Customer Reviews

The Witch's Grave (Ophelia & Abby Mysteries, No. 6)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a pleasant surprise to find a "new & improved" Ophelia in this wonderful story! The positive influences on Ophelia -- Darci, Abby and Tink -- are making a difference in our usually skeptical and somewhat dour librarian. Without spoiling the major points, I can say that even after finding out everything isn't as she believes, Ophelia emerges stronger and more likeable at the end. I really am looking forward to the next book and further character developments.

The mystery and the sub-mystery were well-wrought and nicely woven into one story. Ms. Damsgaard is getting better and better!

I didn't care for the main character in the first book but kept on reading the succeeding books and found that I began to like her more as she grew and started to accept her powers. Frankly, this book is one I didn't like at all. The premise that she could find her "true love" in a dream, meet him in a few minutes time and then lose him was way out there in space. I love Abby, and wish the author would write books about her character, who is very likeable and then I would enjoy them more. Not to be mean but sadly, after the 7th book I could see why the contract may run out. The main character is just barely holding on by a slim thread to being likeable at all, she is very drab, old fogey and frankly, not fun in any way, shape or fashion at all. I find at times I want to just wave a wand and make her even a bit likeable. Sorry but this series had promise but not with this character at its helm.

Abby and Ophelia always books are always a pleasure to read. This book was no exception. During every book, I learn a little bit more about Abby. It is always a good read. The plots vary and the mystery of "Who Done it" always seem to evade me. I am glad to have books that make me think and let me into their world, one book at a time.

The Witch's Grave is the sixth book in the Ophelia and Abby mystery series. One of my secret guilty pleasures are cozy mysteries, and when you add a twist of the paranormal to it, you have some pretty addicting reading material. Shirley Damsgaard's series is no exception!

The thing I really enjoy about this series is that outside of being really well written and a great read, the characters have depth and are interesting. They grow with each installment, and leave the reader anticipating what could possibly come next.

Again we find Ophelia in the thick of a murder investigation, only this time, it looks as if they may actually be targeting her, and her dream man. The adventure starts out by her relating a series of, shall we say erotic dreams about a gorgeous hunk of a man to her best friend Darcy. Imagine her surprise when she actually meets him at a fund raising event for the library at a local winery. They are instantly attracted to one another, but before they can take their relationship further than a first sweet kiss, a gunman shoots her beau to be.

As she races against the clock to find the killer, she begins to have another set of dreams that appear to be some kind of flash back to another time. This aspect of the story really added another interesting layer and depth that was thoroughly enjoyable. It is nice to see Ophelia start to trust and use her powers more as well.

Will Ophelia finally get her happily ever after? Or will it be snatched away in the blink of an eye? Whether or not you have read one or all of the Ophelia and Abby series, you will be sure to enjoy The Witch's Grave.

Reviewed at Bitten by Books Paranormal Fiction Review Site by Rachel

The first five Ophelia and Abby novels were published at the rate of two per year so the year-long wait for the sixth had me hungrily anticipating its arrival. For the most part, `The Witch's Grave' does not disappoint. In fact, I think it's the most ambitious story of the series so far. But there were a couple of points that left me feeling a little disgruntled . . .

Let's first of all deal with those niggles. Two of the characters in this series who have had the biggest impact on Ophelia's life are her best friend, Darci, and her adopted daughter, Tink. Disappointingly, neither of these characters have much of a role in this novel. Secondly, the story's denouement was a little lacking in tension and, in my opinion, things were wrapped up a little to quickly. However, this is compensated for, to some degree, by the expansive storylines in the preceding chapters. The lack of Darci, I'm not so forgiving about.

Ophelia's fogeyish exterior is well and truly punctured as she literally meets the man of her dreams. In a most unOphelia-like manner, she finds herself in lip-locking action only minutes after they've been introduced. However, it's not long before things take a sinister turn and Ophelia, along with her wise white witch grandmother, Abby are embroiled in another mystery.

Shirley Damsgaard skillfully weaves in storylines that have Ophelia's dreams reliving scenes from a past life in Nazi-occupied Paris, and her present-day search for the person or persons responsible for the attempted murder of a famous author.

If you've enjoyed the previous books in this series, then you'll almost certainly enjoy this one. For those new to this series, although it's perfectly possible to read this as a stand-alone novel, I'd recommend starting at the beginning of the series because references to prior events are frequently mentioned. Added to this is the fact that Ophelia's character has blossomed with the addition of her adopted daughter into her family, and she (Ophelia) has also become more accepting of her psychic gift than she was at the series' inception. The effervescent Darci always brings a touch of mischievous fun to the stories, too.

In a recent interview (on the Bitten By Books website), Shirley Damsgaard mentions that the next book may also be the last in the series because the current contract with the publisher ends with book 7. "If sales go well, then another contract might be offered." Let's hope sales go well, then.

Our favorite psychic librarian is at it again. In this case, Ophelia is having some lurid dreams about a handsome blonde man. Then she meets him, a horror author who's come to town to research a book. No sooner is a kiss exchanged, than he's shot.

Ophelia's trying to find out who would want to kill her newfound friend when someone takes a potshot at her. Yes, the target might not have been the author at all.

Meanwhile, Ophelia's dreams have shifted to Nazi Germany. She's a model who is trying to help the Rom escape the concentration camps. Can she manage to do so before the Nazis catch on?

Of course, there's more. Ms. Damsgaard has more plotline balls in the air than a circus juggler and she manages amazingly to keep them up mostly moving.

"Witch's Grave" definitely keeps this reader's interest in the series. She ties up the current mystery, but leaves some serious interest to keep me stalking the shelves for the next Ophelia and Abby book.

Rebecca Kyle, April 2009

Ophelia is finally becoming to fit into her skin during the latter part of this book.
The book starts off with a fundraiser for the library at a winery.
Ophelia meets a author doing research and she has this feeling she has seen him before and loved him before somewhere. He feels the same.
During a walk down a trail at the winery, Steven is shot. Steven gives her a small date book and tells her to give it to his assistant.
Ophelia helps him and he is rushed to the hospital.
She tries to find the elusive assistant but there is nobody at the offices for days.
Steven is touch and go, for a while and Ophelia begins to reseach what he was writing about.
The trail leads to illeagal immigrants, corrupt politicians, and bribes,.
Ophelia once again is in the think of things, and ends up in St. Louis with Abby.
She sees a man she swears is bent on harming her and rushs back to her home.
In all of this she is having vivid dreams about another life, a life during WWII and being a spy for the allies.
Is Steven her long lost love??
What is going on, was he shot because of the book, or becasue he looks like the evil senator?
By the books end, Ophelia is finally becoming comfortable with her gifts (took long enough) and hopefully the next installments will be just as good.,

I won't buy anything not available on Kindle, and 'The Witch Is Dead' (#5 in the series) hasn't been released on Kindle even though #1-4 and now #6 has been.

The problem is that much of the book refers back to events and characters that must be in #5, and made this book less enjoyable.

Less interaction between Abby and Ophelia in this one, and more dream detail (don't want to give the plot away), which is why this book only is getting a four star rating from me. Even the other 'supporting actors' that I enjoy so much (Darcy, Tink, and a boyfriend who may have been replaced in #5) have only passing roles.

The magick involved as well as the great secondary characters in this series is what has kept me coming back - and although this was an enjoyable read, it wasn't the 'can't put it down' that #1-4 were.

I just loved this entry into the series! The tie to WWII was brilliant, and so enjoyable. I also felt that the action was upped just the right amount from prior entries into this series. These books are truly some of my favorite mysteries that I have read, and this is one of the best. As always Ophelia is a well developed and interesting character, Abbie is perfection, and the magic is sprinkled around just sparsely enough to almost make you believe...

Ophelia has come a long way from book 1. I personally have been waiting for her to tap into her power like she did in book 1 again. This book was satisfying in her progress with her powers and most characters in the story were well done. The past life plot I felt was handled deftly and added a great flavor to the story.

The one aspect of the story that is getting progressively tiresome with each book is Sheriff Bill Wilson. He even somehow blames Ophelia when someone tries to shoot her in her very own backyard and even expects her to only be at the library if not home. If she visits the hospital and meets the mother of the shooting victim then she is somehow meddling!!! He is getting very aggravating. Whether he ever respects Ophelia's gifts is different than the character just being an @$$.