I’ve always been a fan of mysteries and thrillers, and I’ve always been fascinated by witches. When you combine the two? Oh boy, I’m right there on publication date, impatiently waiting to throw my money at you. Because, to me, witchy mysteries and thrillers hold a special kind of appeal: secrets.
It always comes down to secrets in mysteries and thrillers. It is, in fact, an intrinsic part of both genres: there is always at least one secret that the main characters need to untangle. But secrets are also a key part of narratives about witches: for centuries, witchcraft was practiced in secret, lest the witch in question end up hanging from a noose, or burning at a stake, or a variety of other violent deaths. Moreover, the art of magic is inherently secretive: what is magic? What can it do? Where does it come from? Nobody can say for certain.
The eight books gathered here are either intriguing mysteries or absorbing thrillers, and they’re all brimming with magic. From a woman who can talk to the dead, to magical healers, to spirits lurking in a forbidden forest, the witches in these pages must use their powers for good… and maybe, in some cases, a little mischief.
Witchy Mysteries and Thrillers to Read This Fall
In the Company of Witches (Evenfall Witches B&B #1) by Auralee WallaceAfter the loss of her husband, Brynn lost a once treasured gift: the ability to speak to the dead. But when a guest dies at the bed and breakfast Brynn runs with her aunts, she must put her newly regained gift to use and help her solve a crucial mystery: who killed her? |
 A Spell for Trouble (Enchanted Bay #1) by Esme AddisonReturning to Bellamy Bay after 20 years away was bound to be challenging. Aleksandra knew that reuniting with estranged relatives would be even more so. But even she wasn’t expecting her aunt to be framed for poisoning a local… or the rumors that her family is made up of magical healers. |
 River Woman, River Demon by Jennifer GivhanWhen her husband is arrested for the murder of a friend, Eva’s life is thrown off kilter. Soon, she’s questioning everyone she knows, including herself. Now, Eva must use her magick as a bruja to protect the ones she loves. |
 Secondhand Spirits (Witchcraft Mystery #1) by Juliet BlackwellLily knows she needs to keep her magic a secret. But when a client of her clothing store is murdered, and children begin to disappear, she’s afraid she must risk exposure if she’s to have any hope of solving the crime. |
 An Unlikely Coven (Green Witch Cycle #1) by A.M. KvitaAfter spending seven years away from home, Joan’s welcome back is… lackluster, to put it mildly. But even that is preferable to the absolute chaos that is wrought when she learns that her best friend has kidnapped a human-turned-witch. It doesn’t help that turning humans into witches threatens her family’s position at the top of the magical hierarchy. |
 The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida CórdovaOrquídea Divina’s funeral was supposed to answer her family’s questions. Instead, all it accomplishes is creating more. Seven years later, when her gifts have manifested in her family, somebody begins to pick off its members. In an attempt to learn why and how to stop them, they travel to Ecuador, only to find that Orquídea had even more secrets than they knew. |
 A Familiar Tail (Witch’s Cat Mystery #1) by Delia JamesAnnabelle acquires an unexpected familiar when she arrives in Portsmouth. She also acquires a question, since Alistair the cat’s owner died in mysterious circumstances. When somebody else dies, it’s up to her, her magic, and her cat, to find out who did it and why. |
 The Year of the Witching (Bethel #1) by Alexis HendersonIn an attempt to make up for her mother’s scandalous marriage to someone of a different race, Immanuelle strives to lead a life of utter conformity. But when she’s lured to the Darkwood, she learns through the spirits of four witches the true darkness that lies within Bethel’s Church. This book technically falls under horror and dark fantasy, but there’s a mystery at the heart of the story that fits perfectly in this list. |
If you’re in the market for more mysteries, may I suggest the best cozy mysteries to read this fall? And if it’s more witches you’re after, perhaps you’d enjoy these bewitching books for fans of Practical Magic?