Jennifer David Hesse

It’s that time of year again when ghosts come out to play. But attorney Keli Milanni discovers it isn’t just restless spirits who walk the night, so does murder.

After her recent promotion to junior partner, Keli is putting in overtime to juggle her professional career and private Wiccan spiritual practice, and her boyfriend. With Halloween fast approaching, her duties include appearing as a witch at a “haunted” barn and hand-holding a client who’s convinced her new house is haunted. But it’s the disappearance of Josephine O’Malley, her aunt that has Keli spooked.

Keli’s aunt is an environmental activist and free spirit who always seemed to embody peace, love, and independence. When Josephine is found dead in the woods, Keli wonders if her aunt’s activities were as innocent as they seemed. As Keli comes to terms with her loss, her live-in boyfriend and demands at work, she must wield her magic to banish negative energy. If she’s going to catch a killer this Samhain season, it's going to take a bit of magic.

--
Series: A Wiccan Wheel Mystery - Book 4
Author: Jennifer David Hesse
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Witch/Paranormal
Publisher: Kensington Books

Jennifer David Hesse is a gifted storyteller; her Wiccan Wheel Mystery series is thought-provoking and timely. In a world where everything is out of balance, it is refreshing to find a book series that reminds us that we need balance in all things. This series is quickly becoming a fan favorite and should continue to enthrall readers for many years to come.

Samhain Secrets is a well written, fast-paced and highly enjoyable book. This is the 4th book in this series and is a great fit. At long last readers get to meet Keli’s enigmatic aunt. Unfortunately, that aunt has been murdered. Keli sets her sights on finding out why her aunt was so mysterious, and why someone wanted her dead.

Keli is a likable character who continues to evolve, both personally and in her beliefs. She isn’t as averse to being around other Witches, or Wiccans and finds that she enjoys the company of others who have her same beliefs and religion more and more. She is a character who knows that things aren’t always what they seem, even murder. She has her hands full with work, boyfriend, and community, adding murder to the mix has become almost mandatory in her world. She handles everything well and shows that she is stronger than she ever thought she could be.

All the characters in this new addition to the series are memorable. They each have a role to play in Keli’s life. They help comfort and on occasion remind Keli of who she is. They are not just friends but have become part of her family. They, like Keli, are evolving and becoming more well-rounded individuals. Most are lovable, and it is easy to connect to one or more of them.

The setting is wonderful with just enough forest and city combined to make anyone want to visit or move there. It has a quality that allows the reader to think of it fondly, like a treasured place from childhood.

All in all Samhain Secrets is a fun, enjoyable and highly entertaining book that adds flavor and intrigue to the series. Readers will love Keli and the other characters that charm and delight throughout the book. I highly recommend this book and the series to anyone who enjoys a good who-done-it, magic and the wonder of the world around us.… (más)

Attorney Keli Milanni is at it again. While preparing to celebrate the Wiccan Holiday Yuletide, a celebration of rebirth she finds another dead body. Only this time, she is the only one who thinks it's homicide.

Keli has come out as a Wiccan to her boyfriend, Wes. Stunningly enough, he doesn’t seem to have any issue with her beliefs and practices, and she is feeling relieved and happy. When her boss gives her and her patronizing colleague Crenshaw a last-minute job just before the Christmas break, she is reluctant but digs in and gets started.

Crenshaw and Keli go undercover at a real estate company owned by mayoral candidate Edgar Harrison. Edgar is an old friend of Keli’s boss. Apparently, Harrison is being blackmailed. It’s up to her to find the culprit. As luck would have it, the morning after the company holiday party, she finds Harrison dead under a hotel Christmas tree. The police rule the death an accident, but Keli doesn’t think it was an accident and sets out to prove it.

--

Series: A Wiccan Wheel Mystery–Book 3
Author: Jennifer David Hesse
Genre: Paranormal/Witch Cozy
Publisher: Kensington

Yuletide Homicide is the third book in the “A Wiccan Wheel Mystery” series. The new book offers a great story with lots of colorful characters and locations. Jennifer David Hesse has crafted characters that are charming, witty, full of vitality, well-rounded and easily relatable.

Keli is an unusual person, not only is she a practicing attorney, she is also a practicing Wiccan. Her normal routine of solo practicing has its ups and downs, mainly when she needs help solving a crime. That is when she calls on her friends, and fellow Wiccan, Mila. Mila is a perfect example of the type of people Keli needs in her life.

The characters of Farrah and Wes are equally important in Keli’s life. Farrah is always willing to jump in and help Keli with an investigation. While Wes is protective and supportive even when he is worried that Keli is getting involved in dangerous situations.

Although this book is an excellent addition to the series, it would have been nice if Mila and the other coven members had played a bigger role in helping Keli with her investigation. Also, Keli’s aversion to being involved with a coven, although not uncommon is getting to be a bit much without any real explanation. Her interactions with the coven would enhance the story and series. The returning characters are interesting and evolving, but overall the story could benefit by bringing in new characters that would make the story even more enjoyable for the long term.

The unmasking of the killer and the motive are original. All the readers’ questions are answered, and most will not guess who the killer is until the end of the book. Readers may have some trouble picking up the clues as to the murderer’s identification but not so difficult as to make the ending unbelievable.

This is a well written and entertaining book. Yuletide Homicide will keep the reader on the edge of their seat with twists and turns while anxiously waiting to turn the page to find out what happens next. This book and series are highly recommended to anyone who enjoys their mystery with a touch of magic.

… (más)

Bell, Book & Candlemas: A Wiccan Wheel Mystery
Cozy
Jennifer David Hesse

Keli Milanni is a full-time attorney, lives in Edindale Illinois and has a secret, she's a Witch. Candlemas is a few weeks away, even though she celebrates with all her heart, she keeps this part of her life hidden from her friends, coworkers and her boyfriend. It takes thieves causing trouble in town for her favorite shop, Moonstone Treasures, and its owner, for her to open up and let the secret out. Things go farther than threatening notes and harassing phone calls, murder becomes the end game.

Keli wants to help her friend, but she is deeply worried about what will happen to her life and career if her secret gets out. At this special time of year, when life begins to bloom again death should not be a part of it, what is she supposed to do? Will she throw caution to the wind to help catch a killer before he strikes again, or will she fade into the shadows and do nothing allowing her innocent friend to go to jail for a crime she hasn’t committed, or perhaps for merely being a Witch?
__

Fear of being found out motivates Keli to come to terms with her beliefs. She can no longer continue to hide who she is and what she believes. The only way for Keli to help her friend is to admit who she is and not allow the fears of others ruin her faith. This makes the story hard to believe. Although Keli is a likeable character, her hesitation to help her friend is a sticking point.

Keli’s best friend Farrah is interesting, she is loyal, honest and keeps Keli on her toes. There is more to Farrah than a pretty face. Wes, Keli’s boyfriend, takes the news that she practices Wicca with a smile and a few questions. He is smart, funny and wants Keli to be happy. The entire cast of characters are entertaining, well written with personalities not soon forgotten.

As a reader, I would like to have learned more about Keli’s mysterious aunt Josie in this volume, and a lot more background on Mila and her husband, as well as Keli’s boyfriend, Wes. The ending of the book is a bit drawn out and might have been better if it hadn’t carried on long after the killer is revealed, but it is not disappointing. This book is a little slow but has great detail, is well-written, and the characters are warm and inviting. The location is somewhere you would want to explore and spend time. Readers will enjoy this book if they like writers such as Carol J. Perry or Sue Ann Jaffarian.





… (más)