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Midsummer Night's Mischief on July 26, 2016 Pages: 352
Format: eARC
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As the Summer Solstice approaches in idyllic Edindale, Illinois, attorney Keli Milanni isn’t feeling the magic. She’s about to land in a cauldron of hot water at work. Good thing she has her private practice to fall back on–as a Wiccan. She’ll just have to summon her inner Goddess and set the world to rights. . .
Midsummer Eve is meant for gratitude and celebration, but Keli is not in her typically upbeat mood. The family of a recently deceased client is blaming her for the loss of a Shakespearean heirloom worth millions, and Keli’s career may be on the line. With both a Renaissance Faire and a literary convention in town, Edindale is rife with suspicious characters, and the intrepid attorney decides to tap into her unique skills to crack the case. . .
But Keli weaves a tangled web when her investigation brings her up-close and personal with her suspects–including sexy Wes Callahan, her client’s grandson. The tattooed bartender could be the man she’s been looking for in more ways than one. As the sun sets on the mystical holiday, Keli will need just a touch of the divine to ferret out the real villain and return Edindale, and her heart, to a state of perfect harmony. . .
1) What does your writing space look like?
At the moment, it’s not very pretty! I work at an old beat-up computer desk in a home office I share with my husband and 13-year-old daughter. But I plan to smarten up the space with fresh paint and a new desk as soon as we finish building my husband’s new office in our basement. Can’t wait!
2) Do you write on a schedule or whenever inspiration strikes?
I used to be more of an inspiration-based writer, but now that I have a publishing contract with real deadlines I need to be more disciplined. I also have a day job, so my writing schedule is somewhat predetermined by the hours left in the day.
3) What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I like to read all kinds of books, both fiction and nonfiction–but mostly mysteries! I also like to hang out with my family and spend time outside, whether it’s a walk to the park or a hike in the woods.
4) What was your inspiration for Midsummer Night’s Mischief?
In a way, Shakespeare was one of my inspirations. I wanted the mystery to revolve around the theft of something valuable, and Shakespeare’s First Folio is one of the most valuable rare books in the world. I also wanted to include an element of natural magic, since my main character is Wiccan. So, the title has multiple meanings: It’s a play on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (which, of course, has magic as a central theme). And it’s also a reference to the Wiccan holiday Midsummer, which falls on the summer solstice.
5) If you could write from anywhere in the world, where would you write from and why?
In a cabin in the woods… preferably with a maid and personal chef on site! Nature is so inspiring. I would love to have the luxury to step out my door and take a mind-clearing walk in the woods anytime I want to. But the most important part of this scenario is the absence of distractions.
6) What are you currently working on?
Book #3 in my series, The Wiccan Wheel Mysteries. Book #2 is already in production (it comes out at the end of this year), so my focus now is on creating the third book. It takes place around the winter solstice, so I really have to use my imagination to put myself in a wintry frame of mind!
Midsummer Night’s Mischief by Jennifer David Hesse is the first book in the new Wiccan Wheel Mystery series. I was so excited to have the chance to read this one. I loved the premise for this cozy ~ with a main character/amateur sleuth who is totally unique: she is a lawyer and a (secret) Wiccan. Also, I didn’t feel like the Wiccan aspect overwhelmed the story at all, it was a seamless part of the story.
Keli is an awesome protagonist. I felt right at home in Edindale. I loved reading this story and seeing how the mystery would play out. I was sad about the death of the client. It was a character that I enjoyed so I ended up missing. This was a great mystery and I couldn’t help getting swept up in the story right from the start. I can tell this is a series I am going to continue to follow. I’m already looking forward to the next book to come!
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“Midsummer Night’s Mischief” sounds like an intriguing read. Looking forward to reading the book.