Murder Like Magic

Being able to read minds should make it pretty easy to solve crimes, right? Right?

A sort-of-telepathic witch-slash-PI takes on a murder case in this light urban fantasy mystery, perfect for fans of A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer.

Tess Tulley is the proud proprietor of Mill City Investigations--the premier (if you ask her) private investigation business in her small Massachusetts city. Business is slow, especially after she blew up her credibility among her fellow Spinners (do not call them witches) by turning in her own uncle for a crime spree three years ago. Loyalty among Spinners is top priority, and Tess's decision to put the investigation over her coven has left her out in the cold.

So when the local "Officer Handsome" comes knocking with a bizarre murder investigation involving a dead Spinner, Tess is reluctant to take the case. Even more so when she learns the details: The victim was stabbed postmortem, there's no sign of who or what actually killed her, and the body was found in a pool of someone else's blood.

Left with few other options, Tess dusts off her investigative skills, revs up her so-so telepathy, and dives headfirst back into her old community of Spinners. If she's lucky, she'll be able to unmask a killer and figure out whose blood had been left behind at the crime scene--and why. If she's not lucky (and let's face it, she rarely is), Tess might just become the next casualty on a slab in the Mill City morgue.

Author: Trisha Blanchet
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Published: 08/25/2026
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.50w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9798892427487


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2026

About the Author
Trisha Blanchet is a former reporter, editor, and award-winning columnist. She's the producer and host of the podcast A Mighty Blaze, a member of the Tall Poppy Writers, and the founder of Operation Delta Dog: Service Dogs for Veterans. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and one rambunctious rescue mutt.