Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Synopsis:

As the owners of the Raven’s Nest bookstore, cousins Stephanie and Clara Quinn are the premier booksellers in the quaint town of Finn’s Harbor, Maine. But with Clara’s inherited ability to read minds and see the future, she’s also the premier crime solver… 

You don’t have to be a psychic to know: The rodeo is coming to town! Clara’s boyfriend, Rick Sanders, invites her to the show to meet his high school buddy and expert calf roper, Wes Carlton. But when Clara’s Quinn Sense offers her a disturbing vision involving a rodeo clown, she worries that there will be more danger at the rodeo than just the traditional bucking bronco.

Of course, her premonition turns out to be accurate, and a dead body is discovered behind the concert stage, strangled by Wes’s piggin’ string. Rick is sure that there’s no way Wes could have murdered anyone, but he’s going to need Clara’s Quinn Sense to keep the authorities from roping the wrong suspect… (Goodreads)

Review:

The story began with a good introduction of the cast of characters, which was greatly appreciated for the first time reader of the series.  It was a well-paced book, keeping my interest and in fact, spurring me on to read when other tasks of life should have been the priority.  As with all cozy mysteries, the cast of characters seems to play a greater role than the actual murder itself.   Of course, let us not discount the murder…at a rodeo with piggin’ string.  This reader got to learn a bit more about rodeo’s (like what piggin’ string was)!

I found the connection and closeness between Clara and Stephanie believable given the small town backdrop to the story.  Very true to life in that in small towns one forms tight bonds with family.

There was enough plot and interactions with various towns people that the list of plausible suspects numbered a few. As with any cozy worth its weight in paper, at least to me, I was kept guessing for much of the book as to who the real culprit was.  And of course, I shall keep you guessing as well.

One area which I found less than stellar was Clare’s musing about if, when, and how to tell her boyfriend, Rick, about her special gift.  I was disappointed that she made a decision and then seemed to waffle.  I guess I will have to read the next book to find out how Clare addresses this issue.  I did enjoy the slow and steady interactions between Clare and Rick…again a very believable budding romance.  And if I read the story correctly, this is a relatively new relationship.

 It was amusing that Clare and Stephanie shared the knowledge of the “gift” but that Clare was so totally clueless that her mother (Jessie) actually knew she had the “gift”.  I found myself certainly wanting more of Jessie in the story.  Tatters…..what can I say about Tatters?  I love this dog…his wit and sarcasm was a delightful addition to the story.

I would also like to continue reading the series so that I can read about Jessie’s and Stephanie’s reaction to the big “non-event” that occurred in Clare’s life in the big city…and that essentially prompted her to return to Finn’s Harbor, Maine from New York.  Don’t mean to tease..okay…I do.  Got your interest…good…get the book and read 🙂

All in all an easy, enjoyable read which I was able to finish within short order, mainly due to being invested in the story.  I will most definitely put the other books in the series on my TBR (to be read) list…as well as any future stories.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*