Dru’s Short Musing:
This book immediately grabbed my attention, quickly became a page-turner as I had to know more about tarot-reading Danika Dizon and her journey as a young private investigator.
This was a fun book to read with crisp writing and a comfortable tone. The author did a great job in setting the stage in the multi-plot drama where good family dynamics come into play. The mystery was nicely executed with a crime, a murder, suspects and clues yet to be discovered. When all were put together, you have a well-processed tale that I could not put down until all was said and done. The case started out to be small, but the more Danika looked for evidence, the case got bigger than she imagined. There were a few twists and turns and when I thought I knew who was behind it all, the author changed directions all to enhance my reading pleasure. This was a delightfully entertaining story, and I hope there are more tarot reading and exciting exploits with Danika and her friends in the future.
Genre: Young Adult Traditional Mystery
Release: May 13, 2025
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Purchase Link
Book Synopsis:
The young adult debut from the award-winning author of Arsenic and Adobo! When a high school tarot reader’s latest client goes missing after a troubling reading, she must apply everything she’s learned from her private investigator mother to solve a case of her own.
Danika Dizon is a natural problem-solver. Thanks to her private investigator mom and mystery author dad, she’s equipped with the skills to offer guidance to anxious classmates who come to her for a tarot reading between classes. For a price, of course.
But when one of her clients vanishes shortly after they’re dealt a death card, the girl’s younger sister Gaby begs Danika to figure out what went wrong. Danika takes on the case, thinking it’s the perfect way to prove to her parents that she should be an official investigator in the family’s detective agency.
What starts off as a compelling challenge quickly devolves into something darker as Danika and Gaby peel back layer after layer of the secret life the missing girl has been living. A life that those involved would do anything to keep from being revealed…
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
I am a huge Manansala fan and can’t wait to get this one … though I am far from young adult.
YA mysteries can be so fun! That’s a fun age to revisit, when so much seems possible. I’ve read other books of Mia’s and loved the cultural flavor and family connections.