• Witch for Hire

  • A Witch's Path, Book 1
  • By: N. E. Conneely
  • Narrated by: Jeff Hays
  • Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (194 ratings)

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Witch for Hire  By  cover art

Witch for Hire

By: N. E. Conneely
Narrated by: Jeff Hays
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Publisher's summary

Most witches don't work for police departments, but Michelle isn't your average witch. She's clanless, looking for a wizard who isn't offended by her lack of family connections, and in danger of losing her job if she can't find the escaped trolls before they start eating the local residents.

Trolls, angry police, and misbehaving spells are the least of her problems. Statues attacking homeowners might be problematic for your average witch, but to Michelle it's another day at the office. Her real concern is the wizard suddenly interested in dating her and an old elf set on pestering her. When her happy family is rocked by a long kept secret her stable life falls apart faster than she can pick up the pieces.

And she still hasn't found those trolls.

©2014 N. E. Conneely (P)2015 N. E. Conneely

What listeners say about Witch for Hire

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A fun witchy read!

Any additional comments?

Michelle is a clanless Witch so works alongside police. Her latest case though could make or break her because if she can't solve it she has been told that she will no longer be needed. She needs to track down some trolls that escapes before they devour any more humans but no matter what she tries, she is coming up blank. Can she find them before it's too late?

I loved Michelle. She is such a spunky fun character. Her job is interesting and varied to say the least! One day she is trying to de-charm a set of lion statues that a human accidentally bought and another she is trying to track down man eating trolls, I mean who wouldn't want a job like that ;)

Plot wise, this is quite fast paced. Michelle seems to be always in the thick of things. I started the audio and had to keep listening just to see what happens next. I enjoyed the world building and the idea of magic being known about. I loved Michelles job and enjoyed reading about the charmed objects. We have trolls, elves, dwarfs, magical items, police work and even dragons, so there is a wide range of creatures to satisfy everyone!

In all this was a good listen. It kept my interest the whole way through and I will definitely be checking out more in this series. I always enjoy a good witchy read.

Jeff Hays did a great job narrating this. You would think that a male narrating a female MC wouldn't work, but it actually did!! His performance was really good and he has a wide range of vocals.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Ready for book 2

Would you listen to Witch for Hire again? Why?

Yes the story line is great and Jeff does a great job with all the voices.

What did you like best about this story?

Michelle is funny and a strong female character.

What does Jeff Hays bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Jeff brought Michelle to life for us the listener.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes I would have if I could have.

Any additional comments?

Witch for hire is a great book to listen too. The main character is a no nonsense woman and a witch. She works with the police with the supernatural. Anything they can't handle without magic the direct to her. She lives in a world that the paranormal is known. Your next door neighbor could be a paranormal of some kind. The police hire Michelle to help keep the peace with humans and to keep the paranormal under control. She is a very strong witch that knows what she is dealing with and seems to enjoy being the savior of the day.

I really liked how the author made Michelle such a strong woman in the world she lives in. It made it fun to listen too. She has a sassy way of expressing herself and is funny.

I would have enjoyed this book even if I had read it but Jeff Hayes is amazing with the voices. To tease a friend. I asked him if a woman or man was narrating Michelle's voice. He said he thought it was a woman and I got a good laugh since I knew Jeff did all the voices. Jeff brought Michelle to life for me with the voice he picked out. He has a serious talent for voices.

Would I listen to it again. Heck yes! The story is great. The narrating is great. and it is one of my favorite type of story lines. I plan to buy book 2 and 3 after this.

****I received this title for free in exchange for an unbiased review.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Bogged down by a bad production

I am the kind of listener who tries to finish everything she starts, but I could not do that with this book. I will try to explain so that you will know whether or not the difficulties I had will affect you or not.

STORY

The story is one we’ve seen before, and it’s a fairly good one. The witch works with the police to solve crimes. Her skill set is exactly what is needed with cases that involve magic in a world that has open magic beside mundane humans. In fact, in this world, it’s humans who are the weaker species dominated by all the magical ones.

The heroine, Michelle Oakes, is a busy witch. She barely has time for friends and family. Sometimes she wishes for a love life, and the elf she met at her boarding house could become something if his very presence would stop bothering her. So, yes, there are romantic undertones, but this reads mostly as a magical procedural.

NARRATION

The narrator’s command of voices is very good. Jeff Hays has distinctive voices for all his characters. Michelle is so authentically feminine sounding that at first I thought this audio had separate male and female narrators. Some of his male voices remind me of Luke Daniels, who is one of my favorite narrators of all time.

PRODUCTION

This, unfortunately, is where they lost me. As good as the narrator or writing might be, I could not stand listening to this audio. There are entire passages where Michelle’s voice is at one loudness level, and you can barely hear what the other characters are saying. When you can hear it, it’s good. It’s not Jeff’s performance that’s the problem. It’s that you can’t hear it consistently. At first, I thought everyone was on the phone with Michelle because it took that tinny far-away sound.

I got nearly to the halfway point with no change in the sound leveling. I made myself stop and do a mental/auditory palate cleanse. I listened to two separate books thinking it would help. When I started back to this one again, there were still the same problems that made me not enjoy it. Had I actually paid for this audio, I would have immediately returned it to Audible for a refund.

LAST THOUGHTS

While I am a voracious listener of audios, this may be one of those stories that is simply better as an ebook. Paranormal procedurals can be quick fun.

The narrator is skilled and very capable, but that is buried under a very bad production. Listen at your own risk.

Disclaimer: I received this audiobook free in exchange for an honest review.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Fun Read!

Any additional comments?

****I received this title for free in exchange for an unbiased review.

Witch For Hire by N. E. Conneely, is a lot of fun! It is set in Georgia, but in an earth where Supernaturals and humans live openly together. Michelle, the main character is a rare solitary witch. In this world, it is looked down upon as most witches live and work in clans. Due to her mother's week hold of magic and a question of Michelle's paternity, Michelle was born clannless. So when the local police department need a witch on retainer, it is not only cheaper for them to hire Michelle, but she is smart, pleasant and gets things done...fast. Fast is what they need when a clan of Trolls escape their preserve and start killing people. Elron is a centuries old elf with a lot of grief just trying to walk through the motions of being alive. He is fascinated by Michelle, which is new for him as he has been alone for so long. Michelle sees Elron as a pest she has to deal with.
The book is written in first person narration, but from the POV of mostly Michelle and sometimes Elron. I felt the flow of the book would have been better if it was first person from only Michelle's POV or third person, which would have allowed the same information about Elron's past with out the awkward shifts. I thought the story itself was fun and engaging, and I loved the many different races that co existed.
The Narrator, Jeff Hays, is a very talented performer who has a good variety of voices and accents, however I felt because the book is mostly told from Michelle's POV, it would have been more successful to either have a female and male narrating duo, or just have it narrated by a female. While Jeff did do a great job reading in a female voice, I couldn't help thinking Michelle, who is in her 20's sounded much older and a bit like Nathan Lane in the Bird Cage.
Overall I would give this audiobook 3 1/2 stars, but I will round it up to 4 as I really did enjoy the story.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A good start to a fantasy series

This story is set in a fantasy world - the humans are out-numbered by a LOT of magical creatures - and I think there were too many of them. The storyline was confusing in the beginning where you have to learn how it works in this world and the most odd thing was that the magical creatures were treated like humans in a human world.

BUT... it wasn't boring.. just confusing. A lot of things happens from the beginning and the main character Michelle, who is a witch is working for the police to solve cases.

The story jumps from one case to another. This is really a busy witch and my mind got on a rollercoaster ride because of the many subplots. Again, rather confusing. The characters aren't very developed and the focus is on the creatures and the cases. I suppose we'll get to know more of the characters in the next books.

Jeff Hays is outstanding and one of my favorite narrators. It must be hard work for a man with a deep voice to narrate an entire book from a womans POV. He does it great and there isn't a voice he can't do! I was very amused throughout the story because of Jeff, where I thought 'To h*** with the confusing storyline! I want to listen to this guy'! Jeff's production is also very special with many awesome sound effects like you're watching a movie.

*This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

VERY GOOD START TO A NEW SERIES

I was so glad I got this book. It met all expectations. The plot was fast moving and the characters fantastic. I like Michelle's personality very much. She has guts and never feel sorry for herself. She got on with her life admirably. I am very curious what secrets she has hidden. Very interesting character indeed. N E Conneely writes very well and I like Jeff Hays performance. His voices for both males and females were so.....good!, I am starting on Bk 2 immediately.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

ExcellentThis will be short because I am about to start the next book.

The story is fast moving and exciting but it still takes time to build a depth of character . I love the concept and the ethos of Michele and her strength in doing her job even when she must stretch beyond her comfort zone. I am so glad that I bought all 3 books.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Amazing narration.

One of the best single narrator stories I have listened to in a long time.

Jeff Hayes does multiple voices that are easily distinguished and truly sounds like full cast and the audio team created sound effects that were spot on.

The novel itself is good but the narration is what makes this book shine.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

FANTASTICAL!!! Cant wait for book 2!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Witch for Hire to be better than the print version?

I believe all books are better in audio form...lol

What other book might you compare Witch for Hire to and why?

This book and main character Michelle totally remind me of Rachel Morgan from The Hollows series...BY Kim Harrison...If you like that series...you will dig this one....and since that series is over...this fits the spot!!!

Which character – as performed by Jeff Hays – was your favorite?

Michelle, but I must say Jeff is an awesome narrator, his range and character id aspects are very impressive...I can not wait to hear more from him!!!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

i dislike this question...I don't see this book as a movie.....but I do see it as maybe a tv series...I would totally watch it!!!

Any additional comments?

*** I was given a free copy of this book by the narrator for an honest review ***

Ok, I totally was into this! I love this world this author has created...Magical creatures all living in harmony...very, very similar to The Hollows series by Kim Harrison...and that is one of my ATF's....But this one has more magical creatures and elements that make it soooo super quaint, and I did not want this to end! I am into this series for the long hall and cant wait for #2! Michelle the main character is really cool, and is a witch who contracts herself out professionally for the police department to help with crime scene investigation and some sleuthing...she also weaves spells and charms to help them! I loved this story and I am so pleased to have discovered it! 2 thumbs up and a highly recommend...well worth the time, and a credit!!! :)

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

a little on the flighty side

What did you like best about Witch for Hire? What did you like least?

This was a good book and the world created was cool but the character moved around to much and it was hard to keep up with the central plot.but it was an entertaining listen and I would love to give the sequel's a listen.

If you’ve listened to books by N. E. Conneely before, how does this one compare?

First listen

Which character – as performed by Jeff Hays – was your favorite?

As always Jeff hays did great his voice is great and I like his female voice.

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