Review of Psych-Out by Nova Wilson

Can this witch keep her nose out of trouble from beyond the grave before it becomes the death of her?Is it too much for psychic medium Nora Ashcroft to ask for to run her business, study her new powers, and spend a little alone time with her boyfriend in peace?Looks like it.Because after she’s first on scene at a series of seemingly unrelated crimes around Eastwind, she must dig deeper to find the connection if she wants to save the people she loves …Psych-Out is the fifth book in the delightful Eastwind Witches series (best enjoyed in order). If you love snarky female sleuths, humorous hijinks, and delicious loves interests, you will adore Nova Nelson’s magical cozy mysteries.

Available on Amazon and through Kindle Unlimited.

Ooooh… this may be my favourite of the series so far. There isn’t always a murder for Nora to solve but that doesn’t make the mysteries any less intriguing. This story definitely proves the point. Nora starts out investigating what seems to be an attempted murder but then discovers several more related crimes. There are also some developments with her powers that seem to be tied in as well. It all makes for a wild and fun ride.

In terms of the mystery, I don’t think it’s one the readers can really piece together on their own. There are several clues laid out and there are quite a few events integral to the main mystery. But, there is a big piece that has to do with Nora’s distant past, and that is key to figuring out the present mystery. The pacing of all these elements is attention keeping and delightfully interspersed with scenes to help readers get to know the secondary characters better. Once the reader accepts that the crazy unknowns of this world make it a bit difficult to solve the puzzle on your own, you can enjoy the enchanting ride through the writer’s imagination.

The whole Tanner, Donovan, Nora tangle continues. I do wish we could get to the end of it faster though. Nora and Tanner’s relationship gets more serious but she has a confession to make, to be fair. I hope that confession and the fall out isn’t too dragged out. As if that wasn’t enough personal drama, looks like the fifth wind witch also has some past life issues to contend with. This is one story arc that keeps winding, twisting and hooking my attention.

Overall, how this story is structured and paced and how all the various elements of the magic world and Nora’s life combine, make for a delightful read. I give Psych-Out 4.5/5 stars.