Are you ready for an engaging read? Check out Tricks of Fortune. It was a great read. Lina Chern did a great job. It's available this summer.

I wanted to like this book but it fell flat for me on many aspects. The characters had no depth and were not at all memorable to include the main character, Katie True. I figured a book involving tarot cards would provide an interesting aspect to a story. Now, some of the background about the history of the cards was cool to learn about. But the authors writing felt disjointed, as did much of the story line. It was hard to follow and I found myself having to go back multiple times because I had forgotten who some characters were.

For a short novel, there was a lot of details that seemed unnecessary and were long winded. I also felt some descriptions the author used were juvenile and out of context which makes a jarring read for the reader. I did not read the previous novel, which maybe would have helped understand the characters better but overall I found the read mundane and boring.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. This was my first time reading a Lina Chern book and I quite liked it. I found the narrative between Katie and her Aunt Rosie while learning the art of reading Tarot cards quite eye opening. I also liked how Katie used the cards to get people to look at things differently. That being said, I found the book a bit choppy. Gina was not a likeable character and I wouldn’t have been surprised if she were the murderer. I did not see the twist at the end coming.

"Tarot card reader extraordinaire Katie True gets embroiled in another local murder when her best friend becomes the prime suspect in this exciting mystery from the Edgar Award-winning author of Play the Fool.

Katie True has gotten her crap together...sort of. Now that the sinister events of the past year have wound down, Katie has finally made her dream come true and opened her own tarot reading room - even if it's in her sister's old real estate office in an outdoor strip mall. It's a good start, but her momentum grinds to a halt when the murder of beloved veteran police officer, Matthew Peterson, shakes her and her small community to the core.

Katie is torn. Lieutenant Peterson had saved her life as a child and holds a special place in her past. Even worse, her closest friend Gina - who knows Katie better than she knows herself - is the primary suspect.

As the investigation unfolds, the details surrounding Peterson's death become increasingly murky, as does Gina's innocence. All Katie knows is that following her intuition has gotten her this far. But will her trusty tarot deck help her when the truth about the people she loves is too terrible to face?"

I mean, aren't all tarot readers in outdoor strip malls? Or maybe I just have a skewed view because of Mallrats...

I loved it! I'm definitely going to spread the word about this great series in some groups I belong to. The dialogue is smart and engaging and the mystery caught me off guard but makes complete sense. I especially enjoyed the tarot teaching moments with her aunt - I'd really like to meet her. Excellent writer!

Tricks of Fortune is the second novel in the Katie True series and it offered up another great mystery. Katie was saved by a police officer when she was a baby. The story catapulted both of them into small town fame. Now Lieutenant Matthew Peterson has been murdered and Katie's friend Gina is the prime suspect. Katie once again teams up with Jaime to figure out what really happened.

This novel dug a little deeper into Katie's past and how she got into Tarot cards. The reader also learned a little more about her past family. I also want to mention that even though this is a series, one could read this novel and enjoy the story without having read the first one. I did enjoy the first novel a little more than this one but I thought this was a solid mystery. There were hints of romance and many layers to the story. There were good action packed moments. The author also did a great job with the mystery as it took me awhile to put all the pieces together. Katie is such an interesting character and I really like that Tarot Card angle. It brings an interesting and unique perspective to the story.

Thank you to Bantam Book and NetGalley for this ARC.

This was a different type mystery for me because it surrounded tarot cards and I found that intriguing. The story was solid yet the writing was quite unmeasured and made for disjointed reading at times. It was a quirky mystery and I'm not sure I'd read the previous one in series but it was entertaining. Loved the cover!

This is a cozy mystery featuring tarot card reader Katie True as she gets tangled up in solving the murder of a beloved police officer. it's a cute light read as it combines suspense, humor with a dash of personal growth.

The plot is well thought out and meanders through Katie's new tarot reading business as well as through a real estate deal and a mild love interest as she solves the murder of the office. It's well paced, fun and the use of tarot cards adds a unique layer.

This was the second in the series and I shall be back for the third!

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

When I first started this book, the plot and characters seemed very disjointed, but as I read more and more, I really enjoyed the book. The last half of the book I felt more connected with than the first half.

The main character Katie is into tarot card reading, but not in a kooky kind of way. There is her sister Jesse, her best friend Gina, her friend Jamie, and Officer Pete his wife and his son. We have a who-done-it murder mystery that needs solved. I will say even though my guess as to who the murderer was correct I still enjoyed the book.

Katie is unique in so many ways, and her friends and family sometimes just don't know what to do with her now that she is showing a real talent for working with others to solve murder.
The story has a slow pace of activity and uses a lot of using flashbacks to integrate the meanings of particular cards in the context of the investigating. Most unusual and fascinating.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam via NetGalley. Pub Date Jul 01, 2025 @randomhouse
#TricksofFortune #PlaytheFoolMysteriesBk2 by @linachernwrites #bantambooksuk @ballantinebooks @penguinrandomhouse #NetGalley #goodreads #BookBub #LibraryThing
#tarotreader #smallbusiness #cozymystery #wryhumor #family #friendship #investigation

I didn’t realize this was the second book in a series when I requested this, and I’m getting angry at myself I haven’t been noticing lately. LOL! No matter, I dived in anyway. First off, I must say that the author does a great job of making sure this reads well if somehow readers miss the first book. I couldn’t really tell very much. Next, the mystery is intriguing and engaging, a good whodunit. Unfortunately, I must say upfront that I didn’t really like the main character, Katie; she didn’t jib with me, and it never got better. In addition, the chapters with Katie and her aunt Rosie were a little jarring; they didn’t bring much to the story. Altogether, this addition to the series is a good one, and fans of the first one are sure to enjoy this one. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and NetGalley for proving me with this eARC, all opinions are my own honest opinion.

This is the second book in this series but my first book by this author. I love a cozy whodunnit and the twist of turn of the genre and this book was quite good.

Here we have our main character Katie trying to get her life sorted, recently started her tarot reading business in her sister’s unused real estate office and it’s not a bad start for her. She does miss solving crime with her tarot.

Suddenly the whole town including her surprised by the murder of the town veteran police. He was some that saved Katie’s life when she was young so she feels differently about finding his killer. It becomes complicated when Katie’s best friend becomes the main suspect so Katie decides to prove her innocence. Fortunately her partner in crime becomes the investigator of the case.

It was a pretty enjoyable read and the red herrings were good as well. I will recommend it.

Katie True's eagerly awaited second adventure did not disappoint! I loved the discussion (in flashback) of tarot weaved throughout the mystery narrative, and how the story explored a larger-than-life local hero who wasn't quite what he seemed. Katie's struggles are relatable, and her burgeoning talent for investigating crimes is fun to witness. This is my kind of mystery: heavy on character, with an authentic setting, and rooted in very human foibles with a bit of wry humor thrown in. More Katie please.

I'm not entirely sure this book was for me. I was a little confused throughout the book. Like the world building was bizzare and I struggled to really enjoy this. The vibes of this book kind of shifted wildly which made it difficult to follow. This was too slow for me.

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.