An Unhappy Medium
A Family Fortune Mystery, Book #4
By Dawn Eastman
ISBN#9780425282809
Author Website: dawneastman.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
Former cop and novice psychic Clyde Fortune finds herself in a race for justice when a Zombie Fun Run turns deadly…
All of Crystal Haven, Michigan, is psyching up to participate in a Zombie Fun Run organized by Clyde’s nephew Seth, but Clyde is fretful about the undead festivities. For one thing, her sister, Grace, has unexpectedly returned to town after fifteen years. For another, Clyde has the nagging feeling that something is about to go wrong…
When one of the zombie runners is found murdered and then Grace disappears, Clyde realizes her grim premonition is dead-on. Now, she and her police detective boyfriend Mac must find a ghoulish murderer before someone points the finger at Grace. And when a tangled web of family secrets and old grudges combines with a mysterious case of stolen diamonds, even someone as quick-witted as Clyde might not be able to outrun a killer… (Goodreads.com)
Review:
All is not fun and games at annual Crystal Haven, Michigan, Founder’s Day celebration which includes a zombie fun run that benefits charity. Clyde Fortune’s nephew Seth has helped organized the run, and, despite some opposition to the zombie theme, everything seems well in hand. Seth is surprised when his parents, Grace and Paul, and his sister, Sophie, come to town to visit him. They arrive under the guise of congratulating Seth for his efforts, but Clyde gets an overwhelming feeling of dread from Grace, who has not been back to visit in fifteen years. Grace wants nothing to do with the paranormal nuances of Crystal Haven with its abundant psychic, tarot card reading, and other assorted businesses. When Dwight Vaughn, who wore an identical costume as Paul, is found stabbed after the race, everyone cannot help but wonder is Paul was the intended target. It is quickly revealed that Grace and Paul are facing some dangers of their own. To add to their troubles, Grace becomes a person of interest. Clyde must put her police experience, natural curiosity, and blossoming gifts to work to clear Grace’s name.
The Family Fortune Mystery series is one of my favorite series. An Unhappy Medium is the fourth installment, and it is full of delightful entertainment. All of the characters are well developed and so much fun to hang out with. Clyde and her boyfriend Mac are smart and likable, and I appreciate their committed relationship (no love triangle). Clyde’s family is full of zany characters. From her aunt Vi, who I alternately want to hug and lock up, to her long suffering father, they keep me in stitches. Clyde’s rapport with her nephew Seth is quite endearing, and I look forward to seeing how their relationship grows and changes as Seth matures. The family’s antics remind me of Donna Andrew’s Meg Langslow mystery series.
Though the town is full of residents with special talents, I find the paranormal aspect rather played down in the series. This book focuses a bit more on Clyde’s psychic abilities, but this should not deter non-paranormal readers from enjoying the story. For anyone, like me, who does not care much for zombies, the zombie run is a small portion of the book, and there are no real zombies to be found.
There is a lot going on in An Unhappy Medium. With a murder to solve, a possible theft of some diamonds, and Grace and Paul’s work related troubles, there is plenty to keep the reader guessing until the end of the book. If anything fell a bit short for me, it is Grace’s storyline. Honestly, I do not like Grace much, so I think my opinion of everything having to do with her is a little skewed.
I really enjoyed An Unhappy Medium and recommend it highly to fans of the series, readers who enjoy paranormal cozies (and those who do not think they do), and those who value enjoyable characters and laugh out loud moments.
