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Three Reasons You Should Read This Cozy Mystery:
- Prediction Murder: The Magician by Vickie Carrol is a cozy mystery with a slight paranormal twist, but so far it’s been very subtle – which is different, and I really like that.
- Steepwick was a fun town with a very deep and interesting history that we only see hints of this time – hopefully, there’s more in future books.
- The tarot cards are a new spin on the paranormal in a cozy mystery for me, and they leave the perfect vague (but also somehow quite direct) hints.
About Prediction Murder: The Magician by Vickie Carroll
Title: Prediction Murder: The Magician
Author: Vickie Carroll
Series: Prediction: Murder #1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Harper Kagel answered her phone on an otherwise ordinary Friday evening expecting to discuss her day job. When the caller instead related the news that Harper’s cousin had taken a deadly fall, she dropped everything and returned to her hometown of Steepwick, Maine.
Although she only planned to stay long enough for the funeral, Harper never could have guessed that she would inherit her cousin’s home, business, and opinionated Westie named Einstein. Everyone in town welcomed Harper’s return with open arms and even inducted her into their Cold Case Club, a secret crime solvers’ society.
But Harper hardly has time to get settled in her new digs when she becomes the target of her cousin’s killer. Now she and Einstein will have to settle a centuries-old mystery involving her ancestors, and it will take help from everyone in the Cold Case Club–including her ex-flame.
Can Harper, Einstein, and the other Steepwick residents save the town’s reputation and Harper’s life? Or will she follow in the footsteps of her dearly departed cousin?
My review of Prediction Murder: The Magician:
Prediction Murder: The Magician is the first book in a slightly-paranormal cozy mystery series featuring tarot cards. Harper doesn’t start out really believing in tarot cards or magic, but when she returns to her hometown for a funeral, things might change her mind. I had a bit of a hard time relating to Harper. She upended her life with almost no warning or second-guessing herself. When she inherits her cousin’s store (and dog) she just jumps right in.
I really loved Einstein. He seemed to have his own role to play, and often pointed out something important. Although most of the time people didn’t notice it right away. I can picture him trotting around town in his little outfits, visiting all of Harper’s friends with her.
The town. Well, that wasn’t quite as well done. I was so confused by the people. There are so many cousins and friends and co-workers introduced all at once that I couldn’t keep any of them apart. The fact that so many started with the same letter (I get that it was a family tradition thing) didn’t help.
I had a hard time following the bouncing ball of the mystery – although once I stopped reading and put the pieces together in my head a few times, things made more sense. I would have really liked this story better if it was a little more cohesive and gradually introduced me to more of the characters.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
