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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
“The point of a game is the experience of playing. The obstacles and the choices you make to get to the objective. The possibility of winning, the danger of loss, shapes the game. Risk and reward give the game suspense, a plot. But winning or losing is not the whole point.”
Have you ever read a book synopsis and thought, “I must read this book immediately.”
That’s what happened when I found Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts on Goodreads.
There were three things in the synopsis that sold me: the book is set in Boston, there is a treasure hunt, and The Westing Game was mentioned. I don’t know what it is about moving to a new city, but I’ve been loving reading books set in Boston now that we live here. And we all know I love a book centered around a puzzle or a game! Then they sprinkled in a mention of one of my favorite books of all time?! I hadn’t even known this book existed until I stumbled upon it in a Goodreads group, but I knew I had to read it!
Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts centers around our titular heroine, who works as a sort of charity stalker. She looks into rich peoples’ lives to see what strings charities can try and pull to get them to donate. Tuesday is extremely good at her job because she loves figuring things out. Then, Vincent Pryce, an eccentric billionaire who has a fondness for Edgar Allan Poe and all things weird, dies at one of the charity functions thrown by Tuesday’s employer. She finds herself, and the entire city of Boston, pulled into a bizarre treasure hunt written into the deceased’s obituary. But, as much of a loner as Tuesday is, she needs help, which comes in the form of “a wisecracking friend, an adoring teen neighbor, and a handsome, cagey young heir.”
The first note I wrote down while reading was, “I am falling in love with this book”, so that should tell you how quickly I was all in. This book hit so many sweet spots for me! It was one of those books that I just wanted to savor as I read it, which is probably why it took me so long to read. I distinctly remember being about 60 pages from the end and catching myself purposely setting the book down because I didn’t want it to be over!
So what did I love so much about it? First and foremost, it was the writing and the atmosphere it created. I loved the matter-of-fact tone that mixed beautifully with the Gothic vibes. I loved the dark and twisted parts of the story. I loved the varied cultural references, from plays, to music, to books. I loved the descriptions that brought me right to downtown Boston alongside Tuesday as she hunted for Pryce’s clues. It was all masterfully done and drew me in deep.
And the game! Oh, I adored the game! Probably because I understood a lot of the references, lol. I’m a fan of Edgar Allan Poe, myself. I enjoyed the set up the game, the execution, but especially the underlying turmoil that was just beneath the surface. If there is anything I love more than a game in a book, it’s a game within a game in a book! I like trying to find what everyone else is missing just underneath the obvious. In that way, I’m a lot like our main character.
Speaking of Tuesday, Kate Racculia did a beautiful job writing a character that was both at times unlikable and completely relatable. She made some choices in her life that had me yelling at the book, but I also saw myself in her so much. And the characters that float in her orbit were similarly well-crafted. None of the side characters felt flat or one-dimensional. They had their own lives separate from Tuesday’s narrative and I loved it. We all know I love a well-rounded character and to have so many in one book was a treat!
But beyond the game and the antics and the weird, damaged character, this book takes a look at the process/stages of grief. I think the author did an amazing job of describing how different people may deal with the loss of someone important to them. And it was interesting to see people dealing with grief both old and new. It was heartbreaking and touching and added another layer to this excellent book.
Final thoughts: I basically loved everything about this book. It was quite the adventure! It was tragic and heartbreaking and beautiful. And I can’t wait to explore more of Kate Racculia’s writing ❤
Have you ever read a book synopsis and thought, “I must read this book immediately.”
That’s what happened when I found Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts on Goodreads.
There were three things in the synopsis that sold me: the book is set in Boston, there is a treasure hunt, and The Westing Game was mentioned. I don’t know what it is about moving to a new city, but I’ve been loving reading books set in Boston now that we live here. And we all know I love a book centered around a puzzle or a game! Then they sprinkled in a mention of one of my favorite books of all time?! I hadn’t even known this book existed until I stumbled upon it in a Goodreads group, but I knew I had to read it!
Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts centers around our titular heroine, who works as a sort of charity stalker. She looks into rich peoples’ lives to see what strings charities can try and pull to get them to donate. Tuesday is extremely good at her job because she loves figuring things out. Then, Vincent Pryce, an eccentric billionaire who has a fondness for Edgar Allan Poe and all things weird, dies at one of the charity functions thrown by Tuesday’s employer. She finds herself, and the entire city of Boston, pulled into a bizarre treasure hunt written into the deceased’s obituary. But, as much of a loner as Tuesday is, she needs help, which comes in the form of “a wisecracking friend, an adoring teen neighbor, and a handsome, cagey young heir.”
The first note I wrote down while reading was, “I am falling in love with this book”, so that should tell you how quickly I was all in. This book hit so many sweet spots for me! It was one of those books that I just wanted to savor as I read it, which is probably why it took me so long to read. I distinctly remember being about 60 pages from the end and catching myself purposely setting the book down because I didn’t want it to be over!
So what did I love so much about it? First and foremost, it was the writing and the atmosphere it created. I loved the matter-of-fact tone that mixed beautifully with the Gothic vibes. I loved the dark and twisted parts of the story. I loved the varied cultural references, from plays, to music, to books. I loved the descriptions that brought me right to downtown Boston alongside Tuesday as she hunted for Pryce’s clues. It was all masterfully done and drew me in deep.
And the game! Oh, I adored the game! Probably because I understood a lot of the references, lol. I’m a fan of Edgar Allan Poe, myself. I enjoyed the set up the game, the execution, but especially the underlying turmoil that was just beneath the surface. If there is anything I love more than a game in a book, it’s a game within a game in a book! I like trying to find what everyone else is missing just underneath the obvious. In that way, I’m a lot like our main character.
Speaking of Tuesday, Kate Racculia did a beautiful job writing a character that was both at times unlikable and completely relatable. She made some choices in her life that had me yelling at the book, but I also saw myself in her so much. And the characters that float in her orbit were similarly well-crafted. None of the side characters felt flat or one-dimensional. They had their own lives separate from Tuesday’s narrative and I loved it. We all know I love a well-rounded character and to have so many in one book was a treat!
But beyond the game and the antics and the weird, damaged character, this book takes a look at the process/stages of grief. I think the author did an amazing job of describing how different people may deal with the loss of someone important to them. And it was interesting to see people dealing with grief both old and new. It was heartbreaking and touching and added another layer to this excellent book.
Final thoughts: I basically loved everything about this book. It was quite the adventure! It was tragic and heartbreaking and beautiful. And I can’t wait to explore more of Kate Racculia’s writing ❤
4.5 This was definitely “the right book at the right time” read for me. It’s not dark. Though the scavenger hunt is a big part of the plot it’s not all of it. And there are mentions of this at the end of the book too. Though the ending didn’t measure up to the rest of the book, it left too many openings, I don’t know how I would have changed it to make myself happy with it. Everything in the story is resolved, there’s just room for more later.
Weird characters through a weird plot that is so very enjoyable. The writing is at times meandering, between past and present, but gives it a very quirky tv show feeling. The characters felt so alive to me and I could easily envision and hear their exploits.
I would have enjoyed more of a relationship between Tuesday and Archie but it just wasn’t that kind of book.
Weird characters through a weird plot that is so very enjoyable. The writing is at times meandering, between past and present, but gives it a very quirky tv show feeling. The characters felt so alive to me and I could easily envision and hear their exploits.
I would have enjoyed more of a relationship between Tuesday and Archie but it just wasn’t that kind of book.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the Boston setting, and the treasure-hunt feel
4/5
This was an adorable mystery and the characters were top notch! I want to be friends with Tuesday, Dex, and Lyle; spending nights at karaoke with them drowning the boredom of my desk job away.
Tuesday is weird. Obsessed with anything dark and occult - moody music, ghosts, scary movies...all the stuff I myself love. Tuesday is 30-Something and a bit bored with her life (same, Girl, same). Tuesday has had some traumatic past experiences that have made it difficult for her to open her heart to anyone (raises hand), but when an eccentric billionaire passes away and invites the public to play a sort of macabre scavenger hunt in order to win bits of his estate, she must figure out who she wants in her corner in order to play the game.
I seriously adored these characters - all of them. Even nasty ol Nat. I want to know more about what happens to Lyle and her babies. I need to know more about the mysterious and incredibly badass Emerson.
Typically I love a deep dark psychological thriller, or a really great crime fiction, however, I wanted something a little lighter, and originally decided on this because it was part of Kindle Unlimited and didn't look 'bad', but it was actually delightful, and I'm so happy I delved into this one!
This was an adorable mystery and the characters were top notch! I want to be friends with Tuesday, Dex, and Lyle; spending nights at karaoke with them drowning the boredom of my desk job away.
Tuesday is weird. Obsessed with anything dark and occult - moody music, ghosts, scary movies...all the stuff I myself love. Tuesday is 30-Something and a bit bored with her life (same, Girl, same). Tuesday has had some traumatic past experiences that have made it difficult for her to open her heart to anyone (raises hand), but when an eccentric billionaire passes away and invites the public to play a sort of macabre scavenger hunt in order to win bits of his estate, she must figure out who she wants in her corner in order to play the game.
I seriously adored these characters - all of them. Even nasty ol Nat. I want to know more about what happens to Lyle and her babies. I need to know more about the mysterious and incredibly badass Emerson.
Typically I love a deep dark psychological thriller, or a really great crime fiction, however, I wanted something a little lighter, and originally decided on this because it was part of Kindle Unlimited and didn't look 'bad', but it was actually delightful, and I'm so happy I delved into this one!
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Super fun! Like The Night Circus crossed with the Westing Game. Would make a perfect Wes Anderson movie. Or a Tim Burton movie !
This book is so much fun!
An eccentric millionaire dies, leaving behind a huge fortune. He invites the entire city of Boston to participate in a treasure hunt for his fortune, which not only includes cash but also a lot of antiques known to have paranormal qualities (such as Amelia Earhart's goggles, which let you see ghosts if you look through them). Tuesday Mooney is one of the people who joins the hunt - she's a single Gen-X goth introvert research nerd (swoon!). She's usually very independent, but needs the help of her friends to solve the mystery: Dex, a gay theater junkie-turned-accountant; Dory, her 14-year-old neighbor who is having trouble coping with the death of her mother; and Archie, scion of another wealthy family who had a feud with the dead man.
Everything about this book is delightfully preposterous. The characters are all charming - I found myself wishing I could hang out with most of them in person. There are some things about the book that are totally predictable in the way that all feel-good stories are predictable, but it's also full of fun surprises. Several characters have satisfyingly believable (if predictable) character development. It's full of laugh-out-loud moments, but I also just found myself grinning through most of the book because it's so much fun. Ultimately the book is about the importance of friendships and being yourself.
The book is set in Boston - I'm sure it's extra fun if you're familiar with Boston and know all the places they visit.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated