Bait and Witch

Bait and Witch is the first book in a new cozy mystery series and I am so glad because I need more right away!


Josie has loved books as long as she can remember. So much so, she got a librarian’s dream job at the Library of Congress. Then one day, she overhears a shady deal being with the Senator’s chief of staff. After Josie takes the information up the chain of command, she doesn’t feel safe and flees to small-town Oregon for a librarian job.

Upon her arrival, Josie stumbles upon a dead body in the woods and fears she has been found. Not only does Josie have to deal with that fear, she also just found out the library is on the verge of being sold.


I loved the small-town setting of this book. Books, a cat, a witch, it pretty much has everything I would ask for. I enjoyed trying to figure out who was guilty of murder and who in the town I could trust in general.

The little side stories of the townspeople added a nice touch to the book. It really helped bring the town of Wilfred to life.

I would have liked more information about Rodney the cat and his connection to Josie with the same birthmark. I’m hoping that’s something we can find out about as the series continues!

Charming, supernatural, cozy mystery!
Fans of The Aurora Teagarden Mysteries will enjoy this!

Bait and Witch is the first book in a new cozy mystery series. When librarian Josie moves to the quirky small town of Wilfred, spooky things start happening, and she learns she's a descendant from witches. The library is housed in an old, Victorian home where the books have magical powers. With the help of Rodney the library cat, and a fun cast of characters, they work together to solve the town's secrets.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for sending me an advanced copy!

Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders is an excellent new cozy mystery series that I truly devoured from beginning to end. I absolutely loved this book. It has it all: an excellent murder/mystery plot, fantastic cast of characters, wonderful/quirky small town in Oregon, wonderful main female character, and a perfect addition of a magical component. It also involves books (I love anything that has to do with libraries!) It has been a long time since I have been able to find a new cozy mystery series that I have been excited about (I have a few well established older series that I love of course), and this definitely checked every box for me.

Josie Way makes her way to a small out of the way town in Oregon in hopes of hiding out under the radar after informing law enforcement of a corrupt government bribe/deal while at work. To keep her family safe, she takes a job for a small town librarian in Wilifred. Little does she know that this action creates a cascade of events that ultimately helps change this town, for the better, forever and also in the process, helps her find herself.

I loved Josie. She is smart, she is feisty, she has a moral compass, and I love her loyalty to her newfound friends, and her family. I loved the addition of her family history and ancestors and their "powers" and finding out that the females in her lineage (including herself) are witches. I thought it was tasteful, well-incorporated, and a great addition to the book.

I also loved the murder /mystery plot. I love the old library, the full character cast with complex interactions and histories, and I loved the ending. There is so much wonderful material to draw from for future books for this series.

I have to say my favorite character (yes, even more so then Josie) is Rodney. How can one not love a fabulous black cat with a warm/feisty personality.

Everything about this book is perfect and everything that a cozy mystery should be. I cannot recommend this enough and I cannot wait until the next book is out.

5/5 stars enthusiastically.

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, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

This is the first book that I’ve read by this author, Angela M. Sanders but it won’t be the last. Before I was half way finished I was already looking for more books by Ms. Sanders. I loved this book…it took me away from my mind doldrums of nothing to do and a half dozen books that just didn’t catch my attention. I liked the library setting and the books that talked to Josie. Rodney, the cat, was certainly refreshing in a sea of interchangeable familiars. I enjoyed the small-town atmosphere and characters. While the book may not have been perfect (as pointed out by several reviewers), this book caught and kept my interest through the entire book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!