• Paperback cover of 'The Caretaker' by Shawn McGuire
  • Book titled 'Explore the Magic of Blackwood Grove' surrounded by candles, herbs, and other mystical items on a dark surface.
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The Caretaker - A Witches of Blackwood Grove Mystery, Book 1 (PAPERBACK)

The Caretaker - A Witches of Blackwood Grove Mystery, Book 1 (PAPERBACK)

$15.99 USD
$15.99 USD
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Dusty Hotte must be cursed.

First she lost her job then her house caught fire. On the same day. There are worse things than starting over at fifty, right? But when someone threatens her granddaughter’s life, enough is enough.

Seeking protection, they move to Dusty’s enchanted family farm - filled with elderly witches whose magic has gone a bit wonky, a horde of familiars, and a couple ghosts - in the safe town of Blackwood Grove, Wisconsin, where nothing can harm them.

Or so she thought.

Minutes after they arrive, a man is found dead in the family diner, and her cousin is wrongfully accused of murder. Things like this don't happen here. Ever.

So did Dusty bring the curse with her, or is something more sinister at play?

To find out, she must clear her cousin’s name and uncover the real killer, even if it means performing magic, something she swore she’d never do again.

 

One part CHARMED, one part THE FACTS OF LIFE, one part THE GOLDEN GIRLS, and a dash of DEXTER! You're going to love THE WITCHES OF BLACKWOOD GROVE!

🔮 What Kind of Book Is This?

  • Paranormal cozy mystery
  • Midlife Mystery
  • Small-town mystery with a magical twist
  • Witch-themed fiction with paranormal elements
  • Clean, low-violence mystery focused on character and atmosphere

💜 This Book Is Perfect For Readers Who Enjoy:

  • Cozy mysteries with amateur or local sleuths
  • Stories set in magical or hidden communities
  • Witchcraft, folklore, and supernatural elements
  • Character-driven series with evolving relationships
  • Mysteries without graphic violence

🌙 If You Like These Things, You’ll Love The Witches of Blackwood Grove!

  • Magical small-town settings
  • Witch-centered stories
  • Cozy mysteries with magical elements
  • Slow-burn secrets and small-town drama
  • Characters that evolve throughout the book

Perfect for fans of Juliet Blackwell, Wendy Wang, Alice Hoffman, Sangu Mandanna, and small-town mystery series with a paranormal twist.

 

📚 The Witches of Blackwood Grove Mystery Series

Each book in the series features a standalone mystery, but the relationships, secrets, and magical world deepen as the series continues. For the richest character and series arcs experience, reading the books in order is recommended but not required.

📩 You will receive an email with a tracking number when your paperback has shipped. Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery.

 

Chapter One Sneak Peek

Chapter 1
Cricket’s life was in danger.
Who would want to hurt my four-year-old granddaughter? Why?
I lost everything in last night’s fire. Except for her, my backpack, her favorite blanket, the clothes on our backs, and the shoes on our feet. And whatever was in my car. That was it. Everything else was gone, so I’d had no choice but to ask for their help. It was embarrassing to have to do it again, but it wasn’t just me this time. I’d do whatever was necessary to keep my granddaughter safe.
After a mostly sleepless night in the most secure hotel in town, I buckled my little bug into her booster seat.
“Where are we going?” Cricket asked.
“To the park.”
“Yay, the park!”
This child was always happy, despite the tragedies that had struck her young life recently. Probably because she was too young to really understand.
Including red lights, it took less than five minutes to get there. Which gave me time to wonder what had started the fire. Or more accurately, what had started the fires? There were two of them. One in my bedroom at the back of the house and another in the garage at the front of the house.
“Who is that?” Cricket asked as we crossed the expanse of lush green grass at the park. She stretched her hand and pointed at the gray-haired man in the forest-green anorak.
“His name is Jasper.”
He looked so old. His hair was white gray now, his back hunched, and he looked smaller than I remembered. When had that happened? I couldn’t help but smile when I spotted the binoculars hanging from his neck. No surprise there. It also wasn’t a surprise to see him holding an open book in one hand—surely a guide to the birds of southwestern Wisconsin—while patting his jacket pockets, pants pockets, and then the side of his head with his free hand.
In three, two, one, I counted down to myself.
On cue, he gave up the hunt and held out his hand. A pen appeared on his palm. Or more likely a pencil so any errors in note-taking could be erased and corrected.
“Jasper is my father.” I tapped Cricket’s little button nose. “Which means he’s your great-grandfather.”

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  • 5 stars: 10 (91%)
  • 4 stars: 1 (9%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
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Tracy R.

I really enjoy how Shawn McGuire writes his stories. The Caretaker intrigue me the entire time as I was reading and I can’t wait for more!

Tracy R. review photo
C
Cynthia Beaulieu
Caretaker

First book was great, as usual for Shawn’s books! I can’t wait for the other two. The only thing is I don’t want to put them down so am angry when they’re done.guess I’ll have to start another bundle. Honestly and truly, great books!

M
Margaret

I loved this book and the fact that the main character was a lady in her 50's. The storyline kept me reading. I hope there are more in this series.

A
Andrea M.

Will there any more books on this book

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Princess Y.

Easy read very interesting loved it.

P
Patricia S.

Liked the series very much!!!

A
Ann F.

It is a mysterious funny story that once again brings characters to life! Loved the book and would really love to have their house. Shawn nailed it again.

S
Sheree I.

Shawn McGuire has a great beginning with this first book in a new series, The Caretaker.

Beset with troubles, Dusty Hotte has no better choice than to return to Blackwood Grove, a Safe Town for witches, with her granddaughter Alice, known better as Cricket. There Dusty has a frosty reception from her extended family and must work towards repairing relationships she left decades ago.

Adding to the family dilemmas, there seems to be something a 'bit off' with Blackwood Grove. What is causing the town unease? In The Caretaker there is plenty of emotion given, crime committed, magic unleashed and mysteries made. A very satisfying read.

B
Bhavna

Your books keep me up at night ...because I absolutely MUST keep reading! I've read nearly all of Shawn’s books and this is definitely one of the best. As usual, very cleverly done, well-written, engaging, easy read, with twists that make you wonder what happens after the book is over.

B
Bethia W.

While reading this book, I learned that I prefer strong FMC from the get go. At first, Dusty seemed so wishy washy and grated on me, but as I learned her back story, it became clear to me why she was so down trodden and indecisive at times. Seeing her start to come into her own as the book progressed was gratifying for me, and I cannot wait to see how Dusty continues to become her own true self in this series. The mystery was tight with more secrets to be revealed as the series unfolds. Solid character development, as always from Shawn McGuire, with wonderful supporting characters! So, even though the FMC was different from my preference, I am still enthralled with Dusty's story and want to see what happens next!

A
Anne K.

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this first book in a new series. I have been so entrenched in her other series I was afraid this would be a let down. Wow was I wrong. From the first page I was hooked. Everything is perfect from the writing, to the mystery, to the characters names. If I could I would give it ten stars!

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.