Melissa Holtz’s “A Charming Touch of Tarot” (Berkley, $19) offers a feel-good mystery with a spirited twist … literally.

Alyssa Mann can see spirits, which comes in handy when a drowned girl’s ghost appears on Christmas Eve. And even more so when the same girl turns up dead days later. With her tarot-wielding, secret-sensing besties by her side, Alyssa dives into a twisty investigation that spans from Rhode Island to New Orleans, uncovering blackmail, long-lost relatives and shady figures who’d rather stay buried.

Holtz mixes paranormal charm with cozy mystery vibes, centering women in midlife who juggle motherhood and trauma, and includes a budding romance with a skeptical cop, whose dead ex also has a few opinions. This lively second installment in the “The Gin & Tarot Club” series delivers supernatural sleuthing and heartfelt moments, perfect for readers who like their whodunits with a side of spells and snark.zz

Thank you for the free book @penguinrandomhouse and @berkleyrpub! #penguinrandomhousepartner #berkleyIG #BerkleyBookstagram.

What if you can see ghosts and then one night, a ghost appeared and you find out that she was the ex fiancée of the guy you’re currently dating!? 😂

This is definitely starting to be one of my favorite series! It’s pretty much about a group of friends with psychic abilities helping to solve murder cases! It has ghosts, seances, sleuthing, a side of romance between two widows, with the female leads resembling the cast of Sex and the City! I love it so much!

I binged this book and wish I hadn’t because now I have to wait a full year again before I get to the next book 😂 You don’t have to read the first book - they’re totally different storylines buuut you’d just be familiar with the characters more if you do.

This comes out today and I highly recommend for you to pick it up! Definitely one of my fave mystery series!

This was a really fun and relatable mystery! If you're looking to read a mystery with a bad ass group of women and just a little bit of romance, I can promise you're going to enjoy A Charming Touch of Tarot! And don't hold off on this until spooky season when everyone is pulling out their witchy and magic books- just read it now! you'll be glad you did!

I didn't realize going into this that it was a sequel, and having never read the first I was still completely able to enjoy it. For the first couple of chapters I was thinking it might be a DNF, but then the actual mystery case started and saved the book for me. Genuinely a fun read, nothing too overpowering (from the romance or mystery side) but just enough to keep a reader interested. Star rating is rounded up from a 3.5.

I am really enjoying this series!
So while we are getting Nina's story and following up on the details we received at the end of the last book, Alyssa and Nick are still our main characters, and I love it. We pick up a bit after the end of Book 1, and Nick and Alyssa are attempting to date, but it's not easy with Nick's job as a homicide detective. And is made even more difficult when a certain ghost makes an appearance.

I love the banter between Nick and Alyssa, as well as the ride-or-die friendships with Nina and Lainie. This book had me laughing out loud, and on the edge of my seat, waiting for personal secrets to be revealed and finding out who the killer was.
I can't wait to see how Lainie's story is going to go!

A delightful and enjoyable continuation! These characters are excellent and it's nice to be back with them, and the magic is easily understood and well balanced with the real. I am hoping for more!

A Charming Touch of Tarot is the second book in The Gin and Tarot Club series by Author Melissa Holtz. Not having read the first book, I was at a loss at times, but there were enough details given that I could usually figure out some of what happened before.

This paranormal mystery is a little darker than a cozy mystery, with lots of ghosts, poltergeists, darkness, and danger. Multiple stories occur, and various crimes are committed. Through it all, Alyssa, her detective boyfriend, Nick, and several friends are in the thick of things. Alyssa can see and talk with ghosts, and her friend, Nina, touches people and knows what’s going on in their lives or thoughts. Lainie is sometimes there as comedic relief but also knows more about an organization with its tentacles in many places. I chuckled a few times at their outlandish actions to figure out whodunnit.

With multiple murders, lots of bad dreams that have meaning, some disbelief, and reconciliation, the story proceeded at a good pace. The flow was sometimes interrupted, not realizing that a location change or a new day was unfolding. They all seem to get on board with the ghost, dreams, and what they’re trying to tell them. We are taken on multiple adventures through Massachusetts, Florida, and New Orleans to gather clues and discover additional connections and details.

Nick seems to need the help of Alyssa and her friends behind the scenes to save some lives. The story does have closure with a chance of a few happily ever afters, but it ended too abruptly. The chapter titles all related to tarot cards were an added bonus.

A Charming Touch of Tarot is darker than a cozy mystery and has a lot of paranormal effects. Sit back as Alyssa, Nick, and the others gather the clues to figure out whodunnit.

The review is posted on NovelsAlive.

I absolutely adored the characters in this cozy supernatural story! The author knows how build great characters and an amazing storyline that sucks you in from the first page and keep you hooked til the end. I definitely recommend this series to anyone looking for a cozy supernatural story with a love story mixed in.

I didn't realize this was book 2 of a series. I was fairly lost at the start, but was able to get into it regardless. There is a mystery that will likely span the entire series, so I am definitely going to go back and read book 1 as I'm likely to continue this series. The cozy mystery vibes are here and I love them, so if that's something your looking for this is it. However I'd still recommend reading the first book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC

Fast-paced, empowering, and fun!

A Charming Touch of Tarot is a spellbinding blend of suspense, sisterhood, and the supernatural. I didn’t realize this was the second book in The Gin & Tarot Club series, so I quickly grabbed the audiobook of An Enchanting Case of Spirits to acquaint myself with the characters and their backstories—and I’m so glad I did! The friendship between Alyssa, Nina, Lanie, and Corinne is the heart of this story, and I loved how their magical abilities were woven into the rising tension. From ghostly encounters to telepathic twists, the danger felt real, but so did the strength of their bond.
A delightful mix of charm, mystery, and magical mischief.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

There sure was a lot going on in this book. The mystery was compelling, but there was so much going on that I think the story got a little convoluted. I like Alyssa, Nina, Lanie and Corrinne, and their friendship felt true to my life. Even with the magic in their lives. I will definitely continue with the series, and I’m excited to see where the story goes from here!

First off I wish the discription pointed out that this was a 2nd book in a series. I did go back and purchase the first to read.
Even though this book did start off slow and a bit confusing overall the enjoyment outweigh the start.
Grief, death and new discovery of ones self was the overall theme in this Paranormal cozy atmosphere. The mystery was fun (a bit predictable) and the romance was just the right amount with more of the close door feeling.

3.25/5 rounded down

Thank you Berkley Books for the advanced reading copy!

Firstly, I didn’t know this was the second series and it would definitely have been helpful to read the first one. It took me a little bit to get into the characters because I didn’t know their previous relationships, and there were definitely a few moments where I wasn’t sure what was going on... though I’m not sure if that’s because of not having read the previous book or if I just was confused by the plotting.

The inclusion of the tarot was definitely interesting, and at some parts felt like it added to the story and sometimes felt unrelated. I think there could have been a bit more of that, actually, to make it feel connected to the title.

I feel fairly neutral about this book overall. I didn’t hate it, wouldn’t go so far as to say I really liked it. The story itself was fine and fairly well written. I think the plot got away from me a little bit, and there were times when it was challenging to see where sub plots related to the overall story, even after these were thoroughly explained. Overall, would recommend this if you’re looking for a magical, lightly romantic, mystical mystery, but would definitely recommend you read the first one first.

A Charming Touch of Tarot is the sequel to An Enchanting Case of Spirits. I thought this book was charming and loved getting to know everyone in Knox Harbor. It's a fun paranormal mystery that has a bit of murder. It's not totally cozy, but it's not overly intense either. Alyssa helps souls move on and digs into different mysteries.

I really enjoyed the friendships throughout the story, but the romance was a bit slow for me. Still, not bad. Just a nice slooooow burn. The story ends on a cliffhanger, setting the stage for book 3. This is a great pick if you want a light and fun mystery!

A Charming Touch of Tarot is the sequel to An Enchanting Case of Spirits. It follows a group of friends Alyssa, Nina, Lanie, and Corinne. Nina is being blackmailed. Alyssa who can communicate with spirits hopes they can figure out who is blackmailing Nina. The women work together to try and help there friend.

I am so glad I reread An Enchanting Case of Spirits before reading this one. Because this book picks up right where that book left off. ( if you didn’t read that book first you will be lost. This is not a book series where you can read book to first and then go back and re-read book one). I liked book one better. I thought the romance and this book took way too long to happen. The romance didn’t happen in book one and in this one it took way over half the book for anything to happen. I don’t think that was a good choice because it just left me bored and waiting for something to happen. I liked the whole mystery and friendship aspect of the book. But over all I thought this was just okay. I do suggest this series though.

Thank you so much Berkley for sending me a copy of this one. This book comes out on May 13!

3.5⭐️ Alyssa and the gang are back with more paranormal mysteries, and I think I liked this sequel even more than the first book!

Strong women’s friendships are some of my favorites to read about, and I liked how Alyssa, Nina, and Lanie were there for each other through some heavier stuff. The paranormal elements were fun and made things more interesting, especially seeing how the women worked together with their skills.

The stakes definitely felt higher in this book. There were several mystery threads throughout the story, and though there were a few times I got confused with who was who, when they all started coming together, I was hooked. The tension just kept getting higher, and the last several chapters had me turning pages quickly. I loved the setup for the next book in the series, and already can’t wait to see what’s going to happen.

A Charming Touch of Tarot by Melissa Holtz follows the journey of four friends who realize that their newfound magical abilities may not be sufficient to protect them from a relentless stalker determined to disrupt their lives. Blending elements of romance, the supernatural, and heartfelt connections, this novel offers a delightful mix of genres that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Holtz's storytelling leaves a lasting impression, leaving me eagerly anticipating more.

This series is one of my favorite Netgalley finds. I read the first book last year on a whim, because it sounded interesting and different from what i'd been reading at the time. I was more than pleasantly surprised at how cute this mystery was, and how much heart it had.

I jumped at the chance to read the sequel, and was not disappointed! I love getting to know the women of Knox Harbor and their growing abilities, and I really enjoyed how this book doubled down on them, and expanded the underlying plot.

This book is sweet and cute. I'm not sure if you'd call it a cozy mystery because there is murder involved, but its not terribly graphic and not solely focused on those deaths, more on the mystery surrounding them and how Alyssa helps the deceased cross over. I like that this book opened up a larger mystery that will carry over into the next book and I can't wait to see how our ragtag team deal with the darker underside of their idyllic town!

A miss for me because I missed the earlier books and felt at sea. These women have magical powers and use them to support each other but the story felt like it was all over the place and I had a hard time keeping everything and everyone straight. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm certain fans will enjoy it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for my review. First of all, I didn’t realize this was in a series and would suggest you read the previous book as I did feel like I was missing a lot. The story was centered around Alyssa who is a widow and talks to ghosts She gets involved in adventures with some of her friends which include, blackmail, murder and secrets.