Reg Rawlins, professional con, has really gotten herself into a bind this time.
The fortune teller gig started as a scam, but she suddenly finds herself tangled up in the case of Warren Blake, a man who she thought was dead. It turns out he may still be alive, but in mortal peril.
Reg has always taken the quick exit, the easy way out, but running out on this racket might mean someone else’s death.
Award-winning Canadian author P.D. Workman has written over a hundred addictive page-turners featuring diverse and divergent sleuths, high-stakes investigations, and stories that linger long after the last page. Her books dive deep into characters’ minds while exploring timely social issues through fast-paced, emotionally charged plots. Readers praise her work for its powerful emotional truth combined with unputdownable suspense.
Shunning sleep, when Workman is not writing, formatting, or marketing, she’s probably running, reading, or spending time with her family.
Check out her catalogue at pdworkman.com to start your next page-turner and sign up for news and special deals.
A very good start to an intriguing new series. Reg grew up hard and while she seems to have found a place in the world, there is so much more for her to learn. Playing the role of a psychic in a new town and state, she discovers her world is much bigger and includes many mysteries. Maybe, the things she has been pretending are not just imaginary. I enjoyed the growth of Reg and the characters she meets. Some wonderful and some not so much. I am really looking forward to the next book.
Effecting a tactical retreat from a sticky situation in New England, Regina Rawlins heads south to Florida for a gig as a medium. Fitting into her new community is surprisingly easy until Reg finds herself caught up in a mystery that could spoil her plans.
On the surface, this is an excellent cosy - Reg is an outstandingly interesting character and her circumstances are enthralling. It's when you dig deeper that you find how well this story has been crafted. There are so many underlying themes: loss, loneliness, learning to rely on others. You can read this as a piece of fluff and enjoy it or explore further and really have a thought-provoking read.
I found it hard to believe that I'd be caught up in the life of a grifter (it's the antithesis of my moral core), but Reg is compelling and you want her to win. She's caught my heart and I'll be looking for more of this series in the future.
If you're looking for a paranormal cozy mystery with suspenseful twists and turns and complex characters, you may want to give this book a try!
I was most intrigued by the morally grey nature of some of the characters, including our protagonist Reg, who is a seasoned con artist turned medium. This contributed to making the characters well-rounded and realistic. I also thought it led to the characters making some interesting choices, choices that you don't normally see in cozy mysteries.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat! Part of it is because of the unique mystery (a dead man who might not be dead after all) and part of it is because of the wonderful world-building that Workman does. World-building is especially important for a paranormal cozy mystery; to me, it can make or break a book. In this case, it really enhanced my enjoyment of the book.
Spoiler about the world-building:
To be honest, Reg isn't the most insightful character; she can be more than a little dense at times. I found it frustrating that she was overlooking certain details. At times, I wanted to shout at her through my pages!
I enjoyed the other parts of the book so much that I wasn't really bothered by her cluelessness. However, readers who don't enjoy reading about clueless main characters may want to give this book a pass.
Please note that there are some brief references to past child abuse. This book also has a few loose ends. No cliffhangers, but there are definitely elements that could be used as a segue into future books in the series.
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This was really a good book. Tricky when you're a con who doesn't believe in magic, and who is powerfully gifted but doesn't believe it. Put her in a town that attracts other spiritualists, add a mystery and watch what happens!
An interesting book. I don't know if I will continue this series or not. I was so repulsed by Corvin that the book left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.
Reg (Regina) Rawlins is a scam artist. Always has been. She moves to Florida start a new scam as a Fortune Teller. When she decides to adopt a pet to use as a prop, she finds a cat that had been left after it's owner died. Reg was the first person the cat showed an interest in.
When her first client shows up, she tells more than she knew. And she slowly starts to realize, that with her cat, her scam is not really an act after all.
This was a well told story with developed characters, and was surprisingly much longer than I was expecting from what I thought was a typical cozy. this one (even though it's in the paranormal spectre) is closer to a traditional mystery than a cozy.
This took me a little while to get into the story. The time jumps from present to past was a little distracting at first. However I am glad I stuck with the book. The characters are entertaining. The mystery is full of twists and turns. This was a fun paranormal cozy read.
I found myself not being able to stop reading until very late it in the evening. Riddled with adventure, mystery, and fantasy, with a touch of thrilling romance. I will definitely be reading this author again.
Can I have the next books now, please, please, please, please?!!!!!
Reg Rawlins has had a diverse childhood as a result , her employment has an adult is also diverse. Is she what she has taught herself through observations, and trial and error, or does she really have an ability? Even I was confused what was going on. i was going back and forth with her.
Questions that I have: What kind of paranormal is Corvin? How many other different paranormals are in this community? What is the extent of all her abilities?
Loved this book. The Blurb does not do it justice. This is the first in a new series.
Another great work of art by Ms. Workman. I am amazed at the diversity of her writing and how much I really enjoy them all. She can write cozy mystery, YA books that should be read by all, medical thrillers, Zach Goldman series and now a paranormal series. I am so glad to have found this author. I am honored that I get to read them early also.
This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC book. Thank you. Loved it.
I'm so glad I found this book! It was so much fun to read. The relationship between Reg and Starlight is so much fun. I'm sure Reg will get more comfortable as the series continues especially since she's already learned a bit how to communicate. I enjoyed how each character presented brought something new to the story. It was also a interesting premise where what Reg thought was a con ended up her having actual powers. Now that she knows they are real she's only beginning to find out what she can do.
If you like mysteries, cats or magic you need to grab this book!
I am still trying to decide if I liked this book. It's not every day you read about a con artist with "real" powers. The character is intriguing and the plot is well thought out. The supporting characters are intriguing as well, a hungry for powers warlock, witches of different paths, a cat with a third eye, and beings that have no compunction about invading a mind. Most could not suspend their beliefs enough to take any of it seriously, but this is just entertainment, right? I am of a mind to realize that we don't know everything about our world, physically, mentally, or spiritually. I definitely recommend this book, if only to be entertained.
This book actually surprised me. I knew that a psychic cat would be entertaining. I just didn't expect it to be this good. You really do get wrapped up in the people and story. It sounds like a fairly gentle story, but there is a lot of suspense envolved. Add a bunch of humor to the mix and you are in for a treat. I love the characters. Wish I had some friends like them. And the cat is so very well done. Acts like a typical cat, but a lot smarter than his human. This is a story that you don't want to put down.
Reg grew up in the foster care system. Considered a ‘difficult’ child when she insisted her imaginary friends were real, it’s no wonder she hid what she was told were her mental health issues, and slipped into a lifestyle just on the wrong side of the law. Pretending to be a psychic is her latest scam. After all, she’s always been uncannily good at reading people. And Black Sands, with its eclectic mix of people claiming supernatural abilities (they must all be deluded, or also running scams, mustn’t they?) offers a new start, far enough away from anywhere with existing warrants for her arrest. But then odd things start to happen to Reg, starting with a client reading she would never have dreamed up, and yet the client is blown away by the result. I loved that it took so long for the supernatural elements to really develop in this charming, suspenseful read. Reg is so convinced it’s all make-believe, that she’s really resistant to the idea there might be something more to her childhood experiences than mental health issues. There’s Sarah, who claims to be a witch, and Corvin, the drop-dead gorgeous ‘warlock’ that Sarah tries to warn Reg off. Not to forget Starlight, the black and white cat she rehomes from the animal shelter to be her ‘familiar’, but who keeps biting her at inopportune moments for no reason she can imagine. The mix of mundane and magical is masterfully done, alongside the central mystery, and the gradual wakening of Reg’s abilities. Her stubborn insistence that they can’t be real leads her into all sorts of troubles of her own making in a quite believable way. The writing is invisible, meaning the reader is fully immersed in the story, and the dialogue often adds that touch of humour I so appreciate. Imagine how surprised, and pleased, I was to discover there are already 21 volumes in this paranormal cosy mystery series! I am already reading another.
Terrific first book of this new series. Wonderful rich plot where the bad guy turns into a good guy (okay maybe not so good but with his heart in the right place). Rich tapestry of characters that bring the book to life. She has finally arrived. Hopefully she can use her real name as there shouldn't be anyone looking for her. All she has to do is find a place to live and let the con begin. However the con backfires! The psychic powers she claims are actually real! When a distraught new widow asks her to connect with her husband she is shocked that he says he can hear his heart beating. With the help of two older witches they go on a quest to find him. Why has he been registered in the hospital under an assumed name? Who are the shadowy figures she can see in his thoughts? Is his wife in danger? Further complications arise with her new familiar (all she wanted was a cat as a companion) and the power hungry vampiric warlock that steals her powers through deliberately misleading her. Now the wife is missing as is one of the police force, she is fighting for her life against the bad guys and has no powers. Will she get them back? Will she be able to rescue the husband, the wife and the police officer or will she be caught in the evil spiders Web that has been created?
I actually purchased this book after reading a chapter or two--I bought it and continued reading right away!
Reg Rawlins was a con who didn't know that she really had psychic abilities until she moved to a small Florida town in the hopes of making some money. She meets up with some strange but friendly people and manages to rent a small cottage. She decides she needs a cat to make her act more believable.
This was one of those cats who train their human and won't give up! He was also very good at ascertaining who was a good person and who was bad. He also liked to talk a lot--this cat seems a lot like mine--except this cat had a third eye as Reg was to find out!
She began to get clients. One woman wanted to speak to her dead husband. Reg proceeded to put on her act--then the guy used her to channel him!! One of her friends contacted an even stronger witch then herself and they investigated--was this guy dead--or was he alive as he kept saying he was.
She was warned against a smooth talker who was bound and determined to get to know her better--just wait until you find out why!! So was the husband dead or alive? You are certain to like this cozy with all the twists and turns and a lot of laughs!!
What the Cat Knew is a paranormal cozy mystery that totally hooked me. Reg is tough, smart, and can run a good con, but is caring and loyal underneath it. She’s setting up as a medium “for entertainment purposes only” in Black Sands, Florida. She has a couple of problems. First, turns out she actually is a medium and can contact the dead. Second, the man she contacts isn’t actually dead.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. We’ve got our eccentric characters, this time witches and probably other magical creatures. Our amateur sleuth has a legitimate reason for investigating, apparently she’s the only one who knows the man is still alive, but since he’s in a coma she can still make contact. We’ve got a touch of romance, maybe, but I’m hoping that fades away. And there’s Reg’s cat, who I loved.
The plot moves along quickly and it was a lot of fun. I’m not quite clear on what kind of magical beings live in Black Sands or how their magic works, but this is just the first in the series. I’m sure we’ll learn more as the series progresses.
Regina “Reg” Rollins is a professional con who uses her people-reading skills to act as a fortune teller (strictly for amusement purposes, that’s what she tells the cops and anyone else who questions her skills). She stays in a place long enough to scare up some cash and then moves on before the law comes sniffing. She ends up in Black Sands, looking for a place to lay low and gets drawn into the disappearance of a pilot who may have been involved in smuggling relics. To her surprise, she learns her “skills” are really real and feels compelled to help the missing pilot.
This cozy paranormal mystery is the start of a new-to-me series by prolific author P.D. Workman. I only knew of her as a thriller writer, but stumbled on this one and enjoyed it. It borders on the edge of too much woo woo for me (she gets “glamored” by a warlock and finds out her landlord is a witch), but she’s an interesting character and the story is well-told. Lots of suspects, interesting supporting characters, and a rescue cat that just makes the plot even better. I will read more in this series.
A fun and fascinating start to what will prove to be an interesting and enoyable series. Reg has grown up in the foster care system. She was always in trouble for not following the rules and talking to her imaginary friends. As an adult she bounced from job to job, town to town, avoiding too much attention and legal trouble. When she heard about Black Sands, she decided to try her hand with being a medium, connecting people to those they have lost. She didn't plan on those lost ones being pets, but money is money. Fate, luck (good or bad) or something made connections for Reg when she stopped for a bit to eat. From there we are introduced to an original cast of characters, each with his or her own special powers. Reg did not believe in magic, had no idea she has special talents, other than "reading" people. So she is learning and surprised by what happens along with the reader. After reading this book you will be ready to jump further into this magical series.
What a fun book...a paranormal cozy mystery where the protagonist doesn't believe she has any psychic powers! Her back story was compelling and made clear why she felt so different as a child, being moved from foster home to foster home and psychiatrist to psychiatrist to be "cured" of her insistence on the reality of her imaginary friends. She eventually made use of her active imagination and ability to "read" people by becoming a psychic medium even though she herself was sure it was just a con.
She ended up in Black Sands, Florida, where she had heard there was more acceptance of her occupation only to discover a whole community of folks with paranormal powers, some benign and others evil. This is the first book in a series about Regina ("Reg") and her new cat named Starlight, both of whom have psychic powers. I loved the story and the characters and will be looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Reg Rawlins , a con artist, needs to move on to a new place and a new con. Black Sands, Florida is a place where paranormal persons gather. As a great "cold reader", Reg decides to try the game and turn herself into a medium.
Her first reading goes better than she thought it would even if it was different than she planned. The second puts her firmly in the middle of not only a mystery but also the paranormal community.
Reg finds she has more than an active i.agination. A charming warlock has her in his sights. Her cat keeps biting her. Can she figure out what is happening?
The characters are believable, the action and situations well paced. I found myself unable to put the bok down for long, just time to think about it, then back.
I found it fascinating that the heroine thought she was one thing only to find out she was something very special. We get her back story slowly throughout the book. Maybe not her full history, but enough to understand where her concept of herself came from. The book has a great mystery, and a new to the heroine psychic community that keeps getting into her business. I was really annoyed that Regina let herself get used, when she had plenty of warning signs and actual warnings from her landlady. But, hey, I was young once myself and perhaps Regina's intuition is better than my self protectiveness. I look forward to see where this series will go.
Witchy wild and totally entertaining What an array of caracters a woman believing her cons are just that. P.D.Workman's witchy writing carries you through a world that can make you stop and wander could something like this really happen could it be possible you sure wish it could be. Even the smile you have at the end says this might just be the beginning of a magical new life. Do you believe. Aquier "What the Cat Knew "so you yourself can enjoy reading it as much as I have. 🙄😊Kat
Reg(in a) Rawlins is a con artist. And she is good at it. She always has been. She is going to find out why in this fun book. This is my second book by the author and I enjoyed both. Yes, the tropes abound, but the author is quite goid with a story and her characters, although typical of the genre, are still pretty interesting. If you want to learn a out the world of witches and such, this book is a good place to start. You don't have to work too hard and you get to enjoy a good story. Read her books and enjoy yourself!
This is the last book in the box set I have and it was as enjoyable as all the rest.
Reg is a fan of the con, but there are things about herself that she doesn’t completely understand. Recently moved to another town, she begins her idea of being a medium...
This was an intriguing and interesting mystery, where magic is the cornerstone of the plot. Who to trust, what is real?
I liked Regina and the mystery surrounding the cat and other characters.
thought this book started out a bit slow, but as the story went along it caught my interest and I could not stop turning the next page. It had magic, intrigue, and a bit of romance. Reg is an interesting character in that she didn't realize she had gifts, she had been told as a child that they were just imaginary friends and she shoved them down in her consciousness. They came back just at the right time. The story was well written, and the characters were unique and quirky. Recommend reading.
I received an ARC copy from the author at my request and this is my honest review. P D Workman has done it again; created a cast of characters and a storyline that are captivating and enthralling. Once I started this cozy I didn't want to put it down (which can be a bad thing when you have a family to take care of...lol). I can't wait for the other books in this series. I think Reg is going to turn out to be one of my favorite new characters. Pick up your copy as soon as possible.
Reg knew she needs to move on and arriving in Florida seemed like a good place to work her scam. Reg had people believing she could talk to dead people. Only strange things start happening after she brings her cat home from the pound and meets Warren Blake her land lady warns her about him. Now she finds she has powers she no idea about this is a great book it was great seeing Reg get her story