Severn House provided an early galley for review.

I am proud to say that I have known the author for most of my life (we went to the same schools and church growing up). I am also familiar with Lily Dale, the real life community not far from our hometown of Dunkirk. I look forward to checking out Wendy's newest books set there.

This story, like the previous one in the series, is character-driven. Wendy seems very comfortable with her cast which shows in the interactions and dialogue. It is a nice touch that the chapters which focus on Bella's son Max tend to be written in a more juvenile fiction structure and tone (fitting for parts of the story told from the viewpoint of a seven year-old); the sentences here are less complex and more straight-forward.

The action of the plot really kicks into high gear around the 70% mark which gives the reader an eagerness to keep reading steadily to the dramatic conclusion.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

In "Toil & Trouble", Wendy Corsi Staub delivers a beguiling blend of suspense and the supernatural, crafting a narrative that is equal parts eerie and emotionally evocative. The novel plunges into the heart of a town steeped in witchcraft lore, weaving its historical hauntings with modern-day psychological tension. Staub’s mastery of atmosphere is evident from the start—her prose shrouds the reader in a creeping unease, as if the ghosts of Salem themselves linger between the pages.

Staub balances rich character development with tightly wound plotting. Her protagonist, a woman caught between skepticism and an inheritance of supernatural secrets, is rendered with depth and nuance. As the novel unfolds, Staub does not merely rely on external frights; she meticulously layers emotional stakes, ensuring that the threats—whether spectral or flesh-and-blood—carry genuine weight.

Structurally, "Toil & Trouble" excels in pacing. The chapters flow seamlessly, propelling the reader deeper into the tangled mysteries that link past and present. While some moments rely on familiar tropes of occult thrillers, Staub’s execution is refined enough to keep them fresh and engaging. Her use of shifting perspectives and time jumps adds a compelling texture, reinforcing the novel’s themes of generational fate and the cyclical nature of fear.

For readers seeking a thriller that dips into the arcane without sacrificing psychological realism, "Toil & Trouble" delivers. Staub’s knack for suspense thrives here, and while the supernatural elements shimmer at the edges, it’s ultimately the human drama that resonates most. The novel may not rewrite the rulebook for occult thrillers, but it certainly stands as a polished, atmospheric entry in the genre.

A gripping blend of psychological suspense and witchcraft lore, infused with a haunting atmosphere and emotional depth.

I love this series. I've read all of them, plus the YA series that compliments them. They're fun, cozy mysteries that make you want to go visit Lily Dale and stay at the Valley View. The characters (and their animal friends) are all quirky and amusing, I look forward to each new book and I hope there are plenty more.

Bella has had a time. Her husband has died and she and her son, Max are now managing a guesthouse in Lily Dale. The place where all the psychics live. Or it seems like all of them live here.


Bella isn’t quite convinced however many strange things happen.
Now Pandora is back early and wanting to move into the house. Until she has a vision of trouble coming for Bella.


Ghosts, witches, this one has something for everyone. Are there ghosts? You’ll have to decide that one!


NetGalley/July 01, 2025 Severn House

Bella Jordan and her young son Max manage Valley View a Guest House in Lily Dale, New York.

Lily Dale is a community of spiritual mediums. Bella isn’t a medium, but she found it a good place to raise her son on her own. She is starting a relationship with a handsome veterinarian named Drew Bailey and life feels like it is getting better after her husband’s death.

The village has it’s share of quirky characters including some of the guests who don’t seem dangerous until one day they do.

When a woman from high school Jane Anderson, shows up accusing Bella of calling her pig face back in high school, Bella finds it difficult to explain that she would have remembered doing that. The woman behaves strangely. When she flirts with Drew, she makes Bella uncomfortable. She trusts Drew and the woman is only there for a couple of days, so she decides to ignore her.

Bella’s young son, Max, doesn’t like the woman because he knows his mother wouldn’t have made fun of her.

Jane seems familiar to Bella, but she doesn’t remember her from her past. So, Bella sends a message to a high school friend to see if she remembers her.

Bella is given a dire warning about a duck in a pool, a Danish, and something wicked. The woman repeated Something Wicked This Way Comes. Bella recognizes the quote from her and Max having seen MacBeth recently with her male friend Drew. She tells her friend that she will be careful but though her friend says she is a medium, Bella is a skeptic.

Max starts seeing witches. Bella blames that on the play as well. Max had crawled on her lap during the scene with the witches.

A storm knocks the power out one night and Bella wakes to the sound of someone downstairs. She goes down in the dark and finds the back door open. She has the feeling that someone in the dark is watching her. She locks back up and plans to check with Drew to ask if he forgot to lock up. Max finds mud prints on the stairs the next day.

When she finds odd things missing and someone destroys the screen on her laptop, she becomes more concerned. There is also a mother and young girl staying at a friend’s guest house. The mother calls for Max to have a play date but Max refuses. The little girl is a bully.

When Bella and Max become targets of danger, Bella uses all of her talents to figure out who the enemy is and stop them before she or Max become victims.

This isn’t a mystery with a body, but it did cause me anxiety for Bella and Max. They are vulnerable and someone is trying to hurt them. There are so many characters with secrets from the past. The quirky characters have abilities that make it a little more humorous and a little spooky. The friend who made the warning also remembers her past lives and shares little tidbits along the way. This was an interesting read. I would like to read more.

Thanks to both NetGalley and Severn House for giving me an advance readers copy for my honest review.

Bella manages a guesthouse in Lily Dale, a small village for spiritualists. Bella is not one, but was drawn here after the death of her husband and has found a welcoming home and friends for herself and her young son. The story begins with Bella receiving a warning of danger from a friend’s spirit guide. Shortly after, Jane checks in and seems odd. But there is also the new woman and her daughter staying with a friend, so which is the danger?
The story moves quickly and is a fun read. Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the ARC.

There are some touches of paranormal throughout this book and I found it hard to finish. There was some romance sprinkled in it but overall not a book I found enjoyable.

A very fast moving book, art times i got a little lost on who was who but all in all it was a good book.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the opportunity to read "Toil and Trouble" in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the seventh book in the Lily Dale Mystery series. Bella Jordan and her son Max have come to live in Lily Dale, New York after the death of her husband. Chance the cat had led them to the Valley View Guesthouse that is owned by Pandora Feeney a psychic who is predicting trouble is coming. Bella thinks it has more to do with the production of Macbeth being put on than any spirits talking to Pandora. Nadine the mischievous spirit also lives in the guesthouse and some new characters have come to town.

Ms. Staub always makes this series fun and interesting, full of rich character descriptions.

Bella and Max live in a somewhat mysterious town called Lily Dale, full of eccentric characters. The synopsis will tell you the rest so I won't waste your time repeating it. This book is the newest in a series and if you jump in with this book, you may be a little confused with all the narrators and characters, but pay attention and you can read it as a standalone. It's a good "comfort" mystery, with cute kids and cats! I highly recommend reading the whole series and I think you'll fall in love with Lily Dale and it's witchy residents.

A good story overall, Might just be me, but at times hard to follow the multiple characters, as not a quick and easy read. Still though, kept my interest to find out the ending, and did like the kids and cats. Would recommend.

I love the LilyDale books. This author has drawn up such an atmosphere that this is on my bucket list of places to visit. I absolutely adore the eccentric characters in these stories. A fantastic read that was quick and captured my interest.
Amazing and I can’t wait for more

#ToilandTrouble #NetGalley is the first book I've read in the series and I enjoyed it very much.
Bella is a single mom, recently widowed, and eager to get on with her life. Bella and her son Max live in a unique community known as Lily Dale, and Bella has several colorful characters as neighbors and friends.
Bella manages the inn and she is surprised when a visitor introduces herself as a high school acquaintance.
She knows something is off with Jane, and as the story unfolds, the truth comes out leaving everyone shocked.
Even though I was a bit confused by all the characters, I couldn't help but become involved in the story, anxious to see how it would end.
I will definitely read the other books in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.