'A little dab will do you in...
As the owner of Little Shop of Potions, a magic potion shop specializing in love potions, Carly Bell Hartwell finds her product more in demand than ever. A local soothsayer has predicted that a couple in town will soon divorce--and now it seems every married person in Hitching Post, Alabama, wants a little extra matrimonial magic to make sure they stay hitched.
But when Carly finds a dead man in her shop clutching one of her potion bottles, she goes from most popular potion person to public enemy number one. In no time the murder investigation becomes a witch hunt--literally! Now Carly is going to need to brew some serious sleuthing skills to clear her name and find the real killer--before the whole town becomes convinced her potions really are to die for!'
My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this one. I love magic and add a mystery and I must read it. Seeing as this author has been on my to-read list for a while, I decided to grab this one as it is a debut of a new series. I enjoyed the characters and the mystery. The only thing that got on my nerves a little was the Southern charm that the characters have. I am a girl raised in the South and this was a little over the top, even for me. It was laid on thick and feeds into the stereotypes of the South. Not everyone one is redneck and has a gun and is out to shoot everyone. We all don't listen to country and have over-the-top sayings. I think that this book was an attempt at Southern culture, without really knowing too much about it. I think that if the author tones it down a tad, it would make this series a lot better.
The small town of Hitching Post, Alabama is famous for, well, weddings. Known for quickie weddings and even quicker divorces, Hitching Post is famous for its romance, whether it be hot and heavy or sour. Carly Hartwell feeds on this as a potion maker specializing in love potions. She and her family are well known in the area and her potion shop has really taken off. That is, until she finds a dead body clutching one of her potion bottles in their hand. Now everyone thinks Carly is the reason behind the death and her potions are poisonous and should be avoided at all costs. She must use her sleuthing skills to find out who has a grudge against her before her shop has to close for good.
I loved the mystery in this one, as it kept me on my toes. I had no clue who the murderer was until it was revealed and I was shocked. I really didn't see that ending coming at all. I think that if the author tones down the Southern thing a little, this series has a lot of potential. I love the magic and the small town. The characters are quirky and they really make the reader laugh and enjoy every single page. I cannot wait to see what happens next in Hitching Post, Alabama and where Carly is headed in the next book. If you like books that are magical and entertaining, then I suggest that you read this one. This author has created her own spell with this one.
Overall Rating: 4.5
Title: A Potion to Die For
Author: Heather Blake
Series: Magic Potion Mystery #1
Publisher: Signet
Publication Date: November 5, 2013
Pages: 336
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Get It: Amazon; Barnes & Noble
Disclaimer: This book was selected from the library by myself and I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.