This debut novel in the Wardwell Witch Cozy Mystery series is absolutely adorable. Fun, delightful and the perfect literary getaway to a wonderful, cozy and magical world full of charm, humour and a town with a long history of witchcraft of the most endearing kind.
Marigold, Mari, Wardwell has hit rock bottom. She had been laid off from her job as an investigate journalist, her boyfriend has left her and she’s lost her apartment in Boston. Now she is back in Duskboro, Vermont, housesitting for her parents. Under normal circumstances, housesitting should be easy. But Duskboro is not a normal town, and Wardwell Manor is not a normal house. And Mari has about as much magical potential as a potato, and has spent her entire adult life far away from Duskboro and the constant reminders of her failure as a witch.
At least Mari can rely on the good old Wardwell grimoire, the family tome of spells and knowledge her parents have left for her in the house. Except the grimoire isn’t there anymore. It’s customary spot on the bookshelf is empty, and her parents have no idea where it may be. Neither has Englebert, Mari’s grandmother’s judgemental familiar cat, or Mr. Maude, Mari’s actual cat, or Hannah, Mari’s best friend. But the Wardwell grimoire isn’t the only one that is missing, and when strange events begin to occur all over town, Mari and Hannah team up to investigate what is going on in Duskboro.
If you love the idea of witchcraft in a cozy, whimsical, fantasy setting, I absolutely recommend this. It is everything I was hoping for, cute, fun, light-hearted, with a wonderful main character, quirky townsfolk, a handsome, single dad, friendship, rivalry, levitating pies, marching garden gnomes, glittery pixies, a town with a Sacred Grounds coffee shop next to the Shear Magic hair salon and a flamingo called Doreen who may or may not be just a flamboyant piece of plastic.
Many thanks to Cleo Frost for this ARC. Grimoires Gone Wild releases today, June 22, 2026.
Cozy mystery – Cozy fantasy
Mostly Murders 
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