What do you think?
Rate this book
Baker Girls #2
Foods, Fools, and a Dead Psychic (Baker Girls, #2
The Psychic Fair is in town, with Mediums and Psychics, Astrologers galore. And a lone murderer!
Believers and skeptics stroll the booths, nooks and crannies, along with the wise and the fools, all searching for answers to life’s dilemmas. Some of them will go home full of hope, other filled with disappointment. One of them won’t go home at all.
Good Italian Catholic girl Monica Baker has no interest in the fair, until Homicide comes calling and she finds out the people she trusted most were lurking there.
Where can she turn? To the willing arms of the married Frenchman who fills her nights with lusty dreams or the long arm of the law? Is the answer to the murder and Monica’s future in the cards, the stars, the crystal ball? Or in Monica’s own date with destiny.
Believers and skeptics stroll the booths, nooks and crannies, along with the wise and the fools, all searching for answers to life’s dilemmas. Some of them will go home full of hope, other filled with disappointment. One of them won’t go home at all.
Good Italian Catholic girl Monica Baker has no interest in the fair, until Homicide comes calling and she finds out the people she trusted most were lurking there.
Where can she turn? To the willing arms of the married Frenchman who fills her nights with lusty dreams or the long arm of the law? Is the answer to the murder and Monica’s future in the cards, the stars, the crystal ball? Or in Monica’s own date with destiny.
- GenresCozy MysteryMystery
179 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2018
61 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Maria Grazia Swan
35 books207 followersMaria Grazia Swan was born in Italy, but this rolling stone has definitely gathered no moss. She lived in Belgium, France, Germany, in beautiful Orange County, California where she raised her family, and is currently at home in Phoenix, Arizona—but stay tuned for weekly updates of Where in the World is Maria Grazia Swan?
As a young girl, her vivid imagination predestined her to be a writer. She won her first literary award at the age of fourteen while living in Belgium. As a young woman Maria returned to Italy to design for—ooh-la-la—haute couture. Once in the U.S. and after years of concentrating on family, she tackled real estate. These days her time is devoted to her deepest passions: writing and helping people find happiness.
Maria loves travel, opera, good books, hiking, and intelligent movies (if she can find one, that is). When asked about her idea of a perfect evening, she favors stimulating conversation, spicy Italian food and perfectly chilled Prosecco—but then, who doesn’t?
Maria has written short stories for anthologies, articles for high profile magazines and numerous blogs tackling love and life. She engaged her editorial and non-fiction skills for Mating Dance Rituals for Singles Who Weren't born yesterday. Her romantic suspense novels Love Thy Sister,Bosom Bodies and Italian Summer are available at Amazon.com.
Her new series, published by Gemma Halliday is also available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, the first book is title Gemini Moon
Website: http://www.mariagraziaswan.com
Contact Maria: mariagswan@gmail.com
-or- touch base with her on Facebook.
As a young girl, her vivid imagination predestined her to be a writer. She won her first literary award at the age of fourteen while living in Belgium. As a young woman Maria returned to Italy to design for—ooh-la-la—haute couture. Once in the U.S. and after years of concentrating on family, she tackled real estate. These days her time is devoted to her deepest passions: writing and helping people find happiness.
Maria loves travel, opera, good books, hiking, and intelligent movies (if she can find one, that is). When asked about her idea of a perfect evening, she favors stimulating conversation, spicy Italian food and perfectly chilled Prosecco—but then, who doesn’t?
Maria has written short stories for anthologies, articles for high profile magazines and numerous blogs tackling love and life. She engaged her editorial and non-fiction skills for Mating Dance Rituals for Singles Who Weren't born yesterday. Her romantic suspense novels Love Thy Sister,Bosom Bodies and Italian Summer are available at Amazon.com.
Her new series, published by Gemma Halliday is also available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, the first book is title Gemini Moon
Website: http://www.mariagraziaswan.com
Contact Maria: mariagswan@gmail.com
-or- touch base with her on Facebook.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 21, 2020
I am not exactly sure why I liked this mystery so much. The heroine and I don't have much in common but she is fun and cute. I would like to have her as a friend. She is an Italian young woman that came to the USA as an au pair and stayed there.
The mysteries were interesting and the setting a welcome change to most cozy mysteries.
The romance is a bit cheesy and repetitive in why they can't be together, but since that is a common occurence in books I can live with that.
I read all the books in this series in quick succession with only 1 or 2 other books in between. If there will be more released I will read them too.
The mysteries were interesting and the setting a welcome change to most cozy mysteries.
The romance is a bit cheesy and repetitive in why they can't be together, but since that is a common occurence in books I can live with that.
I read all the books in this series in quick succession with only 1 or 2 other books in between. If there will be more released I will read them too.
March 27, 2018
This is the first book I have read in this series and I really enjoyed it. I do think it might have been better to have read Book one first because I felt a little lost in the beginning. However, Maria Grazia Swan is a fabulous author and I love her books. I recommend this book and series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
November 7, 2021
Part of a series
This was an interesting cozy. Yes, there is a dead body and we hear about it in the beginning, and at the end… and maybe a couple times in between, but for the most part, the story does not center around it. And the main character, Monica, doesn’t do any sleuthing. Plus, to me, it was obvious who the killer was. The story seemed more about Monica’s life - her love life, her job as a realtor, her ex’s aunt, Brenda, who she lives beside, and more. Very little of the story is about the mystery. And there are so many threads left dangling that you know there’s going to be more in the future. I was a little lost at times as to what had gone on before - a problem only because this is book 2 in the series and I hadn’t read book 1 yet. Overall, it’s not a bad read. Monica is an interesting character. But don’t go into this expecting a standard cozy mystery. It’s more about Monica and her life than a mystery.
This was an interesting cozy. Yes, there is a dead body and we hear about it in the beginning, and at the end… and maybe a couple times in between, but for the most part, the story does not center around it. And the main character, Monica, doesn’t do any sleuthing. Plus, to me, it was obvious who the killer was. The story seemed more about Monica’s life - her love life, her job as a realtor, her ex’s aunt, Brenda, who she lives beside, and more. Very little of the story is about the mystery. And there are so many threads left dangling that you know there’s going to be more in the future. I was a little lost at times as to what had gone on before - a problem only because this is book 2 in the series and I hadn’t read book 1 yet. Overall, it’s not a bad read. Monica is an interesting character. But don’t go into this expecting a standard cozy mystery. It’s more about Monica and her life than a mystery.
May 18, 2018
Loved this book. It is fun and very entertaining. Who knew being a real estate agent could be so dangerous. Monica did not know, she found herself in the middle of a murder mystery. The story was great and I loved the characters. Planning on reading many more book by Ms. Swan. So glad to have found a new author to love.
April 10, 2018
“Poor Miss Fortune. That’s when it hit me, Miss Fortune? Say that fast, what do you get? Misfortune ...a bad omen for sure.”
This is the second book in Maria Grazia Swan’s Baker Girls series. Monica Baker still lives next door to her ex husband’s Aunt Brenda, the high level caterer, with her bigger than life Great Dane, Dior. She’s getting more experience as a realtor, landing a high level commission with Tristan Dumont’s ranch purchase and is setting up retirement sale in a gated community not too far away. Things seem pretty good, until there’s a murder that connects back to Monica’s friend Kassandra. Turns out, Kassandra’s undergarment was found wrapped around the dead woman’s neck, and that’s got the whole office in an uproar on top of the usual stuff with the owner’s daughter and the normally slow sales slump with the beginnings of winter in Arizona.
Monica’s not only dealing with the office, but things with Brenda aren’t going all that well as Brenda recovers from her own “stuff”; trying to get “healthier”; being supported by her friend Bob and along comes Tommy:Brenda’s nephew who is going to “help” Brenda.( Any more help from him and the place will explode in more ways than one.)
Things don’t feel “good” anywhere in “Baker life”, but leave it to Monica to save the day, and her friends before there’s another death to figure out.
I love Maria Grazia Swan’s take on things. There’s humor to be found in everything, Dior not withstanding. I love her descriptions because it feels like you’re there with her drinking Pinot and buying fluffy towels for a home staging or mooching from Aunt Brenda’s pantry.... and, I want her pink Fiat with the Great Dane sidekick! Recommended 4/5
[disclaimer: I received this early copy from the author and chose to voluntarily review it]
This is the second book in Maria Grazia Swan’s Baker Girls series. Monica Baker still lives next door to her ex husband’s Aunt Brenda, the high level caterer, with her bigger than life Great Dane, Dior. She’s getting more experience as a realtor, landing a high level commission with Tristan Dumont’s ranch purchase and is setting up retirement sale in a gated community not too far away. Things seem pretty good, until there’s a murder that connects back to Monica’s friend Kassandra. Turns out, Kassandra’s undergarment was found wrapped around the dead woman’s neck, and that’s got the whole office in an uproar on top of the usual stuff with the owner’s daughter and the normally slow sales slump with the beginnings of winter in Arizona.
Monica’s not only dealing with the office, but things with Brenda aren’t going all that well as Brenda recovers from her own “stuff”; trying to get “healthier”; being supported by her friend Bob and along comes Tommy:Brenda’s nephew who is going to “help” Brenda.( Any more help from him and the place will explode in more ways than one.)
Things don’t feel “good” anywhere in “Baker life”, but leave it to Monica to save the day, and her friends before there’s another death to figure out.
I love Maria Grazia Swan’s take on things. There’s humor to be found in everything, Dior not withstanding. I love her descriptions because it feels like you’re there with her drinking Pinot and buying fluffy towels for a home staging or mooching from Aunt Brenda’s pantry.... and, I want her pink Fiat with the Great Dane sidekick! Recommended 4/5
[disclaimer: I received this early copy from the author and chose to voluntarily review it]
August 16, 2023
Monica Baker didn't go to the Psychic Fair, though she might as well have, seeing as almost everyone around her did. But Monica finds herself dragged into that world when one of her friends is accused of murdering one of the fair's psychics.
I find the main character to be abrupt and naive at the same time. She is judgemental and ageist, so it's challenging to find a place where we can connect. So, there's that. Then I have a hard time with the story being everywhere and nowhere all at once. The plot lines are often left dangling, and it feels ethereal, as though the author has yet to decide where she wants to take the story.
Perhaps my struggles exist because I prefer a different mix to my mysteries. I like a little backstory and a lot of detection, whereas this series is the inverse.
Foods, Fools, and a Dead Psychic is a quick and easy read.
I find the main character to be abrupt and naive at the same time. She is judgemental and ageist, so it's challenging to find a place where we can connect. So, there's that. Then I have a hard time with the story being everywhere and nowhere all at once. The plot lines are often left dangling, and it feels ethereal, as though the author has yet to decide where she wants to take the story.
Perhaps my struggles exist because I prefer a different mix to my mysteries. I like a little backstory and a lot of detection, whereas this series is the inverse.
Foods, Fools, and a Dead Psychic is a quick and easy read.
September 5, 2023
After reading and enjoying Cooks, Crooks, & a Corpse, I wanted to read Foods, Fools, and a Dead Psychic to see what happened next in the lives of Monica and Brenda Baker. Monica is a realtor at Desert Homes Realty while her ex husband's Aunt Brenda is a registered dietitian nutritionist at Scottsdale Retirement Resort. The body of Miss Fortune, the psychic from Tucson who was mentioned in the first book, is found in the canal with Kassandra's bra tied around her neck. Somebody is trying to frame Kassandra. A lot happens in this book and the author's good writing kept me reading page after page as I got caught up in the lives of the Baker girls. This is an entertaining series and I look forward to reading book 3.
May 28, 2018
Loved it!
Once again, Maria brought the characters to life. I lived in Arizona for 30 years before moving to Texas and it was fun reading this story with all the familiar street names. All the characters are well developed and real. Thanks, Maria, for another great read.
Once again, Maria brought the characters to life. I lived in Arizona for 30 years before moving to Texas and it was fun reading this story with all the familiar street names. All the characters are well developed and real. Thanks, Maria, for another great read.
March 31, 2019
I loved this book! A sweet mystery with lots of humor! A fun read with interesting characters and lots of twists and turns. I could not put this book down, wanting to find out what was on the next page. Cannot wait for the next book!
December 3, 2022
Just okay
This book was just okay. The characters were good but there was not very much solving of mystery stuff. It was here and there and then all of a sudden it was mystery solved and we're done.
This book was just okay. The characters were good but there was not very much solving of mystery stuff. It was here and there and then all of a sudden it was mystery solved and we're done.
July 17, 2023
séance in real estate?
A cozy mystery with more twists and turns, then one knows what to do with real estate agents séances missing father's missing receptionists read this book and see just how many twists and turns you can pack into one mystery
A cozy mystery with more twists and turns, then one knows what to do with real estate agents séances missing father's missing receptionists read this book and see just how many twists and turns you can pack into one mystery
October 30, 2021
Deadly Encounters
A well written fast paced cozey mystery with murder on the agenda. Quirky, colorful and deadly characters bring a realtors office into a deadly game of cat and mouse that kept this reader up past her bedtime , giving a sleepy two 😴👍while I turned out the light. Acquire " Foods Fools and a Dead Psychic " today so you yourself can enjoy it as much as I have. 😀Kat
A well written fast paced cozey mystery with murder on the agenda. Quirky, colorful and deadly characters bring a realtors office into a deadly game of cat and mouse that kept this reader up past her bedtime , giving a sleepy two 😴👍while I turned out the light. Acquire " Foods Fools and a Dead Psychic " today so you yourself can enjoy it as much as I have. 😀Kat
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews