Where should I start reading the Witchcraft Mysteries?

You should start with the first novel, Secondhand Spirits (2009), to properly understand Lily Ivory's introduction to San Francisco, her shop, and the core cast of characters.

Are the Witchcraft Mysteries books standalone?

The mysteries in each book are self-contained, but the character development, romance, and overall magical lore build on previous books. It is highly recommended to read them in order.

Where does the short story "Fool's Gold" fit in the reading order?

"Fool's Gold" is a short story (often designated as Book 5.5) that should be read after the fifth novel, Tarnished and Torn .

What is the crossover story in the series?

The crossover novella is "A Haunting is Brewing" (Book 6.5), where Lily Ivory teams up with Mel Turner from Juliet Blackwell's Haunted Home Renovation series.

Is the Witchcraft Mysteries series finished?

Yes, the series concludes with the eleventh novel, Synchronized Sorcery , which was published in 2021 and wraps up Lily's story.

Does the author write under any other names?

Yes, Juliet Blackwell is a pseudonym for Julie Goodson-Lawes . She has also co-authored the Art Lover's Mystery series with her sister under the shared pen name Hailey Lind .

Witchcraft Mysteries Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order for Witchcraft Mysteries

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Witchcraft Mysteries in publication order. While each installment features a self-contained paranormal mystery, the overarching story arcs—including Lily Ivory's personal growth, her relationships, the development of her shop Aunt Cora's Closet, and the evolution of her magical abilities—follow a strict progression. Reading out of order will spoil major character developments, romantic subplots, and changes to the local San Francisco coven dynamic.

Here is the recommended reading path, integrating the main novels and the short fiction:

Secondhand Spirits (2009)
A Cast-Off Coven (2010)
Hexes and Hemlines (2011)
In a Witch's Wardrobe (2012)
Tarnished and Torn (2013)
"Fool's Gold" (2013) — Short Story (Book 5.5)
A Vision in Velvet (2014)
"A Haunting is Brewing" (2014) — Crossover Novella (Book 6.5)
Spellcasting in Silk (2015)
A Toxic Trousseau (2016)
A Magical Match (2018)
Bewitched and Betrothed (2019)
Synchronized Sorcery (2021)

Witchcraft Mysteries Book-by-Book Breakdown

1. Secondhand Spirits (2009)

This debut novel introduces us to Lily Ivory, a witch who has spent her life hiding her magical abilities while fleeing prejudice. Lily settles in San Francisco's eclectic Haight-Ashbury district to open Aunt Cora's Closet, a vintage clothing store. She has a rare gift: she can feel the vibrations and memories left behind in old garments. When a client is murdered and children start disappearing, Lily must use her powers and team up with local supernatural beings to clear her name.

2. A Cast-Off Coven (2010)

Lily is still struggling to fit into the San Francisco magical community when she is asked to help investigate a series of hauntings at a local school. The school is built on the site of a historic mansion with dark secrets. As Lily investigates, she must deal with a stubborn ghost, suspicious authorities, and the pressure of showing what she can do to the local covens.

3. Hexes and Hemlines (2011)

When Lily's friend Maya is accused of murdering a local warlock, Lily gets involved in the investigation. Her search leads her into San Francisco's underground magical community, where family secrets and old rivalries threaten to boil over. Along the way, Lily must also navigate her complicated relationship with the handsome gargoyle, Max, and the mortal detective, Sailor.

4. In a Witch's Wardrobe (2012)

Business is booming at Aunt Cora's Closet, but things take a dark turn when a vintage dress purchased at her shop seems to cause its new owner to fall into a mysterious coma. Lily discovers the garment is cursed with black magic. To save her customer, Lily must delve into the history of the dress, uncovering a decades-old tragedy.

5. Tarnished and Torn (2013)

Lily's past comes back to haunt her when she is called to investigate a mystery involving a historical vintage clothing collection. A mysterious buyer is collecting cursed items, and Lily is caught in a web of family curses, dangerous spells, and old grudges. This book sets up pivotal changes in Lily's magical status in the city.

"Fool's Gold" (2013) — Short Story (Book 5.5)

This quick short story focuses on Lily's beloved familiar, Oscar—a pig-like gargoyle-hybrid creature who shape-shifts. When Oscar learns a hard lesson about the dangers of wishing for things, Lily must step in to save him. It is a lighthearted addition that is best read right after Tarnished and Torn.

6. A Vision in Velvet (2014)

Lily acquires a beautiful 1930s black velvet gown that carries a dark, tragic energy. The dress is connected to a series of mysterious deaths. As Lily tries to unravel the history of the dress, she finds herself targeted by an ancient force that wants the gown back at any cost.

"A Haunting is Brewing" (2014) — Crossover Novella (Book 6.5)

This is a special crossover story where Lily Ivory teams up with Mel Turner, the protagonist of Juliet Blackwell's sister series, the Haunted Home Renovation mysteries. When Mel finds haunted mannequin parts in a Victorian home she is renovating for a fundraiser, she seeks Lily's magical expertise to lay the ghosts to rest.

7. Spellcasting in Silk (2015)

Lily receives a piece of vintage silk embroidered with mysterious symbols. The fabric belongs to a family with deep magical roots, and its sudden appearance coincides with the disappearance of a prominent local witch. Lily must decode the silk's pattern to track down the missing witch.

8. A Toxic Trousseau (2016)

When a vintage wedding gown brings nothing but misfortune, Lily investigates the poison-laced threads of the dress. The mystery takes Lily deep into historical apothecary lore and dangerous herbal mixtures, forcing her to rely on her magical allies to prevent another tragedy.

9. A Magical Match (2018)

As Lily's relationship with Sailor deepens, she is hired to authenticate a collection of occult manuscripts. When the manuscripts are stolen and a appraiser is found dead, Lily is drawn into a conflict between rival factions of the magical world who want the books' ancient power.

10. Bewitched and Betrothed (2019)

With her wedding to Sailor fast approaching, Lily's life is thrown into chaos when a body is found near her shop. Even worse, the prime suspect is Sailor himself. Lily must clear her fiancé's name while dealing with a magical doppelganger that is running amok in San Francisco.

11. Synchronized Sorcery (2021)

In the final novel of the series, Lily investigates the suspicious death of a local synchronization artist. The mystery involves a vintage mermaid costume, a haunted aquarium, and a threat that could expose San Francisco's magical community. This installment ties up Lily's personal journey, bringing her character arc to a satisfying conclusion.

What to Know Before You Start

The Witchcraft Mysteries belong to the cozy paranormal mystery subgenre. Unlike dark urban fantasy, these books focus on community, mystery-solving, and lighthearted humor, while still maintaining high stakes. The stories are heavily grounded in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, which behaves like a character itself. Juliet Blackwell (the pen name of Julie Goodson-Lawes) uses her background in anthropology and art history to give the setting and vintage clothes authentic, historical depth.

While the books feature romantic elements, the romance is slow-burning and serves as secondary plot progression. Lily's main allies include her familiar Oscar, her gargoyle friend Max, a coven of older witches known as the "Aunties," and the mortal detective Sailor.

Spin-offs and Crossovers

Juliet Blackwell's other major series is the Haunted Home Renovation series, featuring Mel Turner, a contractor who can see ghosts. The two series exist in the same fictional universe. While you do not need to read the Mel Turner books to understand Lily's story, their paths officially cross in the novella "A Haunting is Brewing". Reading this crossover offers a fun treat for fans of both series.