blackwell. Her San Francisco series has unique angles that are up my alley. But I dislike the troll and was blunted with hardcore witchcraft on page one without any introduction to the setting. I didn’t think I’d pursue more but my buying trend had already gathered most of the series. I loved “A Cast-Off Coven” and was so glad the series meshed with me more; that I next leap...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Abby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

SEE THE FULL REVIEW AND MORE OVER AT pugs-story-corner.blogspot.co.uk

KEY-POINTS: Magic, Murder, Paranormal, Crime, Small amount of Romance, Mystery

IN-SHORT: A great and fun read with loveable characters that I look forward to seeing again.

Ginny The Book Reading Pug's Review:

Juliet Blackwell is a new author for me and my owner but i will defiantly be begging for more books from her after reading Hexes and Hemlines.

Although me and my owner stumbled into this book without reading the first and se...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Sandra Strange rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror-supernatural, mysteries

Another set of clean, yet romantic, mysteries starring a strong female protagonist, with information and supernatural thrown in. The "detective" of the series is a witch, of all things, who owns a vintage clothing store in San Francisco (on Haight and Ashbury street corner of hippie fame). The mysteries are intriguing: you will learn all about those who deal in the supernatural, from witches, Wiccan followers, voodoo masters, gypsy practitioners, and even Satan worshipers, but in the context of...more

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Apr 27, 2013 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hexes and Hemlines is another great addition to "A Witchcraft Mystery" Series. Juliet Blackwell tells her story in a way that leaves room for the reader's imagination to visualize the scenes taking place. The main character, Lily Ivory, appears to be a normal young woman, who owns a vintage clothing store. Although she possesses certain magical abilities and has a gargoyle-like familiar, she still shares some of the same insecurities as many other young women and trying to fit in, for her, is ju...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Debra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Exiled from her native Texas, witch and vintage clothing seller, Lily Ivory, has been slowly building a new life in San Francisco. She’s developing friendships she never had in childhood, her business is growing, and she’s dealing, more or less, with the men in her life. Lily’s talent as a witch is known to at least one police inspector, so when a murdered man is found in a room filled with bad luck charms, the inspector asks for Lily’s take on the crime scene. Since the prime suspect is the son...more

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Apr 13, 2012 Saadia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very delightful story featuring Lily Ivory, a contemporary late blooming witch who is finding her footing in the San Francisco area as a vintage clothing shop owner and enjoying the newfound sense of community.

She is meeting various persons from the local paranormal scenes, including her newest teacher and mentor, a powerful male warlock called Aidan; a bad witch named Doura; a gypsy Romany witch, Aunt Renna, who helps her with a hex that identifies the killer in this story; etc. We get a bird's...more

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Jun 13, 2011 Fred rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the Witchcraft series from Blackwell. I'm not a believer of witchcraft, but Blackwell does write a very interesting story and provides necessary explanation for the most part.

Lily Ivory is invited by the police to a murder scene where the victim is surrounded by numerous elements of superstitions. Lilly finds it strange that the police have asked her to the crime and soon finds out the #1 suspect is her good friends son in law. Now she wonders if that is the reason they...more

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Apr 13, 2013 Babs rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-paranormal, mystery-cozy

The evolving main character, a witch who did not complete her training, is very compelling and interesting. She apparently is very powerful, but doesn't completely realize that yet and has trouble controlling and using her powers. She is now completing her training with a male witch (the author doesn't seem to use the term warlock) that lead and "controls" the witches in the San Francisco area. He may not have her best interest at heart; he may be using her for his own ends.

This is much more in...more

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Jul 08, 2011 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Juliet Blackwell's Hexes and Hemlines was fabulous! If you're looking for a light mystery--or cozy I guess is the term--with some supernatural elements intertwined than this is a series for you! Juliet's series is very engaging, the characters are fresh and inviting. Lily is a witch who has finally made a home for herself in San Francisco and has friends and her magic is harnessing her magic thank to Aidan--another magic user she's met upon moving there.

At the beginning of the book Lily is alrea...more Juliet Blackwell's Hexes and Hemlines was fabulous! If you're looking for a light mystery--or cozy I guess is the term--with some supernatural elements intertwined than this is a series for you! Juliet's series is very engaging, the characters are fresh and inviting. Lily is a witch who has finally made a home for herself in San Francisco and has friends and her magic is harnessing her magic thank to Aidan--another magic user she's met upon moving there.

At the beginning of the book Lily is already at the crime scene trying to see what she can see and the story begins. Lily is in for a ride this time around as her life becomes a roller coaster ride! Many ups and downs for Lily. Including her love life. Max is still skeptical about starting a relationship, Lily's magical abilities being apart of it, as well as his skepticism about the whole thing. There wasn't a whole lot of Max this time around, yet there's still definite chemistry between him and Lily, so who knows where things will go.

Then there's Aidan, the other magic user who is just filled with mystery and secrets. Lily can never seem to know what he's on about and there's an interesting discovery or two that we get to learn about him as well. There's also some chemistry brewing between these two, but not sure what Lily's going to do. Hello, love triangle--I barely knew thee. (Ha!)

The mystery element was pretty good. I never seemed to be able to grasp who the murderer was, there were too many suspects for me. The final reveal was a bit shocking too. I was so off! Which can be the fun with a mystery, especially a murder one.

The pacing was great! Truly wonderful. Just as Lily starts to take the case underway and investigate, bad things start to happen and she is begged off the case, but she can't seem to abide by that, not when someone she cares about is in danger. Tension definitely runs high.

On a side-note, just have to say that I love Oscar! Lily's familiar goblin-pig who's her familiar. He's a very funny little guy. Makes great wisecracks and just brings some lighthearted humor into the mix.

Overall Hexes and Hemlines was another wonder edition to the series. I soooo cannot wait for the next one, which is likely next year since Juliet has 2 series running. Oh well, more goodness to come in December when the second book in her Haunted Home Renovation series comes out.

Overall rating 5/5 stars(less)

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May 03, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was a really fun find for me. I received it as a gift so I’m new to this author and new to this series. Even though I started with book #3, Hexes and Hemlines, this read very well and could be considered a stand-alone. Yes, there are some reoccurring characters that I’m sure I could have understood better but Juliet Blackwell did such a good job of quickly reintroducing everyone I had no problem understanding. As an added bonus, it was really quick and easy to jump in to San Francisco...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Judith rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, mystery, paranormal

This is the third book in the Witchcraft Mystery series by Juliet Blackwell. The book opens with Lily Ivory being called in to exam a murder by SFPD Inspector Carlos Romero. Lily has had run ins with Romero in the previous two books and he has come to respect her talents. The death in question, happened in the penthouse, on the 13th floor of the Doppler Building. Malachi Zazi was the head of the Serpentarian Society, named after Serpentarius the thirteenth zodiac sign, and was trying to rational...more This is the third book in the Witchcraft Mystery series by Juliet Blackwell. The book opens with Lily Ivory being called in to exam a murder by SFPD Inspector Carlos Romero. Lily has had run ins with Romero in the previous two books and he has come to respect her talents. The death in question, happened in the penthouse, on the 13th floor of the Doppler Building. Malachi Zazi was the head of the Serpentarian Society, named after Serpentarius the thirteenth zodiac sign, and was trying to rationalize away bad luck symbols. At first, Lily had no real plans to do more than advise the SFPD, but then she finds out that Bronwyn, her friend and Wiccan herbalist's daughter is married to one of the members of the Serpentarian Society and is being questioned in conjunction with Zazi's death. Lily agrees to look into the matter and help out Bronwyn's daughter and son-in-law. But things get complicated when she is warned off the case at nearly ever turn, and then someone leaves a nasty curse outside of Bronwyn's apartment. Lily becomes even more determined to figure out who is doing these things and make them stop. No one threatens her friends and gets away with it.

We see a return of Max Charmichael, but it looks like the romance isn't going to continue. There is also more background information on Aidan Rhodes and Sailor, individually and how they came to know one another. One mystery that is partially solved is about Oscar, Lily's gifted familiar, and what exactly he is. We also get a much better understanding of Bronwyn and her family's dynamics. The relationship threads that run between all the characters are becoming clearer, yet much more tangled together.

There was a lot of action in this book, at one point Lily was literally running for her life. The drama level was high and kept the tension tight, with a bare minimum of comedic breaks. Lily continues the use of her southern slang and her lack of pop culture knowledge. I really want to know what has gone on with her Father and why we still don't know much more than was in the first book. He is still hinted at, but remains a large mystery.

I am giving this book 3 stars on Goodreads, mainly because I am ready to really delve into the mysteries of Lily herself. Ms. Blackwell is keeping us in suspense and I am getting impatient. There was also some serious repetition of certain phrases, from book to book, which kept knocking me out of the story. Overall a good book, and a nice addition to the series.
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Sep 06, 2011 Spuddie rated it 3 of 5 stars

As paranormal mysteries go, this series is okay, but there are certain aspects of it that make me grind my teeth, as with most cozy-ish series I read these days. (Why must the main character be incomplete without a man? Why must they describe each man she meets in detail as though he's a potential beau? ARGH!) Why must she call witches who are male 'male witches?' Drives me nuts...a witch is a witch, doesn't matter what gender they are!

Still, it's kind of cute and light, and sometimes a book lik...more

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Oct 26, 2011 Debbie Heaton rated it 5 of 5 stars

In Blackwell's paranormal novel, Lily gets called away from Aunt Cora's Closet when her policeman friend needs a "witch's take" on a murder scene. Malachi Zazi was stabbed to death in his apartment, surrounded by the number thirteen, a broken mirror, a ladder, and a black cat--superstitions that the victim, as head of a rationalist society of debunkers, was determined to discredit. Lily is shocked when the police identify a suspect and it is someone she knows. Suspecting a coincidence, Lily find...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Leya rated it 4 of 5 stars

The third book of the Witchcraft series did not disappoint in my opinion, considering my thoughts on the second book. Alright the second book wasn't awful, it was a decent read. So let's just say my expectations for this book weren't huge.

And once again I inhaled this book. I find this author's ability to describe rituals and spells simply amazing, which kind of makes me wonder how much research is done for these themed cosy mystery books. I really enjoyed the mystery, the rituals, the addition...more

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Oct 25, 2011 Vickie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: booksthatmakemegowow

This is such an excellent paranormal cozy series. I love Lily and would love to be friends with her, Bronwyn, would love to at least look at Aidan Rhodes, and definitely hang with Oscar, who is Lily's familiar. And to shop in Aunt Cora's Closet would be suh-weeeet!

The mixture of light-hearted and grim has the right touch for a reader to stay up late and keep turning those pages into the night to see what's going to happen next.

Lily is learning to love having friends, something she didn't have m...more

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Aug 10, 2012 Marti rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, paranormal

This is the third book in Juliet Blackwell's series about Lily, the young witch who has finally settled in San Francisco and opened a vintage clothing store. In this novel, a SFPD detective asks for Lily's help in a murder. As it happened, Lily's good friend Bronwyn had a connection to this case and winds up asking Lily to back off. It presented an interesting mmoral dilemma for Lily. Should she honor her friend's request or do what she thought was right even if it might end a valuable friendshi...more

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Mar 24, 2013 Cuppa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love this series. It keeps getting better with each book. I get the feeling Juliet Blackwell has done a lot of research on witchcraft. I like the way she throws in bits of witchcraft info from different cultures. I also love the way her heroine, Lily Ivory is discovering the meaning of community, having given up a life of drifting to settle down. When people talk about what defines a cozy mystery they usually list a lack of graphic violence, sex and profanity. But one thing that is clearly imp...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Rhianna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Stronger than A Cast-Off Coven

Lily Ivory is back, but instead of stumbling into a mystery through her vintage clothes fetish this time she's been called in by inspector Carlos Romero to informally consult on a crime scene. Local eccentric Malachi Zazi has been murdered surrounded by traditional symbols of bad luck including a black cat. Symbols that Zazi was trying to disprove along with his own special society.

When Bronwyn's family gets pulled into the mysterious circumstances of Zazi's death...more Stronger than A Cast-Off Coven

Lily Ivory is back, but instead of stumbling into a mystery through her vintage clothes fetish this time she's been called in by inspector Carlos Romero to informally consult on a crime scene. Local eccentric Malachi Zazi has been murdered surrounded by traditional symbols of bad luck including a black cat. Symbols that Zazi was trying to disprove along with his own special society.

When Bronwyn's family gets pulled into the mysterious circumstances of Zazi's death the plot thickens and Lily will have to choose between protecting the friend who accepted her so unconditionally and obeying her friend's wishes. It seems everyone's luck is about to change and only Lily seems willing to face it head on.

I really had issues with the previous installment in the series so I was a little worried coming into this one. There are some continuity issues between the final chapter of A CAST-OFF COVEN and the first chapter HEXES AND HEMLINES but once you get past that the story picks up nicely.

Bronwyn, who has always been a favorite of mine, finally gets some attention this time and the limits of her friendship with Lily get tested. Lily's relationship with Max is sort of on hold while he's out-of-town but I've never cared for it so if you're indifferent to their thing you'll be spared too much of their soppy back-and-forth-never-going-anywhere relationship. Meanwhile, we get a little more insight into Sailor, whom I'm starting to like for his mysteriousness.

Apparently there are also several different 'schools' of magic which receive a slight bit of definition. We're introduced to devil worshipping magic and Rom (gypsy) magic. Part of me finds this a bit annoyingly unfair since Blackwell has made Wicca essentially non-magical. Keeping it all straight may prove confusing in future installments but worked well to tell this story. While the true villain was pretty obvious right away the plot flowed nicely and wasn't overly bogged down by slow parts. My only major beef was the lack of importance vintage clothes played in this installment, these are witchcraft mysteries but the clothes always had a more important role before and I liked that.

Overall this is a good addition to the series and an entertaining mystery if you enjoy a dash of the supernatural with your crime-solving.
***Received review copy via publisher.(less)

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Aug 03, 2011 Karyogini rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-on-2011

This happens right after the 2nd book. I'm actually weirded out with the time line... One bit of spoiler (view spoiler) Anyway, that spoiler bit is really my gripe. I'm reading this series because I want something "light" and yes maybe something concentrated more on the "relationship" part of the story... Instead, I got a semi-sort-of-interesting murder case and no relation...more

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Jun 09, 2011 ❂ Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mystery, paranormal-mystery

I really enjoy this series - she manages to blend lightheartedness with just enough scary to keep me excited to read more, but not worried about sleeping at night. The plot line in this third book of the series is not as dramatic as the first two but still very gripping, I thought. It's one I might have to re-read at a later date because I suspect I might have missed a few details. The characters continue to develop and some of them in interesting directions. I'm really looking forward to readin...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Goldie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: clothes, death, family, fantasy, fashion, female-protagonists, friendship, marriage, magic, murder, mystery, paranormal, paranormal-romance, secrets, self-discovery, witchcraft, witches

4.5 stars

Originally posted at My Book Musings.

Lily Ivory sure is growing on me.

In the third book in Juliet Blackwell's A Witchcraft Mystery series, we see the plot take a darker turn. While the series is somber, it is a mystery book after all, I felt like the plot was more serious this time. This focused more on the murder, witchcraft, and hexes. Moreover, while it did touch Lily's love life, or the lack of it, this was not a major issue as much as it was in the previous two books, Secondhand Sp ...more

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Feb 16, 2012 Michelle Randall rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mystery, ghosts-spirits, library-book, vintage-clothing, witches

Hexes and Hemlines is the third book in the Witchcraft Mystery series by author Juliet Blackwell, who I just happen to really love!

Lily has been asked by Detective Carlos to take a look at his crime scene, it is littered with bad luck symbols, and he wants to know what she thinks. This is a huge step for the detective, he is actually, after her being involved in his last two cases, coming to terms with the supernatural and the fact that witches and ghosts actually do exsist, which is a whole lot...more Hexes and Hemlines is the third book in the Witchcraft Mystery series by author Juliet Blackwell, who I just happen to really love!

Lily has been asked by Detective Carlos to take a look at his crime scene, it is littered with bad luck symbols, and he wants to know what she thinks. This is a huge step for the detective, he is actually, after her being involved in his last two cases, coming to terms with the supernatural and the fact that witches and ghosts actually do exsist, which is a whole lot better than her said crush, reporter Max Carmichael, who after the last crime and actually seeing her in action, tucked his tail and ran off to Florida! Coward! Of course Lily isn't ready to announce it to the whole world that she is a witch, but she is getting better about letting people get close to her.

The crime scene that Detective Carlos takes her to is on the 13th floor, there is a ladder you have to walk under to get in, broken mirrors, a black cat and all kinds of other bad luck symbols. The funny thing, Lily can't really get a vibe on the place and that kinda freaks her out, so of course she has to get invovled and look into things, especially when she finds out that her friend Browyn's son-in-law was at the dinner the night before and is a "person of interest", which of course is freaking rebecca, Browyn's daughter out to n o end, it is upsetting her "perfect", normal, un-supernatural life.

Of course we learn a little more about Browyn and her daughter, Rebecca and their relationship in this book. We also learn more about Adian and Sailor, who just happens to be involved in this book quite alot, which is really neat, because I like Sailor, in fact I think Sailor and Lily would be a cute couple, but that is just my opinion. We also learn more about Lily. I love how we get small glimpses into her past, things that made her what she is today in each book, and in this book, because we are dealing with this "bad Luck Club" and the symbol of the snake, we learn that Lily is not afraid of snakes and o n incident in her life when she was younger involving her mother and a snake-handling church. It really helps you understand the basic mistrust she has of people, when someone who is suppose to love her can subject her to such a horror.

I am really looking forward to the next book, the Art Deco Ball and learning more about Aidan and lily, and how they are connected, because we know that they both are very powerful witches, and you just know there has to be some connection between them, jut what it is exactly is yet to be discovered. I love finding out more about them in these small doses, as they navigate life and death and reality.

Book Four is titled, In a Witch's Wardrobe, I think, and it is available now. I also hear, from following the author on Facebook, that she is currently working on book five! Love it!(less)

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Mar 21, 2012 Sapphyria rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reading-romances-challenge

Lily is back at it again in Hexes and Hemlines. She's running her successful vintage clothing shop and still getting called in to help the SFPD. This time is to figure out who murdered Malachi Zazi. He is a member of the Serpentarian Society; A modern day group of 13 members based on an old group from the late 1800's called the Thirteen Club from NYC. This group convenes to prove false the notions of spiritualism by addressing bad luck symbols; mirrors, cats, ladders, etc. So when the leader, Ma...more Lily is back at it again in Hexes and Hemlines. She's running her successful vintage clothing shop and still getting called in to help the SFPD. This time is to figure out who murdered Malachi Zazi. He is a member of the Serpentarian Society; A modern day group of 13 members based on an old group from the late 1800's called the Thirteen Club from NYC. This group convenes to prove false the notions of spiritualism by addressing bad luck symbols; mirrors, cats, ladders, etc. So when the leader, Malachi, is found dead surrounded by several of these bad luck symbols, could it be that this isn't a superstition after all, but real?

Lily also becomes involved with Bronwyn's family when Bronwyn asks her to look into a situation with her son-in-law that seems to be tied to the Malachi case, but how?

Sailor is involved with the series a bit more in this installment. His broody, moody, bad boy ways have made him a favorite secondary character. He is commissioned by Aiden to watch over Lily. Oscar is still cute as ever and a great non-human companion for Lily. He objects to the invasion of their home when Lily brings home Malachi's cat but that shifts and soon they are pals. We find that Max doesn't play a huge role in this book, for which I am glad. He is not a strong character at all. Max might make Lily's motor run, but he's everything opposite of what a witch should be interested in. I know, I know...opposites attract, right? If Max's personality warranted a second glance I'd be okay with opposites attract clique, he, however, doesn't take into account anything about Lily. He's selfish and even with the proof he's been shown and involved in, he's still skeptical and that doesn't make a very good companion for the heroine of these books.

The plot of the book was solid and worked very well with the story line and all of the characters. This is an easy read and everything within storyline and situation can easily be followed without questions or any confusion.

Favorite Quote: Herve - "We're watching reruns of M*A*S*H. Many, many reruns. I might not make it." (J.B., pg. 261).
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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...more 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 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

Secondhand Spirits (A Witchcraft Mystery, #1)

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

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

In a Witch's Wardrobe (A Witchcraft Mystery, #4)

Dead Bolt (A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery #2)

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“Don’t be too nice to him,” I teased. “He’ll never leave.” — 2 people liked it

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Hexes and Hemlines (A Witchcraft Mystery #3)

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