Hummingbird Moonrise by Sherri L Dodd is a haunting and gently mystical entry in the Murder, Tea & Crystals trilogy. Arista Kelly is left reeling by two harrowing years of personal loss. With her optimism dimmed and her instincts on edge, she clings to what stability she has until her Great-Aunt Bethie’s eccentric friend Iris vanishes without a trace. The search for Iris pulls Arista and Bethie into a deepening mystery involving long-buried family secrets and a sinister curse rooted in the 1940s. As they uncover strange artifacts, the women begin to suspect that their recent tragedies are part of a darker legacy. With the past colliding with the present, Arista must confront whether her unraveling world can be restored, or if something far older is orchestrating her undoing.

Author Sherri L Dodd has a brilliant sense of timing with her storytelling, knowing exactly when to drop the next breadcrumb for an engrossing paranormal mystery laced with emotion, legacy, and a uniquely feminine sense of strength. At no point does Arista succumb, instead relying on her emotive instincts, curiosity, and the pull of friendship and family ties to get her through the challenges the plot throws at her. These challenges are many, with a highly original blend of historical curses and modern trauma that adds layers of tension to this slow-burning supernatural tale, as well as layers of additional meaning that make us root for our heroine even more. She’s a deeply relatable heroine whose journey feels both grounded and otherworldly, thanks to the close narrative focus on her inner thoughts and feelings that informs every choice she makes, whether we agree with them all or not. There are reckless, tense moments and slower, more introspective scenes, but it all kept me gripped thanks to Dodd’s confident command of narrative structure. Everything feels relevant, and this makes for a lyrical and atmospheric novel that explores how ancestral wounds can shape generations for good or bad. Overall, Hummingbird Moonrise is a read I’d certainly recommend.

Hummingbird Moonrise by Sherri L Dodd is a murder mystery that involves black magic as well as white magic, good witches and bad witches. In the 1940s, Barry Kelly raised hunting dogs, but living further up his street, his neighbour, Fil, poisoned some of Barry’s dogs. An argument ensued that caused Fil’s wife, Helen, who was a witch, to place a spell on Kelly’s family that would last for five generations. Barry’s wife uses an Ouija board, but for good, and holds the curse for a period until someone is born who can break the curse. The story then proceeds in 2020. Two witches, one good and one bad, have lived for over a hundred years, but nobody is aware of this. One wants to see it end, and one wants to see it continue. The main characters are Mateo, Arista Kelly, Auntie Beth, Iris, Fergus, and Sheriff Michaels. The characters lead the reader on a merry dance through the plot.

Hummingbird Moonrise: The Murder, Tea & Crystals Trilogy by Sherri L Dodd is a suspenseful read, as you never know from chapter to chapter what is going to happen. The most amazing stunts and actions will keep the reader from putting the book down until the end. There is always a hint, but it does not register until the tale comes to the most unexpected conclusion. The reader is not expecting this ending. It is a fast-paced story and makes for intriguing and exciting reading, especially if you enjoy tales about witches and wizards. There is a surprise at the very end that helps make sense of some of the symbols and connotations that are mentioned in the story. This made for interesting reading. I enjoyed it tremendously, especially the index at the back. It was a delightful book and one I will reread.

Hummingbird Moonrise by Sherri L. Dodd is the second book in The Murder, Tea & Crystals Trilogy. It follows Arista Kelly, a young witch who is learning to control her magical powers while dealing with a family curse. This curse began with her great-great-grandfather, Barry Kelly, who committed a murder in 1940. After he killed a neighbor for poisoning his dog, a curse was placed on the Kelly family, threatening to end their line by the fifth generation. Years later, Arista and her Great-Aunt Bethie had to work together to break this curse. Mateo, a contractor, found a hidden suitcase containing a curse reversal tablet linked to the Kelly family’s history, which Arista and Bethie later connect to their efforts to break the curse. While they struggled to overcome this threat, they faced dark magic, betrayal, and frightening visions.

One of the things I loved about Hummingbird Moonrise was how Sherri L. Dodd combined spooky elements with family themes. The different accents, like the Irish-American, Scottish-American, and Cockney, made it more interactive and fun to read. It moved from the 1940s to Arista’s modern life, which was a highlight for me; it showed how past mistakes can affect the present. The pacing is well balanced with exciting actions and suspense mixed with calm, thoughtful scenes that helped me connect with the characters’ feelings. The characters were expertly developed. The haunting presence of Barry's ghost, Fergus, added a chilling feeling while also showing Arista’s strength. I love how the narrative focused on themes of resilience and family, especially in the growing relationship between Arista and Shane. This added emotional depth to the story. I recommend Hummingbird Moonrise to readers who enjoy stories about family legacies, supernatural abilities, and the power of love to overcome darkness.

In Hummingbird Moonrise: The Murder, Tea & Crystals Trilogy by Sherri L. Dodd, Barry shot his neighbor, Fil, resulting in the deaths of Fil's daughter and grandson during the 1940s. Fil's widow put a curse on Barry and the Kelly bloodline, predicting they would be wiped out by the fifth generation. A week earlier, Iris, a friend of Arista's Great-Aunt Bethie, went missing, prompting Arista and Bethie to take care of the cats. While at Iris's home, Arista and Bethie discovered a glass-encased tablet that resembled one that Bethie’s grandparents had kept secret from them in their childhood. The discovery of the tablet in Iris’s house signaled bad news, and Arista and Bethie began to suspect it might be linked to the ancient curse from the 1940s. Due to the ongoing five-generation curse, family members have met tragic ends. Would Arista and the next generation manage to break this curse?

Hummingbird Moonrise: The Murder, Tea & Crystals Trilogy by Sherri L. Dodd gripped me with its thrilling and captivating mystery. The cover instantly drew my attention, featuring a hummingbird against a misty forest scene, hinting at the supernatural elements and intrigue within. The writing style kept me engrossed from start to finish. The tension had me on the edge of my seat, flipping through the pages as quickly as possible. The characters were genuine and relatable. I found the presence of three different accents in the story quite fascinating. It allowed me to view the characters from various perspectives and understand them better. The story was exceptionally well-written with all the elements needed for an outstanding mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and it surpassed my expectations significantly.