Wicked Witch Murder

July 5, 2010
Wiccan shopkeeper Diana Ravenscroft and her cat familiar, Piewocket, stir up trouble in Tinker's Grove, Maine, in Meier's clever 17th Lucy Stone mystery (after 2009's Mother's Day Murder). Soon after Lucy, "a hardheaded reporter" for the town's weekly newspaper, receives a reading from Lady Diana, high priestess of the Silver Coven, warning her of approaching danger, Lucy and her Labrador, Libby, stumble over a burned corpse during a woodland walk. The victim turns out to be the Silver Coven's Malcolm Malebranche, a magician whom Diana believed to be in England. Later, Lucy's two teenage daughters, Sara and Zoe, and Abby, the daughter of Lucy's new neighbor, religious zealot Ike Stoughton, become entranced by the bewitching Diana. When Ike's ill wife dies, Ike blames the high priestess. As Abby sickens, Lucy feels increasing pressure to find out what's going on. The intrepid journalist uncovers no magic in the dark heart of murder in this neat little cozy.