Pall in the Family

Pall in the Family, the first book in the new Family Fortune mystery series by Dawn Eastman, had me giggling as I read it, especially when the main character described her mother's decor as looking "as if a demented decorator had spun in the middle of the room spewing Victorian era knickknacks everywhere."

Clytemnestra has come home to her family in Crystal Haven, on leave from her career as a cop. Her mother and her Aunt Vi are hoping for Clyde to finally give in and join the family business. Her mother reads Tarot cards. Her aunt communicates with animals. And Clyde wants nothing to do with any of it -- until it starts to seem as if her family's talents might help her solve a murder. It'll take everything from tarot cards to pendulums, not to mention Clyde's police training, to bring the killer to justice.



 

Here's the description from the cover --

The aptly named Crystal Haven is the destination for tourists seeking psychics, séances, and the promise of contacting the spirit world. In this small western Michigan town, everyone knows the Fortune family. Rose is gifted with Tarot card readings. Her sister Vi is a self-proclaimed pet psychic.  And her daughter Clyde is…
 

A cop. A cop on leave from Ann Arbor, more specifically, who’s come home to kooky Crystal Haven to re-evaluate her life. Mom and Aunt Vi can’t wait for Clyde to finally embrace her own psychic gifts and join the family business. Clyde would prefer the low-stress lifestyle of a dog walker.
 

But when a local psychic is killed, leaving behind a traumatized Shih Tzu, it seems to be in the cards for Clyde to get involved.  With her old flame Mac leading the investigation, that may prove awkward. Whether she uses her skills as a cop or her long-denied psychic abilities, it’s up to Clyde to divine a killer’s identity before someone else suffers more misfortune.

You can keep updated about the series by visiting the Family Fortune blog (I'm already following on Bloglovin to make sure I know when the next book comes out!) and Dawn Eastman's website.  This post is part of a tour coordinated by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.