The White Magic Five & Dime (A Tarot Mystery)
A Brand New Series
Cozy Mystery
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: MIDNIGHT INK (July 8, 2014)
Alanis McLachlan isn’t surprised to learn that her estranged mother, Barbra, has been murdered. Her mom was a con woman who raised her daughter to be one, too. But what does surprise Alanis — who’s been trying to forge an honest, normal life for herself — is that Barbra left her an inheritance: a new-age shop called the White Magic Five & Dime. After traveling to tiny Berdache, Arizona, to claim her new property, Alanis decides to pick up her mother’s tarot-reading business…because she suspects that one of Barbra’s clients is the killer. With help from a hunky cop and her mom’s live-in teenage apprentice, Alanis begins faking her way through bogus tarot readings in order to win the confidence of her suspects. But the more she uses the tarot deck, the more Alanis begins to find real meaning in the cards. There’s one thing they can’t tell her, though: Will she solve the mystery before the murderer comes for her?
Review
Do you believe in White Magic? After reading this book you might…or might not. Alanis is notified that her mother has died and she has been left everything. Yet when she arrives in Berdache AZ, she finds things maybe aren’t as cut and dried as it seems.
For some reason, I thought this book was going to be a cozy mystery. I don’t think I would put it in that genre. Mystery? yes! Cozy? hmmm, borderline. However, that doesn’t matter because this is still a GREAT book! I have always been fascinated with things like psychics and tarot card readers (and maybe one day I will visit one for a reading!). This book explained more about tarot cards and what each card means (or could mean) when chosen.
The characters were very real and there were flashbacks to Alanis’ life growing up that filled in the gaps as to why she hadn’t seen her mother in 20 years and what it was like being a part of a con artist’s life as a child. There are twists and turns that I definitely didn’t expect and the book had an ending that could lead to another book, or could just as easily end here as a stand-alone book.
Worth the read and we give it 5 paws up!
About the Author
Steve Hockensmith is the author of the New York Times bestseller Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls. He also writes the Holmes on the Range mystery series and (with Science Bob Pflugfelder) a series of science-based middle-grade adventures. The White Magic Five & Dime is his 11th novel.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads
The Giveaway
Enter to win a print copy of The White Magic Five & Dime – open to US residents only
Tour Participants
July 8 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – Review
July 9 – The Bookwyrm’s Hoard – Review, Book Giveaway
July 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review, Guest Post, Book Giveaway
July 11 – Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf – Review, Tarot Reading Giveaway
July 12 – Michelle’s Romantic Tangle – Review, Guest Post
July 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Review, Interview, Book Giveaway
July 14 –Chloe Gets A Chloe – Guest Post
love the theme and story line, thank you!
from Cynthia W (previous error so adding for her)
congrats & continued success to Steve……
thank you for the giveaway….
This book sounds great, it is on my TRL. I would love to win it
I love discovering new cozies. Thanks for sharing.
That is just one option to get entries, you should be fine if you do the other options. I’ve never had a problem with someone not tweeting and rafflecopter giving them issues.
Sounds like good fun.
Rafflecopter does not like those of us who don’t tweet.
I’d love to win a copy!
This wonderful book is captivating and unique. What captured my interest is the plot and the character of Alanis who has to delve into her past. This is fascinating and intriguing. I enjoyed learning about this book and the author. The cover artwork is impressive, and striking. It evokes the time and place and reminds me of other simple times and places. Congratulations and best wishes on the release of The White Magic Five & Dime. The title is exceptional and appealing. What a great book which I would treasure and enjoy greatly.
Sounds like a great book – Thanks Leslie, for the review and introducing me to a new author. I will be putting this on my wishlist.
Debbie D.
Congrats to Steve Hockensmith on the release of The White Magic Five & Dime!