A delightful, page-turning novel for Halloween which is set on Prince Edward Island inNortheast Canada. The book focuses on a family of witches (the Becketts): Aunt Dorcas, sisters Cassie and Eliza, and Cassie’s three children - Sadie, and the twins Eddie and Sly.

The heart of the matter is Halloween night, naturally, when an ancient vampire, the Deliverer of Fear, Sorrow and Death, is set to kill the thirteenth witch who is Aunt Dorcas. The Deliverer known as Del must be killed or it is the end of the world as we know it.

Cassie takes her family to the wonderful old house Dorcas inhabits on the nearby shore with innumerable cats. (Cassie brings her cat, Janet). Here Cassie learns about being a witch and discovering her personal magical gift. Eliza and Sadie also reveal their witchy strengths.  Dorcas is the eldest sister of her generation and therefore has the power to kill Del.

Or so they think.

It’s actually Cassie who needs to kill Del because Dorcas didn’t kill him when she had the chance twenty-five years ago. Del sleeps for twenty-five years and then awakens to take on a witch who wants to destroy him. Dorcas was number twelve. Cassie is understandably terrified because she is certain she has little or nothing in the way of magic.  So Dorcas takes on her education with enthusiasm and humor and while Cassie doesn’t want her sister or Sadie involved in the Halloween confrontation, they, too, hone their magical skills.

This is just an entertaining and well-constructed tale colored with all the awkward magic being tossed around. It’s especially fun when Cassie practices her vampire killing skills on a real vampire in the cemetery. Of course the real down and dirty on Halloween night is a whopper! And all the Beckett witches get a chance to strike back.

Really a perfect novel to read this Halloween while giving out goodies to the kids. ~~ Sue Martin