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judythereader's review
3.0
Liz Cooper doesn’t believe in magic in any way and is driven crazy by her mother and her Tarot cards. Now someone is tormenting her best friend with Tarot cards on her doorstep and Liz is going to get to the bottom of it. It turns out her brother’s best friend, Nick, is an expert in the occult and agrees to help.
The two go off to see what they can find, just naturally falling into each other’s company, comfortable and happy. Until they find a body.
This is a pleasant read. I will read more in the series, but it is light. The ooky isn’t that ooky. Maybe because Liz becomes a believer very quickly. After a lifetime of rejecting the occult, even she marvels at how easy it is to accept. But I like Liz and I like Nick and Liz’s Mom needs a kick in the pants and I want to see her get it.
The two go off to see what they can find, just naturally falling into each other’s company, comfortable and happy. Until they find a body.
This is a pleasant read. I will read more in the series, but it is light. The ooky isn’t that ooky. Maybe because Liz becomes a believer very quickly. After a lifetime of rejecting the occult, even she marvels at how easy it is to accept. But I like Liz and I like Nick and Liz’s Mom needs a kick in the pants and I want to see her get it.
abeautytoyourbeast's review
4.0
Tarot Cards, Voodoo, and a sexy professor; what's not to love?
Enter lead skeptic, Liz Cooper; a clinical psychologist, a realist, and the biggest doubter in all things not steeped in reason. For every action there is a logical reason. Pan to her mother Vivian, a firm believer in all things occult, especially the tarot cards that she reads what appears to be daily. Her best friend Robin, a very superstitious widow that also believes, especially taking to heart after the ignored reading about her husband. Finally, Nick Garfield, old family friend, sexy professor and best source for occult information.
Robin's husband died the day after a tarot card reading was given warning of the impending accident. Now the first two cards from that reading have been tacked to her door and she continues to receive prank hang-up calls. With the help of Nick, Liz tracks down the owner of the tarot card deck and after a loud confrontation with Robin the owner of the cards is found dead in her car and all signs point to Robin. Its up to Liz and Nick to follow the clues to find out who the real killer is so they can clear her best friend's name. Throughout the "investigation" Liz continues to immerse herself further in the world of her doubts and when she finally opens herself up to the possibility is able to nail the killer.
This is a very cute and well written cozy mystery that literally had me guessing until the revelation who the killer was. I changed my prediction with each passing chapter. I enjoyed the progression of the mystery and the romance. I can't wait to pick up the second book!
Enter lead skeptic, Liz Cooper; a clinical psychologist, a realist, and the biggest doubter in all things not steeped in reason. For every action there is a logical reason. Pan to her mother Vivian, a firm believer in all things occult, especially the tarot cards that she reads what appears to be daily. Her best friend Robin, a very superstitious widow that also believes, especially taking to heart after the ignored reading about her husband. Finally, Nick Garfield, old family friend, sexy professor and best source for occult information.
Robin's husband died the day after a tarot card reading was given warning of the impending accident. Now the first two cards from that reading have been tacked to her door and she continues to receive prank hang-up calls. With the help of Nick, Liz tracks down the owner of the tarot card deck and after a loud confrontation with Robin the owner of the cards is found dead in her car and all signs point to Robin. Its up to Liz and Nick to follow the clues to find out who the real killer is so they can clear her best friend's name. Throughout the "investigation" Liz continues to immerse herself further in the world of her doubts and when she finally opens herself up to the possibility is able to nail the killer.
This is a very cute and well written cozy mystery that literally had me guessing until the revelation who the killer was. I changed my prediction with each passing chapter. I enjoyed the progression of the mystery and the romance. I can't wait to pick up the second book!
dollycas's review
5.0
Who Do, Voodoo?,the first novel in Rochelle Staab’s thrilling new Mind for Murder Mystery series features no-nonsense Liz Cooper, a Los Angeles psychologist forced to embrace the occult to clear her best friend of murder.
When Liz Cooper’s friend Robin Bloom finds an unusual tarot card tacked to her front door, Liz writes it off as a prank. Robin refuses to ignore the omen—her late husband drew the same card, the three of swords, in a reading the night before he was killed in a car accident. As more cards and darker threats appear, Liz realizes someone very dangerous is upping the ante.
Liz turns to her brother’s old college roommate, occult expert Nick Garfield. As Nick leads her into the voodoo community to locate the origin of the deck, she can’t ignore their attraction to each other. Then a woman is found murdered and Robin becomes the prime suspect. Determined to clear her friend, Liz joins forces with Nick to unravel otherworldly secrets and seek help from beyond—or risk being outwitted by a cunning killer.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
First I have to say this is Rochelle’s debut novel, not just published novel, this is the first book she has written. Unbelievable!! She is such a wonderful storyteller I was sure she had written several books, but no, this the first, I asked her more than once. She even talks about it during an interview she did last week in Milwaukee.
Liz Cooper and I are on the same page when it comes to tarot cards and voodoo, we are doubters, it’s fine if you believe it but it not our “cup of tea”, so no tea leaves for us. You do not have to believe to absolutely love this story. In fact, a little doubt makes you relate to Liz as she delves in to investigate this murder to clear her friend. Both Liz and the reader learn about voodoo, including Haitian Vodou and Louisiana or New Orleans Voodoo. The history of both is very interesting and the way Rochelle connects them to the characters in this story is almost magical.
My favorite character of course was Liz, but her mother is an absolute hoot!! She never misses an opportunity to try to get Liz to reunite with her ex-husband and whenever she talks to Liz about her brother she always says,”your brother, Dave”. Liz only has one brother and she does know his name. It just cracked me up every time. Liz is an expert at dealing with or not dealing with her mother. Loved it!!
This is a perfect cozy mystery, unique characters, clever plot, creative setting, spiced up with a little romance and humor. It is a fabulous debut and I can’t wait for the next installment. The Wisconsin girl did a great job, now she needs to have Liz make a trip to the Midwest for a Mind For Murder sequel, just a thought!!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
When Liz Cooper’s friend Robin Bloom finds an unusual tarot card tacked to her front door, Liz writes it off as a prank. Robin refuses to ignore the omen—her late husband drew the same card, the three of swords, in a reading the night before he was killed in a car accident. As more cards and darker threats appear, Liz realizes someone very dangerous is upping the ante.
Liz turns to her brother’s old college roommate, occult expert Nick Garfield. As Nick leads her into the voodoo community to locate the origin of the deck, she can’t ignore their attraction to each other. Then a woman is found murdered and Robin becomes the prime suspect. Determined to clear her friend, Liz joins forces with Nick to unravel otherworldly secrets and seek help from beyond—or risk being outwitted by a cunning killer.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
First I have to say this is Rochelle’s debut novel, not just published novel, this is the first book she has written. Unbelievable!! She is such a wonderful storyteller I was sure she had written several books, but no, this the first, I asked her more than once. She even talks about it during an interview she did last week in Milwaukee.
Liz Cooper and I are on the same page when it comes to tarot cards and voodoo, we are doubters, it’s fine if you believe it but it not our “cup of tea”, so no tea leaves for us. You do not have to believe to absolutely love this story. In fact, a little doubt makes you relate to Liz as she delves in to investigate this murder to clear her friend. Both Liz and the reader learn about voodoo, including Haitian Vodou and Louisiana or New Orleans Voodoo. The history of both is very interesting and the way Rochelle connects them to the characters in this story is almost magical.
My favorite character of course was Liz, but her mother is an absolute hoot!! She never misses an opportunity to try to get Liz to reunite with her ex-husband and whenever she talks to Liz about her brother she always says,”your brother, Dave”. Liz only has one brother and she does know his name. It just cracked me up every time. Liz is an expert at dealing with or not dealing with her mother. Loved it!!
This is a perfect cozy mystery, unique characters, clever plot, creative setting, spiced up with a little romance and humor. It is a fabulous debut and I can’t wait for the next installment. The Wisconsin girl did a great job, now she needs to have Liz make a trip to the Midwest for a Mind For Murder sequel, just a thought!!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
librarianryan's review
dark
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was a nice diversion from my ordinary reads. I do love a good paranormal cozy mystery. And while I did like this book, I didn’t like it enough to finish the series. Liz is a psychologist who disdains any type of hookom. Her mother likes to read tarot cards, and now her best friend is being terrorized with them. The terror leads to muder, which leads Liz on a hunt for a killer. She will require the assistance of occult specialist Nick, while trying to stay out of her detective brother’s way. As a reader you have to pay attention to the various types of Voodoo, Vodou, and Hoodu, as they are used differently in different area and do pertain to the crimes. Overall, it was a fun read, but it easily dates itself, and it doesn’t really make you like the characters enough to revisit them.
#Booked2021 - Lesser Known Author -
#MusicReadingChallenge - Paradise City
#PopSugar - Genre hybrid
moondance120's review
4.0
Very good introduction to a series. Liz Cooper is a psychologist who is drawn into the occult by a threat to her best friend. Her brother's friend, Nick, just happens to be an expert in the field and they are throw together to persue a murderer. Lots of interesting information about voodoo, tarot and the occult. 4 stars
alesia_charles's review
3.0
This is one of those "real magic" cozy mysteries, of which there are quite a few cropping up lately. Set in the Hollywood area, it features a tricky mystery and an unusual mix of magical traditions. As an occasional student of religions, I approve of the author's attention to distinguishing the religion of voudoun from the magical system of voodoo. It also throws in Tarot, consistent with the muddled approach of a certain type of would-be modern magician (one of whom is a character).
It has a reasonably engaging protagonist - a psychologist (Liz Cooper), who fortunately does *not* spend a lot of time trying to analyze people with whom she hasn't had enough contact to bother trying. Her connections to the larger world include a brother in the police, a best friend working for a Hollywood agent, and her brother's college roommate, now a university professor with an interest in the occult. Also her baseball-professional ex-husband, and her Tarot-reading mother. The story is really about her best friend's problems, not hers, so we don't get to know Liz quite as well as I might like - though her loyalty to her friend, her persistence, and her intelligence went over well with me.
I'll be interested to see how well the series continues.
It has a reasonably engaging protagonist - a psychologist (Liz Cooper), who fortunately does *not* spend a lot of time trying to analyze people with whom she hasn't had enough contact to bother trying. Her connections to the larger world include a brother in the police, a best friend working for a Hollywood agent, and her brother's college roommate, now a university professor with an interest in the occult. Also her baseball-professional ex-husband, and her Tarot-reading mother. The story is really about her best friend's problems, not hers, so we don't get to know Liz quite as well as I might like - though her loyalty to her friend, her persistence, and her intelligence went over well with me.
I'll be interested to see how well the series continues.
murderbydeath's review
4.0
Great first book! Really loved the lore behind the plot and really found the whole book interesting. Good characters with room to grow (although I found the mom to be silly and annoying). I look forward to book 2.
bookertsfarm's review
3.0
In the beginning I felt like the characters were a little rushed..like they didn't get a decent introduction. However, this was remedied over time and about half way through, I had a better grip on everyone's purpose. I did figure out the killer pretty early, but the voodoo aspects of the tale kept it really interesting.