“The Fifth Petal” by Brunonia Barry

I have just five words for you, my readers: You Must Read This Book! The Fifth Petal is a fascinating mystery involving witches and pirates and old oak trees. It all takes place in Salem, Massachusetts where questions seem to lurk around every corner. Rafferty is the local police chief, who took over the job just a few years after the infamous Goddess murders. He still feels the burden of the unsolved mystery, which occurred on Halloween. Years later, a young man dies on Halloween night and the same person was at the scene. Her name is Rose. Rose is a homeless woman who before the Goddess murders was a highly respected researcher. She was like a mother to the Goddesses and they lived in her home.

Callie is the center of this story. Her mother Olivia was one the Goddesses who was murdered. Rose was like an aunt to Callie and did more to raise her than her mother did. Callie was 5 when her mother was killed and she was at the scene when it happened. The murders left her with physical and emotional scars, and the trauma of the murders blocked out many of her memories of the time. After being taken in by nuns and shuffled arounds through foster homes, she becomes a music therapist. The nuns had told her Rose was dead, so imagine her shock when she sees Rose on the evening news being accused of the murder of a young man. Callie knows she must go to Rose but she cannot possibly foresee how meeting her again will change her life.

What did I like about this book? Everything! The characters in the story are loaded with personality and very likable. The story itself is loaded with twists and turns that keep the reader fully engaged. A lot of Salem history is cleverly incorporated and the descriptions immerse the reader in the place. There was nothing I didn’t like about this book, except that it left me wanting more. This is book 2 in a series and I can’t wait for news of book 3. I highly recommend you check this one out.

Alinefromabook’s rating: 5 stars!