Mom-to-be Mandy just wants to enjoy a stress-free maternity leave, but before she can say pink or blue, her well-meaning dad-in-law Dan Rowling hands her another case to crack.
With his memories slightly scrambled, a newly dead groom-to-be can’t recall how he ended up deceased, but his murder is definitely related to the theft of a Fabergé egg from one of society’s upper crustiest of families.
The pressure’s on since solving the case won’t just free a trapped soul and restore countless poached objects to their rightful owners, it could also mean admission to the most exclusive school for Baby Rowling.
Get ready for a bumpy ride on the road to mommy-hood in this hard-boiled 13th adventure in the Manhattan Mystery Series.
Wicked Egg to Crack is part of the Paranormal in Manhattan Mystery series. If you like fast-paced mysteries full of quirky characters and unexpected twists, you're gonna love this book.
Each book in the series is a stand-alone story, but your enjoyment of each story will be increased if you read them all.
"Wicked Egg to Crack" earns 5/5 Priceless Eggs…Murderously Fun!
Another well-written read from Lotta Smith! Although I have read several books from her Paranormal in Manhattan series, newbies need not shy away from starting here. Smith provides enough background and character connections without spoilers to make it easy to join in. For fans who've invested their interest, it is entertaining to see the growth of the characters and their evolving relationships…just like real life! Well sans the ghosts, of course. Mandy and Rick are expecting their first child which adds a few interesting side stories, conflicts, and excitements. But Mandy’s pregnancy doesn't sideline her when she is brought in on the theft of a Fabergé egg and a recently deceased groom-to-be appears with little to no memory how he arrived at his ghost status. Smith does well with the narrative painting clear pictures of the environment and the personalities, but she has an engaging dialogue style with banter between Mandy and Rick and everyone and Jackie, a very flamboyant ghostly sidekick. This may be the best in the series so far!
"Disclosure: I received an ARC, but my review, insights, and comments are voluntary and honest."
ARC - I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest Someone is stealing valuable antique jewelry. Mandy is asked to help in solving the crime. Rick is still dashing as always. In this book, he is ultra protective of Mandy. After all, Mandy is pregnant. I love the mystery aspect of the series. However, I cannot stop gushing over the personal side of the series. I love reading about Mandy + Rick relationship. Specially now that Mandy is going to have a baby. I hope that we get a front seat when Mandy is ready to give birth. I also cannot wait to read about how Mandy + Rick are as parents. As always, I loved the storytelling + the characters I am already jonesing for the next book ! Will the child inherited Mandy's ability ?
Mandy, Rick and Jackie are back and ready to solve another ghostly mystery. Everyone is excited about Mandy and Rick having a baby, so we meet some interesting characters that have connections in the city but maybe are not quite who you want your children to grow up with. I love Mandy and Rick, they are great together and no drama ever occurs between them, it’s refreshing.
a fun series with characters that make you laugh out loud.
Mandy’s pregnancy is going well and she’s enjoying her time off to relax. But her father-in-law, Dan and her husband Rick need her help with a client. Mandy comes back to work to catch a serial burglar who has inadvertently killed a man about to give his fiancée an heirloom ring.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
I’ve been reading this series and filling in the one I missed initially, then the ones that are new. This is a series that is so much fun to marathon read, that I just have to share them as a group!
I caught up on #3 Wicked Little Secret, which came out in October of 2016. In this one, the ghosts get nasty. One takes over Mandy, which she decides she doesn’t like at all! Another one attacks her with a bookcase, and Rick gets banged up saving her. The sleuthing duo solves the case by using their heads and find the stolen art not far from the starting point. Rick steals kisses throughout! They are such a cute couple and she still isn’t used to it.
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Released in December of 2017, #11 Wicked in Wonderland: Strawberry Eclair Murder was a pretty good mystery as well as a good story, but I felt it fell apart a bit at the end. An artist of fairly set habits is stabbed in the back on her way home. Certain things are missing and certain things aren’t right about the circumstances of the body, but there
are no ghosts involved. Mandy and Rick have to work this case because Kathy is very upset about this death. So, who is Kathy? Well, her father is Hernandez, the head of the FBI’s NYC office where Rick and Mandy used to work. And her mother is the Chief at NYPD. When these two call in favors, it’s impossible to say no. At least it’s good eating.
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#12 Dial W for Wicked was released recently in February of 2018. It is a wonderful addition to this series. It’s a new approach by the ghosts this time. Mandy is hearing them calling to her for help! And they are little girls who’ve been missing for a long time. Mandy and Rick need a lot of help from Jackie in this case, but they crack it. Mandy has a super dramatic moment in here when she takes a white handkerchief and wipes blood off a glass wall. Then uses it later to get a confession. What a scene! The ending is news readers have been waiting for, but I won’t reveal it. Read the book and see. This is definitely a 5 star story!
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Just released on April 10, 2018, #13 Wicked Egg to Crack, is my current read and is already shaping up to be a worthy addition to the series. Mandy’s supposed to be taking it easy, but the company needs her help on a case of a Faberge egg! I can already recommend it!
This is a great book; this is the thirteenth book in the Paranormal in Manhattan series and is written by Lotta Smith. This book can easily be read as a standalone book. However, all of this authors books are great so you will want to go back and read the first one. Mom-to-be Mandy just wants to enjoy a stress-free maternity leave, but before she can say pink or blue, her well-meaning dad-in-law Dan Rowling hands her another case to crack. With his memories slightly scrambled, a newly dead groom-to-be can’t recall how he ended up deceased, but his murder is definitely related to the theft of a Fabergé egg from one of society’s upper crustiest of families. The pressure’s on since solving the case won’t just free a trapped soul and restore countless poached objects to their rightful owners, it could also mean admission to the most exclusive school for Baby Rowling. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
Valuable artifacts, jewelry and other small items are being stolen from homes and exhibits around town. When Dan and Rick Rowling approach Rick's wife, Mandy, about returning to work from her pregnancy leave to work on this case for USCAB, Mandy agrees to do so. Mandy is able to see and hear ghosts. Their friend Brian, who is a psychic and exorcist, is also able to see and hear ghosts. USCAB has asked both to assist in this case. They are joined by Mandy's ghost sidekick, Jackie, along with the protector of the ring, Greg and the deceased ghost of Ken. The latest heist is a very old and valuable Diamond ring believed to be from the Romanov Dynasty along with a Faberge egg. During this theft, the groom, Ken Damaree, is presenting the ring to his fiancee' Sarah at their engagement party at the Composer. The ceiling of the Garden Room collapses killing Ken. There are suspects at every turn as well as romance and humor in Wicked Egg to Crack, the 13th book in the Manhattan Paranormal Mystery Series. This is an excellent read if you are looking for a paranormal cozy mystery. I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Mandy's pregnancy appears to be going well, with the exception of her being ever so hungry ALL the time! However, the good news is that she feels well enough to go back to work and take on one of the projects with the bureau. Rick is worried that she may over do it but there is only so much eating a girl can do in a day and the rest of the hours stretches into boredom. So Mandy and Rick (and Jackie of course) look into the curious case of the missing Romanov diamond, which Ken Damaree was meant to give to his fiancée on the eve of their engagement; but that was before he was killed and the ring stolen. It would have been easy for Mandy to ask Ken, as she could see and speak to ghosts, but Ken did not remember anything.
This is another delightful mystery from Lotta Smith. Her books are fun and interesting and very hard to put down, unless you have reached the last page. As always, Mandy and Rick and Jackie have lots to say and this time, there is the added suspense of guess the baby's gender!
A great read but just felt that our heroine is being left out a bit. Also please note that this is only 85% of the page count. Being on maternity leave is getting a bit tiresome, so she is pleased to be asked to look into a series of burglaries. A dead man, ghosts, Russian jewels, precious items, picking schools for their unborn child and still not knowing if it's a boy or a girl make this a great read. However just felt that the plot centred more on the education issue rather than actual sleuthing. Perhaps the next book will have the mother and unborn baby girl taking more of an active role. The characters as per normal were great.
I received this book as an ARC for an honest and voluntary review. Everyone is in on the act since Mandy has found out she is pregnant; Rick, his father and Jackie are all trying to keep Mandy and the baby happy. Rick is trying to not be a helicopter dad by trying not to hover over Mandy and Jackie is trying not to tell her the gender of the baby and Rick's dad is trying to win grandfather of the year by buying an animatronic horse for the baby which Jackie enjoys using which the ended up naming Clarice. We haven't even got to the ghosts or the stolen objects yet and I am hooked. Another great book Lotta.
Wicked Egg to Crack by Lotta Smith is a paranormal mystery that will amuse you as well as keep you guessing and trying to determine who stole the egg and was the groom-to-be murdered or was it an accident.
I enjoyed reading this story. It was well written and I loved the interaction between Mandy and the different ghosts! I highly recommend this book if you are looking to escape reality for a while. You may even start to believe in ghosts.
I received this book as a gift and I always review every book that I read. Enjoy!
Absolutely love this series. I have read every book. But this story as well as the others can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed this plot line and of course the character interactions between all the ghosts, new and old and Many, Rick and Brian. Great quick quirky funny read. Please read this book as well as the series.
I loved this series. I usually don't like short books because the author doesn't have time to develop the characters. But not this time. Good character development. Cosy mysteries. Likable people. Good plotting. I read each book with a smile on my face!
Mandy is on maternity leave but it talked into a murder mystery to find missing jewels. There are many twists and turns in this intriguing mystery. During the case Mandy finds out about possible future high society schools and also what sex her child will be. This tale is well written and a delight to read.
Mandy gets a little bored sitting around the house during her pregnancy. When her husband asks for her help on a case, she is happy to help. Using her ability to see and speak to ghosts, she also gets some assistance from them. Such a fun and interesting book with great characters, living and dead.
I have loved this series from the beginning. This was a really great and funny read. I love how Rick and Mandy are expecting. When you read this series you always know the characters and the story are going to make you laugh.
Another adorable story. Soon mom to be Mandy just wants peace and quiet to enjoy her pregnancy. Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way for her. Her well meaning father in law hands her a case to be solved. Couldn’t stop reading.
I truly love this series. I love to read about their private lives and all their cases. I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. It is well worth the time to read. Great read. Can't wait for the next book.
This is a great series. Funny, witty, enjoyable. Chemistry and banter between characters makes for a truly enjoyable read. Guardian Ghost is my favorite character. Highly recommend this series.
Mandy & Rick are expecting a baby that won’t let them know the sex. They are called in on a burglary-murder. It is interesting watching them try to explain to the victim that he is dead and the confusion he goes through since he doesn’t remember dying. It was good to see the victim help them solve the crime and his murder. And as always I enjoy Jackie popping in and out with her humor.
Someone has stolen several high-value items, and in the process, the owner of one of them died. Rick and Mandy are called in to investigate. Ghosts provided the best clues.