Seriously, I think I have been reading Carolyn's books for about 20 years. She probably will sorta hate to hear that, but I've been hooked since I read the first book of her Annie Laurance Darling series, Death on Demand! I think I ran off and bought the next 3 books, and read them in the following week. After that a new Carolyn Hart book has always been a highlight for me!
So it's no surprise when I was asked to review her latest book that I literally screamed out lout! Yes- even book reviewers have been known to hyperventilate when they get to read one of their book heroes for formal review!
And since it's All Hallows and we all know about cats and witches, how about a review and giveaway?
Ever since the death of her fiancé, Nela Farley has found herself plagued by a sixth sense: she understands the thoughts of cats when she looks into their eyes. Nela knows what she’s experiencing is completely irrational and tries to convince herself that she is simply transferring her own thoughts that she doesn’t want to face.
When her adventurous sister, Chloe, goes on a trip and asks for a favor, Nela welcomes thedistraction and agrees to substitute at Chloe’s job at a charitable foundation. Chloe has arranged a place for her sister to stay, but when Nela shows up, she encounters the previous tenant’s cat and gets a flash of thought: “…dead…dead and gone…..She loved me….board rolled on the second step….”
Nela wants to ignore what the cat saw, but the idea that the death of former tenant Marian Grant wasn’t an accident is something she can’t ignore. As Nela begins to do some research into Marian’s life, strange events begin to occur, all seeming to lead back to the Haklo Foundation. But when a detective becomes suspicious of Nela’s sister and a second murder occurs, Nela realizes she’ll have to make the most of her unwanted ability to figure out what’s really going on, before she meets her own untimely end….
Review: Do I need to tell how enjoyable this book was? Nah, you probably would have guessed that from my glowing intro, right? But it truly is a delightful read of a maze of lies and deceit that will keep you guessing literally til the very end, about what 'the cat literally saw"! Carolyn does a great job with her characters- showing them with human flaws we all recognize and can relate to. I think that is the key for her readers- we want to BE her characters, or be IN her stories (personally I always wanted to BE Annie Laurance and have her Death on Demand bookstore!). She deftly handles the loss of a loved one from service in the military, and how Iraq/Afghanistan is more than just words on the news to 'normal everyday folk'.
As always her descriptions lure the reader in, her dialogue and way with a web of mystery will keep you reading til you finish the book (I did in one sitting!). You would think having read all of Carolyn's books, I could guess the ending and 'culprit', but she surprised me yet again! If you want to get addicted to an 'new to you' mystery author- start with this book, then go back and start at the beginning with Death on Demand- you'll be happy you found Carolyn! If you're already a Carolyn addict, then you are gonna love this new book and wonder if a new series could be starting!
About the Author: An accomplished master of mystery, Carolyn Hart is the author of forty-seven novels of mystery and suspense. Her books have won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. One of the founders of Sisters in Crime, Hart enjoys mysteries, walking in the park, and cats. She and her husband Phil enjoy the company of an orange tabby and brother and sister brown tabbies. Check out her website, and Facebook pages for more info and the LONG list of her great books!
Review: Do I need to tell how enjoyable this book was? Nah, you probably would have guessed that from my glowing intro, right? But it truly is a delightful read of a maze of lies and deceit that will keep you guessing literally til the very end, about what 'the cat literally saw"! Carolyn does a great job with her characters- showing them with human flaws we all recognize and can relate to. I think that is the key for her readers- we want to BE her characters, or be IN her stories (personally I always wanted to BE Annie Laurance and have her Death on Demand bookstore!). She deftly handles the loss of a loved one from service in the military, and how Iraq/Afghanistan is more than just words on the news to 'normal everyday folk'.
As always her descriptions lure the reader in, her dialogue and way with a web of mystery will keep you reading til you finish the book (I did in one sitting!). You would think having read all of Carolyn's books, I could guess the ending and 'culprit', but she surprised me yet again! If you want to get addicted to an 'new to you' mystery author- start with this book, then go back and start at the beginning with Death on Demand- you'll be happy you found Carolyn! If you're already a Carolyn addict, then you are gonna love this new book and wonder if a new series could be starting!
About the Author: An accomplished master of mystery, Carolyn Hart is the author of forty-seven novels of mystery and suspense. Her books have won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. One of the founders of Sisters in Crime, Hart enjoys mysteries, walking in the park, and cats. She and her husband Phil enjoy the company of an orange tabby and brother and sister brown tabbies. Check out her website, and Facebook pages for more info and the LONG list of her great books!
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Disclosure / Disclaimer: I was sent this book, free of charge, for review purposes, from berkley Books. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it.
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