A fun, magical fall cozy mystery filled with witches, vampires, small town secrets, and a dash of romance.
Goodreads | Corpses and Cauldrons
Release date: August 21, 2025
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Narrator: Meghan Kelly
Synopsis:
The first hint that this magical town is teetering on the edge of supernatural disaster? The corpse in the cauldron. Not attracting attention in Willowbark is a littlehard to do when your inherited apothecary shop is brimming with magic, your cat might be a dragon, and someone just turned up dead in the middle of the Halloween festival… inside one of the decorative cauldrons. Festive, right?
Add in local witches, vampires with attitude problems, and a coven watching my every move, and yeah—blending in isn’t exactly going well.
I’m Aurora Hart. Middle-aged apothecary. Occasional spell-caster. Reluctant untangler of magical messes. I came back to Willowbark thinking I’d heal some hearts, keep my head down, and maybe brew a few calming teas. Instead, I’m knee-deep in a murder, a centuries-old pact no one wants to talk about, and a broody stranger whose very presence seems to be ticking someone off in a very murdery way.
The town may look quaint, but don’t let the cinnamon-sugar smiles fool you—magic here is hidden for a reason. And someone’s willing to kill to bring it to light.
Dive into this spell-binding first in series paranormal cozy mystery from USA Today bestselling author Allie Katt and Tasha Oakwood. Grab your copy today!
Review:
As part of my ongoing cozy mystery journey, I’ve been having so much fun exploring all the different subgenres and little niches within the genre, and I knew I had to try a witchy paranormal cozy! Corpses and Cauldrons sounded like the perfect place to start, especially this time of year, and it turned out to be a fun introduction to a magical little world. With witches, vampires, mysterious happenings, and a murder at a Halloween festival, this one definitely delivers on those cozy fall vibes I was hoping for.
Willowbark is such a fun setting, a seemingly charming little town where supernatural creatures live alongside unsuspecting humans and magic is hiding around every corner. Aurora was a solid leading character, and I enjoyed getting to know her as she navigated her inherited apothecary, the town’s magical residents, and, of course, a murder investigation. There’s quite a bit of world building happening since this is the first book in a series, but I thought it did a nice job introducing the town and its residents while still giving readers a mystery to follow.
I also really enjoyed Aurora’s budding relationship with Connor, particularly because he’s completely clueless about the magical side of Willowbark. That added a fun little dynamic to the story, and I’m always happy to have a touch of romance mixed into my mysteries. Between the supernatural residents, the magical secrets, and the Halloween atmosphere, there was plenty to keep things entertaining. It was a nice change of pace from the more traditional cozies I’ve been reading lately.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Meghan Kelly, who I hadn’t listened to in quite a while, and it was such a treat to hear her again! She has such a warm, inviting narration style that works beautifully for a cozy mystery. Her performance made Willowbark feel welcoming and brought an extra layer of charm to the story. Overall, this was a fun introduction to a witchy cozy mystery series and a great seasonal listen. I’m glad I gave this little corner of the cozy mystery world a try!
Perfect for readers who love:
- Witchy and paranormal cozy mysteries
- Magical small towns filled with supernatural residents
- Halloween and autumn atmosphere
- Amateur sleuths with a touch of romance
- Warm, charming audiobook narration
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks RB Media for the alc
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