An Intrigue of Witches

by Esme Addison Narrated by Amber Battaglia

Overview

National Treasure*meets*A Discovery of Witches...

Introducing the Secret Society mystery series, and kick-ass red-headed heroine Sidney Taylor.

Thirty-year-old Black woman Sidney Taylor is a talented early American history professor, working in fast-paced Washington DC, with her eyes on promotion. She's also currently persona non grata. Who knew that making an inconvenient historical discovery would see her stuck at her desk, shuffling paper?

So when she receives an anonymous and very cryptic invitation to visit historic small-town Robbinsville, North Carolina and hunt for a missing archaeological treasure-with a million-dollar payout at stake-it's one she can't refuse. Besides, her beloved grandmother lives in Robbinsville, and it's been too long since she's paid her a visit.

Soon, Sidney's on an exciting treasure hunt, following two-hundred-year-old clues that lead her ever closer to the artifact she's searching for. But what isthe artifact? And why is Sidney starting to feel like she's at the heart of a terrifying conspiracy she doesn't understand?

The answer blows Sidney's world apart, plunging her into a dark, glittering world of secret societies, ancient bloodlines, witches and magic, linked to an ages-old conspiracy that could destroy the very principles upon which America was founded.

Editorial Reviews

New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry

Poignant and entertaining, this one is loaded with intrigue - a feast for anyone, like myself, who loves action, history, secrets and conspiracies. A stellar read

Anthony-nominated and bestselling author of Her Na Yasmin Angoe

Watch out, Robert Langdon, because Sidney Taylor has arrived! An intrepid historian with a lot of voice, a national conspiracy dating back centuries, a secret magical society, and discovering one's legacy-the best elements to a captivating read

First Clue Reviews

A winning series starter

Booklist on A Hex for Danger

Close family relationships, friendship, a lovingly portrayed coastal setting - all framed by details of running an herbal apothecary - distinguish this cozy

From the Publisher

Poignant and entertaining, this one is loaded with intrigue – a feast for anyone, like myself, who loves action, history, secrets and conspiracies. A stellar read”
STEVE BERRY, New York Times bestselling author

“Watch out, Robert Langdon, because Sidney Taylor has arrived! An intrepid historian with a lot of voice, a national conspiracy dating back centuries, a secret magical society, and discovering one’s legacy—the best elements to a captivating read”
YASMIN ANGOE, Anthony-nominated and bestselling author of Her Name Is Knight

“Those who enjoy a little history with their magic will find this novel difficult to put down”
Library Journal

“Fans of Addison’s Enchanted Bay series and those attracted by the supernatural, history, and mystery will enjoy this series starter”
Booklist

“Those who buy into the magic will enjoy the mystery”
Kirkus Reviews

"A winning series starter"

First Clue Reviews

“Magical mysteries, romance, and a Harry Potter–like storyline add up to an enchanting read”
Kirkus Reviews on A Hex for Danger

“Well-developed characters and charming seaside setting, and framed by plant and mermaid lore, will appeal to those who enjoy stories with a touch of magic”
Booklist on A Spell for Trouble

Booklist

Fans of Addison's Enchanted Bay series and those attracted by the supernatural, history, and mystery will enjoy this series starter

Booklist on A Spell for Trouble

Well-developed characters and charming seaside setting, and framed by plant and mermaid lore, will appeal to those who enjoy stories with a touch of magic

Library Journal

05/01/2024

The latest from "Enchanted Bay" mystery author Addison is a page-turning mix of Dan Brown meets National Treasure with some magic. Sidney Taylor is furloughed from a position she loves at the Smithsonian. As she prepares to leave, she receives a mysterious invitation to find an archaeological treasure. Since the invitation directs her to Robbinsville, NC, where she went to college and still has family, Sidney decides to combine the treasure hunt with a visit to her beloved grandmother. Intrigue and danger build around her search as incredible secrets are revealed about friends, family, and history. Then the story draws to a near-catastrophic climax in which Sidney discovers her true powers and destiny. Addison sketches her characters and setting with fine brushstrokes, highlighting the close relationships between family and friends cutting across lines of race and social standing. She shows the flow of life in a Southern town, expertly intertwined with mystery, magic, and an insidious plot to disrupt life and liberty in the United States. VERDICT Those who enjoy a little history with their magic will find this novel difficult to put down; the plot flows seamlessly from beginning to end. Readers will look forward to the next "Secret Society Mystery."—Pam O'Sullivan

Kirkus Reviews

2024-02-17
A Black historian on the hunt for an artifact uncovers a sacred sisterhood.

Unceremoniously downsized from her job at the Smithsonian, Sidney Taylor decides that her grandmother is due a visit. Sidney’s family has been entrenched in D.C. society and politics for as long as she can remember, but something about her Grams’ home in Robbinsville, North Carolina, has always felt right to Sidney, who spent happy college years in the small town. Greeted by the smiling face of her Grams, Sidney knows everything will be all right. Meeting handsome Gabe Willoughby, a fellow appreciator of history, doesn’t hurt either, though Sidney’s soon too distracted by her first love to notice him all that much. That first love is history, now wrapped in a mystery. Abner Robbins, owner of the Robbins Early American Living History Museum & Village, wants Sidney’s help locating a lost artifact. President James Madison, working with talented cryptographer Josiah Willoughby, left what amounts to a historical treasure hunt designed to lead players to an item Abner is determined must not be lost forever. Though some of the details seem murky, early successes in the hunt excite Sidney about the case as she learns about the rich history of the Daughters of Hathor and their protection of Scotland’s Queen Scota and her lineage. When things grow dangerous, Sidney isn’t sure whether someone’s trying to get her off the case or there’s just some old-fashioned racism and sexism around town. Never thrown from her path, Sidney uncovers what she can, even if some of it is hard to believe.

Those who buy into the magic will enjoy the mystery; others may be bogged down by all that history.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940191482170
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	06/04/2024
Series:	Secret Society Mystery , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged

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