WITCH WAY TO MURDER is Shirley Damsgaard's first suspense novel, and the beginning of the "Ophelia and Abby" mystery series.  It is an introduction into the world of magick, murder, and mayhem, and only a lone librarian and her septuagenarian grandmother stand in the way of the bad guys.

WITCH WAY TO MURDER introduces the reader to Ophelia Jensen, burdened not only with an unusual name but also some rather unusual powers.  Her grandmother, Abby, is a sweet old lady who is a practitioner of the age old craft of magick. Ophelia has the talent herself, but wants nothing to do with it, especially since it usefulness eludes her in light of several personal tragedies.  Unfortunately, Ophelia will not have much of a choice
in the matter, especially since the small town of Summerset is suddenly overrun with a dead body, a fire at the local newspaper, a drug ring, and several threatening events aimed at her.  Will she and Abby be able to put a stop to the events, catch the perpetrators, and gain a semblance of normalcy in their lives?  Will Ophelia be able to let go of the demons of her past
that haunt her?

Shirley Damsgaard has succeeded in creating a set of characters that are marvelous in their simplicity, yet have an astonishing depth.  From the first few pages the reader is hooked and wants to know more about Abby and Ophelia and their backgrounds.  The small town of Summerset is the perfect backdrop for the events as they unfold, and even the topic of magick is handled in a totally believable manner.  It is not the cure-all or panacea that others may make it out to be, but instead it is a privilege and a
burden at the same time.

WITCH WAY TO MURDER is a wonderful page turner, and any reader who will have the opportunity to read it will wait anxiously for the next installment in the "Ophelia and Abby" mystery series!