Book 33, 2020

What the Cat Dragged In by Molly Milligan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I just finished reading What the Cat Dragged In by Molly Milligan. It is the first book in the "Celtic Witch" mystery series, featuring Welsh hedge-witch Bronwen Talog.

Bronwen is a local healer, helping humans and animals alike. Often, it's her cat, Harkin, who alerts her to someone, or some animal, in need. Bron lives with her great aunt Dilys in a cottage in the Welsh village of Llanfair. When her cousin, Madison, comes from America to visit, Bron's orderly life is turned on its head. She's excited to meet Maddie in real life, but she feels that her cousin is holding something back. Bron's life becomes even more complicated when she uncovers a long-dead body in an unused corner of her garden. Soon, the man's ghost is haunting her, but Bronwen doesn't know how to help him. In the meantime, she is juggling her kinda-sorta relationship with police officer Adam, while trying to dodge the town's most successful business woman, who seems to have it in for Bronwen. Combined with trying to help Maddie sort out her own form of magic, Bronwen has a lot on her plate. Fortunately, she has allies, from her druidic friend, Dean, to the local blacksmith, Gryffud, and, of course, Dilys. She'll need all the help she can get to lay a ghost to rest.

Charming and fascinating. I loved all of the Welsh lore, characters were relatable, and the plot moved along at a smooth pace. There was a touch of creepiness and a touch of humor, and through it all, Bronwen strove to be reasonable and pragmatic. I would like to sit down to tea with her!

Favorite lines:
♥ ...I could have spent a week or two panicking rather than trying to cram it all into a few short hours.
♥ He was a good cat, but even good cats have limits.
♥ "We did spend three hours stalking an escaped parrot in a tree. And it turned out to be a particularly vile bobble hat."
♥ I always found the six weeks between Imbolc at the start of February, and Ostara around the spring equinox, a bit of a slog.
♥ ...I could not maintain a run for more than it took to reach an ice-cream van at the end of the road.

Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Five stars!