I received this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. In The Fifth Petal, Brunonia Barry takes us on a picturesque yet rather dark trip through Salem, MA. We meet some quirky characters, and if you've read The Lace Reader, you'll see some familiar faces as well. The story starts out rather slow, and doesn't pick up until near the end, where it races almost too quickly toward the finish line. I feel like this was a book that was ALMOST great, it just needed a bit more here, a little less there. I would have liked more depth to the characters, and less descriptions of places that had little to do with the story. The historical facts were interesting, and I enjoyed learning more of the witch trials. At times, questioning the why of something made my head hurt, but also made me think, which is always good. Overall, a good book if you're into witches, history, and psychology.

This book was very suspenseful. You really got to know the characters! I loved the history of the occult and witchcraft.!

The Fifth Petal is a mystery thriller surrounding a murder. The book starts off where a murder has happened in modern-day Salem on Halloween. The accused is an older homeless woman named Rose. She claims she is was supernatural forces of an evil banshee that did it, making people thinks she’s not only crazy, but lying as well. Rose is connected to the goddesses murders of ’89 and the recent crime bears striking similarities. Who is telling the truth and who is lying?

Among the many key players in this novel the book mainly focuses on Rafferty, a skeptical cop and Callie, a woman who knew Rose at the time of the ’89 murders, and Rose who claims that evil spirits are at hand. The mystery slowly unravels as Callie moves back to Salem. She finds herself at home, but also feels that the city is foreign to her. Callie’s further investigation into the murders forces her to confront the past that she’s tried to leave behind in Salem. She’s also confronted with using her” gifts” as a therapist which may be something more as she meets other townsfolk that have otherworldly powers. Everyone in Salem has their secrets and some are more deadly than others.

As callie retraces the steps of the past and the accusations against rose things becomes more dangerous as she gets more answers. by being more in tune with her gifts she is able to seek out better clues.

The Fifth Petal starts out a bit slow, moves into a gradual pace, but still has a tendency to drag at times. I enjoyed the mystery aspects and how title of the book comes into play as the petals plays a strong role in a tie between the victims and their witch ancestors. As Callie retraces the steps of the past and the accusations against rose things become more dangerous as she gets more answers. This suspense keeps the reader on edge as the plot is full of many twists and turns.

I’m not sure how accurate the history in the book is but it was interesting to read about Salem’s history and I learned a lot of things. The plot builds up to a climactic ending that is satisfying and engrossing. All in all I liked this book. I felt it was well written, the characters are complex, and the mystery is one big puzzle. But I still thought the book was just “okay”. It wasn’t really what I am used to reading (which was fine), but it failed to grab my attention at times.

*This is the second book by the author that is set in Salem. It read like a standalone (to me), did not realize this was a series prior to Netgalley request.

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Different than what I thought it was going to be, in a good way. Very much enjoyed the twists.

It was a long wait for Brunonia Barry to get us a new novel. It was well worth the wait. I loved the Salem history and how well the story was written. This was a great mystery novel and I especially loved the witch and psychic aspects.

This book is an excellent book for fans of gothic literature, Halloween, Salem and witches. Its essentially a mystery but so much more. After reading it, I learned there are other books in this series and I can't wait to check out Barry's other books. I love the multi generation links to the past and present with the witch trials. This is definitely a book for fans of mystery and people who enjoy a spot atmosphere. I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. Opinions are my own. This book well deserve 5 stars out of 5.

Review published on June 1, 2017 on Goodreads

I read Ms. Barry's first book The Lace Reader and loved it. This book didn't have the same oompf for me, but there were eight years between me reading the first and second books. I often wonder if my tastes change---just something to consider. The book was still interesting and well-written, the characters developed and the sprinkling of 'witch' history that was included was informative.

Thank you to the author, her publisher Crown Publishing and Netgalley.com for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this novel.

It is the second book in the series, but the author suggests new readers to read The Fifth Petal before the others. I like the witches, mystery and detective combination. I was hoping it was more balance.

The first part of the book is very boring, I think it was only there to build up or explain the story. The second and third parts of the book are a little more interesting, but there are still many slow and boring scenes. Callie and Paul's romance story is weird. There is nothing to cheer for those two to be together. I would only recommend this book to those who love a witch story.

2.5 out of 5 stars
Received a free copy from Blogging for Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Spooky 'The Fifth Petal' will bewitch readers
By SANDY MAHAFFEY THE FREE LANCE–STAR
A 17th-century hanging of five witches in Salem, a 1989 murder of three women who called themselves “the Goddesses” and a contemporary murder of a young boy who was harassing a homeless woman all seem to be connected in Brunonia Barry’s “The Fifth Petal.”

The Salem witch trials have always fascinated and appalled me, so just reading the book jacket drew me in and the well-constructed story was quite compelling. Readers who do not enjoy tales involving visions, intuition, premonitions, healers, witchcraft and sound therapy might not find it as appealing.

Salem has never been able to fully escape its dark history, which plays a large role—in the setting and in the characters, creating many unexpected twists. In 2014, witchcraft plays a large role in the town’s economy, but, behind the scenes, many are judged by the deeds, alleged or real, of their ancestors.

Because of the latest murder, Callie Cahill returns to Salem after many years away. She was the young child of one of the murdered Goddesses in 1989. The nuns who took her in told her her “aunt” Rose had also died. She actually survived, but has never fully recovered mentally from the experience. She is convinced a banshee killed the women and now inhabits her. She has always been a suspect in the cold case and the new murder once again brings her to the forefront.

Infinitely interesting read. Oh, we are all fascinated by Salem and witches and the horrors of the Puritans. It begins in elementary school. It ends here though. Fascination fulfilled

I started this book but put it down when I found that it was about witches. That is just not my reading style. For some reason, I did not get that info from the blurb that I read.

The Fifth Petal is book two in the Lace Readers Series set in Salem Mass.
The first book is excellent and I highly recommend reading the first as well as this masterful mystery.
In this next in series located in Salam Mass. a murder occurs in the same location that has ties to another unsolved murder related to the Salam Witch trials. The local police chief and a daughter of the original victims begin to investigate . The police chief is married to a lace reader who is assisting in the case and has ties to the community of relatives of witches burned at the witch trials. . As the plot deepens the history of the Salam Witch trials and another murder of three women related to the victims brings forth new clues, suspicion and plot twists.
The twist and turns of this mystery are a mystery lovers delight as the past intersects with the present in this outstanding addition to the series. The author is brilliant at weaving the story, characters and location into a perfection of clues and history. I highly recommend this next in series.

On Halloween night a young punk died under mysterious circumstances. The whole town blamed the local eccentric, Rose Whalen. This wasn't the first time that Rose was involved in a shocking murder. Twenty-five years ago that very night Rose was there for the "Goddess Murders" -- three young Salem women were brutally murdered and Rose was one of the only witnesses, the other witness was the young daughter of one of the Goddesses. The Goddesses were three beautiful young women who had bewitched the men of Salem. Nobody really believed that Rose murdered the Goddesses, but she was placed in psychiatry care because she said that it was a Banshee, a figure of Irish folklore, had killed the Goddesses.

Callie Cahill is a music therapist in the Boston area. She grew up in an orphanage run by nuns after her mother was killed that night in Salem. She is shocked to see Rose on the news because she believed that she was killed that night, too. Callie drops everything to go to Salem for Rose. There she encounters Towner Whitney and her husband, Sherriff Rafferty. Rafferty reopens up the Goddess murders and seeks the truth. What will happen to the historic families of Salem when the truth is revealed?

I read Brunonia Barry's first novel, The Lace Reader, what seems like a million years ago. I was excited for The Fifth Petal because I was excited to return her version of Salem. Towner and Rafferty are now married and Rafferty has a pretty significant role in this book. As Callie is there to help Rose she finds herself getting involved with the son of one of the wealthy Salem families and I really did not care for him. He was a bit of an ass, in my opinion. Callie was a more likable character and I felt she deserved better. I didn't fully understand how she could just up and leave her life in the city to be there for Rose. The logistics of that are never fully explained and leave a bit of a gap, but not enough to keep you from enjoying the story. I had the "whodunit" figured out pretty early, but didn't really have any "proof" of it until the very end. -- CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS

Bottom line --Even though there were some gaps in the plot, I enjoyed The Fifth Petal. I enjoyed the quirky, eccentric characters that the author has created in the historical community of Salem. I know there is going to be another book in this series and I can't wait!

On Halloween night a teenaged boy dies unexpected, and some town members blame Rose Whelan.
Rose Whelan also happened to have been involved in an unsolved murder case from 1989.

Callie Cahill had thought Rose to be dead, so she returns to Salem for the first time since she was taken away when she was 5.

While some people thought Rose killed the young man, and the "Goddesses" many years before, Callie loved Rose like a mother and insists she didn't kill the goddesses but rescued Callie from the person who did.

John Rafferty, Salem's sheriff, also thinks Rose is innocent. He wants to help Callie find the missing piece of the puzzle or the "Fifth Petal" of the rose. However, the town is beginning to think he is biased, and his time to solve the riddle is running short.

The Fifth Petal is the third in a series of books that circles around the same town and characters. I have not read the first two books in the series, but it didn't stop me from enjoying the tale.

I felt for Callie and for Rose. I with they could have both had a happier ending.

I was pretty sure I had figure out who the real killer was, and I turned out to be right.

There were a couple of side characters in the novel I wish I could have gotten to know better. If there is ever another book featuring them I will probably read it.

I give this novel a 4 out of 5.

A book like this can end up going so many different ways: diving too much into magic, becoming cheesy, becoming ridiculous, etc. The Fifth Petal luckily found a way to tell it's story and keep readers engaged the entire time. I love that fact that I repeatedly tried to guess what was going to happen and ended up being wrong. This book is great for anyone interested in historical fiction or stories around the Salem witch trials.

This book was alright. It kept me semi entertained. I don't know if I just want in the mood for this book or what but i just couldn't stay in the story. I might give it another try in the future and see if my review changes

I think this book was well written. It was an interesting premise of a historical event that is still on the mind of many fascinated by the Salem Witch trials. I think the details in the book were helpful to bring the reader up to speed of the story while adding a spin on the tale. I think for me, the pacing was slow at points. And while details are necessary, there were more details than I cared to read. I also didn't realize this was part of a series. So while the book stands alone, it would have helped me feel like I wasn't missing something had I read the first book.

I have just five words for you, my readers: You Must Read This Book! The Fifth Petal is a fascinating mystery involving witches and pirates and old oak trees. It all takes place in Salem, Massachusetts where questions seem to lurk around every corner. Rafferty is the local police chief, who took over the job just a few years after the infamous Goddess murders. He still feels the burden of the unsolved mystery, which occurred on Halloween. Years later, a young man dies on Halloween night and the same person was at the scene. Her name is Rose. Rose is a homeless woman who before the Goddess murders was a highly respected researcher. She was like a mother to the Goddesses and they lived in her home.

Callie is the center of this story. Her mother Olivia was one the Goddesses who was murdered. Rose was like an aunt to Callie and did more to raise her than her mother did. Callie was 5 when her mother was killed and she was at the scene when it happened. The murders left her with physical and emotional scars, and the trauma of the murders blocked out many of her memories of the time. After being taken in by nuns and shuffled arounds through foster homes, she becomes a music therapist. The nuns had told her Rose was dead, so imagine her shock when she sees Rose on the evening news being accused of the murder of a young man. Callie knows she must go to Rose but she cannot possibly foresee how meeting her again will change her life.

What did I like about this book? Everything! The characters in the story are loaded with personality and very likable. The story itself is loaded with twists and turns that keep the reader fully engaged. A lot of Salem history is cleverly incorporated and the descriptions immerse the reader in the place. There was nothing I didn’t like about this book, except that it left me wanting more. This is book 2 in a series and I can’t wait for news of book 3. I highly recommend you check this one out.

I'm not sure how to classify this book.. there's a little sci fi/ little romance/ little history. I never read the first book in this series, and still found book two to be easy to follow or independent of the story line of one.

I must be on a witch kick because this is the second of three witch books that I'm currently reviewing. I liked this one, but it was maybe a little too romantically stereotypical for me. Damaged girl falls for wealthy handsome man.. His family doesn't accept her and she can't get over her demons.

It was entertaining though. If you are looking for an easy romantic book to curl up with, this one is a good option. 4 stars

A history lesson and mystery rolled into one! Who could ask for more! Very enjoyable and kept me guessing until the end!