Chili Cauldron Curse (Kitchen Witch Mysteries #0.5) by Lynn Cahoon #bookreview #mystery
Title: Chili Cauldron Curse
Author: Lynn Cahoon
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: August 25, 2020
Page Count: 102
My rating: 3 1/2 stars
About the book:
Meet a new cozy star with her own special brand of culinary magic in this first story in New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon’s Kitchen Witch series.
When Mia Malone’s grandmother asks her to take a week away from her restaurant job and come to Magic Springs, Idaho, she’s happy to oblige. Like Mia, Grans has witchcraft running through her veins, and life with her is never boring. Plus, the cause is a good one—helping Grans get the local food bank up and running again. But there’s an unappetizing surprise in store. While Mia is knee-deep in boxes of donated produce, she encounters the body of Dorian Alexander.
Dorian was a warlock, leader of the local coven. He was also her Grans’ new beau. There’s no potion that’ll make this trouble disappear. But if Mia wants to keep her Grans—now a prime suspect—from serving a spell in prison, she’ll have to unearth the real killer fast. . . .
Chili Cauldron Curse by Lynn Cahoon is a prequel novella to the new paranormal cozy Kitchen Witch Mysteries series. As with most cozy series this first novella does have it’s own mystery to solve so it can be read as a standalone if choosing to do so. Of course the character development in this one will carry over to the rest of the series.
Mia Malone has traveled back to her hometown of Magic Springs, Idaho at the urging of her grandmother Mia fondly calls Grans. Mia’s family is far from normal with Mia inheriting her Grans magical abilities and she now uses that witchcraft to create her tasty culinary treats.
Mia quickly jumps in when she arrives in Magic Springs helping Grans get ready to open a local food bank up. However, Mia can’t help but notice a particular nasty smell coming from the boxes of food. Instead of some spoiled wares though Mia comes across a dead body and when her Grans becomes suspect #1 Mia knows she needs to find the real killer.
I have been a fan of Lynn Cahoon’s Farm-to-Fork Mystery series for a while now and have wanted to read more from her so of course I was excited to see a new series starting. This one is different from what I have read seeing that it has a paranormal twist with the protagonist being a witch so I was really excited to get going. My one complaint with this opener was it only being a novella it goes by really quickly so I felt like I’d barely gotten to know anyone in the series just yet. I’m going to give this opener three and a half stars simply because while I enjoyed it I was left wanting to know more still.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
Find this book online:
Goodreads / Amazon**
About the author:
Carries Book Reviews 
Nice review Carrie. This sounds like a fun albeit brief introduction.
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Thanks Kim! I have high hopes for the series since it’s a cozy with a witch as the lead.🙂
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I have noticed other series beginning with a short novella, and I agree, it doesn’t give you the depth you need to get invested in a new series. Do you think you’ll continue with the series anyway?
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Yes, I do plan on going onto the full length books in the series. I did like the characters the little bit I got to know them and I usually do enjoy cozies with a touch of paranormal plus I was already a fan of the author. 🙂
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I also read this one and then gave the first book a chance. I don’t think this series is for me, even though I enjoy many of Lynn Cahoon’s books. I agree with your comments Carrie, novellas don’t give me enough in most cases.
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Oh, sorry you didn’t enjoy them Carla! I know you aren’t a fan of the paranormal twists though so I’ll hold out hope I’ll still enjoy the series.
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That is exactly what it is for me Carrie. I know others that are really enjoying them.
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