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Dead Spread: A House of Cards Mystery
From the author of Sasquatch, Baby!, this cozy mystery delights with tarot tips, twisty turns, and MURDER.
When tarot card reader Carrie Dettwiler stumbles across the mayor’s dead body on a random Tuesday, town gossip reaches a fever pitch—and everyone’s convinced she and her rescue raven Waggery have performed a deadly dark ritual. Carrie deals with the cards she’s dealt, turning over every clue, only to be blown off course by her gale-force feelings for tattoo artist Stormy Portwood, who breezes into town at the same time people start dying. Determined to divine the criminal who’s terrorizing the citizens of Prosperity, Carrie must rely on her dangerous knowledge of the town’s secret history to reveal the killer.
When tarot card reader Carrie Dettwiler stumbles across the mayor’s dead body on a random Tuesday, town gossip reaches a fever pitch—and everyone’s convinced she and her rescue raven Waggery have performed a deadly dark ritual. Carrie deals with the cards she’s dealt, turning over every clue, only to be blown off course by her gale-force feelings for tattoo artist Stormy Portwood, who breezes into town at the same time people start dying. Determined to divine the criminal who’s terrorizing the citizens of Prosperity, Carrie must rely on her dangerous knowledge of the town’s secret history to reveal the killer.
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
314 pages, Paperback
Published August 2, 2023
1 person is currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Bethany Browning
9 books15 followersBethany Browning is the BIBA- and Indieverse-winning author of Sasquatch, Baby!, Shimmerfish, Dead Spread, Queen of Tentacles, Trouble's Afoot, and Men Going Mad. She's also co-writer of the independent film War of the Wills, available on Amazon and Tubi. Her stories have been published in Esoterica Magazine, JAKE, Mudroom, Filth, Drabbledark, Stories We Tell After Midnight, Halloween Horrors, The Hallowzine, Allegory, and more. Learn more at bethanybrowning.com, and follow her on Threads @bethanybrowningbooks.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 26, 2023
Word play, tarot, ravens, Poe, murder mystery, small town, and wine; all elements for an epic book!
This was my second book by Bethany Browning. All of BB’s characters are intriguing and well developed. The plot is well thought out and the story has some predictability and equal surprise. The cliffhanger ending has me reeling for the next book in the dead spread series. I can’t wait to learn more about Aunt Inez and see how Carrie and Stormy’s relationship evolves.
Thank you Book Sirens and Bethany Browning for the arc! I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was my second book by Bethany Browning. All of BB’s characters are intriguing and well developed. The plot is well thought out and the story has some predictability and equal surprise. The cliffhanger ending has me reeling for the next book in the dead spread series. I can’t wait to learn more about Aunt Inez and see how Carrie and Stormy’s relationship evolves.
Thank you Book Sirens and Bethany Browning for the arc! I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 21, 2023
Dead Spread by Bethany Browning is the first book in her House of Cards Mystery series and it is like no other book I have ever read...and I have read a lot of books !!
In Dead Spread readers are introduced to a very nice, quaint town called Prosperity where Carrie Dettwiler is taking after her Aunt Inez and running the tarot card reading business out of the cottage her aunt left her. Sadly the tarot card reading business isn't making enough money to keep the debt collectors off her back but she is doing the best that she can.
Unfortunately after doing a reader for one of her regular clients, things turn dark with the mayor, Carrie's friend, turning up dead in his office and it looks like he is holding one of the cards from Carrie's deck.....and Carrie is the one to find him. Everyone in town believes that Carrie is the one that killed him so she decides to look into his death to clear her name. However, she ends up going down a dark tunnel, like the ones under the town of Prosperity that have been there since Prohibition.
While Carrie is looking into Mayor Preston Brix's death, she meets Stormy Portwood who is full of secrets which Carrie wants to know all of them and would like nothing more that to put the mayor's murder behind them so that they can get to know each other better. But when Carrie's uncle is attacked, the team up to solve the murder and the attack.
Readers will fall in love with Dead Spread and really enjoy the uniqueness of the story. Readers will love the town of Prosperity and it's history as well as all of the characters ... and Carrie's pet is a talking Raven ... how more different can one get ? I highly recommend grabbing your copy and heading to your comfy reading spot with a beverage and a snack. And the way that Browning ends the story ensures that you will be keeping an eye out for the second book in this series.
January 28, 2024
I was looking forward to reading this, as someone who enjoys tarot. The writing is good, and the main character is engaging. However, it fails to deliver quality female representation, which was my main reason for DNF'ing this book.
I did enjoy that this was a change from your usual cozy, where everyone seems to be best friends. But I can't deal with a book where every female character other than the protagonist and the love interest is bitchy, gossipy, intolerant, and insufferable. I *really* didn't appreciate the protagonist referring to a woman's new boyfriend as her "new victim." There's also a cliché sensationalist journalist, because of course there is, and a crochety old woman. You don't have to make everybody sweet and best friends. Just add some more layers to the characters. For example, maybe the crochety old woman is terribly lonely and has had a hard time opening up to other people after her husband died.
The writing is a little too on-the-nose. The protagonist proclaims that she's in massive debt from an English degree at an elite school and calls herself a "word nerd". She should be endearing but just comes off as pretentious, especially with a pet raven named "Waggery." You quote Edgar Allan Poe to it? How original.
The writing is also lazy. The scene where she has an instant kismet connection with the love interest is too contrived. Right away, she understands her perfectly and quotes back all of her obscure references. The love interest also has a ridiculous name: Stormy Portwood, which is a too-obvious reference to the phrase "any port in a storm."
Finally, this did not affect my rating, but I've always found it a bit annoying when people say that your first deck needs to be gifted "or else it's bad luck". It can be a little impractical, especially if you don't know anyone who practices tarot.
I did enjoy that this was a change from your usual cozy, where everyone seems to be best friends. But I can't deal with a book where every female character other than the protagonist and the love interest is bitchy, gossipy, intolerant, and insufferable. I *really* didn't appreciate the protagonist referring to a woman's new boyfriend as her "new victim." There's also a cliché sensationalist journalist, because of course there is, and a crochety old woman. You don't have to make everybody sweet and best friends. Just add some more layers to the characters. For example, maybe the crochety old woman is terribly lonely and has had a hard time opening up to other people after her husband died.
The writing is a little too on-the-nose. The protagonist proclaims that she's in massive debt from an English degree at an elite school and calls herself a "word nerd". She should be endearing but just comes off as pretentious, especially with a pet raven named "Waggery." You quote Edgar Allan Poe to it? How original.
The writing is also lazy. The scene where she has an instant kismet connection with the love interest is too contrived. Right away, she understands her perfectly and quotes back all of her obscure references. The love interest also has a ridiculous name: Stormy Portwood, which is a too-obvious reference to the phrase "any port in a storm."
Finally, this did not affect my rating, but I've always found it a bit annoying when people say that your first deck needs to be gifted "or else it's bad luck". It can be a little impractical, especially if you don't know anyone who practices tarot.
April 13, 2024
I really enjoyed Dead Spread by Bethany Browning. Dead Spread is a really unique book. If you were to read it aloud, you would likely get tongue tied. Example: Mayor Scare: Snooping Pair Beware Villain with Fair Hair.
The setting is a small town called Prosperity. It is an old town that was built around the Hoggarty winery. We first see Carrie Dettwiler in her home that she inherited from her Aunt Inez. Aunt Inez was a tarot card reader and Carrie has taken over the business from her aunt. Carrie also inherited a black raven, Waggery, who is hilarious because he talks and screams like a human, gives kisses, and is a menace at times and spoiled rotten. So Carrie's day doesn't go all that well. Her regular reading of the day comes in and receives a dark warning. After that, her friend, Mayor Brix, calls her and asks Carrie to return something to him. She makes it to his office only to find him laying dead on the floor face down in a pool of his own blood and he's holding what appears to be one of her tarot cards. So with the whole town thinking she is a murdered, she decides to investigate herself and clear her name. There are so many twists and turns in this book it is almost hard to keep up. But the book kept a steady pace and I couldn't wait to see who did it and why they did it. The book leaves off on a cliffhanger and I am interested to read the sequel. I think anyone will enjoy this quirky, unique read. It was very entertaining!
Thank you to #BookSirens and author #Bethany Browning for letting me have this sneak peek into Carrie's world.
The setting is a small town called Prosperity. It is an old town that was built around the Hoggarty winery. We first see Carrie Dettwiler in her home that she inherited from her Aunt Inez. Aunt Inez was a tarot card reader and Carrie has taken over the business from her aunt. Carrie also inherited a black raven, Waggery, who is hilarious because he talks and screams like a human, gives kisses, and is a menace at times and spoiled rotten. So Carrie's day doesn't go all that well. Her regular reading of the day comes in and receives a dark warning. After that, her friend, Mayor Brix, calls her and asks Carrie to return something to him. She makes it to his office only to find him laying dead on the floor face down in a pool of his own blood and he's holding what appears to be one of her tarot cards. So with the whole town thinking she is a murdered, she decides to investigate herself and clear her name. There are so many twists and turns in this book it is almost hard to keep up. But the book kept a steady pace and I couldn't wait to see who did it and why they did it. The book leaves off on a cliffhanger and I am interested to read the sequel. I think anyone will enjoy this quirky, unique read. It was very entertaining!
Thank you to #BookSirens and author #Bethany Browning for letting me have this sneak peek into Carrie's world.
August 20, 2023
I am both a word nerd and a bird nerd, so when I saw that one of the main characters of this book was a raven, I knew I had to read it.
I was NOT disappointed.
Carrie Dettwiler is a Stanford graduate who is up to her eyeballs in student loans, an emotional support person to a raven, and a gifted tarot card reader. When Carrie finds the town mayor's body, she is convinced that everyone is going to think she did it. The fact that multiple factions, including the town journalist are pushing that narrative, doesn't help either. When she meets Stormy, a beautiful woman with a huge motive for wanting the Mayor dead, they decide to work together to find the real killer.
I absolutely enjoyed this book. I loved how the author pulled in information about Tarot and used it to help us understand, both the deck and the people. Stormy and Carrie were both intriguing to read about and I loved how they both brought out different strengths in the other and how they complemented each other as well. With Stormy seeing the worst in people and Carrie only seeing the good, no matter how many times that bites her in the tailfeathers.
Waggery the Raven was hilarious! I enjoyed his antics and am interested to see how his relationship with Carrie develops. He is equal parts brillant toddler and mysterious fellow. I can't wait to see what nefarious schemes he gets up to next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was NOT disappointed.
Carrie Dettwiler is a Stanford graduate who is up to her eyeballs in student loans, an emotional support person to a raven, and a gifted tarot card reader. When Carrie finds the town mayor's body, she is convinced that everyone is going to think she did it. The fact that multiple factions, including the town journalist are pushing that narrative, doesn't help either. When she meets Stormy, a beautiful woman with a huge motive for wanting the Mayor dead, they decide to work together to find the real killer.
I absolutely enjoyed this book. I loved how the author pulled in information about Tarot and used it to help us understand, both the deck and the people. Stormy and Carrie were both intriguing to read about and I loved how they both brought out different strengths in the other and how they complemented each other as well. With Stormy seeing the worst in people and Carrie only seeing the good, no matter how many times that bites her in the tailfeathers.
Waggery the Raven was hilarious! I enjoyed his antics and am interested to see how his relationship with Carrie develops. He is equal parts brillant toddler and mysterious fellow. I can't wait to see what nefarious schemes he gets up to next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 28, 2023
Carrie Detwiler is a tarot card reader, and not a psychic, in Prosperity California. She lives in her Aunt's cottage with her pet raven Waggery and struggles to stay financialy solvent. When she finds that Waggery has purloined a ring from her friend the mayor she and Waggery head to city hall to return it, only to find the mayor dead in a pool of blood. After calling 911 she heads for home to keep the raven from disturbing the crime scene. She then heads to the mayor's residence to return the ring only to come across Stormy Portwood, who is the mayor's unknown about daughter, and someone Carrie is extremely attracted to. What ensues is a crazy search for the truth while trying not be jailed herself for the murder. Gosip flys about the small town like leaves in the fall and many fingers are pointed and more mayhem and murder occurs. Can Carrie find the truth before the killer catches her?
Disclaimer
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Disclaimer
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 30, 2025
Ah, the cozy mystery - it's a difficult genre, as it has to straddle the line between cutesy but not too ridiculous, while also dealing with grim crimes, without being maudlin, yet not so whimsical as to appear callous. Rather than the crime, it's the characters that drive and are at the heart of the stories. So how does Dead Spread do? For me, it was more pitfall than success. After the first dozen or so chapters, while at first charmed by the protagonist, I found her to be completely oblivious and irritating. Her raven, on the other hand, is the real star of the book and is utter perfection. Unfortunately, the solution to the murder mystery and in fact most of the mysteries that pop up in the story are obvious to the reader very early on in the story, making the investigation by the two main characters, Carrie and Stormy (an extremely distracting name), more silly than sleuthy. I liked the small, quaint town feel, but the characters weren't developed enough to be unique and memorable and ultimately the story itself was dissatisfying in its non-mystery for me.
August 8, 2023
Dead Stiffs and Tarot Glyphs: Nosy Cozy Shenanigans Shouldered by Canny Card Reader and Corvid Companion
My god, this ticks so many boxes for me. All my favorite cozy tropes, a cool and clever love interest with a shadowy history, lots of tarot, an impressive amount of wordplay, and a scene-stealing talking raven who says far more than "Nevermore." He even has a girlfriend who's a duck and he's addicted and dismantling doorknobs.
This balanced story is everything you want and expect from a cozy: a complex web of small town drama, colorful characters with silly names and loads of dirty laundry to air, and of course, murrrderrr!
By chapter 8, I found myself searching Amazon for more of this author's work. I may have received an advance copy from Booksirens, but I assure you, my love for this book is genuine.
My god, this ticks so many boxes for me. All my favorite cozy tropes, a cool and clever love interest with a shadowy history, lots of tarot, an impressive amount of wordplay, and a scene-stealing talking raven who says far more than "Nevermore." He even has a girlfriend who's a duck and he's addicted and dismantling doorknobs.
This balanced story is everything you want and expect from a cozy: a complex web of small town drama, colorful characters with silly names and loads of dirty laundry to air, and of course, murrrderrr!
By chapter 8, I found myself searching Amazon for more of this author's work. I may have received an advance copy from Booksirens, but I assure you, my love for this book is genuine.
September 16, 2023
When I saw this was a Sapphic Cozy Mystery set in a small town where the main character is a Tarot Card Reader, I was all in.
Carrie inherited her Aunt’s home and her Raven. She is struggling to pay off her student loans. When she takes some coffee to the Mayor and stumbles on his dead body. She realizes that she may be a suspect and needs to solve the murder. Along the way, she meets the Mayor’s beautiful daughter and falls in love. This book has all the elements of a cozy mystery including a cast of quirky characters set in a small town. This book is paced quickly. It took me a bit to connect with the characters, but once I did enjoyed this book very much.
If you love word play, birds, small town mystery, quirky characters, a love story, Poe, and Tarot. This is the book for you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Carrie inherited her Aunt’s home and her Raven. She is struggling to pay off her student loans. When she takes some coffee to the Mayor and stumbles on his dead body. She realizes that she may be a suspect and needs to solve the murder. Along the way, she meets the Mayor’s beautiful daughter and falls in love. This book has all the elements of a cozy mystery including a cast of quirky characters set in a small town. This book is paced quickly. It took me a bit to connect with the characters, but once I did enjoyed this book very much.
If you love word play, birds, small town mystery, quirky characters, a love story, Poe, and Tarot. This is the book for you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 14, 2023
This book is good! It's also unusual for having a pet raven - well, he often does what he wants, but he's a fun character. Carrie learned the art of reading tarot cards from her Aunt Inez, and carried on after her death. Life is tough for Carrie, especially when a few people in town are convinced she's a witch and a certain reporter goes to great lengths to report news, true or false. When she discovers the mayor's body, she's of course the immediate suspect. Her investigations lead her in many directions - the raven sometimes helps, and sometimes complicates matters! I found Carrie to be a strong and resourceful character and enjoyed following her as she interviews and pokes around to find the truth. - I received a review copy and freely leave this honest review.
August 17, 2023
Dead Spread is a great, Halloween-y cozy mystery about a tarot card reader, Carrie, who lives in the small town of Prosperity, CA. When the mayor winds up dead, she discovers the body, and the gossip network soon accuses her of murder. With the help of the mayor's estranged daughter, Stormy, Carrie must solve the mystery and protect her loved ones from the murderer on the loose.
Dead Spread includes an LGBTQ+ romance, a pet raven, and lots of puns. I would recommend it to all goths and goth-lights, pun enthusiasts, or those who enjoy their cozy mysteries with the suggestion of the supernatural. It was really great reading a cozy romance that wasn't super straight.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Dead Spread includes an LGBTQ+ romance, a pet raven, and lots of puns. I would recommend it to all goths and goth-lights, pun enthusiasts, or those who enjoy their cozy mysteries with the suggestion of the supernatural. It was really great reading a cozy romance that wasn't super straight.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 1, 2024
a spellbinding mystery infused with tarot cards, a feisty raven, and a whirlwind romance. Carrie Dettwiler's unconventional sleuthing skills, combined with her undeniable chemistry with tattoo artist Stormy Portwood, create a captivating tale of love and suspense. Author Bethany Browning expertly blends the mystical world of tarot with small-town intrigue, keeping readers guessing until the very end. As Carrie navigates through clues and town gossip, her determination to uncover the truth shines through, even in the face of danger. 'Dead Spread' is a must-read for mystery enthusiasts craving a unique and exhilarating adventure.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 22, 2023
This book was so different in this genre, with a raven in love with a duck. It was hilarious but also a good cozy mystery. I loved the aspect of using Tarot, how it was explained. I had never read anything by this author before, but I will be now! I laughed out loud in several places in this book. I also enjoyed the writing, a lot of times I get aggravated due to poor editing or just a run on idea, but this book was good in those aspects. On to the next book I can find of Bethany Browning's!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 26, 2023
This is one of those book that you read and then you go and check when the next in the series will be out.
I had a lot of fun, loved the style of writing and Waggery. The quirky and quaint town is full of interesting characters.
I loved Carrie, a clever and witty MC, and I was happy there was no love triangle. There's some mystery from the past, an intriguing girlfriend and a clever use of tarots.
The mystery is twisty and kept surprising me and guessing.
I can't wait to read the next in this series
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I had a lot of fun, loved the style of writing and Waggery. The quirky and quaint town is full of interesting characters.
I loved Carrie, a clever and witty MC, and I was happy there was no love triangle. There's some mystery from the past, an intriguing girlfriend and a clever use of tarots.
The mystery is twisty and kept surprising me and guessing.
I can't wait to read the next in this series
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
September 15, 2023
what a wonderful collection of characters so vibrant and colorful and a few nasty but it's what brings this story to life the history the drama they keep you compelled to carry on turning page after page becoming enthralled with the plot and enjoying each page. I'm not usually a drama fan but I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it the writing drew me in along with its intrigue and kept me entertained from beginning to its exciting and entertaining end. Acquire " Dead Spread " book one in (the House of Cards Mystery )Kat
March 27, 2024
This books gets 3.50 stars from me.
I loved the tarot aspect, its quirkiness, LGBTQIA+ representation, Waggerty and the murder mystery.
I really loved the connection between the people in the MC’s life and her tarot deck.
The flow of the book was a little difficult for me at times, some things got repeated, and some of the interactions and relationships were a little odd.
It was still an easy read and if you like quirky murder mysteries in small town settings this might be a good book for you!
I received this book for free & I am voluntarily leaving this review.
I loved the tarot aspect, its quirkiness, LGBTQIA+ representation, Waggerty and the murder mystery.
I really loved the connection between the people in the MC’s life and her tarot deck.
The flow of the book was a little difficult for me at times, some things got repeated, and some of the interactions and relationships were a little odd.
It was still an easy read and if you like quirky murder mysteries in small town settings this might be a good book for you!
I received this book for free & I am voluntarily leaving this review.
August 10, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a fun cosy mystery. I warmed to the protagonist, Carrie, as I found her humorous and quirky. She also had an adorable talking bird. It was a light read, fun and entertaining. If you enjoy cosy mysteries where the protagonist has a cute animal sidekick, you would probably like this.
Thank you to Booksirens and the author for a free copy to review.
This was a fun cosy mystery. I warmed to the protagonist, Carrie, as I found her humorous and quirky. She also had an adorable talking bird. It was a light read, fun and entertaining. If you enjoy cosy mysteries where the protagonist has a cute animal sidekick, you would probably like this.
Thank you to Booksirens and the author for a free copy to review.
February 6, 2024
A town drama with a bit of whimsy, it was a fun book to read however I mark it down because it failed to keep my attention at times.
The relationship between Carrie and pretty much every character in the book felt a bit too underdeveloped and so I didn’t form any emotional connections to the relationships.
But, for what it was, a whimsical murder mystery. It was good and short.
The relationship between Carrie and pretty much every character in the book felt a bit too underdeveloped and so I didn’t form any emotional connections to the relationships.
But, for what it was, a whimsical murder mystery. It was good and short.
Read
August 9, 2023This is a good mystery! Carrie and Stormy make quite the pair. Even if they suspected each other of being the culprit. Grist was a memorable character.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 13, 2023
This book had lots of twists and turns. I couldn't put it down. When I think I had it, I didn't! The characters are fun and spontaneous. This was a fun read this fall and can't wait to see what happens next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 20, 2023
I really enjoyed this one. Loved the raven
September 21, 2023
This was so good but I'm SO mad about the cliffhanger lol. I hope the next book comes soon because I want to know what's going on! And Waggerty is the absolute best lol.
April 27, 2024
Dead Spread is a very refreshing cozy mystery with lots of twists and turns. Very quick read that will keep you turning the pages.
Read
September 20, 2024A pleasant snack for reclining with injury.
June 30, 2024
This book was such a load of fun to read!
Slightly financially struggling female protagonist Carrie does Tarot readings for a living, has a slightly spoiled and very naughty family companion Waggery and gets into shenanigans in a small town. Plus meets a potential love interest Stormy, albeit in odd circumstances.
Carrie has been struggling since her Aunt Inez’s death and this novel encompasses what is probably her first adventure since.
Plenty of great characters, a storyline that draws you in and lots of punny humour keep this story at a good pace.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Slightly financially struggling female protagonist Carrie does Tarot readings for a living, has a slightly spoiled and very naughty family companion Waggery and gets into shenanigans in a small town. Plus meets a potential love interest Stormy, albeit in odd circumstances.
Carrie has been struggling since her Aunt Inez’s death and this novel encompasses what is probably her first adventure since.
Plenty of great characters, a storyline that draws you in and lots of punny humour keep this story at a good pace.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 31, 2023
I love a good mystery, and this is a GOOD mystery! Bethany Browning takes you on a fun, funny, and furious ride that intensifies with every page. The story comes alive with quirky characters and clever word play. If you think you know what will happen next, think again—this story has more twists and turns than a grape vine.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews