Book store owner and novice witch Lily Michaels is struggling to get a handle on her new powers. The book "Practical Beginnings" is showing her random spells to learn, and her familiar, the talking cat, Milo, isn't much help. She doesn't need any more distractions, but when a car crashes just outside the bookstore, Lily is first on the scene. It's more than just an automobile accident. Bullet holes can be deadly. The victim, shady real estate agent Teddy Roberts, was dead before his fancy sports car ever hit that pole.

Investigating the crime scene is Detective Gage Erikson, or as Milo calls him, Detective Cutie. His crush on Lily is not-so-secret to anyone but her, but she's acting like he's a distraction she doesn't need. Is he her boyfriend, or just her best friend? He just needs to keep her out of trouble while he traces clues to the crime.

But a mystery is like catnip to Lily. She's willing to admit she has a tiny bit of a reputation for investigating things she shouldn't. She's trying to balance her growing feelings for Gage while keeping her witchy secret from him and solve a murder. Teddy had plenty of people with reasons to do him in. Will Lily's best protection spell be enough to keep her and Gage safe while they work together to catch a killer?