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hugbandit7's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second book in a series about Alanis, the daughter of a con-woman who was also one when she was younger, but not that her mother has passed she is trying to make right some of the wrongs. To do this, she has ended up in a small town in AZ where she discovered she has a half sister.
I am intrigued by tarot cards and how different people interpret the cards differently. So the little excerpts about the different cards before each chapter is interesting and humorous at the same time.
So to the mystery - who killed Bill Riggs. The wife is the main suspect, which is something I never understood - why do the police always think the spouse did it?! Anyway, alanis has become friends with Marsha and wants to help her out - so that means investigating on her own and seeing where the clues lead. Alanis manages to meet some interesting characters along the way that definitely add some spice to the story. The killers were a bit of a surprise, I didn't see it coming but should have guessed by an incident a bit earlier in the book.
And then there is the ending..talk about a cliffhanger! I am interested to see how this works out and what it means fo a certain character. can't say too much or I'll give it away.
I am intrigued by tarot cards and how different people interpret the cards differently. So the little excerpts about the different cards before each chapter is interesting and humorous at the same time.
So to the mystery - who killed Bill Riggs. The wife is the main suspect, which is something I never understood - why do the police always think the spouse did it?! Anyway, alanis has become friends with Marsha and wants to help her out - so that means investigating on her own and seeing where the clues lead. Alanis manages to meet some interesting characters along the way that definitely add some spice to the story. The killers were a bit of a surprise, I didn't see it coming but should have guessed by an incident a bit earlier in the book.
And then there is the ending..talk about a cliffhanger! I am interested to see how this works out and what it means fo a certain character. can't say too much or I'll give it away.
jackiesspookyshelf's review
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lareads's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
aurora_182's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
krisrid's review
5.0
I loved the second book in this series even more than the first! Everything I loved in the first book is ramped up in this one.
This series is like a cozy mystery . . . on acid! Seriously, everything about this story is extra sarcastic, extra funny, and extra ridiculously awesome, and I loved every single page of it.
Alanis is one of the best characters I've ever read. I love her backstory, which makes everything she says and does utterly and completely plausible, even though it all should be ridiculous or crazy or simply a bad idea. And all that makes for a crazy entertaining read!
The humour in this series totally SLAYS me! I laughed out loud [for real!] all the way through this book. From the hilarious "meanings" for the cards of the tarot that begin each chapter, to the completely snarky things Alanis says and thinks about what's going on, to the classic tv memories that are worked into the story in clever amusing ways, this book is one of the funniest I've read in a while. The extra cool thing is that even though most of the snark could stand on its own, it actually WORKS in the development of the story and totally fits with what's going on. That's what you call really great writing, which this series has in spades.
The pacing is also terrific in this series. It's a fast, easy-to-read snappy story that zips along easily and makes you really want to keep reading once you start, with many chapters ending with small cliffhangers.
Truly, I love everything about this series. I absolutely can't wait to read the third book, especially with how this one ends! Highly recommended if you like your cozies with smart, well-written characters, a terrific story line and a whole bucket full of sarcastic laugh-out-loud humour.
This series is like a cozy mystery . . . on acid! Seriously, everything about this story is extra sarcastic, extra funny, and extra ridiculously awesome, and I loved every single page of it.
Alanis is one of the best characters I've ever read. I love her backstory, which makes everything she says and does utterly and completely plausible, even though it all should be ridiculous or crazy or simply a bad idea. And all that makes for a crazy entertaining read!
The humour in this series totally SLAYS me! I laughed out loud [for real!] all the way through this book. From the hilarious "meanings" for the cards of the tarot that begin each chapter, to the completely snarky things Alanis says and thinks about what's going on, to the classic tv memories that are worked into the story in clever amusing ways, this book is one of the funniest I've read in a while. The extra cool thing is that even though most of the snark could stand on its own, it actually WORKS in the development of the story and totally fits with what's going on. That's what you call really great writing, which this series has in spades.
The pacing is also terrific in this series. It's a fast, easy-to-read snappy story that zips along easily and makes you really want to keep reading once you start, with many chapters ending with small cliffhangers.
Truly, I love everything about this series. I absolutely can't wait to read the third book, especially with how this one ends! Highly recommended if you like your cozies with smart, well-written characters, a terrific story line and a whole bucket full of sarcastic laugh-out-loud humour.
dollycas's review
5.0
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We return the The White Magic Five and Dime in this 2nd Tarot Mystery. Alanis‘ Tarot Card reading skills are improving but her main concern is helping people her mother conned out of their hard earned cash. Martha comes to Alanis to escape her abusive husband but when the husband is found dead she becomes the prime suspect and they think Alanis could be an accomplice. Thankfully she has a good lawyer for Martha, a friend not afraid to do a little breaking and entering, a sister with an internet hacker connection, and a keen sense to track down the real killer.
This story is so easy to easy to get caught up in. You know Alanis’ heart is in the right place and she does go to great lengths to right her mother’s wrongs. She is also quite savvy and doesn’t get tripped up but those trying to con her or take advantage of her. She has grown quite a bit over the course of these books. The secondary characters are very interesting as well and the author brings them all together with an extraordinary plot with plenty of red herrings.
Each chapter starts with a excerpt from Alanis’ mother’s book, Miss Chance, Infinite Roads in Knowing. that Alanis is reading and to give us a little insight into the Tarot Cards. These are quite humorous.
The author did something I just hate :) he leaves is with a hook for the next book in this series! I hate that because we have to wait a year to get the rest of the story!!
For now this is a terrific mystery. While it can be read as a stand alone I truly recommend you start with The White Magic Five and Dime, you can read my review here. Then we can wait for the next installment together.
We return the The White Magic Five and Dime in this 2nd Tarot Mystery. Alanis‘ Tarot Card reading skills are improving but her main concern is helping people her mother conned out of their hard earned cash. Martha comes to Alanis to escape her abusive husband but when the husband is found dead she becomes the prime suspect and they think Alanis could be an accomplice. Thankfully she has a good lawyer for Martha, a friend not afraid to do a little breaking and entering, a sister with an internet hacker connection, and a keen sense to track down the real killer.
This story is so easy to easy to get caught up in. You know Alanis’ heart is in the right place and she does go to great lengths to right her mother’s wrongs. She is also quite savvy and doesn’t get tripped up but those trying to con her or take advantage of her. She has grown quite a bit over the course of these books. The secondary characters are very interesting as well and the author brings them all together with an extraordinary plot with plenty of red herrings.
Each chapter starts with a excerpt from Alanis’ mother’s book, Miss Chance, Infinite Roads in Knowing. that Alanis is reading and to give us a little insight into the Tarot Cards. These are quite humorous.
The author did something I just hate :) he leaves is with a hook for the next book in this series! I hate that because we have to wait a year to get the rest of the story!!
For now this is a terrific mystery. While it can be read as a stand alone I truly recommend you start with The White Magic Five and Dime, you can read my review here. Then we can wait for the next installment together.
circus_of_damned's review
5.0
OH MY GOD so freakin good. The mystry the sarcasm the banter all of the character interplay and the mystry. I don't have words for how perfect Alanis is a character she whitty, funny, full of banter and she flawed and makes mistakes and overcomes them she a believable character who relatable and knows she snt perfect but uses that checkered past to help others. Then theres the interplay between her and Clarice her sister was amazing and there love but banter and normal sister behavior was great. Then there the cast of side characters Ceecee, Clarice girlfriend and the there Eugene and Victor and GW. Which all add there own element and together create a fun whitty banter that jump off the page and makes you laugh.
avoraciousreader68's review
5.0
4.5
*Book source ~ Library
After Alanis McLachlin inherits her estranged mother’s shop, the White Magic Five & Dime, in Berdache, Arizona she tries to track down and make things right with old customers her mother has conned. After sort of adopting an abused wife that was one of those customers, Alanis then needs to find the real killer of Martha’s husband when Martha is arrested for his murder. In only a few short weeks since hitting town, Alanis is once again smack in the middle of a murder investigation. She barely survived her last nose poking. Will she be so lucky this time?
I have to say, I’m loving this series. Alanis is a different kind of “heroine.” She doesn’t fit any kind of mold. In fact, she may have broken the mold. She goes about things in a way I never expect and it’s all because of the way she grew up. I can’t even begin to imagine her childhood, so she keeps me on my toes. The murder mystery kept me guessing and there are great secondary characters. All-in-all an excellent way to spend an afternoon.
*Book source ~ Library
After Alanis McLachlin inherits her estranged mother’s shop, the White Magic Five & Dime, in Berdache, Arizona she tries to track down and make things right with old customers her mother has conned. After sort of adopting an abused wife that was one of those customers, Alanis then needs to find the real killer of Martha’s husband when Martha is arrested for his murder. In only a few short weeks since hitting town, Alanis is once again smack in the middle of a murder investigation. She barely survived her last nose poking. Will she be so lucky this time?
I have to say, I’m loving this series. Alanis is a different kind of “heroine.” She doesn’t fit any kind of mold. In fact, she may have broken the mold. She goes about things in a way I never expect and it’s all because of the way she grew up. I can’t even begin to imagine her childhood, so she keeps me on my toes. The murder mystery kept me guessing and there are great secondary characters. All-in-all an excellent way to spend an afternoon.
allisonami's review
3.75
Maybe closer to a 3.5. It wasn't quite as funny as the first one, but still enjoyable.
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