Zo Jones owns the Happy Camper, a gift shop in Spirit Canyon, South Dakota, which is a big tourist spot for campers and hikers alike. She's finally found her place in the world after being abandoned at the police station when she was just a baby. It's nearing Halloween and she's promoting her shop by having a speech and a book signing by local author Marianne Morgan, who is a self-proclaimed witch. But far from being a bad witch, Marianne promotes self-empowerment for women, and it's a big draw for the event.

However, it's not without its detractors, and several people aren't happy to see Marianne at all. Yet the event is a success, and Zo is happy. But her happiness soon fades when she returns to her shop (which she lives above) after a night out and sees what she thinks in a new decoration added by her employee, Harley. But as Zo gets closer, she finds that it's a very dead Marianne, whom someone had placed a witch's hat on. When she calls the police, she's worried that after the last time she was involved in a murder investigation, that people will stop coming to her shop and everything she's worked for will go down in flames.

So Zo, aided with the help of forest ranger Max Harrington, vows to find out who killed Marianne, because if she doesn't, local newsman Justin Castle will imply she had something to do with the murder, which in turn means the demise of her business as well as Marianne. But since there are plenty of people who had a beef with the woman, it's not going to be easy, and she might be caught in a trap of murder herself...

This is the second book in the series and I must say that I quite enjoyed it as much as the first. Ms. Angela has created an interesting character in Zo Jones, a woman who was abandoned as a baby and worked her way up to owning her own business by her sheer determination and willpower. She's not willing to let it go now, and she's a strong character; one who doesn't do illegal things to find clues (which I find refreshing), and doesn't go around accusing everyone of murder (which has happened in other series).

She's also beginning to find pieces of herself that might lead to finding her birth parents (although I will say no more about that) and learning to trust again and maybe find personal happiness herself. I am also pleased to see that George is learning to become an indoor cat, which is much healthier and his life will definitely improve (sorry, but I believe cats should be kept indoors where they're safe from predators and large dogs).

I also like all the secondary characters in the series, and that's saying a lot. I especially like that police chief Brady Merrigan is coming around and slowing becoming friends with Zo, in bits and pieces, as it were. I absolutely abhor the 'evil nemesis' in books and don't think it's necessary to any book to tell a good tale.

When Zo starts looking as to who had motive and means to kill Marianne, she finds that Marianne had more enemies than she would have thought. But when her friend Jules, also a self-proclaimed witch, wants to hold a séance at Zo's business -- where Marianne was last, it brings clues to the murder. Then there are all the strange occurrences that can't be explained...

The only thing that bothered me was Justin's actions. Some things he did were unethical, and couldn't be aired without Zo's consent, since she could sue the station because of the manner in which they were obtained, but that's all I will say about that.

All in all, a very good mystery, with a murderer that I didn't see coming. The mind of a killer is deranged anyway, but it's always surprising that someone will go so far to keep secrets. Again, I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to the next. Recommended. ( )

I read Open for Murder, the first book in the Happy Camper Mysteries by Mary Angela, and really enjoyed it. So when Midnight Spells Murder came to my attention and I saw that it was a Halloween cozy, I was super excited. And I’m always curious to see if the second book in a series can live up to the first book… and Mary Angela may have written an even better one!

Zo is once again tangled in a murder when the author who had given a book talk about women’s empowerment and is also a witch, turns up murdered outside Zo’s store’s front door. Zo jumps into investigating and while looking for clues she comes across more information about herself and her family. Mary Angela was able to weave these two different mysteries together perfectly.

While running around town talking to suspects, she and the Forest Ranger, Max, get a bit closer, George, her very large, orange tomcat gives everyone a scare, and we get to read about new, very well developed characters in the Happy Camper Mysteries.

Mary Angela shines with her descriptions of the Halloween decorations and festival, as well as all the descriptions of the stores and town and had me wanting Autumn to get here faster this year. The whodunit part will leave readers guessing with lots of red herrings and a killer they may not see coming.

Another great book in the Happy Camper Mysteries and I’m excited to see what adventures Zo gets into in the next book and if we find out more about her long lost family. ( )