Black Opal

Peri Jean Mace #2

by Catie Rhodes

A magical gemstone. A haunted plantation house. A murderer on the loose. Destiny and ghosts can really ruin a road trip.

Peri Jean Mace travels to Louisiana’s plantation country to catch her two-timing boyfriend with his pants down. A car wreck later, she’s stuck in a house full of strangers solving a decades-old murder mystery.

But when Peri Jean finds a necklace that enhances her supernatural abilities, she unearths secrets a murderer thought forever buried. Now a target herself, Peri Jean is in a race against a stone-cold killer masquerading as a regular person.

Can Peri Jean figure out the truth in time?

Black Opal is book two in the Peri Jean Mace Ghost Thriller series. If you like your Urban Fantasy with ghosts, family secrets, and a gutsy heroine, you’ll love Black Opal.

Buy Black Opal today and take a wild ride with Peri Jean Mace.

Genres: Paranormal, Mystery, Fantasy, Ghosts, Thriller, Urban Fantasy, Romance

130 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 28, 2013

About the author

Catie Rhodes is the author of the Peri Jean Mace Ghost Thrillers.

She was born and raised behind the pine curtain in East Texas. Her favorite memories of childhood are sitting around listening to her family tell lies.

Some of the tales were spooky. Some had grim endings. Some were sidesplittingly funny. The stories all had one thing in common: each had an element of the mysterious or the unexplained.

Those weird stories molded Catie into a purveyor of her own brand of lies and legends. One day, she found the courage to start writing down her stories. It changed her life forever.

Catie Rhodes lives steps from the Sam Houston National Forest with her long-suffering husband and her armpit terrorist of a little dog.

Reviews

[E.L. Farris · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how certain characters feel like an old pair of Levis, all tattered and comfortable? That's how Catie Rhodes' Peri Jean Mace feels in this novella, BLACK OPAL. I feel like Peri's an old family friend: a little bit weird, guaranteed to make me laugh, and really quite lovable in the end.

Picking up right where Rhodes' first novel leaves off, BLACK OPAL takes us even deeper south, to a huge mansion that belongs to the family of Peri's cop boyfriend Dean. Right away, we feel Peri's horror at seeing ghosts, a skill she neither wants nor can reject. With the help of a ghostly apparition or two or two thousand, Peri helps solve a crime that long ago tore Dean's family apart.

Rhodes does a nifty job leaving clues for the reader--not smacking us over the head with it, but giving the reader enough to sort of guess who the criminal might be. Or maybe not, lol. You'll need to read this well-written, fast-paced paranormal mystery to find out whodunit.

I give this an enthusiastic five stars, and look forward to reading the next Peri Jean Mace mystery.

[Stacy Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, let me say I received this story as an advanced copy for an honest review.

In Black Opal, Catie Rhodes's talent as a writer really shines through. She captures Peri's honest voice so well we are immediately in the character's head and feeling her swell of emotions as she rushes to her boyfriend's family home. She believes he's cheating on her, and because Peri's all kinds of emotionally stressed, she makes a hotheaded decision that sends her straight into a mess of a mystery.

The action picks up right away with Peri walking into Dean's secrets and of course, a ghost needs her to solve her murder. The setting of an opulent Louisiana planation provides the perfect backdrop for this mystery. I loved following Peri through the house, waiting to see what she'd find next.

As Peri works to solve the case, her relationship with Dean is tested, and I was really happy with how both characters evolved. The mystery is top notch, full of red herrings and wrong turns, and in the end, a great, surprising twist.

All in all, this is an excellent follow up to the first Peri Jean novel, FOREVER ROAD. I can't wait to read the next in the series!

[Dale Amidei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catie Rhodes' second installment of the Peri Jean Mace series is a seamless extension of the first. Though the mystery and setting differ, the familiarity of the characters and the overall vibe of the story provide a satisfying fix of writing that becomes an addiction.

Very roughly half the length of "Forever Road," Peri Jean's followup retains the same first-person perspective and effective, masterful presentation of her debut. Ms. Mace is pulled deeper into her terrifying situation through events she cannot control. Needful spirits beckon toward a resolution only she can provide. Chosen by a mysterious necklace that seems to have goals of its own, the heroine is immersed in an otherworldly experience promising either to fulfill her purpose or drive her mad.

Though standalone, "Black Opal" should be enjoyed as a sequel to "Forever Road." Fans who enjoy either will find the remainder of the series, however many Rhodes has on the way, essential.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Just like with the first book in this series, Forever Road, I really quite enjoyed reading this book. This is the second book in the series and shouldn't be read on its own. I thought that it was an easy book to read and the story flowed well. It was a good continuation from the first book. I again liked how it was a murder mystery but with a paranormal twist. I also liked the fact that the author doesn't let on who is behind the murders and instead we get to work in out alongside Peri. I am looking forward to continuing to read more from this series.

[Cheryl (Super Slump) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book of the Perri Jean Mace series I have read and I must say I am totally hooked on the emotional, kick-ass character!
The novel carries on almost seamlessly from the first and this time we delve deeper into Dean's backstory while Perri Jean tries to bring closure to his family regarding his sister's disappearance.
Superbly written with excellent pacing and a host of characters to love and loathe it's easy to see why this series has now reached it's eighth installment. Can't wait to see what mysteries the next book holds!

[David Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

And so the hauntings continue....

I like Peri Jean Mace. She can see ghosts, has a hell of a lot of baggage, and beats the crap out of people who get on her wrong side. In this story, she is unwittingly drawn into a mystery linked to her boyfriend Dean and finds out a lot more about his family than she expected. As before, the characters are believable right from the start and there is a total bitch in this story. The ghosts are still not nice, even if looking for a favour, and Peri Jean notices that her powers are changing again, not necessarily to her liking. Catie Rhodes has discovered how to write great mysteries and balance them perfectly with paranormal occurrences and just the right dash of a romantic interest, without making things too intricate or too mushy. If you haven't read anything by this author yet, give it a try, I'm heading straight to book 3!

[Fallon Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Forever Road last year and really enjoyed it, especially Peri Jean and Dean's relationship. And I liked seeing that expanded on in this novella. Even if they were both having to deal with their issues. And I hated Lisette.

"I am Lisette David-Turgeau-Carter. I was Dean's wife for about fifteen years." - yeah, I knew she was a so&so right then.

"Let's get away from the house before you let loose on me." - He already knows her so well after just six months.

"What else could happen to make this tip worse?" - A question you really should never ask yourself. Something worse always happens.

I felt so bad for Dean, between Shayne's disappearance/death and Lisette's infidelity and overall nastiness. No wonder he's so serious. I loved that they worked things out without a lot of unnecessary misunderstandings & she was able to get herself out of trouble in the end.

I look forward to reading more about these two.

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book- I was so sorry when I finished it as I wanted it to carry on! To me that is always the sign of a good writer.

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peri Jean Mace is a hard working, hard fighting young woman from Gaslight City, Texas. Her family is down to an aging, ill grandmother. She's has a sometimes boyfriend named Dean and she sees ghosts.

But at the beginning of Black Opal she's seeing RED, 'cause she finds a receipt for an expensive dinner for two at an exclusive restaurant and she wasn't one of the two. So it's into her vintage Nova, the one her daddy left her, and off to Louisiana to confront Dean about his secret. She arrives at a massive plantation house and learns that Dean has many secrets as well as a ghost or two.

The second book of the Peri Jean Mace series, she is improving her ghost seeing skills and reactions, improving her relationship with Dean and learning how to belong to a family.

I like Peri Jean, I actually relate to a lot of her feelings and emotional responses; I just don't see ghosts.

[Kim A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. I couldn't put it down. I had never heard of Catie Rhodes, but am now a fan! Peri sees ghosts, but Catie had me seeing every character in my mind's eye. I was rooting for Peri through the entire book, especially when she came up against the , self-centered, snobby, self-righteous Lisette. I can hardly wait to see where the necklace takes her in the next book. Will the man she see's on the side of the road when leaving Dean's family home be making an appearance?

[Alica McKenna-Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun series! I love Peri Jean, I love the world she lives in. I was born in Georgia but left when I was three so I know nothing of the south or small town so this is eye opening for me. Now this isn't you cute cozy mystery small town this is your poor deep Southern small town and I can't get enough! And poor Peri Jean she leaves her comfort zone in this book, but the ghost follow her. A really fun mystery with great characters.

[Kassandra Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading this novella before its release and I was quite impressed. I thoroughly enjoy Peri Jean! The first book in the series was the best debut novel I think I've ever read and this follow-up story is even better.

The characters have great depth and watching the development of the relationship between Peri and Dean was as interesting to me as the mystery itself.

[Melinda VanLone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this! Getting to know Peri better was fun, but the spooky factor in this story just made it all that much more awesome. Peri's abilities are growing, and with that comes deeper mysteries and scarier situations. And a bit of romance, too. If you like paranormal mysteries, you'll love this series.

[Lauralynn Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting, only taking a few breaks. I never do that because I get restless, but I couldn't put this one down. I'm going to put this on my best reads list for 2015!

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been awhile since I read the first Peri Jean Mace Ghost book but "Black Opal" easily put me back in the swing of things. This read causes our favorite ghost seer to confront her insecurities in her relationship with the very controlled detective, Dean Turgeaus.

Dean's father has an accident and is hospitalized; so, he takes a trip home to Louisiana. Things become a little complicated when he realizes that he left his wallet at home and he starts to freak out. He calls Peri Jean and she goes over to his place to retrieve the wallet from the glove compartment of his car and that's when she discovers a receipt that makes her suspect him of infidelity. So, she jumps into her car and heads for Louisiana where she quickly realizes that Dean didn't inform her of his family's wealth and prestige. She also didn't plan on running into Dean's ex-wife, Lisette.

After Dean and Peri Jean have one heck.of an argument, she storms off in her car where her brakes lock when she swerves to avoid hitting the ghost of Dean's long missing sister, Shayne. Shayne guides Peri Jean to her missing body and now Dean and his mother both enlist Peri Jean's help in solving her murder..All is not what it seems to be and soon Peri Jean learns quite a lot about Dean's heritage and connections to the occult. Also, with his grandmother's necklace following her around causes some shock and awe all around

This was another fun read with great characters you can easily relate to and enjoy. I also enjoyed reading about Lisette, the guttersnipe ex of Dean. She sure pick puts a spin on the mean girl concept. I am loving this series the more I read. I will be quickly going on to the next book in this series.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Black Opal”, second in the 'Peri Jean Mace' series, sees Dean visiting his family and Peri hot on his cheating trail!
'Cept he's not and Peri is less than impressed with (a) the magnificence of the family estate, and (b) the more or less constant presence of his ex wife Lisette (a nasty piece of goods if ever there was one).
After she's convinced to stay for a few days Peri finds herself haunted by the black opal necklace of the title.
It follows her around like a faithful hound!
It's definitely magical but, given Peri's antipathy to her gift/curse, she hasn't a clue what it does.
Central to the story is Dean's long-missing sister, Shayne - one day she just wasn't there and no trace of her has ever been found …. until Peri arrives, that is!
There's something strange and sometimes disjointed about the writing style. It's almost as if a second author or, perhaps, an editor made changes.
For example some of the time Peri's language would make a sailor blush yet, occasionally, she's elaborately prim for no particular reason that I could fathom.
3 Stars.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second instalment in the Peri Jean Mace series was a great read, brilliantly written and with excellent characters that really spring to life off the page. Dean's family are fabulously described, and I wish I had his younger sister! I won't go into details of the storyline - I hate spoilers and you can get enough of an idea from the blurb above to find out what the book's about generally - but with a murder to solve, a suspicious death, a troublesome ghost, a bitchy ex-wife causing trouble, and a black opal necklace that keeps appearing at Peri Jean's side (whether she wants it or not!) - not to mention meeting the boyfriend's (surprisingly!) very rich family for the first time! - there's a lot of to deal with! All in all, an excellent book that I'd highly recommend to all lovers of mysteries with a supernatural twist. Definitely looking forward to reading more by this author in the future!

[Renee Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm addicted to the Peri Jean mysteries already!

Peri Jean's boyfriend, Dean, is running for town sheriff but he seems to be hiding some of his past. He had to make a trip to see his dad and forgets his wallet. Instead of just sending it, Peri Jean personally delivers it. When she's almost there she sees a ghost walking on the side of the road and is then mortified by the grand house and Dean's rich family! Naturally there's something else he hasn't mentioned and that's his dead sister, Shayne. Before you know it, she is seeing more of his dead sister and finding her remains. Now she had to solve the mystery of who killed her so long ago. It's a whirlwind of twists, a nasty ex-wife, a great family, secrets, a necklace that keeps finding her and hiding places in the old, but beautiful Louisiana plantation house. This is a great book and enjoyable read. I'm really looking forward to reading more of the Peri Jean mystery thrillers!

[Bonnie_blu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping this, the second book in the series, would improve on the deficiencies of the first, but that did not happen. For example:
--Right from the start, the main character (Peri Jean) is throwing a temper tantrum like a two-year old child. There is no character growth from the first novel.
--Also, she shows very little growth in figuring out how to deal with the ghosts she sees. After being able to see ghosts most of her life, you'd think she'd be better at handling them.
--As with the first novel, the perpetrator of the murder is obvious within the first few pages, as is the motive.
--Peri Jean smokes like a chimney, and my first thought when she entered Dean's family's home was that she must have stunk to high heaven. She is a young woman who is destroying her health by smoking, and the author is doing a real disservice to her readers but having Peri Jean smoke since many of her readers will be young women. Peri Jean thinks she is rebelling and acting tough by smoking, but all she is doing is showing how immature she is.

One positive aspect about this book versus the first is that it is about half the length.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I liked how even though Peri Jean and Dean both have issues and they had their fight at the start they soon made up and actually ended up moving forward in their relationship. It was character growth people! Once again both the murderer and the reason for the murder were glaringly obvious fairly early in the piece but that was ok because I am reading this more for the characters and the ghost stuff than the mystery. The other thing I liked was despite her best efforts Lisette wasn’t able to come between Dean and Peri Jean. PJ is able to give as good as she gets and Dean is delightfully straightforward about how he has no interest in rekindling things and is with Peri Jean. Looking forward to the next one.

[Kat Klein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peri and Dean have been together for 6 months when this book starts. Due to Peri's insecurities and abandonment issues she suspects him of infidelity and rushes to his childhood home to confront him. When she arrives she finds things are not what she expected... on any front. Soon she finds herself embroiled in a 20 year old murder, a necklace with a mind of its own, and a ghost who wants her family to know what happened to her. In spite of being uncomfortable with Peri's abilities Dean asks her to use her help solve the mystery of his sisters disappearance.

A good story, although much shorter than the first one. Still I enjoyed it, and I can't wait to jump into the next installment.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cop boyfriend wanted her to mail his keys to him but when she finds indications that he is cheating on her she drives her old car from Texas to the Louisiana bayou to confront him. What she finds is that his family lives in a plantation house and has the kind of money to keep it up. She meets his ex wife and all of his family. Including the ghost of his murdered sister who needs her to out her murderer. Lots of twists and suspense, family issues and more. A bit different from the usual, and that adds to the enjoyment!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great mystery

Anyone who is a fan of southern mysteries should enjoy this series. Ms. Rhodes has a distinct talent for describing small town life and sensibilities and incorporating them into her stories. The characters feel as real and genuine as your next door neighbor. It's easy to get drawn into the story and cheer for and cringe at Peri Jean as she learns to come to grips with her very special tie to the supernatural.

[Annette Aguilar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Fantastic plot, love this series! Wonderful story catches you at the beginning and keeps you hooked til the end! Many strange twists and turns, with lots of mayhem throw in to confuse you! Not til the very end do you find out who the real murderer is. Just goes to show you that you never really know the people in your life. Dean and Peri Jean have a lot to overcome to make their love strong enough to survive, but both are willing to try. Hopefully the ghosts won't tear them apart!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second installment of Peri Jean's tale was immensely more satisfying than the first. It was not drawn out, but short and to the point. I didn't feel like I missed out on anything though. I'm hesitant to buy the next book. The reviews sound as if it's comparable to the first, which had a little too much going on.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Peri Jean meets her boyfriend's family ghostly happenings cause quite a ruckus! A very special necklace starts appearing wherever she goes, making her very nervous. Of course, there's a murder to solve. Peri Jean is such an easy to like character her interactions and inner thoughts make these books a joy for me to read.

[Jessica (Read book. Repeat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but a super fun ride. I love the way the Catie writes her characters. The stories are fun adventures, and I always find I have trouble putting them down. I love that Peri is just a normal person with a gift that she doesn't know what to do with or even enjoy having and she is not OP in anyway, the characters are always relate-able in that they have flaws and no one is perfect.

[louise davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely entertaining book. I love this series and I love the main character Peri Jean. I can't wait to see what happens next. You can't miss these reads. These books will pull you in and you have to hurry and find out what will happen. You can't go wrong with this series. Well worth the time to read.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Peri Jean Mace. She is just a well-fleshed out character. She's flawed, but in a way that makes her relatable, and thank you Catie for penning a woman who isn't afraid to get physical when she needs to. I also appreciate how the plot is well thought out and plausible. Nothing is as frustrating as a nebulous plot that goes nowhere. Well done!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read but I had the bad guy picked early on and I found the story quite predictable. I wasn’t really a fan of Peri Jean, I didn’t like her character at all, so I doubt I will read anymore in the series even though I liked the touch of paranormal helping the main character solve the case. I’d recommend it as a good murder mystery that’s solved easily.