This is the third book in a series featuring Detective Natalie Lockhart. It is set in a fictional town called Burning Lake NY, which appears to be an amalgamation of towns with a witch history. Detective Lockhart must unravel the story behind a vicious, premeditated murder of a local respected witch in the town, while navigating a tricky relationship with her former love interest and current boss, Luke.

I appreciated the fact that I did not need to read the first two novels in order to grasp what was happening in this one, although obviously it would add to your understanding. The characters are skillfully drawn and even though there are quite a few to keep track of, I was not confused by it. The depiction of witchcraft is nuanced and respectful, and also touches on the misunderstanding and prejudice regarding witchcraft.

My only frustration with this novel is that I reached the end with no resolution of any aspects of the murder. I do appreciate that it is part of a series and that major aspects of the plot will continue into the next installment, however it would have been satisfying to have some conclusion to the events in this novel. As my daughter put it aptly, you need a win. That being said, I am now a Natalie Lockhart fan and I will be reading the first two books in the series. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.