Character Guest Post & Giveaway ~ THE MADNESS OF MERCURY by Connie di Marco

The Madness of Mercury (A Zodiac Mystery, #1)
by: Connie di Marco
Series: Zodiac Mystery
Genre: Traditional Mystery
Release Date: October 8, 2020 (re-release)
Publisher: Suspense Publishing
Amazon | Paperback | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

The Zodiac Mysteries feature San Francisco astrologer, Julia Bonatti, who never thought murder would be part of her practice. Julia sought answers and found solace in astrology after the death of her fiancé in a hit and run accident. Since then, she’s successfully built a clientele of the city’s movers and shakers.

In The Madness of Mercury, Julia’s outspoken advice in her newspaper column, AskZodia, makes her the target of a recently-arrived cult preacher who advocates love and compassion to those less fortunate. But the power-hungry preacher is waging war on sin and his Army of the Prophet will stop at nothing to silence those who would stand in his way. Julia is at the top of his list.

Hi everyone ~ if you’re reading this, then welcome to my first adventure in the Zodiac Mysteries. I’m Julia Bonatti and I’m an astrologer in San Francisco. I never set out to be an astrologer, actually I was on my way to a teaching career when my fiancé was killed in a hit and run accident. Not only did it take me a long time to recover, I also realized I needed a new life plan.

That’s when I discovered the Mystic Eye bookshop and met my dear friend Gale who was just opening her shop. I picked up my first astrology book and I was fascinated! I knew this was something I needed to learn more about. It was the very best thing I could have done. Astrology has given me a frame of reference – for myself and for others. It’s offered comfort and solace during the worst time of my life. And now, that I’ve spent a few years studying, I’ve been able to help others.

My clients come from all walks of life. Wealthy and destitute. Old and young, male and female. Everyone faces times when they just don’t know which way to go, how to go on, or which path to take. But the strange thing is that often I find myself involved in their lives, certainly more than I ever intended. And often those involvements have led to murder.

In my first adventure, The Madness of Mercury, I really landed in a whole lot of trouble. You see, besides my private clientele, or the short readings I happen to do at psychic fairs at the Eye, I write an astrological advice column for the San Francisco Chronicle. That’s how this story started. Someone wrote to me because she was worried about her mother. Her mother had joined a ‘church’ if you want to call it that, and this church required this poor woman to turn over her home and her life savings to the Reverend Roy. I spoke out very vehemently and advised this woman to investigate the church and look into ways to protect her mother. My advice was published in the newspaper and then all hell broke loose.

I turned into a fugitive to escape the harassment. My life was threatened. The Mystic Eye was almost destroyed and many people who practice the occult arts in the city were threatened as well. It didn’t take me long to figure out who was behind all of this. It was the Reverend Roy and his followers, the Army of the Prophet. My adventures didn’t end there, believe me. But I don’t want to tell you how it all ended. You’ll have to read The Madness of Mercury to find out the rest.

Purchase The Madness of Mercury from:

Amazon | Paperback | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

You can read my review of The Madness of Mercury here.

You can read my interview with Connie di Marco here.

Connie di Marco is the author of the Zodiac Mysteries featuring San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti. The Madness of Mercury, the first book in the series will be re-released in October 2020.

Writing as Connie Archer, she is also the author of the national bestselling Soup Lover’s Mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime. You can find her excerpts and recipes in The Cozy Cookbook and The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook. Connie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.

Places to find Connie di Marco:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Follow The Madness of Mercury Blog Tour here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow