Cate Martin

Ingrid Torfudottir lives in two worlds at once. The first, Runde, lies on the banks of Lake Superior, a town of northern Minnesotans who descend from Scandinavian immigrants, fishermen and farmers both. In that world she barely exists, just an unknown aspiring book illustrator who occasionally sells a little art at the local caf . The other, Villmark, lies hidden from the rest of the world by ancient, strong magic. The people of the village descend from colonists who fled their homeland in Norway centuries before. In that world she bears great responsibilities. As a volva, a Viking witch, the protection of her people always comes first in her life. These two worlds overlap in just one place: her grandmother's mead hall. After sitting abandoned for months, Ingrid and her grandmother open it again to much celebration in both communities. But then everything goes wrong. The illusions and protections remain despite their efforts at the end of the night. And Ingrid can't get back to Villmark. Then someone dies, a murder. As if Ingrid didn't have enough on her plate.

Ingrid Torfudottir lives in two worlds at once. The first, Runde, lies on the banks of Lake Superior, a town of northern Minnesotans who descend from Scandinavian immigrants, fishermen and farmers both. In that world she barely exists, just an unknown aspiring book illustrator who occasionally sells a little art at the local caf . The other, Villmark, lies hidden from the rest of the world by ancient, strong magic. The people of the village descend from colonists who fled their homeland in Norway centuries before. In that world she bears great responsibilities. As a volva, a Viking witch, the protection of her people always comes first in her life. These two worlds overlap in just one place: her grandmother's mead hall. After sitting abandoned for months, Ingrid and her grandmother open it again to much celebration in both communities. But then everything goes wrong. The illusions and protections remain despite their efforts at the end of the night. And Ingrid can't get back to Villmark. Then someone dies, a murder. As if Ingrid didn't have enough on her plate.

Ingrid Torfudottir lives in two worlds at once. The first, Runde, lies on the banks of Lake Superior, a town of northern Minnesotans who descend from Scandinavian immigrants, fishermen and farmers both. In that world she barely exists, just an unknown aspiring book illustrator who occasionally sells a little art at the local caf . The other, Villmark, lies hidden from the rest of the world by ancient, strong magic. The people of the village descend from colonists who fled their homeland in Norway centuries before. In that world she bears great responsibilities. As a volva, a Viking witch, the protection of her people always comes first in her life. These two worlds overlap in just one place: her grandmother's mead hall. After sitting abandoned for months, Ingrid and her grandmother open it again to much celebration in both communities. But then everything goes wrong. The illusions and protections remain despite their efforts at the end of the night. And Ingrid can't get back to Villmark. Then someone dies, a murder. As if Ingrid didn't have enough on her plate.

No one knows more about every branch of magic than Tabitha Greene. She devoted years to studying the most esoteric texts, hunting down the most obscure source materials, and deciphering the most cryptic ancient scrolls. But her career in academia hits a dead end when no wizard will take her on as an apprentice. Just because, despite being descended from two long and prestigious lines of witches, her attempts to actually perform any magic always fail. Often spectacularly. But no more college means no more dorm life. And no magical skills means no real job skills, at least, not in the witchy world. And a life spent moving from school to school every few months was a life without real friendships. She finds herself alone with nowhere to go. Then an uncle she barely remembers offers her a summer job, running his bookstore over the summer. The Weal and Woe Bookstore, located in a magical pocket world within a block of buildings just north of the old Mill District of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Not exactly the pinnacle of all her hopes and dreams. But it's just for one summer, right? Or so Tabitha tells herself. But unbeknownst to her, the Weal and Woe Bookstore is about to change her life.

No one knows more about every branch of magic than Tabitha Greene. She devoted years to studying the most esoteric texts, hunting down the most obscure source materials, and deciphering the most cryptic ancient scrolls. But her career in academia hits a dead end when no wizard will take her on as an apprentice. Just because, despite being descended from two long and prestigious lines of witches, her attempts to actually perform any magic always fail. Often spectacularly. But no more college means no more dorm life. And no magical skills means no real job skills, at least, not in the witchy world. And a life spent moving from school to school every few months was a life without real friendships. She finds herself alone with nowhere to go. Then an uncle she barely remembers offers her a summer job, running his bookstore over the summer. The Weal and Woe Bookstore, located in a magical pocket world within a block of buildings just north of the old Mill District of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Not exactly the pinnacle of all her hopes and dreams. But it's just for one summer, right? Or so Tabitha tells herself. But unbeknownst to her, the Weal and Woe Bookstore is about to change her life.

No one knows more about every branch of magic than Tabitha Greene. She devoted years to studying the most esoteric texts, hunting down the most obscure source materials, and deciphering the most cryptic ancient scrolls. But her career in academia hits a dead end when no wizard will take her on as an apprentice. Just because, despite being descended from two long and prestigious lines of witches, her attempts to actually perform any magic always fail. Often spectacularly. But no more college means no more dorm life. And no magical skills means no real job skills, at least, not in the witchy world. And a life spent moving from school to school every few months was a life without real friendships. She finds herself alone with nowhere to go. Then an uncle she barely remembers offers her a summer job, running his bookstore over the summer. The Weal and Woe Bookstore, located in a magical pocket world within a block of buildings just north of the old Mill District of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Not exactly the pinnacle of all her hopes and dreams. But it's just for one summer, right? Or so Tabitha tells herself. But unbeknownst to her, the Weal and Woe Bookstore is about to change her life.

Ingrid Torfudottir lives a double life. Half she spends in Runde, a normal town on the North Shore of Lake Superior in modern day Minnesota. The other half she spends in Villmark, a village that exists outside of time, where descendants of Vikings still live following the old ways. On top of all that, she personally descends from a long line of volvas, women trained in the magical arts. Only she missed out on everything when she grew up away from Villmark. Now she still struggles to catch up. After months of hard work, she speaks the language of Villmark. Her mastery of the runes sits at nearly a third complete. But now she must face her greatest challenge yet: the woman she narrowly defeated once before, who waits for their face-to-face confrontation deep inside the caves behind the waterfall that separates Runde from Villmark. No one thinks she is ready for this rematch. Not her friends. Not her mentor. Not even her own grandmother. No one but Ingrid. Sacrifice Behind the Falls is book 9 in the ongoing Viking Witch Cozy Mystery series

Ingrid Torfudottir lives a double life. Half she spends in Runde, a normal town on the North Shore of Lake Superior in modern day Minnesota. The other half she spends in Villmark, a village that exists outside of time, where descendants of Vikings still live following the old ways. On top of all that, she personally descends from a long line of volvas, women trained in the magical arts. Only she missed out on everything when she grew up away from Villmark. Now she still struggles to catch up. After months of hard work, she speaks the language of Villmark. Her mastery of the runes sits at nearly a third complete. But now she must face her greatest challenge yet: the woman she narrowly defeated once before, who waits for their face-to-face confrontation deep inside the caves behind the waterfall that separates Runde from Villmark. No one thinks she is ready for this rematch. Not her friends. Not her mentor. Not even her own grandmother. No one but Ingrid. Sacrifice Behind the Falls is book 9 in the ongoing Viking Witch Cozy Mystery series

Ingrid Torfudottir lives a double life. Half she spends in Runde, a normal town on the North Shore of Lake Superior in modern day Minnesota. The other half she spends in Villmark, a village that exists outside of time, where descendants of Vikings still live following the old ways. On top of all that, she personally descends from a long line of volvas, women trained in the magical arts. Only she missed out on everything when she grew up away from Villmark. Now she still struggles to catch up. After months of hard work, she speaks the language of Villmark. Her mastery of the runes sits at nearly a third complete. But now she must face her greatest challenge yet: the woman she narrowly defeated once before, who waits for their face-to-face confrontation deep inside the caves behind the waterfall that separates Runde from Villmark. No one thinks she is ready for this rematch. Not her friends. Not her mentor. Not even her own grandmother. No one but Ingrid. Sacrifice Behind the Falls is book 9 in the ongoing Viking Witch Cozy Mystery series

Ingrid Torfa finds herself on the road with two of her closest friends, Kara and Nilda Mikkelsen. Not a hiking and camping trip for pleasure, but a mission of the utmost importance. The Thors disappeared months ago along with their mentor Fr r. On a mission to protect Villmark, the village on the North Shore of Lake Superior where they still live like Vikings, hidden from the modern world, the Thors traveled far into the north of this magical realm. Dangers lurk there, things not seen in the modern world in centuries, if ever. Now Ingrid and her friends are desperate to find out what happened to the Thors. Strange folk haunt the northern roads. The three seek an old ally, but find instead another murder, one with ties to Villmark itself. And if Ingrid doesn't find the killer first, all of Villmark stands in jeopardy.

Spring, the season of renewal, finally arrives on the North Shore of Lake Superior, and Ingrid Torfa finds herself in a strange new situation. On vacation. She and her grandmother spend their days resting and recuperating in an old cabin overlooking the shores of Lake Superior. She can see modern ships pass by along the shipping lanes on the horizon. But everything around her? Strictly from the Viking Age. Not even the lost Norse village of Villmark lies so far in the past as this lonely cabin. But her restful vacation comes to a sudden end when a stranger knocks on their door. His presence disrupts their quiet lakeside lives even before he turns up dead. Now Ingrid must figure out who wanted the strange old man dead. Because the next target just might be her.

Spring, the season of renewal, finally arrives on the North Shore of Lake Superior, and Ingrid Torfa finds herself in a strange new situation. On vacation. She and her grandmother spend their days resting and recuperating in an old cabin overlooking the shores of Lake Superior. She can see modern ships pass by along the shipping lanes on the horizon. But everything around her? Strictly from the Viking Age. Not even the lost Norse village of Villmark lies so far in the past as this lonely cabin. But her restful vacation comes to a sudden end when a stranger knocks on their door. His presence disrupts their quiet lakeside lives even before he turns up dead. Now Ingrid must figure out who wanted the strange old man dead. Because the next target just might be her.

Spring, the season of renewal, finally arrives on the North Shore of Lake Superior, and Ingrid Torfa finds herself in a strange new situation. On vacation. She and her grandmother spend their days resting and recuperating in an old cabin overlooking the shores of Lake Superior. She can see modern ships pass by along the shipping lanes on the horizon. But everything around her? Strictly from the Viking Age. Not even the lost Norse village of Villmark lies so far in the past as this lonely cabin. But her restful vacation comes to a sudden end when a stranger knocks on their door. His presence disrupts their quiet lakeside lives even before he turns up dead. Now Ingrid must figure out who wanted the strange old man dead. Because the next target just might be her.

By day, a drab pole barn used as general store, post office and meeting place all-in-one by the people of Runde, Minnesota, a fishing village on the North Shore of Lake Superior. By night, a Viking-style long house filled with tales and singing, roasting meat and flowing beer, and of course mead. Ingrid Torfa can imagine no better place for a much-needed night of R&R. The mead hall run by her grandmother lies where modern small town life brushes up against the old world lifestyle of the people of Villmark, proud descendants of a lost tribe of Northmen. All of her friends mingle there from the server who works in the restaurant on the side of the highway to the guardians charged with protecting the sacred flame of their ancestors. The spells that her grandmother casts over her mead hall nightly keep everyone within safe and harmonious. Or so everyone always believed. But when a murder interrupts Ingrid's night off, she finds herself questioning everything. Because her chief suspect is her own grandmother.

After more than a month living in the lost Viking colony of Villmark, Ingrid Torfa just barely feels at home there. As her magic grows, so grows the animosity of those who wish her gone from their world. And now she faces a new challenge: a winter hunt, held in the deep, dark forest that surrounds the village. Her hosts the Thors swear to keep her safe from the dangers ever-present outside the walls of their hunting lodge. Yet the real danger may lurk within those walls. Not all the other guests appreciate Ingrid's presence among them. And then one of the hunting party disappears in the night. Taken by Odin's Wild Hunt? A tragic accident. But lured outside the lodge's protective walls and then taken by Odin's Wild Hunt? That looks like murder by magical means. As the only magical person in the lodge, suspicions fall on Ingrid. She knows her own innocence, but if she fails to find the guilty party in time, someone else may die.

After more than a month living in the lost Viking colony of Villmark, Ingrid Torfa just barely feels at home there. As her magic grows, so grows the animosity of those who wish her gone from their world. And now she faces a new challenge: a winter hunt, held in the deep, dark forest that surrounds the village. Her hosts the Thors swear to keep her safe from the dangers ever-present outside the walls of their hunting lodge. Yet the real danger may lurk within those walls. Not all the other guests appreciate Ingrid's presence among them. And then one of the hunting party disappears in the night. Taken by Odin's Wild Hunt? A tragic accident. But lured outside the lodge's protective walls and then taken by Odin's Wild Hunt? That looks like murder by magical means. As the only magical person in the lodge, suspicions fall on Ingrid. She knows her own innocence, but if she fails to find the guilty party in time, someone else may die.

After more than a month living in the lost Viking colony of Villmark, Ingrid Torfa just barely feels at home there. As her magic grows, so grows the animosity of those who wish her gone from their world. And now she faces a new challenge: a winter hunt, held in the deep, dark forest that surrounds the village. Her hosts the Thors swear to keep her safe from the dangers ever-present outside the walls of their hunting lodge. Yet the real danger may lurk within those walls. Not all the other guests appreciate Ingrid's presence among them. And then one of the hunting party disappears in the night. Taken by Odin's Wild Hunt? A tragic accident. But lured outside the lodge's protective walls and then taken by Odin's Wild Hunt? That looks like murder by magical means. As the only magical person in the lodge, suspicions fall on Ingrid. She knows her own innocence, but if she fails to find the guilty party in time, someone else may die.

Winter has come to the lost Norse village of Villmark, the wind and snow separating cozy house from cozy house like a knife breaks apart shortbread. And for the first time in her life, Ingrid Torfa lives alone. No mother, no grandmother, no roommate. Just a big, empty house and a cat who loves to disappear. Magical studies fill her every waking hour, and yet those hours stretch out in unbroken silence. Until a scream rents the night, drawing every neighbor out into the cold streets. A woman lies dead at the bottom of the well. It looks like an accident to the villagers, but to Ingrid it feels like a murder. Luckily, Ingrid knows just the friends to help her solve the mystery. Not even the bite of winter can stop them from uncovering the truth.