Something Wicked

Such a unique book, I loved the plot, and oh my god the characters we're so amazing!! I definitely will be recommending it!!

This was a delight from start to finish. It was super cosy and had all the vibes I was looking for. A cute, close community feel and a great main character to get behind.

Phoebe is our MC, she inherits her aunt’s tea shop and seems also to inherit more than she bargains for… and Bob is definitely worth a special mention and he easily stole the show. The cutest little ginger cat, an easy to get into light romance/ murder mystery/ witchy fantasy drama hit all the marks and I read it in no time.

I found it to be fast paced and entertaining. It also set itself up to be a great series and definitely left me wanting more! I loved all the elements in this and getting to know the people, characters and the town.

I also loved that it included some of the recipes mentioned in the story at the end and I shall definitely be endeavouring to make those soon as they honestly sounded absolutely delicious.

Something Wicked by Gretchen Rue.
Phoebe’s beloved aunt Eudora has passed away and she bequeaths her house and business to her. Strange things start to happen. Can phoebe get to the bottom of it?
I did enjoy this book. I loved Phoebe. I liked Owen and Imogen. Wasn't who I thought it would be. I do hope there is more to come from Phoebe. 4*.

This book gives autumnal vibes! A nice easy read which I throughly enjoyed.

A story based on a women who doesn’t know she is a witch, inherits her aunts shop and house and then discovers more which ends up someone being murdered.

First of all, I wanted to thank you @netgalley, Gretchen Rue and publisher for giving me an opportunity to read this book as an advance reader💜

Rating: 4,5⭐️ book

Read, if you like:
🔮 Witches and magic,
🔮 Bookstore, cats, tea rooms,
🔮 Cosy vibes,
🔮 Fantasy,
🔮 Mistery,
🔮 Childhood friend,
🔮 Slow burn.

It was such a cosy, adorable and easy read, I could not put it down. It got me the vibe of Good Witch show.

I was so immersed in all the aspects dealt with in that book: dealing with grief, founding a new happy place, discovering a true nature of MFC, mistery, new romantic feeling, making friendships.

Both descriptions and characters were so vivid I could imagine being there and witnessing all the events.

I loved Phoebe, Imogen and Victoria - I could become their best friends in no time😀

I wish there was more of Phoebe using her magic skills and I was hoping to get more Phoebe and Rich as a couple.

All in all, it is a fast paced and entertaining book - perfect autum read.

QOTD: Do you like witchy vibes in books?

Pub Date: 14th September 2023

When I read the name of the author, Gretchen Rue, i went on autopilot as Witches' Brew Mystery is one of my fav series and I loved both the novels in this series.
This means that i already read this novel with a different title, Steeped to Death, and fell in love with the Bob the Cat, aunt Eudora, Phoebe and her friends.
This is a well plotted and entertaining cozy mystery with an intriguing magical system and a solid mystery.
There's some twists and it kept me guessing.
I strongly recommend this mystery as it's very funny and compelling.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I absolutely loved this book, I couldn’t put it down. A loveable may character who you really root for. A lovely Halloween read.

If you're looking for a cosy autumn read, with a halloween-esque vibe then THIS is your perfect book. Not only was I in love from the moment I read that it involved a small town, with a book shop/tea room; but then to see that magic was involved really drew me in. Gretchen involved the perfect amount of mystery to keep the book aa cute and cosy read without making it too much of a thriller.

The characters are perfectly written as well as Bob, the cat. 'Mrow' is now my favorite form of cat language. I would totally love to read further books in the series about this town & it's mysteries.

Thank you to Gretchen Rue, Aria & Aries and Net Galley for this ARC!

Something wicked is a cozy, small town vibe (think gilmore girls) with a pinch of murder, mystery and witchcraft thrown into the mix.

When Eudora leaves everything in her possession to her niece, Phoebe uproots and moves to Raven Creek. Phoebe moves into Aunt Eudoras old house, takes over her book and tea business as well as the apartment above in this small town where everyone knows everyone. Phoebe must figure out how to navigate this new world which is vastly different to city life. That is until a body is found on the back steps of her bookstore just days after she arrives. The questions keep piling up. Who is the dead man? What was he doing outside her store? Why was he killed? And why do certain town people seem desperate to buy Phoebe out of the business and the house and will stop at nothing to get them. Add in the small detail that Aunt Eudora appears to have been a witch and you get this brilliant masterpiece.

I loved this book so much. As a huge fan of gilmore girls this had the perfect small town vibe. The character and world building was everything and more. The mystery of the murder will keep you guessing right to the very end but also ties all the loose strings together perfectly. A really cozy book perfect for anyone who loves witches, mystery and a little hint of romance.

⭐ 4

There were parts of this book that I really enjoyed.

I went through a period of reading nothing but crime/mysteries. I read so many that I could solve the crime/mystery in early parts of the book. I did not see the twist coming. Honestly, had no idea. I loved that it surprised me.
Bob. I love Bob. He reminds me of my own cat.
I loved the town. Autumn, small town vibes! It made me want to wrap up in my cable knit blanket and make the house smell like the teas in the teashop.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Some might say that it’s an unusual blend, but I relished the combination of tea, baked goods & cosy vibes alongside witchcraft, shady characters & murder!

The story gave me those small-town, homey vibes that I always revel in, and I was immediately hooked. The author was in no rush to get to the nitty-gritty of the darker side of the story; she set the scene perfectly and being able to vividly picture the town & the citizens who inhabited it only added to the experience.

Every little thing was described in so much detail, but it never felt pointless or overwhelming - I found myself yearning to know more about everything, even the different types of tea used in the tearoom! Additionally, the short chapters & overall comfortable feel of the book were more than enough to keep my focus.

Whilst we only got the basic background & past of the main character, we honestly didn’t need any further specifics to be easily immersed in her development. I do, however, wish that her magical abilities would have been explored more - I think that a newly discovered witch would be experimenting with her powers a hell of a lot more than she actually did.

On a more positive note, I think that this book easily opens itself up to a sequel - especially with how the ending is worded - as it would give ample opportunity to further explore the magical & romantic elements. It would also compensate for the lack of relevant detail in certain parts of the story.

When Phoebe inherits her aunt's house and teashop, she starts to discover that the magic in the tea may not just be the taste. Secrets abound the small town, and between the dead body and a discovery of witchcraft, a mystery is afoot.

I enjoyed this quite a lot once it got going after the initial descriptive chapters. I personally don't need quite so much detail at the beginning, instead learning it as the book progresses, but it did build a picture.

The hint of romance was sweet, if not only a pinch, and the book ends with a tease rather than an HEA.

Overall, this was a well written, charming, witchy read.

"Something Wicked" by Gretchen Rue is a delightful brew of mystery, magic, and small-town charm. The story unfolds as our protagonist, who has recently moved to her aunt's house, discovers her own latent magical abilities. With elements of witchcraft, childhood friends reuniting, and a dash of murder, Rue concocts a spellbinding tale that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

The characters are endearing, and the chemistry between the childhood friends adds an extra layer of intrigue. Rue's writing is captivating, balancing the magical elements with a cosy small-town atmosphere. As the plot unfolds, secrets are revealed, and the mystery deepens, keeping readers guessing until the end.

"Something Wicked" is the perfect blend of magic and mystery, offering a fresh take on the supernatural genre. Whether you're a fan of cosy mysteries, paranormal romance, or simply looking for an enchanting read, Rue's book will leave you spellbound.

Another new to me author and I'd happily visit Raven Creek again and again. It got me in the mood for Halloween and all things autumnal!

Phoebe's recently divorced and grieving the loss her Aunt Eudora too. Raven Creek offers her a new home, a thriving business and a fresh start. But someone appears to have it in for Phoebe before she even gets to fully unpack!

I really adore small town romances with a little magical/paranormal twist. It was great getting to see Phoebe grasp her magical ancestry and realise that she's not an average witch. The murder mystery running parallel to her personal story gave added depth. The descriptions of the town and its inhabitants were detailed and comprehensive and they all sort of popped into my brain!

Rich and Leo added a layer of "who is the potential love interest" and I really enjoyed getting to know them both. I'm looking forward to see how the romance element of the books develop.

This is a slow burn/cosy/murder mystery/friends to more book. The chapters and shorter and really helped to keep me in the world and I read this in one fell swoop. If you enjoy Jana DeLeon then you'll probably like this too.

This is such a lovely cosy read. This is a small town, witchy and mystery and definitely a big slow burn book.

This story is placed based on Phoebe who moves in into her late aunt Eudora house and takes over her popular business in a small town in which everyone knew her aunt.

I really adored the whole small town and witchy vibe. It was nice to see Phoebe slowly realising the truth about being a witch and slowly figuring what powers she has. But I feel like there wasn’t much on Phoebe powers and her grasp on them. I would have loved to see her exploring her magic side but it was hardly explored.

The add of Leo and Rich gives a little thought of who the love interest will be, this is definitely a slow burn. There’s a tiny hint of romance but the majority of the book focuses on solving a murder.

This book has a lovely pace to it and it made you want to continue reading it. I’ll be honest that I did find the killer suspicious from the start but I feel like I was expecting someone else. I loved Imogen, Amy and Bob so much that without them the book wouldn’t be complete.

Thanks NetGalley and Publishers for providing me an arc of this book.

Phoebe is our mid 30's, divorced neice of Eudora and she inherits her aunts big house & bookshop (The Earls Study) once she passes away.

We meet an aray of other people who live in the town inc a very nosy and not so nice Mrs Dierdre Miller.

Pheobe is a few days settling in and one evening she gets call saying there has been a man murdered outside The Earls Study.

Add in the fact she learns not only her aunt was a witch but she is one also, a childhood friend who grew up to be very handsome and lots of other secrets being revealed.

Really nice, easy witchy book, very tiny sprinkling of romance. Exactly what we all need from time to time.

Read if you like: YA, small town, new starts, found family, magical hijinks and a murder mystery. It is written in the first person and is an easy, quick read.

The story is a sweet, cozy, paranormal, witchy, murder mystery with the beginnings of a rom-com.

It is written from Phoebe’s point of view, who inherits The Earl’s Study, her Aunt's bookshop and tea shop and her house in the small town of Raven Creek. A recent divorcee, she gets the opportunity to start a new life and grabs it with both hands.

With a new house, business and pet cat Bob, Phoebe has her hands full. Her new home opens her eyes to her Aunt's hidden life and she begins to uncover secrets about both her Aunt and herself.

As she comes across friends from the past and makes new connections she begins to think there could be a place for her in Raven Creek.

A murder outside of her shop raises questions and she finds herself in the midst of a real-life murder mystery. Her curiosity leads her down the path of magic, witches and secrets.

There are lots of little twists and turns in the story and Phoebe’s questions quickly become the same as the readers as the plot thickens and Phoebe tries to discover who the murderer is and what it’s got to do with her.

This book kept me guessing until the end and the story was left open with the possibility of more for Rich and Phoebe and more from the other magical Raven Creek inhabitants.

Phoebe is a strong lady and her journey of discovery, acceptance and power is a steep one, but she takes it all in her stride. I really enjoyed the combination of magic, murder mystery, a bookshop, a tea shop, a cat and a little bit of romance.

Phoebe is getting a new start after her divorce and moving into her beloved aunt's house in a small town. She's got a new job as owner of her aunt's book and tea shop, and a new cat as well.


The sleepy town seemed friendly when Phoebe was young but she's arrived to be harassed with offers to buy the house and shop; seemingly chased in the dark; and a murder happens outside her shop during an attempted break in. Will Phoebe settle into her new life, or is she next?


The description says Sabrina the Teenage Witch and the Gilmore Girls (but Stars Hallow is much friendlier) - more like Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Agatha Raisin or one of the sillier Hallmark Mysteries.


The book is well-written, you get immersed in the story. Despite other reviews, I didn't have a clue who the murderer was until it was revealed. If I read it again, I'd probably spot the clues!


The romance is a slow-burn, with a couple of childhood friends as the potential new love interest.


The magical element is intriguing (definitely Sabrina-like, maybe a bit Good Witch) but verges on the ridiculous - especially during the murderer's reveal. I think the magic needed more expanding - yes, Phoebe had only just discovered her magic but nothing happens with the magic until the dramatic finale, it was missing a little more set up.


The book sets up the town and the characters for multiple stories - I've seen that there's a book 2 but it feels like it's a setting for a longer series.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.