Why I bought it: Two reasons: the title and the fact that it's "A Tarot Mystery". (Also, being used, it was pretty cheap.)
The Premise: When Alanis McLachlan's con-woman mother is murdered, she unexpectedly inherits the White Magic Five and Dime, her mother's New Age shop and tarot business located in Berdache, Arizona. She and her mother haven't actually spoken in twenty years, but Alanis still feels an obligation to find out who killed her and why. Even if it means taking over her mother's business and faking the ability to read the tarot cards in order to do it.
Favorite quotes:
"I don't have any cats. They remind me too much of my mother. Beautiful, finicky, aloof, and you're the one who always has to clean up their crap."
"Every con artist of every kind knows how to cold-read a mark. I'd been doing it since before I could read books, and I was good at it. Mom had made sure of that."
"I was in a little desert town I didn't know, in an apartment with a stranger who may or may not have homicidal tendencies. The floor below us was a crime scene, while outside, somewhere nearby, was a man who said I'd die if I didn't leave. And now I was lying in my dead mother's bed ... If 'creepy' were a lottery, I'd just won."
My thoughts: This is an entertaining read. I loved the use of Tarot cards throughout the book. And Alanis is such a great character: street smart, fiercely independent, and full of sass. She's also pretty funny. I liked her a lot. I also liked how Hockensmith wove together Alanis's and her mother's past cons with the present mystery. This book is a fast, fun read that totally made me laugh.
Rating: 4/5 stars.
Happy Reading!
P.S. This book also counts towards The Backlist Reader Challenge which is hosted by Lark at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
I love stories about con artists! And our library has this one. It looks like there is at least one sequel, too.
ReplyDeleteThere's a sequel? That's good to know. :)
DeleteInteresting cover. These kinds of mystery books always seem to have good covers!
ReplyDeleteSometimes the cover is the best thing about them. ;D
DeleteOh my, this is quite the gem, isn't it? You reminded me I reviewed it ages ago and how much I loved it!
ReplyDelete:) It's a fun one, isn't it? Did you ever read the next one in the series?
DeleteI've read this some time ago and keep meaning to pick up the second in the series. I really enjoyed the MC and that quote comparing her mother to cats is priceless!
ReplyDeleteShe's a great character! I'm excited to give the second book in this series a try. :)
DeleteI want this one! Thanks for the review, Lark!
ReplyDelete:D Enjoy.
DeleteThis sounds like a fun read. I love books like this. Great review! :)
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun read!
DeleteI love a book that can make me laugh! This one sounds great! :D
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy the main character and her sarcasm and sass.
DeleteI do not think I've ever read a con artist book. It might be a good start. Thank you for bringing it up!
ReplyDeleteHi, Julie! Thanks for stopping by. :)
DeleteSounds fun, and those quotes are pretty awesome. Especially that last one! Too funny! :)
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot about this book that made me laugh. :)
DeleteI liked this one a lot! I had trouble getting into book 2, for some reason, but it may just have been me; I think I was in a reading slump at the time.
ReplyDeleteYou never know, some second books don't live up to the first. My library has the second one, so at least I don't have to buy it, I can just borrow it and see if I like it. :)
DeleteSounds super fun! I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for this one.
ReplyDeleteI liked the characters and it made me laugh.
DeleteI like the sound of the tarot cards being used through the story.
ReplyDeleteThat was part of the draw for me in wanting to read this book! :)
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