Signed, Sealed and Deadly

~Bella Colby

Charismatic, twisty and utterly comfy – Signed, Sealed and Deadly by Bella Colby is one of those cozy mystery books you can curl up with and read in one sitting. The second book in the Witchy at Fifty series returns us to the enchanting town of Briarvale, where magic stirs beneath the surface and trouble has a knack for finding Josie Appleton.

A few months have passed since Josie inherited both her grandmother’s house in Briarvale – and her unexpected magical abilities. She’s poured her heart, and everything her grandmother left her, into turning the place into a Bed & Breakfast. Handyman Tom fixes the final door just in time to welcome her very first guests: two rival dance troupes – the Green Stags and the Crimson Belles – arriving for the town’s fiercely competitive Morris dance festival. Let’s just say “competitive” might be putting it mildly.

As the festival kicks off with the teams dancing, Tom and Josie are sitting on the lawn while Tom is educating Josie on the Morris dance style and festival history (and some of the town’s residents). When all the teams are finished and the judges have submitted their votes, one judge suddenly collapses as the winner is being announced. Of course Josie and her ever nosy familiar, black cat Einstein, think there is foul play. After the first run in with DI Holloway, Josie knows she needs to steer clear of this one, but can she really? Despite her promise to stay out of it, Josie’s curiosity might just lead her straight into another mystery.

Colby’s strong point lies in creating warm, relatable characters you’d want as neighbors. Josie is delightfully down-to-earth, and her dynamic with Tom, the ever-handy handyman, feels authentic and sweet. The real stars, though, might be Einstein and Charlie – their banter (yes, Josie can understand them!) adds humor and heart to every page.

Signed, Sealed and Deadly flows effortlessly with vivid settings, energetic dialogue and just the right amount of small-town charm and supernatural intrigue. Well balanced suspense with humor, delivering a mystery that’s equal part cozy and captivating is a skill Colby has excelled in.

While Signed, Sealed and Deadly can be read as a standalone, don’t deny yourself the full Briarvale experience – start with Milestones, Magic and Murder to get the full introduction to Josie’s journey. Just don’t dawdle too long, Einstein doesn’t like to be kept waiting.

Thank you to Bella Colby for allowing me to Alpha/Beta/ARC Signed, Sealed and Deadly. 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.

Author Spotlight!!!

Meet Bella!!!

I’m Bella, a fox-red labrador who loves to sniff out mysteries and chew on bones.

I’m also the inspiration behind the pen name of my people, who write the Witchy at Fifty and the Wedding Witch Cozy Mystery series. I like to think of myself as a ‘writing assistance dog.

‘My people are awesome. They take me for long walks every day, where we explore new places and meet new friends. They also give me lots of treats and belly rubs, which I appreciate very much.

But what I love most about my people is that they share my passion for stories. They love happy endings, have a snarky sense of humour, and like to plot murders while we’re out walking. Sometimes they even let me help them with their research by letting me sniff around crime scenes or visit haunted houses.

They also have a secret: they are witches! Well, not really. But they do write about witches who solve mysteries and use magic in their weddings. They say it’s fun and creative, and I think it’s very cool that they can make up stories about things that don’t exist in real life.

You can see some photos of us together above. Aren’t we cute?

I hope you enjoy reading the fun, paranormal cozies as much as I enjoy helping my people write them. And remember: if you ever need a loyal friend or a furry detective, just give me a call. I’ll be there in a flash.

Bella Colby, The Dog Behind The Pen xxx

If you want to contact Bella Colby, you can reach out to her on Social Media, via her website www.bellacolby.com or email [email protected]

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