Some people dream of a gentle retirement enjoying crochet or cricket, but for two sexagenarians, a more cadaverous future awaits…

Newly retired teachers, Etta and Dora, take a walk along an old mule track connecting their mountain-top villages, each hoping to soothe the distress she feels at the paltry pension she will receive. Meeting at the fabled Witches’ Cave, they put aside their woes – the naked body of Sibilla, Castelmezzano’s beautiful witch, lies dead at the foot of the old oak tree. Did she plummet from the sky during a Sabbath flight as the superstitious locals are whispering? Or was the far more worldly evil of a human hand involved?

When suspicions fall on Cassandra, Sibilla’s sister in the Art of Witchcraft, Dora and Etta fear the carabinieri have fallen prey to prejudice and local folklore. While Dora remains convinced of Cassandra’s innocence, Etta’s hunch takes her to a completely different conclusion, but could the truth really be so devious? And can she stop the killer before she becomes the next victim?

•••

Castelmezzano, The Witch is Dead isn’t just a whodunnit — it’s a journey of friendship, discovery, and new beginnings, all wrapped in a humorous yet heartfelt mystery.

From the author of An Italian Village Mystery, this prequel novella sets the stage for The Homeswappers Mysteries — a cosy series where two newly retired teachers swap their quiet Southern Italian lives for unforgettable adventures… and the (not so) occasional murder.

Written in British English, this is a clean cosy mystery series with no violence, sex or strong language. Each book can be read as a standalone or you can enjoy the whole series.

Stamp their passports, someone!
So far, our globe-trotting golden sleuths have sleuthed their way through:

0 – Castelmezzano, The Witch is Dead – Italian cosy (yes, witches included… apparently!)
1 – The Watchman of Rothenburg Dies – A mystery with German flair
2 – A Wedding and a Funeral in Mecklenburg – One part love, two parts murder
3 – An Aero Island Christmas Mystery – Danish hygge, with homicide
4 – A Christmas Mystery in Venice and Other Winter Tales – Snow, secrets, and spritz
5 – Prague, A Secret from the Past – Gothic alleys and buried truths
6 – Death on the West Highland Way – One trail, one corpse, many blisters
7 – The Ghost of Glengullion Castle – Haunted hallways, murderous motives
8 – Lake District: Cottages and Corpses – Cumbrian charm meets crime
9 – Cornwall’s Deadly Series – Cream tea… and a touch of the macabre

Pack your bags — the next adventure is just around the corner!