July Online Book Club: Mystics and Murder by Julia Koty
Mystics and Murder: A Darla Damien Mystery by Julia Koty
Darla Damian is a reluctant psychic.
The seaside town of Stoneport, Massachusetts is the home of Darla, an ex-famous psychic whose recent traumatic experience has made her doubt her visions. She wants nothing more than to run the crystals shop she owns with her best friend Candace, who is also her business partner. Darla plans to lay low and do simple Tarot readings for others, not wanting to see or feel anything supernatural. When a customer’s husband goes missing, Candace drags Darla back into sleuthing to help her neighbors and the police department.
A skeptical new detective’s snarky attitude tips the scales and Darla decides to help juuust a little. Still unsure of herself, she resists her visions and relies on watching body language and careful listening, rather than reading them, to find the truth.
As a bonus, Darla’s cats, X and O, have their own mystery and drama in their cat neighborhood. This story had all the ingredients of a good cozy – multiple suspects, twists, and epic cat action scenes. As someone who believes in the supernatural but isn’t too keen on Tarot cards, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It wasn’t just about solving crimes from visions, but also focused on Darla’s internal battle with trusting herself again and her relationships with family and friends – themes I can definitely relate to.
If you’re looking for an interesting slant on a paranormal cozy mystery series, this is definitely worth checking out! There are three books in the Darla Damian Paranormal Mystery Series. Koty has a ten book series called the Mira Michaels Cozy Mystery Series with Darla’s sister Mira as the main sleuth. I haven’t read those yet, but I’m adding them to my Want to Read list.
Kelly Brakenhoff is the author of 15 books and a seasoned ASL interpreter. She splits her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus and children’s books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog.
Parents, kids, and teachers love the children’s books and activity guides because they introduce ASL and the Deaf community through fun, engaging stories. And if you enjoy a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have ever lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, the Cassandra Sato Mystery series will have you connecting the dots faster than a group project coming together the night before it’s due.
A proud mom to four adults, head of the dog-snuggling department, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.