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A Wiccan Wheel Mystery #1
Midsummer Night's Mischief
As the Summer Solstice approaches in idyllic Edindale, Illinois, attorney Keli Milanni isn't feeling the magic. She's about to land in a cauldron of hot water at work. Good thing she has her private practice to fall back on--as a Wiccan. She'll just have to summon her inner Goddess and set the world to rights. . .
Midsummer Eve is meant for gratitude and celebration, but Keli is not in her typically upbeat mood. The family of a recently deceased client is blaming her for the loss of a Shakespearean heirloom worth millions, and Keli's career may be on the line. With both a Renaissance Faire and a literary convention in town, Edindale is rife with suspicious characters, and the intrepid attorney decides to tap into her unique skills to crack the case. . .
But Keli weaves a tangled web when her investigation brings her up-close and personal with her suspects--including sexy Wes Callahan, her client's grandson. The tattooed bartender could be the man she's been looking for in more ways than one. As the sun sets on the mystical holiday, Keli will need just a touch of the divine to ferret out the real villain and return Edindale, and her heart, to a state of perfect harmony. . ..
Midsummer Eve is meant for gratitude and celebration, but Keli is not in her typically upbeat mood. The family of a recently deceased client is blaming her for the loss of a Shakespearean heirloom worth millions, and Keli's career may be on the line. With both a Renaissance Faire and a literary convention in town, Edindale is rife with suspicious characters, and the intrepid attorney decides to tap into her unique skills to crack the case. . .
But Keli weaves a tangled web when her investigation brings her up-close and personal with her suspects--including sexy Wes Callahan, her client's grandson. The tattooed bartender could be the man she's been looking for in more ways than one. As the sun sets on the mystical holiday, Keli will need just a touch of the divine to ferret out the real villain and return Edindale, and her heart, to a state of perfect harmony. . ..
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 26, 2016
107 people are currently reading
1531 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer David Hesse
6 books203 followersJennifer David Hesse is the author of two cozy mystery series: the Wiccan Wheel Mysteries and the forthcoming Flower House Mysteries (under the name "Jess Dylan," coming May 25, 2021).
Born and raised in Central Illinois, Jennifer earned her undergraduate degree as an English major from Eastern Illinois University and her law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
After an eight-year stint in New York, she now makes her home in Chicago with her husband and daughter. When she’s not writing, Jennifer enjoys yoga, hiking, and movie night with her family.
Born and raised in Central Illinois, Jennifer earned her undergraduate degree as an English major from Eastern Illinois University and her law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
After an eight-year stint in New York, she now makes her home in Chicago with her husband and daughter. When she’s not writing, Jennifer enjoys yoga, hiking, and movie night with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
October 16, 2019
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This is the introductory installation of 'A Wiccan Wheel Mystery' series by Jennifer David Hesse. It is a cozy mystery with a paranormal twist. The heroine is a privately, practicing Wiccan.
DESCRIPTION:
As the Summer Solstice approaches in idyllic Edendale, Illinois, attorney Keli Milanni isn't feeling the magic. She's about to land in a cauldron of hot water at work. Good thing she has her private practice to fall back on--as a Wiccan. She'll just have to summon her inner Goddess and set the world to rights. . .
Midsummer Eve is meant for gratitude and celebration, but Keli is not in her typically upbeat mood. The family of a recently deceased client is blaming her for the loss of a Shakespearean heirloom worth millions, and Keli's career may be on the line. With both a Renaissance Faire and a literary convention in town, Edendale is rife with suspicious characters, and the intrepid attorney decides to tap into her unique skills to crack the case. . .
But Keli weaves a tangled web when her investigation brings her up-close and personal with her suspects--including sexy Wes Callahan, her client's grandson. The tattooed bartender could be the man she's been looking for in more ways than one. As the sun sets on the mystical holiday, Keli will need just a touch of the divine to ferret out the real villain and return Edendale, and her heart, to a state of perfect harmony.
The magical premise for this book is super intriguing. Although the author incorporates incantations of the Wiccan practice into her storyline, it leaves the reader rather unsatisfied. It does not reflect how it can be truly beneficial in her sleuthing skills. And this woman was so obsessed with the bad boy that she had difficulty concentrating on anything else in her life.
In the end, the bland and mundane day-to-day existence of the heroine choked out the minor explosions of the magical flavor that the reader longs to savor. So, although this is somewhat entertaining, it is not as compelling as I would have hoped. Therefore, I will not be jumping into the next book in this series right away
This is a clean and wholesome read with a H.E.A. and is able to stand on its own.
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Midsummer Night's Mischief
(A Wiccan Wheel Mystery Book 1) Kindle Edition
by Jennifer David Hesse (Author)
Length: 352 pages
“Hesse incorporates Keli’s Wiccan practices into her storyline, with prayers to the Goddess and incantations that assist her sleuth in gaining insights to solve the mystery. A perfect read for New Age devotees and those who prefer the pagan version of Yuletide.” —Library Journal on Yuletide Homicide
..
This is the introductory installation of 'A Wiccan Wheel Mystery' series by Jennifer David Hesse. It is a cozy mystery with a paranormal twist. The heroine is a privately, practicing Wiccan.
DESCRIPTION:
As the Summer Solstice approaches in idyllic Edendale, Illinois, attorney Keli Milanni isn't feeling the magic. She's about to land in a cauldron of hot water at work. Good thing she has her private practice to fall back on--as a Wiccan. She'll just have to summon her inner Goddess and set the world to rights. . .
Midsummer Eve is meant for gratitude and celebration, but Keli is not in her typically upbeat mood. The family of a recently deceased client is blaming her for the loss of a Shakespearean heirloom worth millions, and Keli's career may be on the line. With both a Renaissance Faire and a literary convention in town, Edendale is rife with suspicious characters, and the intrepid attorney decides to tap into her unique skills to crack the case. . .
But Keli weaves a tangled web when her investigation brings her up-close and personal with her suspects--including sexy Wes Callahan, her client's grandson. The tattooed bartender could be the man she's been looking for in more ways than one. As the sun sets on the mystical holiday, Keli will need just a touch of the divine to ferret out the real villain and return Edendale, and her heart, to a state of perfect harmony.
The magical premise for this book is super intriguing. Although the author incorporates incantations of the Wiccan practice into her storyline, it leaves the reader rather unsatisfied. It does not reflect how it can be truly beneficial in her sleuthing skills. And this woman was so obsessed with the bad boy that she had difficulty concentrating on anything else in her life.
In the end, the bland and mundane day-to-day existence of the heroine choked out the minor explosions of the magical flavor that the reader longs to savor. So, although this is somewhat entertaining, it is not as compelling as I would have hoped. Therefore, I will not be jumping into the next book in this series right away
This is a clean and wholesome read with a H.E.A. and is able to stand on its own.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Midsummer Night's Mischief
(A Wiccan Wheel Mystery Book 1) Kindle Edition
by Jennifer David Hesse (Author)
Length: 352 pages
“Hesse incorporates Keli’s Wiccan practices into her storyline, with prayers to the Goddess and incantations that assist her sleuth in gaining insights to solve the mystery. A perfect read for New Age devotees and those who prefer the pagan version of Yuletide.” —Library Journal on Yuletide Homicide
..
July 27, 2016
I don't want anyone to think this is a bad three stars. It was a good book, and I really enjoyed it.
When I see a book that sounds quirky and funny, yet seems to know what it's talking about when it comes to actual, real-life Wicca and/or witchcraft, it makes me very excited. Not that I don't love a complete fantasy about witches, because I do. But SO much fiction takes a shot at realistically portraying modern neo-Pagan witchcraft and Wicca, and not only misses, but gets really offensive about it, it gets really frustrating. It's like every Christian in every book being characterized as a crazed, bible-thumping, xenophobic maniac. The stereotype is just that--a stereotype--and for me, since I studied Goddess religion and the Craft, it just yanks me right out of the story. DNF.
Anyway, it looked like this cozy mystery (another genre I know NOTHING ABOUT) might at least take a shot at a realistic depiction of Wicca without taking itself TOO seriously (a fine line, it's true.) so I requested it.
One of the reasons I enjoy e-books is because I can highlight or make notes right in the text without making it unreadable (you should see my original paperback of OUTLANDER. It's so highlighted and so many pages are dog-eared, it's pretty much a doorstop at this point.). I can mark things I liked or want to note later in my review. Conversely, I can highlight and note things that I don't like or drive me crazy.
It was not a good sign that most of the entire first three chapters of MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S MISCHIEF were highlighted and noted. In the not-so-good way. I honestly thought, with my super-stuffed reading and writing schedule, that I was just going to have to DNF.
LUCKILY... I guess, at least for Ms. Hesse? The book?...it got better. I wasn't crazy about the depiction of Wicca, but there wasn't anything so egregious that it didn't still stand above and beyond most fictional representations. At first, I was annoyed that the heroine cut her teeth on The Craft and Charmed, because UGH. If I could name two things anyone serious about learning about witchcraft and Wicca SHOULD NOT turn to as a source of information, it would be The Craft and Charmed. Hell, Willow and Tara on Buffy were closer to the truth. BUT it was the character's teenage years, and she grew out of that and became a more serious student. I use "serious" lightly, as there isn't a lot about this book that's entirely serious.
Thus begins my introduction to the cozy mystery. I read a few in college, but mystery as a rule isn't my cup of tea, and cozy struck me sort of like a line romance: nice, comfy, a predictable set of tropes and a formula that you could count on. Now and then, they're really nice, especially when written well, and/or with interesting and unique characters.
Kelli Milanni is pretty interesting. While at first I thought her brand of Wicca was a bit twee, as I read on I realized... a lot of modern Wicca can be actually be pretty twee. In a cozy mystery, complicated Pagan religion might not quite fit. So she's the kind of Wiccan I imagine works best into this tone of universe. She is also a lawyer, which struck me as not quite genuine. She seemed too unsure of herself, too timid to have any kind of success in the law. She doesn't have her stuff together when it comes to serving her clients, and frankly, her man-craziness is annoying.
That's one of the things about a lot of women's fiction that that annoys me. (Can women really just not survive without a man? Do writers really want us to believe that's the woman's condition today? I have a few suggestions that might help, but they don't really belong in a book review.) Pretty much the first thing Kelli does in the book is cast a love spell. Love spells are problematic in witchcraft because they walk a thin line between wish-fulfillment and violating another person's free will--a serious no-no in Wiccan ethics. However, she makes it clear as she goes that she had cast a vague spell just looking to attract her soulmate, and the spell did rebound in a funny way. The Wiccans have a saying: what you send out into the world comes back to you times three (or nine, or some variant thereof, depending on the tradition). Their version of the the more widely-known golden rule. Kelli's rebound comes the day after she casts the spell, and all the males she meets around town--including ones she doesn't like so much--can't stop staring at her, or stopping to talk, or just generally being weird and annoying.
The book picks up a lot once the details of the crime are revealed and the mystery begins to unfold. As a non-reader of the genre, it was fun for me to play along, peering into the characters on the page, reading more into the words than was there on the surface, and trying to figure out WHODUNNIT! DUN DUN DUNNNNN! (Like my soundtrack?) The red herrings are all just so believable as suspects in this tenor of universe, they're easy to like (or dislike), and their motivations are/seem clear. They made it interesting (did I say fun already?) to stay with the story.
While Kelli's desperate-for-a-man bit was a little annoying, it was probably understandable considering her age, and it doesn't hurt that some of the guys/red herrings/suspects were pretty hot. I enjoyed the way Kelli and her friend worked the mystery and ultimately solved it, and I have to say, it was a nice change of pace for me. I'd read more of the series. I like the idea of mysteries starring a vegan Wiccan, and centered around holidays on the Pagan wheel of the year. There aren't enough of those kind of stories around!
When I see a book that sounds quirky and funny, yet seems to know what it's talking about when it comes to actual, real-life Wicca and/or witchcraft, it makes me very excited. Not that I don't love a complete fantasy about witches, because I do. But SO much fiction takes a shot at realistically portraying modern neo-Pagan witchcraft and Wicca, and not only misses, but gets really offensive about it, it gets really frustrating. It's like every Christian in every book being characterized as a crazed, bible-thumping, xenophobic maniac. The stereotype is just that--a stereotype--and for me, since I studied Goddess religion and the Craft, it just yanks me right out of the story. DNF.
Anyway, it looked like this cozy mystery (another genre I know NOTHING ABOUT) might at least take a shot at a realistic depiction of Wicca without taking itself TOO seriously (a fine line, it's true.) so I requested it.
One of the reasons I enjoy e-books is because I can highlight or make notes right in the text without making it unreadable (you should see my original paperback of OUTLANDER. It's so highlighted and so many pages are dog-eared, it's pretty much a doorstop at this point.). I can mark things I liked or want to note later in my review. Conversely, I can highlight and note things that I don't like or drive me crazy.
It was not a good sign that most of the entire first three chapters of MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S MISCHIEF were highlighted and noted. In the not-so-good way. I honestly thought, with my super-stuffed reading and writing schedule, that I was just going to have to DNF.
LUCKILY... I guess, at least for Ms. Hesse? The book?...it got better. I wasn't crazy about the depiction of Wicca, but there wasn't anything so egregious that it didn't still stand above and beyond most fictional representations. At first, I was annoyed that the heroine cut her teeth on The Craft and Charmed, because UGH. If I could name two things anyone serious about learning about witchcraft and Wicca SHOULD NOT turn to as a source of information, it would be The Craft and Charmed. Hell, Willow and Tara on Buffy were closer to the truth. BUT it was the character's teenage years, and she grew out of that and became a more serious student. I use "serious" lightly, as there isn't a lot about this book that's entirely serious.
Thus begins my introduction to the cozy mystery. I read a few in college, but mystery as a rule isn't my cup of tea, and cozy struck me sort of like a line romance: nice, comfy, a predictable set of tropes and a formula that you could count on. Now and then, they're really nice, especially when written well, and/or with interesting and unique characters.
Kelli Milanni is pretty interesting. While at first I thought her brand of Wicca was a bit twee, as I read on I realized... a lot of modern Wicca can be actually be pretty twee. In a cozy mystery, complicated Pagan religion might not quite fit. So she's the kind of Wiccan I imagine works best into this tone of universe. She is also a lawyer, which struck me as not quite genuine. She seemed too unsure of herself, too timid to have any kind of success in the law. She doesn't have her stuff together when it comes to serving her clients, and frankly, her man-craziness is annoying.
That's one of the things about a lot of women's fiction that that annoys me. (Can women really just not survive without a man? Do writers really want us to believe that's the woman's condition today? I have a few suggestions that might help, but they don't really belong in a book review.) Pretty much the first thing Kelli does in the book is cast a love spell. Love spells are problematic in witchcraft because they walk a thin line between wish-fulfillment and violating another person's free will--a serious no-no in Wiccan ethics. However, she makes it clear as she goes that she had cast a vague spell just looking to attract her soulmate, and the spell did rebound in a funny way. The Wiccans have a saying: what you send out into the world comes back to you times three (or nine, or some variant thereof, depending on the tradition). Their version of the the more widely-known golden rule. Kelli's rebound comes the day after she casts the spell, and all the males she meets around town--including ones she doesn't like so much--can't stop staring at her, or stopping to talk, or just generally being weird and annoying.
The book picks up a lot once the details of the crime are revealed and the mystery begins to unfold. As a non-reader of the genre, it was fun for me to play along, peering into the characters on the page, reading more into the words than was there on the surface, and trying to figure out WHODUNNIT! DUN DUN DUNNNNN! (Like my soundtrack?) The red herrings are all just so believable as suspects in this tenor of universe, they're easy to like (or dislike), and their motivations are/seem clear. They made it interesting (did I say fun already?) to stay with the story.
While Kelli's desperate-for-a-man bit was a little annoying, it was probably understandable considering her age, and it doesn't hurt that some of the guys/red herrings/suspects were pretty hot. I enjoyed the way Kelli and her friend worked the mystery and ultimately solved it, and I have to say, it was a nice change of pace for me. I'd read more of the series. I like the idea of mysteries starring a vegan Wiccan, and centered around holidays on the Pagan wheel of the year. There aren't enough of those kind of stories around!
September 9, 2016
This really sounded like my kind of book. But it didn't really connect for me. It was a disappointment.
My biggest problem with this book was the main character Keli. She did not feel at all authentically like the kind of person we are led to believe she is. She is a Wiccan, and a vegan, so that creates a certain image in one's mind. But she is also a party-girl who likes to drink and party like a much younger - in my opinion - person than the almost-thirty-year-old we're told she is. Then, she's a lawyer who hides her following of Wicca because she doesn't think she could keep her job if people found out about her following the Craft. It all just felt like a forced mish-mash of personality components that just did not come together into a believeable character for me.
I also very much felt like Keli was quick to justify some of the bad decisions she makes in this book, or to push the responsibility to other people. That particularly did not fit for me with a character who is presented as being a goddess-worshipper. Personal responsibility for your actions is a big part of Wicca, and Keli just did not come across to me as being in line with what I know of Wicca.
The fact that I could not manage to like or connect to Keli really affected my overall enjoyment of this book. It was an interesting story, with the Shakespeare first folio connection, and it was well-written. I just couldn't love it because I simply couldn't like Keli.
This is not a good series fit for me and I will not read future books about this character.
My biggest problem with this book was the main character Keli. She did not feel at all authentically like the kind of person we are led to believe she is. She is a Wiccan, and a vegan, so that creates a certain image in one's mind. But she is also a party-girl who likes to drink and party like a much younger - in my opinion - person than the almost-thirty-year-old we're told she is. Then, she's a lawyer who hides her following of Wicca because she doesn't think she could keep her job if people found out about her following the Craft. It all just felt like a forced mish-mash of personality components that just did not come together into a believeable character for me.
I also very much felt like Keli was quick to justify some of the bad decisions she makes in this book, or to push the responsibility to other people. That particularly did not fit for me with a character who is presented as being a goddess-worshipper. Personal responsibility for your actions is a big part of Wicca, and Keli just did not come across to me as being in line with what I know of Wicca.
The fact that I could not manage to like or connect to Keli really affected my overall enjoyment of this book. It was an interesting story, with the Shakespeare first folio connection, and it was well-written. I just couldn't love it because I simply couldn't like Keli.
This is not a good series fit for me and I will not read future books about this character.
April 2, 2018
Such a treat to read Midsummer Night's Mischief by Jennifer David Hesse. This is the first book in the Wiccan Wheel Series and the only one I had not yet read. I love this series. I have felt very connected to the main character Keli from the first page of book two which was the first I read in the series. In book one Keli is a confident and strong lawyer with a looming birthday and a longing for a true connection with the right person. She has a great best friend but keeps her true self hidden from her friends and her co-workers. Keli finds herself in a no win situation and goes above and beyond to help her clients family. This is a great read and a wonderful theme. I loved it.
November 27, 2017
Keli Milanni is a lawyer for a prestigious very conservative law firm in her town. Keli also has a secret - she is a practicing Wiccan. Since this must remain a secret, she goes to some lengths to ensure no one else but the other witch who owns the local alternative religious shop across from her work is in the know.
Keli writes a will for a client who has just found one of the small number of Shakespear's Folio's but the client dies and Keli is in trouble for not ensuring her client was properly ensured for the new found work of literature because it is stolen. Keli is slapped with a law suit, and her law firm asks her to resign. The only way that Keli can keep her job is to find the thief and return the artifact.
This isn't your typical cozy mystery as Keli is not a full fledged practicing witch. The author could go a couple places with this series - will read on and find out where she goes.
Keli writes a will for a client who has just found one of the small number of Shakespear's Folio's but the client dies and Keli is in trouble for not ensuring her client was properly ensured for the new found work of literature because it is stolen. Keli is slapped with a law suit, and her law firm asks her to resign. The only way that Keli can keep her job is to find the thief and return the artifact.
This isn't your typical cozy mystery as Keli is not a full fledged practicing witch. The author could go a couple places with this series - will read on and find out where she goes.
July 8, 2018
Chapter One... "The soft breeze caressed my shoulders like a lover..." ...um...yeah...No! I'm out... ☮️
It takes a pretty bad sentence for me to give up on page 10 but the prologue was painful enough...
It takes a pretty bad sentence for me to give up on page 10 but the prologue was painful enough...
April 17, 2023
Way longer than it needed to be
May 1, 2021
Read for #Book1CoziesClub
More like a 3.5
This turned out to be more romance than mystery to me. Had I known that before going in, I probably would've enjoyed it more. There were definitely things I enjoyed about this story, but the things I didn't enjoy outweighed those.
For more of my candid thoughts as I read this book, you can check out my Chapter by Chapters on this one. If you'd like to hear more of my general thoughts, you can check out my Series First Impressions on it. Both of these can be found on my blog.
More like a 3.5
This turned out to be more romance than mystery to me. Had I known that before going in, I probably would've enjoyed it more. There were definitely things I enjoyed about this story, but the things I didn't enjoy outweighed those.
For more of my candid thoughts as I read this book, you can check out my Chapter by Chapters on this one. If you'd like to hear more of my general thoughts, you can check out my Series First Impressions on it. Both of these can be found on my blog.
April 18, 2020
I have to DNF this after 13% because there’s barely anything Wiccan about this storyline except she created a love spell (shocker). I’m so sick of cozy mystery leading ladies trying to find a man or complaining about their weight. PLEASE can we get with the times.
June 14, 2023
I have enjoyed reading this series seasonally. I have one more to go for an October read and will be quite sad to have finished them all. Fingers crossed for more!
July 28, 2016
Attorney Keli Milanni loves her work. She especially likes working with clients like the elderly woman she just started consultations with recently. More than simply helping her client write a will and get her affairs in order, Keli is sharing in the excitement of a rare and valuable find. The woman has a First Folio of Shakespeare's works, a valuable book that she thought had been destroyed in a fire years and years ago. However, when Keli's client passes away suddenly, her family realizes that the Folio is missing. Some family members place the blame on Keli's shoulders, saying that she should have done more to safeguard the rare book rather than allow her client to simply tote the book around in a shoulder bag. When those complaints reach the ears of Keli's boss and the other firm partners, she's forced to take a leave from her job and is more motivated than ever to find the First Folio and repair her reputation.
Midsummer Night's Mischief is a cozy mystery with elements of chick lit running throughout, which I liked. Keli's search for love was an equal plot line with the missing book and I think those two elements matched well together. I was slightly disappointed to not have more elements of Keli's Wiccan magic, because I really enjoyed those portions in the story! I was also excited to have figured out who the thief was! A rarity for this mystery reader, who usually suspects the wrong person. I'm intrigued to see what's next for Keli and, dare I say it?, really rather piqued by the cranky Crenshaw!
Midsummer Night's Mischief is a cozy mystery with elements of chick lit running throughout, which I liked. Keli's search for love was an equal plot line with the missing book and I think those two elements matched well together. I was slightly disappointed to not have more elements of Keli's Wiccan magic, because I really enjoyed those portions in the story! I was also excited to have figured out who the thief was! A rarity for this mystery reader, who usually suspects the wrong person. I'm intrigued to see what's next for Keli and, dare I say it?, really rather piqued by the cranky Crenshaw!
August 12, 2016
Attorney and Wiccan Keli Milanni finds herself in quite a bit of hot water. After assisting her client in updating her will, the client dies and an expensive heirloom goes missing. The client’s family blames her and her career is in danger before it ever truly begins.
Keli isn’t about to sit back and wait for her name to be cleared. She fully intends to do the clearing herself, but it’s anything but easy. Along the way, Keli is very attractive to her late client’s grandson. However, she can’t help wondering if he could be behind the theft himself. She doesn’t know who she can trust.
The characters are well written and developed. Keli is a strong heroine. She never backs down regardless of the obstacles thrown in her path. My one problem with Keli was in the beginning when she seemed desperate to find a guy. I was afraid there would be more romance than mystery, but that wasn’t the case for the entire book, just part of it. While I enjoy romances, when I read cozy mysteries I prefer the emphasis to be on the mystery not the romance.
This felt like a combo of chick lit, paranormal, and cozy mystery all rolled into one book. This is the first book in the series and I’m hoping there will be more. It's a good start to a series.
FTC Disclosure: NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Keli isn’t about to sit back and wait for her name to be cleared. She fully intends to do the clearing herself, but it’s anything but easy. Along the way, Keli is very attractive to her late client’s grandson. However, she can’t help wondering if he could be behind the theft himself. She doesn’t know who she can trust.
The characters are well written and developed. Keli is a strong heroine. She never backs down regardless of the obstacles thrown in her path. My one problem with Keli was in the beginning when she seemed desperate to find a guy. I was afraid there would be more romance than mystery, but that wasn’t the case for the entire book, just part of it. While I enjoy romances, when I read cozy mysteries I prefer the emphasis to be on the mystery not the romance.
This felt like a combo of chick lit, paranormal, and cozy mystery all rolled into one book. This is the first book in the series and I’m hoping there will be more. It's a good start to a series.
FTC Disclosure: NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 12, 2018
UGH! Note to self - skip this series. :/
OK, yes, I know, this is a cozy mystery, and should be 'light and fluffy with a bit of mystery' and most of them include a theme, and a romance. ONE of the issues I have with this series, though, is why choose Wicca as your theme, then go about it in such a stereotypical manner? Love spells? Really? REALLY?! UGH! And, chicky, that wasn't a LOVE spell, it was obviously a LUST spell because you drooled all over him and obsessed about him based on his appearance.
IDK, this whole thing just didn't work for me. Keli isn't believable as a 30 year old single lawyer. Maybe if she was a law student in her early 20's this would have made sense?
I wanted to like this series, but I'm SO glad it was a library book rather than something I spent actual money on. It was a waste of time, even for a cozy mystery.
OK, yes, I know, this is a cozy mystery, and should be 'light and fluffy with a bit of mystery' and most of them include a theme, and a romance. ONE of the issues I have with this series, though, is why choose Wicca as your theme, then go about it in such a stereotypical manner? Love spells? Really? REALLY?! UGH! And, chicky, that wasn't a LOVE spell, it was obviously a LUST spell because you drooled all over him and obsessed about him based on his appearance.
IDK, this whole thing just didn't work for me. Keli isn't believable as a 30 year old single lawyer. Maybe if she was a law student in her early 20's this would have made sense?
I wanted to like this series, but I'm SO glad it was a library book rather than something I spent actual money on. It was a waste of time, even for a cozy mystery.
December 5, 2017
Ummmmm......just no on this one. I like cozies with a little paranormal or "witchy" stuff usually, but this one for some reason just rubbed me the wrong way. I skimmed a lot of it just to get through it. Won't read more. About 1.5 stars, but I felt generous!
September 26, 2016
A great book, I loved the characters! I wish there had been more "witchy" happenings, but other than that, I really enjoyed it. Look forward to the next one.
June 27, 2021
I had unfortunately already bought other books in this series when I read the last one and decided I didn't like this character. First of all, I immediately knew who done it here. Absolutely no mystery. The book started off with talking about the person who broke in and stole the book. Hesse keeps saying "the intruder." Must have said it 30 times. Pick another word! You could have at least just said "he" since it was revealed quite early on that it was a man. Hesse refers to her fictional town as the "Eden of Southern Illinois." Believe me, there's no such thing. My in-laws live there, and it's a field of corn, and nothing else.
February 26, 2018
Cute mystery. I got a little bored with the pacing but that tends to happen easily with the first novel in a series I think. However, the premise, characters, and depiction of Wicca was quite lovely. It can be difficult to find genuine Pagan characters and stories that shine a true light into Goddess and Nature worship without painting it negatively or giving the characters jumped up powers in order to keep people entertained by the fantasy "Buffy witch". It's always refreshing to see realistic characters.
June 19, 2020
Finished this just time for the beginning of summer! I was excited to start this series after hearing that it follows a Wiccan, which is something we don't see enough in stories. This was a lot of fun and it was cool timing to have there be a Shakespeare connecting given I just finished reading all of Shakespeare earlier this year. I don't read a lot of mysteries, so I didn't figure it out at all but for me that's part of the fun on going along for the ride. Looking forward to continuing the series.
June 29, 2021
This is a fictional novel. A cozy mystery. Our amateur sleuth is a young lawyer (turns 30) and a solitary practitioner of Wicca. The series, 6 books so far, are set around the Wicca Wheel of the Year Sabbats. It's a fun read.
December 21, 2016
The book is mostly romance built around a mystery and Wiccan religion. It is the first in a new series featuring the Wiccan beliefs. Unless she finds The touch of vegan added to the story. I had trouble getting into the book for at the beginning. The protagonist, Keli was well developed but most of the other characters need more development. Keli is a practicing Wicca and we learn about the Summer Solstice, the three-fold law, and love spells. once the tale caught my attention I didn't put down the book.
Keli, is a family lawyer new client and an elderly woman, Eleanor who has discovered a valuable family heirloom. Keli tells Eleanor to put the book in a safety deposit box. Shortly after signing her will, Eleanor dies of a heart attack and the heirloom is missing. The family blames Keli and she is forced to take a vacation.
In order to save her job, Keli interviews the various members of the family. She must find the Shakespeare folio to save her job. I recommend this book.
Keli, is a family lawyer new client and an elderly woman, Eleanor who has discovered a valuable family heirloom. Keli tells Eleanor to put the book in a safety deposit box. Shortly after signing her will, Eleanor dies of a heart attack and the heirloom is missing. The family blames Keli and she is forced to take a vacation.
In order to save her job, Keli interviews the various members of the family. She must find the Shakespeare folio to save her job. I recommend this book.
August 18, 2016
It should be no surprise that the title of this book and the series in general (A Wiccan Wheel Mystery) would appeal to be. I love almost anything with a witchy or pagan theme and Midsummer Night’s Mischief did not disappoint.
Much as I enjoy books with lots of woowoo, I also can really appreciate when paganism is more accurately depicted. It’s pretty subtle here especially since Keli has yet to come out of the broom closet but it’s there and it’s realistic.
extra points to jennifer david hesse for keeping it real.
Keli is a great main character. She is smart and gutsy..sometimes a bit too impulsive for my tastes but she definitely kept things interesting! At times I could do nothing but shake my head. Farrah, Keli’s best friend, is a great secondary character. And I really hope we see more of her friend who owns the local New Age gift shop.
I was thrown off a bit by the pacing of the book which seemed a bit slow and that it really felt a bit more chick lit than cozy to me. I really didn’t get that cozy feeling perse and Keli seemed more interested in her love life that I might have preferred. I like a side helping of romance in my mysteries but this seemed a bit heavy.
All in all Midsummer Night’s Mischief was a very entertaining read that kept me guessing until the end. With lots of suspects and tons of red herrings…it was really hard to predict who the thief would turn out to be. I’ll be interested to see where Jennifer David Hesse goes with the next in the series Bell, Book & Candlemas.
Much as I enjoy books with lots of woowoo, I also can really appreciate when paganism is more accurately depicted. It’s pretty subtle here especially since Keli has yet to come out of the broom closet but it’s there and it’s realistic.
extra points to jennifer david hesse for keeping it real.
Keli is a great main character. She is smart and gutsy..sometimes a bit too impulsive for my tastes but she definitely kept things interesting! At times I could do nothing but shake my head. Farrah, Keli’s best friend, is a great secondary character. And I really hope we see more of her friend who owns the local New Age gift shop.
I was thrown off a bit by the pacing of the book which seemed a bit slow and that it really felt a bit more chick lit than cozy to me. I really didn’t get that cozy feeling perse and Keli seemed more interested in her love life that I might have preferred. I like a side helping of romance in my mysteries but this seemed a bit heavy.
All in all Midsummer Night’s Mischief was a very entertaining read that kept me guessing until the end. With lots of suspects and tons of red herrings…it was really hard to predict who the thief would turn out to be. I’ll be interested to see where Jennifer David Hesse goes with the next in the series Bell, Book & Candlemas.
June 17, 2016
Midsummer Night's Mischief featuring attorney Keli Milanni is an action packed book that kept me guessing. Keli should be enjoying the approach of the Summer Solstice, but instead she is trying to keep her job and hoping her client's daughter won't sue her.
What should have been a simple last will for her client Eleanor soon turns into a dangerous game of hide and seek. It seems Eleanor has stumbled upon a treasure that her family assumed was lost in a fire. What could possibly be so important that Keli questions her client's sudden death?
Keli keeps her practice of Wicca hidden, she knows that some people just won't understand. Keli has to reach deep inside herself and find her inner Goddess for guidance as the treasure her client possessed has now been stolen.
The suspect list runs long and Keli has decided to solve this case on her own.
I enjoyed this book very much. The story was good and held my attention all the way until the end.
I hope to read more in this entertaining series.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.
What should have been a simple last will for her client Eleanor soon turns into a dangerous game of hide and seek. It seems Eleanor has stumbled upon a treasure that her family assumed was lost in a fire. What could possibly be so important that Keli questions her client's sudden death?
Keli keeps her practice of Wicca hidden, she knows that some people just won't understand. Keli has to reach deep inside herself and find her inner Goddess for guidance as the treasure her client possessed has now been stolen.
The suspect list runs long and Keli has decided to solve this case on her own.
I enjoyed this book very much. The story was good and held my attention all the way until the end.
I hope to read more in this entertaining series.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.
January 1, 2018
Midsummer Night's Mischief by Jennifer David Hesse was a fun cozy mystery with just the slightest touch of paranormal.
Ms. Hesse did a wonderful job in developing the characters. Keli and Farrah, her best friend, were both smart and independent women. I really liked Keli and admired her spunk and determination as she decided to find the thief and save her job. Her spiritual beliefs as a Wiccan were made quite clear; but it was simply stated and her mundane day job and her detection skills were forefront throughout the story. I also liked her attitude about a possible love interest in Wes. The romance is there but it never took the spotlight off of the mystery.
A smoothly paced plot, with enough twists to keep me guessing as to who the thief might be kept reading until I reached the end. I will definitely be looking for the second book, BELL, BOOK & CANDLEMAS, which is due to release in December, 2016.
I received an eARC from Kensington via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Ms. Hesse did a wonderful job in developing the characters. Keli and Farrah, her best friend, were both smart and independent women. I really liked Keli and admired her spunk and determination as she decided to find the thief and save her job. Her spiritual beliefs as a Wiccan were made quite clear; but it was simply stated and her mundane day job and her detection skills were forefront throughout the story. I also liked her attitude about a possible love interest in Wes. The romance is there but it never took the spotlight off of the mystery.
A smoothly paced plot, with enough twists to keep me guessing as to who the thief might be kept reading until I reached the end. I will definitely be looking for the second book, BELL, BOOK & CANDLEMAS, which is due to release in December, 2016.
I received an eARC from Kensington via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
August 11, 2016
This is a fun new concept for a cozy mystery series. The main character is an attorney who is also a Wiccan (a fact she keeps hidden from most of the rest of the world). It's fascinating to see how she manages to keep the two important parts of her life so separate.
I also liked that the mystery of this book didn't involve a murder. There is a death, but it's not the center of the mystery--the center is a stolen heirloom, and the many family members of the deceased who are suspects.
The relationship between Keli and Wes is full of ups and downs, especially when she suspects him of being the thief. I'm looking forward to seeing how their relationship plays out in future books.
This is a very entertaining read, and the mystery will keep you guessing right up to the final reveal.
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinons are entirely my own.**
I also liked that the mystery of this book didn't involve a murder. There is a death, but it's not the center of the mystery--the center is a stolen heirloom, and the many family members of the deceased who are suspects.
The relationship between Keli and Wes is full of ups and downs, especially when she suspects him of being the thief. I'm looking forward to seeing how their relationship plays out in future books.
This is a very entertaining read, and the mystery will keep you guessing right up to the final reveal.
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinons are entirely my own.**
August 27, 2019
Agonizing read. I knew from the first page I was in trouble with this one. I don’t know why I wasted my time finishing it. Boring. Insipid. I won’t be reading any more of this series or author.
October 31, 2018
Review originally published on my blog, Musings of a Bookish Kitty:
https://www.literaryfeline.com/2018/1...
Midsummer Night's Mischief (Wiccan Wheel Mystery, #1)
by Jennifer David Hesse
Kensington, 2016
Crime Fiction; 352 pgs
Occasionally I go on a series binge, and my most recent one was Jennifer David Hesse’s Wiccan Wheel Mysteries featuring attorney Keli Milanni. The first in the series is Midsummer Night’s Mischief. As Summer Solstice approaches things seem to be going relatively well on the work front for Keli. She’s just landed a big case, involving a heirloom worth millions, when suddenly things take a turn for the worst. Her client is found murdered, the Shakespearean heirloom is stolen, and the family is blaming her, putting her job on the line.
I know something about the Wiccan religion, but not a lot, and so it was interesting to get a glimpse of it through Keli’s eyes. It’s presented in a much more realistic way than most of the paranormal cozies I have read featuring witches which lean more heavily in the fantastical direction. In a society that ostracizes those who practice Wicca or other non-traditional religions, it is no wonder Keli tries to keep her own beliefs and practice a secret. Even her best friend does not know.
Midsummer Night’s Mischief introduces several characters who will appear over the course of the series, including Crenshaw, a rather proper and formal sort of lawyer who also works at Keli’s firm. There’s Farrah, Keli’s best friend—the kind of best friend I always wish I had--who would drop everything and come running when Keli calls. There is also Wes, the photographer, part-time bartender, who Keli feels a distinct attraction to. Wouldn’t you know it that just as Keli gives in to her feelings, Wes becomes one of the suspects in the murder investigation. She does not really know much about him, but she hopes he won’t turn out to be the killer. My favorite character of all, even over Keli though, has to be Mila, the owner of the New Age gift shop in town. Wouldn’t I love to be her friend too?!
While not an all-around nail-biting suspense novel, Midsummer Night’s Mischief did have some intense moments and it kept me guessing for a while. I think I suspected a number of characters (so many have believable motives), although I kept coming back to the same one. I liked that the detective assigned to investigate the crime seems like a smart and decent. This was a fun mystery overall, and I could not wait to dive into the next book in the series. Which I obviously did right away.
https://www.literaryfeline.com/2018/1...
Midsummer Night's Mischief (Wiccan Wheel Mystery, #1)
by Jennifer David Hesse
Kensington, 2016
Crime Fiction; 352 pgs
Occasionally I go on a series binge, and my most recent one was Jennifer David Hesse’s Wiccan Wheel Mysteries featuring attorney Keli Milanni. The first in the series is Midsummer Night’s Mischief. As Summer Solstice approaches things seem to be going relatively well on the work front for Keli. She’s just landed a big case, involving a heirloom worth millions, when suddenly things take a turn for the worst. Her client is found murdered, the Shakespearean heirloom is stolen, and the family is blaming her, putting her job on the line.
I know something about the Wiccan religion, but not a lot, and so it was interesting to get a glimpse of it through Keli’s eyes. It’s presented in a much more realistic way than most of the paranormal cozies I have read featuring witches which lean more heavily in the fantastical direction. In a society that ostracizes those who practice Wicca or other non-traditional religions, it is no wonder Keli tries to keep her own beliefs and practice a secret. Even her best friend does not know.
Midsummer Night’s Mischief introduces several characters who will appear over the course of the series, including Crenshaw, a rather proper and formal sort of lawyer who also works at Keli’s firm. There’s Farrah, Keli’s best friend—the kind of best friend I always wish I had--who would drop everything and come running when Keli calls. There is also Wes, the photographer, part-time bartender, who Keli feels a distinct attraction to. Wouldn’t you know it that just as Keli gives in to her feelings, Wes becomes one of the suspects in the murder investigation. She does not really know much about him, but she hopes he won’t turn out to be the killer. My favorite character of all, even over Keli though, has to be Mila, the owner of the New Age gift shop in town. Wouldn’t I love to be her friend too?!
While not an all-around nail-biting suspense novel, Midsummer Night’s Mischief did have some intense moments and it kept me guessing for a while. I think I suspected a number of characters (so many have believable motives), although I kept coming back to the same one. I liked that the detective assigned to investigate the crime seems like a smart and decent. This was a fun mystery overall, and I could not wait to dive into the next book in the series. Which I obviously did right away.
January 15, 2020
Keli Milanni is an attorney in Edindale, Illinois. She has a new client, Eleanor, who unearthed a rare book of Shakespeare's plays which is worth millions. Eleanor is redoing her will so she can include the book. When Eleanor suddenly dies, the book is stolen and Eleanor's daughter blames Keli because her mom had not insured the book or put it somewhere safe. Keli is forced to take her vacation days with the possibility of having to resign rather than be fired. With her job on the line, Keli and her best friend, Farrah, dive into the investigation to find the book.
In addition, Keli is a Wiccan and Midsummer's Eve is almost here. She has done a love spell to bring her one true love into her life. It seems that Wes Callahan is that man but it turns out he's Eleanor's grandson and, as such, must be considered a suspect. Keli also does some spells to help her in the investigation.
I came across this series by accident and discovered my library had all but this book. I loved this book and am looking forward to the rest of the series. The book's well-written with well-rounded characters, some you like and others you don't. I like the way Wicca is covered here, it's represented well and is pretty accurate. I highly recommend this book.
In addition, Keli is a Wiccan and Midsummer's Eve is almost here. She has done a love spell to bring her one true love into her life. It seems that Wes Callahan is that man but it turns out he's Eleanor's grandson and, as such, must be considered a suspect. Keli also does some spells to help her in the investigation.
I came across this series by accident and discovered my library had all but this book. I loved this book and am looking forward to the rest of the series. The book's well-written with well-rounded characters, some you like and others you don't. I like the way Wicca is covered here, it's represented well and is pretty accurate. I highly recommend this book.
May 2, 2022
I have read two titles in the Wiccan Wheel series now. I like the protagonist Keli and her circle of friends. The book is very well balanced between the sleuthing, the personal challenges and the romance aspects. I have enjoyed the various witch rituals and spells that pop up in the books. Sometimes the witchier parts seem a little off point, as though they are there to spice things up and give Keli a personality. The one thing I find annoying is that the main character is a vegan yet without any explanation for it. None. As an ethical vegan myself I was drawn to this series for the very reason that the character was a vegan. Every vegan I know both personally and electronically has their own reasons for being vegan and they are usually very strong in their commitment to the vegan lifestyle, whether their choice was for the animals, the environment at large, or for health or religious reasons or a combination of reasons. The Keli character seems to have no convictions behind her decision to be vegan. Further, there seem to be many references through out the book where Keli is wearing a silk blouse, a wool sweater, sitting in a leather chair, etc., Most perplexing to me that this needs to be described to the reader. Overall this series is a fun read and makes for a nice distraction before bed time. Just the right balance of factors and pretty clever mysteries to solve.
September 13, 2019
As the Summer Solstice approaches in idyllic Edindale, Illinois, attorney Keli Milanni isn't feeling the magic. She's about to land in a cauldron of hot water at work. Good thing she has her private practice to fall back on--as a Wiccan. She'll just have to summon her inner Goddess and set the world to rights. . .
Midsummer Eve is meant for gratitude and celebration, but Keli is not in her typically upbeat mood. The family of a recently deceased client is blaming her for the loss of a Shakespearean heirloom worth millions, and Keli's career may be on the line. With both a Renaissance Faire and a literary convention in town, Edindale is rife with suspicious characters, and the intrepid attorney decides to tap into her unique skills to crack the case. . .
But Keli weaves a tangled web when her investigation brings her up-close and personal with her suspects--including sexy Wes Callahan, her client's grandson. The tattooed bartender could be the man she's been looking for in more ways than one. As the sun sets on the mystical holiday, Keli will need just a touch of the divine to ferret out the real villain and return Edindale, and her heart, to a state of perfect harmony. . ..
Midsummer Eve is meant for gratitude and celebration, but Keli is not in her typically upbeat mood. The family of a recently deceased client is blaming her for the loss of a Shakespearean heirloom worth millions, and Keli's career may be on the line. With both a Renaissance Faire and a literary convention in town, Edindale is rife with suspicious characters, and the intrepid attorney decides to tap into her unique skills to crack the case. . .
But Keli weaves a tangled web when her investigation brings her up-close and personal with her suspects--including sexy Wes Callahan, her client's grandson. The tattooed bartender could be the man she's been looking for in more ways than one. As the sun sets on the mystical holiday, Keli will need just a touch of the divine to ferret out the real villain and return Edindale, and her heart, to a state of perfect harmony. . ..
July 13, 2017
I'm excited about this series and looking forward to the next book in the series. I found this book a bit long and found Keli to be a bit silly in places, but overall I enjoyed the mystery. I found that I enjoyed the second half of the book more because there was more excitement and action taking place. Keli's early investigation was a bit slow. I also found her semi-stalking of Wes to be a bit problematic but I suppose it was in the course of an investigation. . . kind of. I appreciated Hesse's representation of Wiccan/the Witch lifestyle and a series that centers around the Wheel of the Year is exciting to me. I will read the next book in the series and sincerely hope that this series gets nothing but better.
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