A review by slferg
Witch Way to Murder: An Ophelia and Abby Mystery by Shirley Damsgaard

4.0

Ophelia Jensen is a small town librarian. She has been living here several years near her grandmother Abby. Abby is a witch, healing woman, whatever. Ophelia, too, has the gift but doesn't want to use it. She feels betrayed since her best friend was killed and her grandfather died. After all, what's the use of magick if you can't save those you love? Why should the visions of death cause such pain, and you can't do anything about it. So she quit her library job at the University and moved to this small town since they needed a librarian. She has shut out everyone except her grandmother, not wanting to feel such pain again. Then a "chemical salesman" (that's what he claims) comes to town, Rick asks lots of questions and goes through the archives of the local paper. Abby "reads" him and decides that he's a good person, but there is a circle of evil drawing closer around him and Ophelia and Ophelia will have to acknowledge her powers and use them to save the both of them. Ophelia goes to the woods to think and discovers a body - that she had dreamed of a few days before. She was very upset and her assistant at the library, Darcy, had asked Rick to follow her and be sure she was alright.

Things keep happening. And Ophelia is surprised to learn that she is loosening up and starting to let people in. Darcy refuses to be shut out and offended when Ophelia is rude to her and Ophelia learns to accept people caring for her. Her cat Queenie and her dog Lady (part wolf) are very protective of her and knows when she's had disturbing dreams and needs soothing.

Delightful tale. I'll probably read more of them and watch Ophelia's continuing development and acceptance of her magickal powers.