Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Axes and Alchemy (A Cozy Midlife Witch Mystery) Willowmere Mysteries by Carmen Radtke! Today we are featuring a review of the second book in this series that is perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, magical mayhem, and heroines who believe it’s never too late for a new chapter—or a little witchcraft! Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews, and more! There is also a Giveaway for this tour! ENTER HERE! ⬅️ 

Axes and Alchemy (A Cozy Midlife Witch Mystery) Willowmere Mysteries
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Oregon
Independently Published
Publication Date ‏ : ‎ August 15, 2025
Number of Pages: ~230
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0F897P74L

About the Book:

Pirate loot and deadly feud …

So much for a peaceful next chapter: Novice witch Bex Merriweather has her hands full running a lending library and secretly studying magic under the critical eye of her opinionated familiar and mentor, cat Cosmo.

The last thing newly divorced perimenopausal Bex needs is more tasks needing her attention. But when a podcast connects a pirate treasure and voodoo magic with tranquil Willowmere and treasure hunters as well as occultists flock to the town, feuds erupt.

When a dead body is found, Bex and Cosmo can’t discount the idea that greed and black magic had something to do with the murder. But can she protect her secret and the town without exposing the truth about her inheritance? And is somebody already on her trail – somebody wishing her ill? With only her cat and her trusted circle of friends, Bex sets out to catch a killer before the treasure of a long dead pirate claims another victim.

Axes and Alchemy is the second case in this fun-filled series. 

My Review:

This is such a fun cozy mystery series, and I so wish I could travel to Bex’s lending library and visit with her and Cosmo. Bex continues to be a character I root for, and I love seeing her come into more and more of her magic – with her faithful Cosmo by her side. 

This plot involved lots of my favorite side characters from book one and twists and turns so that I didn’t guess the ending! Who could ask for a better read – a cozy setting, rumored pirate treasure, magic and a talking cat? Yes please, sign me up for more! 

About the Author:

Carmen has spent most of her life with ink on her fingers and a dangerously high pile of books and newspapers by her side.

She has worked as a newspaper reporter on two continents and always dreamt of becoming a novelist and screenwriter.

When she found herself crouched under her dining table, typing away on a novel between two earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, she realised she was hooked for life.

The shaken but stirring novel made it to the longlist of the Mslexia competition, and her next book and first mystery, The Case Of The Missing Bride, was a finalist in the Malice Domestic competition in a year without a winner. Since then she has penned several more cozy mysteries, including the Genie and Adriana Darling ghost mysteries and the Jack and Frances series set in the 1930s.

Carmen now lives in Italy with her human and her four-legged family. Although she possesses no witchy powers, she’s known to be easily held spellbound by animals.

Author Links:

Website 

Facebook

Purchase Links: AMAZON

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

August 18 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

August 18 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 19 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

August 19 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 21 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 22 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

August 22 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews

August 23 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 23 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

August 24 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 25 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

August 25 – Read Your Writes – SPOTLIGHT

August 26 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 27 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

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