Haunted, Hexed, and Dead – Witchy After 50

~Bella Colby

There’s something magical about returning to Briarvale – it’s like stepping into a warm kitchen where the kettle’s always on, the cat’s always judging you (truly, he is), and trouble’s always just around the corner. Haunted, Hexed, and Dead by Bella Colby captures that perfectly. It’s whimsical yet mysterious, cozy but sharp – a cauldron of charm and chaos stirred with just the right amount of suspense.

This time around, Josie and her trusty companions – Einstein the judgmental familiar, Tom the gardener, and Murphy the dog – are juggling a full BnB thanks to the annual May Day fair. Guests bustle in for the carnival fun: the coconut hut, the house of fear, the Ferris wheel twinkling over the village green. Everything is sunshine and funnel cake until that fateful moment when Josie notices the grandfather clock has stopped at 11:07. Anyone who’s spent time in Briarvale knows what that means – something’s about to happen. Sure enough, by morning, there’s a body in the House of Fear, a wooden stake where a heartbeat should be, and a town suddenly thrown into whisper and panic. The victim, Reggie Bell, wasn’t exactly popular, and that wide suspect list starts shortening fast when cozy mystery author (and nosy guest) Eloise Trent decides it’s time to add “real-life detective” to her résumé. Cue the investigation – and a fair bit of magical meddling thanks to Josie’s baked goods.

Josie remains the series’ beating heart – a woman of warmth, wit, and subtle power. Her blend of intuition, quiet humor, and kindness make her endlessly endearing. Einstein steals scenes as usual, his feline commentary both hilarious and necessary, while Tom and Murphy add grounding presence and loyalty. Eloise, the visiting author with a penchant for drama, is the wild card, injecting the perfect touch of playful chaos. Together, they make the story hum – an ensemble that feels lived-in, layered, and full of the kind of energy that small-town mysteries thrive on.

The pacing moves effortlessly, just like Colby’s spellwork on the page – smooth, natural, and easy to lose yourself in. There’s never a lull, just gentle waves of humor, suspense, and heartwarming connection. Colby’s strength lies in her immersive worldbuilding – Briarvale feels tangible, like a place you could pop into for tea and gossip (and they do love their gossip). You don’t read a Witchy At Fifty book so much as you pack your bag and move in temporarily. The transitions glide between whimsy and tension, the atmosphere always rich with scent and sound: baked goods, wood smoke, and the occasional magical zap.

Haunted, Hexed, and Dead is the kind of cozy mystery that delights from first page to last – a story you don’t just finish; you savor. Whether you’ve been following Josie’s adventures since the beginning or are just discovering Briarvale, Colby’s storytelling makes sure you’re never lost, only enchanted.

Mark your calendar because Haunted, Hexed, and Dead releases on March 24, 2026, and trust me – you’ll want your pre-order in early.

Thank you to Bella Colby for allowing me to Alpha/Beta/ARC for Haunted, Hexed, and Dead. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.

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