WITCH HUNT by Cate Conte is the first book by this author that I have read.  This witch cozy mystery novel is set in a small town in Connecticut.  Violet Mooney is the owner of The Full Moon crystal shop in downtown North Harbor. She is still grieving her grandmother’s death, but enjoys her cat Monty and her work. However, not everyone likes having her shop in town and when a town councilwoman harangues her publicly and then ends up dead later that day, Violet’s life is turned upside down.

Violet is someone you can root for, but I did not really connect with her. She seemed befuddled through most of the story line. However, she did have a distinct voice with flaws and virtues. Her goals were clear and her motivations seemed believable. She seemed to be somewhat naïve for her age. The story line was interesting and had plenty of red herrings. The ending was a surprise to me. Themes include murder, grief, family dramas, environmentalism, trust, secrets and much more.

Overall, this book was enjoyable and entertaining despite containing (for me) too much information on crystals. If you enjoy witch cozy mysteries set in small towns, then this may be the book for you.

Many thanks to Kensington Books and Cate Conte for a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

#releaseday #netgalley #witchhunt 
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Witch Hunt - Cate Conte @cateconteauthor 
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Violet the owner of her own store where she sells her kristals and give aura readings to help her clients out.
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I loved reading this book, the surprise when she got to know that she is a witch, and that one of the neighbors is murdered and to get the answer she needs to get her own name cleaned, makes her go all detective mode 🙌🏻 I loved the flow and the different characters and can’t wait to get the next book and to see where Violet is going.
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The murder is solved in the end but one of the other subjects in the book is an open end. And will get another book 🥳🙌🏻📚.
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Blurb; 

Murder isn’t always crystal-clear . . . especially when the prime suspect discovers she’s a witch.
 
Violet Mooney owns The Full Moon crystal shop in quaint North Harbor, Connecticut. Still grieving her beloved grandmother’s recent unexpected death, she takes comfort in her fat orange cat Monty and her work. Not everyone in town is thrilled with her business, however. When disagreeable town councilwoman Carla Fernandez picks a fight over Violet’s "voodoo shop," the two have a very public confrontation. Of course, when Carla turns up dead, Violet gets little sympathy from the police as suspect #1. 
 
But the shock of two policemen showing up at her door pales in comparison to the sudden appearance of her estranged mother Fiona and a surprise sister, Zoe. What Fiona reveals will rock her world and her sense of self—and reawaken her long-dormant mysterious power. Good thing. She’s gonna need it . . .
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Genre: detective, paranormal, mystery, thriller 
Stars; ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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#murder #detective #surpriseread #bookstagram #bookreview #tbrpile #reading #cats #witches #cute #kristal #aurareading #creative #photography

Witch Hunt is the first book in the new "Full Moon Mysteries" series by Cate Conte, published by Kensington Books. This is an engaging and lively read from start to finish.

Violet didn't know that magic was real, or that she was a witch. She spent her entire life thinking it was all make-believe. It isn't until her grandmother dies that her mother and a sister she never knew show up to shed light on the family secret. It becomes troublesome for Violet when she realizes that nothing she believed is the whole story and that her family, especially her father, have secrets she never even guessed could exist.

Violet is an interesting character; she could be a poster child for naiveté if it weren't for the fact that she is not a child. In many ways, she is immature, too trusting of her ideas of the past and the world around her. As a witch, she is hard to believe. I would have liked her grandmother to have played a more significant role in this story instead of starting with her being already dead. I think it would have made for a better understanding of all the characters. Fiona is not a character I can empathize with; she does not appear to be a mother who cared about her child. She left her to the care of her father and grandmother without ever seeing her or explaining why she wasn't around, then to top it off, she doesn't even introduce Violet to her sister. For these reasons, most readers will have a difficult time liking the character or feeling any sympathy towards her.

I enjoyed the location for this book; it is described well and gives readers a sense of what it would be like to grow up or to live there as an adult. Having magical residents, witches, and others, play a more significant part throughout the story would have made the book more interesting. Hopefully, their role will be expanded in the next installment. The murder was not unexpected from the moment the victim enters the story. The suspects are easy to pick out and understandable without too many twists and turns to confuse readers. In the end, the motive is a bit of a surprise, but perhaps the killer is not.

Witch Hunt is the debut book in this series, and overall it was entertaining, but as with any new series, it will grow and expand. I feel that many readers will enjoy the read and that there is an excellent opportunity in future volumes to bolster the main characters' quarks and personalities and mold the supporting cast into people who will be fun and entertaining in the next book.

WITCH HUNT by Cate Conte
The First Full Moon Mystery

Violet Mooney has had one heck of a day. She gets verbally assaulted by a local councilwoman while getting her morning coffee, she loses her favorite new scarf, her friend and mentor discovers a strange odor at the Full Moon and cancels all of Violet's appointments and closes the shop. After a quick errand there's nothing for it but to go home, take a nap, and hope all will be better when she wakes. That's not to be the case as she's woken up by two police officers with even more alarming news. The councilwoman has been murdered, Violet's scarf was at the scene, and everyone heard their very public heated argument. If being questioned about murder wasn't bad enough, the person who comes to meet her at the police station isn't her boyfriend, but rather the mother who left her 27 years ago. The mother who claims she's a witch...and tells Violet that she is too. Violet now has to come to terms with her unexpected heritage while making sure she's not arrested for murder.

WITCH HUNT opens up a new paranormal world and I absolutely love it! I was so thrilled when I discovered the book featured a crystal shop, and even more so when I discovered that the author wasn't just trying to fill a niche, but actually knows about crystals and their metaphysical properties. Despite being surrounded by healing crystals, Violet has entered a surreal world where things are not going at all well. I really appreciate that those nearest and dearest to her are acting remarkedly suspicious. Her entire world is in upheaval and the fact that no one is as they seem is a perfect manifestation of it. I love Fiona and Zoe. I'm curious to learn more about Xander. And I really want some of those fries. I'm also very suspicious of another character, who, for spoiler purposes shall remain nameless. I think there's a lot more going on there and this person may well be a part of the family that wants to challenge the Witches Council.

WITCH HUNT is a fun new paranormal mystery. Engaging characters with lots of secrets add spice while what looks to be a long running subplot has me eager to see what happens next as Violet takes her place in this new world.

This was an enjoyable first book of a new series. Violet, Fiona and Zoe are fun characters with a lot of potential. The mystery was almost secondary to the revelation about Violet's mother and her introduction to the magical world. There were a lot of characters and back stories to take in during one book but I am very invested in the characters so it will be interesting to see how Violet adapts to the magical world.,

I was hoping I’d like this one, but I just..could not get into it. I think I stopped reading about 30% in? I couldn’t connect with the main character, and it just felt like it was lacking something. I think it could’ve been a very cute story, but it just wasn’t there for me.

Witch Hunt is the first book in a new series by Cate Conte and is currently scheduled for release on June 30 2020. Violet Mooney owns The Full Moon crystal shop in quaint North Harbor, Connecticut. Still grieving her beloved grandmother’s recent unexpected death, she takes comfort in her fat orange cat Monty and her work. Not everyone in town is thrilled with her business, however. When disagreeable town councilwoman Carla Fernandez picks a fight over Violet’s "voodoo shop," the two have a very public confrontation. Of course, when Carla turns up dead, Violet gets little sympathy from the police as suspect #1. But the shock of two policemen showing up at her door pales in comparison to the sudden appearance of her estranged mother Fiona and a surprise sister, Zoe. What Fiona reveals will rock her world and her sense of self—and reawaken her long-dormant mysterious power. 

Witch Hunt is a story with a whole lot going on. Violet is still mourning the loss of her grandmother and just trying to get through life. Her best friend and neighbor is acting strange, her boyfriend is being distant, and the queen of the town council is harping on many of them about their businesses. Once said council member is found murdered everything gets even more complicated. It seems everyone has secrets, including Violet's family. A magical heritage and new dangers are added to the list of problems to be faced, and the stakes keep rising. I thought Carla's murder and the surrounding mystery was well done, and while I had some suspicions as things unraveled, it was an interesting ride to the reveal. The story line about Violet's family and witches in the world was good, but felt like it could have been its own book rather than a layer over the first murder. I felt like the witchy reveal, and the problems that it could bring, will include more murder and mystery in the next volume- but I already have a suspect in mind for several possible issues that might arise. I really enjoyed several aspects of the story, and the writing style was nice. I just think there was too much going on layered over each other for what I was in the mood for when I picked up this title. 

Witch Hunt is a well written mystery with many layers to unravel.

This is a nice start to a new series that is as much about learning about yourself as it is about the murder mystery.  Violet's Full Moon Shop has crystals and other new age things and she's very proud of it.  Carla, a member of the town council, is not happy and the two of them argue.  Cozy readers know that Carla is going to be found dead, that Violet will be a suspect, and that there's more than one person who didn't like Carla.  What's different is that while this is going on, Violet is surprised by her mother Fiona, who she has not seen since she was five, and Zoe, a sister she's never met.  Fiona informs Violet that she is part witch, which explains, Violet realizes, a number of things.  Fiona's been living in another realm (don't worry, this doesn't get too deep into it) so the two of them, along with Zoe, get to know one another. It's a classic with a twist.  Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.  I'm looking forward to the next one.

I’ve been on a reading binge of cozy paranormals, and this was a first for this author for me. At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book. It seemed a little slow, but not bad. Then, after the murder, things really picked up. By the last half, and especially by the end, I knew this was going to become a favorite. This book was well-written, I loved the very quirky characters, and the plot was very engaging. I kept guessing who had done it, and I was completely wrong. However, the journey to the end was fun. I really liked this book, and I can’t wait to see what the next one will bring. Highly recommend! I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

I thoroughly enjoy this author as Liz Mugavero, but this new genre just missed me. For me it was uneven, with strident feminist sensibilities and a confused and unsure direction.  I was disappointed  me because the whimsy that usually accompanies a 'witchcraft' cozy was either missing or flat.  I will try again with one in the future, but there is a lot to redeem to be as good as the author's other series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.  The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Impressive introduction to new cozy series that combines mystery with magic. At 32, crystal shop owner, Violet, discovers she is a witch and holds the center in an assortment of captivating characters and intriguing situations. Cate Conte applies her bewitching skill to create a charming, and yes, “spellbinding” beginning to her Full Moon Mysteries.

I received an arc of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 
I thought that this book was good, but it didn't really suck me in. I quite enjoyed the beginning where we are introduced to our main character Violet. Her grandmother has recently passed away and she is dealing with that along with running her own crystal shop. Fiona and Zoe were quite the characters, and I liked that there is a whole nother world where witches live. I also liked that after Violet is brought in for questioning in a murder we get to find out that a lot of the people that live in town are magical as well. I do wish that we could have gotten more about them, It was just kind of mentioned then nothing else really came of it. 
It also seemed that Violet couldn't really trust anyone in town, even her best friend and boyfriend were hiding things. 
I really didn't have any idea who the actual murderer was. Cate Conte did a wonderful job keeping me guessing. I do wish we could have gotten a bit more after the murderer was revealed. The person was caught, then in the next chapter Violet is becoming a part of the witch counsil.. We didn't get to see what led up to that decision so I felt like I missed something. Then Zoe and Fiona are moving into Violets grandmas house, and everything just seemed infinished I guess? im not sure exactly. 
But I do think that I liked it enough to check out the next book in the series and see how I feel about it.

DNF @ 25%. Unfortunately this was just not the book for me. Violet drove me up a wall. She was willfully naive and it made me batty! Just not a good fit for me.

This was my first paranormal cozy mystery, and my first book by this author...I'm so happy to say it will not be my last! I enjoyed everything about this book - the twists and turns, the world build of our heroine's estranged mother - all of it.

4.5 stars

This is the first book in the Full Moon Crystal Shop Mysteries series by Cate Conte.

A lot of the books I have been picking up lately have been dealing with the death of a loved one. I know this might be a normal thing for cozies but I guess since I have been going through something similar the plot point is just standing out to me more. Violet has to deal with the death of her grandmother and at the same time, the pendent she has worn constantly broke and in the breaking released Violet from a binding spell that was keeping her and her mother apart without her even knowing. There is a whole world in her grandmother’s and mother’s life that she never knew about. One fact of which is the fact that Violet is a witch from a powerful line of witches. What a secret to keep. Wow.

I enjoyed this book and thought it was a great beginning to a series. I am indeed intrigued and want more. The mystery was thought provoking and I liked all the family drama. In a lot of cozies, the family dynamic is lacking. This has it in spades.

If you are looking for a cozy with a bit of a parnormal slant, this is for you!

Also, if you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. What a fun read!

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Such a fun light hearted mystery. A beautiful setting, quirky characters, and a magical mystery all rolled into a web of words that keeps the reader engaged until the very last page. Can to wait to see what else the author has in store for these characters.

A wonderful debut to the new series! A crystal shop, a new witch, a murder mystery that keeps one guessing, a mysterious black cat which keeps appearing, and glitter!!!
Well-portrayed characters and well-concocted story make Witch Hunt a must-read for all cozy fans. Absolutely entertaining and engrossing cozy series debut!

My favorite cozy mystery is a paranormal one. And my favorite type of paranormal cozy is when a witch is just coming into her powers. I have read many of these so maybe because of that I’m being a bit harder on Witch Hunt by Cate Conte than others who have read it. But since I’ve read so many good paranormal series (Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Bewitching Mysteries by Madelyn Alt, and Wishcraft Mysteries by Heather Blake to name a few) Witch Hunt just didn’t leave me satisfied.
 
Cozies are notorious for the main character to reiterate information over and over while they try to work out what’s happening and which one of the people in their town is the killer. The good cozies also incorporate character growth and in depth details about the town or other historical facts while doing so. This is what makes the cozy series so enjoyable, learning new things about history or hobbies and finding characters that you could see yourself becoming friends with and wanting to invest your time reading future books with them in it. For me, Witch Hunt didn’t do this. Violet kept repeating the same information over and over but we didn’t get much history or growth of characters. Now it is the first book in a series so that could be overlooked, but Cate Conte aka Liz Mugavero has two other cozy mystery series out (Cat Cafe Mysteries and Pawsitively Organic Mysteries), so she knows how to write a cozy.
 
As for the magical aspect I was really enjoying the way the witches could move themselves and other objects through space and time… some while leaving a glitter trail! In a lot of witch cozies their powers are not as advanced. They might have premonitions or make magical potions, but to be able to teleport, that’s a very big power. 
But I wanted more of the magic and magical townspeople. Conte does give us information on various crystals and a bit of history about witches, which was wonderful, but I wanted more. When Violet meets other magical townsfolk, it’s just to move the story along and we really don’t learn much about them. And there is division in the ranks of the witch world with someone trying to keep Violet from claiming her heritage, but while it’s talked about at the beginning nothing comes of it, and at the end of the book all is good.
 
I may give book two in the series a read, but I won’t rush out to get it and it would probably sit on my TBR pile for awhile.

Loved reading this book. Cate is a great author and when I started to read this book. I couldn't put it down. I recommend this book. Hopefully there will be more in this series

Witch Hunt is a very enjoyable first book in a new cozy mystery series. I love cozy mysteries about witches, so this book was perfect for me. I honestly couldn't put the book down, it was that good. The main character, Violet, is very likeable. I also like her mother, Fiona, and her sister, Zoe. I'm looking forward to seeing how Violet's relationship with both of those characters evolves as the series goes on. As for the murder mystery itself, the author kept me guessing until the killer was revealed. I can't wait for the next book in the series so I can see how Violet adjusts to her magical life and see more of her interactions with her new extended family. 

Note: I voluntarily read a free copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are mine alone.