Tricks of Fortune by Lina Chern
This is the second in the Katie True mystery series. Katie is a fortune teller who has set up shop in her sister’s real estate office. Things seem to be going well for Katie until the untimely death of police officer Matthew Peterson.
Katie and Peterson have history. He saved her life when she was a baby. She has always looked up to him as her hero. The community has celebrated him as a hero but when there are questions about his death and the main suspect is a friend of Katie’s, she had to investigate.
At first, she is devastated to learn that Peterson has committed suicide. She refuses to believe he would kill himself. As the investigation unfolds, the police decide it wasn’t a suicide either.
Katie is warned to back off and let the police investigate. Of course, she doesn’t and finds herself in danger. Can Katie catch the killer before he catches her?
Katie uses her knowledge of tarot to help interpret the clues. The story is told in two different time periods, present day, and when she was a child.
The present-day writing moved the story forward. The past stopped it without adding much to the story except an explanation of the major arcana cards in a tarot deck. The past is revealed as Katie is a child being mentored by her aunt Rosie while they are watching an old science fiction movie. I wasn’t sure if it was an old B movie or Doctor Who.
Since I too read Tarot, I was interested in the author’s interpretation of the cards. I wish she had chosen a different way to share the information. The introduction to Aunt Rosie was interesting because it explained how Katie learned to read the cards, but I felt the connection between the cards and solving the mystery missed something.
I may have enjoyed this book more if I had read the first in the series and I may still go back and read it. I thought the storyline was interesting along with the premise, but it lacked something in the telling. I did like the author’s writing style and thought the characters were developed well. At times I felt there were too many characters to keep track of.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for an advance readers copy. I always enjoy reading a new to me author.

You can catch my full review on May 21st on my blog Book Love - Book Reviews at Virginia-Gruver.com

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

I found this confusing and I never felt. part of the story, likely
because I had not read thr first book, and I know nothing about
tarot cards, magic, or solving crimes with magic. This book
might be a success for people who read the previous book,
and share an interest in tarot cards.
It’s not a book that does well as a standalone.
My thanks to Bantam Books via NetGalley for the download
copy,of the book for review purposes.

Tricks of Fortune follows Katie True, who has recently opened a tarot reading room, only to be thrown into a mystery when a beloved police officer, Matthew Peterson, is murdered. As the investigation unfolds, Katie’s past connection to Peterson and the fact that her best friend Gina is the prime suspect complicate matters. While the novel blends mystery with elements of the supernatural through tarot cards, it doesn’t always feel fully immersive. The story is intriguing but at times predictable, and the character development could have been stronger. Still, it’s a quick, enjoyable read for fans of light mysteries with a hint of magic.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publishing house for this book in advance.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for the eARC.

Wasn't aware this was a sequel. I had high hopes from reading the synopsis but it was just okay. The mystery and tarot concepts ebbed and flowed enough to keep me interested.

Big big thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for providing me access to this book for my review via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I will preface this that I did not read the first book. I found the book to be a little slow in the beginning and a bit hard to follow since it jumped around without clear indication about what time period it was taking place. I definitely enjoyed the second half of the book more and ended up liking it more than I expected in the beginning. Sometimes there were unnecessary details and odd descriptions that really overshadowed the plot.

I loved the immersion into Tarot that this contemporary murder mystery featured.

The mystery was complex and interesting, but it was the insight into Tarot readings that really held my interest and set this book apart from other light mysteries.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Random House Publishing, and this review is my own. Katie True is a talented tarot card reader who was rescued from a car accident as a baby by “Officer Pete.” After Officer Pete’s murder, Katie tries to solve the mystery, uncovering a lot of dark secrets along the way. I really enjoyed this, and I will read more of this series. The story was compellingly told, the characters were well-written, and the tarot elements were fascinating. A very good read.

I really enjoy Katie True, tarot reader, amateur detective, quirky character. Parts of the storyline seemed a little chaotic, but sort of fit in with Katie’s life. I can’t quite call this a cosy mystery. It is cosy in places and more serious in other places, moving from present day to her childhood when she first learned about tarot from her aunt. The mystery is solid, and the characters multi dimension. I can’t wait to see what Katie True gets up to next. This is a series, but can stand alone. I read an arc of this book and am voluntarily reviewing.

3.75 stars

This is definitely an odd (in a mostly good way) mystery, featuring tarot card interpreter Katie True. Katie was rescued as a child from a fatal car wreck which killed her parents. The police officer and Katie got a lot of notoriety which hasn't altogether faded.

So, years later, when the police officer is found murdered, Katie is understandably interested. Her possible love interest Jamie is a cop and the dead guy's son is a cop, so Katie becomes entangled in the case. Her best friend Gina is detained as a suspect so Katie is motivated to find the truth. Gina is a burdensome character. She has a lot of secrets, some of them not very nice. Numerous people warn Katie off of her friendship but she won't listen although she has doubts of her own.

It's not a particularly straightforward narrative. Current chapters are interspersed with Katie as a kid learning about tarot (and life) from her eccentric Aunt Rosie. Katie hasn't quite found where she fits -- she is semi-sponging off her sister and doing odd jobs. The writing and reflections are quite nice, but Katie is quirky and so is the story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

My first novel by Lina Chern. I found it to be a slow burner and wished it moved along quicker.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Katie True is back again solving another murder with the help of her tarot cards. This time, the person murdered is Officer Peterson, the person who saved her life as a baby. Katie and the community are shocked by the death of Officer Peterson but Katie is even more shocked when her best friend Gina is the primary suspect. With Jamie, another fellow police officer, her brother Owen and Katie’s tarot card reading abilities, will Katie be able to solve the murder before she becomes a murder victim herself?

This is the second Katie True novel and I have to say I enjoyed this one even more. I enjoyed the backstory of how Katie learned how to read cards with her aunt Rosie, the slow burn of the budding romance of Jamie and Katie and how Katie must believe in herself even when others are throwing all sorts of doubt her way. The author has a unique way of making murder, a good mystery as well as hilarious. The characters are well created, the mystery is devised so the reader has to work through the plot to find a solution and the writing style a pleasure to read. Don’t miss this one worth the read.

Tricks of Fortune by Lina Chern is the 2nd in the Katie True series. Katie uses her tarot cards to guide her as she tries to solve the death of hometown hero, Officer Pete.
Perhaps I should have read the first in the series, because I was really unclear about the reasons that Katie seemed to almost be a partner to one of the investigating police officers. It isn’t unusual in a cozy for a citizen and a cop to sort of work together, but she seemed to think she had the right to be involved, almost like it was her job. I’m also not really sure how she was supporting herself; a tarot reading every few days doesn’t seem like it would be enough. I’m guessing that Katie is supposed to have some sort of condition, possibly ADHD, and that is why the writing seems so chaotic, but it does make it more challenging to engage with the story.
With that said, it wasn’t a bad mystery, and I did enjoy the vignettes with the café owner who loves birds. Katie’s brother is also interesting, and I would like to see more of him.
The pacing was jumpy, but the slower parts were often with Aunt Rosie who taught Katie to use the tarot cards. These were cozy scenes, and I liked the presentation of the cards and philosophy there.
Overall, I was expecting to really love this with the combination of mystery and tarot but couldn’t really connect to the story or most of the characters in the end.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for the eARC.
2.5 stars

“Tricks of Fortune” was a decent sequel. I liked that interspersed through the book were chapters or partial chapters explaining when and how Katie’s Aunt Rosie taught her the tarot cards and what each card meant.

The overarching plot revolved around the death of Officer Pete (Lieutenant Matthew Peterson), who seemed to be almost universally beloved. Katie has a special connection to Peterson. One of the few people who openly disliked Peterson was Katie’s friend and former cop, Gina, who quickly becomes the prime suspect. However, as Katie and Jamie take a closer look at Peterson, they discover quite a bit of unsettling information about the “real” Peterson, as well as multiple plausible motives and suspects, along with other significant secrets.

I somehow didn’t realize that this was a part of a series, but was still able to enjoy it as a standalone. It was an interesting concept for a mystery, a little bit cozy and a little serious but not too much so. The cast of characters were interesting, as was the town, and I’ll definitely be going back to read the first one.

I really enjoyed Play the Fool, the first book featuring Katie True, and was excited to see another book in the series. Tricks of Fortune did not disappoint! Katie takes it upon herself to try to solve the murder of "Officer Pete," the cop who rescued her from a burning car when she was a baby. Things get complicated when her good friend is accused of the murder, and everyone seems to have secrets to hide, including Katie.

The characters are really well drawn and multifaceted, and the plot moves quickly and unpredictably. Can't wait to read Book #3!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The second book in the series. This one felt a little more serious than the first, but I enjoyed it! I think it’s a nice concept for a mystery!

Review of uncorrected eBook file

Katie True has taken her tarot card reading to a “reading room” in her sister’s old real estate office. But it’s a start . . . and when her best friend, Gina, arrives, Katie enjoys he catching up.

But things do not remain calm for long. The murder of police Lieutenant Matthew Peterson shakes the entire town. And Katie had a special connection to him as he’d once saved her life.

And then Gina becomes the prime suspect in the lieutenant’s murder.

=========

This book, second in the author’s “Play the Fool Mystery” series, takes advantage of the real-world truth of the murder of police Lieutenant Joseph Gliniewicz. But the unfolding story, derived of imagination, is the author storytelling. Readers will be pleased to know that, despite being a sequel, the book works well as a standalone.

Katie’s tarot card readings add a unique component to the telling of the tale, an intriguing counterpoint to the twisting plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats and to the secrets that are slowly revealed as readers wonder who can be trusted and who is hiding what.

Readers who enjoy mysteries, especially with a dose of uniqueness, will find much to appreciate here.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine / Bantam and NetGalley
#TricksofFortune #NetGalley

I love a mystery that keeps me guessing up until the main character figures everything out. And this is one of those books. But what really made this book special for me was the tarot card aspect. Rosie's "lesson" and Katie's readings made me want to pick up a deck and study them, The tarot messages really added to the story.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book!

In this captivating read, Chern draws readers into a suspenseful world filled with secrets with a sprinkling of trickery and magic! A web of dangerous secrets and morally ambiguous choices will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Chern skillfully crafts a cast of characters that embodies the duality of human nature, with ulterior motives often expertly masked. The interplay between desperation and ambition drives the plot forward, inviting readers to explore themes of trust, deception, and the lengths one will go for a chance at keeping secrets hidden. This book is perfect for fans of shady and deceitful characters, magic, fortune, and the occult.