Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: A Curse for Samhain 
SERIES:
AUIHOR: Dahlia Donovan
PUBLISHER: Hot Tree Publishing
LENGTH: 138 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 8, 2024
BLURB:
Welcome to the Skeleton Crew. Bring your knitting needles and a good, strong brew.
Gender fluid, autistic vampire Hyde Snodgrass runs Between the Leaves—a cosy village book store. Their life revolves around books, all things autumnal, and the two cats who rule their world. The shop also plays host to a weekly knitting group called the Skeleton Crew.
When one of the leaders of the village coven fails to show up for the weekly knitting meeting, Hyde finds themselves investigating a horrific murder side by side with their long-term crush, Teresa Vega.
Suspicion immediately falls on other members of their group. Hyde and Teresa struggle to find answers to the growing list of questions. It’s made all the more difficult when the killer has them in their sights.
Can working together spark the romantic flame within them?
Will they solve the mystery before death comes too close?
REVIEW:
This is such a fun story! Not at all what I expected, but I enjoyed it 🙂 Since this is the start of the series, we are introduced to a lot of characters and the setting of this small village in Scotland. It’s a village that evolved as a safe haven for paranormal/supernaturals that have not found a place perhaps with their “original” families or covens or groups. This includes Hyde, a generfluid vampire who was abandoned as a child by their original coven. Their best friend and neighbor (and crush) Teresa Vega supports them and is there for them. They have been besties for a long time, but they both harbor stronger feelings than friendship 🙂
Hyde owns the bookstore and Teresa has a food business that is in a converted bus very close to Hyde’s business. They also are part of a knitting group that meets at the bookstore. Teresa is a witch and the other witches in town are part of the groups too. But one evening, one of the group and the head of the coven does not show up. Her two besties do show, but something is off. After the evening breaks up, Hyde and Teresa decide to go check on their friend and find the house open. And then they discover their friend’s body. With his heightened senses, Hyde is convinced it’s murder. The police – and particularly the head of the police – do not have the best relationship with Hyde.
Eventually the police agree that this is murder. Teresa and Hyde are doing some sleuthing on their own. But then other things start happening to them that definitely support the idea that this was indeed murder, and now Teresa and Hyde are targets as well. The murderer needs to be unmasked before anyone else is hurt!
A fun cozy mystery is something I’m always up for. This author in particular writes ASD characters with such warmth and clarity. Hyde is adorable and Teresa is a wonderful friend and hopefully more 🙂 This town is full of very interesting and unique characters! I can’t wait to see what happens in this little hamlet next. I hope that Hyde and the police chief and can figure out how to work together since I think Hyde is a great asset to this little town. The setting and the mystery add to the engaging story! Recommended.
RATING: 
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