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Pretty Witches All in a Row
Someone is picking off a coven of witches one by one. Can Sgt. Nick Gibson and his team of detectives catch the killer before he loses the pretty witch who's got him under her spell?
Nick must cast aside his disbelief and delve into the world of the supernatural to solve the case. On hand to help is Annaliese, a member of the coven who claims to have had a prophetic dream at the exact time of each victim's death, offering clues to the identity of the killer. Can he accept the 'proof' offered by unconventional means or is she deliberately leading him astray to hide her own secrets? To cloud the issue, a local evangelist is telling anyone who asks that the victims had it coming. Is religious mania the motive for murder, or is it something more personal?
Nick must cast aside his disbelief and delve into the world of the supernatural to solve the case. On hand to help is Annaliese, a member of the coven who claims to have had a prophetic dream at the exact time of each victim's death, offering clues to the identity of the killer. Can he accept the 'proof' offered by unconventional means or is she deliberately leading him astray to hide her own secrets? To cloud the issue, a local evangelist is telling anyone who asks that the victims had it coming. Is religious mania the motive for murder, or is it something more personal?
302 pages, Nook
First published September 30, 2011
89 people are currently reading
970 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Olsen
45Ìýbooks341ÌýfollowersLisa Olsen is a writer, wife and mother of two, currently living in the Pacific Northwest. A complete TV addict, she also enjoys online RPG's, singing, reading, and cooking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
March 18, 2014
Bullet Review:
DNF at 11%/Chapter 3.
This book actually has quite a bit going for it: it's an investigation into a paranormal death, told from a male POV. It's also set in the Portland Metro area, which makes me squee.
But that is where my compliments begin and end. While it's not actually bad per se, it's not great. My complaints are mostly about how juvenile the characters are (Nick and Brady act like frat boys with their "Bimbo du jour" comments and trying to hook up with suspects - I can already see who the Love Interest will be), how somewhat offensive their questions about Wicca are (if those questions were instead about Christianity, I'd be offended - I don't know why these ladies are just so blase about it!), and how supersonic the investigation is proceeding. Yes, a weird complaint, I know, but it's like Nick zooms from one interview with a suspect to another. He's already seen THREE ladies and tried another one who wasn't home. THREE. In 11% and not even 3 chapters. WOW.
Like I've said numerous times, life is too short to continuously force me to read books I'm not enjoying. I'll give this 3 stars to be generous with the caveat that your mileage may vary.
DNF at 11%/Chapter 3.
This book actually has quite a bit going for it: it's an investigation into a paranormal death, told from a male POV. It's also set in the Portland Metro area, which makes me squee.
But that is where my compliments begin and end. While it's not actually bad per se, it's not great. My complaints are mostly about how juvenile the characters are (Nick and Brady act like frat boys with their "Bimbo du jour" comments and trying to hook up with suspects - I can already see who the Love Interest will be), how somewhat offensive their questions about Wicca are (if those questions were instead about Christianity, I'd be offended - I don't know why these ladies are just so blase about it!), and how supersonic the investigation is proceeding. Yes, a weird complaint, I know, but it's like Nick zooms from one interview with a suspect to another. He's already seen THREE ladies and tried another one who wasn't home. THREE. In 11% and not even 3 chapters. WOW.
Like I've said numerous times, life is too short to continuously force me to read books I'm not enjoying. I'll give this 3 stars to be generous with the caveat that your mileage may vary.
November 8, 2016
I had conflicted notions about what Pretty Witches All in a Row would give me. One part of me expected a crime thriller. One part of me expected a pure fantasy read. One part of me expected a romance. One part of me expected some kind of hybrid. The final is the closest to what I was given, although the type of hybrid it turned out to be wasn’t really what I had expected. Overall, it was an okay read: it kept me entertained but it failed to give me exactly what I wanted.
As I had expected multiple things from this book, and wasn’t really given any of them in full, I will address each of them in turn. I feel as though it will make my review easier to work with, and then at the end I can deal with the general points.
First off, we have the crime aspect. In a way, this is a cosy mystery: we’re curious about the whodunit aspect and yet we’re not dealing with the gore of the harder hitting crime novels. As a big lover of crime novels, I find I have to be in the mood for cosy mysteries. I do not dislike them; I simply prefer the darker stuff (think Karin Slaughter, Mo Hayder, and Sharon Bolton). As a cosy mystery, this one is decent enough. Things are pretty obvious from early on, but the author does throw in a few red herrings to leave you second-guessing whether or not you’re correct. What I felt was lacking, however, was the actual police procedure. Having read countless crime thrillers, this one felt rather lacking. We follow the detective in charge of the case, and yet the police side of the storyline didn’t feel very real to me. I’m sure such a thing will not bother most people, but it prevented me from getting into the story as much as I had hoped for.
Secondly, we have the fantasy aspect. We have the word ‘witches� in the title of the book, thus my mind expected a lot of magic. In reality, such is not the case. We have a few simple spells, some prophetic dreams, but as a whole the witch aspect wasn’t played up as much as I had hoped it would be. I’d expected something more, rather than just an acceptance of the occult world. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with low-key witch business � I rather enjoy such stories when they’re done well, and I don’t always ask for fireballs and curses � but this one felt as though it existed simply to make our character open his eyes to a side of the world he knew nothing about. There wasn’t as much depth to it as I had hoped: it was simply there.
Third and finally, we have the romance aspect. I never used to be a fan of romance reads, but I’m slowly growing to enjoy them. In fact, having read so many this year, I think I can safely say I’m now a romance fan. Despite this, I’m still picky about my romance. I like to watch things develop. I dislike instalove. I enjoy it when there is chemistry between the characters. I dislike it when characters are thrown together simply to add a romantic element to the storyline. In this one, I felt as though the romance was more in line with what I disliked. There were a couple of moments where I smiled at the interaction of the characters, but for the most part it felt forced. I didn’t really buy into the whole romance element of the story. Not only did it feel highly unprofessional of the cop, it also felt as though it existed simply to allow certain events to unfold.
It wasn’t all bad, though. I was entertained throughout. I did want to see how things would end, turning page after page to see what happened next. The mystery aspect was decent enough, even if it was obvious. The fantasy aspect did have a high point towards the end (I won’t say what, as I have no wish to spoil it), even if it was a little bit clichés. As a whole, I was pulled into the story; it simply wasn’t all I had hoped it would be, and I believe a part of this is because I never came to enjoy the main characters as much as I had wanted to.
Whilst I won’t be reading more of this particular series, I will be taking a look at some of the author’s other work � hopefully, I will enjoy her other work more, as this one did have promise.
As I had expected multiple things from this book, and wasn’t really given any of them in full, I will address each of them in turn. I feel as though it will make my review easier to work with, and then at the end I can deal with the general points.
First off, we have the crime aspect. In a way, this is a cosy mystery: we’re curious about the whodunit aspect and yet we’re not dealing with the gore of the harder hitting crime novels. As a big lover of crime novels, I find I have to be in the mood for cosy mysteries. I do not dislike them; I simply prefer the darker stuff (think Karin Slaughter, Mo Hayder, and Sharon Bolton). As a cosy mystery, this one is decent enough. Things are pretty obvious from early on, but the author does throw in a few red herrings to leave you second-guessing whether or not you’re correct. What I felt was lacking, however, was the actual police procedure. Having read countless crime thrillers, this one felt rather lacking. We follow the detective in charge of the case, and yet the police side of the storyline didn’t feel very real to me. I’m sure such a thing will not bother most people, but it prevented me from getting into the story as much as I had hoped for.
Secondly, we have the fantasy aspect. We have the word ‘witches� in the title of the book, thus my mind expected a lot of magic. In reality, such is not the case. We have a few simple spells, some prophetic dreams, but as a whole the witch aspect wasn’t played up as much as I had hoped it would be. I’d expected something more, rather than just an acceptance of the occult world. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with low-key witch business � I rather enjoy such stories when they’re done well, and I don’t always ask for fireballs and curses � but this one felt as though it existed simply to make our character open his eyes to a side of the world he knew nothing about. There wasn’t as much depth to it as I had hoped: it was simply there.
Third and finally, we have the romance aspect. I never used to be a fan of romance reads, but I’m slowly growing to enjoy them. In fact, having read so many this year, I think I can safely say I’m now a romance fan. Despite this, I’m still picky about my romance. I like to watch things develop. I dislike instalove. I enjoy it when there is chemistry between the characters. I dislike it when characters are thrown together simply to add a romantic element to the storyline. In this one, I felt as though the romance was more in line with what I disliked. There were a couple of moments where I smiled at the interaction of the characters, but for the most part it felt forced. I didn’t really buy into the whole romance element of the story. Not only did it feel highly unprofessional of the cop, it also felt as though it existed simply to allow certain events to unfold.
It wasn’t all bad, though. I was entertained throughout. I did want to see how things would end, turning page after page to see what happened next. The mystery aspect was decent enough, even if it was obvious. The fantasy aspect did have a high point towards the end (I won’t say what, as I have no wish to spoil it), even if it was a little bit clichés. As a whole, I was pulled into the story; it simply wasn’t all I had hoped it would be, and I believe a part of this is because I never came to enjoy the main characters as much as I had wanted to.
Whilst I won’t be reading more of this particular series, I will be taking a look at some of the author’s other work � hopefully, I will enjoy her other work more, as this one did have promise.
December 3, 2011
I'm sorry I spent any money on this book. The premise of the story seemed interesting, but it just never engaged me. I struggled to even finish it. In addition to the story being very slow, the characters were shallow - they just never developed any personality. I found the male lead especially schizophrenic. On one hand he acts like a frat boy with his fellow officers, but is a single dad to a teenage daughter. I felt the whole daughter angle was to interact more with the female lead, not because I found him believable as a dad. I couldn't get him to be a viable person in my mind. The female lead fares somewhat better - she is more believable.
April 3, 2012
I have to admit I was kind of creeped out by the end of this book! I liked the characters and the way the author portrays their relationships (although I did find Nick and Veronica's relationship a bit weird).
I liked the story but had some issues with the way Nick broke every self-imposed and actual (legal) rule (law) he had. He was also quite accepting of the witches/coven talk. I understand he's been a detective, whoops I mean Sergeant for a long time but it felt un-cop like. Also, once you read the book, you'll understand the detective/sergeant reference ;).
Overall good read; romance, magic, mystery but I'm glad I got it for free.
I liked the story but had some issues with the way Nick broke every self-imposed and actual (legal) rule (law) he had. He was also quite accepting of the witches/coven talk. I understand he's been a detective, whoops I mean Sergeant for a long time but it felt un-cop like. Also, once you read the book, you'll understand the detective/sergeant reference ;).
Overall good read; romance, magic, mystery but I'm glad I got it for free.
June 8, 2012
These two main characters were so very well written and had such good chemistry, I kept waiting for that hot moment, you know, like when Sookie and Eric finally hooked up in Dead To The World? Now that was hot. But alas, no hot scene awaited me. Other than that, this was very well written and although I did suspect the eventual "bad guy" early on, I changed my mind and focused on another character so I was delightfully surprised that I didn't have it all figured out at the end like in so many books today.
I give this a big thumbs up and worth the read....but if the author ever decides to revise it, add some heat at the end, ok?
I give this a big thumbs up and worth the read....but if the author ever decides to revise it, add some heat at the end, ok?
July 19, 2012
I enjoyed reading this novel. It was the perfect blend of mystery/ suspense, paranormal/magic and light romance. It's not every day one gets all that in a single book, and Olsen did a fabulous job weaving all the elements together into one crafty book.
The characters were like-able and the red herrings plentiful enough that I wasn't sure who was the Big Bad person until darn near the end of the book. In the middle of all that detecting, a sweet romance bloomed between two of the main characters, more than a few people died, and a little magic was put to the test.
Great book. Read it in one sitting. Read it!
The characters were like-able and the red herrings plentiful enough that I wasn't sure who was the Big Bad person until darn near the end of the book. In the middle of all that detecting, a sweet romance bloomed between two of the main characters, more than a few people died, and a little magic was put to the test.
Great book. Read it in one sitting. Read it!
April 6, 2020
I couldn't really get into this one. I tried hard but it did nothing for me which is weird as a witch always entertains me. The story line had potential but the execution just wasn't there. I found my mind wondering too much.
August 12, 2012
Summary
Someone is killing members of a local coven. Sargent Nick Gibson is on the case. After meeting Annaliese while investigating one of the murders, Sargent Gibson begins to fall for the pretty witch, despite his own disbelief in the supernatural. He must trust his instincts when Annaliese shares her prophetic dreams of the murders. Could she be telling the truth, or might a local preacher who openly claims the murdered women had it coming be involved? Could this be a simple case of religious fanaticism?
Thoughts
I love to read self-published books. While many self-published authors tend to need a lot of extra loving care from a copy editor, Pretty Witches All in a Row was an easy read without many copyediting errors. Lisa Olsen’s characters are fun and likeable. Sargent Gibson, a single father of an opinionated teenage girl, is heartwarming. His playful personality has you pulling for him throughout the novel. Annaliese is a strong, well-liked member of her coven, as well as the community. She’s a business owner who loves what she does. It is nice to see a self-sufficient, hardworking female protagonist. Unlike many female protagonists out there today, she doesn’t need a man to make her life complete. That being said, it makes her relationship with Sargent Gibson that much better.
I do feel some of the coven members should have been more developed. Towards the end of the book, the remaining coven members play a larger role than they did in the beginning. However, this did not take away from the plot or the pacing of the story. Also, the supernatural side of the story was not over powering. Olsen focused on the crimes themselves and the investigation that ensued. While I did find myself thinking “that would never happen in real life,� I still enjoyed the book. I look forward to reading more from this up and coming self-published author.
Someone is killing members of a local coven. Sargent Nick Gibson is on the case. After meeting Annaliese while investigating one of the murders, Sargent Gibson begins to fall for the pretty witch, despite his own disbelief in the supernatural. He must trust his instincts when Annaliese shares her prophetic dreams of the murders. Could she be telling the truth, or might a local preacher who openly claims the murdered women had it coming be involved? Could this be a simple case of religious fanaticism?
Thoughts
I love to read self-published books. While many self-published authors tend to need a lot of extra loving care from a copy editor, Pretty Witches All in a Row was an easy read without many copyediting errors. Lisa Olsen’s characters are fun and likeable. Sargent Gibson, a single father of an opinionated teenage girl, is heartwarming. His playful personality has you pulling for him throughout the novel. Annaliese is a strong, well-liked member of her coven, as well as the community. She’s a business owner who loves what she does. It is nice to see a self-sufficient, hardworking female protagonist. Unlike many female protagonists out there today, she doesn’t need a man to make her life complete. That being said, it makes her relationship with Sargent Gibson that much better.
I do feel some of the coven members should have been more developed. Towards the end of the book, the remaining coven members play a larger role than they did in the beginning. However, this did not take away from the plot or the pacing of the story. Also, the supernatural side of the story was not over powering. Olsen focused on the crimes themselves and the investigation that ensued. While I did find myself thinking “that would never happen in real life,� I still enjoyed the book. I look forward to reading more from this up and coming self-published author.
May 3, 2015
3.5 **spoiler alert**
This was a pleasant little read. It kept me occupied for an evening, which was all I was asking of it. I liked the main characters (though I did find Nick's endless banter juvenile). They weren't all that well defined. Everyone's past stays murky. For example, something apparently happened in LA that undermined Nick's trust in his daughter and prompted them to move to Portland, but the reader never learns what it is. Nor do you learn how Annaliese came to practice Wicca or much of anything about the coven members, etc. Everything is kept fairly shallow. Similarly, all of the side characters are mere cut outs, with no depth.
The police procedure part of the book was a mess. It was fun to read, but I had to suspend A LOT of disbelief to roll with it. Nick broke just about every rule in the book (contaminating evidence, removing evidence without permission, releasing confidential information, taking a civilian into a crime scene, fabricating statements, etc), which didn't really match his otherwise good cop persona. Again, it was amusing but by no means believable.
Honestly, the mystery wasn't that hard to figure out. Let's face it; the vilification of the aged is so common that as soon as I see one old woman I can pinpoint the villain instantly. The book did provide a red herring or two, to make the reader doubt the obvious, but they were weak to say the least. It's pretty obvious who is behind everything and even why.
So, final thoughts...a fun read, but not topping any Best Of lists for me.
This was a pleasant little read. It kept me occupied for an evening, which was all I was asking of it. I liked the main characters (though I did find Nick's endless banter juvenile). They weren't all that well defined. Everyone's past stays murky. For example, something apparently happened in LA that undermined Nick's trust in his daughter and prompted them to move to Portland, but the reader never learns what it is. Nor do you learn how Annaliese came to practice Wicca or much of anything about the coven members, etc. Everything is kept fairly shallow. Similarly, all of the side characters are mere cut outs, with no depth.
The police procedure part of the book was a mess. It was fun to read, but I had to suspend A LOT of disbelief to roll with it. Nick broke just about every rule in the book (contaminating evidence, removing evidence without permission, releasing confidential information, taking a civilian into a crime scene, fabricating statements, etc), which didn't really match his otherwise good cop persona. Again, it was amusing but by no means believable.
Honestly, the mystery wasn't that hard to figure out. Let's face it; the vilification of the aged is so common that as soon as I see one old woman I can pinpoint the villain instantly. The book did provide a red herring or two, to make the reader doubt the obvious, but they were weak to say the least. It's pretty obvious who is behind everything and even why.
So, final thoughts...a fun read, but not topping any Best Of lists for me.
May 4, 2015
This was a complicated find. My husband read and recommended book two of this series, Kiss the Witch Goodbye. I went to the Amazon page to see if I could afford it. Nope. So I borrowed it from him. Meanwhile I found there was a book one and it was free, so I picked it up. Then I loaned it to my hubby. He had to read them in reverse order. I was afraid I was doomed to the same, but he finished just in time for me to start on book one. Yay!
SO... I just finished this book. I was fun, as fun as a murder mystery can be. Yes, there is blood and bore, but there is plenty of light-hearted repartee, think Castle TV show for example. Don't expect, or let's hope we don't expect this kind of behavior from our cops. It tells a good tale this way, ya know? Also, the witchy bits, not quite real, but there is a bit of an education into the basics of Wiccan life.
But as a story it was fun. It doesn't live up to my goal of reading Fem leads by fem writers, but hey, if you saw my recent reads, you'd realize this is very light in comparison. As for the mystery, it did have me guessing almost to the end. The characters were fun and the world seemed real enough. I highly recommend this book for a light, fun read.
Now I will go and read book two.
SO... I just finished this book. I was fun, as fun as a murder mystery can be. Yes, there is blood and bore, but there is plenty of light-hearted repartee, think Castle TV show for example. Don't expect, or let's hope we don't expect this kind of behavior from our cops. It tells a good tale this way, ya know? Also, the witchy bits, not quite real, but there is a bit of an education into the basics of Wiccan life.
But as a story it was fun. It doesn't live up to my goal of reading Fem leads by fem writers, but hey, if you saw my recent reads, you'd realize this is very light in comparison. As for the mystery, it did have me guessing almost to the end. The characters were fun and the world seemed real enough. I highly recommend this book for a light, fun read.
Now I will go and read book two.
July 18, 2012
This was an okay read. Figured out the villain as soon as they were introduced. I'm actually quite surprised that the "Sergeant" didn't with all the clues and hints that were being dropped left and right. Romance moved a bit too fast for me but they always do in these type of novels. The story started realistically enough but then it really began to delve into the occult, not like that was a problem per se, but it is when you're trying to solve a criminal investigation. The "Sergeant" was able to quickly dispel his disbelief of the occult because his love interest could produce fire with her hands. He seemed to lose all logic when around her and I'm sure violated all sorts of ethics to protect her. Not sure why this bugged me but it did. I'm glad it didn't paint Wiccans in a bad light or stereotypical fashion, either. Admittedly, I did chafe a bit at the description of the Christian preacher; that was stereotypical. Not a bad read but most likely will not read this author's work again. It was worth the read especially being free.
June 20, 2012
A witchy mystery with a past. This twisted tale of murders and witchcraft will open the eyes on doubting Sargent. What he find defies everything he has ever believed.
Anna a local shop owner and coven member finds herself in need of protection when witches start turning up dead. The Sargent in charge finds himself drawn to this witchy woman. Has she done something to alter him ?Solving the murders is going to lead Sargent Nick and his office into a whole new reality. One they fight till the end. The mystery is not going to be easy and the people involved live a secret life style.
I was stumped till the very end of this mystery. I did not see that coming. There where a few flaws, cheesy lines, out of character moves etc. But they where minor. The author did a good job and I see a good future.
Anna a local shop owner and coven member finds herself in need of protection when witches start turning up dead. The Sargent in charge finds himself drawn to this witchy woman. Has she done something to alter him ?Solving the murders is going to lead Sargent Nick and his office into a whole new reality. One they fight till the end. The mystery is not going to be easy and the people involved live a secret life style.
I was stumped till the very end of this mystery. I did not see that coming. There where a few flaws, cheesy lines, out of character moves etc. But they where minor. The author did a good job and I see a good future.
December 24, 2011
Great book... I loved the blend of the murder investigation with the bits of witchcraft. As usual the author's characterizations were great, and I laughed a couple times at the interactions between the lead detective Sergeant Gibson and his teen daughter, she stole the show in the scenes she was in. The supernatural aspects of the book were subtle but definitely present, and certainly kept things interesting. I'm hoping for a sequel!
November 14, 2015
I absolutely LOVE this book! Characters developed and content held my attention to the point I finished the book in one day! I highly recommend this read to anyone, especially Paranormal Romance lovers
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November 8, 2016Lizard: 3�.
Wombat: Pending�.
Overall: Pending�.
Wombat: Pending�.
Overall: Pending�.
July 21, 2018
This was the first book in the Nick Gibson series by Lisa Olsen. Published back in 2011, it was one of the books on my “own but still haven’t read� list on Kindle. I have a huge list of books that I purchased eons ago and still haven’t gotten around to reading, and this one fell next on this list, between my NetGalley books. The second book in this series was published in 2014 (which gives you a clue as to how behind I really am!)
I loved this. Olsen is a prolific writer who has all the elements in place. Likable protagonist with a backstory, beautiful and interesting characters, a little bit of witchcraft, toss in some suspense and you’ve got a novel. It’s a standard, but well-done, format that makes for an easy and enjoyable read. I hadn’t ever read any other books by Olsen, but if I wanted a good quick pick-me-up book, she would be a good choice.
Nick Gibson is a sergeant in the local police force. A single dad to Veronica (who is so compelling on her own, I think she deserves her own book series!) who relocated to suburban Oregon from Los Angeles, he finds himself on a case involving witches. Not the pointy hat kind, but the new age, Wiccan kind. Annaliese is a beautiful witch who owns a new-age store in her old Victorian home. Throw in some other coven members, each one a little bit different and unusual, and a murder spree, and you’ve got a suspense novel with some romance. I loved Nick. He’s the kind of upstanding, handsome, charming cop that only comes in books. Anna reminds me of the girl next door with a pagan twist. You want her to not be the killer. The series of murders definitely puts the spotlight on several members of the coven, and while I suspected the real killer all along, there were times that I wondered if maybe I was wrong. The reason for the killings gives this a whole new dimension.
I absolutely would pick up the next book in this series, because I want to know what happens next to Nick. I believe that these books could be read as stand-alone novels, but why would you?
I loved this. Olsen is a prolific writer who has all the elements in place. Likable protagonist with a backstory, beautiful and interesting characters, a little bit of witchcraft, toss in some suspense and you’ve got a novel. It’s a standard, but well-done, format that makes for an easy and enjoyable read. I hadn’t ever read any other books by Olsen, but if I wanted a good quick pick-me-up book, she would be a good choice.
Nick Gibson is a sergeant in the local police force. A single dad to Veronica (who is so compelling on her own, I think she deserves her own book series!) who relocated to suburban Oregon from Los Angeles, he finds himself on a case involving witches. Not the pointy hat kind, but the new age, Wiccan kind. Annaliese is a beautiful witch who owns a new-age store in her old Victorian home. Throw in some other coven members, each one a little bit different and unusual, and a murder spree, and you’ve got a suspense novel with some romance. I loved Nick. He’s the kind of upstanding, handsome, charming cop that only comes in books. Anna reminds me of the girl next door with a pagan twist. You want her to not be the killer. The series of murders definitely puts the spotlight on several members of the coven, and while I suspected the real killer all along, there were times that I wondered if maybe I was wrong. The reason for the killings gives this a whole new dimension.
I absolutely would pick up the next book in this series, because I want to know what happens next to Nick. I believe that these books could be read as stand-alone novels, but why would you?
May 3, 2017
Lisa Olsen is one of my favorite paranormal author. All of her books are great. was a little different for her with a male lead character, but it worked. She still continued her way of being playful with the dialogue and thoughts of her lead. The female lead was a good one as well. Annalise and Sgt. Gibson together were great. Although the storyline was as I expected, it was still great done in Lisa Olsen's way. I will definitely read the next book in the series, and see if it's as good.
June 23, 2021
I liked this book a lot. I figured out who the bad guy was, but I think it was more of a good guess.
August 21, 2022
Excellent read!!
October 22, 2022
it was ok, guessed the killer quite early on
November 24, 2022
Overall, a good read. Would have like a little more plot building…the conclusion just came crashing together in the last couple chapters.
November 15, 2012
I love finding new authors to read. No really. 240 some odd unread books on my kindle are a testament to that. I pulled the trigger on this not knowing what to expect. The synopses sounded interesting and it had a good number of positive reviews (which isn't always the true litmus test for judging a possible read but it's what we got) not to mention the title grabbed me and the cover rocks.
On to the review.
When a supposed arson victim is actually found out to be a murder victim, Detective Nick Gibson sets upon finding the killer. It's nothing out of the ordinary for the veteran police officer and his faithful team. That is until the investigation leads him to discover the victim is a practicing witch (Wiccan, to be more exact). Nick's discoveries will have him looking into the lives of all of the deceased's coven, including Analise Cross, the alluring owner of the town's local Wiccan shop. Can Nick trust her, especially when she reveals certain facts about her unorthodox lifestyle? Or will he find that she's the killer?
This book starts right out of the gate and really doesn't let up until it's over. And I don't mean that it's super action packed, but it's filled with page after page of well drafted police procedural, tight plot and memorable characters as well as a liberal dosage of the author's humor. Breadcrumbs are dropped throughout the novel, smartly and at the right times, showing that the author really took the time to craft a pretty tight plot.
The story would be nothing, however, without the characters. Nick is glib, flirtatious and funny. He's also the father of a rambunctious and equally smart-alecky teenaged daughter. Anna is smart and tough and not without her own razor sharp wit. All of the supporting characters are penned each with their own unique voices and motivations and back stories, even the minor players.
I also found the balance between the mystery aspects and the 'paranormal'/witch aspects to be very well balanced. I wouldn't really call this an urban fantasy novel. The witchery was very well rooted in the real world (most of the time) and was interesting to read.
If I had to bring up a few minor quibbles they'd be limited. I think the 'big reveal' at the end was a little bit much. Not so much the who dunnit aspect (that was fine) but some things she reveals to the leads. It seemed horseshoed into the book and the plot probably wouldn't have suffered without it. Also, the ending comes rather abruptly. There are also a few things about Nick and his daughter's past that were hinted at but never flushed out. It would have been nice to read a little bit more about their past lives.
Those complaints are minor and in no way hamper the pacing of the book. I found it to flow well, be paced excellently and it had more than a few laugh out loud moments. After my first foray into the world of Lisa Olsen, I quickly decided that I'm going to spend more time in her sandbox in the very near future.
Also included (at least in the e version) is the first chapter of another novel of hers called The Touch. It seemed stamped with her particular style right from the get and that includes the funny banter and likeable characters.
On to the review.
When a supposed arson victim is actually found out to be a murder victim, Detective Nick Gibson sets upon finding the killer. It's nothing out of the ordinary for the veteran police officer and his faithful team. That is until the investigation leads him to discover the victim is a practicing witch (Wiccan, to be more exact). Nick's discoveries will have him looking into the lives of all of the deceased's coven, including Analise Cross, the alluring owner of the town's local Wiccan shop. Can Nick trust her, especially when she reveals certain facts about her unorthodox lifestyle? Or will he find that she's the killer?
This book starts right out of the gate and really doesn't let up until it's over. And I don't mean that it's super action packed, but it's filled with page after page of well drafted police procedural, tight plot and memorable characters as well as a liberal dosage of the author's humor. Breadcrumbs are dropped throughout the novel, smartly and at the right times, showing that the author really took the time to craft a pretty tight plot.
The story would be nothing, however, without the characters. Nick is glib, flirtatious and funny. He's also the father of a rambunctious and equally smart-alecky teenaged daughter. Anna is smart and tough and not without her own razor sharp wit. All of the supporting characters are penned each with their own unique voices and motivations and back stories, even the minor players.
I also found the balance between the mystery aspects and the 'paranormal'/witch aspects to be very well balanced. I wouldn't really call this an urban fantasy novel. The witchery was very well rooted in the real world (most of the time) and was interesting to read.
If I had to bring up a few minor quibbles they'd be limited. I think the 'big reveal' at the end was a little bit much. Not so much the who dunnit aspect (that was fine) but some things she reveals to the leads. It seemed horseshoed into the book and the plot probably wouldn't have suffered without it. Also, the ending comes rather abruptly. There are also a few things about Nick and his daughter's past that were hinted at but never flushed out. It would have been nice to read a little bit more about their past lives.
Those complaints are minor and in no way hamper the pacing of the book. I found it to flow well, be paced excellently and it had more than a few laugh out loud moments. After my first foray into the world of Lisa Olsen, I quickly decided that I'm going to spend more time in her sandbox in the very near future.
Also included (at least in the e version) is the first chapter of another novel of hers called The Touch. It seemed stamped with her particular style right from the get and that includes the funny banter and likeable characters.
July 17, 2015
This is the first novel I have read by Lisa Olsen , Let me introduce you to Sergeant Nick Gibson. He and his team of detectives are hard on the case . They have to unravel the serial murders of a coven of
witches . There is just one little problem , he doesn't really believe in witches . Then along comes Annalese the pretty little witch , that could be next on the hit list . As they work together he finds himself falling for the pretty little witch. Even though he doesn't believe in magic. They are thrown together and falling for each other , but will they survive the murderer and the publicity .
Lisa Olsen is a great new author that I just recently found . I have had this book on my tbr list
for awhile. I have been hearing such good things about it . I decided to find it on my list and start reading. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down. it was such a good read . The author took us on roller coaster ride. The way she introduced us to the Wiccan way in such a great ease. The story flowed with such ease . You will get lost in the story. It is a great mix of murder and romance .
Her characters are well developed and you can't help but fall a little for Nick, He is your hot sexy cop. He is a family man that has been through some hardships after his wife up and left him and his daughter. They have a good life now . But something is lacking like a true love . He is the type of guy that you just want to well basically want to climb like a spider monkey . Trust me you will fall a little for him and he easy charm and charisma. Annalese is the young lady/witch that captures Nicks eye as he start the case . She is a straightforward sassy lady that has her own secrets to hide, But they seem to be good for each other . The supporting cast is so well written they compliment the main characters very well. From the coven members and the crazy pastor saying they deserved it .
I am so glad that I read this book , I read it in a day and a half . I fell in love with the characters and the story . The author weaves such a great story that will have you turning the pages well into the night. Trust me you will fall for Nick just a little and will cheer for them and you will want to strangle the pastor and you will scream at a few scenes and you will cry and laugh. This should be added to your summer to be read list . Great for a day by the pool . If you want a great paranormal story full of intrigue and some romance, this is the book for you . So check it out ,You won't be disappointed in the least .
July 29, 2014
When I picked this book up for review, I wasn't sure what to expect other than a story about witches being killed off. After reading it, I've got a book hangover. I loved every minute of this book and will re-read it several times. I wish I could give it more than five stars because it deserves at least 10. The story reels you in on the very first page. You meet Sgt Gibson, a cop, single dad and great guy. I love his character, especially since he's an older guy who's still got his charm. Nick is lead on a murder that appears to be an accident at first but after digging around with his team, it leads him to Anna. He's instantly attracted to her but knows that since she knew the victim, Anna could be a suspect. As the story progresses, you'll see that the two of them work very well together and it reminded me of Detective Kate Beckett and Richard Castle in the show Castle. Anna and Nick compliment each other well and the flow of the story is phenomenal. Just when you think you know what's going to happen next, a twist happens and you're thrown for a loop. I enjoyed the interaction between Anna and her coven with Nick. Anna is the only one who accepts his help and protection, while the others see him as a nosy outsider. I was shocked at the end when the perpetrator was revealed. You'll never ever guess who it was. Like I said, this book had me hooked. I tried to pace myself through it but my curiosity and need to know what happened next got the better of me. I was disappointed when it ended, not because of how it ended but because I was finished. The mystery of who done it and why was fantastic. The characters were very well developed and the plot was magical. I highly highly suggest that you pick up this book by Lisa Olsen today and get ready to be captivated. I can't wait to buy her next book and see what happens with Nick and Anna.
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official.**
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official.**
August 16, 2015
I don’t know what it is about the word witch (wiccan, Salem, magical, that word is a draw for me), if it’s in the title I will 1-click just about every time. Pretty Witches All In A Row was no exception. The cover grabbed me as I was cruising, unsupervised (which really shouldn’t happen with that 1-click button), through Amazon. I clicked and started reading immediately. I seriously love that cover. It’s beautiful and different.
I’m not going to retell the blurb for you, if you are reading reviews, you’ve read it already and know that you’re interested.
I’m going to say I loved our main characters, though there were a few moments that made me scratch my head a bit, Nick was a good detective but not the most professional, IMHO. That didn’t stop me from liking him, it just made me think if this was real life and his superior caught him doing some of what he did, he would have been asked to turn in his badge and gun early in the book.
That being said, other than a few irresponsible professional moments on his part, I love him. I loved Annaliese more though. She was just very likable. I love to spend time in a store like she has in the book. I could imagine it in my head, smell the smells that you find in a store of that kind, hear the music playing in the background, see the people interacting.
I kind of had a feeling of who done it, and I was right, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the book, turning the pages quickly to see to see if it was going where I thought it would go. I didn’t think it would go exactly the way it did. The twist that was there was pretty cool.
I am excited to read more from Lisa Olsen and have Kiss The Witch Goodbye (the next book) sitting in my Kindle wish list on Amazon waiting for payday so I can buy it. I really enjoyed these characters and want to see where they go from here.
4 great writing, likable characters, very enjoyable stars from me!
I’m not going to retell the blurb for you, if you are reading reviews, you’ve read it already and know that you’re interested.
I’m going to say I loved our main characters, though there were a few moments that made me scratch my head a bit, Nick was a good detective but not the most professional, IMHO. That didn’t stop me from liking him, it just made me think if this was real life and his superior caught him doing some of what he did, he would have been asked to turn in his badge and gun early in the book.
That being said, other than a few irresponsible professional moments on his part, I love him. I loved Annaliese more though. She was just very likable. I love to spend time in a store like she has in the book. I could imagine it in my head, smell the smells that you find in a store of that kind, hear the music playing in the background, see the people interacting.
I kind of had a feeling of who done it, and I was right, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the book, turning the pages quickly to see to see if it was going where I thought it would go. I didn’t think it would go exactly the way it did. The twist that was there was pretty cool.
I am excited to read more from Lisa Olsen and have Kiss The Witch Goodbye (the next book) sitting in my Kindle wish list on Amazon waiting for payday so I can buy it. I really enjoyed these characters and want to see where they go from here.
4 great writing, likable characters, very enjoyable stars from me!
November 25, 2013
2.5 stars.
This started off pretty good. An intriguing murder mystery involving a coven of modern day witches and the deceives investigating the case. Likeable characters and enough mystery thrown in to keep the reader guessing. My only real issues we re the main homicide effective seemed far too nice and easy going, but other than that it was okay. A quick read, I read the first 20% in one sitting and in another sitting read up to 54%. After that point things started to go down hill.
The story became more and more unbelievable and while the characters were still likeable the police investigation became unbelievable and annoying to the point of a constant that would never happen in real life or even in a Law & Order episode. By the 80% mark I had guessed correctly who the killer was and by then I didn't particularly care mu h because the plot was fairly daft by then.
So a rather meh one for me.
This started off pretty good. An intriguing murder mystery involving a coven of modern day witches and the deceives investigating the case. Likeable characters and enough mystery thrown in to keep the reader guessing. My only real issues we re the main homicide effective seemed far too nice and easy going, but other than that it was okay. A quick read, I read the first 20% in one sitting and in another sitting read up to 54%. After that point things started to go down hill.
The story became more and more unbelievable and while the characters were still likeable the police investigation became unbelievable and annoying to the point of a constant that would never happen in real life or even in a Law & Order episode. By the 80% mark I had guessed correctly who the killer was and by then I didn't particularly care mu h because the plot was fairly daft by then.
So a rather meh one for me.
March 5, 2013
The characters were well rounded although the main characters were a bit too perfect. The characters and their dynamics were very well portrayed and intriguing. Although I would have enjoyed meeting all of the witches in the coven that were alive at the beginning, the characters we did meet moved the story and the relationships along nicely. There was just enough suspicion cast upon the possible killers in the coven, although it was clear that Annaliese was not a real threat.
The book neither promoted nor made wiccan seem out there, for the most part. The author did a good job of merely illustrating the wiccan/pagan "religion" as simply another way to view the world or think about your life path.
One thing that I really enjoyed was that the investigation was taken out of Gibson's hands/control; it made the dynamics better and added additional tension that was not merely the danger/threat of someone picking off the coven members.
The book neither promoted nor made wiccan seem out there, for the most part. The author did a good job of merely illustrating the wiccan/pagan "religion" as simply another way to view the world or think about your life path.
One thing that I really enjoyed was that the investigation was taken out of Gibson's hands/control; it made the dynamics better and added additional tension that was not merely the danger/threat of someone picking off the coven members.
November 8, 2014
Holy cow !!! Why have I not discover this amazing read before??? Damn it was a pretty fantastic and super keep in the edge of your seat kinda of read. It's a greatcombination of a good mystery-detective novel with a dose of paranormal witch-mystical stuff.....
It's my first time reading this author's work but now I am going to look for book number two for sure, and I'm not one that's go so easy for the second book in a series if the first one doesn't really cut it for me....
I like the way she develop the main character's, Nick and Annalise, personality and that she added a touch of humor to their relationship. And honestly the book had me guessing right to the end who the killer was... The setting in Oregon is so perfect, with it's rainy weather and grey skies.
All the secondary characters in the story provide a good support to the development of the story and you kind of like each and everyone of them by the end.....
It's my first time reading this author's work but now I am going to look for book number two for sure, and I'm not one that's go so easy for the second book in a series if the first one doesn't really cut it for me....
I like the way she develop the main character's, Nick and Annalise, personality and that she added a touch of humor to their relationship. And honestly the book had me guessing right to the end who the killer was... The setting in Oregon is so perfect, with it's rainy weather and grey skies.
All the secondary characters in the story provide a good support to the development of the story and you kind of like each and everyone of them by the end.....
January 1, 2014
Started off pretty good, ended up being just ok. In my opinion, it just got far too unbelievable as the story progressed. The fact that Nick was far too quickly and easily able to get past his disbelief, and that along with the fact that he pretty much trampled all over what I would consider to be normal police procedure pretty much took me out of the story. For example,
The characters could have stood a little more fleshing out, as well.
I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it, either. I would probably be willing to read another book by this author another time.
The characters could have stood a little more fleshing out, as well.
I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it, either. I would probably be willing to read another book by this author another time.
March 26, 2014
I feel like I'm being generous giving this three stars. I did enjoy reading it but for me it was lacking in something. perhaps the characters needed more depth and some of them felt like they weren't needed at all. I don't want to spoil this book for others but I felt it needs to decide what it wants to be. I'm not sure you needed the supernatural angle but hey that's just my opinion. I've read a lot of books and this one just didn't live up to some others. wouldn't rush to read anything else by this author but I wasn't put off by this book. there is clearly something there with this writer x
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