Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Axes and Alchemy (A Cozy Midlife Witch Mystery) Willowmere Mysteries by Carmen Radtke. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Axes and Alchemy (A Cozy Midlife Witch Mystery) Willowmere Mysteries
by Carmen Radtke
Axes and Alchemy (A Cozy Midlife Witch Mystery) Willowmere Mysteries
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Oregon
Independently Published
Publication Date : August 15, 2025
Number of Pages: ~230
Pirate loot and deadly feud …
So much for a peaceful next chapter: Novice witch Bex Merriweather has her hands full running a leading library and secretly studying magic under the critical eye of her opinionated familiar and mentor, cat Cosmo.
The last thing newly divorced perimenopausal Bex needs is more tasks needing her attention. But when a podcast connects a pirate treasure and voodoo magic with tranquil Willowmere and treasure hunters as well as occultists flock to the town, feuds erupt.
When a dead body is found, Bex and Cosmo can’t discount the idea that greed and black magic had something to do with the murder. But can she protect her secret and the town without exposing the truth about her inheritance? And is somebody already on her trail – somebody wishing her ill? With only her cat and her trusted circle of friends, Bex sets out to catch a killer before the treasure of a long dead pirate claims another victim.
Axes and Alchemy is the second case in this fun-filled series. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, magical mayhem, and heroines who believe it’s never too late for a new chapter—or a little witchcraft!
Character Guest Post from Bex Merriweather
A few words to the (not so very) wise
Have you ever felt, at a certain age you should possess all this wisdom?
I wish. Although I have learned a few life lessons lately. The most important: It’s never too late to start over, discover new things, rediscover yourself, and it’s almost always easier if you do it with friends.
Coming back home to Willowmere after my divorce and after my aunt’s death didn’t feel like a defeat, more like truly coming home to myself. Of course it might have been different hadn’t my besties, my crazy coven, still been around. They not only cheer me up and cheer me on, they also keep me grounded. They tell me to knock it off and not be such a drama queen when I get sentimental (which, for the record, I hardly ever do!), but in case it happens they will nip it in the bud.
Another very important lesson I finally learned is to no longer care about what anybody else might think about me. That old saying to dance as if nobody’s watching? Well, I’ve changed it for myself (and not just because I live with an opinionated cat who’s also my familiar and teacher). My new motto is: Dance as if nobody’s judging.
Because, honestly, I’m a middle-aged woman, a novice witch, and I’m too busy, too tired, and too old to continually try to please everybody. If I can’t be myself when I’m surrounded by people who love me, then when can I be myself?
There’s only one snag. I am still juggling with the fine line between keeping important secrets which I have to keep to myself and being straight with my best friends about my new role as the resident good witch.
Of course, it’s a little easier because I’m only growing into my powers. Cosmo tells me that I have a long road ahead. Currently I’m still doing a crash course in witchcraft 101.
I sense a question from you. You’re wondering if you have powers. Well, you might. Only, they can manifest in various ways. Do you have amazing talents and have no idea what they came from, whether it’s in the kitchen, the garden, doing crafts, anticipating some body’s needs, or stray animals are irresistibly attracted to you?
Believe me, there are many, many ways of being a witch. Obviously I’m only talking about being a good witch here. I have been strictly forbidden of using my powers for my own gratification, although I did slip up once, under severe provocation.
It turns out that with great power comes great responsibility. I could use a spell or two to influence things or events to make me happy or to help a friend. And the next thing, I’d be corrupted and losing my soul.
Of course, Cosmo wouldn’t let that happen. And since I know, I’m watching myself.
But that’s another thing about being a midlife witch. I’m still so new to all this and only learning about who or who might not have special gifts in Willowmere or other places. That makes it almost impossible for me to stop connecting every weird or impressive thing that happens to witchcraft.
Some of them are down to magic (or magick, whatever you prefer). I found out that my friend Reina, a fabulous singer, has a few drops of siren blood, which explain her intoxicating voice.
Now that I know that witchcraft is real, it could explain a lot of things, or none of them. I don’t know. Are you a witch? Are your friends witches? Would you even want to know if you’re a witch? It’s a slippery slope.
Mastering new spells, by the way, takes a lot of hard work, unless they are a gift you were born with. I always used to have a few skills. I can match furniture to people in places, so they feel happy, lived in, complete. Of course I never knew until recently it was part of my witchy powers.
Other things, like baking cookies with magic-infused ingredients, is a lot harder for me. I have to really concentrate on those spells, and fixing pictures in my mind.
But I’m starting to ramble. If you spend most of your hours with a talking cat, who will only be vocal if you’re on your own, not in company, it’s very easy to just start rambling on and on and on. Maybe that’s where the cliche of the old witch with a cat familiar muttering to herself comes from.
Anyway, if your pet suddenly talks to you and you need some advice, I’m here for you. And so is Cosmo.
About Carmen Radtke
Carmen has spent most of her life with ink on her fingers and a dangerously high pile of books and newspapers by her side.
She has worked as a newspaper reporter on two continents and always dreamt of becoming a novelist and screenwriter.
When she found herself crouched under her dining table, typing away on a novel between two earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, she realised she was hooked for life.
The shaken but stirring novel made it to the longlist of the Mslexia competition, and her next book and first mystery, The Case Of The Missing Bride, was a finalist in the Malice Domestic competition in a year without a winner. Since then she has penned several more cozy mysteries, including the Genie and Adriana Darling ghost mysteries and the Jack and Frances series set in the 1930s.
Carmen now lives in Italy with her human and her four-legged family. Although she possesses no witchy powers, she’s known to be easily held spellbound by animals.
Author Links:
Website – https://www.carmenradtkeauthor.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/carmenradtkeauthor
Purchase Link – Amazon
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Axes and Alchemy TOUR PARTICIPANTS
August 18 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
August 18 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
August 19 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
August 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
August 21 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 22 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
August 22 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews
August 23 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 23 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
August 24 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 25 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
August 25 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
August 26 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 27 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
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