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Katie True #1
Play the Fool
A cynical tarot card reader seeks to uncover the truth about her friend's mysterious death in this delightfully clever whodunit.
For Katie True, a keen gut and quick wit are just tools of the trade. After a failed attempt at adulting in Chicago, she's back in the suburbs living a bit too close to her overbearing parents, jumping from one dead-end job to the next, and flipping through her tarot deck for guidance. Then along comes Marley.
Mysterious, worldly, and comfortable in her own skin, Marley takes a job at the mall where Katie peddles Russian tchotchkes. The two just get each other. Marley doesn't try to fix Katie's life or pretend to be someone she's not, and Katie thinks that with Marley's friendship she just might make it through this rough patch after all. So one day, having been encouraged by Marley to practice soothsaying, Katie reads tarot for someone who stumbles into her shop. But when she sneaks a glance at his phone, she finds more than just clairvoyant intel. She finds a photo. Of Marley. With a gunshot wound to the head.
The bottom falls out of Katie's world. Her best friend is dead? Who killed her? She quickly realizes there are some things her tarot cards can't foresee, and she must put her razor-sharp instincts to the ultimate test. But the truth has deadly consequences, and Katie's recklessness lands her in the crossfire of a threat she never saw coming. Now Katie must use her street smarts and her inner Strength card to solve Marley's murder--or risk losing everything.
For Katie True, a keen gut and quick wit are just tools of the trade. After a failed attempt at adulting in Chicago, she's back in the suburbs living a bit too close to her overbearing parents, jumping from one dead-end job to the next, and flipping through her tarot deck for guidance. Then along comes Marley.
Mysterious, worldly, and comfortable in her own skin, Marley takes a job at the mall where Katie peddles Russian tchotchkes. The two just get each other. Marley doesn't try to fix Katie's life or pretend to be someone she's not, and Katie thinks that with Marley's friendship she just might make it through this rough patch after all. So one day, having been encouraged by Marley to practice soothsaying, Katie reads tarot for someone who stumbles into her shop. But when she sneaks a glance at his phone, she finds more than just clairvoyant intel. She finds a photo. Of Marley. With a gunshot wound to the head.
The bottom falls out of Katie's world. Her best friend is dead? Who killed her? She quickly realizes there are some things her tarot cards can't foresee, and she must put her razor-sharp instincts to the ultimate test. But the truth has deadly consequences, and Katie's recklessness lands her in the crossfire of a threat she never saw coming. Now Katie must use her street smarts and her inner Strength card to solve Marley's murder--or risk losing everything.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2023
116 people are currently reading
26334 people want to read
About the author
Lina Chern
4 books151 followersLina Chern is the author of Play the Fool, winner of the 2024 Mary Higgins Clark Award and nominee for the 2024 Lefty and Anthony Awards. A sequel, Tricks of Fortune, is forthcoming in 2025. Other work has appeared in The Marlboro Review, The Bellingham Review, Rhino, The Collagist, and Black Fox Literary Magazine. Lina has also written trivia questions, word puzzles for a TV game show, paranormal romances, dialogue for your favorite comic book characters, award-winning movie reviews, and poems that have been published and read by up to dozens of people.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 809 reviews
January 22, 2023
Katie True is at another dead-end job when she meets Marley, a woman who also works in the mall and becomes Katie’s friend over lunches.
While Katie isn’t good at holding down jobs, she is good at reading tarot cards. When a man comes into the store she works at with a wound bleeding from his head, she tries to read his cards to give him guidance on what to do. When she takes a glimpse at his phone—because reading tarot is about reading people—she sees a picture of Marley dead. Now Katie is determined to figure out what happened.
NetGalley provided an advance reader copy of this cute mystery, which RELEASES MARCH 28, 2023.
While Katie isn’t good at holding down jobs, she is good at reading tarot cards. When a man comes into the store she works at with a wound bleeding from his head, she tries to read his cards to give him guidance on what to do. When she takes a glimpse at his phone—because reading tarot is about reading people—she sees a picture of Marley dead. Now Katie is determined to figure out what happened.
NetGalley provided an advance reader copy of this cute mystery, which RELEASES MARCH 28, 2023.
March 13, 2023
I think this cover is so great! I love the card embedded in the bright blue! I wish I'd loved the book as much.
The first third of the book was fascinating. I liked getting to know Katie and her wild life, her friends, her job and her apartment. I loved how she carried the cards around and how, sometimes she was so connected to them, that they would come as images to her in the midst of casual conversation.
But at about 50%, I thought the story derailed. It just hit the realm of not believable. I wanted to buy it, I really did, but I found the police angle to the whole case just too much. And I didn't love Jamie and whatever was going on there. I wasn't feeling the love interest in the midst of all the over-the-top mafia type family and the sudden rush of a huge cast of characters. It was cute, I didn't mind the end, but I definitely didn't love it.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
The first third of the book was fascinating. I liked getting to know Katie and her wild life, her friends, her job and her apartment. I loved how she carried the cards around and how, sometimes she was so connected to them, that they would come as images to her in the midst of casual conversation.
But at about 50%, I thought the story derailed. It just hit the realm of not believable. I wanted to buy it, I really did, but I found the police angle to the whole case just too much. And I didn't love Jamie and whatever was going on there. I wasn't feeling the love interest in the midst of all the over-the-top mafia type family and the sudden rush of a huge cast of characters. It was cute, I didn't mind the end, but I definitely didn't love it.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
February 15, 2023
Gave this novel a fair shot, but couldn't get past 35%
While I liked the premise of the plot, I just could not get past the under achiever status of the main protagonist, Katie. Failing at just about everything she does, she is resigned to working at a dead end job retailing knick knacks. But she's pretty good at tarot card reading and uses that talent to swindle unsuspecting and gullible people. A grifter in my book.
Katie's friend Marley isn't the best role model either. and neither are her employers and acquaintances. A truly depressing scenario.
There wasn't much suspense and the novel was pretty lackluster in my opinion. At 35% I expected more excitement or a crescendo toward an epic finale. But, there wasn't anything there.
I wanted to like the book but had some reservations about it because of the cover. Flashy, yes. But content-wise, it was another story. Sadly, Play the Fool wasn't a novel for me. One star -- a DNF as I didn't care for it.
I received a digital ARC from Penguin Random House through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
While I liked the premise of the plot, I just could not get past the under achiever status of the main protagonist, Katie. Failing at just about everything she does, she is resigned to working at a dead end job retailing knick knacks. But she's pretty good at tarot card reading and uses that talent to swindle unsuspecting and gullible people. A grifter in my book.
Katie's friend Marley isn't the best role model either. and neither are her employers and acquaintances. A truly depressing scenario.
There wasn't much suspense and the novel was pretty lackluster in my opinion. At 35% I expected more excitement or a crescendo toward an epic finale. But, there wasn't anything there.
I wanted to like the book but had some reservations about it because of the cover. Flashy, yes. But content-wise, it was another story. Sadly, Play the Fool wasn't a novel for me. One star -- a DNF as I didn't care for it.
I received a digital ARC from Penguin Random House through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
December 5, 2022
“How about the Death card?” I wobbled my fingers at him. “Woo!”
An ending can make or break a book. You could write a book that holds a reader's interest and one that keeps them fully invested throughout and still ruin it with an ending. That’s why I’m a reader and not a writer. I would definitely ruin it all.
The cover is a rare one. The bright neon colors pop out at you and catch your eye. You come for the neon lights and stay for the tarot card. I saw the cover and quickly added it to my tbr. Then I read the synopsis (lesson not learned) and I was fully invested.
I loved the first thirty percent of this book. It held your interest and left you wondering what the hell was going on. The rest was like sliding headfirst down the side of a mountain. And we all know where that leads, disappointment. (Okay, more like devastation but we won’t go that far) The ending was obvious and overplayed. I wanted something weird or Goodfellas style but we get this lackluster ending.
Not everything was terrible. I loved that the main character was an expert tarot reader. That added a different element to a mystery novel. That’s one I would love to see again. I also liked how she knew something was wrong with the disappearance of her friend and she made a decision to not rest until she got answers. We all need that kind of person in our lives.
The mystery wasn’t much of one. I really didn’t care about it all that much. I was way more invested in seeing what kind of mess Katie got herself into next. That’s what kept me around.
Play the Fool was an okay mystery novel but not for me. There was too much that I didn’t enjoy and the ending wasn’t one I liked. I admit I’m extremely harsh when it comes to endings. I can see other readers loving this, it just wasn’t my style.
An ending can make or break a book. You could write a book that holds a reader's interest and one that keeps them fully invested throughout and still ruin it with an ending. That’s why I’m a reader and not a writer. I would definitely ruin it all.
The cover is a rare one. The bright neon colors pop out at you and catch your eye. You come for the neon lights and stay for the tarot card. I saw the cover and quickly added it to my tbr. Then I read the synopsis (lesson not learned) and I was fully invested.
I loved the first thirty percent of this book. It held your interest and left you wondering what the hell was going on. The rest was like sliding headfirst down the side of a mountain. And we all know where that leads, disappointment. (Okay, more like devastation but we won’t go that far) The ending was obvious and overplayed. I wanted something weird or Goodfellas style but we get this lackluster ending.
Not everything was terrible. I loved that the main character was an expert tarot reader. That added a different element to a mystery novel. That’s one I would love to see again. I also liked how she knew something was wrong with the disappearance of her friend and she made a decision to not rest until she got answers. We all need that kind of person in our lives.
The mystery wasn’t much of one. I really didn’t care about it all that much. I was way more invested in seeing what kind of mess Katie got herself into next. That’s what kept me around.
Play the Fool was an okay mystery novel but not for me. There was too much that I didn’t enjoy and the ending wasn’t one I liked. I admit I’m extremely harsh when it comes to endings. I can see other readers loving this, it just wasn’t my style.
March 13, 2023
This was a pretty good debut novel. I thought the writing was good, although the story itself was hard to believe at times. I liked the humor but there were a few moments it went too far. I didn’t think the mystery was that mysterious, but it was a wild and bumpy ride. I loved the tarot card imagery and the fact that the main character even envisioned cards that fit as she spoke with people. It was really creative and very interesting. Katie True is a middle child who manages to squeak through life while the rest of her family reaches big and wonders what is wrong with her. She works at a dead end job in a mall and wishes she could have her own business reading tarot cards. When she suddenly becomes the only one sure her only friend is dead and amazingly finds a cop willing to unofficially work the case with her, her life takes on a whole new direction as they try to find out what happened to Marley.
March 31, 2023
Katie True is a tarot aficionado who languishes her days (and potential) away at the mall, selling Eastern European knick knacks. When Katie offers to read the cards for an injured and disoriented customer named Nico, things go sideways fast. A little light snooping on Nico’s phone reveals a photo of Katie’s flame-haired friend Marley…. dead in the dumpster. Shocked and appalled, Katie makes it her personal mission to solve Marley’s murder- whatever the cost.
Play the Fool is a captivating and upbeat mystery that’s laugh-out-loud funny. I found myself reaching for it again and again because it’s refreshingly playful and entertaining. Finally, a suspenseful and engaging story that doesn’t rely heavily on gore, darkness and all things disturbing to intrigue an audience. Play the Fool doesn’t need any of that because the fast-paced plot, zany character and sheer fun stand all on their own. Speaking of characters, I fell in love with them all- Katie, Owen and Jamie have my heart. And of course, the White Camry of Death!
As a curious amateur myself, I especially appreciated the tarot references, which breathe even more life and whimsy into the book. They’re also an unforgettable part of the main character’s identity. It’s really easy to root for Katie, an authentic underdog who ‘plays the fool.’ She is on her own path of personal growth towards individuation/self-actualization. Over the course of the story, she is challenged to own her ‘magic’ and shine her light, despite self-doubt, limiting beliefs and others’ expectations. Her inner development mirrors the hero(ine)’s journey- a thread of shared experience that many, if not all of us, can relate to.
With this bouquet of ringing endorsements, may I humbly recommend Play the Fool- quite possibly the most hilarious book I’ve ever read and a clever mystery to boot. If you’re looking for a lively whodunnit with lovable characters and plenty of panache, you’ve met your perfect match. I can’t wait to see what Lina Chern comes up with next!
*A special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Play the Fool is a captivating and upbeat mystery that’s laugh-out-loud funny. I found myself reaching for it again and again because it’s refreshingly playful and entertaining. Finally, a suspenseful and engaging story that doesn’t rely heavily on gore, darkness and all things disturbing to intrigue an audience. Play the Fool doesn’t need any of that because the fast-paced plot, zany character and sheer fun stand all on their own. Speaking of characters, I fell in love with them all- Katie, Owen and Jamie have my heart. And of course, the White Camry of Death!
As a curious amateur myself, I especially appreciated the tarot references, which breathe even more life and whimsy into the book. They’re also an unforgettable part of the main character’s identity. It’s really easy to root for Katie, an authentic underdog who ‘plays the fool.’ She is on her own path of personal growth towards individuation/self-actualization. Over the course of the story, she is challenged to own her ‘magic’ and shine her light, despite self-doubt, limiting beliefs and others’ expectations. Her inner development mirrors the hero(ine)’s journey- a thread of shared experience that many, if not all of us, can relate to.
With this bouquet of ringing endorsements, may I humbly recommend Play the Fool- quite possibly the most hilarious book I’ve ever read and a clever mystery to boot. If you’re looking for a lively whodunnit with lovable characters and plenty of panache, you’ve met your perfect match. I can’t wait to see what Lina Chern comes up with next!
*A special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2023
Play The Fool is an entertaining mystery with relatable characters. Not quite a cozy mystery, it does feature an amateur sleuth who gets herself into quite a few scrapes along the way. Katie is proficient at reading tarot cards, having been taught by her aunt as a child. She carries a deck with her all the time and when she has interactions with people, she often thinks of a particular card that would apply to that person or the situation. This made for a unique perspective and made me want to learn more about tarot cards.
Katie is stuck in dead-end jobs, after dropping out of college, kind of a “failure to launch” situation. Her current job is at a mall store in the Chicago suburbs that specializes in Russian/East European items. She has made friends with another young woman who works at a nearby store that I couldn’t quite figure out - some sort of goth store, maybe? Anyway, this Marley disappears and without spoiling the story, Katie is convinced she’s been murdered. Without a body, the local police can’t do much, but a detective who has transferred in from Los Angeles for personal reasons, tries to work on the case with her unofficially.
There’s a lot of humor embedded in this mystery novel, which I appreciated. There are astute observations about failing businesses, and impressions about people. Katie’s older sister is a go-getter in real estate and is always offering Katie a job, which Katie knows she’d be terrible at. Katie’s younger brother, Owen, is somewhere on the autism spectrum, it seems. Katie is terrific with and very protective of him.
I did figure out the mystery but it didn’t mar my enjoyment of seeing Katie and Jamie (the detective) figure things out. This was a debut novel and I’d love to see another book featuring Katie and her tarot cards.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I’m late to it. Because I was late to it, I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. Kristen Sieh did a good job with the narration. All opinions are my own.
Katie is stuck in dead-end jobs, after dropping out of college, kind of a “failure to launch” situation. Her current job is at a mall store in the Chicago suburbs that specializes in Russian/East European items. She has made friends with another young woman who works at a nearby store that I couldn’t quite figure out - some sort of goth store, maybe? Anyway, this Marley disappears and without spoiling the story, Katie is convinced she’s been murdered. Without a body, the local police can’t do much, but a detective who has transferred in from Los Angeles for personal reasons, tries to work on the case with her unofficially.
There’s a lot of humor embedded in this mystery novel, which I appreciated. There are astute observations about failing businesses, and impressions about people. Katie’s older sister is a go-getter in real estate and is always offering Katie a job, which Katie knows she’d be terrible at. Katie’s younger brother, Owen, is somewhere on the autism spectrum, it seems. Katie is terrific with and very protective of him.
I did figure out the mystery but it didn’t mar my enjoyment of seeing Katie and Jamie (the detective) figure things out. This was a debut novel and I’d love to see another book featuring Katie and her tarot cards.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I’m late to it. Because I was late to it, I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. Kristen Sieh did a good job with the narration. All opinions are my own.
January 16, 2023
Katie True works in a Russian tchotchke shop in a mall and her newer best friend Marley works in a goth shop across the hall. Katie has had many jobs and is down on her luck. She enjoys reading tarot cards but lacks a client base. One evening a guy comes into the shop who is clearly in distress. Katie convinces him to let her read his tarot cards for $20 and discovers he has a picture of a recently deceased Marley on his phone. Katie is determined to find out what happened to her friend and she will use her tarot cards to assist.
Here’s one for you if you love a mystery and strong female characters. For me this one is more of a cozy mystery and not the dark and disturbing kind I usually read. I enjoyed the mystery and the author’s sense of humor in this wonderful debut. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Katie and her brother Owen. The cover art is great and the tarot card interpretations sprinkled throughout the book is a nice touch.
This is a light and enjoyable read that has potential to be a fun series! Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy.
Here’s one for you if you love a mystery and strong female characters. For me this one is more of a cozy mystery and not the dark and disturbing kind I usually read. I enjoyed the mystery and the author’s sense of humor in this wonderful debut. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Katie and her brother Owen. The cover art is great and the tarot card interpretations sprinkled throughout the book is a nice touch.
This is a light and enjoyable read that has potential to be a fun series! Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy.
October 23, 2023
PLAY THE FOOL
BY: LINA CHERN
This is being marketed as a mystery-thriller, but I am going out on a limb, and after finishing it; saying it felt more like a cozy mystery throughout reading it. I am no prude, but it had a lot of coarse language in it, that lowered the bar for me. So if you are looking for beautiful prose here--look elsewhere. Otherwise, this has a really comfortable vibe to it, that keeps your interest and makes you want to keep reading, and not want to set this one down, once you start it.
It takes place in Lake Terrace, Chicago in a small suburb town. Katie True works at an old mall selling Russian baubles, and she has self admitted going from one dead end job to the next. In a store close by she meets Marley, whom the two of them start to hang out together. Marley is also disappointed to have moved back to the small town of Lake Terrace. What Katie likes about Marley is that Marley accepts Katie for who she is and where she is at in life. Unlike Katie's sister Jessie who works in Real Estate and often tries to encourage Katie to move up in her station of life and want more for herself.
Katie was taught to read tarot cards from her Aunt Rosie and Katie has been reading them since she was six years old. One day when Katie is working in walks a guy by the name of Nico, who Katie does a reading for him. She sneaks while he is not looking and peeks a look at his cellphone and she is shocked to see a picture of Marley dead. This becomes a quest for Katie to try to solve Marley's murder with the help of a kind detective named Jamie.
Why does Nico have a picture of a dead Marley on his cellphone? What could have happened to lead up to this tragedy? Is Nico the boyfriend that Marley was last talking of breaking up with? Katie soon finds out when she gets swept up in a situation that starts to spiral out of control, that everything is not what it appears to be. Katie quickly learns that she needs the help of Jamie, the nice police detective to help her solve Marley's murder. And that her tarot cards aren't enough to keep her out of danger.
I enjoyed reading this cozy mystery immensely. I had found myself thinking about it, when life interrupted my reading, because I happened to be busy the day I started reading this. I kept wanting to know the same answers that Katie did pertaining to Marley's sudden disappearance. I got contacted by the publisher to read this, and for that I am grateful, because this wonderful novel had not appeared on my radar. I would recommend this to those who love cozy mysteries with strong female protagonists. Katie is truly fearless, much to her detriment sometimes! This was a strong debut and I wish Lina Chern, my very best wishes for as wide an audience as this deserves.
Publication Date: 03/28/2023
Thank you to Net Galley, Lina Chern and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Bantam for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
#PlaytheFool #LinaChern #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantineBantam #NetGalley
BY: LINA CHERN
This is being marketed as a mystery-thriller, but I am going out on a limb, and after finishing it; saying it felt more like a cozy mystery throughout reading it. I am no prude, but it had a lot of coarse language in it, that lowered the bar for me. So if you are looking for beautiful prose here--look elsewhere. Otherwise, this has a really comfortable vibe to it, that keeps your interest and makes you want to keep reading, and not want to set this one down, once you start it.
It takes place in Lake Terrace, Chicago in a small suburb town. Katie True works at an old mall selling Russian baubles, and she has self admitted going from one dead end job to the next. In a store close by she meets Marley, whom the two of them start to hang out together. Marley is also disappointed to have moved back to the small town of Lake Terrace. What Katie likes about Marley is that Marley accepts Katie for who she is and where she is at in life. Unlike Katie's sister Jessie who works in Real Estate and often tries to encourage Katie to move up in her station of life and want more for herself.
Katie was taught to read tarot cards from her Aunt Rosie and Katie has been reading them since she was six years old. One day when Katie is working in walks a guy by the name of Nico, who Katie does a reading for him. She sneaks while he is not looking and peeks a look at his cellphone and she is shocked to see a picture of Marley dead. This becomes a quest for Katie to try to solve Marley's murder with the help of a kind detective named Jamie.
Why does Nico have a picture of a dead Marley on his cellphone? What could have happened to lead up to this tragedy? Is Nico the boyfriend that Marley was last talking of breaking up with? Katie soon finds out when she gets swept up in a situation that starts to spiral out of control, that everything is not what it appears to be. Katie quickly learns that she needs the help of Jamie, the nice police detective to help her solve Marley's murder. And that her tarot cards aren't enough to keep her out of danger.
I enjoyed reading this cozy mystery immensely. I had found myself thinking about it, when life interrupted my reading, because I happened to be busy the day I started reading this. I kept wanting to know the same answers that Katie did pertaining to Marley's sudden disappearance. I got contacted by the publisher to read this, and for that I am grateful, because this wonderful novel had not appeared on my radar. I would recommend this to those who love cozy mysteries with strong female protagonists. Katie is truly fearless, much to her detriment sometimes! This was a strong debut and I wish Lina Chern, my very best wishes for as wide an audience as this deserves.
Publication Date: 03/28/2023
Thank you to Net Galley, Lina Chern and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Bantam for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
#PlaytheFool #LinaChern #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantineBantam #NetGalley
January 21, 2023
Where was the "delicious blend of suspense and madcap humor" located? The "twisty and gripping investigation" throughout the book?
You got a main character that wasn't even fun, terrible at the niche job that gravitates you to the novel and frustratingly self-sabotages the whole time. A mix of cartoon side characters. Weird writing in some of the transitions between the past and present chapters that felt very jarring. No humor and what I guess is supposed to be a romance in the works but was grasping at invisible straws.
The plot had the potential to be really good but lacked in execution that left everything feeling flat.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for providing a copy for an honest review.
You got a main character that wasn't even fun, terrible at the niche job that gravitates you to the novel and frustratingly self-sabotages the whole time. A mix of cartoon side characters. Weird writing in some of the transitions between the past and present chapters that felt very jarring. No humor and what I guess is supposed to be a romance in the works but was grasping at invisible straws.
The plot had the potential to be really good but lacked in execution that left everything feeling flat.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for providing a copy for an honest review.
August 31, 2023
This was a really entertaining cozy mystery debut featuring a cynical tarot reader turned amateur detective who sets about figuring out who killed her friend. I really enjoyed this on audio narrated by Kristen Sieh and was kept guessing about who the killer was right to the end. The way that the tarot cards were used throughout the story was a fun element too that kept things interesting. Definitely recommended and many thanks to @prhaudio for my complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
May 26, 2023
Katie True is jumping from one dead-end job to the next, trying to keep a low profile with her overbearing family that’s always hoping she’ll live up to her potential.
She’s currently selling tchotchkes in the mall and reading tarot while her friend Marley works in a clothing store across the way…
until a man stumbles into Katie’s shop with a photo of Marley with a gunshot wound.
Katie has to use her street smarts and cunning to solve Marley’s murder while asking herself if she ever truly knew her friend at all.
This was a fun murder mystery with faint rom-com vibes that would translate well to the screen! While there’s plenty of things that happen that require a strong suspension of disbelief, I went along for the ride because I understood it’s a lighthearted story here to entertain and that’s what it did!
Thanks to Bantam and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Play the Fool was released on March 28, 2023.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
She’s currently selling tchotchkes in the mall and reading tarot while her friend Marley works in a clothing store across the way…
until a man stumbles into Katie’s shop with a photo of Marley with a gunshot wound.
Katie has to use her street smarts and cunning to solve Marley’s murder while asking herself if she ever truly knew her friend at all.
This was a fun murder mystery with faint rom-com vibes that would translate well to the screen! While there’s plenty of things that happen that require a strong suspension of disbelief, I went along for the ride because I understood it’s a lighthearted story here to entertain and that’s what it did!
Thanks to Bantam and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Play the Fool was released on March 28, 2023.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
November 29, 2022
I am not quite into mystery but I was curious with such a eye-catching cover. I can say I enjoyed reading it. A whodunit that took me on twist and turns, I loved the storyline. It was entertaining from the very beginning.
August 24, 2023
Katie is just trying to figure life out. She can't seem to figure this "adulting" thing out, finding herself moving back close to her family and taking a job at a trinket store doing some tarot readings on the side. The light in Katie's life? Marley. She's fun and whimsical, taking risks and chances Katie could never dream of. Katie feels seen when she's with Marley, even if she is just living vicariously through Marley's adventures....that is, until she sees a photo of her friend with a gunshot in her head. Katie's world spins inside out as she tries to find the truth about what happened to Marley while trying to stay safe herself. What will she find? Or will she find herself to be the fool all along?
An interesting whodunnit that doesn't rely on the supernatural elements to keep the reader hooked. Personally I'm more of a fantasy/supernatural reader but I found Play The Fool to be a good mystery that unfolded into a fun ride. The pacing was where it fell a little flat in the middle for me, but once it found its footing again I devoured the back 35% in a day. Patience is a virtue to be rewarded with Play the Fool, but I'd be lying if I said it always felt like it was going to pay off.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. Recommended for those who enjoy just a pinch of supernatural with their mysteries. Age appropriate for 12l3+ as there is nothing graphic on the page. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
An interesting whodunnit that doesn't rely on the supernatural elements to keep the reader hooked. Personally I'm more of a fantasy/supernatural reader but I found Play The Fool to be a good mystery that unfolded into a fun ride. The pacing was where it fell a little flat in the middle for me, but once it found its footing again I devoured the back 35% in a day. Patience is a virtue to be rewarded with Play the Fool, but I'd be lying if I said it always felt like it was going to pay off.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. Recommended for those who enjoy just a pinch of supernatural with their mysteries. Age appropriate for 12l3+ as there is nothing graphic on the page. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2024
Frankly I totally enjoyed this book and its unusual heroine. While Katie True comes from a successful suburban background, her self-assessment has her believing she messes everything up, given the opportunity. Toiling in Russian knickknack store in dead end mall, reading Tarot is her only passion, when she reads the cards for upset wounded guy. While he was paying attention elsewhere, she peeks at his phone and sees a photo of her only friend with a bullet hole in her forehead. As she follows the clues of her friend's death, the quick-witted writing showcases a number of characters with their own unique takes on life. Fast paced, I was never bored. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2025
This book was not on my radar - I actually hadn't heard of it before seeing it offered at the library. It wasn't on my TBR but I needed a book to read while waiting to start my next month's TBR. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. The quick pace definitely kept me interested. I also like the relatable characters. The characters were just snarky enough without going overboard, but one of the police officers had a few moments that were not believable. The writing was simple but flowed well with the pace. On to book two!
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If you love active book communities, check out LiterALLy BOOKiSh Book Club (on Facebook)! Games, giveaways, discussions, reviews, bingo, swaps, traveling books, and a lot more!
June 6, 2024
LOVED this heroine. Such a fun but gritty mystery. Also, cool cover!
December 1, 2022
I want to give not just a huge thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this eARC, but a huge, gift basket, and cake!!!
It’s been so long since I’ve read a book that I’ve loved this much! It’s definitely a new favorite and one that I know I’ll reread over and over! I’ve read 122 books so far, and of the ones that were not retreads this is my favorite!
So, I don’t like to give a lot away with reviews, and I’ll be doing a full review on my blog soon.
So, here’s a quick summary and review. We follow Katie as she’s recently moved back to the suburbs close to her overbearing family (her brother is amazing!). She’s working a dead end job at a dying mall. Katie is smart, she’s witty, and so relatable! What like is that she’s so smart, but she does not have it all together. She has amazing gut instincts but also makes bad choices. She’s determined, and she’s full of fight and heart but not in a sickening cheesy way! I seriously love her!
She meets Marley, this cooler older girl who’s comfortable in her skin, and is worldly and mysterious. They become friends. Marley gives Katie inspiration and she likes the feeling that Marleys her friend. She also supports Katie’s skill of reading tarot cards!
One day Katie’s doing a tarot card reading of this sketchy guy and she sneaks a look in his phone and finds a photo of Marley with a gunshot to the head.
Katie soon dives head first into finding what happened to Marley. But in the process she might just become the next target.
Seriously, the writing is top notch! I pretty much read the majority of this book in one day because I couldn’t stand to leave this world/ I had to know what was going to happen.
There is some romance and it’s perfect. It’s not the main plot, it’s just a really nice added element that works perfectly. The chemistry is perfection!
This book is perfection! I want more! I want a series!
This book comes out March 28th, 2023! I already have my copy preordered! I really hope there’s signed editions!
I’ll be talking about this book soooo much! I’m still processing my love and obsession of this book!
It’s been so long since I’ve read a book that I’ve loved this much! It’s definitely a new favorite and one that I know I’ll reread over and over! I’ve read 122 books so far, and of the ones that were not retreads this is my favorite!
So, I don’t like to give a lot away with reviews, and I’ll be doing a full review on my blog soon.
So, here’s a quick summary and review. We follow Katie as she’s recently moved back to the suburbs close to her overbearing family (her brother is amazing!). She’s working a dead end job at a dying mall. Katie is smart, she’s witty, and so relatable! What like is that she’s so smart, but she does not have it all together. She has amazing gut instincts but also makes bad choices. She’s determined, and she’s full of fight and heart but not in a sickening cheesy way! I seriously love her!
She meets Marley, this cooler older girl who’s comfortable in her skin, and is worldly and mysterious. They become friends. Marley gives Katie inspiration and she likes the feeling that Marleys her friend. She also supports Katie’s skill of reading tarot cards!
One day Katie’s doing a tarot card reading of this sketchy guy and she sneaks a look in his phone and finds a photo of Marley with a gunshot to the head.
Katie soon dives head first into finding what happened to Marley. But in the process she might just become the next target.
Seriously, the writing is top notch! I pretty much read the majority of this book in one day because I couldn’t stand to leave this world/ I had to know what was going to happen.
There is some romance and it’s perfect. It’s not the main plot, it’s just a really nice added element that works perfectly. The chemistry is perfection!
This book is perfection! I want more! I want a series!
This book comes out March 28th, 2023! I already have my copy preordered! I really hope there’s signed editions!
I’ll be talking about this book soooo much! I’m still processing my love and obsession of this book!
December 30, 2022
I received an advance copy via NetGalley.
Play the Fool is at the grittier edge of cozy: not full on thriller, but there is profanity and some situations of moral ambiguity. That said, I enjoyed it immensely, even if the end was a touch predictable. Sometimes, that's just what the reader needs. The ride is still twisty-turny fun even if you know the destination.
Katie is a loser. Her family is wealthy and all about success, while she's an aimless college drop-out working at a lousy mall gift shop. The one thing she's good at is tarot cards--and her one friend is a fellow mall worker, Marley. When a bleeding guy staggers into Katie's shop one day, she's laying out her cards. As she starts a reading for him, she snoops on his phone, thinking she'll get a deeper psych profile on the mark--but sees a texted photo of Marley, dead. When she later goes to the dumpster shown in the picture, there's no body. Her only friend is gone. The police don't believe her, but Katie is determined to bring justice to her friend--and hopefully not die trying.
I have a hunch that this book will rub some people wrong because Katie bumbles through her mystery-solving much as she does life. She screws up, a lot. She's not the most brilliant of amateur detectives, but her heart is in the right place. She reminded me of friends I've had. Chern clearly knows her Chicago setting well, too, as the place is a vivid character, fragrant and grimy. There's a romantic subplot that to me developed in a more realistic and natural way than it does in many mysteries where it feels shoe-horned in to meet a trope quota. Also, as an autist, I loved how Chern wrote about Katie's brother who cues autistic in major ways but is never labeled as such, nor did he need to be--he was utterly accepted as he was.
In all, a fun book, and if there are more entries in the series, I'd like to read them!
Play the Fool is at the grittier edge of cozy: not full on thriller, but there is profanity and some situations of moral ambiguity. That said, I enjoyed it immensely, even if the end was a touch predictable. Sometimes, that's just what the reader needs. The ride is still twisty-turny fun even if you know the destination.
Katie is a loser. Her family is wealthy and all about success, while she's an aimless college drop-out working at a lousy mall gift shop. The one thing she's good at is tarot cards--and her one friend is a fellow mall worker, Marley. When a bleeding guy staggers into Katie's shop one day, she's laying out her cards. As she starts a reading for him, she snoops on his phone, thinking she'll get a deeper psych profile on the mark--but sees a texted photo of Marley, dead. When she later goes to the dumpster shown in the picture, there's no body. Her only friend is gone. The police don't believe her, but Katie is determined to bring justice to her friend--and hopefully not die trying.
I have a hunch that this book will rub some people wrong because Katie bumbles through her mystery-solving much as she does life. She screws up, a lot. She's not the most brilliant of amateur detectives, but her heart is in the right place. She reminded me of friends I've had. Chern clearly knows her Chicago setting well, too, as the place is a vivid character, fragrant and grimy. There's a romantic subplot that to me developed in a more realistic and natural way than it does in many mysteries where it feels shoe-horned in to meet a trope quota. Also, as an autist, I loved how Chern wrote about Katie's brother who cues autistic in major ways but is never labeled as such, nor did he need to be--he was utterly accepted as he was.
In all, a fun book, and if there are more entries in the series, I'd like to read them!
March 28, 2023
This is the perfect spring time mystery novel. The writing is smooth and warm and makes you feel like you have just been blessed with the first warm day after a long winter. The book centers on Katie True, an amateur tarot card reader who just hasn't found her place in the world. After failing in the big city she moves back to her home town to work dead end jobs and be lectured by her parents and older sister about trying for more in life. When Katie believes her only friend Marley is murdered and the police cant do anything about it, she decides to put her people reading skills to the test to solve the crime. Joined with the help of her Autistic brother and the hansom new detective in town, Katie will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of it all, even if everything else around her begins to fall apart. With a delightful cast of relatable characters and a PG plot (complete with a love interest) this book would be perfect as a series (I secretly hope this will be a series). I get strong Stephanie Plum with a twist for the next generation vibes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for providing me with the opportunity to read this book early. This book is set to be released this March 28th, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for providing me with the opportunity to read this book early. This book is set to be released this March 28th, 2023
October 14, 2022
Katie True is having a tough time. Not fully launched, she lives near her parents and works at dead end jobs relying on her tarot card readings to guide her and for some extra cash. When her new best friend dies, she is pulled into a very strange mess of a mystery as she attempts to find out what happened to her friend. This cozy mystery is like having a friend tell you their story and I really enjoyed it. I especially loved how the tarot readings were harbingers to what to come and added unique information that I enjoyed learning about.
If you are interested in Tarot, like a cozy mystery or just want to follow a new writer, Play the Fool is for you!
If you are interested in Tarot, like a cozy mystery or just want to follow a new writer, Play the Fool is for you!
December 13, 2022
Katie is a tarot card reader who works in a mall with her friend Marley. She is giving a reading to a customer and goes through his phone as he goes to the restroom. She finds a photo of her friend Marley dead. She goes to the police and a cop named Jamie helps her investigate. They uncover secrets and lies. This book was a thrilling read. Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine! This will be released March 27th, 2023.
April 7, 2023
A really fun mystery with delightful, quirky characters and a strong sense of place. This so fully evokes the northern suburbs of Chicago (and its familial relationship with the city) that you can smell the Cinnabon. Speaking of, the family relationships between the main character (and mystery solver) are rich and well realized, and a meaningful motivator for the fast and twisty plot. It’s just a pleasure all around.
Best quote: “His face needs a brick.” (from a cranky Russian lady.)
Best quote: “His face needs a brick.” (from a cranky Russian lady.)
December 27, 2022
Mixed feelings about this one. I liked the character of Katie, quirky and cynical and the tarot aspect of it. The mystery started out good, she sees a picture of her best friend shot on a customer's phone. But overall the book couldn't decide what it wanted to be, romance, mystery, coming of age so it fell kind of flat for me
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September 9, 2025
3.5 ⭐️’s
This was a fun, fast-paced mystery that kept me entertained from start to finish. Katie is such a relatable, down-to-earth FMC. She may not have it all figured out - still stumbling her way through life but that doesn’t mean she isn’t savvy, charismatic, and wonderfully witty.
Between her flubs and mayhem, she somehow lands herself in the middle of a mystery. And Katie is not the type to step aside and let the authorities (half-)do their job. Instead, she asks questions, puzzles her way through, and snoops )just enough to keep things interesting).
What stood out most to me was how masterfully Lina Chen writes her characters. They’re imperfect, messy, and yet so deeply relatable that they feel like real people making real choices. That authenticity makes the mystery all the more compelling.
A quick, thoroughly enjoyable read, I’m already excited to dive into book two and see what Katie’s been up to.
This was a fun, fast-paced mystery that kept me entertained from start to finish. Katie is such a relatable, down-to-earth FMC. She may not have it all figured out - still stumbling her way through life but that doesn’t mean she isn’t savvy, charismatic, and wonderfully witty.
Between her flubs and mayhem, she somehow lands herself in the middle of a mystery. And Katie is not the type to step aside and let the authorities (half-)do their job. Instead, she asks questions, puzzles her way through, and snoops )just enough to keep things interesting).
What stood out most to me was how masterfully Lina Chen writes her characters. They’re imperfect, messy, and yet so deeply relatable that they feel like real people making real choices. That authenticity makes the mystery all the more compelling.
A quick, thoroughly enjoyable read, I’m already excited to dive into book two and see what Katie’s been up to.
October 29, 2024
Lina Chern's debut novel was such fun to read! I came for the local author and was immediately sucked in by the fantastic writing. Chern's protagonist, Katie True, is clever, funny, and quick to serve up a snarky comeback or a self-deprecating joke. Her wry observations hooked me from the first chapter, drawing me into a twisty mystery that kept me guessing until the very end.
February 3, 2023
The instant I saw this cover and read the synopsis I assumed this story would be 100% in my wheelhouse. I love tarot, mystery, a little fun mixed in and I was led to believe I would get all of that from this story when I really only got maybe 50% of that energy.
I always want to be in support of a debut novel but it just didn’t hit the mark for me. The premise and the setup are no doubt interesting and I was intrigued already in the first couple of chapters. Katie is a quirky but somewhat relatable character and charming enough that I didn’t cringe at certain cringeworthy, quirky girl, behavior. She kind of falls into the mystery by accident and I think that amps up the story.
Where it really fell short for me, is that the story never realized decided what it was. There’s the mystery of Marley, mixed with Katie trying to figure out her place in the world while also thinking in tarot card metaphors, while also half starting a romance that leads nowhere with Jamie? I just didn’t understand why certain elements needed to be added. The tarot wasn’t as big a part of the story as I assumed it would be and Jamie and Katie’s relationship truly felt like big brother, little sister for 90% of it.
It bums me out because overall, sure it wasn’t terrible at all but the mystery didn’t excite me by the halfway point. I wasn’t invested and I had no reason to carry about any of what was happening. It read like a lot of filler moments leading to maybe thirty pages of real action before the big finale. There was nothing there to grip my attention and then it all pieced together far too nicely at the end. Just not what I was expecting but it had a ton of potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I always want to be in support of a debut novel but it just didn’t hit the mark for me. The premise and the setup are no doubt interesting and I was intrigued already in the first couple of chapters. Katie is a quirky but somewhat relatable character and charming enough that I didn’t cringe at certain cringeworthy, quirky girl, behavior. She kind of falls into the mystery by accident and I think that amps up the story.
Where it really fell short for me, is that the story never realized decided what it was. There’s the mystery of Marley, mixed with Katie trying to figure out her place in the world while also thinking in tarot card metaphors, while also half starting a romance that leads nowhere with Jamie? I just didn’t understand why certain elements needed to be added. The tarot wasn’t as big a part of the story as I assumed it would be and Jamie and Katie’s relationship truly felt like big brother, little sister for 90% of it.
It bums me out because overall, sure it wasn’t terrible at all but the mystery didn’t excite me by the halfway point. I wasn’t invested and I had no reason to carry about any of what was happening. It read like a lot of filler moments leading to maybe thirty pages of real action before the big finale. There was nothing there to grip my attention and then it all pieced together far too nicely at the end. Just not what I was expecting but it had a ton of potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 27, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Play the Fool.
** Minor non-mysterious spoilers ahead **
Katie True is a typical middle child; she works an aimless job, adores tarot cards, and is still figuring out her path in life.
When her only friend, Marley, is murdered, she pulls a Nancy Drew and commits to solving the murder, committing to one of the only things she's ever done in her life.
But will it get her murdered, too?
Katie is a likable character; a bit of a mess, not focused but decent, not unkind.
She's not sure what she's good at yet, tarot cards for sure, but can't quite figure out what she wants in life, not unlike so many of us.
When she teams up with a kind police detective, she gets more than she bargained for, and realizes trying to solve Marley's murder and learning her true identity would lead Katie to finding her own true self.
The writing is good, from Katie's first person perspective with an easy flow and rhythm.
The narrative isn't very suspenseful or thrilling.
The pacing is a bit slow as Katie gets into misunderstood shenanigans as she conducts her Nancy Drew investigations, getting into trouble time and time again.
Some of the scenarios require serious disbelief suspension, not the least being how quickly the cop pulls Katie into his confidence and how fast they develop a friendship.
There's a twist at the end I didn't see coming (part of the disbelief suspension) but by that time, it was easy to go along for the ride.
This was a good debut with a character you can relate to.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
** Minor non-mysterious spoilers ahead **
Katie True is a typical middle child; she works an aimless job, adores tarot cards, and is still figuring out her path in life.
When her only friend, Marley, is murdered, she pulls a Nancy Drew and commits to solving the murder, committing to one of the only things she's ever done in her life.
But will it get her murdered, too?
Katie is a likable character; a bit of a mess, not focused but decent, not unkind.
She's not sure what she's good at yet, tarot cards for sure, but can't quite figure out what she wants in life, not unlike so many of us.
When she teams up with a kind police detective, she gets more than she bargained for, and realizes trying to solve Marley's murder and learning her true identity would lead Katie to finding her own true self.
The writing is good, from Katie's first person perspective with an easy flow and rhythm.
The narrative isn't very suspenseful or thrilling.
The pacing is a bit slow as Katie gets into misunderstood shenanigans as she conducts her Nancy Drew investigations, getting into trouble time and time again.
Some of the scenarios require serious disbelief suspension, not the least being how quickly the cop pulls Katie into his confidence and how fast they develop a friendship.
There's a twist at the end I didn't see coming (part of the disbelief suspension) but by that time, it was easy to go along for the ride.
This was a good debut with a character you can relate to.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
November 9, 2022
5 stars
Such a refreshing and surprising read this turned out to be. Very reminiscent of Janet Evanovich's style. Lots of funny moments that had me laughing out loud (I may have even rolled on the floor laughing!!!) and lots of action/suspense. I absolutely loved Katie - she is outrageous and funny and awkward. I also loved her brother, Owen - he's definitely on the spectrum and is so very charming in his mannerisms and frankness. And then there's Jamie, the detective who kind of gets caught in Katie's path. The way they interacted with each other just leaves you wanting more. I really hope this turns into a series and we can follow along in Katie's (and hopefully Jamie's) journey.
Such a refreshing and surprising read this turned out to be. Very reminiscent of Janet Evanovich's style. Lots of funny moments that had me laughing out loud (I may have even rolled on the floor laughing!!!) and lots of action/suspense. I absolutely loved Katie - she is outrageous and funny and awkward. I also loved her brother, Owen - he's definitely on the spectrum and is so very charming in his mannerisms and frankness. And then there's Jamie, the detective who kind of gets caught in Katie's path. The way they interacted with each other just leaves you wanting more. I really hope this turns into a series and we can follow along in Katie's (and hopefully Jamie's) journey.
March 9, 2023
Play the Fool has a really interesting concept: what happens when a neurotypical woman who reads tarot cards gets caught up in a murder? What I thought this book would be about was mystery, mayhem, and madness. And while I did get some of that because the main character, Katie, is pretty chaotic, this was more of a character driven book, where the mystery was more a vehicle to understand our characters more. This is more about how the mystery enables character development and growth because the focus on the mystery really isn't as prevalent, or as fleshed out, as I was thinking it would be, but the characters are.
Katie was a really misunderstood and lost FMC, but she is also quite hard on herself. Because she doesn't want to achieve as much, or on the same path, as her family, she is seen as a low achiever and she embraces that, even though the author makes clear that Katie is good at things in her own right. It was actually kind of heartbreaking to read at the beginning, of a person who just wants to be seen as valuable in her own right. I found that Katie was full of potential, but she was bogged down by others, who she believed. I wouldn't call her quirky, I wouldn't call her quirky, but instead lacked confidence in herself and didn't want to continue to fail the way she is told she does by others.
When she finally starts TRULY breaking out of that narrative and starts to believe in herself, the book ends. She was fun and I loved that she could "read" situations with tarot. I wish that aspect was explored a bit more because it is clear that the author is trying to showcase her abilities as atypical from what we expect of achievement, but it just didn't get there fully.
The relationship Katie has with her brother, Owen, and the detective on the case, Jamie, was amazing. It was like both of these characters could see the best in her, which was refreshing since Katie is so hard on herself. These characters also offered more diversity in terms of the social aspect of individuals (how not everyone needs to be super outgoing and have lots and lots of friends) and neurodivergence, and I appreciated that representation.
The actual mystery part was lacking, but again, I think that is because the mystery was supposed to be secondary to the characters. For the mystery, I was trying to figure out what happened and it was an easy read. So it wasn't extremely obvious what the outcome would be and I was flying through this book. I was interested, yes, but not overly invested in needing to know what happened. It seemed like you had to suspend disbelief a bit throughout and I never felt that Katie was in any real danger. The mystery didn't seem pressing and the bad guys didn't really seem that bad. The central idea was solid, but this would have been a slam dunk if the character development AND the mystery were equal.
Overall, I think this was a really solid book if you are interested in character driven mysteries and nonstandard characters! However, you may not be as enthralled if you read mysteries for the twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this book in exchange for an honest review!
Katie was a really misunderstood and lost FMC, but she is also quite hard on herself. Because she doesn't want to achieve as much, or on the same path, as her family, she is seen as a low achiever and she embraces that, even though the author makes clear that Katie is good at things in her own right. It was actually kind of heartbreaking to read at the beginning, of a person who just wants to be seen as valuable in her own right. I found that Katie was full of potential, but she was bogged down by others, who she believed. I wouldn't call her quirky, I wouldn't call her quirky, but instead lacked confidence in herself and didn't want to continue to fail the way she is told she does by others.
When she finally starts TRULY breaking out of that narrative and starts to believe in herself, the book ends. She was fun and I loved that she could "read" situations with tarot. I wish that aspect was explored a bit more because it is clear that the author is trying to showcase her abilities as atypical from what we expect of achievement, but it just didn't get there fully.
The relationship Katie has with her brother, Owen, and the detective on the case, Jamie, was amazing. It was like both of these characters could see the best in her, which was refreshing since Katie is so hard on herself. These characters also offered more diversity in terms of the social aspect of individuals (how not everyone needs to be super outgoing and have lots and lots of friends) and neurodivergence, and I appreciated that representation.
The actual mystery part was lacking, but again, I think that is because the mystery was supposed to be secondary to the characters. For the mystery, I was trying to figure out what happened and it was an easy read. So it wasn't extremely obvious what the outcome would be and I was flying through this book. I was interested, yes, but not overly invested in needing to know what happened. It seemed like you had to suspend disbelief a bit throughout and I never felt that Katie was in any real danger. The mystery didn't seem pressing and the bad guys didn't really seem that bad. The central idea was solid, but this would have been a slam dunk if the character development AND the mystery were equal.
Overall, I think this was a really solid book if you are interested in character driven mysteries and nonstandard characters! However, you may not be as enthralled if you read mysteries for the twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this book in exchange for an honest review!
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