Witch Out of Water is the second book in the supernatural, cozy mystery series named Moonstone Bay by Amanda M. Lee. It was first published 1018 and the audiobook is narrated by Angel Clark. The story is a direct sequel but its not really necessary to read the first book to understand this one. The few times they mention the things that happens in the first book the author explains well enough to get a grip what happens. Though I still would suggest starting the story from the start as it would make some of the characters action more understandable.
The story starts with a girl being murdered and Hadley is offered by her boyfriend Galen to help him investigate because of her witchy powers. She soon has to do it alone as one of the suspects is Booker who Galen seem to have a rivalry with so while he is measuring his manhood with him, Hadley has to solve the case. Which turns into a jumble mess when this causes someone to break into her home, seemingly stirring the books of magic but not stealing anything, while she gets attacked with magic. Now they have to try and connect all the dots but what can an ages long feud has to do with Hadley’s books of magic? Nothing seem to add up but Hadley is sure that she, and her new found power, is up to the task.
Hadley is very weird in this one. Not as a character as a whole, she is noisy and curious, while being friendly. But in the previous book she was rather hostile, sarcastic and constantly on everyone’s case. She seems to have completely changed personality in this one. She keeps being noisily rude, such as trying to force Booker to tell what he is even though he doesn’t want to and even going to other people to get the truth. Her martyr complex, which was her biggest feature in the first book, is completely gone and she goes from being excited to learn about magic to deny her abilities. The author tries to make it sound like she is just insecure about everything but it comes across more like the author changes her personality to push out certain scenarios, such as what Booker is, which isn’t a good thing.
Now, I will say that the mystery is far better in this one. We actually get’s investigations and plenty of clues. There seem to be a red thread throughout the story, and though the side plot of Hadley and her search for the supernatural is still present it isn’t as profound in this book. It doesn’t bother as much, which leaves for a better pace which enhanced the mystery. The first book barely was a cozy mystery, this one definitely is.
I like the setting as well, its perfect for a cozy mystery, but I have some problems. I wish that the quirky characters are introduced before instead of when they become a part of the mystery, such as victim and/or murderer. In each book, a few characters is introduced and you know immediately that they will be just in this book as their roles instead of introducing them in previous books so we already know them. Which is a far better way to make readers care about what is happening.
It’s also worth noting that a problem with the setting is the smallness of it. It’s perfect, a common, in a cozy mystery but the author has to consider believability. In this case, how many murders would it actually take place on a small island? Not that many, I would wager. The author could spice it up by introducing other things, such as theft or assault, which happen far more often. Maybe solving some unsolved older murders to train her powers. You can only introduce one or two murders on in a small population before it starts to feel ridiculous. I mean, Galen even said that it only happens once a month. Honey, if you kill of one person a month on an island where there probably is only 1-2 children born a year then you will have a rapidly declining population problem.
I would also mention that I really don’t see where this place is. Why is everyone in the book a stereotype from the 50s. Men are all chest hitting, protective messes or overprotective grandfather/fathers who is going to kill boyfriends while women is gossipy damsels or plastic bimbos (one is even named Barbie) who talks to much and only thinks about men and if they will get married. I cannot tell if this is a purposely written by the author or some unconscious opinion of the author sticking out. It’s a required taste, I guess. I don’t really think it enhances the story, but I won’t explode because of it.
All in all, it works fine. The story had better mystery; the setting has always been interesting though I do think much of its potential is left unexplored. Such as them mentioning some kind of powerful council in the first book but it, at least for now, isn’t explored. The many different supernatural beings aren’t really explored and is more a side thing than actually has any bearings on the plot, which is a shame. Untapped potential I hope will be better utilized in future book.
I would for now give it a 6 out of 10. It has improved, though there still is some shaky bits such as the characters getting minimum to no development and changes personality to fit into the scenes the author has constructed instead of scenes being written around the characters. It was overall better, but not the best book out there in the cozy mystery department. Much of it comes from me really not liking the characters, but hoping that they might change for the better. They haven’t, at least for now.
With Kind Regards
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