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If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, you're not reading them for deep psychological studies or dark portrayals of humanity or even strict adherence to reality. You read them for fun, and Angela M. Sanders delivers just that in BAIT AND WITCH, the first in a new series that promises to deliver lots of unexpected delight (especially for those who know that the magic of books is real) and even a bit of romance.
Josie Way is a Washington, DC, whistleblower who has to go into hiding fast, so she accepts a librarian position in a small town on the other side of the country and hopes her pursuers can't trace her. Unfortunately, she has barely taken up her new position when she discovers a body in the woods and is told that the library she's in charge of will soon be demolished. Adding to the unsettling swirl, Josie is also experiencing strange, unexplained sensations and powers. It doesn't take long to realize that Josie is both the bait and the witch of the novel's title. Dealing with that and with trying to save the library, track down a murder, and avoid becoming a victim all while adjusting to life in a small town far from home is a lot to handle. Luckily, Josie's magic seems to revolve around a lifelong source of comfort: books. Plus, the townspeople and Rodney the cat are, for the most part, friendly and supportive, and the mysterious man in the Big House might just provide a bit of romance.
While the mysteries that get solved in BAIT AND WITCH are interesting, and the path to their solutions is pleasingly convoluted, with plenty of red herrings and subplots tossed into the mix, the best part of this novel is Josie's relationship with the books and the imaginative way Sanders has Josie's magic work. Of course, the books and the magic are integral to the mysteries, so all parts do play nicely off of each other. The characters, too, while not deeply drawn, are memorable and interesting with believable motivations and a few surprises. Overall, BAIT AND WITCH has everything a reader of cozies could hope for, with more to come as the series continues.
§ Meredith Frazier, a writer with a background in English literature, lives in Dallas, Texas
Reviewed by Meredith Frazier, December 2020
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