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Shirley Damsgaard
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The Witch Is Dead (Ophelia & Abby Mysteries, No. 5) Mass Market Paperback – August 28, 2007

by Shirley Damsgaard (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 96 ratings
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Life is busier than ever for witch Ophelia Jensen. In addition to her day job at the library, she—with the help of her grandmother Abby—is preparing to officially adopt Tink, the young medium she's taken under her wing. So when Ophelia's elderly Aunt Dot, eager for adventure, wants to investigate the murder of a funeral director in the neighboring town, Ophelia tries to say no. But then Tink's dog pulls a skull out of the woods—a skull that may belong to a murder victim.

Finding mysterious bones in the woods isn't the only strange thing that's happened to Tink lately. She's been having visions of ghastly ghosts imploring her for help. But before Ophelia can connect the apparitions with the murder, Tink is kidnapped! Ophelia and Abby will have to battle a creepy crematorium owner and an invasion from some modern-day body snatchers to find their protégé . . . or else they'll have to hold a séance just to speak to her again.

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Previous page
  1. Book 7 of 7
    Abby and Ophelia Series
  2. Print length
    304 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    William Morrow Paperbacks
  5. Publication date
    August 28, 2007
  6. Dimensions
    4.19 x 0.76 x 6.75 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0061147230
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0061147234
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Shirley Damsgaard, author of numerous published short stories, resides with her family in small-town Iowa, where she has served as Postmaster for the last twenty years. She is currently working on the next Ophelia and Abby mystery, which again touches delightfully upon the paranormal.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks; First Printing edition (August 28, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0061147230
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0061147234
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.19 x 0.76 x 6.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 96 ratings

About the author

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Shirley Damsgaard

Shirley Damsgaard

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Shirley Damsgaard, author of numerous published short stories, resides with her family in small-town Iowa, where she has served as Postmaster for the last twenty years. She is currently working on the next Ophelia and Abby mystery, which again touches delightfully upon the paranormal.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
96 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Cozyreaders
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Novel Which Moves the Series Forward
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2012
Verified Purchase
The fifth book in this remarkable series did not disappoint me in the least. Ms. Damsgaard managed to grow the characters and move the series forward with a solid murder mystery. I especially enjoyed having the main character, Ophelia Jensen, showing true emotions and blurting out the families secrets to the two men that would handle the news properly!

Ophelia, Abby (grandmother,)and Tink (Foster Child) are eagerly awaiting Auntie Dot. Auntie Dot's 'talent' is a hoot and no, I'm not going to tell you what it is. It is just too much fun to discover. Tink gets an 'icky' feeling as Auntie Dot rushes up to the trio at the airport...is it a premonition?

At the Library where Ophelia works, there is change going on also. Darci, the main assistant, announces that she is returning to college. While Ophelia is excited for her, the challenge of training and finding a new assistant is daunting. Darci instantly dislikes Ophelia's choice, but, is it a premonition?

When going on a camping trip with Tink and friends, Tinks' doggie T.P. offers a dirty human skull to Tink as a gift...is it a...you get the point.

Something is amiss and no matter how many times Ophelia attempts to reassure the Police Chief, Bill that she will mind her own business...the events won't allow it.

I have been greatly enjoying this series for the past months book by book. It is such a rewarding experience to seek out an older recommended series and just enjoy it at your reading leisure. I have two more to read, but, I hope they aren't the end.
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P. J. Sutton
4.0 out of 5 stars The Witch is Dead
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2007
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Shirley Damsgaard has crafted a wonderful series of books. Ophelia & Abby are lovable characters and take you along on their magickal journey.
What makes a book or series good to me, is one that takes you completely out of what is going on in your life at this time and transports you into the book with the characters and story lines.
This series does exactly that.
I believe you need an open mind when reading them, to let the real magick come through.
PJ
2 people found this helpful
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A. Bridwell
5.0 out of 5 stars The best mystery yet!
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2011
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This has been my favorite of all the mysteries and the most intricate. Not only murder, but infidelity, and theft of body tissue? Certainly it was somewhat grisly, but it still has been the best mystery. Even so I knew something was up with that lady Gert from the beginning, since usually the new character in Summerset turns out to be shady. Cobra's reappearance as Ethan, his true identity is great. He trusts Ophelia just enough to see some results, unlike Mr. Henry Comacho who is all but forgotten in this book. I like that Ethan can joke with her about being a witch and also since he's a cop I felt like more things were actually getting DONE in this book, more action, intrigue, and snooping. We get to meet someone out of Abby's past, Aunt Dot, a witch who talks to fairies. She and Bill had me cracking up during this, her by being erratic and adventurous, and Bill by almost having a coronary every time he comes into contact with Ophelia. Tink and Dot as an investigating duo were a great addition to Darci and Ophelia's attempts at sleuthing. In this book, Ophelia really seems to come along especially when it's her family in danger rather than herself. She usually is her own worst enemy when it comes to her psychic power, but in this book she didn't feel sorry for herself so much as getting out there and doing something about the visions she has and the things she gleans from being such a good reader of people, when she can be objective that is. I also appreciated the oppurtunity to learn more about Abby and I hope there's more of that to come. I also hope for more with Ethan!
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A humdinger
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2014
Verified Purchase
I really love this series. In this book Tink , the foster daughter, gets kidnapped. Of course the ladies trip over bodies and body parts, plus Ethan or Cobra as he was known undercover returns to help out. I really like him. Their secret is revealed to Bill, and their usual Higgins abound with the aid of great Aunt Dot, who sees fairies. Wow, read to find out who the kidnappers are, if the fairies are real, how Ethan does, and who the murderer is and why body parts are turning up. This is a gunslinger.
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Helena
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a slow-moving, not too stressful, but important installment in the series
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2016
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This is a good continuation of the series, in which we learn more about one of Ophelia's aunts, the one who can see and communicate with fairies. She helps guide Ophelia to solving the mystery involving Tink.
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greatdane67
4.0 out of 5 stars Love This Series
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2016
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This is the best series of cozies that I have read in quite some time. The mysteries aren't terribly challenging, but the characters are fun.
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Else Benjamins
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2018
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A very nice and funny story. Thrilling too, but reading the book before bedtime still allows you to sleep peacefully
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Arlene Tifft
5.0 out of 5 stars another winner
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2013
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great series...love the characters and story lines...worth your time to read the whole series...im always looking for the next book ...worth the buy.... Ophelia and Abby have become old friends
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Top reviews from other countries

humanitysdarkerside
3.0 out of 5 stars Easy to pick up the storyline
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 2, 2013
Verified Purchase
"The Witch is Dead" is part of the Ophelia and Abby mysteries. This is the only one of them that I've read. Even though it is the 6th book in the series, I had no problem figuring out what was going on. It's always nice when authors manage to write stand-alone books.

I found Damsgaard's writing pretty good. She kept the action coming and her characters, especially Aunt Dot, likeable. The baddies were not a given from the start. As I'm one of those terrible people who reads the last few pages right after the first chapter, I knew who they were. I find reading books more enjoyable if I've read the ending quite early on.

As a mystery The Witch worked. At times it was a bit off in its rhythm. For the most part it followed a Christierian formula. Violence wise it was the same. It's refreshing when writers avoid splattering guts and blood all over my pages.

"Psychic librarian Ophelia Jensen has an exciting life--solving supernatural mysteries with her Grandmother Abby and her adopted teenage daughter, Tink, who also happens to be a medium. But, all Ophelia really wants is to create some normalcy and routine. When Ophelia's elderly Great-Aunt Dot comes to Summerset, Iowa, for a visit and is out from the watchful eye of her older sister, Dot is determined to find a little fun and excitement, too."
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