Easy read , entertaining ( )

Fieldnotes:
Summerset Iowa, Contemporary (p.2005)

1 Curmudgeonly Small-Town Librarian (Mean rather than Heart of Gold Variety)
1 Sidekick Described Through Reference to Playboy by Page 9
1 Love Interest of the Early '00s Style "Obnoxious-Continued-Pursuit-In-The-Face-Of-Outright-Explicit-Rejection-Is-Charming-Proof-of-My-Affection-Not-Creepy" School of Wooing

1 Sadly Underused Dog and Cat
1 Witchy Grandmother
Suppressed Powers
Prophetic Dreams

1 Dead Body
1 Suspicious Fire at the Newspaper Office
1 Drug Trafficking Ring
Animal Death
1 Gunshot Wound
1 Confused Resolution ( )

what fun! Ophelia, a small town librarian who has been through some rough times in the past, is trying to ignore her witchcract gifts. Her grandmother, who lives in the same small town in Iowa, came from the Appalachians and enjoys her abilities as a healer, seer.. a witch. Great main and supporting characters, a modern mystery - and you have a quick, enjoyable read. I'll be getting the others in the series! ( )

Witch Way to Murder is the first book in Shirley Damsgaard's Ophelia and Abby cozy mystery series. Ophelia Jensen is the librarian for a small town in Iowa, Summerset. She fled there after the murder of her best friend, Brian, four years ago (see the prologue). Her maternal grandmother, Abby, is from Appalachia, but her late husband brought her to Summerset 53 years ago. The townsfolk think that Abby is an herbalist, but she's a witch. Ophelia has inherited the gift, but she lost all faith in magic after the deaths of Brian and her grandfather. Ophelia lives in her own Victorian Cottage with her rescue dog, Lady and her cat, Queenie. Ophelia's emotional condition reminds me of that old Simon and Garfunkel song, 'I am a Rock'. Abby and her pets appear to be the only chinks in Ophelia's wall. Our librarian fears that someone, someday, is going to find out and reveal Abby's secret.

Unlike the song, it's not a deep and dark December. It's only November, but snow is indeed falling on the day handsome, brown-eyed Richard 'Call me Rick' Davis enters her library. There's something off about him right away, so far as Ophelia is concerned. Her bubbly, stacked assistant librarian, Darci, doesn't notice. To Ophelia's alarm, Darci has recommended that Rick talk to Abby for the information he wants..

If Rick seems suspicious to Ophelia, the feeling is probably mutual. He doesn't know a. she's hated being touched since Brian's still-unsolved murder, and b. he's setting off her psychic early warning bells. If you're a sexy man, aren't you going to expect a lady to enjoy having you near instead of babbling and trying to get away from you? ( )

Ophelia and Abby are grandmother and granddaughter. They are also witches, tho the later reluctant and in denial. An instance in their past left Abby’s best friend Brian, dead and is the reason she shuns “the way” she is gifted with. But now the realm is askew, there is a new danger afoot. Fertilizer and anhydrous ammonia are being stolen from farmers. There is a stranger in town who asks too much, looks too hard and plays a bit too unfairly. Then the body shows up.

Abby blames herself for the death of Brian. Since that time, she has shut herself off from physical and emotional contact outside her grandmother. (A fact that is repeated way too often throughout the book.) But current events necessitate the need for a confidant and someone to watch her back. After a few beers, some pizza and a near all-nighter, that need is met.

It's kinda the cliche love/hate relationship between Ophelia and stranger-in-town Rick, but there is so much else going on, you don't mind. Abby & Darci (co-worker at library with Ophelia) are my favorite characters. Fun, bawdy and totally on the ball.

I liked Abby's use of herbs (accurately) and her gentle ways, Ophelia gets on your nerves after a while, Darci..love her, and Rick was a nice add-in. The closer to the climax of the book, the faster the pages turned. It was a one day read, due to the action-filled ending. I sure hope now that Ophelia has accepted life as it is, the next book will be less "woe is me" and more of what made this one exciting. And I do intend to read the next one to see. ( )