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Sunday, April 14, 2024

Divinations and the Disappearing Dead (A Williams Witch Mystery Book 3), by Eloise Everhart


How would you cope as an adult suddenly discovering you're not who you thought you were? You're more. You're a witch. You have powers that you neither understand not, quite frankly, want. You have horrifying dreams and sense things others don't. No cute Samantha stuff with the twitch of a nose. Powers that control you more than you can control them. Then, to your dismay, you discover your college aged daughter is also a witch. She is also having frightening dreams, dreams that drive her away from her college and back home. She senses things that even you don't and is given to wearing gloves to distill the sensations she receives from even a simple touch. No, this is not the cute, fun, magical world of Bewitched. This is a darker world, one where powers can be used for good but must first be understood and controlled. That's where Dani Williams finds herself magic-wise.

Toss in a murder, which to her horror Dani dreamed would happen but couldn't stop, and her life seems to be in constant turmoil. Amazingly, she manages to keep going, even doing her job as an insurance adjuster in the midst of upsetting dreams and her daughter's struggles. She feels very much alone, fearing to trust her secret self with even her best, non-magical friend, Heather. Their friendship is tested as a result, with Dani learning a lesson about trust. Fortunately, there is help, help in the frequently amusing group of seniors that seem to travel in a pack. You'll learn there is more to their bond as this book and series progresses. You are definitely going to admire and like Grace, Dani's daughter. She's a sensible young woman who is determined to find answers rather than retreat. Then there's Dani's relationship with Chris, the deputy who seems to have a knack for saving her life. If murders and such keep didn't keep interrupting their date plans, who knows what might happen there. And, oops, she still hasn't told him she's a witch. That might be enough to put a real crimp in any relationship, huh? 

Dani's still limited control of her powers is utilized frequently, making me wonder how she'd manage without that magical ability to make people more willing to talk or to be able to see things through the eyes of even a face on a worn banner. Yep, lots of unusual stuff here. But, aside from that and that she often seemed more focused on finding the murderer than her own daughter's turmoil, I'm still drawn to the, oh, so very human element of this book. You're going to like Dani and admire her courage, even while questioning some of her decisions. Hey, it's a cozy mystery after all. Isn't the amateur sleuth almost required to be in danger a time or two? Grin. There's even a story to the "why" of the murder that will give you pause, so buckle up and prepare to ride Dani's magical life with all its bumps and joys. Thanks #BooksSirens for inviting me back to enjoy the Winter Extravaganza. I'll be back for Dani and Grace's next step as we see where Grace's hunch at the end leads them.






 

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