Genre: Mystery
Release Date:
Pages: 320
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Publisher’s Synopsis:
“A cynical tarot card reader seeks to uncover the truth about her friend’s mysterious death in this delightfully clever whodunit.
For Katie True, a keen gut and quick wit are just tools of the trade. After a failed attempt at adulting in Chicago, she’s back in the suburbs living a bit too close to her overbearing parents, jumping from one dead-end job to the next, and flipping through her tarot deck for guidance. Then along comes Marley.
Mysterious, worldly, and comfortable in her own skin, Marley takes a job at the mall where Katie peddles Russian tchotchkes. The two just get each other. Marley doesn’t try to fix Katie’s life or pretend to be someone she’s not, and Katie thinks that with Marley’s friendship she just might make it through this rough patch after all. So one day, having been encouraged by Marley to practice soothsaying, Katie reads tarot for someone who stumbles into her shop. But when she sneaks a glance at his phone, she finds more than just clairvoyant intel. She finds a photo. Of Marley. With a gunshot wound to the head.
The bottom falls out of Katie’s world. Her best friend is dead? Who killed her? She quickly realizes there are some things her tarot cards can’t foresee, and she must put her razor-sharp instincts to the ultimate test. But the truth has deadly consequences, and Katie’s recklessness lands her in the crossfire of a threat she never saw coming. Now Katie must use her street smarts and her inner Strength card to solve Marley’s murder—or risk losing everything.”
My Review:
At first I really latched onto the writing style and the tone of the story. I like Katie’s down to earth vibes. And though I feel for her and the things she’s been through, I didn’t really connect with this character on a deeper level. I don’t think it has anything to do with the writing or the plotting, I think it’s just on a personal level.
It’s a fun and quirky story. The first chapter is intriguing, shocking, and immediately hooked me into the plot, but things kind of fizzled out from there.
I didn’t find the flashbacks as interesting. I liked the idea of the tarot cards playing a role in a murder mystery story, but I didn’t find the execution of this compelling enough, it felt more like it was thrown in on the side, rather than actually imperative to the plot or characters themselves.
It went in unexpected directions, with some of the plot points not feeling quite believable to me.
From the concept of the story, I really thought this would be one I’d enjoy. But it just wasn’t for me.
I think it’s a decent book and I’d be interested in checking out more from this author. I really did like the style and writing, but I just failed to connect with this particular storyline and characters.
It’s not bad; I’m just not blown away. Even though my experience with this story isn’t glowing, I think there’s still an audience for this one.
Disclaimers:
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for gifting me an early copy of this amazing story! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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