This book is off to a slow start. Which is all right for me. It’s the first in the series for me, so the slow start gives me a chance to be introduced to the characters. It’s making me curious about the previous stories.

Then a body is found in Mia’s backyard. In most cozies this is where the pace picks up as the sleuth gets herself involved in the mystery. Not so much here. The slow pace continues. Even though there are plenty of mysteries around: there’s the unknown dead man; someone told Mia she’s better of leaving or even selling her building; and one of her house guests is a novice witch that may have or may not have cast a spell or two for her own benefit. It’s not until after Mia has finished work for the day that she starts a little investigation.

The story continues in this vain. It isn’t until the last quarter of the book that Mia puts in some actual effort in getting to know who the victim was and who might have known him.

I’m not sure what to think of this story. There is plenty of mystery in this story, but it mainly has to do with Mia’s house. For the most part, it’s a lot of mundane stuff about work and locking doors that would have happened too if there had not been a dead man in Mia’s backyard. Mia certainly didn’t act like there was any urgency to solving that murder.

Still, it was an okay read, it just lacked a good hook to pull me in.

I read an ARC through NetGalley.