by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of Grave Errors, and a link to purchase it from Amazon, and an indie bookstore where a portion of the sale goes to help support KRL.

With Halloween the big attraction in Salem, Massachusetts, the week following tends to be a rather disappointing lull. The students of Maralee “Lee” Barrett’s Television Production class intend to change that, proposing a November Dia de los Muertos celebration that will fulfill a historical video assignment while spicing up the community and attracting tourists. The former psychic host of a late night television show, Lee has given up her acting job to teach at the new Tabitha Trumbull Academy of the Arts. What isn’t an act is Lee’s talent as a scryer and gazer, which enables her to see visions in reflective surfaces. Since those disconcerting images are often scenes of death and tragedy, Lee does what she can to avoid mirrors or anything reflective. The positive aspect of her new witch way of life is her new cat O’Ryan, a former familiar with eerie skills himself.

On a field trip to a nearby cemetery, Lee’s new student Dorothy Alden reveals that she’s enrolled in the class to learn about investigative journalism with the emphasis on investigation. Dorothy intends to prove that despite the contrary evidence, her sister Emily was murdered. The police have already declared her death to be the result of a tragic overdose, but Dorothy refuses to return back home to Alaska until she proves them wrong. A series of ominous but baffling visions have Lee willing to doubt the official conclusion, even though this places her at odds with her boyfriend, Police Detective Pete Mondello. Pete tolerates, but doesn’t exactly appreciate, Lee’s propensity for seeing things to help her to solve murders. As long as she keeps him informed and manages to stay out of actual danger, Pete is willing to accept that she and her six budding reporters will be doing their own investigation into Emily’s life. When this leads them to a missing-but-presumed-dead man in Florida, written threats to the Tabitha Academy, and a lurker, one doesn’t have to be psychic to realize that they are getting too close to a murderer.

This is a charming mystery to read far into the night, with just the right amount of spooky to cause a shiver. Lee’s beloved Aunt Ibby cooks up delicious sounding Dia de Los Muertos treats in their kitchen, while Pete and Lee indulge in some excellent restaurant meals themselves. Witch assistant O’Ryan manages to find his own feline companion, one who inexplicably appears just when Lee least expects it. Lee’s visionary clues speed up the investigation that is followed through very practical means, leading them to an exciting and satisfying conclusion. Lee’s humor, combined with paranormal intrigue and an aunt with librarian superpowers, once again ensures for a fun and rewarding read.

To enter to win a copy of Grave Errors, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “errors,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen October 14, 2017. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section.

Use this link to purchase the book & a portion goes to help support KRL & indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy:

Grave Errors

You can also use this link to purchase the book on Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases using those links. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.