by: Lena Gregory
Series: Bay Island Psychic Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: November 1, 2016
Source: Penguin ~ Berkley Prime Crime
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see that something’s not right on Bay Island...
Since she left her psychiatric practice in New York City to open up a psychic shop in her hometown on Long Island, Cass Donovan has given her fair share of readings to conflicted customers. But what she sees in Ellie Hawkins’ future doesn’t bode well.
When Ellie’s mother Marge publicly confronts Cass about the reading, the embarrassment makes her want to curl up and die. But when she later stumbles across Marge’s body—and is arrested for her murder—Cass is suddenly the star of Bay Island’s rumor mill.
Out on bail, Cass is determined to prove her innocence and save Ellie from meeting the fate in her unfortunate vision. But even with the help of her friends Bee and Stephanie, Cass will have to channel some serious sleuthing instinct to find the real killer...
REVIEW
I will admit it that it took me awhile to get into Death at First Sight, the first book in Lena Gregory’s Bay Island Psychic Mystery series. I initially felt like the characters were part of a click like in high school and I was the new kid in school. The book read like a sequel and I felt as though I was missing something. I shouldn't have fretted. The back stories of the characters come out throughout the book, some of which are surprising.
Cass Donovan is a former New York City psychiatrist turned psychic, who owns Mystical Musings, a small shop located in her hometown of Bay Island. She definitely has her skeptics. I would equate her to Patrick Jane from The Mentalist. She uses her observation skills to read people and figure out what they need.
While doing a reading for Ellie Hawkins, she gets a very dark feeling. She tries to suppress her reaction and chooses not to pass her fears onto Ellie. Eventually, Cass has a very public run-in with Ellie’s mother, Marge. The next morning, Cass discovers Marge’s lifeless body in the theatre. All clues point to Cass, but she's having a hard time getting the police to believe she had nothing to do with the murder.
With the Police Chief gunning for Cass and seemingly not looking for other suspects, she decides she has to find the real killer herself. Could it be Marge’s own daughter who is always trying to please her or her son-in-law who despises her? Or perhaps it's the new stranger in town who doesn’t really answer any questions directed at him. One thing is for sure, Cass isn't going to stop until she finds the actual killer.
Told in third person, Death at First Sight has a handful of characters who are easy to fall in love in with. Lena Gregory has created a world that’s easy to get lost in. Once you start reading, you aren’t going to want to put the book down. I found myself attempting to figure out who the murderer was but still wasn’t totally sure. I will say Lena created a mystery filled with surprises and a mind-blowing reveal.
I can’t wait until April when Occult and Battery comes out!
**Received a copy from the Penguin ~ Berkley Prime Crime and reviewed the book voluntarily.**
**Received a copy from the Penguin ~ Berkley Prime Crime and reviewed the book voluntarily.**
Rating: 5
Purchase Death at First Sight from:
The Bay Island Psychic Mystery Series:
(Clicking on the book covers will take you to Amazon.)
Lena Gregory is on tour with Death at First Sight. You can read my interview with her here. You can also follow the blog tour here.
Lena lives in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island with her husband and three children.
When she was growing up, she spent many lazy afternoons on the beach, in the yard, anywhere she could find to curl up with a good book. She loves reading as much now as she did then, but she now enjoys the added pleasure of creating her own stories.
Places to find Lena Gregory:
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