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It’s meant to be an easy job for Harlow Torrent, Slip Witch: personal assistant to Red Forrest, best-selling cozy mystery author in town for Writerpalooza.
But when a man staggers out of an alleyway claiming he was attacked by a monster, Harlow is pulled into a dangerous mystery decades in the making.
Between Red running her own investigation, two possible charlatans with a history of faking monsters, Aunt Cass leading expeditions under the mansion, mysterious symbols appearing everywhere, and Jack’s parents in town, Harlow has her hands full.
The past can hurt plenty and this time it’s coming back with sharp teeth to bite!
Book #8 in the Torrent Witches Cozy Mysteries series.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 26, 2017

138 people are currently reading
390 people want to read

About the author

Tess Lake

25 books220 followers
I'm all about Cozy Witches! Mystery, murder, magic! Author of the bestselling Torrent Witches Cozy Magic series.

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5 stars
580 (26%)
4 stars
990 (44%)
3 stars
593 (26%)
2 stars
56 (2%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Profile Image for Gail Daley.
Author 43 books20 followers
August 22, 2017


This is one of my favorite witch series because it is fun, rather than dark and heavy or gruesome as some paranormals are. It combines humor with a good mystery and supernatural elements. The mystery is in this book is solved in the end. However, there is a long-running sub plot, which in my opinion has been drug out far too long. We are given snippets of information about it in each new book, but it has lingered so long that I almost don't remember the original issue with it! Whenever it's brought up in the books, I always need to redirect my thoughts to a "Oh yeah, what happened with that?" mindset.
However, this story is a fun and funny, cozy paranormal mystery. I especially enjoyed that the mystery writers group kept turning up when Harlow's family was trying to investigate because they were doing the same things! If there isn't any such genre as cozy paranormal mystery, I vote for creating one.
Three Stars. I would have given it more if not for the lagging sub plot about what is going on with Grandma, Aunt Cass and the spell on Harlow.
Profile Image for Heather Caldwell.
80 reviews6 followers
October 14, 2025
just finished this book. I love how this series ties together. You can read one by itself, but there's so much to each book you want to keep reading.
Profile Image for Donna Davies.
193 reviews1 follower
November 23, 2025
A light hearted series, easy read, cosy mystery and romance.
Thoroughly enjoyed the books, which had some great characters, with Aunt Cas and Adams the talking cat.

This is book 8 out of 10 in the series. The books do lead into with each other, with a mystery that develops throughout the series and individual mysteries within each book.
Profile Image for Antoinette  Van Graan.
21 reviews2 followers
July 10, 2023
This series was never Stunning, Amazing or especially gripping, but I didn't need it to be. I wanted cozy and witchy and that's exactly what I got... So far.

But I am becoming frustrated. Stakes are set up, tensions build, only to be forgotten. What happened to the 'love hangover' that was meant to follow after the lizard was captured? What happened to the fight between Ollie and Molly? Nothing. Forgotten in the wind.
There are so few actual stakes, even the character cannot keep up the tension anymore. This is her life now, things are crazy, but there's no energy to it anymore. It's the new normal.

Crimes, deaths, fires, injuries? Nothing matters. Ever. And if it seemed like something would matter, there would be a time skip so we don't actually have to deal with the consequences.
And NO. The spell is not an excuse for all of these dangling plots.

I guess I will finish this, but I have very little hope for a satisfying end.
725 reviews8 followers
August 7, 2017
Coming along nicely

This series gets better and better as this author hits her stride. The first book or two were fairly average for the genre and populated with the usual crazy great aunt, cousins and aunts. But there was one exceptional idea, even a novel idea, that of the "slip witch" which intrigued me enough to keep reading. At last a unique idea for the paranormal genre, I thought. And I thought right since she took the concept and began building an interesting back story. In this book we learn more than ever before about the back story, the Torrents and the town so this book is particularly filled with new details and more interesting for it. If you haven't read this series, do get started, and wait for it. It builds into one of the better series out there.
Profile Image for ThundaBunz.
118 reviews2 followers
December 5, 2022
Ok so this one took me a bit to finish. . But I did manage to finish it. I listened to this book on audible.

The book itself was not bad, it did have it's moments were I thought the story was sort of slow at some points. I liked how they would go deeper into the torrent witches lore but then they would stop and it would get kinda meh. I felt like the book had missed an opportunity to really get to know Harlow's familys back story. That and Red was such a great character but didnt really go into the dynamic of their investigation. I would've loved if they did more chapters with Red and the gang. But yeah it was not a bad story but did feel monotone on a lot of parts. Thats why it sort of took me longer to finish.
Profile Image for Rhyanna Detuathana.
63 reviews
August 2, 2017
I loved reading Cozy Witch (Torrent Witches Cozy Mysteries Book 8) by Tess Lake. Harlow is a slip witch, along with her two cousins Molly and Luce. Harlow learns of a job working for an author when mysterious things start occurring around town. Harlow faces the dilemma of either going along on the search for clues with her author-employer or try to side track her and her friends. In the meantime, Harlow's slip magic acts up and now she can do something she hadn't before.
I really recommend this book, as well as the other books in the series. This book can be read as a stand alone novel.
It's free on Kindle Unlimited.
Profile Image for Sophie Gravel.
62 reviews
January 8, 2026
I was starting to wonder if the series might get repetitive as I moved along happy to say, it doesn’t. Each book connects smoothly to the next, and while every installment has its own mystery, there’s a larger arc quietly unfolding in the background that keeps things interesting.

Aunt Cass is still my favorite sassy jalapeño, stealing scenes without trying. Adam now has a girlfriend, and his tuna negotiations remain absolutely top tier. The only thing that feels a bit quiet right now is Stefano the coffee machine not much happening there, but with a 2 books left, I’m holding out hope for a comeback.
2,787 reviews9 followers
March 28, 2023
Harlow has snagged a job as a personal assistant to the best selling cosy mystery writer Red Forrest who is in town for the annual writers convention, Writerpalooza.
But then strange stuff starts to happen a man is attacked by a monster.
With Red getting in on the act and launching her own mystery investigation, two tourists from the Mysterious mysteries show, aunt Cass trying to track down the villain and Harlow stressed out trying juggle spending time with Jack and his parents while the past is creeping up on the present this is a jam packed Torrent witch adventure.
Profile Image for fiona hope.
59 reviews1 follower
August 18, 2017
Make it soon.

Just finished the last Torrent Witch book and am eagerly awaiting the next instalment. Aunt Cass is hysterical. Always sarcastic and giving the family a hard time but with a heart of gold. I desperately want Jack to propose to Harlow as I get the sneaking suspicion that his mum and dad are witches also and that he himself is a descendant of Johanas. Please write faster.
Profile Image for Skylar Snoddy.
14 reviews1 follower
October 27, 2023
*sigh* the "sorry thighs" comments are so draining at this point.... The internalized misogyny of the author is starting to be hard to overlook in this series. Of course everyone has to be married off because that's the heteronormative way! And as usual we get barely any advancement to the mysterious plot.

I'm dragging myself through so I can at least know the end. Listening on audible at double speed to pick this up.
Profile Image for Lakota Schultz.
400 reviews2 followers
October 25, 2025
A bit of a longer slog

This was one of my least favourites from the series. I had to keep going back to sanity check what I missed.

The core storyline of a "Lost Witch" felt drowned under other storylines, with Molly panicking constantly about Ollie leaving her, and the ongoing "when are the guys going to propose"
And then, a huge fast rush to the finish that came out of the blue.
Profile Image for gAIL simmons .
3 reviews1 follower
August 14, 2017
Excellent stories

I sitting here wondering where is the rest of the books. I felt like I was apart of this family. Now the ending is here and I do not what happened. I feel like the lost witch. Did the girls get married, what happened with the parents and did they get married. When is I going to find out.
1,703 reviews35 followers
July 27, 2023
Harlow becomes a personal assistant to a famous author during writer palooza
A person is found to be injured by a possible wild animal, or a man dressed as one.
Several of the authors decide to investigate on their own as a known investigation team
is in town has been know to set clues for themselves to find to push their own blogs for their supporters
Profile Image for Jandee.
873 reviews3 followers
December 20, 2023
So much fun!

This book was a lot of fun. I love listening to the shenanigans Harlow and her family get up to. Jack is the sweetest. He's so devoted to Harlow. I love them! I can't wait to find out what happens next!!
I've been reading and listening to Cozy Witch and I love the narrator. ❤️
Profile Image for Tenille.
167 reviews5 followers
October 26, 2024
Please stop talking about water!

We get it. Water is cold and delicious and necessary to live. But how many times do you need to talk about drinking wate in a cozy, witchy, murder mystery. Cold, delicious water. So much water.
I understand that the books are short. It's not a bad thing. Love the stories, but please. No more water.
Profile Image for Monique.
1,123 reviews47 followers
November 1, 2025
really enjoyed this installment of the series!! there’s a bit more revealed related to the main mystery which makes me so excited but also a bit sad that i’ll be done with the series soon. as always, there are plenty of laughs; Addams is the best cat, Aunt Cass brings the best snark and i love how her and Kira interact! i love this magical story and look forward to the next book! ✨💞
26 reviews
January 3, 2019
The Torrent story gets super meta with a bunch of mystery writers descending on the town. Fun to read, fun to imagine. Tess Lake's series just keeps getting better and better with each book! I can imagine where it is heading now and it makes me so excited.
Profile Image for Kyla Sixkiller.
745 reviews14 followers
July 21, 2024
"Cozy Witch" by Tess Lake is a delightful step up for the Torrent Witch series! This installment offers a compelling mystery alongside the charming small-town life readers have come to love. We see further development in the overarching series plot, leaving us eager for the next book.
Profile Image for TenshiMari.
553 reviews1 follower
February 20, 2025
This book was utterly fantastic, one of my favourites in his series, loved the humour, the slipwitch power spiralling out of control, the mystery was fantastic and kept me guessing and the suspense was great.
Profile Image for Kendra Jones.
255 reviews2 followers
September 25, 2025
I got this as all 10 books on Audible for FREE! It was a 65 hour read. Since I listen to books at work I was so excited for this. I loved all 10 books! They were so much fun. I'm so grateful I got all 10 books and they were great!
Profile Image for Anthony Peters.
91 reviews2 followers
September 29, 2025
The plot thickens and we get some answers but even more questions. I feel like there are an overabundance of hints to the true nature of Harlot Bay, the Torrent curse, and John Doe but nothing substantial without more context.
Profile Image for Jamie Rice.
942 reviews
November 28, 2025
cozy witch by tess lake. the main storyline in this book bored me to tears. but what had me more invested was the 2nd plot line of what happened in the past with her aunts and grandmother. also all the stuff that is being uncovered in the mansion. I'm loving it
Profile Image for Cassie Raymer.
138 reviews
December 26, 2025
This one has a LOT going on, and I loved it. Multiple groups of people for Harlow to try and keep happy, as well as a slip power ruining her life, as well as the main mystery plot!
Quite a few clues about past and future too!
Profile Image for Heather Burns.
19 reviews
January 13, 2026
I just love these books. Harlow has another mystery on her hands. But this time she has help investigating…or are they just getting in the way? And let’s be honest. I read these books for Aunt Cass and her adventures.
38 reviews
August 2, 2017
Hard to follow

Ms Lake is a good writer but this book became very long winded and confusing. I will continue to read this series with the hope that they stay more focused
Profile Image for Dean Good.
8 reviews
August 4, 2017
Best book yet.

I cannot emphasize how much I love all of your books. And I hope you write many more of them.
1,231 reviews4 followers
August 8, 2017
Great series!

These are books that the whole family can enjoy. The mysteries and imaginative plots are excellent. Happy reading, I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
40 reviews
August 11, 2017
Torrent Witches

The Torrent Witches are always solving mysteries. They try to stay out of trouble but don't always succeed. I have read all 8 mysteries and can't wait for more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews

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