Title: The Witches of San Pedro Del Inglesi
Author: Thomas Walters
Publisher: Great Writers Media
ISBN: 978-1-1954908-72-7
Pages: 117
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by: Candace L. Barr

Read Book Review

The Witches of San Pedro Del Inglesi by author Thomas Walters focuses on the love lives of an aunt and niece, particularly their interactions with men in a British expat community in Spain. The first half of the book focuses on the elder woman, Brenda, who retires to San Pedro Del Inglesi after being widowed by husband number three. In her time there, she meets two more husbands, who both die. But not to worry—she also meets a new best friend whom she has more adventures with. In the midst of these adventures, Sara, the niece of one of Brenda’s ex-husbands, comes of age and graduates from university. The young aristocrat has grown tired of her sheltered life and decides to sneak off with her friend Lisa (and Lisa’s brother) to a villa in San Pedro for the summer and do some more growing up. While Lisa makes fun of Sarah’s lack of experience, Sarah quickly makes up for lost time, finding herself the object of several men’s affection. Still, Sarah has a lot to learn, and she gets a crash course in the dark side of human nature after someone in the community dies unexpectedly.

The story is hard to classify. It isn’t romance, as the relationships are short-lived, and although there is a mysterious murder, there isn’t enough of the book dedicated to it to count it as a murder mystery. It is a fun read. The plot is never static, moving from one adventure to the next, and the characters are eager to go along with it. The protagonists may be taking interest in new men or learning about the pitfalls of community service or traveling in search of information. Little time is given for processing one thing before the next big event happens.

With so many sub-plots twisting around, some things are never really fleshed out, so the reader is left wondering about characters’ intentions and motivations at some points. Particularly, Lisa’s actions leave room for confusion when all is said and done, though it can be fun to speculate.

If you’re looking for a short, fun novel, this one is right for you, especially if you need a break after an intense read. The first half of the book is a lighthearted look at the mature dating scene (and the effects of gin and tonics), then the second half adds intrigue that carries both protagonists’ stories to the end. Brenda’s antics will bring a smile to your face, and you get a chance to watch Sarah come into her own and learn far more than she intended about life beyond the family estate.