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Katie Penryn
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The Witch who Couldn't Spell: Felix and Penzi's First Paranormal Mystery (French Country Murders Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Katie Penryn (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,044 ratings
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Penzi’s a new witch in a new town.

Her long-lost mother's been locked up for murder.

What should she do? Find the real killer – however dangerous that may be.

So far, Penzi's done well. Despite her reading disability, she's qualified as a lawyer in London and raised her two brothers on her own. But she doesn't have the skills to hunt down a murderer.

True Penzi's a white witch, so she could use magic, and she does have her mother's Book of Spells, but she's hit a stumbling block. Try as she may, Penzi cannot decipher the grimoire's medieval script. She needs help desperately if she's to save her mother from a life in prison.

Will the High Council of the Guild of White Witches listen to her plea and allow her an assistant in time to free her mother? An assistant with supernatural powers of their own?

If you love stories about witches, magic, and talking cats and dogs, all spiced up with a dollop of danger, you’ll love following along with Mpenzi and Felix, her shape-shifting sidekick, as they fight the good fight against evil in the small French seaside town of Beaucoup-sur-Mer.

Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 11
    French Country Murders
  2. Print length
    258 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    May 30, 2016
  6. File size
    1066 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"I'm loving this series! I read all three in one weekend!" - Yvonne Malecki ***** Amazon UK

"Haven't thoroughly enjoyed a book so much in ages, kept me engrossed from beginning to end. I hope Ms Penryn has much more for me to read." - Beth Rogers ***** Goodreads

"I love these books. They are very addictive." - Chris Jones ***** Book 3

"I loved this book and cannot wait to read the rest. It is easy reading and I loved the cat and dogs in the story. The way the family felt about the mom that abandoned them, but still stick to her when she was accused is moving." - Melinda Labuscagne ***** Goodreads

"Loved the whole series, can't wait for the next book." - Donna *****

About the Author

Katie's fascination with leopards stems from her wild childhood on the Kenyan coast when leopards roamed at the bottom of her garden. She admires their strength and cunning, and adores the beauty of their coats. So, when Mpenzi Munro mentioned to Katie she would like a shapeshifter as her mystery solving colleague, there was no competition. In stepped sexy Felix with his peridot-colored eyes, straight from the jungle of the Middle Congo. Katie now lives in the south west of France, not far from Beaucoup-sur-Mer. The wildest visitor she's had there was a ferocious wild boar who scared the living daylights out of her and her two Husky X Border Collies, and tore the fence down. He was more frightening than any leopard and nothing like as handsome.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01GEO5ZRI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Karibu Publishers SAS (May 30, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 30, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1066 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,044 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Katie Penryn

Katie Penryn

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Katie's fascination with leopards stems from her wild childhood on the Kenyan coast when leopards roamed at the bottom of her garden. She admires their strength and cunning, and adores the beauty of their coats. So, when Mpenzi Munro mentioned to Katie she would like a shapeshifter as her mystery solving colleague, there was no competition. In stepped sexy Felix with his peridot colored eyes, straight from the jungle of the Middle Congo.

Katie now lives in the south west of France, not far from Beaucoup-sur-mer. The wildest visitor she’s had there was a ferocious wild boar who scared the living daylights out of her and her dogs, and tore the fence down. He was more frightening than any leopard and nothing like as handsome.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,044 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

M
5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, engaging and entertaining cosy murder mystery
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2022
Verified Purchase
Many themes are skillfully and eloquently pulled together in this mystery: parent-children relationships, siblings and abandonment issues, domestic abuse, shifters, witches and magic, murder and the race against time to prove the innocent are so. This is a gentle or cosy mystery, where the readers can relax and enjoy the hunt for clues and suspects without nerve-wracking, nail-biting scenes where evil prevails and the innocents suffer.
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Stephanie P.
4.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining witchy read
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2021
Verified Purchase
Has a slow start, but sometimes a story needs setting up.
Dyslexia does not make a person unable to read: this is my one disappointment with the book. As a parent of a dyslexic child and grandparent to an auditory dyslexic grandchild, there are tools, programs and tutors to help the educators work with people and assist them with reading and language skills.
Dyslexia doesn't mean the person can't read at all or fail to function in a society with the written word. They don't need 18 year olds reading them their workload, homework, mail or spells. It's too far fetched.
Other than that, good murder mystery, fun characters, excellent writing skills and a prince charming who comes through.
Enjoy the read, don't get exasperated at the dyslexic main character (who wouldn't even have a license if they couldn't take an exam, read simple Road signs or maps etc) Think about it lol.
Vive la difference.
One person found this helpful
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Sue
5.0 out of 5 stars Different but fun
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2023
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Mpenzi is a flawed character who is totally delightful. Sam is her brother and is supportive of her. Jimbo is an exuberant younger brother. Felix the cat is fascinating. Has potential to be a great series. I’ll have to read more.
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Hotcha
5.0 out of 5 stars The Witch who Couldn't Spell: Felix and Penzi's First Paranormal Mystery (French Country Murders B
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
I LOVE THIS BOOK! I thought that penzi's parents were a complete failure with her dad who visited every seven years only to leave his wife pregnant, and at eighteen, her mon left her two year old brother to go find herself! Penzi got her degree and took care of her brothers, but her dad's attorney sent her a package that only she could open, but SHE was dyslexic and had to wait for Sam to read it to her. I loved this book so much and I was glad that Penzi embraced her skills to help free her mom for a murder that in her heart she knew that she had not done. I HOPE I WIN A GIFT CARD TO SEE WHAT SHE GETS INTO NEXT!
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Grandma
4.0 out of 5 stars Different
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2016
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This book has a little different ambience than most books of its kind which is difficult to explain. There is first of all a certain European flair--the characters are more formal, snark has been dispensed with and our heroine is even polite to her mother who abandoned her years ago. There is second the odd circumstance of Mpenzi's dyslexia which seems to be incidental and has little bearing on the story other than as a complication. I have to say that the change in energy is refreshing; snark and sarcasm has been overdone and is generally tiresome. The energy here is more like a witchy Agatha Christie novel, though Mpenzi is just getting started in the witch business. I have to say that I hope to never be arrested in France if this book is accurate regarding their justice system! The mystery is rudimentary at best, but there is a murder and a falsely accused loved one, a witch and a shifter as detectives so there is plenty going on.

While there us nothing completely novel or unique here, it seems to me that the difference in tone should be enough to hold my interest through a sequel or two. Mpenzi is likable and somewhat intriguing, and at the end you are hoping to know her better.
One person found this helpful
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Beckett Shiona
3.0 out of 5 stars I'd Award 3 3/4 Stars, If I Could
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2016
Verified Purchase
I'm a bit torn in trying to review this book. If it were possible to award it 3 1/2 or 3/4 stars, I'd do so. At the beginning I found myself liking the book very much indeed, despite the deplorably cutesy cover art. (A photograph of the coast of France would have been so much more appropriate to the story!) The novel is well written and well-edited, and the main character, a successful woman despite her struggle with dyslexia, is especially intriguing. The setting after the family's move to France is alluring. The introduction of a supporting character with, shall we say, unexpected abilities, was well-done.

I didn't find it credible, though, that the police in any country would work so hard to railroad an innocent women and conclude a case with nothing but the most minimal of circumstantial evidence, almost certain to be thrown out in court. And I began to lose interest in the story once the characters began to deploy their magical abilities almost exclusively to locate the real murderer. The freeze spell especially irritated me (think the freeze ray in "Despicable Me" !) The final passages of the book felt hurried, the situations (even for a magical fantasy) unlikely.

However, because I did like the characters and the setting, and because much of the book was intriguing, I won't write off the possibility of reading other books in the series.
12 people found this helpful
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Mary
5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2023
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Delightful story that includes a move from England to France, reconciliation with an absentee mom and a dead body among other things. loved it!
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Cat of all Cats
5.0 out of 5 stars A girls got to do, what a girl's got to do and Mpenzi is nothing short of AMAZING!!!
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2017
Verified Purchase
Very surprising the depth of the character development as well as the continuing story line. I got just one book in the series to try thinking 'oh godness, yet another witch book'. I want to say I was so pleasantly surprised that I ordered all the others in the series. I am happiest when a feline plays a major role. Check! I like a fiction deep enough to involve you and leave you waiting for the next eagerly. CHECK! I like characters real enough and earnest enough to make you want to know more about them. CHECK! Good job Ms. Katie. Keep up the god work! You have to start with this one to understand the rest. This authoress is building a GREAT cozy series!
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Top reviews from other countries

laura
5.0 out of 5 stars amazing story
Reviewed in Canada on November 28, 2022
Verified Purchase
omgosh the adventure.. as the story unfolds you'll grow with this little family and join the adventure.. its fun and exciting and can't wait to see what happens next
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars The witch who couldn't spell
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2023
Verified Purchase
Couldn't put it down loved the characters and the storyline so it's a well deserved five stars and I would recommend this book to everyone
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KatTaylor
4.0 out of 5 stars The Witch Who Couldn't Spell
Reviewed in Canada on August 23, 2021
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What a crafter of tales Katie Penryn is, her characters are vibrant and colorful. A mystery to fallow through twists and turns. If like myself you enjoy a good witchy cozey mystery with murder acquire " A Witch Who Couldn't Spell " today and enjoy hours of entertainment. Kat
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Cozzie
4.0 out of 5 stars Witch in denial
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 29, 2023
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book!

I think the glossary of terms should have been at the beginning, as I needed to check constantly on my Kindle translation.

Yes there were one or two grammatical errors, but they didn't detract from the story.

I thought the story was interesting, Katie Penryn kept me guessing right up until the reveal.
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Julie
4.0 out of 5 stars The Dyslexic Witch
Reviewed in Australia on April 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
This was a fun book with an interesting and engaging storyline. The characters were well written and developed. I hope to read more by this author.
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