Amanda Cadabra and The Hidden Depths (The Amanda Cadabra Cozy Paranormal Mysteries #5) by Holly Bell – ARC Review

Furniture restorer and covert witch Amanda is being good. Or at least she’s trying.

The cold case of the Cardiubarn Murders is on the cusp of closure. The body she found in her obscure village is becoming a high-profile case. Letting Detective Inspector Trelawney do his job is one thing. But how long can she sit on the sidelines while a beloved member of the community is hours away from arrest?

The real killer must be found. It takes a witch of a sleuth to plumb the hidden depths of village and villagers and face the perils of what lies beneath.

Finally, Amanda and Thomas are looking forward to being able to draw a line under the Cardiubarn Murders' cold case. However, just as one chapter closes in their lives, a new adventure begins.

I received this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review. This doesn't affect my opinion of the book or influence the content of my review.

What did I like about Amanda Cadabra and The Hidden Depths?

I genuinely love Holly Bell’s writing style. Her stories are easy to read with intelligent prose and engaging plotlines which she sprinkles with gentle humour. This series is based in and around the fictional English village of Sunken Madley. Holly has populated it with a host of charming characters that you’d see in any village across the country.

The writing style, setting and characters all feel quintessentially English.

I’ve been in love with our main protagonists, Amanda and Thomas, since book 1 – The Hidey-Hole Truth. They’ve both grown and developed as the series has progressed. Our resilient heroine Amanda Cadabra has all the qualities that I look for in a female lead and Detective Thomas Trelawney is a worthy hero. They’re both intelligent and resourceful.

I can’t talk about our main characters without mentioning my favourite feline, Tempest. He’s Amanda’s familiar and steals the limelight in every scene he’s in with a very dry wit.

Holly has obviously taken care over writing all of the villagers that inhabit Sunken Madley – I love the attention to detail.

It makes them more credible; they feel real. Allowing me to get caught up in the adventure with ease. With each book to date, we have learned more about Amanda, Thomas and Sunken Madley itself. Information about the main villagers who live there has also been revealed.

The mysteries that Amanda and Thomas had to solve in this book had me scratching my head. There are enough twists and turns during this tale to satisfy any Miss Marple wannabe. 😉  I enjoyed watching how they tacked each problem – they’ve both got gumption. I loved the “race-against-time” aspect in his book. There are a few mysteries to solve within these pages. However, fear not dear reader, no frustrating cliffhangers here (Woohoo!).

Was there anything I didn’t like?

There wasn’t anything about this story that niggled or didn’t work for me, hence my top marks. 😉

Amanda Cadabra and The Hidden Depths is book 5 in an ongoing series. A lot has happened in the previous books.

Our emotional connection to the main characters and the supporting cast has been built and grown over the previous books. Many mysteries, secrets and villains have been revealed and duly dealt with. Therefore, I don’t think that this book can be read as a standalone novel.

Basically, what I’m saying is…

I loved this book and couldn’t put it down. It’s got everything that I look for in an engaging story. A couple of intelligent mysteries to get the little grey cells whirling. Various scenes that get the adrenaline pumping, and enough tension to make you hold your breath. Plus, some well-written humour. There’s even a sprinkling of a slow-burn romance between our two protagonists.

There isn’t any content within these pages that could offend anyone. I’d recommend Amanda Cadabra and The Hidden Depths to anyone who enjoys ‘cozy mysteries’ with an additional paranormal aspect.

I’m looking forward to finding out what mysteries and adventures Amanda and Thomas get caught up in next.

Has my review of AMANDA CADABRA AND THE HIDDEN DEPTHS (AMANDA CADABRA COZY PARANORMAL MYSTERIES #5) encouraged you to find out more? Click on any of the links to check it out yourself.

Keep reading to find out more about this series and its author.

About Holly Bell

Cat adorer and chocolate lover, Holly Bell is a photographer and video maker when not writing. Holly lives in the UK and is a mixture of English, Scottish, Cornish and Welsh, among other ingredients.

Her favourite animal is called Bobby. He is a black cat. Purely coincidental. Of course.

Holly devoured all of the Agatha Christie books long before she knew that Miss Marple was the godmother of the Cosy Mystery. Her devotion to JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings meant that her first literary creation in this area would have to be a cosy paranormal.

Having derived immense delight from the adventure of writing her first book in the Amanda Cadabra Cozy Paranormal Mysteries in 2018. Holly admits that there’s no turning back. Further books are in the pipeline.

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Thank you for stopping by and for taking the time to read my thoughts about Amanda Cadabra and The Hidden Depths. Have you read this one or any others by Holly Bell? Drop a comment below, I’d love to hear from you.

Before you go, check out the amazing authors on my Favourites’ Page. You know how much I love adding to your towering TBR pile. 😉

Bye for now

Flora x