Murder's Weekend Getaway

Tales of a Reluctant Psychic #3

by Kris Bock

A geologist with an unwanted psychic gift, a man on the run, a dead body and a friend accused of…murder?

Geologist Petra Cloch can touch an object and sense the emotions of the people who’ve held it before. Although her paranormal powers are a burden, they’ve helped her solve several crimes and make friends in her new southwestern small town. She’s enjoying settling into her new job when her landlord, Shelley introduces an “old friend.” Wayne seems cagey. He wants to keep his visit a secret and has recently adopted an energetic dog “for protection.”

When Petra stumbles over Wayne’s dead body, suspicions quickly turn to murder, with Shelley the prime suspect. Petra and her friends investigate and quickly uncover a slew of suspects, scams and motives. Petra’s psychic abilities alone aren’t enough to reveal the true killer. To clear Shelley, Petra will need all of her cleverness, the help of her found family, some luck, and the dog that seems to have adopted her.

Fans of cozy mysteries with supernatural twists will fall in love with this humorous and heartwarming psychic sleuth.

Genres: Mystery

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2026

About the author

Be sure to follow Kris on BookBub for the latest releases and sales: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kris-...

Kris Bock writes novels of mystery, suspense, and romance, many with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. In the Accidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. This humorous series starts with Something Shady at Sunshine Haven. Get a free Accidental Detective short story and bonus material when you sign up for her newsletter: https://sendfox.com/KrisBock

Her Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats. Get a free 10,000-word story set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café when you sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter: https://sendfox.com/lp/1g5nx3 You’ll also get a printable copy of the recipes mentioned in the cat café novels.

Kris Bock also writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. What We Found is a mystery with strong romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town.

“Smart romance with an 'Indiana Jones' feel,”

Kris's Southwest Treasure Hunters novels each stand alone and are complete, with no cliffhangers. This series mixes action and adventure with romance. The stories explore the Southwest, especially New Mexico. Desert Gold follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. In Valley of Gems, estranged relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex clues. In Silver Canyon, sparks fly when reader favorites Camie and Tiger help a mysterious man track down his missing uncle.

Fans of Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, and Terry Odell will want to check out Kris Bock’s romantic adventures. “Counterfeits is the kind of romantic suspense novel I have enjoyed since I first read Mary Stewart’s Moonspinners.” 5 Stars – Roberta at Sensuous Reviews blog

Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page at https://www.amazon.com/author/krisbock

Ms. Bock also writes for young people under the name Chris Eboch. The Eyes of Pharaoh is an action-packed mystery set in ancient Egypt. In The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan girl in ninth-century Guatemala rebels against the High Priest who sacrifices anyone challenging his power. The Haunted series follows a brother and sister who travel with their parents’ ghost hunter TV show and try to help the ghosts while keeping their activities secret from meddling grownups. It begins with The Ghost on the Stairs.

Read excerpts at www.chriseboch.com.

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buried in Betrayal is the third book in Kris Bock’s exciting series, Reluctantly Psychic Murder Mystery. The books are set in the small town of Bonneville, New Mexico. The main character is a geologist named Petra Cloch. She has a special power where she can sense a person’s emotions from touching something that belonged to them. Her family disowned her because of this ability and so she has been afraid to let others know about it. Since she moved to Bonneville, she discovered one of her coworkers has a similar power and everyone has been very accepting of her. Petra has multiple animals: cats, Guinea pigs and ferrets. She rents an apartment from an elderly woman named Shelly. I find Petra to be a wonderful character and I have so much sympathy for her family’s treatment of her in the past.

As the book opens, Petra learns that Shelly has a man friend named Warren staying with her for a few days. He has a sweet dog for protection that immediately charms Petra. Warren, on the other hand appears creepy. At night Petra heard a couple people arguing but didn’t know who it was. She also noticed a strange vehicle parked out by hers. After a couple of days, Shelly says that Warren is to leave that day. She mentions that he was trying to get her to invest in a scheme he had but she refused. However, she can’t locate him.

Petra takes the dog out for a walk and discovers Warren’s dead body near her car. She contacts the sheriff and he and his deputies show up. It is unclear whether Warren died of natural causes or was murdered. Petra fears Shelly is the prime suspect if it is murder. She alerts Shelly and her book club friends so they can start their own investigation. They discover that Warren has been scamming other women. Petra discovers there is a group of elderly women who have tracked Warren to Bonneville and plan to try and get their money back. The book club women decide to interview the visitors to see if one of them is the killer. In addition, they try to figure out the killer’s plan. They also think that it could be a business partner of Warren’s who killed him. There are lots of twists and surprises in the book. It is quite suspenseful and exciting.

The book, like all I’ve read from Kris, is well written and very compelling. The characters are eclectic and interesting, but very likable. I enjoy seeing the interactions between Petra and her friends. I have read all the books in this series but Kris does great on the backstory so it could be read as a standalone. This is a five star book I’m happy to recommend. I am hoping that there will be additional books in this series as I really love it.

I was fortunate to receive this ARC from Tule Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

[Happily Ever After Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance

Buried in Betrayal is the third title in Kris Bock’s Reluctantly Psychic Murder Mystery series. I’ve enjoyed this series with its touch of the paranormal and a cast full of quirky characters, and Buried in Betrayal only added to that enjoyment. This time, Petra’s landlady, Shelley, is in deep trouble when a man who was visiting turns up dead. When it’s revealed just how much of a jerk he truly was, well, it doesn’t look good for Shelley. That’s when Petra and the various members of the “book club” swing into action and begin their own investigation of Wayne’s death. And it seems he’s got a lot of elders angry at him, and several secrets to be revealed. Yes, I am being purposefully vague because this is a paranormal mystery… and you should enjoy figuring out whodunit on your own.

I found this addition to the series well-written, full of red herrings, twists, turns, and surprises. I love the group of friends who call themselves the book club, and how Petra has found her own unique family here, especially given what her own family is like. When you add in an adorable protection dog who seems to think that Petra is his human of choice, well, that’s just icing on the mysteriously served cake. I had fun here, and I’m already looking forward to the next story in this paranormal mystery series.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy Buried in Betrayal by Kris Bock which is the third in the series called Reluctantly Psychic Murder Mystery
The main character is Geologist Petra Cloch who is renting a unit from Shelley in the New Mexico town of Bonneville and enjoying her new job at the museum .
Shelley introduces her to Wayne , an old friend who is staying over , while doing a road trip with his dog called Bruiser
While out for a walk Petra finds Wayne lying unresponsive and contacts the Sheriff after sharing the news with Shelley .
While the authorities begin an investigation Petra and her friends of the book club also do some searching for answers in order to clear Shelley's name as she has become a prime suspect for murder .
I found this a quick read and enjoyed the way the friends worked together , having fun while searching for answers as to what had happened to Wayne Petra has fascinating psychic powers which seem to enable the group to solve plots and this added excitement to the story.
So author Kris Bock has written a riveting mystery, with a number of twists, which I recommend to anyone who is in the mood for a mystery with strong women characters
Thanks to Tule for an ARC e-copy to read and review

[Rose Seals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, holds you on the edge of your chair. Storyline is fantastic which lets the book keeps you guessing who done it. The characters both bad and good are complex and multidimensional plus some are old friends from other books from this series. Petra is back trying to solve another murder that her landlady , Shelley, did not do. Shelley has an old friend, Wayne, visiting and has a pitbull dog, Bruiser, who doesn't realize he is suppose to be tough. Petra offers to walk Bruiser to help settle him. Petra thinks Wayne is strange as he doesn't want anyone to realize he's there. One morning she and Bruiser find Wayne dead, so Petra and her book club work together to solve the murder mystery and help the sheriff. Has everything you can want so curl up and enjoy this story and the rest the series. Would strongly recommend to everyone this story .

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Perrin Larton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good cozy mystery story blending Petra's ability to sense the emotions of people when she touches something they've touched, with her love of animals and not most people!

When her neighbor and landlord has a surprise male houseguest, Petra is not impressed with him, but loves his dog! The male houseguest is found dead next to Petra's vehicle and then her book club/murder solving friends get involved. The hunt is on for the killer!

A nice read. I was a bit lost for some of the book because I didn't know this was book 3 in The Reluctantly Psychic Murder Mystery. You don't absolutely have to read the first 2, but I think it would help understanding the dynamics of the 'book club' members!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buried in Betrayal (Reluctantly Psychic Murder Mystery Book 3) by Kris Bock is without a doubt a cozy murder mystery. However, it is also learning to be comfortable in your own skin or in your abilities as is the case for Petra. Along with that it is a story of friendship. Petra has made friends, even trusting a couple with her secret. I especially liked the four-legged new friend. Others like Shelley need to be careful who she trusts as she become a suspect in a murder investigation.

Petra is a character that I have been rooting for since the first book. If you are new to the series, this story read well on its own but I would suggest getting to know Petra from the beginning. You will love her too. 4.5 Stars

[Elaine Coghlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buried in Betrayal ~ Reluctantly Psychic Murder #3 by Kris Bock

I’m loving this series! Buried in Betrayal is full of intrigue and suspense, keeping the story gripping from the very beginning. The characters are well developed, and the plot unfolds in a way that keeps readers thoroughly engaged and guessing.

Kris Bock does a great job blending mystery with paranormal elements, making this installment just as compelling as the others. I highly recommend this book, especially for fans of cozy mysteries with a psychic twist.
If you’d like, I can also make it shorter for a review site, add a star-rating tone, or make it more enthusiastic or more formal.

[Robin Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Petra finds a murder victim and her landlord is the prime suspect, she has no choice but to investigate the death. With help from friends new and old, Petra digs into the victim’s background to find the truth. This is the third in a series, and while the mystery stands alone, reading the books in order will fill in the background on the characters and their relationships.
Another entertaining read with a likeable amateur sleuth and lots of pets!
I received a free copy via Booksprout, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Petra once again stumbles upon a dead body (this one being her neighbor and landlord Shelly's secret houseguest, Wayne).Was it murder? Is Shelly the main suspect? Petra and her friends begin their own investigation uncovering Wayne's carefully thought out scam which brings several older ladies into the mix. The mystery was interesting and I loved the elderly scammed ladies' grit and determination to "go after Wayne". It is because of them that I found the story enjoyable-still on the fence about Petra . Although this can be read as a stand alone I suggest reading the previous books first to understand Petra's paranormal ability and the dynamics of the small town of Bonneville, New Mexico. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series. They are best read in order, since characters developed as the books go and situations are mentioned from the previous books. Even though, it's not enough to feel "lost" if you don't read the other books.

I really liked this book, and the true murderer stayed hidden until the end.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debra M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book,loved the characters and the mystery of who killed Wayne ,Miss shelly's friend who was just visiting and also hiding out. I love Peter's gift of touching stuff and seeing where it leads her. If you haven't read this story ,its not too late to download the whole series and read it for yourself.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series but is a standalone. This one was intriguing and funny with a sketchy man and his super cute dog in neighbor Shelley’s life and a fascinating group of older women. Petra seems to be relaxing and learning to enjoy life in her new small town in NM, her many pets, using her psychic abilities, and spending time with her interesting book club friends who help solve murders. I voluntarily read an advance copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.