Ghost of a Potion (A Magic Potion Mystery)

Ghost of a Potion by Heather Blake is the third book in A Magic Potion Mystery series. Carly Bell Hartwell is getting ready for her yearly hibernation (starts at midnight on Halloween and ends at 11:49 p.m. on All Souls Day). Halloween starts the next day and Carly stays inside her home to avoid ghosts (the ones that have not passed over). Carly had experienced a bad ghost seven years previously and has not been able to deal with them since then. That evening Carly is attending an event at the Ezekiel Mansion (they will own the house if the lost heir does not claim it by January 1). It was just restored by the Harpies—The Hitching Post Restoration and Preservation Society (what did you think I meant). Carly’s mother is trying to get her husband into the society (to keep him busy and out of her hair). Carly will be attending with her on-again-off again (currently on) boyfriend, Dylan Jackson (who is also an officer with the Hitching Post Police Department). The evening does not start out well. Patricia Davis Jackson, Dylan’s mother, does not like Carly and hits Carly with a few zingers as a greeting (and tries to ruin her beautiful dress). A little while later they hear screaming. Patricia is standing over Haywood Dodd with a candlestick in her hand. Haywood is dead. Haywood was going to make a big announcement at 10 p.m. and he would not give anyone a hint. Patricia, of course, is the main suspect which means Dylan is not allowed to investigate the case. As for Carly, she saw the one thing she wanted to avoid—a ghost! Haywood Dodd’s ghost noticed Carly and followed her home (she ran the whole way). Carly has no choice but to help Haywood. Carly sets out to solve the murder with help from Dylan (and friends). It looks like Carly is not going to get to hibernate this year. She might even pick up a few more ghosts along the way that she will have to assist (much to her Cousin Delia’s delight). Who wanted Haywood Dodd dead? What was Haywood’s big announcement and did it have anything to do with his death? You will just have to read Ghost of a Potion to find out. Ghost of a Potion is a hilarious book. Hitching Post, Alabama is a charming small town (with a lot going on). Ghost of a Potion has unique, quirky characters and a mystery that will leave you guessing (it is a windy path to the killer). I give Ghost of a Potion 5 out of 5 stars. Ghost of a Potion has humor, romance, magic, and a good mystery. The perfect ingredients for a delightful cozy mystery. While Ghost of a Potion is a part of a series, it can be read alone. However, I think you will want to read the whole series. I cannot wait for the next book in A Magic Potion Mystery series. I received a complimentary copy of Ghost of a Potion from the author (I won a copy on Facebook) in exchange for an honest review.

A Ghost of a Potion is the third book in Heather Blake's Magic Potion Mystery series, and I honestly believe that it is the best so far in this series (I purchased all three in both Kindle and Audible versions). As far as the plot...basically, Carly is a white witch, magical potion maker, and empath. Many of her friends and family also have special gifts, but not all of them. With Halloween approaching, ghosts who have not been able to "cross over" will look to her (and her cousin Delia) for help to resolve their unfinished business so they can move on. A murder occurs, giving Carly one more spirit to deal with. Her boyfriend, Dylan's, mom is accused of the murder, and Carly tries to help clear Patricia's name (even though she hates Carly). The first two books were excellent and introduced a nice variety of quirky characters, who I enjoyed getting to know. But I think that in this installment the characters' personalities and interactions were very finely tuned - it all just seemed to come together so smoothly. Heather has managed to introduce an improbable scenario and make me feel like it was natural. I was especially impressed with how she managed to mesh several different sub-plots seamlessly into one story, and they all just flowed together and became one. I liked that the reasons for some of the spirits not being able to move on where not just "find out who killed me", but instead were more touching. In the end, I was extremely satisfied with the resolutions of all the sub-plots (although we have to wait for Dylan's reaction in the next book - which is OK). It all just felt good and right, and I was sorry when the book ended. As a matter of fact, I was so drawn into the plot and characterizations that I ended up finishing the book in one day. I kept looking for a place to quit, but never found one. I had to know what was going to happen - and, to me, that is the sign of a great book. I look forward to more in this series and I whole heartedly recommend this book and series (as well as Heather's other series)..

I enjoyed this book. It has interesting characters and plenty of humor.

Ghost of a Potion is the 3rd book in the Magic Potion Mystery series and it's the best one yet!! It's Halloween in Hitching Post and Carly Bell Hartwell's plan to hide out for the next three days to avoid all ghosts is dashed when a friend is murdered at a masquerade ball to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Ezekiel Mansion. To make matters worse, Carly's arch enemy (and the mother of the love of her life) is found standing over the body with the murder weapon in her hand. When the ghost of the victim, Haywood Dodd, asks for Carly's help in solving his murder so that he can cross over, she starts to investigate, and she ends up with two more ghosts that need her help. This book is fast-paced, by turns laugh-out-loud funny and deadly serious, and full of twists and turns. I figured out "who done it' just as Carly did, which is perfect for my taste. I don't like to know too soon. One of the main things I look for in a series is how the characters grow and change over time. This is just the 3rd book but the characters are already really coming in to their own and I can't wait to see where they go from here!

You can never go wrong with Heather Blakes Potion series. Carly Bell and her family keep the pages turning!

This is a five star read for me because Heather Blake always weaves a cool twitchy tale that is both current and offers a little romance too. Darn good fun read.

As always Heather Blake writes a very readable book and I can not wait to read the next one in this good series!!!!!!

Excellent as always. Brilliant writer.

Ok, but now so good as her other series