Event planner Tali Cates's psychic gifts have brought her more than enough trouble in the past. She wants those irksome gifts to leave her in peace so she can support her family and lead a normal life in the small town of Love, Texas.
But when not one, but two beauty contestants in the pageant she's running turn up dead, Tali is again drawn into murder and mayhem. Toss in some witchcraft and kidnapping, and she has no choice but to protect her kids by hunting down the killer. Life gets even more complicated when her son accuses her new boyfriend of being a vampire, which is just plain ridiculous.
Or is it?
Book Review/s to share: Review
Reviewed by Melissa Bradley at 100% of Nothing
Event planner, Tali Cates, is up to her neck in murder and the paranormal once more in this latest from Carol Shenold. This time Tali is running a local beauty pageant. Amidst cat fighting contestants and their overbearing mothers, two people are found dead. Both victims are completely drained of fluids and Tali suspects a supernatural killer, but Sheriff J.T. is highly skeptical as usual. He does his utmost to convince Tali to stay out of his way and while she would love to do nothing more, her visions keep forcing her to stick with the investigation.
As if murder weren't enough, her daughter Cass may be dating a werewolf and her son is convinced that Tali's new boyfriend, Aiden is a vampire. Logically, she knows he couldn't be, but then again, this is Love, Texas, a town on the crossroads of good and evil.
This story manages to balance the elements of a supernatural tale, a mystery and a small town drama. While there are certain places where it strays into the realm of cliché, overall it is a witty, engaging read. The characters are warm, eccentric and hugely entertaining. The mystery is intriguing and keeps the reader guessing as it unfolds. I enjoyed this story very much as well as its predecessor, PRIVY TO MURDER. Ms. Shenold is a fresh, unique voice and I look forward to more from her.
Moving back to her childhood home in Love, Texas shouldn't have been end of the world. But Tali Cates can't see the good things with her eyes clouded by murder and mayhem. The first party for her event planning business is marred when she finds the hostess's dead body in the outhouse-and the woman's ghost hovering above.
Ever since her paranormal abilities ruined her marriage, Tali has tried to suppress them. Now, faced with a vengeful ghost intent on ruining her life unless she solves her murder, Tali must come to terms with those very gifts-not to mention some very human elements with violent intent.
Book Review/s to share: Rating: 4 Klovers
Tali Cates was starting life over. Not that she had much choice. Her husband, disturbed by her admission of possessing a special gift of being able to see the dead, dropped her and their two children by the side of the road. Now she was back in her home town, living with her mother, starting a new business, wanting nothing more than a fresh start. But murder gets in the way of her fresh start, making it more of a challenge then anyone deserves. Every where she turns, she's making more enemies then friends and the trail of murder keeps following her. Until she learns to embrace her gifts and use them to find the killer, life in Love, Texas will continue to be Privy to Murder.
This was a very enjoyable, cozy mystery. I was immediately drawn in to the little town of Love. There's nothing like a small town where everyone knows everyone else as a background for murder. Everyone is a suspect and no one is completely innocent. Carolyn Shenhold does a lovely job of giving us familiarity with the characters from the get-go. Tali Cates is full of spunk and doesn't let life get her down, no matter how many curve balls are thrown her way. She was fun to spend the weekend with, and I am looking forward to her next foray in Bloody Murder, releasing in 2008. This was a wonderful start to a great new mystery series combining a little bit of humor, small town charm, realistic characters and a solid plot that will keep you guessing.
Reviewed by Terri Dukes
Email to share: cshenold@cox.net
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