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Spelled in Ink centers around a gifted but snarky mage on a supernatural heist that suddenly goes wrong. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
Plenty of inspirations for my novels come from my travels. This one was inspired by a trip to the French chateaus of the Loire. We visited both Clos Lucé and Chenonceau, and I found them both so magical that I simply had to write about them. Da Vinci was an amazing person, and the exhibition in the chateau gave me plenty of food for thought. I always have paranormal elements in my novels, and Magical Realism is a thing for me. This one borders on urban fantasy; I simply wanted to have more magic than in my other series, the Magical Misfits Mysteries. I also wanted something faster-paced. Poor Cyn and Dan are almost constantly on the run….
Cyn is such a fantastic main character. What was your inspiration for her traits and dialogue?
I prefer characters who break the mold, that’s why she–while grounded in Europe–isn’t purely of European descent. Fortunately, my kind Indian friends made sure I didn’t introduce any bloopers when it came to the Indian part of her heritage. The voice is typical–or so I’m told. My MCs seem to suffer from self-deprecating humor, are intelligent and resourceful, and that makes for some snappy comebacks. I love writing dialogue. Apparently, it’s one of my strengths, or so I’m told.
What is the most challenging aspect of writing a mystery?
Getting the “trail of breadcrumbs,” i.e., the clues aligned so the ultimate conclusion is not only logical, but the reader also has a chance of working it out for themselves. Getting that right requires a lot of careful planning and mapping. Spelled is also a heist, which means I had another plotline to distract from the murder, but it still had to fit.
Can you give us a glimpse into the next book in the Da Vinci Mysteries? Where will it take readers?
The next one, Cursed out Loud, will take readers to Da Vinci’s home country and even his birthplace – Vinci in Tuscany. This book is stronger on the murder mystery aspect. To get hold of the next part of Vinci’s treatise, Cyn and Dan take part in an oldtimer rally. The winner gets the treatise. Well, that’s the theory. When a rally organizer is murdered, things go sadly pear-shaped… I’ve also been asked about the romance – yes, it develops during the series, and the next instalment makes their attraction very clear. But be warned – I’m anything but linear….
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With the goddess Kali’s death curse hanging over her head, dark witch Cyn is running scared.
To get help, Cyn must sell her services to DAFT, a top-shelf supernatural society.
The mission is tricky—find Leonardo da Vinci’s missing formula to protect the witches’ fading psychic powers from modern hi-tech. The last thing she needs is more trouble.
Trouble is what she gets.
Mysterious ongoings at the maestro’s final residence in France throw Cyn’s assignment off track, leaving her with a murdered man, Dan the magic-hating art thief—and a pet tortoise.
Now Cyn and her new criminal sidekick Dan must solve the puzzle and flush out an invisible foe, who might or might not be an undead Da Vinci.
Of course, the killer strikes again.
And misses.
Given their clashing characters, backgrounds, and a slow-burn romance sparking between them, Cyn and Dan are a team forged in hell. But, hey, a little creative chaos can work wonders…
“Spelled in Ink”, the first book in this suspenseful series of paranormal cozy murder mystery and fantasy novels, will keep you laughing—and guessing—right to the very end. If you like witty and strong female characters as written by Janet Evanovich, Kristen Painter, Helen Harper, and Colleen Helme, this short and fast-paced novel will have you rooting for team Cyn and Dan.
And now go up and click Read Now or Buy Now to find out why it’s never a good idea to mess with watersprites!
Spelled in Ink
Spelled in Ink, by Lina Hansen, opens with a sharp, funny mix of magic, murder, and museum burglary. Cyn, a snarky and reluctantly gifted mage, is sneaking through Leonardo da Vinci’s old haunts when her job goes sideways. Cue spells, secret societies, and a charming thief. What starts as a supernatural heist at Château du Clos Lucé spirals into a mystery full of curses, dead bodies, and a centuries-old manuscript. It’s witty, fast, and delightfully chaotic.
Cyn’s voice hooked me from page one. From the moment she’s telepathically arguing with her boss while hiding in a bush, it’s clear she’s both capable and a total mess. She’s smart but allergic to her own magic, sarcastic to a fault, and impossible not to root for. When she mutters, “Maggots, what am I supposed to do?” over a corpse and a runaway tortoise, it’s equal parts absurd and oddly tender, a perfect snapshot of the book’s tone.
Hansen’s writing crackles with energy. Dialogue snaps, world-building slides in seamlessly, and every scene feels alive. The humor lands without derailing the tension; when explosions go off in Da Vinci’s bedroom or whispers rise from behind locked doors, the suspense feels earned. The blend of sharp wit and eerie atmosphere gives the book a rhythm that’s hard to put down.
The world itself feels fresh yet grounded. Magic here isn’t lofty; it’s messy, inconvenient, and often treated like an irritating chore. Cyn’s exasperated take on spellcasting (“Decades of toothache, more likely”) adds a human touch that makes the supernatural elements believable.
Between rival factions, magical science jargon, and Cyn’s chemistry with Dan the burglar, it can be hard to track every thread. But the chaos mostly works in its favor; it feels intentional, like watching a magician perform too fast for comfort but with total confidence. Cyn and Dan’s banter especially grounds the story; when he calls her “Cinderella in jeans,” it’s cheesy but endearing.
Spelled in Ink hits the sweet spot between mystery, fantasy, and comedy. It’s clever, brisk, and charmingly offbeat. Fans of Ben Aaronovitch or Seanan McGuire will love it. If you prefer your heroines scrappy and your magic delightfully unglamorous, this one’s a gem.
Pages: 160 | ASIN : B0FPBJHC8V
A Reflection Of The Human Struggle
Down the Hatch follows the new owner of the Witch’s Retreat B&B who must balance her magical abilities with solving a murder mystery before it’s too late. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Murder mysteries, especially cozies, have been my staple reading fare for quite a while, and the same applies to urban fantasies. However, in UF, the setting is a world quite different from ours. I was increasingly intrigued by magical realism, i.e. the notion that magic exists, and it’s a part of the world we know, or something reasonably close to it. A lot of the witch cozies feature that motif, but most of these literary witches are pretty good at what they do. I like throwing spanners into the works, so my witches are wonky. Having to juggle their abilities while the death count is rising amps up the tension, and it also gives plenty of opportunity to inject some (British) humour into the story.
Myrtle is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Myrtle is born from the conflict between reason and imagination, something I explored during my studies a (long) while ago. She’s a no-nonsense grammar school teacher, and magic is the last thing she believes in. It doesn’t exist, or so she thinks. Then life throws a monster curveball at her, and she has to come to terms with some pretty scary abilities. While most of us are unlikely to be confronted with that particular problem, her problems are indeed a reflection of the human struggle to cope with the unexpected. Myrtle’s journey is also about responsibilities – we might not like certain things, but for the greater good, we’ll have to accept certain tasks, even if it’s the last thing we want. However, by doing so, we give ourselves a chance to grow, and I find that important.
What themes were important for you to explore in this book?
I think “Down the Hatch” can be read on two levels. First of all, it’s a light and (hopefully) entertaining, humorous murder mystery with a romantic subplot. There’s a British female sleuth, we have a wonderful countryside, a historical mystery, and some quirky and entertaining characters. At the same time, there are some deeper themes woven into the plot, such as humanity/inhumanity, how to deal with life’s challenges, and how to achieve personal growth. Readers looking for “a bit more” than just a fluffy read will hopefully resonate with my protagonist.
What is the next book you are working on and when will it be available?
The third installment in the Magical Misfits series is undergoing editing. However, my plan is to self-publish a second series, the Da Vinci Mysteries, in the second half of this year. Two of the novels are ready, the third one ready for proofing, and I’m writing the fourth. The first Da Vinci Mystery “Spelled in Ink”, features a dark witch, an art thief, and an invisible killer. The new series is even faster paced than the Magical Misfits, and the witches are a bit more competent, but once again my characters will face some challenges most readers might find very familiar.
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Myrtle, the new owner of the Witch’s Retreat B&B, juggles way too many plates. As if wrestling with erratic magic while running a business wasn’t enough, she faces pleas to lead the coven. Throw in the budding romance with “witch hunter” Chris and the shenanigans of Petty, the zombie flower, and Myrtle is in trouble.
Then the tourists start dying.
The police are called in, but Myrtle’s bestie, Sergeant Sarah Widdlethorpe, gets no chance to build her case. When the death count rises, the clues pile up—and they point way too close to home. Myrtle has to act fast to save the coven from discovery.
But soon it becomes clear she’s facing something far worse than a serial killer…
Down The Hatch, the second in the Magical Misfits series of witch cozy mysteries, follows on from In My Attic, Lina Hansen’s award-winning debut novel.
Down the Hatch
Down the Hatch: A Magical Misfits Mystery by Lina Hansen is about Myrtle Coldron, a witch who is not in complete control of her magic, and as she struggles, others want to take charge of the coven. Myrtle finds herself taking on a lot of responsibilities, including running her family’s bed and breakfast business, while other events unravel around her. When she unexpectedly meets Chris Lentulus, a descendant of witch hunters, when a body is discovered in the basement of a local pub. Together, the unlikely pair must work to find out who’s responsible for the death and follow clues to catch a killer before another murder occurs.
This was a fun story to read. I love reading mysteries and enjoy the subtle clues sprinkled throughout the plot while peeling back layers of each character in the book. The story kept me guessing until the end, and I also liked the romantic elements between Myrtle and Chris. I enjoyed the setting of the British village and the quirky witch characters from the local coven. This dimension added an exciting element where they had to hide their true identity from the town’s non-witch residents.
I like the plot’s premise, which details the witches’ control of their magic, the potential for magic to go seriously wrong, and lots of humor throughout the story. I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series, trying to solve new, entertaining mysteries, and discovering more about each character. It’s an excellent story for anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction, romance, and mystery genres.
Down the Hatch: A Magical Misfits Mystery by Lina Hansen is about more than solving a mystery; it’s a fantastic read that focuses on unique challenges, individual struggles, and a bit of romance throughout.
ASIN B0BQX8YPLD | Pages: 315
LITERARY TITAN 