A natural born witch with her own vintage clothing shop, Aunt Cora's Closet, Lily Ivory is about as comfortable with death as any normal mortal would be. When the San Francisco Police Department ask for her help in a case that appears to be mired in superstition, Lily is pulled away from her popular store into a mystery full of bad omens. The victim, Malachi Zazi, who was the head of the Serpentarian Society which is devoted to discrediting all things superstitious, was found murdered in his apartment on the thirteenth floor, with a broken mirror, an open umbrella, a black cat and other bad luck symbols.

When Lily can't read anything off Malachi's dead body, she begins to investigate deeper into his death, only to be told by her mentor to stay away from the case. However, Lily finds out her friend and fellow witch Bronwyn's son-in- law is suspected of killing Malachi and she becomes determined to do everything in her power to help clear his name. When things get heated, and everyone, including Bronwyn asks Lily to drop the case, Lily ignores them, placing herself in the path of a killer.

HEXES AND HEMLINES, the third book in Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft Mystery series, is a well researched book which is a great mix of mystery and paranormal. Superstitions is something most, if not all of us can relate to, and Ms. Blackwell incorporates many of the popular ones still believed by many today. We delve deeper into the characters in this book as well, learning just enough to keep you hooked to the series. Ms. Blackwell does an excellent job of not just making the characters come to life but also making the setting come to life. I feel like I'm back in San Francisco, walking along Haight and Ashbury, looking into the eclectic shops that make up the global village. Throw in a little romance and two men to choose from to spice things up and you have a cannot miss book that is ready to be devoured.

Book Summary

Lily gets called away from her vintage clothing store to give police a witch's take on how the leader of a rationalist society could be murdered, surrounded by superstitions he discredited.

Evidence points to dark witchcraft. Lily's determined to use magic of her own to find the murderer, before everyone's luck runs out.