Thank you to Recorded Books for the ALC and MBC Books, #partner, for the advanced copy of A Spell for Saints and Sinners in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Kensington Books/ Recorded Books
Published: March 31, 2026
Summary:
Like a gender-flipped You but dripping with Southern Gothic atmosphere, a young psychic on the verge of losing everything becomes obsessed with a wealthy, beautiful heiress in this clever, darkly atmospheric novel of psychological suspense set amid the lush, moss-draped beauty of Savannah.
In front of an elegantly shabby townhouse on a Savannah side street sits a hand-painted Miss Edie, Psychic. Ingrid White inherited the house and business from her beloved grandmother, a local celebrity in town. But unless Ingrid can find a way to pay for crushing property taxes and mounting repairs, she’s going to lose them both.
Ingrid has faith in the homespun witchcraft Edie passed down to her, yet hope and clients are dwindling. . . . Until Sailor Loeffler’s bachelorette party changes everything. Sailor is local royalty—part of the vast “Savannah Sauce” empire, beautiful and wealthy beyond imagining—and Ingrid’s reading is so accurate that she becomes the bride-to-be’s confidante. To keep that access and all the privileges it brings, Ingrid relies more and more on hexes and dark spells—using the baneful magic Edie always warned her against.
As Ingrid works even riskier spells, she is drawn further into the Loefflers’ inner circle and the obstacles in her path melt away. But is it witchcraft or other, more earthbound forces? Ingrid can feel the lines blurring even as her powers seem to grow, until she must confront the truth about just how far some people, including herself, will go to keep the life they’ve always wanted . . .
My thoughts:
I have long been a fan of Emily Carpenter’s books — I can always count on her for a great Southern Gothic story and this latest is another example of that!
Having just been to Savannah myself, I really appreciated the setting of this book — I could visualize so many places that were mentioned throughout the story — Forsyth Park, Perry Lane Hotel (where we stayed!) and Peregrin to name a few!
What I loved:
🖤 The atmospheric, Gothic vibes steeped in Southern culture — here it’s the old money Savannah elite
🔮 Part witchy vibes/part manipulation — this is where the book really held my attention! Was it Ingrid’s ability or certain people’s ability to make problems disappear??
🖤 A slow-burn pace that not only sets the scene, but keeps that tension building
Audio thoughts:
When I saw that Cassandra Campbell was narrating this, I knew I had to listen to it. She is one of my favorites and boy did she nail this performance, bringing such emotional depth to the characters.
Bottom line:
This book is perfect for those who love Southern Gothic stories steeped in unsettling vibes, morally grey characters and with a touch of obsession.
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