Maladies of Magic
(2026)(The second book in the Mystic Haven Tea Shop Mystery series)
A novel by TJ Costello and Kat McGee
In Mystic Haven, a bad cup of tea can do more than ruin your day. It can give you polka-dotted skin, a charming set of feathers, and a direct line to the town’s latest murder victim.
Fiona Shaw has officially overstayed her welcome. Or at least, that's what she keeps telling herself. She's finally getting the hang of running the Mystic Haven Tea Shop, but her suitcase is still packed and an escape route is meticulously planned. Her only obstacle? A certain Siamese cat with an uncanny ability to nap on her getaway bag at the most inconvenient times.
Just as she’s about to make a run for it, a new kind of magical mayhem puts her midlife plans on hold. The former owner's cherished recipe book has been stolen, replaced by a clever fake. The counterfeit brews aren't just bad—they're hexed. Soon, the mayor's wife is sneezing feathers, the town hunk has hair the color of lime gelatin, and Fiona's reputation is sinking faster than a tea bag in hot water.
The weird magical side effects are one thing, but when a local busybody is found dead, the investigation reveals a chilling connection to the stolen recipe book. Now, Fiona isn't just dealing with a town full of magically afflicted customers, her barista's the prime suspect in a murder. With a rival tea-slinger stirring up trouble and the town sheriff watching her every move, fleeing town is off the table.
To save the shop and her skin, Fiona must embrace her witchy heritage, track down the real book, and find a killer who is using her own unique brand of magic as a weapon.
After all, when the recipe for disaster includes a pinch of murder, it’s going to take one seriously stressed witch to serve up justice, hot and fresh.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Fiona Shaw has officially overstayed her welcome. Or at least, that's what she keeps telling herself. She's finally getting the hang of running the Mystic Haven Tea Shop, but her suitcase is still packed and an escape route is meticulously planned. Her only obstacle? A certain Siamese cat with an uncanny ability to nap on her getaway bag at the most inconvenient times.
Just as she’s about to make a run for it, a new kind of magical mayhem puts her midlife plans on hold. The former owner's cherished recipe book has been stolen, replaced by a clever fake. The counterfeit brews aren't just bad—they're hexed. Soon, the mayor's wife is sneezing feathers, the town hunk has hair the color of lime gelatin, and Fiona's reputation is sinking faster than a tea bag in hot water.
The weird magical side effects are one thing, but when a local busybody is found dead, the investigation reveals a chilling connection to the stolen recipe book. Now, Fiona isn't just dealing with a town full of magically afflicted customers, her barista's the prime suspect in a murder. With a rival tea-slinger stirring up trouble and the town sheriff watching her every move, fleeing town is off the table.
To save the shop and her skin, Fiona must embrace her witchy heritage, track down the real book, and find a killer who is using her own unique brand of magic as a weapon.
After all, when the recipe for disaster includes a pinch of murder, it’s going to take one seriously stressed witch to serve up justice, hot and fresh.
Genre: Cozy Mystery