May 1, 2021
Travel agent Leda Foley's inconsistent psychic abilities surface just enough to compel her to rebook Seattle PD detective Grady Merritt's flight. That's good news for Grady, whose previous flight blows up on takeoff, convincing him that Leda has what it takes to offer insights on a cold case he can't conquer. Leda readily agrees because she'd like to figure out who murdered her fianc�. Might these cases be somehow linked? From the Locus Award--winning Priest, treading mystery territory; with 50,000-copy first printing.
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July 5, 2021
This frothy blend of paranormal cozy and off-the-books police procedural from Priest (The Toll) stars travel agent Leda Foley, the owner of Foley’s Far-Fetched Flights of Fancy in Seattle, Wash., who also moonlights at a local bar, where she divines meaningful songs for the customers by means of psychometry. Her life changes when she acts on an overwhelming urge to change the flight plan of a client, Det. Grady Merritt of the Seattle PD. Her decision saves his life and leads Grady to hire her out of his own pocket to help him with a cold case. As Leda follows Grady to the scene of the crime and to interviews with persons of interest, she begins to sense that the case is connected to an even colder one: her fiancé’s unsolved murder from 18 months earlier. Soon witnesses and suspects are dying in unusual circumstances. Will Leda be next? Snappy patter and the irrepressible, goofy charm of Leda and her colorful friends more than compensate for the lack of thrills, chills, and breathtaking surprises. Readers will hope this is the start of a series. Agent: Stacia Decker, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary.
September 1, 2021
Priest, best known for her Clockwork Century series, dives into a new genre with this unique mystery. Leda Foley is scraping by as a new travel agent, trying to find clients in her hometown of Seattle. Still mourning the unexpected death of her fianc�, she keeps herself busy hanging out with her best friend and doing karaoke at a local bar. But Leda has a special gift--she's slightly psychic, able to see flashes of both what has happened and what might happen when she touches other people's belongings. Leda's gift saves Detective Grady Merritt when she tells him not to take a flight that ends up crashing. Grady thinks Leda could help him with a case he's been working, but Leda's not sure--until she realizes that her fianc�'s death might be connected to the crime. Light and irreverent, but with more serious themes, including grief and responsibility, this is an excellent series starter for Priest's fans as well as new readers. Suggest to those who enjoyed Mia Manansala's Arsenic and Adobo (2021).
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August 1, 2021
Travel agent Leda Foley, owner of Foley's Far-Fetched Flights of Fancy, has been honing her skills as a psychic and practicing "klairvoyant karaoke" regularly at a local bar. When she gets a strong feeling that she should reroute Grady Merritt's flight, he's upset, until the scheduled plane goes up in flames. Grady then shows up at Leda's office and introduces himself as a police detective; he wants to hire her to help solve a murder that has bothered him for 18 months. They visit the crime scene, and Leda gives Grady just enough clues before passing out from the effort. Her blinding white lights and flashes of insight eventually cause her to link Grady's case with the unsolved murder of her fianc� three years earlier. Even someone who isn't psychic can foresee that the killer will eventually focus on Leda, a constant worrier who finally refuses to be a victim. VERDICT Priest, the Locus Award-winning author of Boneshaker, is known for writing horror and steampunk. Her witty mystery has a likable amateur sleuth and a strong supporting cast. For fans of Wendall Thomas's offbeat travel agent Cyd Redondo.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN
Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.