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Witchcraft Mystery #8
A Toxic Trousseau
The New York Times bestselling author of Spellcasting in Silk continues as witch and vintage boutique owner Lily Ivory cracks open a Pandora’s box when she investigates some alarming apparel...
Even the most skilled sorceress can’t ward off a lawsuit, and Lily is not at her enchanting best with her hands full as the temporary leader of San Francisco's magical community. So after her potbellied pig Oscar head-butts rival clothier Autumn Jennings, Lily tries to make peace without a costly personal injury case.
But any hope of a quiet resolution is shattered when Autumn turns up dead. As one of the prime suspects, Lily searches for a way to clear her name and discovers a cursed trousseau among Autumn’s recently acquired inventory. Lily must deal with a mysterious dogwalker and spend the night in a haunted house as she delves into the trunk’s treacherous past. She’s got to figure out who wanted to harm Autumn fast, before the curse claims another victim…
Even the most skilled sorceress can’t ward off a lawsuit, and Lily is not at her enchanting best with her hands full as the temporary leader of San Francisco's magical community. So after her potbellied pig Oscar head-butts rival clothier Autumn Jennings, Lily tries to make peace without a costly personal injury case.
But any hope of a quiet resolution is shattered when Autumn turns up dead. As one of the prime suspects, Lily searches for a way to clear her name and discovers a cursed trousseau among Autumn’s recently acquired inventory. Lily must deal with a mysterious dogwalker and spend the night in a haunted house as she delves into the trunk’s treacherous past. She’s got to figure out who wanted to harm Autumn fast, before the curse claims another victim…
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 5, 2016
113 people are currently reading
1954 people want to read
About the author
Juliet Blackwell
41 books2,911 followersJuliet 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.
Juliet 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.
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.
Juliet 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
September 20, 2018
Readers should know that it pays to read this series in order. By the time you get to this, the eighth entry, a lot of characters have been introduced and have back stories that are only glancingly mentioned here.
Lily Ivory is the owner of a successful vintage clothing store in the Haight Ashbury region of San Francisco. She is also a witch--the hereditary kind, not the Wiccan would-be kind. Okay, so expect to suspend disbelief and settle in for a cozy. The tale opens with her being served with a lawsuit by the owner of a high end vintage clothing place, who is alleging that Lily's pot-bellied pig (who is really a mythical creature and her familiar, of sorts) head-butted the woman, causing her injury. Lily goes to talk to the woman and see if she can smooth things over; she finds her seriously ill and calls the paramedics.
This incident soon embroils her in yet another mystery, involving witches, cowans (nonmagical people), and incompetent police inspectors. Meanwhile, the head honcho witch in SF has gone out of town, leaving Lily in charge of adjudicating magical disputes. There is plenty of comic relief and some suspense, along with a good bit of character and relationship development, which should please fans of the series. I enjoyed the twists of the story and am especially hopeful for the next book, which promises to add interesting figures from Lily's past to the mix.
Lily Ivory is the owner of a successful vintage clothing store in the Haight Ashbury region of San Francisco. She is also a witch--the hereditary kind, not the Wiccan would-be kind. Okay, so expect to suspend disbelief and settle in for a cozy. The tale opens with her being served with a lawsuit by the owner of a high end vintage clothing place, who is alleging that Lily's pot-bellied pig (who is really a mythical creature and her familiar, of sorts) head-butted the woman, causing her injury. Lily goes to talk to the woman and see if she can smooth things over; she finds her seriously ill and calls the paramedics.
This incident soon embroils her in yet another mystery, involving witches, cowans (nonmagical people), and incompetent police inspectors. Meanwhile, the head honcho witch in SF has gone out of town, leaving Lily in charge of adjudicating magical disputes. There is plenty of comic relief and some suspense, along with a good bit of character and relationship development, which should please fans of the series. I enjoyed the twists of the story and am especially hopeful for the next book, which promises to add interesting figures from Lily's past to the mix.
July 6, 2016
I have a tendency to believe that the further along you get in a series, the quality of each book seems to go down. This is not the case here.
A Toxic Trousseau was a brilliant addition to the series. It may actually be my favorite so far! As far as mysteries are concerned, this book is a perfect example the very best - I was way off! I love how the author was throwing me off the scent with every page. It got to a certain point where I was seriously suspecting everybody that Lily encountered. Lily and Sailors relationship took on a sweeter tone this book, which I don't always like, because you can actually lose the personality of the character to puppy love, which I believe to be a waste. Here, though, it was just beautiful, and so very heart-warming. Some new and VERY interesting characters were introduced in this installment, setting us up for the wild plot ahead. I honestly can't wait!
From the moment I received A Toxic Trousseau in my mail box, I started reading and didn't stop until I was finished, about 12 hours later. As soon as I closed the book, I said. "That. Was. Awesome." I will patiently and happily wait another year for the next release, because no matter how long I leave this world, Juliet Blackwell pulls me right back in, as if I never left.
A Toxic Trousseau was a brilliant addition to the series. It may actually be my favorite so far! As far as mysteries are concerned, this book is a perfect example the very best - I was way off! I love how the author was throwing me off the scent with every page. It got to a certain point where I was seriously suspecting everybody that Lily encountered. Lily and Sailors relationship took on a sweeter tone this book, which I don't always like, because you can actually lose the personality of the character to puppy love, which I believe to be a waste. Here, though, it was just beautiful, and so very heart-warming. Some new and VERY interesting characters were introduced in this installment, setting us up for the wild plot ahead. I honestly can't wait!
From the moment I received A Toxic Trousseau in my mail box, I started reading and didn't stop until I was finished, about 12 hours later. As soon as I closed the book, I said. "That. Was. Awesome." I will patiently and happily wait another year for the next release, because no matter how long I leave this world, Juliet Blackwell pulls me right back in, as if I never left.
July 19, 2016
I am under the spell (in a good way) of the Witchcraft Mystery series and a big fan of Lily and her store and friends plus Oscar. The added fashion history information was quite interesting, sad, and scary. Book 8 is a good place to start reading the series and then you will want to read the previous books, if you like paranormal books that are not gory.
August 21, 2016
When Lily is served papers detailing a lawsuit involving a certain rogue familiar, she decides to pay Autumn a visit in an attempt to come to a peaceful agreement. Sadly, she stumbles upon Autumn in some of her final moments, leaving her with a new mystery on her hands. Meanwhile, Aidan leaves Lily in charge when he leaves town, allowing her to finally see what his daily job entails.
Blackwell has brought yet another delightful installment into our lives. I like that A Toxic Trousseau takes a different path than previous installments. We see more into Lily and Sailor’s day to day relationship with one another, which allows us to become more invested in the pair. We’re also given a glimpse of what is to come as Lily tries to figure out Aidan’s motive behind leaving her in charge. If anything, learning some of his more popular duties piqued my interest because it allowed Lily to become acquainted with a different side of the magical folk in her city. We now see who Lily and company will be going up against even if we do not know the specifics of what is in store. It was interesting to see the light and dark sides of some of these new characters, so I’m looking forward to seeing them again.
This installment takes a bit of a different path than previous installments. The mystery itself seems to be a bit in the air while being connected to multiple parts of the story even if we do not see it at first. We have the cursed trousseau, a mystery house, and mysterious death that weigh heavily on Lily’s mind. We also continue to see Lily grow as she tries to get to the bottom of these different aspects that are plaguing her. Rather than jumping into these mysteries alone, she asks for help and takes her friends along with her. She has made a family for herself that she trusts and relies on, and I love seeing her realize that she can count on these people as much as they count on her. The story is captivating from beginning to end. I also I found myself wanting to attend any party with Bronwyn and company. The final chapter had me yelling in excitement. I am now eagerly awaiting the ninth book!
Blackwell has brought yet another delightful installment into our lives. I like that A Toxic Trousseau takes a different path than previous installments. We see more into Lily and Sailor’s day to day relationship with one another, which allows us to become more invested in the pair. We’re also given a glimpse of what is to come as Lily tries to figure out Aidan’s motive behind leaving her in charge. If anything, learning some of his more popular duties piqued my interest because it allowed Lily to become acquainted with a different side of the magical folk in her city. We now see who Lily and company will be going up against even if we do not know the specifics of what is in store. It was interesting to see the light and dark sides of some of these new characters, so I’m looking forward to seeing them again.
This installment takes a bit of a different path than previous installments. The mystery itself seems to be a bit in the air while being connected to multiple parts of the story even if we do not see it at first. We have the cursed trousseau, a mystery house, and mysterious death that weigh heavily on Lily’s mind. We also continue to see Lily grow as she tries to get to the bottom of these different aspects that are plaguing her. Rather than jumping into these mysteries alone, she asks for help and takes her friends along with her. She has made a family for herself that she trusts and relies on, and I love seeing her realize that she can count on these people as much as they count on her. The story is captivating from beginning to end. I also I found myself wanting to attend any party with Bronwyn and company. The final chapter had me yelling in excitement. I am now eagerly awaiting the ninth book!
July 17, 2016
An excellent installment in Lily's adventures in San Francisco! In this go-around, not so much combating evil as a plain old-fashioned who-dun it. Far from diminishing the tale, scaling back the paranormal just a tad gives the reader a chance to visit with all the characters who make up this series and a good look at the progress Lily's made as a character. Rest assured however, the end is not in sight! This is just the pause that's the set-up for wild new adventures to come!
June 17, 2019
I'm going to miss Lily, Oscar, and the rest of the gang, as I've just finished the last one in this cozy supernatural mystery series. Hopefully Ms. Blackwell has plans to release a new one soon??
March 3, 2019
This story held a delightful plot line, and even though it was book #8, it really delivered a really good story. For those of you who have already experienced this witchy cozy goodness, A TOXIC TROUSSEAU, the seventh installment, won't disappoint.
A girl breezes into Aunt Cora's and serves Lily with a personal injury lawsuit from Autumn Jennings. Jennings, a sort-of competitor, visited the store, but Oscar, the potbellied pig didn't like how she treated the clothing or the people and head butted her. She fell but seemed all right when she left. Lily would rather handle this situation peacefully if she can, especially after Aiden Rhodes has left her in charge of the city's witches while he's out of town, but all is not well at Autumn's store when Lily and Maya arrive. In fact, Autumn seems very ill and ends up dying after she's taken to the hospital.
Lily, of course, is the police's prime suspect, so she sets out to find out whodunit. Blackwell introduces some interesting characters from the dog walker/process server, who runs away when she sees Lily on the street; Renee, the cupcake baker; an old woman named Mrs. Morgan who has a poodle; Jamie, the curse banisher; and Cody who works at the Winchester haunted house and, along with his wife, Eleanor, owns a dog named Mr. Bojangles. It all ties together so nicely when Bronwyn opts to have her birthday party, a slumber party no less, at the haunted house with Sailor and Lily as bodyguards. No Lily Ivory mystery is complete without haunted clothing though. In this case, it's a cursed trousseau; the legend tells of a shoeshine boy, a rich guy and a fiancée, and many believe the trousseau still holds the curse. There's a lot going on in this story. Some threads have dealt solely with this particular story while others give additional background on characters and move the series itself a head with details about a coming magical event.
SUMMARY
Even the most skilled sorceress can’t ward off a lawsuit, and Lily is not at her enchanting best with her hands full as the temporary leader of San Francisco's magical community. So after her potbellied pig Oscar head-butts rival clothier Autumn Jennings, Lily tries to make peace without a costly personal injury case.
But any hope of a quiet resolution is shattered when Autumn turns up dead. As one of the prime suspects, Lily searches for a way to clear her name and discovers a cursed trousseau among Autumn’s recently acquired inventory. Lily must deal with a mysterious dogwalker and spend the night in a haunted house as she delves into the trunk’s treacherous past. She’s got to figure out who wanted to harm Autumn fast, before the curse claims another victim… This book was really quite a delightful surprise. I often don't pick this genre, but have been a little more over the last couple years. Highly recommend.
A girl breezes into Aunt Cora's and serves Lily with a personal injury lawsuit from Autumn Jennings. Jennings, a sort-of competitor, visited the store, but Oscar, the potbellied pig didn't like how she treated the clothing or the people and head butted her. She fell but seemed all right when she left. Lily would rather handle this situation peacefully if she can, especially after Aiden Rhodes has left her in charge of the city's witches while he's out of town, but all is not well at Autumn's store when Lily and Maya arrive. In fact, Autumn seems very ill and ends up dying after she's taken to the hospital.
Lily, of course, is the police's prime suspect, so she sets out to find out whodunit. Blackwell introduces some interesting characters from the dog walker/process server, who runs away when she sees Lily on the street; Renee, the cupcake baker; an old woman named Mrs. Morgan who has a poodle; Jamie, the curse banisher; and Cody who works at the Winchester haunted house and, along with his wife, Eleanor, owns a dog named Mr. Bojangles. It all ties together so nicely when Bronwyn opts to have her birthday party, a slumber party no less, at the haunted house with Sailor and Lily as bodyguards. No Lily Ivory mystery is complete without haunted clothing though. In this case, it's a cursed trousseau; the legend tells of a shoeshine boy, a rich guy and a fiancée, and many believe the trousseau still holds the curse. There's a lot going on in this story. Some threads have dealt solely with this particular story while others give additional background on characters and move the series itself a head with details about a coming magical event.
SUMMARY
Even the most skilled sorceress can’t ward off a lawsuit, and Lily is not at her enchanting best with her hands full as the temporary leader of San Francisco's magical community. So after her potbellied pig Oscar head-butts rival clothier Autumn Jennings, Lily tries to make peace without a costly personal injury case.
But any hope of a quiet resolution is shattered when Autumn turns up dead. As one of the prime suspects, Lily searches for a way to clear her name and discovers a cursed trousseau among Autumn’s recently acquired inventory. Lily must deal with a mysterious dogwalker and spend the night in a haunted house as she delves into the trunk’s treacherous past. She’s got to figure out who wanted to harm Autumn fast, before the curse claims another victim… This book was really quite a delightful surprise. I often don't pick this genre, but have been a little more over the last couple years. Highly recommend.
July 5, 2016
A Toxic Trousseau by Juliet Blackwell is the eighth Witchcraft Mystery novel. Lily Ivory owns Aunt Cora’s Closet in San Francisco, California. Lily sells gently used vintage clothing and encourages her customers to wear the items (Lily loves to wear the clothes from her store). Lily is in the store when a young woman approaches her. It turns out that Lily is being sued. Autumn Jennings came into the store recently and was disdainful of the merchandise. Oscar, Lily’s shape-shifting familiar, gave her a nudge (well, maybe a head butt) into some clothing. Ms. Jennings is claiming that she was injured (from falling into some clothing) and is suing for compensation. It turns out that Autumn owns a vintage clothing store as well, though she carries older clothing (Victorian, 20s, Edwardian) with designer labels that people could not wear on an everyday basis (they are better for museum displays). Lily cannot afford a lawsuit and goes to talk with Autumn (and takes Maya with her). They do not find anyone in the store and then they hear thumping above. They go to investigate and end up with a gun pointed at them. Autumn is unstable on her feet and then collapses. Unfortunately for Lily, she ends up a prime suspect because of the lawsuit. Inspector Carlos Romero (whom Lily is used to working with on cases) did not get assigned the case. Inspectors Stinson and Ng get the case and they hope for a quick solution. Lily feels compelled to investigate. Sailor tags along to keep Lily safe (he has certainly changed) and Oscar manages to join in (he does not want to be left out especially if there is going to be food). Lily investigation leads her to a cursed trousseau, a supposed haunted house, and a dog walker (who just happened to be the process server). Lily is not sure if there is anything magical in this case, but it is definitely suspicious. In addition, Aidan Rhodes is going out of town and asks Lily for a favor (she owes him one). Lily needs to take of Aidan’s satchel (which everyone is afraid of) and handle witchy disputes (and some licensing issues). Lily is going to need her wits about her to get through this week! Join Lily, Maya, Bronwyn, Sailor, and Oscar in A Toxic Trousseau.
A Toxic Trousseau was just delightful. It was wonderful to visit Lily Ivory, Sailor, Oscar, Maya, and friends in San Francisco. The mystery was complex, twisty, and hard to figure out (just the way like them). There is some misdirection as well (to throw the reader off the scent of the real killer). I enjoyed the information on vintage (Victorian) clothing and how certain colors were created (green wallpaper was known to kill off people). Oscar’s hijinks are humorous and highly entertaining. I did not want this book to end. I give A Toxic Trousseau 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it as you can tell). A Toxic Trousseau has an enchanting (and romantic) ending! I cannot wait for the next book in A Witchcraft Mystery series. We will finally get to meet Lily's grandmother, Graceila and her coven (and Lily's mother). If you like magical cozy mysteries, you will be delighted with this book and series. A Toxic Trousseau can be read alone, but I highly recommend reading the previous books in the series. They will help you understand the characters, their relationships, and their abilities. In A Toxic Trousseau will get more information on the upcoming magical battle and meet the enemy (it will surprise you).
I received a complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest evaluation of the book.
A Toxic Trousseau was just delightful. It was wonderful to visit Lily Ivory, Sailor, Oscar, Maya, and friends in San Francisco. The mystery was complex, twisty, and hard to figure out (just the way like them). There is some misdirection as well (to throw the reader off the scent of the real killer). I enjoyed the information on vintage (Victorian) clothing and how certain colors were created (green wallpaper was known to kill off people). Oscar’s hijinks are humorous and highly entertaining. I did not want this book to end. I give A Toxic Trousseau 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it as you can tell). A Toxic Trousseau has an enchanting (and romantic) ending! I cannot wait for the next book in A Witchcraft Mystery series. We will finally get to meet Lily's grandmother, Graceila and her coven (and Lily's mother). If you like magical cozy mysteries, you will be delighted with this book and series. A Toxic Trousseau can be read alone, but I highly recommend reading the previous books in the series. They will help you understand the characters, their relationships, and their abilities. In A Toxic Trousseau will get more information on the upcoming magical battle and meet the enemy (it will surprise you).
I received a complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest evaluation of the book.
July 17, 2016
A TOXIC TROUSSEAU by Juliet Blackwell
The 8th Witchcraft Mystery
Lily Ivory is surprised when she is served papers and finds herself being sued! Autumn Jennings is claiming that Oscar attacked her in Aunt Cora's Closet and is seeking compensation. But Autumn is no ordinary customer. In fact, not only does she run a high end vintage clothing shop she's also in debt to the witchy godfather of San Fransisco - Aidan Rhodes. When Lily and Maya go to Autumn's store to attempt to work things out-they find her spouting paranoid ideation while holding a gun on them and ultimately collapsing. Despite the prompt arrival of paramedics Autumn dies in the hospital. When doctors and police suspect poison Lily and Bronwyn top their suspect list. Now Lily needs to find out what's really going on. Could it have something to do with Autumn's latest clothing addition? With Sailor and Oscar for support Lily searches for the truth while handling city matters for Aidan and preparing for the Nebulous Big Nasty which is heading their way.
A TOXIC TROUSSEAU is unique in that the mystery takes a more meandering path. In fact, we're not sure what the mystery really is. The mystery of the trousseau, of the curse, of the house, of the death, and who and where is Scarlet; all these questions entwine Lily, along with the mysterious satchel and the job with which Aiden has tasked her. Instead of a simple mystery story it's more of a preparatory book, setting the stage for a huge magical showdown. By the end of the book we have a much clearer view of that Nebulous Big Nasty heading their way, as well as a group of reinforcements coming to town.
Lily and her friends continue to delight. These characters are imbued with such spirit and vitality, it's sometimes difficult to believe they're fictional. Character development has been an integral part of this series, deepening the bonds connecting the characters, both with each other and readers. Lily has grown so much, yet she still manages to keep a sense of innocence, awkwardness, and charm even as she has become a powerful woman. Part of that power has come from her ability to accept help and friendship from others. While a part of her will always be a solitary witch, she can count on the love and friendship of others to support and encourage her, even as she supports and encourages them. And while Sailor remains swoonworthy, it is Oscar who has truly captured my heart!
Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft series continues to be one of my most favorite series. A TOXIC TROUSSEAU is a multifaceted mystery including a local legend involving a curse, a fictional representation of the famous Winchester House, and a fascinating part of fashion history which combine to create a captivating story.
The 8th Witchcraft Mystery
Lily Ivory is surprised when she is served papers and finds herself being sued! Autumn Jennings is claiming that Oscar attacked her in Aunt Cora's Closet and is seeking compensation. But Autumn is no ordinary customer. In fact, not only does she run a high end vintage clothing shop she's also in debt to the witchy godfather of San Fransisco - Aidan Rhodes. When Lily and Maya go to Autumn's store to attempt to work things out-they find her spouting paranoid ideation while holding a gun on them and ultimately collapsing. Despite the prompt arrival of paramedics Autumn dies in the hospital. When doctors and police suspect poison Lily and Bronwyn top their suspect list. Now Lily needs to find out what's really going on. Could it have something to do with Autumn's latest clothing addition? With Sailor and Oscar for support Lily searches for the truth while handling city matters for Aidan and preparing for the Nebulous Big Nasty which is heading their way.
A TOXIC TROUSSEAU is unique in that the mystery takes a more meandering path. In fact, we're not sure what the mystery really is. The mystery of the trousseau, of the curse, of the house, of the death, and who and where is Scarlet; all these questions entwine Lily, along with the mysterious satchel and the job with which Aiden has tasked her. Instead of a simple mystery story it's more of a preparatory book, setting the stage for a huge magical showdown. By the end of the book we have a much clearer view of that Nebulous Big Nasty heading their way, as well as a group of reinforcements coming to town.
Lily and her friends continue to delight. These characters are imbued with such spirit and vitality, it's sometimes difficult to believe they're fictional. Character development has been an integral part of this series, deepening the bonds connecting the characters, both with each other and readers. Lily has grown so much, yet she still manages to keep a sense of innocence, awkwardness, and charm even as she has become a powerful woman. Part of that power has come from her ability to accept help and friendship from others. While a part of her will always be a solitary witch, she can count on the love and friendship of others to support and encourage her, even as she supports and encourages them. And while Sailor remains swoonworthy, it is Oscar who has truly captured my heart!
Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft series continues to be one of my most favorite series. A TOXIC TROUSSEAU is a multifaceted mystery including a local legend involving a curse, a fictional representation of the famous Winchester House, and a fascinating part of fashion history which combine to create a captivating story.
July 6, 2016
This is one of the best books if not the best book to join the Witchcraft Mysteries series.
December 21, 2020
Another great book in the series of Lily Ivory and her murder mysteries in San Francisco. Always feels good to return to these stories, and have my mind wonder the streets of the Bay Area.
This book includes the Rochester House in South Bay, which I, myself, only learned about when I left the Bay Area.
Can't wait to pick up the next book in the series.
This book includes the Rochester House in South Bay, which I, myself, only learned about when I left the Bay Area.
Can't wait to pick up the next book in the series.
August 20, 2023
Lily Ivory, the main character, is asked to become the head witch in San Francisco for a short time while Aidan is out of town. Lily is not prepared for the amount of work involved in this job plus running her vintage clothing store. The book was an easy read.
September 11, 2017
A fun, light read. Humor, romance, mystety and Wiccan, spell casting in San Francisco.
October 31, 2019
Yay! Yay! Yay! EEEEEEP!!!
April 10, 2020
Another great visit with Lily and company. Ready for the next!
April 13, 2020
3.5 Stars
May 4, 2022
I declare, I need Aunt Cora's Closed to open at a convenient l near location soon.
Also, yay Sailor!
Booo Aiden, don't fret. It doesn't become you.
Also, yay Sailor!
Booo Aiden, don't fret. It doesn't become you.
September 18, 2024
Always a good little read!
November 19, 2019
2.7 stars
August 23, 2016
http://openbooksociety.com/article/a-...
A Toxic Trousseau
A Witchcraft Mystery #8
By Juliet Blackwell
ISBN#9780451465795
www.Julietblackwell.net
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
Even the most skilled sorceress can’t ward off a lawsuit, and Lily is not at her enchanting best with her hands full as the temporary leader of San Francisco’s magical community. So after her potbellied pig Oscar head-butts rival clothier Autumn Jennings, Lily tries to make peace without a costly personal injury case.
But any hope of a quiet resolution is shattered when Autumn turns up dead. As one of the prime suspects, Lily searches for a way to clear her name and discovers a cursed trousseau among Autumn’s recently acquired inventory. Lily must deal with a mysterious dog walker and spend the night in a haunted house as she delves into the trunk’s treacherous past. She’s got to figure out who wanted to harm Autumn fast, before the curse claims another victim…(Goodreads.com)
Review:
Lily Ivory and company cast their spell on readers once again in this enjoyable eighth entry in the Witchcraft Mystery series.
Vintage clothing store proprietor Lily Ivory is surprised to find herself being sued by a rival period clothier Autumn Jennings. She claims to have been injured by Lily’s pot bellied pig familiar Oscar when he head-butted her one day in the shop. Lily has not even met the woman so she and her shop assistant Maya go by Autumn’s store to discuss the matter in person, only to find Autumn very agitated and obviously ill. Despite quick action on the medics’ part, Autumn dies at the hospital. When it comes to light that she was most likely poisoned, Lily becomes a prime suspect, and her police detective friend is not in charge of the case to help her out. Along with her boyfriend Sailor, Lily sets out to find out who is responsible for Autumn’s death and if she was the victim of a hereditary curse. In addition to the mystery at hand, Aiden, San Francisco’s witchy godfather, leaves Lily in charge of the magical community while he is away. However, he does not give her any instructions or guidelines about what to do.
I really enjoy the Witchcraft Mystery series, and A Toxic Trousseau is great fun. Lily has grown a lot over the course of the series from an awkward, distrustful young woman to a much more confident, powerful witch. She is gradually relying more on her friends and trusting those around her more. She is surrounded by an interesting variety of characters that keep the story fresh. Her good hearted friend Bronwyn and her coven, her cynical assistant Maya, her smoldering, psychic love interest Sailor, and mysterious Aiden all add to the enjoyment of the story. My favorite character, though, is goblin/gargoyle/pot bellied pig familiar Oscar. His insatiable appetite, attitude, and boundless loyalty make him a fabulous addition to the books, and he often adds a little extra levity to the proceedings.
The mystery in A Toxic Trousseau is pretty convoluted, making it somewhat complex. At times, I feel like it gets a little bogged down in itself. However, the way that everything fits together by the end more than makes up for any slow bits. A poisoning that may or may not be the manifestation of a hereditary family curse, a trunk of a long deceased young woman’s trousseau that harbors unsavory magic, a potentially haunted house, a dog walker, and a long standing need for revenge are all wonderful elements of the mystery surrounding Autumn’s death. I do wish that we could have gotten to know Autumn better before her death. Even with after-the-fact information, I never really connected with her and it was hard to feel bad about her death. I did not figure out whodunit until almost the end of the book (which is a good thing), and this also added to my enjoyment of the story.
The San Francisco setting is ideal for the magical community. There is just enough of the “real” world included to keep it believable. The series long subplot involving a coming battle of good and evil really starts to take shape within these pages, and I am curious to see if this is the focus of the next book. I look forward to seeing how it all plays out. With changes in Sailor and Lily’s relationship and a gathering of witches looming, I think big things are in store for Lily and her friends.
I recommend A Toxic Trousseau to fans of paranormal cozy series.
A Toxic Trousseau
A Witchcraft Mystery #8
By Juliet Blackwell
ISBN#9780451465795
www.Julietblackwell.net
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
Even the most skilled sorceress can’t ward off a lawsuit, and Lily is not at her enchanting best with her hands full as the temporary leader of San Francisco’s magical community. So after her potbellied pig Oscar head-butts rival clothier Autumn Jennings, Lily tries to make peace without a costly personal injury case.
But any hope of a quiet resolution is shattered when Autumn turns up dead. As one of the prime suspects, Lily searches for a way to clear her name and discovers a cursed trousseau among Autumn’s recently acquired inventory. Lily must deal with a mysterious dog walker and spend the night in a haunted house as she delves into the trunk’s treacherous past. She’s got to figure out who wanted to harm Autumn fast, before the curse claims another victim…(Goodreads.com)
Review:
Lily Ivory and company cast their spell on readers once again in this enjoyable eighth entry in the Witchcraft Mystery series.
Vintage clothing store proprietor Lily Ivory is surprised to find herself being sued by a rival period clothier Autumn Jennings. She claims to have been injured by Lily’s pot bellied pig familiar Oscar when he head-butted her one day in the shop. Lily has not even met the woman so she and her shop assistant Maya go by Autumn’s store to discuss the matter in person, only to find Autumn very agitated and obviously ill. Despite quick action on the medics’ part, Autumn dies at the hospital. When it comes to light that she was most likely poisoned, Lily becomes a prime suspect, and her police detective friend is not in charge of the case to help her out. Along with her boyfriend Sailor, Lily sets out to find out who is responsible for Autumn’s death and if she was the victim of a hereditary curse. In addition to the mystery at hand, Aiden, San Francisco’s witchy godfather, leaves Lily in charge of the magical community while he is away. However, he does not give her any instructions or guidelines about what to do.
I really enjoy the Witchcraft Mystery series, and A Toxic Trousseau is great fun. Lily has grown a lot over the course of the series from an awkward, distrustful young woman to a much more confident, powerful witch. She is gradually relying more on her friends and trusting those around her more. She is surrounded by an interesting variety of characters that keep the story fresh. Her good hearted friend Bronwyn and her coven, her cynical assistant Maya, her smoldering, psychic love interest Sailor, and mysterious Aiden all add to the enjoyment of the story. My favorite character, though, is goblin/gargoyle/pot bellied pig familiar Oscar. His insatiable appetite, attitude, and boundless loyalty make him a fabulous addition to the books, and he often adds a little extra levity to the proceedings.
The mystery in A Toxic Trousseau is pretty convoluted, making it somewhat complex. At times, I feel like it gets a little bogged down in itself. However, the way that everything fits together by the end more than makes up for any slow bits. A poisoning that may or may not be the manifestation of a hereditary family curse, a trunk of a long deceased young woman’s trousseau that harbors unsavory magic, a potentially haunted house, a dog walker, and a long standing need for revenge are all wonderful elements of the mystery surrounding Autumn’s death. I do wish that we could have gotten to know Autumn better before her death. Even with after-the-fact information, I never really connected with her and it was hard to feel bad about her death. I did not figure out whodunit until almost the end of the book (which is a good thing), and this also added to my enjoyment of the story.
The San Francisco setting is ideal for the magical community. There is just enough of the “real” world included to keep it believable. The series long subplot involving a coming battle of good and evil really starts to take shape within these pages, and I am curious to see if this is the focus of the next book. I look forward to seeing how it all plays out. With changes in Sailor and Lily’s relationship and a gathering of witches looming, I think big things are in store for Lily and her friends.
I recommend A Toxic Trousseau to fans of paranormal cozy series.
December 7, 2023
This series just keeps getting better!!
Intriguing mystery with an amazing cast of characters. Lily and Sailor’s relationship grows and I love seeing him around more!
Intriguing mystery with an amazing cast of characters. Lily and Sailor’s relationship grows and I love seeing him around more!
August 6, 2018
An enjoyable book to read while traveling via Amtrak from New York to Washington D.C.
July 12, 2016
A toxic Trousseau, A Witchcraft Mystery
by Juliet Blackwell
I love this fun series (8 books at this time) about a young witch who owns a vintage clothing store in the Haight District of San Francisco. Easy reads, this series abounds in interesting characters, nice plots, enough danger and red herrings to make them great mysteries, and enough character development to make you happily anticipate the next in the series. Pacing is great, editing and proofing is very good. I did find one strange proofing problem. Not really an error. But from 3729 to 3755 on my Kindle, during 4 paragraphs of conversation between Lily and Sailor, each use the exact same phrase: "...Brad's not the only person who rides a motorcycle..." There's really no reason for the repeat, one character is confirming the other's statement, nor mocking it. Not really a mistake, but it did take me out of the story for the time it took to go back and look at the first use of the phrase, and then to re-read the entire conversation to be sure I didn't miss a qualifier.
In this episode, Lily and her business, Aunt Cora's Closet, is being sued by another vintage apparel shop ower, because Oscar, in his pig form, knocked her down when she was creating a scene at Aunt Cora's Closet in Lily's absence. Add to the shock of being sued, Aiden is leaving town for a while and has left Lily "in charge" of all paranormal disputes in his absence.
Of course, Lily wants to speak to the woman who is suing her, Autumn Jennings, to see if a solution might be found out of court. She and Maya go to Autumn's shop, but find her dying in her upstairs apartment. As Lily tries to figure out what happened, it comes to light that Autumn believed she was under a family curse. Will Lily find a witchy cause for Autumn's death, or will an all-too-human villain be to blame? Lots of investigation, an overnight stay in a haunted house, adjudicating the spats between some of San Francisco's other paranormals, taking in dogs abandoned when their owners die, and some real changes in Lily and Sailor's relationship will keep any reader up all night reading!
Great summer read.
by Juliet Blackwell
I love this fun series (8 books at this time) about a young witch who owns a vintage clothing store in the Haight District of San Francisco. Easy reads, this series abounds in interesting characters, nice plots, enough danger and red herrings to make them great mysteries, and enough character development to make you happily anticipate the next in the series. Pacing is great, editing and proofing is very good. I did find one strange proofing problem. Not really an error. But from 3729 to 3755 on my Kindle, during 4 paragraphs of conversation between Lily and Sailor, each use the exact same phrase: "...Brad's not the only person who rides a motorcycle..." There's really no reason for the repeat, one character is confirming the other's statement, nor mocking it. Not really a mistake, but it did take me out of the story for the time it took to go back and look at the first use of the phrase, and then to re-read the entire conversation to be sure I didn't miss a qualifier.
In this episode, Lily and her business, Aunt Cora's Closet, is being sued by another vintage apparel shop ower, because Oscar, in his pig form, knocked her down when she was creating a scene at Aunt Cora's Closet in Lily's absence. Add to the shock of being sued, Aiden is leaving town for a while and has left Lily "in charge" of all paranormal disputes in his absence.
Of course, Lily wants to speak to the woman who is suing her, Autumn Jennings, to see if a solution might be found out of court. She and Maya go to Autumn's shop, but find her dying in her upstairs apartment. As Lily tries to figure out what happened, it comes to light that Autumn believed she was under a family curse. Will Lily find a witchy cause for Autumn's death, or will an all-too-human villain be to blame? Lots of investigation, an overnight stay in a haunted house, adjudicating the spats between some of San Francisco's other paranormals, taking in dogs abandoned when their owners die, and some real changes in Lily and Sailor's relationship will keep any reader up all night reading!
Great summer read.
July 10, 2016
Check out my other reviews, discussions and link ups at Fantasy of the Silver Dragon.
I received this book for free from Obsidian in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This sounded like it might be fun, and then once I started reading it I realized that the Winchester Mystery House was part of the book! It's been renamed, and the rifles and actual people from the House have also been renamed. But anyone who has ever been there will know exactly what the book is talking about, even with the name changes!
I liked all the twists and turns the book took. Besides the main mystery, Lily is put in charge of San Francisco's magical community. And there were a number of funny moments because of this. I'm super curious about "the satchel" now.
I also liked her familiar Oscar. He's a goblin/gargoyle cross, who likes to take on the appearance of a pot bellied pig around non-magical people.
The bits of Victorian clothing knowledge was something I hadn't heard about before, and made for some interesting reading. Can't say a lot about it as it's used in part of a plot twist.
I was completely wrong about who the murderer was. It made sense when all was revealed, but like Lily, I never would have guessed. Even with being a paranormal cozy, this book wasn't as heavy on the magic aspect as I expected. Which isn't a bad thing. I'll definitely be looking for the next book in this series. If you like paranormal cozies, you need to try this book.
This review was originally posted on Fantasy of the Silver Dragon
I received this book for free from Obsidian in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This sounded like it might be fun, and then once I started reading it I realized that the Winchester Mystery House was part of the book! It's been renamed, and the rifles and actual people from the House have also been renamed. But anyone who has ever been there will know exactly what the book is talking about, even with the name changes!
I liked all the twists and turns the book took. Besides the main mystery, Lily is put in charge of San Francisco's magical community. And there were a number of funny moments because of this. I'm super curious about "the satchel" now.
I also liked her familiar Oscar. He's a goblin/gargoyle cross, who likes to take on the appearance of a pot bellied pig around non-magical people.
The bits of Victorian clothing knowledge was something I hadn't heard about before, and made for some interesting reading. Can't say a lot about it as it's used in part of a plot twist.
I was completely wrong about who the murderer was. It made sense when all was revealed, but like Lily, I never would have guessed. Even with being a paranormal cozy, this book wasn't as heavy on the magic aspect as I expected. Which isn't a bad thing. I'll definitely be looking for the next book in this series. If you like paranormal cozies, you need to try this book.
This review was originally posted on Fantasy of the Silver Dragon
May 6, 2016
Another fabulous installment of Blackwell's Witchcraft Mysteries series. Murder, mystery, and romance all rolled into another page turner that I couldn't put down.
Lily Ivory is once again embroiled in a murder investigation- this time the victim is a rival vintage clothing dealer who just happened to serve papers to Lily regarding a personal injury lawsuit claiming that Oscar made her fall and get hurt.
Lily goes to speak to Autumn about the lawsuit and discovers Autumn is very ill, she is taken to the hospital where she passes away. Poor Lily becomes a suspect once again. The police even close down her store to investigate.
But that might be a good thing because Lily has her hands full as the temporary witchy leader of San Francisco while Aiden is away. Plus she has to investigate this murder with a little help from her friends. She discovers there may be witchy things at play in this murder thanks to a cursed trousseau.
Clues are all over the place, she's connecting dots wherever she goes...but who is really involved in the murder and who has other ulterior motives. How can Lily get a clear picture of what is going on with so many coincidences and connections? In the end the murderer might be someone she never even suspected.
Blackwell is a mystery master. I'm never disappointed by her mysteries. I rarely ever guess who the murderer is. She leads you on twists, turns and subterfuge to keep you guessing and reading. Once I finish one of her books I am always eagerly awaiting the next.
If you love cozy mysteries with paranormal elements, I highly recommend Juliet Blackwell.
Lily Ivory is once again embroiled in a murder investigation- this time the victim is a rival vintage clothing dealer who just happened to serve papers to Lily regarding a personal injury lawsuit claiming that Oscar made her fall and get hurt.
Lily goes to speak to Autumn about the lawsuit and discovers Autumn is very ill, she is taken to the hospital where she passes away. Poor Lily becomes a suspect once again. The police even close down her store to investigate.
But that might be a good thing because Lily has her hands full as the temporary witchy leader of San Francisco while Aiden is away. Plus she has to investigate this murder with a little help from her friends. She discovers there may be witchy things at play in this murder thanks to a cursed trousseau.
Clues are all over the place, she's connecting dots wherever she goes...but who is really involved in the murder and who has other ulterior motives. How can Lily get a clear picture of what is going on with so many coincidences and connections? In the end the murderer might be someone she never even suspected.
Blackwell is a mystery master. I'm never disappointed by her mysteries. I rarely ever guess who the murderer is. She leads you on twists, turns and subterfuge to keep you guessing and reading. Once I finish one of her books I am always eagerly awaiting the next.
If you love cozy mysteries with paranormal elements, I highly recommend Juliet Blackwell.
September 20, 2016
This is the eighth installment in the Witchcraft Mystery series and it is a great addition. What I love about this series is that the authors just pulls the reader in with each new book and has them engaged until the story ends. The books are all well written, which is what we have come to expect from Ms. Blackwell. She weaves an entertaining series that is full of delightful characters. Lily is really starting to come into her own both with her powers and her acclimation to the "normal" world. Her character has really grown over the course of the series and is now filled with friendship and love. The mystery is a bit historical in nature and perhaps more complex because of it but well plotted, at least in my opinion. There are plenty of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the culprit is revealed.
This is one of my favorite series. I enjoy the paranormal element to the story. The characters are full, complex, well rounded characters that have depth to them. The mystery is complex with plenty of twists and turns. I will definitely be back to see what is in store for the next book in the series.
This is one of my favorite series. I enjoy the paranormal element to the story. The characters are full, complex, well rounded characters that have depth to them. The mystery is complex with plenty of twists and turns. I will definitely be back to see what is in store for the next book in the series.
July 5, 2016
Adrian stops by Lily's store and informs that her she is the arbitrator of the magical community and leaves his satchel with her. He tells her nothing about her duties. Lily is being sued because Oscar's head but a woman in her store. Lily goes to see the woman, Autumn and finds her dying. The officers on the case feel she is a suspect because of all the herbs in Aunt Cora's Closet. To celebrate Bronwyn's Birthday, the coven spends a night in a haunted house. Exploring Autumn's death Lily finds out about cursed trousseau. A bee visits Lily at times and disappears. The wait to find out where this story will head will be a long one. I recommend this series.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley for an honest review of the book. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions are my own.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley for an honest review of the book. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions are my own.
August 11, 2016
Another highly enjoyable book in this series! This one didn't have as much of the supernatural element that I really enjoy, the story still kept me engaged. I especially liked the scenes during Bronwyn's birthday party and that we got a glimpse into some of the things Aidan does in the community. A couple underlying story lines progressed also and the last few pages left me really curious about the next installment.
I listened to a little bit of this on audiobook. This was the first time that I had done that with one of the books in this series and though I did enjoy the narrator, reading the physical copy allowed me to consume the story faster. As always, can't wait for the next installment!
I listened to a little bit of this on audiobook. This was the first time that I had done that with one of the books in this series and though I did enjoy the narrator, reading the physical copy allowed me to consume the story faster. As always, can't wait for the next installment!
December 22, 2016
Meet Lily Ivory, a skilled witch and the owner of Aunt Cora's Closet, a vintage clothing store in San Francisco. Along with her familiar, a pot bellied pig named Oscar, who is actually a shape shifter, Lily works to solve murders involving the magical members of the city. Her latest case involves a high end vintage clothing store owner who was suing her for injuries sustained by being head butted by Oscar in his guise as a potbellied pig. These are wonderful entertaining characters with a lot of humor in them. The paranormal theme is a simple, Good vs. Evil, and the murder plots all have unique and unexpected twists. Don't pass over this fun series just because of the paranormal theme. They are intriguing and well plotted mysteries that will keep you laughing and turning the pages.
July 1, 2016
Earlier this week I read and loved Juliet Blackwell's A Toxic Trousseau, book number 8 in one of my most favorite paranormal series! It was a true delight to have this book on my table and to read the book on the edge of my couch as I did. I love the suspense that Juliet creates and the characters relationships, exchanges and adventures always has me smiling. Juliet Blackwell has done a brilliant job with this mystery, with main character Lilly and all the gang. I think Oscar is at his best in this story and all the my favorite characters return for more of that magic the series is known for.
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