BEWITCHING BOOTS is Book 7 in Joyce and Jim Lavene's Renaissance Faire cozy mystery series. Even though this book is part of a series, I think BEWITCHING BOOTS can still be enjoyed without having read previous books. I love this series, and think all books in this series are worth reading. When this series first started, it did not have any magical elements. However, this book has a mischievous ghost and a shoemaker with elf magic. I think even readers who don't normally read mysteries with a magical angle will still enjoy this book. The strength of this series, and specifically BEWITCHING BOOTS, is the rich assortment of characters and an entertaining story.

When Princess Isabelle is murdered, shoemaker Bill Warren is suspect number one - primarily because he feels guilty and voices that feeling to others. It's understandable that Jessie wants to get involved in the investigation. She brought Bill into the Renaissance Faire community, so she feels responsible. As with the previous books, I find Jessie to be a likable amateur sleuth. I like her matchmaking attempts as much as her detective skills. Even though the other residents of Renaissance Faire Village feel like old friends, everybody feels like a possible suspect. This is a mystery with classic cozy elements, but there are quite a few moments of suspense and scary moments for Jessie.

I like to see recurring characters from previous books like Bart and Daisy, as well as new characters like Bill and Katharina. I didn't care that much for Wanda, the ghost, or Jessie's nemesis Tilly Morgenstern, but they didn't appear that frequently so it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the story. The subplot involving Jessie and her husband Chase is interesting, without distracting from the mystery. I like that Jessie now has a fixed position within Renaissance Faire Village, rather than switching apprentice positions from book to book. I think the series is evolving in a way that fans like me can be happy about.

BEWITCHING BOOTS is cozy mystery perfection -- fun, likable characters, a small quirky community, great story-telling, and a dash of romance. After reading a book in this series, I feel like running away to join the Renaissance Faire. This series is a must-read for cozy mystery fans, and I can't wait for the next installment in this always entertaining Renaissance Faire series!