They say three time's a charm. As I've said before, this really seems to be the case with most series. This paranormal series follows the same - it's when I fully wanted to continue. In this one Rick, the man missing from the second book, calls Ophelia and her grandmother in to do some investigating out of town, waving goodbye to Henry introduced in book two. The author seems to introduce men only to take them away in the next novel. Strange.

While we leave the familiar town behind, it's interesting in the new mountain and lake setting as the author introduces some changes. Thankfully Darcie tags along; I like her humor and she brings a bubbling enthusiasm the series is missing when she's not around. While Ophelia doesn't humorously stumble over a dead body for once, the author changes it to an investigation of a disappearance instead of a murder. The mystery isn't incredibly strong on who the culprit is, but it works on finding out what the mystery actually IS.

Ophelia is still an average character - nothing special, and she gets annoying with being too paranoid of the local Indian. She also buts her nose into situations and gets rude with some of that intrusiveness. Abby is her usual chin-stroking, knowing self. I never got the appeal of her that other fans of the series have. The biggest mystery of all may be why the two are so attached to the girl-child introduced. I never got instant love and connection with a child just because they are a child.

Damsgaard's writing has improved since the first book but she still falls prey to overdoing mannerisms and spelled out character movements. It's almost like picturing teens trying to act out a high school play where they make it incredibly obvious when they're thinking deeply, wondering something, pausing for a moment, or being imitations of characters.

The Trouble with Witches digs into the darkest subject of magic compared to the others. The subject isn't overly detailed but it shows a hidden element of demons that is dark considering this is a cozy mystery.

Overall this is the best of the three, but I missed Henry. This sequel changes it up some by altering the formula, but in doing so shakes away some of it's working humor. By this point I'm more forgiving of flaws since I've fallen further for the series. ( )

This is..I dunno the middle one in the series....Ophelia (Psycho..oops! Psychic Librarian) and her Grandmother Abby (Appalachian "Wise" Woman) are asked to use their "abilities" to locate a missing young woman, Brandi, who has run away from home to join the PSI community, as she is "Different".

In the process of searching for Brandi, Abby & Ophelia come across the troubled "daughter" of the PSI founders, Tink, an old Native American man who has strange powers, Walks Quietly, and an evil supernatural presence.

I still think Ophelia is quite a bit of a Dummy-head who when it comes to her own innate "powers" participates in "Active Ignorance", and that makes her character weak...because she constantly vacillates between being a scaredy-cat, doubting Thomas, & superpower woman.

But aside from her weakness in character, this is a good story and it held my interest. Another book that I stayed up until 3:00 a.m. reading.
( )

Two stars here is a decent two stars. I didn't dislike this one, I just didn't like it as much as the first book in this series. (I skipped the second one, may go back to it later.)

I was hoping to really sink my teeth into this series with this installment, but Ophelia, the reluctant witch who happens to be a librarian (hey, right up my alley!) seems to be a reluctant reader (why didn't she read those journals?) and researcher (of witchcraft, magick, etc.). What's up with that?! ( )

THE TROUBLE WITH WITCHES is the third book in the Ophelia and Abby series. When Ophelia and her grandmother, Abby, are asked to find a young girl who has gone missing in Minnesota they are at first reluctant to go – but when they find out she was last seen in the company of a dubious paranormal and psychic research group that borders on being cultish the two witches decide to go and see if they can help locate her. They rent a cabin on a lake near the group’s headquarters and strange things soon start to happen. Mystery lights floating in the night, a young girl with psychic powers, scary shadows that try to attack, a mad man and a bad tempered Native American shaman are all integral to the plot as bodies start to pile up.

The mystery in THE TROUBLE WITH WITCHES is clever and the storyline is good. Ophelia is growing in to her powers instead of resisting learning about them. All the characters, both the good and the bad, are well developed and believable and ‘who dunnit’ and why is all revealed satisfactorily at the end. Have the next book on the TBR pile.

http://hollybooknotes.blogspot.com/2008/10/tis-season.html ( )