A Review of Hexes and Hemlines by Juliet Blackwell

Hexes and Hemlines
#3 of the Witchcraft Mystery Series

Coming June 7th!

With her vintage clothing store taking off, Lily Ivory is finding that life in San Francisco suits her just fine. But her ability to sense vibrations from the past, so useful in locating secondhand gems, has landed her in the middle of a new mystery...

Lily gets called away from Aunt Cora's Closet when the police need a witch's take on a strange case. Malachi Zazi was stabbed to death in his apartment, under a ladder, surrounded by the number thirteen, a broken mirror, and a black cat—superstitions that the victim, as head of a rationalist society, was devoted to discrediting.

When the police identify a suspect from the Serpentarian Society, Lily is shocked to learn it's someone she knows. But with bad luck plaguing all its members, she begins to wonder if there's more at work than mere coincidence. And while there aren't many clues from the crime scene, Lily finds evidence of dark witchcraft and a hex on her friend's doorstep. With her friend's safety at stake, Lily is determined to use magic to find the murderer before everyone's luck runs out..

My Review:

I stumbled on this series by accident awhile back when I was searching for another book- and I can't say that I'm disappointed- not at all. This is a fun and totally engrossing series that hooks you instantly and makes you want more.

I love the mix of vintage clothes, magic and a lingering possibility of romance combined with mystery. It has a little bit of everything I love.

If you love Annette Blair's Vintage Magic series you'll love Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft Mysteries.

This is the third book in the series, the first two are Secondhand Spirits and A Cast of Coven. I do recommend reading the first two books so you'll know who the cast of characters are in this book and how they are relate to one another.

I love (and kinda hate- but only because I want to know more) that each character is a mystery as well.

Lily is mystery herself. We learn a little more about her in each book but her unhappy and strange past is only hinted at. Finally in this third book we learn a bit more about her childhood and what happened but the big story about her father still remains a mystery as well as parts of her strange upbringing.

Other characters are strange too- Aidan Rhodes and Sailor are both intriguing male characters that I want- no need- to know more about. :-) The mystery that surrounds them will draw you in and make you want more even as you get frustrated because the information isn't coming fast enough. And all the possible love interests will drive you crazy with wonder trying to figure out exactly who she might end up with- if any.

Max, he's ok but totally human and can't really accept Lily for who and what she is.

Aidan knows exactly what she is, possibly more so than she does. But what is the deal with him? How old is he? How powerful is he? What happened to him in the past that made him the way he is now? What lies under all his glamour and magic? What does he want from Lily?

Then there's Sailor, a very enigmatic character even with all his grumpiness. I sense there could possibly be something or maybe the possibility of something brewing in thew future between him and Lily.

Each book drops hints, gives us flashes of info, then stops. It's like following a trail of breadcrumbs into a locked door and you just have to wait until someone either unlocks the door or gives you the key- which will surely be what happens in future books of this series.

The series is definitely worth the read though, especially if you like ongoing mysteries that don't get all wrapped up in a bow at the end of every book. Sure the main mystery gets solved- like who killed who but the stories swirling around each character remain shadowed making you want to know more- which will keep you buying and reading the next book in the series.