by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of Unlucky Charms. We also have a link to order it from Amazon, and from an indie bookstore where a portion goes to help support KRL.

After moving to Destiny, California, to discover a bad luck connection with the death of her fiancé, Rory Chasen found herself surprisingly at home in the superstition-based town. Not only was she giving regular animal superstition lectures at the Break-a-Leg Theater, she was about to promote a new line of lucky pet toys she designed for the Lucky Dog Boutique. Fortune was going her way until the pet store she managed was broken into and vandalized, with lucky stock stolen and unlucky totems left behind. In fact, a number of Destiny’s stores have been the victims of break-ins and foreboding vandalism, but their mayor has issued an edict declaring that talking about the crimes only would bring further bad luck.

The ultimate misfortune falls on Flora Curtival, whose body is found surrounded by Lucky Dog Boutique’s missing pet toy. Although Rory considered the ambitious real estate agent to be irritatingly aggressive, Rory would never have guessed that it was Flora who may have been behind the attack on local businesses. Destiny’s failure to deliver good fortune on Flora’s marriage left her with an irrational grudge against the town, but it looks as though her hatred may have led to her own demise.

With a detective intent only on following the obvious evidence left at the scene, Rory feels that it is up to her to prove her innocence. This is made apparent when her maybe boyfriend, Destiny Chief of Police Justin Halbertson, excuses himself from the case and even asks for an unbiased chaperon to accompany them to dinner. Despite Rory’s declared agnostic attitude towards superstition, she is crossing her fingers, knocking on wood, and watching every sign that might lead her to the killer.

This third in the Superstition Mystery series continues to appeal to readers who enjoy quirky, small-town settings filled with equally unique and likable characters. This is a town full of believers who run the Beware-of-Bubbles Coffee Shop, Shamrock Steakhouse, Wishbones-to-Go takeout, Wish-on-a-Star children’s clothing store, the HeadsUp Penny Gift Shop…the list goes on. Rory appears to be in states of denial not just with her belief in superstitions, but in her as-yet uncommitted relationship with Justin. Her novice investigative techniques mostly involve following in the footsteps of their local newspaper’s owner, who plays bad cop to Rory’s good one. The author of numerous pet-loving mystery series maintains that affection here, not in the least with Rory’s spaniel-terrier mix Pluckie. Readers will be eager to see what good fortune awaits Rory, Pluckie, Justin, and the rest of superstition-obsessed Destiny.

To enter to win a copy of Unlucky Charms, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “charms,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen October 15, 2016. 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 & short stories in our mystery section.

Click on this link to purchase this book & a portion goes to help support KRL & an indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy:

Unlucky Charms

You can 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).