Spirits, Pies & Alibis

The Witches of Pinecroft Cove, Book 1

By: Nicole St. Claire

Narrated by: Stephanie Murphy

Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

After moving to the magical world of Pinecroft Cove, will Tamsyn’s life ever be normal again?

Tamsyn Bassett is having a bad week. Like the "losing your job and getting dumped by your boyfriend" kind of bad. So, when her great-aunt invites her to spend the summer at her inn on a remote island in Maine, Tamsyn jumps at the chance. But instead of the peaceful getaway she expected, she's immediately confronted with the preposterous revelation that she's descended from a long line of kitchen witches and is the last hope of her generation to keep magic alive in Pinecroft Cove. That she's the world's worst cook could be an issue.

As if navigating a strange new world of spells, magic, and exploding blueberry pies isn't enough to handle, that awkward boy who had a crush on her when they were kids seems to turn up everywhere she looks. Only, now that he's a super-dreamy doctor, it's Tamsyn's turn to be the awkward one. If she didn't know better, she'd swear someone put a hex on her.

One more thing. Tamsyn's pretty sure she's being haunted, and not by just any ghost but by Doctor Dreamy's dead uncle. If she can't harness her powers in time to figure out the truth behind his mysterious death, she may never have a moment of peace again.

When death strikes the island’s controversial real estate mogul, will Tamsyn’s newly discovered powers be any match for murder?

Don’t miss the new Witches of Pinecroft Cove series of paranormal cozy mysteries!

©2019 Nicole St. Claire (P)2019 Nicole St. Claire

I really enjoyed this first installment in a new series

I really enjoyed this first installment in a new series. Nicole St. Clair and Stephanie Murphy make a winning team for this cozy mystery which has loads of laughs and a fun adventure. I highly recommend this book/audiobook to cozy mystery fans.

Fun Read

This is a fun book. I enjoyed that Tamsyn doesn't just accept what she is being told. She has to learn things about herself for herself. The other characters are interesting and have great chemistry with Tamsyn. The mystery is entertaining with its twists and turns along the journey to the big reveal. The narrator has a nice voice and seems to be a natural storyteller. I look forward to the next in the series. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way, I have been influenced by anyone.

Very Entertaining Paranormal Cozy

I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and any opinions expressed herein are my own. This is the first book in The Witches of Pinecroft Cove series. It starts in a similar vein to a lot of cozies in that the MC loses her job, her boyfriend, and her home which then allows her to, in essence, return back home. In this case, the MC Tamsyn moves in with her great aunt to help with the bed & breakfast and while living there, learns that her family and Tamsyn herself are all witches. Besides being a witch, there's also fun paranormal elements to this story. Tamsyn is a very likeable character - adorable even. I especially liked her conversations with her great aunt - which often brought a chuckle. I really liked that the awkward boy who had a childhood crush on her was now a very handsome doctor and that there was no insta-love between the characters. The mystery was interesting and entertaining. The narrator, Stephanie Murphy, made you almost feel as if a friend were telling you a story - her voice was warm and inviting with just the right amount of tongue in cheek whimsy.

Loved it

Tamsyn has a series of bad luck events that lead her to go live with her aunt in Maine. Once there, she encounters a murder victim and sets about trying to solve his murder. Along the way, she learns that she is descended from a long line of witches. This was a really cute cozy mystery. I love the characters and plan on following along with the series as books are released. The narration was great.

Funny and Entertaining

This series may seriously become a new favorite. There wasn’t a moment when I was not entertained.

Loved this book

I didn't listen to this book in order with the other but it didn't make a difference. I enjoyed it just the same. Loved the snarky humor. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Loved it

Best cozy mystery I love the characters and the unique way magic is used. Highly recommend.

Ambitious Beginnings Would Give it 3.5

This is the first book in this series and I was surprised by the depth of the story. Although positioned as a supernatural cozy mystery this went further than the typical stories I listen to. There is an impressively large cast of characters and fast switching plot that meant this was not for a casual light listen. At several points the transitions from scene to scene and plot point to plot point happened so quickly I would be lost and have to click back a few minutes to make sure I knew what was going on. That isn't a bad thing, but was just something that was a bit different from the lighter cozies I listen to while driving or doing chores around the house. There is also more detail and depth to the magic being described, as well as a slightly different mechanic in terms of covens that stick within certain families where each family specializes in a specific style of magic, however each person could cast a variety of magic using their medium. The main character, Tamsyn, is a bit of a black sheep and not in line with her family's magic. There is lots of playfulness and humor around her family and the small town community that Tamsyn is coming into. There is also a bit of a cliffhanger in terms of new suggestions about Tamsyn's magic that are given in the last five minutes of the book but not elaborated upon. I am a bit torn about the narrator. Stephanie Murphy is not a bad narrator but I almost felt that she would be great for a children's book, and in this tale found her rhythms and voices to be a little repetitive and left me wanting. But again she is much better than many narrators I have heard but I think my ears wanted something a little different for this story. There were lots of twists and turns in the mystery and suspects and the vaguest of hints of romance, there is no foul language for those that have that concern, and you get a happy ending. This really did feel like an ambitious story that goes into much more detail and description than many cozies I have read but often times that made it a little harder to follow because it was dense and had to race to keep up. Sometimes I think this is just an issue of some stories that flow better when you are reading the print version versus listening to the audible. I would definitely give the second book in the series a go especially if the author continues to develop things that are hinted about at the end of the book. Although there is humor it is not as much as say Beechwood Harbor/Ghost Mysteries or Molly Harper, nor is there the romance here like Kristen Painter's books, the most time is paid to the mystery itself and the mechanics of magic that takes place in Pinecroft Cove. If that is of interest to you then grab your ear buds and dive on in.

FUN & WELL THOUGHT OUT

SPIRITS, PIES, & ALIBIS is the first book in The Witches of Pinecroft Cove series. Of course, this one needs to be read first as it introduces the world and island to the reader. It is yet to be seen if the future books will need to be read in the order of release. Tamsyn isn’t the usual early 20s, known about witches all of her life, new witch. Though at times, she acts more like a teenager than the near 30 years she is. Still, she’s pragmatic and doubtful of the magic powers she’s being told she holds. She’s told she’s a kitchen witch, but she claims she could “burn water.” I like that she may be something different from her aunt, and that her mother may have been, also. We may never know about that since her mother disappeared fifteen years ago. The story is quick and light, but well thought out and interesting. It’s unpredictable and fun. Plus, there are ghosts and witches, a combination sure to capture my imagination and attention. Narration: Stephanie Murphy is one of the best narrators I have heard. She doesn’t just read the words, but makes you believe she is Tamsyn Bassett discovering the world of witches, learning to bake a magical pie, and encountering spirits. Please, may I have another book with her as the narrator? Note: While I received this book as a gifted audiobook copy via freeaudiopromocodes(dot)com, my opinions are my own and are given freely. Title: SPIRITS, PIES, & ALIBIS Series: The Witches of Pinecroft Cove #1 Category /Genre: Cozy Mystery, Witches Recommended for: 14+ due to vocabulary & murder Listenability: OK for most ears

I love this type of story

If you're looking for a wholesome,and fun witch story. Then this is the book for you. I loved everything about it. From being dumped, finding out you're a witch, and a murder mystery to go along with it!

wonderful

amazing book I Enjoyed this audio book very much from start to finish great story line too I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Spell catching mystery

I enjoyed this book. This is the first book by this author I have read or listened to but it won't be the last, especially as I have already downloaded book two. I like the characters and the whole quirky magic scene, where the magic doesn't always work.making the book funny. The mystery was good and even though I had guessed the reason with the twist in the tale I wasn't quite right. The story also had the slightly embarrassing start of a romance. Making the story over all a good listen that while listening to the hours will just fly by, like magic. Tamsyn have just lost her job, her boyfriend and her home receives a latter from an elderly aunt asking her to come and help out at her bed and breakfast. Which is just what Tamsyn needs a fresh start, despite it being the place her mother died so goes. Alone to find out her life hasn't finished being turned upside, the truth is her aunt doesn't really need help Tamsyn is the one that needs the help, help to learn magic because she is a witch. Getting over that fact or trying to come to turns with the strange things going on, Tamsyn agrees to meet her fellow witch's at a party. Only for the hosts uncle to die on the way there in a plane crash. Was it suicide? Something wrong with the plane? An accident or was it murder? The police decide suicide and close the investigation. Tamsyn knows better the ghost and crow that seem to be following her tell her others wise and she sets out to solve the case on her own, with a little bit on help from a grumpy cat, a cute guy that had a crush on her when she was growing up and magic. I liked the narrator, you could tell which character was speaking as they had there own voices, which is a plus when listening to an audio book. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.