Hexes and Vexes

Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries #1

by Laura Greenwood, Arizona Tape

Wandmaker, Amethyst, is certain that her lot in life is to make wands for her fellow witches. Until a Detective shows up at her shop asking for help only she can give.

One taste of an investigation, and Amethyst is thrown into the world of mystery and crime. Can she use her skills to catch the killer before they strike again?

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Hexes and Vexes is book one of the Witch and the Detective series. It is an urban fantasy mystery with an underlying slow burn romance.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Mystery, Witches, Magic, Crime

190 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 26, 2020

About the author

Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and fantasy romance. When she's not writing, she drinks a lot of tea, tries to resist French macarons, and works towards a diploma in Egyptology. She lives in the UK, where most of her books are set. Laura specialises in quick reads, with healthy relationships and consent-positive moments regardless of if she's writing light-hearted romance, mythology-heavy urban fantasy, or anything in between.

Discover one of Laura Greenwood's most popular series:

- The Apprentice of Anubis (mythology inspired urban fantasy)

- Forgotten Gods (mythology inspired fantasy romance)

- Jinx Paranormal Dating Agency (mythology inspired paranormal rom-com)

- House of Blood and Roses (vampire fantasy romance)

- Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries (urban fantasy murder mystery)

- Scales of Justice (mythology inspired urban fantasy)

- Purple Oak Oasis (cozy fantasy romance)

- Falhaven Castle (cozy fantasy romance)

You can check out Laura's Website here:
www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk

Join her mailing list here:
www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk/p/mail...

Or join her Facebook Reader Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/theparanormal...

For a full book list, please see here:
https://www.authorlauragreenwood.co.u...


Happy Reading!

Reviews

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ad Hoc read April 2025

A rather enjoyable, easy to read, cosy murder mystery with a dose of magic and witchcraft.

If you’re in the mood for something fun that will make you smile then this is just the tonic. When your’re back in the middle of a house move that has now lasted almost 2 years I find my concentration is zero. Not that this needs no concentration, it’s just that the fun and characters carry you along in the story. With a will they wont they possible romance and touch of the murder mysteries, a well thought out world like ours but with magic and the hours passed happily.

[Danielle's · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this paranormal murder mystery. Amy is a wand maker and when a detective turns up asking for her help she’s thrown into a case.

A man is dead and a wand could be the key to solving the case. With Amy’s help maybe the case can be solve quicker.

This is a fun double act to work a fantasy world. 99p read

[Laura Greenwood]

Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries Series:

1. Hexes and Vexes: books2read.com/hexesandvexes
2. Witches and Stiches: books2read.com/witchesandstitches
3. Rites and Knights: books2read.com/ritesandknights
4. Sparks and Marks: books2read.com/sparksandmarks
5. Doom and Broom: books2read.com/doomandbroom
6. Potions and Oceans: books2read.com/potionsandoceans
7. Rhymes and Crimes: books2read.com/rhymesandcrimes
8. Spells and Bells: books2read.com/spellsandbells
9. Trials and Vials: books2read.com/trialsandvials
10. Cruises and Bruises: books2read.com/cruisesandbruises
11. coming soon!

Prequel: Glass and Sass: An Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries Prequel: books2read.com/glassandsass
Standalone: Grave Mistake: A Stacey & Gabriel Standalone in the Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries Series: books2read.com/stacey1

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hexes and Vexes is the first book by Laura Greenwood and Arizona Tape in the Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries, which is an urban fantasy mystery.

Amethyst’s character is fun with a dash of crazy added in, plus she doesn’t always rely on magic, which makes for an interesting pairing with a Detective who’s rather by the books and has to reluctantly accept Amy’s assistance with the case.

As the two work on figuring out who the killer is, there’s an underlying romancing building.

This series is one I’ve been looking forward to reading just from the teasers shared by these authors, and it didn’t disappoint. Like who doesn’t love witches, mages, wands and mystery.

I’m looking forward to the next instalment of the Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries.

Also loved that this was a side series to other books co-written by Laura Greenwood and Arizona Tape.

Side note: kinda love that Amethyst takes her tea the same way I do - black with two sugars.

[Bruce Retallack · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up because a) I like urban fantasy, b) the premise sounded interesting, and c) it has a solid 4.5 rating on Goodreads. What I did not realize (being new to this author) is that it is presumably intended for a YA audience, which I am definitely not part of. It also felt as if it had been written by a young adult.
Largely because of that, I did not find our heroine endearing or feisty or witty. In fact, I thought she was irritating. The detective is better, but largely a one-note foil for her and the promised 'slow-burn romance.' Didn't seem like a very slow burn to me. Within moments of meeting him, Amethyst is making sniggery, puerile jokes about 'hard wood' (get it?) Solid high school locker room.
For my money, the coolest and most engaging character in the book is Amethyst's grandmother, who is depicted extremely well.
The plot is sort of interesting, but the author ultimately just pulls the killer out a hat right at the end. Not even on the radar, which is not what readers of mysteries expect of the genre.
The good news is that the book is fairly short and very easy to read, so I was able to finish it. So for that, I'll give a star.

[Rhonda Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't figured it out yet, 'Hexes and Vexes' is book one of Laura Greenwood and Arizona Tape's new series, "Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries". I'm chuckling the entire time I'm trying to write this review. It's a mystery that contains so much humor. Amethyst is a witch and her familiar, because all witches have them, is a gargoyle. Then there's Detective Ambrose. When these two get together the interaction is GREAT! I don't want to give anything away because I know you'll truly enjoy this one but know I recommend it wholeheartedly.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed books by these authors before and this series sounded exactly like the type of books I enjoy, so I picked it up. I really enjoyed Hexes and Vexes. Main character Amy is so fun and quirky. I liked reading about her. And then there is a paranormal mystery as well.

Amy always has had an interest in solving crime and wanted to be part of the magical police, but she didn't got accepted, so now she owns a wand shop, which I thought was pretty cool. Now she gets her chance to help solve a crime as a detective needs help. His latest investigating got stalled and the only clue they have is a sliver of a wand. Amy with her knowledge of wands is the perfect person to help him. I like how it made sense how she got involved and it was endearing to see how enthusiastic she was to help, although she also didn't hesitate to say some parts were boring.

I liked the mystery, it's mostly them figuring out who the wand belongs to and I liked reading about the steps they took to find out more about the wand. I enjoyed learning a bit about wands and how they worked and how they use this sliver of a wand to find out more about who wielded it. Only by the end we find out who the murderer is. I liked seeing how they solved the murder, but I thought the motive felt a bit underwhelming.

I had a lot of fun reading about Amy, she's just such a fun and quirky person and I liked her personalty. She made me laugh a few times with her unique brand of humor. There is a hint of a possible romance with Amrbose, but I appreciated how it's only a hint so far. Amy seems more invested in helping solve crime and becoming friends and working together, which I liked. Although it's clear they have a connection, there's some banter and I liked seeing them work together.

I liked reading about Amy's wand shop and learn a bit about how wands work. I am still a bit confused about the difference between mages and witches, but I hope we hear more about that in future books. This book mostly focuses on witches and wands as the murderer is a witch. I also liked Amy's grandma and her stone cat.

To summarize: I had a lot of fun reading this book. Amy gets involved in a murder case when the detective on the case needs someone who knows a lot about wands. I liked the focus on wands and how Am's expertise helped solve the mystery. I enjoyed following them along as they figure out who is the murderer. I thought the motive was a bit underwhelming, but I liked seeing how they figured out who the murderer was. Amy is such a fun and quirky character and I liked reading about her. There is a hint of a future romance between Amy and Ambrose and I liked seeing them get to know each other and work together to solve the case. I already bought the next 2 books in this series and look forward to continuing the series!

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow it feels like it's been a while since I read a Greenwood. It can't have been that long. I read quite a lot of those. But it seems that even after all this time it's still not boring me. I think it really helps that her books are always relatively short and easy to read. It makes the books perfect to read on busy days or when I finish my book early and have a spare hour. That was the case today. I was scrolling through my iPad and saw this book.

Within a few pages I was hooked. That's partly because the main character Amy is such an amazing character. She has a certain charm that makes it almost impossible not to like her. It's a combination of her being bubbly, and reacting very enthusiastically when she is offered something really cool, and the fact that she blurts out everything she thinks, even those things we never would dare to say out loud, too afraid to look stupid.

On top of that I also really enjoyed the banter between her and the detective. In a way it was quite easy to see how and why they would irritate each other and yet it was also quite clear that those people work great together and will very quickly grow very fond of each other. He has a certain kind of humor that really works combined with her personality and I really had the impression they managed to make the other the best version of themselves they could be.

And both those characters starred in a cozy mystery that was quite interesting to follow. The case was not the most spectacular case. We were mostly confronted with tests and interrogations, with waiting for results and with bureaucracy. However, I was never bored or never wondering when things would get different. It was actually quite nice to get a case like this, relatively calm and mostly focussed on the characters trying to solve it.

I can't wait for the next book!

[Patricia Kearns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy

The wand maker wanted to be in the paranormal police department.
They rejected, so there goes her dream, now back to wand making.
This is a great story, with great characters, I'd like more of Grammy.
The plot is unique, finding a killer, just made it difficult.

[BookishKB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amethyst, is the sassy, petty, and spiteful queen that I aspire to be!

“Aren’t all wood soft?”
“Only in the morning”

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

This was a cozy paranormal murder mystery. Very short but still enjoyable! Highly recommend listening to the audiobook. The narrator is fantastic.

[Brian Busby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written storyline and great cast of characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and will definitely read more of series.
I have absolutely no problem recommending this.

[Seff Liddell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun cozy read with interesting characters and magical realism. Not certain if the series stays cozy based on the tail end of this book.

[Anne Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amethyst (Amy) is asked by Detective Ambrose to help solve a muder case - She has always wanted to join the PPD, and now she has the chance to help them - will she be able to help Ambrose solve the mystery? A great story - looking forward to reading more about this pair!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Si Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amy’s a bit bored with her life of making and selling wands — and then one day a police detective walks into her shop, seeking her help to solve a magical murder.

This one was interesting. Good writing and interesting characters. But it let me down in two ways.
1. More editing, please.
2. Story structure — mystery novels follow a certain structure. Having the murderer not appear until the moment they’re caught? That’s not how this works.

Probably between a 3 and a 3.5.

[Michelle Dohring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amethyst, from the Gemstone Coven, is a witch and wand maker. She owns her own wand shop. She likes to go by the name of Amy. Detective Ambrose, a mage, works for the Paranormal Police Department. He asks Amy to help on a murder. Amy is very excited. She has always been interested in solving mysteries. Consulting with the police to catch murderers and thieves sounds like a great adventure to her. A man was murdered and Ambrose needs Amy’s help in identifying the wand used which could lead to the murderer. Amy is a delightful and fun character. She is full of enthusiasm to solve the case. Amy and Ambrose are constantly bickering. They get on each other’s nerves but they are slowly starting to respect each other. There is a hint that maybe something more could happen between them in the future. The mystery of the murder leads them on a wild adventure. This was an amusing and entertaining book. The story flowed and kept you turning the pages. I cannot wait for the second book. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novella is in desperate need of a professional editor

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amethyst (“Amy”), a wand-maker, is not having the best of days as a customer screams in her face about wanting a refund. He knew the rules, it was even in writing on the receipt, but he was obnoxious. Finally she just gave him some cash and ordered him out. Ready to close for the rest of the day, she forgot to lock the door and a mage walked in. Mages didn’t use wands, so why is he here? Detective Ambrose of the Paranormal Police Department introduced himself. She was trying to give him a hard time, enjoying the little bits of irritation she saw. Then to her surprise, he asked for her help in a matter-of-fact voice that grated on her nerves. Her snarky attitude makes him growl, which delights her. His open frustration is a challenge to her. Talking about staffs and wood gives her so much material to work with, but she already knows he doesn’t appreciate her puns. And as she keeps giggling to herself, he tells her she is strange which she happily acknowledges. She didn’t appreciate when he tested her skills over information the police lab already provided to him. But at least now he knew she was the real deal and knew what she was talking about. She was able to answer his REAL question immediately, but he refused further offers despite her wanting to go along and continue to help. But he has intrigued her. This is not over for her! Is she ready to use her skills to catch the killer before someone else dies? How far will Ambrose go to stop her?

Amy makes herself invaluable to the case because she most certainly knows wands! As she questions her competition about the wand she just identified for Ambrose, the Detective walks in behind her, unhappy that she is questioning Elmer! It becomes easier for Ambrose to let her work with him rather than have her go off on her own again. And he’s not such a bad guy once you get to know him. She will at least keep him on his toes!

I loved this awesome story! Ambrose and Amy are hilarious together. She loves taunting him and she does it so well. The puns are great and Amy is just so perky and alive, she puts a smile on the reader’s face… not so much on everyone else who knows her. Grab your copy and enjoy a well-written truly unique story that will keep the reader coming back for more!

[Manuela Molteni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, Hexes and Vexes by Laura Greenwood—what a delightful little potion of a read! As I've said on countless occasions, Ms Greenwood has firmly planted herself among my "comfort authors", the kind you reach for when you need something lighter between the more emotionally taxing tomes. And Hexes and Vexes does not disappoint in this regard. It’s the literary equivalent of a cosy blanket and a hot cup of tea—albeit one brewed by a slightly mischievous witch.

The first in the Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries series, this book offers a charming, easy-going foray into a world of magic, mystery, and a healthy dose of sass. Our protagonist, Amethyst, is about as quirky as they come. A wand-maker by trade and a witch by birthright, she teams up with the equally enigmatic Mage Detective Ambrose from the Paranormal Police Department (PPD) to solve a murder. Clearly living her dream, despite not making it into the PPD Academy herself, Amethyst is a character who sparkles with just enough wit to keep you smirking, but not so much that it becomes tiresome.

Laura Greenwood’s writing is, as always, smooth and effortlessly engaging. There’s a certain British elegance to her style—perhaps a natural outcome of her heritage—which adds a touch of refinement to this whimsical tale, even as it skews a little towards the YA end of the spectrum. Still, one can’t help but be charmed by her world-building, which balances the supernatural with the everyday in a way that feels utterly inviting.

Now, let’s talk about that epilogue—yes, that epilogue. With a cliffhanger that would make even The Silence of the Lambs proud, Greenwood shows us that beneath the cosy exterior, there’s a darker undercurrent waiting to be explored. It’s a tantalising promise of what’s to come, and I, for one, am eager to see how things unfold in the next instalment, Witches and Stitches.

In sum, if you're after a light, entertaining read that’s as charming as it is quirky, Hexes and Vexes will more than satisfy. Just be prepared for a cheeky twist at the end that will leave you wanting more!

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew that I was going to enjoy this novel, since I enjoyed Glass and Sass so damn much. Hexes and Vexes didn’t disappoint. Amy finally gets her chance to consult with the PPD, and I can see her relationship with Ambrose being one that I can really get behind. He seems to be mildly entertained by Amy’s insanity. I love when there is a character who is certifiably insane and entertaining, who is partnered with someone a little bit more straightlaced and incredibly bemused by their behaviour.

Greenwood and Tape are able to create a really cool world in this urban fantasy. Some of the ideas of the CWC and wand creating were introduced in Glass and Sass. But, there is far more world building and construction in Hexes and Vexes. I really enjoyed how you find out more about witches and wand making alongside Ambrose as both Amy and Ambrose hunt to find the killer. And with each reveal, it feels like there is a whole lot more complex thoughts and world building going on behind the scenes. Just how I like my urban fantasies.

Although what strikes me most, and I love most about this are the world building and the sassiness of Amy. I also loved trying to figure out the why and the how of the murder. I mean, this is supposed to be a mystery series, and it does fit the build there. It was definitely difficult to figure out the why and the how of the murder if I’m being honest. But, that may be due to the fact that it really didn’t take centre stage of the story – it was used as a plot device, but I found the characterization and world building were more the central aspect of the story.

Hexes and Vexes is a fun and simple urban fantasy. There is the aspect of danger and mayhem in the murder, but it doesn’t take a major centre point. I love that although there are some challenges to the relationship building between Amy and Ambrose, it isn’t overly contentious. Not the most fast-paced of urban fantasies and stories that I’ve read, but sometimes it’s nice to slow down and just enjoy.

[Cheryl Drake johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amethyst aka Amy as she likes to be called is a witch who makes and sells wands and other magic paraphernalia. This morning after barely stopping herself from doing something mean to the man who demanded a refund but when she sees the mage who just came in and he is very handsome he is also a police detective who is working a case and came to me to help him identify the piece of a wand that they found at the scene of a crime and it just happens that the victim is someone that Amy knows, detective Ambrose is from the Paranormal Police Department and is asking her to help him figure out who the wand belongs to. Amy decides since the detective didn't need any more from her she would go in search of information about who killed Grandpa Dobromir. After questioning another wand maker that she knows is not honest she finds that the detective is right on her trail and he eventually signs a contract with her so that she can assist in the case and now she is going out with him daily as a consultant but she soon forgets that she is not quite equipped to be running after a killer without him. Drama, suspense, very entertaining. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hexes and Vexes is a short cozy mystery introducing the narrator Amy, or Amethyst, who owns a wand shop. Detective Ambrose comes into the shop asking about wands. Somebody was brutally murdered and a piece of a wand was found at the crime scene. Amy is hopeful she might be able to help to identify it and excited that she gets to be a sidekick for the detective. Because everyone knows that the civilian sidekick is always the brighter one who saves the day.

This is an entertaining short mystery, worth reading mostly for the punny interactions between the brand new crimefighting partners who come up with plenty of double entendres regarding wands and wood. Their partnership shapes up to be interesting, and there is potential to be more than friendship.

The mystery plot wasn't much of a whodunit in the sense that there are no clues for the reader to solve, no lies to spot, no red herrings to disregard, no way for the reader to figure any of it out. It's just a matter of waiting it out while Amy and Ambrose collect some lab results and consult some resources, and the scene in which the murderer gets apprehended is the very first time the reader hears about the person.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[TaniaRina Valdespino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanna use Pixie Dust to solve crimes!
Amy is so lucky to be living her dream of being a crime solver. And yes, her wand-making skills and paranormal knowledge do add a lot of value to her partner’s sleuthing.

I’ve read many a book in this series and decided to go back to the beginning. What a difference in Ambrose’s character development!


I wanna use Pixie Dust to solve crimes!
Amy is so lucky to be living her dream of being a crime solver. And yes, her wand-making skills and paranormal knowledge do add a lot of value to her partner’s sleuthing.

I’ve read many a book in this series and decided to go back to the beginning. What a difference in Ambrose’s character development!


I wanna use Pixie Dust to solve crimes!
Amy is so lucky to be living her dream of being a crime solver. And yes, her wand-making skills and paranormal knowledge do add a lot of value to her partner’s sleuthing.

I’ve read many a book in this series and decided to go back to the beginning. What a difference in Ambrose’s character development!


‘Heirs and Spares’ releases soon and I really wanna catch up on ‘Witches and Stiches’, ‘Rites and Knights’, ‘Doom and Broom’, & ‘Ties and Alibis’.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful quick and funny story! Wasn't sure what to expect other than Ms. Greenwood writes a great story!
Amethyst is a quirky gal, loads of fun, and looking for an adventure. Ambrose is the serious, no non-sense detective from the local magical PD. Together they do a good job finding the clues and getting to the bottom of a murder, in a bit of a round about way. From a sliver of wood Amy is now working as a temporary consultant for Ambrose. He's not sure what to make of her but he learns quickly that her hunches and gut feelings are very good leads. Murder is an ugly business and these two hit it off and work well together, clues are found and followed, lab work done and they get Grammie involved. The guy that dies is evidently an important person in the witch society so Grammie is on board trying to help figure out what happened. Through their muddling way they solve the crime and embark on a great friendship. In the end he gets her signed on as an official consultant and the book ends with them catching their next case. Looking forward to the next adventure in this series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)

3.5*

I liked the MC.
I liked the male lead.
I liked the MC's grandmother.

First time read the author's work?: Yes

Will you be reading more?: Yes

Would you recommend?: Yes


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. It wasn't bad, it also wasn't great. I liked it okay, and I finished it, but it just didn't really grab me and I don't think I would read future books in the series.

I never really connected with Amethyst, and I can't even quite put my finger on why. She was okay, but something about her rubbed me wrong and just didn't make me root for her. I honestly don't know why, I just know I didn't love her as a character.

The story was also okay, but there was never really and excitement or suspense in the playing out of the investigation.

The part of the story that involved Amy's Grammie was odd and seemed to drop out of the story with no resolution or explanation for why Grammie jumped in to facilitate the access for Amy that she did, and we never see or hear from her again in the rest of the story and that seemed awkward to me.

Overall, this was fine. It just wasn't anything particularly unique in the paranormal genre. There was just nothing here that made me excited or wanting to go get the next book.

[Aimee Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amethyst is closing her shop after a difficult customer, when someone else comes in. Detective Ambrose needs help from her to review a case. Amy makes herself invaluable to the case due to knowledge in wands. Amy and Ambrose work together trying to figure out who committed the crime. Amy starts to see another side to the detective as they start working closely together. This case is personal to Amy as well, as she knew who the victim was.

This was a well written, faced paced and fun story. Amy is such a fun and quirky character, that you never know what you will get. Ambrose starts off as stiff, can't wait to learn more about this character. Love these two characters together. Loved how you don't know who committed the crime until they slowly get evidence and eliminate others. I am really excited to read the next book in series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our heroine makes wands for a living, but when she finds herself helping our hero solve a crime, she figure there might be more out there to explore.

This is book one of the series, so no issues there.

This is a mystery story with a witch as one of the leads. The story is well written and easy to read, which I would certainly expect from these authors. The characters and setting are also well developed and solid, providing great vehicles for the plot. Speaking of which (not witch), the mystery is a good one and has plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting. And to put icing on the cake, the story has a great sense of humor with funny bits sprinkled throughout the story. All together, this made for a fantastic read and I can't wait to see more of this duo (both authors and characters).

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes

[Mariah Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was told my Laura Greenwood that "The Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries" would be a good series to read by her, I hopped on it right away. This series starts out with the book "Hexes and Vexes" by Laura Greenwood and Arizona Tape. My first impression of the book was how well the characters were written in it. I completely related to Amethyst who goes by Amy.

There were a bunch of laughs throughout the book, I have never laughed so hard at a book before. On top of the laughs there is a very good mystery that needs solved which I enjoyed following along to see where the mystery ended.

I want to start with Herb the gargoyle cat. Amy talks to him as if he is alive which confuses Ambrose. Herb is nice though because he does not need fed all the time or watered. This makes him the easiest family member to take care of.

Ambrose is one of those characters who just stands there when a joke is being told. He does not react to it like most people would. This characteristic makes him perfect to partner up with Amy. Amy is constantly making jokes and having fun with life. This makes them have an amazing contrast together. I absolutely love how smoothly they work together.

I enjoyed that Laura and Arizona kept the plot more towards the mystery aspect and not so much on the romance. Sometimes authors can put too much emphasis on the romance and then lose the plot. That did not happen here which I loved. It also made this book that much more interesting for me because I was wondering if Ambrose and Amy were meant to be together or not.

As for the mystery of the novel, I loved every minute of it. Amy wiggles her way into helping Ambrose with the case. He eventually finds Amy is very valuable to his work and she should help more often.

I loved how quickly I was able to read the book, but I truly wish there was more to it. I think the authors could have expanded the plot a little more and make them find leads that may not be as useful. I also would have liked to read more about the descriptions of the scenes. Other than that the book was very well put together and a great read. Since the books are shorter than most, I might be able to read them all rather quickly.

I give this book a 4.5/5 stars. The characters were very well made and meshed together well and the atmosphere of the wand shop was amazing. I cannot wait to read the second book. I highly recommend reading this book.

[Andra Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amethyst and Ambrose are quite the crime-solving pair. She is the quirky witch who is smarter and more capable than she thinks. He is the stoic detective who is a stickler for rules, her not so much. They partner up to solve the murder of a beloved member of the witch community. It turns out to be quite a mystery to solve. What keeps you reading is their back and forth banter that is both witty and revealing. They keep the story progressing and even made me chuckle out loud a few times.

Hexes and Vexes (Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries #1) is the first book in this series. It is a great start and has me already looking for the next book in the series, Witches and Stitches. It seems that the books may be standalone.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy might not have made it into the Paranormal Police Department - but her wand making expertise has given her the opportunity to work as a consultant and she is going to make the most of it! Even if she can't stop smirking at her own jokes about her new partner's staff. Her bubbly, sassy demeanor might be just what this strait-laced, serious detective needs.

Written a bit like a police procedural, this definitely reads more like a cozy complete with a slow burn is it or isn't it a romance. Murder mystery with plenty of humor, clever sleuthing and tea. Fast, fun read with Amy's mind darting like a bunny in every direction. She really is a bubbly, fun lead.

This is the first book in Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries books, and can be read as a standalone. It contains a complete mystery and enough information to enjoy the world it is placed in.