I am going to start by saying that I think that cozy mysteries may just not be for me anymore. I have read a few lately and none have gotten above 3 stars for me. So if you enjoy cozy mysteries and you aren't going to critically read this book it might be for you. Additionally I did receive an ARC of this book and am reading it prior to release so some things may have been changed.
That being said, as someone who did critically read this book there are some things I didn't love. Hayley and her husband Bruce feel like they play too much into gender roles for me. She is the well meaning but slightly overbearing and busy body who has to stick her nose into everything. Bruce is the reluctant husband who has to be nagged into doing things constantly. Like there is a whole side plot where Bruce starts smoking. Hayley wants him to stop, tells him to stop and buys several things in order to basically force him to do so. They are both adults they should just talk about it. Also Hayley's brother in law Sergio is hispanic which is cool because yay diversity. But we get told not one but 3 separate times by different characters that English is his second language. This is the 13th book in the series, there has to be a better way to address the representation. I totally get that readers will probably pick up the books in a random order (I did) so you can't just front load the information and expect people to remember. But the way this is done starts teetering out of positive representation. The last negative thing I want to address is that the character who dies is seemingly sexually assaulted or at least repeatedly put into uncomfortable situations by the Reverend of the town. He is married but obviously is very into her. He ignores all of her cues and attempts to distance herself. The last time we see them together he has cornered her in her food truck and is trying to kiss her. And then after she dies he is the speaker at her funeral and continues to act openly into her. To the books credit, this is never treated as purely okay. It is depicted as pretty cringy and the main character does try to rescue her from a situation or two of the Reverend being cringy. But the Reverend has no true consequences for his actions. His wife blows up on him publicly a couple times ( good) but in the end they are together and it's treated like a midlife crisis. I get that this isn't the type of book to try to make a statement. But if you aren't going to make a statement you shouldn't be including clearly problematic things like this. There is no point and it does very little to further the story. There is also a surprise twin reveal, and I hate that. But that's probably more if a me thing.
I know it seems like I am being pretty harsh. But it's because this book could just be a fun time. It has a lot of great bones. I think the plotline with her daughter the boyfriend is nice. I think the mystery aspect was written decently and the reveal was surprising while making sense. The articles and recipes are cute. There is also minor but nice and non problematic queer rep. And I could probably deal with most of my problems with the book ( except the Reverend stuff) if it occurred on it's own. The problem is multiple things that are all slightly not great all at once. I think with some adjustments this book could have been something I would have enjoyed. As this is an ARC I am going to hold out some hope that maybe some of my problems will be addressed before it's official release.
Thank you to Net Galley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This author always delivers the goods.
A good cozy mystery with entertaining characters.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

This is the first book by Lee Hollis I've read and I wasn't disappointed. I liked everything about the book. The storyline flows effortlessly and the characters are interesting. I found myself laughing out loud at times. I'll be reading more in this series.

This is the 13th book in the Hayley Powell series. This series just keeps getting better. I loved the Halloween theme and definitely will be rereading this around the holiday. There is a new food truck in town called Wicked Wiches that serves sandwiches. The woman that owns and her husband are new to town and she is thrilled when she gets asked to cater an annual Halloween Wicked Witches ball. All is going well until Hayley and her daughter, Gemma, find her dead in her food truck. I loved that Gemma was involved with helping Hayley solve the case. The mystery was great. I had suspicions of where the story was heading but was wrong each time. I love the way everything came together. A five star read. I received a copy of this book from net galley in exchange for an honest review.

One of my favorite series. Read it in 1 day. When someone is murdered. Hayley sets out to find the killer before they kill again. Don't want to give out any spoilers. Read the book to find out.

The 13th installment of the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktail mystery series. Appropriate for #13 is a Halloween themed mystery. A new couple comes to town Ted and Trudy Lancaster with him being a minister and Trudy a food truck operator called the Wicked Witches. Hayley and Trudy strike up an immediate friendship and Hayley is shocked when Trudy is found dead in her food truck while she was catering a Halloween event. The police believe it is accidental, but Hayley does not believe it to be so. She is determined to get to the bottom of this and find the killer. I love holiday themed mysteries and this one certainly did not disappoint. The story keeps you engaged, and I did not figure this one out until the end. Enjoyable read.

Hayley makes a new friend who is swiftly murdered and Hayley decides to do some investigating. This time we get to meet Hayley's daughter and her boyfriend who are visiting from out of state.

There are plenty of suspects and red herrings. The characters are fun as is the Halloween theme. There's also lots of talk about food which is always a bonus.

A nice addition to the series and I look forward to the next one.

I always look forward to reading Hayley Powell books from author Lee Hollis, and the holiday themed ones are especially fun! The most recent, Death of a Wicked Witch, finds Hayley making a new friend, Trudy, only to discover her lifeless body at the big Halloween party in town. Hayley's devastated at the loss, and embarks on a mission to prove that Trudy was murdered, and to catch the culprit. A fast paced read, filled with the usual cast of fun characters and scrumptious food and drink recipes - 5 stars!

I love Halloween themed books and this one doesn’t disappoint. Definitely made me wish it was October. And all the talk of sandwiches made me hungry.

I haven't read much by Lee Hollis so I went in with no expectations. The plot ran smooth and the characters were ones I would go back and visit again. It was definitely a page turner for sure!

Lee Hollis is a talented author and I just love Halloween and fall themed cozies, so when I saw Death of a Wicked Witch, I just knew I had to get it! In this edition of a Hayley Powell Mystery a new couple moves to town. The husband is a minister and the wife owns a food truck called Wicked ‘Wiches. Sadly, tragedy strikes when the food truck owner is found dead in her truck shortly after arriving to town while catering at the local Halloween Ball. Costumes and flimsy leads make this mystery difficult to unravel, but Hayley won’t give up until she gets justice for her new found friend. This who-dunnit is well -crafted with red-herrings and misdirection along the way. Five stars.

Hayley Powell and the Bar Harbor locals are welcoming a new minister to replace their retiring pastor. When Haley meets the new minister’s wife, Trudy, she not only makes a new friend but Bar Harbor has gained a second food truck in town. While the locals rejoice, the owner of the other food truck is not happy with competition rolling into town.

When Trudy is found dead in her food truck, the police treat it as an accidental death, but Hayley and the new pastor suspect murder. But the police won’t declare it murder without evidence, so Hayley sets out to find justice for her new friend and puts herself in the killer’s path.

This series always has a solid storyline and mystery with red herrings and enough suspects to keep you changing your mind up until the very end. Be sure to check out the recipes throughout the story, they are scrumptious!

Death of a Wicked Witch by Lee Hollis is an excellent fall-themed cozy mystery which is the 13th installment of A Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery Series.

I love, love, love this series set in the cute coastal town of Bar Harbor, Maine. I love Hayley and Bruce and have read this entire series. By this point, I really feel as if I am a part of the family!

This newest book did not disappoint. It had the hilarious one-liners, dialogue, banter, and plot that I have come to expect from this collection of books. I also love anything Halloween, so I was even more excited to visit the town in a Halloween mood.

I loved the murder/mystery plot and did not figure out who the culprit was until closer to the reveal at the end. It was pretty creative if you ask me.

I love Hayley and Bruce as always and am glad the Gemma and Connor got to play a larger part as well. I also loved the sweet surprise at the end of the book. It definitely sets it up for the next one!

Excellent 5/5 stars

This is what a cozy mystery should be.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

This is a great series, and each book just makes me feel a little closer to Hayley and her family.
When Ted and Trudy Lancaster roll into town, Hayley is excited for the potential new friend she has in Trudy.
Fast forward to the big Halloween party, a tragic death, and a murder investigation.
Add a pinch of dating woes, a scorned wanna be lover and stir.

This is a perfect book to escape into.

Trudy and Ted Lancaster have just taken up residence in Bar Harbor, Maine where Ted is going to be a minister and Trudy is going to run a food truck. Island Times reporter Hayley is impressed with Trudy’s culinary skills and the two quickly become friends. But events take a tragic turn when Trudy is found dead in her food truck at a halloween party and a grumpy competitor becomes the prime suspect. Hayley’s husband saw a person dressed as a witch running away from the scene, but it’s halloween and were plenty of people dressed that way. Can Hayley find the real culprit and avenge her friend?

I love visiting with Hayley Powell and her family and friends. This new one is a Halloween one too, which are always good fun. The plot and murder were well-crafted, making it difficult to guess the murderer. Some family uproar also added to the chaos of Hayley's life. As always, the recipes sounded tempting to try. This is a fun series, and this edition of the saga was a great read.
I received an Advance Review Copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

I love this series and recently read all the books in order. Hayley is a star and I'm so excited for the wedding!