A Deck Stacked for Murder: A Coffee-Fueled Cozy Mystery with a Mystical Twist

Cafe Arcana Mysteries #1

by Aliza Levine

When Ava Goldberg opens a tarot cafe in her late Kabbalist grandfather’s rural Nebraska town, she’s up against more than just the conservative townsfolk—there’s a killer on the loose.

Ava Goldberg’s life in suburban Chicago was perfect—until it wasn’t. Eager to leave her cheating ex-husband behind and reclaim her independence, Ava opens a tarot cafe in the tiny, cornfield-laced town of Shiloh. Although finding her place in Shiloh as a tarot reader—and the only Jewish person—brings more tsuris than Ava bargained for, she hopes that with the support of her childhood friend, Rose, she can pull through. But when a body winds up in the Main Street fountain and Rose’s husband, Joel, is the primary suspect, the whole town is thrown into chaos.

Armed with her tarot deck and a whole lot of chutzpah, Ava sets out to gather the evidence she needs to clear Joel’s name and keep her friend’s family intact. With her struggling shop just barely afloat and constant reminders of her past creeping in, Ava enlists the help of Owen, the dashing hardware store owner she can’t seem to get rid of, to track down the killer. But as their hunt continues, it becomes clear the town harbors more than a few secrets—and that someone will stop at nothing to keep them buried.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2024

Reviews

[Susan Reads Cozies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was rooting for Ava and Café Arcana from the beginning! I loved learning about the tarot cards. It makes me want to learn more. I hope we get to dive deeper as the series goes on. Café Arcana’s sole employee, Riley, is great for Ava. I think Riley would make a great apprentice and would love to see how that relationship develops. Owen gives the story a little something extra. I am excited to see how that plays out in the next book.

Thank you to the author for my copy in exchange for my review.

[lynne fireheart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the ARC of this book on July 19 2024, in exchange for my honest review. Y'all, I finished it within 48 hours. I love it when I don't want to put a book down.

I really enjoyed this tarot- and coffee-fueled cozy mystery.

Being a tarot-dabbler myself, I was delighted at how the cards were woven into the story (my recently-published short story features The Tower and The Star cards, just saying...!). The main character, Ava Goldberg, resonated with me a lot as well: recent divorcée, working hard to get her feet back under her.

The story was well-told. Rich in detail, lots of suspects, great characters. I ~did~ identify the baddie before their identity was revealed, but not the motive.

I highly recommend this book. And there's a Book 2 in the works as well, I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for that.

[Rachel Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! There was a nice amount of descriptions of people and places without being overly wordy. The character development in this book is really good; I initially was not a big fan of the main character, Ava. However, she really grew and had awareness to work through her past difficulties. I thought it was really enlightening to hear Ava work through those difficulties. Given the title, this book has a focus on tarot cards. I don't know much about tarot, but it was really cool to hear about some of the meanings behind cards and readings. It was informative without being overly comprehensive; it was just the right amount. The main characters are interesting so far, with some unknown background thus far, that I can't wait to find out more about in future books. Ava's background is interesting and I found she has a lot of aspects of her past that are pretty relatable for many people. It will be interesting to see how she navigates it in the future. Throughout the story the plot kept at a decent pace. I did guess who the culprit was about 60% way through the book, although I don't mind that. The book ended nicely and I really enjoyed that the book didn't end right after the culprit had been caught. There were a couple chapters that focused more on Ava; her character, relationship, and life developments. I really like that the book focuses on Ava and not just the crime aspect. Don't get me wrong, I love a good mystery, but I love feeling connected to the characters and learning about their past and present and how that impacts their current life. I also really enjoyed learning about tarot, as it wasn't something I am super familiar with. I am really excited to read the next book in this series.
*There are a few minor curse words, for those who may be wondering.

[Roman Haen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Aliza Levine for an early copy of this book!

I've never read a cozy mystery, but this one drew me in with the tarot coffee shop theme, and I think it was a great first dive into this genre!
Our Jewish, tarot-reading, coffee shop-owning protagonist was so relatable - she hates small talk, she doesn't trust the cops, she takes no sh*t. She takes matters into her own hands when a friend is accused of murder and she's determined to see it through to the end, regardless of threats from the real killer...
I had a hard time putting this one down. I loved Ava and I always wanted to know what she was going to do next.
It's clear the author knows tarot, and I loved the specific detail (as a tarot-dabbler myself) that you wouldn't get from someone who did just some surface-level research. And as a barista, I got really excited at every little mention of coffee shop terms If I had to guess, I'd also say the author has experience with an espresso machine! Or else she did some really good research about it - either way, the details were great. A lot of care clearly went into the telling of this story and I can't wait to read more of Ava's adventures in the future!

[Michelle Zuravin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is an exciting and different cozy mystery. The use of the Tarot made for exciting twists and turns. This book will keep you guessing until the end and drawing you in to want more. This was an amazing first book in its series and has paved a wonderful town and characters for future installments.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A Deck Stacked for Murder by Aliza Levine is a wonderful small-town mystery with a touch of paranormal.

Will Ava Goldberg find the community that she is looking for, or will she be the next person murdered?

Ava Goldberg
Ava is our sleuth, a coffee shop owner, and a tarot card reader. She has recently moved to Shiloh, Nebraska, where her grandfather used to live. Ava is dealing with a broken heart due to her recent divorce and sometimes comes across as cold. However, Ava is working through her issues, and with the help of her friends, she may get past them.

Owen is Ava's love interest. He owns the hardware store and is a fantastic baker. Owen and Ava are a good match; they complement each other. Hopefully, they will work out any issues that are still lingering.

The Mystery
Not long after Ava's coffee shop opens, a local woman is killed and left in the fountain at the center of the town. Ava's best friend's husband is set up, and Ava is going to prove that Joel didn't kill Audrey. Owen steps in to assist Ava in her investigation. This isn't the only thing going on in town, and with a $50,000 reward for information, other incidents are cropping up. Ava can sometimes hear her Grandfather's voice, especially when she is reading tarot cards or in a life threatening situation. That is one of my favorite parts of the story.

Five Stars
My rating for A Deck Stacked for Murder by Aliza Levine is five stars. I truly enjoyed getting to know Ava and her friends. The little town is wonderfully quaint, and the touch of the paranormal is perfect. I love the relationship between Ava and her grandfather. He sounds like a fabulous man.

Ms. Levine has the next book in the series coming out on August 5, 2025, called Shofar, So Good. I look forward to seeing how things are going at Cafe Arcane and between Ava and Owen.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Deck Stacked for Murder by Aliza Levine.

Until the next time,

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something about reading a book set in your home state that just makes it more vivid in the mind. I loved the descriptions of the small town, from the mosaic in the fountain bottom, to the sheer amount of gravel, and tornado sirens. The small touches of theology were educational and relevant. The tarot was beautifully described in simple terms, making it accessible to non-tarot readers. I found myself more interested in the main character, Ava, and the things that marked her as "other" in her new, tight-knit Nebraska community, than in finding the murderer. Ava was so relatable, as she has the complexities of a modern woman. She has a troubled relationship with her mother, she's divorced, she's Jewish, she's a business owner, and she practices Tarot! I felt so seen.
The main plot was the murder of a town pillar resident. The investigation is aided by Ava and an occasional helper. Trying to piece together who the murderer might be was quite the journey, with plot driving twists. The reveal left a little to be desired, but did wrap things up nicely. I would definitely read more about Ava, specifically her coffee shop and tarot adventures. I guess I can handle some more mystery though. Looking forward to seeing what she gets up to next.

[Bookish Bear (Stephanie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from Aliza Levine (Thank you!)

A Deck Stacked for Murder (Book 1) has been a fun cozy mystery to read. It definitely took my focus while reading. Ava Goldberg is kind of odd and I got the feeling she doesn’t really realize she is a little stand off-ish. She IS the newcomer to Shiloh Nebraska. A small town where her grandfather lived and now is her home. Ava is opening a coffee shop call Café Arcana. Before the door even open to Café Arcana, she has a community member influencing the town not to do business there because of the tarot cards Ava practices. BUT that’s not the worst part. Another member of the community is found dead. Some believe Ava brought “God’s punishment”.

This was a fun read full of little knowledgeable details of the tarot cards, barista lingo, and plenty of characters. Ava is learning to be part of a small town. Small talk and all. She is dealing with her mother. Ava is recently divorced. And is trying to start her business. I think Ava is probably one of the most relatable main characters in a cozy mystery I have read in a while. She grows on you.

Now I am patiently waiting for book 2!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always been curious about tarot cards but a cozy mystery featuring the tarot is definitely a new one for me! I really enjoyed how the tarot cards play into the story.

The author’s attention to details makes the setting come alive and it was so easy to become immersed in the mystery. The light, easy way that tarot cards and coffee shop lingo are weaved into the story allows any reader to understand and I found the flow of the book really smooth. There were a lot of characters to get to know and I did appreciate that we got to spend a good amount of time getting to know the main character Ava. She’s a bit rough around the edges as a protagonist at first but I found myself really warming up to her as the story progressed. She’s very relatable and by the end I was a fan. The mystery itself was well paced and while I thought I had a pretty good idea of who the killer was early on, their motivation was harder to figure out and the reveal was well done.

I’m looking forward to the next book and have also pulled out my own tarot to learn a bit more!

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fun (well, as far as a horrific murder in a small town can be fun)! Like a previous reviewer, I couldn't stop reading, and finished the book in record time. As a Nebraskan myself (raised in a very small town), I related to Ava's (the main character) struggle to adjust to the local culture after living in a big city. I know very little about the Jewish faith and religious holidays, and next to nothing about Tarot (both featuring prominantly in the story), but I feel like I learned something and can view both from a different perspective after enjoying this tale. This was a well-written story, and, although there were a large number of characters, they were easily kept track of and well-described enough to imagine clearly!! I wish I could visit Ava's coffee shop - and I'm still drooling about Owen's baked specialties! Looking forward to the next book in the series!

[Jordan Raszler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed A Deck Stacked for Murder! The small-town atmosphere felt like home, with the Nebraska setting captured perfectly. I loved how lighthearted and cutesy the book was, and the twists and turns of the mystery kept me hooked, always guessing as new clues came to light.

If you're looking for a fun, engaging cozy mystery with a little suspense, this one’s a great pick!

[JENNIFER L OSTRANDER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coffee Read Worth Sipping

Such a fun read, even with the edge of a murder mystery. I really enjoyed the evolution of the characters and the relationships of the town. The sprinkle of the Tarot cards was done really well! I love how it was twined into the story.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this debut in the series. I appreciate that Ava is not the perfect friendly MC. She definitely has flaws and insecurities. The inclusion of tarot cards in the series makes a unique focus. I have read one other series that has tarot as a plot component ( Key West Food Critic) but it is more peripheral. I found it interesting to learn more about the Tarot cards and the reading of them. I look forward to reading more of the series and seeing how Ava settles into living in a small town.