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Showing posts with label Cozy Mystery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cozy Mystery. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Review: Murder, Pumpkins & Poison (A Hattie and Moose Cozy Mystery #10) by Greta Sinclair

Murder, Pumpkins & Poison: A Fun Southern Fall Farm-to-Table Cozy Murder Mystery

A Hattie and Moose Cozy Mystery #10

by Greta Sinclair

Published: October 13, 2026

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Cozy Animal Mystery, Cozy Murder Mystery

 

Blurb:


A picture-perfect engagement getaway. A farm-to-table feast gone terribly wrong. And a killer hiding behind Thistledown’s wholesome façade.


Private investigator Hattie Leiper is looking forward to a relaxing autumn weekend celebrating her best friend Gracie’s engagement. With cozy cottages, colorful leaves, and pumpkins everywhere, Thistledown Farm & Table seems like the perfect escape.

Until several guests suddenly become violently ill.

Then purchasing manager Preston Whitmarsh is stabbed, and his dying words point Hattie toward a suspicious trail of invoices—and secrets someone desperately wants to keep buried.

As Thistledown’s promise of real food, real farms, real people begins to unravel, Hattie realizes there’s more on the menu than farm-fresh charm.

With Moose, Cecil, and Mini Pearl lending their own four-legged assistance, Hattie must harvest the clues and expose a killer before someone else becomes the next victim.

Because at Thistledown, not everything labeled “local” is what it seems.

Bonus Recipes Included.

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My Review:

Murder, Pumpkins & Poison is the tenth book in the Hattie and Moose Cozy Mystery series by Greta Sinclair, and it is an excellent continuation! I have been hooked on this series since the very first book, and I am always keeping my eye open for the next installment.

I absolutely love Hattie’s four-legged helpers: Moose, Cecil, and Mini Pearl. They are completely adorable! The banter between the three of them is fantastic, especially when they are worried about Hattie or bickering over something—they act just like little kids.

In this book, Hattie and Bo are on a weekend vacation at Thistledown Farm & Table to celebrate Gracie and Tim’s engagement. Hattie’s mother and Gracie’s parents have come along to join the celebration. I also can't forget to mention Gracie’s Meemaw Biscuit—she is a real character and exactly the kind of person you would want for your own Meemaw!

The author's descriptions are beautifully done. The cozy cottages, colorful leaves, and pumpkins everywhere came to life so vividly in my mind; it felt like I was right there witnessing it all instead of just reading it.

Everything goes perfectly until several guests suddenly become violently ill. Later, a scream echoes through the halls as purchasing manager Preston Whitmarsh is stabbed. His final words leave Hattie with clues about a secret someone was willing to pay a high price to keep hidden. Hattie, Bo, and her furry sidekicks must work together to solve the crime before anyone else becomes a victim.

The many twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat as I followed Hattie's investigation. What was so important that someone went to such extremes to keep Preston quiet? And who did it?

As with every book in this series, I highly recommend Murder, Pumpkins & Poison to all lovers of cozy murder mysteries. Grab your copies today and join Hattie and her companions as they solve each mystery!

Check out all the books in the Hattie and Moose Cozy Mystery Series I’ve read.


Murder, Music & Mischief #1

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Fiddling with Murder #2

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Dancing with Murder #3

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Murder, Relics & Rivalries #4

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Murder, Mistletoe & Spirits #5

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Heartstrings and Hijinks #6

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The Great Nashville Bake Off Mishap #7

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Murder at the Steeplechase #8

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Murder, Speed and Sabotage #9

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Murder, Pumpkins & Poison #10

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Connect with Greta Sinclair


Sunday, October 11, 2026

Review: Murder at Marchmont & Bell (The Bloomsbury Bookshop Mysteries #1) by Imogen Penrose @imogenpenrose

Murder at Marchmont & Bell

The Bloomsbury Bookshop Mysteries #1

by Imogen Penrose

Published: July 29, 2026

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Short Read, Cozy Mystery, Animals, Ghost

 

Blurb:

The bookshop comes with a cat. The stairs come with a ghost. And the Russian literature, this morning, comes with a body.

Cleo Marchmont came home to Bloomsbury for a quiet bookshop and a quieter life.

She did not expect the cat and the ghost that came with it.
She really did not expect the dead collector among the Dostoevsky on the morning she meant to reopen.

The police call it a sad accident. Cleo, who spent eleven years telling true first editions from clever fakes, does not.

The book by the body is a forgery. The cellar is full of stock that was never her aunt's. Her shut shop has been a warehouse for eighteen months.

That leaves no shortage of suspects, and the quiet man at the centre of it has been nothing but kind to her.

A careful man does not leave a loose end on the shelf.

Murder at Marchmont & Bell is the first Bloomsbury Bookshop Mystery. For readers of Lucy Connelly, Verity Bright, and Jackie Baldwin.

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My Review:

While Murder at Marchmont & Bell is technically book one of The Bloomsbury Bookshop Mysteries by Imogen Penrose, I actually started my journey with the delightful prequel novella, The First Edition. I fell completely in love with the characters there and couldn't wait to continue the series. I am thrilled to say that this first full-length novel did not disappoint—if anything, it made me love the series even more.

The story connects beautifully to the prequel. Cleo Marchmont inherits both a Sussex cottage and a struggling London bookshop from her Great-Aunt Vivienne. While packing up the cottage, she is immediately adopted by an opinionated tabby cat named Boswell and discovers that her aunt's ghost refuses to cross over. Rather than selling the business, Cleo decides to move to London to run the Bloomsbury bookshop herself.

On reopening day—after the shop has been closed for eighteen months—Cleo stumbles across a dead collector stashed in the Russian literature section. The police rule it a tragic, accidental fall, but Cleo’s eleven years of experience as an antiquarian book expert tell her otherwise. Spotting a forged book next to the body, she knows instantly that foul play is afoot.

The bibliophile elements of this mystery are fantastic. I loved learning about the technicalities of rare books, first editions, and the competitive world of collectors. The pacing kept me turning the pages late into the night as Cleo uncovered astonishing secrets hidden in the shop's history. Vivienne's ghost is a brilliant addition to the investigation, and as a dog person who doesn't know much about cats, watching Boswell steal the spotlight was incredibly fun.

I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! I highly recommend Murder at Marchmont & Bell to all cozy mystery lovers. Grab your copy today!

Check out all the books in the Bloomsbury Bookshop Mysteries seriesI’ve read.


The First Edition (Prequel to Murder at Marchmont & Bell)

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Murder at Marchmont & Bell #1

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Saturday, October 10, 2026

Review: Murder Leaves an Echo (The Alderfield Witch Mysteries #1) by Lucy Harrowell

Murder Leaves an Echo

The Alderfield Witch Mysteries #1

by Lucy Harrowell

Published: October 10, 2026

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Woman Sleuth, Crime Fiction, Witches, Wizards 

 

Blurb:


Mara Whitmore came home to Alderfield to run her family’s historic inn—not to solve a murder.

But Mara is a witch, and some objects remember more than people do.

Hours after respected civic leader Judith Prescott leaves Hawthorn House, she is found dead. Then Mara accidentally touches the dark green folio Judith left behind.

The echo hits hard: cold air, damp wool, paper pulled sharply against leather, a surge of panic—and a single word.

Tomorrow.

Mara’s gift doesn’t give her names, dates, or explanations. The fragments are real. What they mean is another matter entirely.

And the Alderfield Mara returned to after thirteen years away is not the town she remembers. Judith’s death exposes family resentment, an old professional grievance, hidden civic tensions—and more than one person with something to lose.

At first, the echo seems to point Mara in one convincing direction.

But the echo isn’t wrong.

Mara is.

With Detective Sergeant Daniel Hart following the evidence, Mara must separate what she sensed from what she assumed before a false interpretation hides the truth about Judith’s murder.

Because echoes don’t lie. They just don’t tell the whole story.

Murder Leaves an Echo is the first book in The Alderfield Witch Mysteries, a small-town paranormal cozy mystery series with a historic Vermont inn, a touch of slow-burn romance, a tuxedo cat, and a complete murder mystery in every book.

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My Review:


Murder Leaves an Echo is a fantastic first book and a wonderful introduction to Lucy Harrowell’s The Alderfield Witch Mysteries series. The mystery and suspense kept me turning the pages as each new clue came to light.


Within three hours of leaving Hawthorn House, Judith Prescott is found dead. There are plenty of suspects to interview, and it quickly becomes clear that Alderfield is holding onto quite a few secrets—secrets that make you wonder just how far someone is willing to go to keep them hidden.


Mara Whitmore has returned home after thirteen years to run her family’s inn, Hawthorn House. A witch, Mara experiences an "echo" whenever she touches an object. The echoes are always true, though Mara's interpretations of them may not be. When Judith leaves a dark green folio behind at the inn, Mara touches it and receives an echo that complicates the investigation into Judith’s death and sends the mystery in a confusing new direction.


I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery. The magical elements make the plot even more intense, interesting, and captivating. I’m already eagerly awaiting the next installment in The Alderfield Witch Mysteries to see what supernatural puzzle Mara has to untangle next.


If you’re looking for your next page-turning mystery, grab a copy of Murder Leaves an Echo today!



Connect with Lucy Harrowell

Review: Murder on the Early Boat: A Charming Island Cozy Mystery Novella set on the Isle of Wight (The Squirrel Sanctuary Mysteries) by Imogen Penrose @imogenpenrose

Murder on the Early Boat

A Charming Island Cozy Mystery Novella set on the Isle of Wight

The Squirrel Sanctuary Mysteries

by Imogen Penrose

Published: September 10, 2026

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Short Read, Cozy Mystery

 

Blurb:


A red squirrel steals a teaspoon. A man is dead on the early boat before it docks. The cook at the sanctuary café tells Robyn Cheverton she is an overner with good paperwork.

Robyn came over for a week. Bury her grandfather, sell the forty acres of hazel he left her, go back to the zoo.

Nigel Cotgrave buys houses off the newly bereaved and calls it paying quicker. He gave Robyn his card with his condolences. He goes to a good many funerals, and he says so.

The crew say he fell in the swell. Nobody on that boat is sorry.

A hardback book with every car on the deck. A collar up against a headrest. A man who would not get out for the whole crossing.

Robyn has a funeral in three hours, a grandmother expecting her, and a squirrel who is about to pick the wrong pocket.

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My Review:


A charming, fast-paced cozy mystery that steals your heart!


Murder on the Early Boat is a delightful short read in Imogen Penrose’s The Squirrel Sanctuary Mysteries series. It is a charming story involving a red squirrel named Hendrix who absolutely steals the show! Our protagonist, Robyn, has come to the Isle of Wight to bury her grandfather and sell the forty acres of hazel woodland he left her, with plans to immediately return to her work at the zoo. Her plans change when she discovers Hendrix living in her property's attic barn.

But the real trouble starts on the journey over. On the boat, Robyn meets Nigel Cotgrave—a sleazy man who targets the newly bereaved to pressure them into buying their inherited property. Before Robyn can even depart the boat, Nigel is found dead, and absolutely no one on board is sorry to see him gone.

Despite being a quick read, the mystery and suspense of trying to find out what happened to Nigel kept me turning the pages. Each twist reveals its secrets slowly and masterfully, making this short story feel as rich and satisfying as a full-length novel.

Be sure to grab a copy of Murder on the Early Boat to meet all of these wonderful characters and help them solve a perfect cozy mystery!


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Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Death Hits the High Notes by GG Calpo @XpressoTours

Death Hits the High Notes
GG Calpo
(The Sweet TOOTH Murder Mystery Series)
Publication date: October 7th 2026
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery, Mystery

Trouble is brewing at Whitman’s Port Choral Society as choir members drop dead and Detective Jonathan Storm raises more questions than answers in his investigation. When Stefan, the choir’s soloist, gets weaker by the day, Meg and her friends take matters into their own hands. And if a murder investigation was not enough to elevate anyone’s blood pressure, Meg finds herself in danger tied to her past that she’s struggling to understand.
Will Meg and her friends stop the killer before Stefan becomes the next victim—and before Meg’s past catches up with her?
Join these golden-age sleuths as they follow the clues, protect their own, and prove that friendship is the strongest weapon against a killer.

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EXCERPT:

There were two new faces I didn’t recognize from last year’s concert. They looked familiar, though I couldn’t place where I had seen them before. The conductor stood in front, his back to us as he summoned the choir’s eyes to him with a few taps of his baton. He took a deep breath, synchronizing the choir’s breathing to his own. Gesturing with his baton, he released the soprano’s voice—rich, powerful, and throbbing with emotion. The beginning strains of the solo filled the auditorium. Holding his right hand at waist level, the conductor flicked his right index finger left, then right, counting the beats.

“That’s Amanda, in case you didn’t know,” Liz told me behind her raised hand.

I nodded and tried to stop my giggles when Liz’s shoulder hit mine.

“Will…you…shut…up?” Barbara widened her eyes more with each word.

Liz waved her hands in surrender, twitched her body deeper into the chair, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. If it weren’t for the trembling of her shoulders, Liz could have fooled us with her pose of deep listening. But we knew her, and all she got from Barbara was another shove. Despite her unfailingly put-together appearance—manicured nails and hair always expertly cut and dyed—Liz hadn’t left her teen years behind. We must have been making a racket because a woman three rows down turned around and glared at us.

Liz and I looked at each other and decided to settle down and listen. I swayed, imagining my soul lifting in prayer, soaring past the lights of the auditorium and ever more upwards into the wide open sky beyond the school building. Then it happened. One minute I was up in the heavens, one with the song; the next minute I was crashing without a parachute.

The glorious voice stopped, leaving echoes of the high note ringing in the auditorium. A harsh cough sounded, jarring and unexpected. The accompanist stopped. The conductor jerked forward while the soprano toppled gracelessly to the floor, face down. Music scores fluttered in the air before landing gently around the stricken woman. A choir member huddled over her while the rest stared in shock.

“She’s not breathing!” The grief-stricken wail rattled my bones.

Barbara jumped up from her chair, her eyes fixed on Stefan, who stood frozen in his place, his eyes fixed on Amanda.

Amanda…who wasn’t moving.

I whipped my phone out of my bag and dialed nine-one-one. How long would help take to get here? Stefan moved to where Amanda was, kneeling to touch her on her shoulder. What was Stefan waiting for? Why was he not giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation? A few other choir members crept nearer but then backed away when Stefan waved them off. Start CPR, I wanted to shout, but couldn’t because the 911 operator had picked up my call.

Then the door to the auditorium opened, and in walked Edna, former third-grade teacher of Post Elementary School and the last of our group. One look at the stage and the woman laid out on the floor had Edna gasping, loud enough for everyone to hear, “Oh no, not another murder?”

Author Bio:

GG Calpo is a retired lawyer and accountant who traded contracts and numbers for the far more enjoyable chaos of fictional crime. Now she writes cozy whodunits featuring warm-hearted golden-aged sleuths who’ve seen it all, heard it all and will investigate a murder with zero hesitation. She loves stories where the stakes are personal, family and friendships are paramount, with characters who refuse to follow the outline and endings that pull the rug out. When not plotting twisty crimes—on paper only, of course—she spends her time reading, crocheting blankets and sweaters for her five grandchildren, watching mystery TV shows and taking long walks in her neighborhood. She lives in Central New Jersey with her husband and two corgis, Whiskey and Nugget.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram


GIVEAWAY!

Death Hits the High Notes Blitz

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Saturday, October 3, 2026

Review: Murder at the Maplewood Garden Walk (Alexia Jones Cozy Mystery #7) by Kaylah Carr

Murder at the Maplewood Garden Walk

Alexia Jones Cozy Mystery #7

By Kaylah Carr

Published: October 3, 2026

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

 

Blurb:


The flowers are blooming, the competition is fierce, and murder has taken root in Maplewood.

Alexia Jones and her best friend, Jenna, never miss Maplewood’s Annual Garden Walk. But this year’s celebration comes to a deadly end when five-time champion Vivian Caldwell collapses among her prize roses.

The police suspect the summer heat. Alexia suspects murder.

Vivian’s gardening gloves have vanished, someone disturbed the garden shed, and Buddy’s unusual behavior tells Alexia that an important clue is hiding among the flowers.

The list of suspects grows as quickly as the weeds. A rival accused Vivian of sabotaging her garden. A disgraced gardener threatened her over unpaid wages. And Vivian’s troubled biological son was seen entering her house shortly before jewelry and money disappeared.

As Alexia digs beneath the Garden Walk’s picture-perfect surface, she uncovers bitter rivalries, hidden relationships, and secrets someone has protected for years. Now the killer is watching her every move.

With Buddy beside her and Jenna caught in the danger, Alexia must uncover the truth before the murderer claims another victim.

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My Review:

In Murder at the Maplewood Garden Walk, Alexia and Jenna attend Maplewood’s Annual Garden Walk when five-time champion Vivian Caldwell collapses among her prize roses. Alexia knows right away that something is off in the rose garden. While there are plenty of people who might want to hurt Vivian, would someone actually go that far? The answer is a definitive yes.

Although the police blame her sudden collapse on the heat, Alexia refuses to buy it—she is convinced someone had it in for Vivian. The vibrant, flower-filled backdrop of the garden walk provides the perfect contrast to the dark mystery unfolding. Carr does a fantastic job of making the small town of Maplewood feel alive, charming, and packed with hidden secrets.

The author weaves a great web of red herrings and suspicious characters. Everyone feels like a suspect at some point, which kept me guessing right along with Alexia until the very final chapters. As the clues began to surface, I found myself racing toward the end. The author slowly and masterfully revealed each twist, keeping me in suspense from beginning to end without a single dull moment.

Alexia’s loyal German Shepherd, Buddy, plays a major role in tracking down the culprit. Whenever he catches a scent, he stays completely locked on until someone takes notice. Equipped with one of the best sniffers around, he proves to be an incredible asset in solving the mystery. Together, Alexia, Jenna, and Buddy must hurry to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again and takes out another victim.

I highly recommend Murder at the Maplewood Garden Walk to all cozy mystery fans! Grab your copy today!

Check out all the books in the Alexia Jones Cozy Mystery Series I’ve read.


Murder AT The Funeral

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Murder at the Pet Shop #1

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Murder at the City Bank #2

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Murder At Crystal Palms Resort #3

G14pt;oodreads

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Murder at the Jewelry Store #4

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Murder on Flight 757 #5

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Murder at Seaglass Cove #6

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Murder at the Maplewood Garden Walk #7

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Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Review: Until Hex Do Us Part (Crystal Beach #12) by Karen McSpade

Until Hex Do Us Part

Crystal Beach #12

by Karen McSpade

Published: September 29, 2026

Publisher: Newcastle Media Publishing

Genre: Animals, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery, Psychics, Suspense, Paranormal, Witches, Magical

 

Blurb:


Something old. Something new. Something wicked stole the groom.

I’ve faced ghosts, curses, vampires, and more magical disasters than any witch should reasonably survive. So, wedding planning? That should be a breeze.

But planning my wedding to Chief John Reece? That might be the trouble that proves even my magic has limits.

All I want is to marry the man I love without turning our big day into a supernatural spectacle. Unfortunately, “normal” has never been my strong suit. I talk to ghosts. My cat talks back. And half the guest list could levitate the wedding cake if things get boring.

Then John tells me his family doesn’t know he’s marrying a witch. “Could you maybe put the kibosh on the magic for one day, Sidney?”

Before I can decide if I’m hurt or furious, John vanishes. When he suddenly returns, my every magical instinct screams that something is wrong. The man wearing John’s face has his voice and his lopsided smile.

But he isn’t my fiancé.

With the wedding only days away, I’ll need Ada-Mae, the Quipley’s Magic School crew, and my snarky familiar with very strong breakfast opinions to help me uncover who stole the real John and why.

Unless I can solve the mystery before the vows, “until death do us part” may come true far too soon.

Curl up with Until Hex Do Us Part and join Sidney, Mojo, and the Crystal Beach crew for a twisty paranormal cozy mystery where nothing—and no one—is quite what they seem.

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My Review:

Until Hex Do Us Part is another fantastic installment in the Crystal Beach series by Karen McSpade. It is filled with magic, twists, and turns that kept me hanging on every single word. This book was so much fun to read!

I absolutely love grandmother Ada-Mae, and of course, Sidney and John too. Sidney and John are making plans for their upcoming wedding when John suddenly disappears. Sidney and Ada-Mae search everywhere and even try using locator spells, but they have no luck.

The night before he vanished, John admitted to Sidney that he hadn't told his family she is a witch. Sidney is understandably upset by this news, and John leaves on a sour note, disappearing into the night without a trace.

What happened to John? Where is he? Did he leave on his own, or was magic involved? If it was magic, who is behind it? Who would want to hurt John—or maybe even Sidney? The mystery and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat as I waited for the clues to be revealed. What a wild ride!

I highly recommend grabbing a copy of Until Hex Do Us Part to find out what happens!


Check out all the books in the Crystal Beach Series I’ve read.

Dog Gone Troubles 0.5

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Cat Scratch Murder #1

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Feline Like A Suspect #3

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Witch Under Pressure #6

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Tangled in Magic #9

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Paws of Justice #11

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Until Hex Do Us Part #12

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