Cards on the Table

by Lana Harper, Jilly Gagnon

Two witchy sisters find themselves framed for the disappearance of their elderly client’s substantial trust after her sudden death—from the New York Times bestselling author of Payback's a Witch and the critically-acclaimed author of All Dressed Up.

As descendants of one of the original Salem Witch Trial victims, Tori and Cassie Bishop’s occult credentials are strong . . . but a trickle of tarot readings won’t pay the bills, and now they're facing eviction. When they’re offered a massive sum to play “witches in residence” to an elderly widow at her secluded Berkshires mansion, it feels like fate.

But from the minute they arrive at the opulent country estate it’s they’ve been dropped into a far more dangerous game than their smoke and mirrors can save them from.

The widow, Rose, is in her final days and desperate for the sisters to help with her unresolved spiritual needs before she passes. Her skeptical family and staff, however, are less enthusiastic about the sisters’ presence—with the exception of Rose’s nurse and her beloved great-nephew, who find themselves inexplicably drawn to Cassie and Tori.

Thrown into a viper’s nest of competing motives and impenetrable intrigues, the sisters do their best to help Rose. But after Rose’s sudden death, millions of dollars disappear from the estate overnight, and Tori and Cassie quickly become the prime suspects. Someone in the house has framed the Bishop sisters, and in order to clear their names, the two must rely on their powers—magical or otherwise—to unravel the toxic family's tangled web of greed, resentment, and deceit. If they don’t, Rose won’t be the only victim at Berwyn House. . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fantasy, Mystery Thriller, Witches, Paranormal, Autumn, Cozy

400 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2026

About the author

Lana is the New York Times bestselling author of Payback's A Witch and the forthcoming From Bad to Cursed from Berkley Books. Writing as Lana Popovic, she is also the author of YA novels Wicked Like a Wildfire, Fierce Like a Firestorm, Blood Countess, and Poison Priestess. Lana studied psychology and literature at Yale University, law at Boston University, and is a graduate of the Emerson College publishing and writing master's program. She was born in Serbia and lived in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania before moving to the United States, where she now lives in Chicago with her family.

Reviews

[Kristin]

📚 Cards on the Table
✍️ Lana Harper & Jilly Gagnon
🎧 Narrated by Jess Moran & Helen Laser
📖 Dual ARC Read + Listen
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

This was such a unique read, and I absolutely loved it!

Two witchy sisters are hired by a wealthy older woman nearing the end of her life to figure out who in her family can actually be trusted. Seems simple enough... except absolutely no one feels trustworthy.

There’s extended family, hired help, police, hidden safes, rotting pumpkins, secret cameras, and plenty more. But the biggest questions remain: Who is playing the long con? Who is just a deplorable human being? And who, if anyone, can actually be trusted?

At any given point, I was pointing the finger at someone different, and that’s exactly what made this so much fun.

The sisters are incredibly different, each dealing with memories of their mother, their belief in their craft, complicated love interests, and their own baggage. Despite their differences, I found them both relatable in completely different ways.

The first half (and then some) really takes its time developing the characters, their relationships, and all the family dynamics surrounding Rose, the matriarch. Then Rose dies mid-séance, her money disappears, and suddenly the finger is pointed firmly at the sisters.

From there, we get a slow unraveling of what really happened, with suspicions shifting as more secrets come to light. I loved that the answers weren’t dumped on us all at once. Everything was revealed piece by piece, keeping me guessing along the way.

The narration by Jess Moran and Helen Laser was great and worked especially well for two sisters with such distinct personalities.

Definitely one for readers who enjoy witchy mysteries, dysfunctional families, suspicious characters, and trying to figure out who is conning whom.

[Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday)]

Every Spooky Season I try to read a few paranormal book and this was one of my picks. Thanks to Bantam for sending an advance copy for review!

It was definitely a change from my usual twisty and suspenseful reads, but that's not a terrible thing!

Sisters Victoria "Tori" and Cassandra "Cassie" Bishop live in Salem and are descended from a witch who was burned at the stake. The sisters are opposites in personality, with the younger Cassie sweet and trusting and the older Tori more cynical and prickly. The two read tarot cards at local fairs to make ends meet, but are always short of money. One evening at their booth, an attractive woman named Brynn approaches them. She's a caregiver for Rose, an elderly woman in poor health who wants to contact her son, who passed away.

The money Brynn offers is hard to refuse, so they head to Rose's mansion. Rose, who has an interest in all things magical and occult, welcomes them. Rose's family is much less welcoming. As the sisters notice strange things around the house, they begin to wonder why they were really brought here.

Just a warning: Cards on the Table is NOT a fast paced book. It's more about the sisters' relationship and the spooky atmosphere of Rose's house. The mystery is more of a cozy one, though the resolution is clever.

I'd pick this up if you want a cozy mystery with a hint of the paranormal and some Practical Magic vibes.

[Sam]

3.5 stars. The book is very slow to start but when the action gets going it gets GOING.

The character work is the standout: Tori and Cassie are realistic, with good and bad qualities, and a sisterly bond (that borders on trauma bond) that I can strongly relate to. Yes, my sister and I are similarly trauma bonded lol.

I really enjoyed the “mystery” but it honestly started too late in the story. It felt like the book was divided into parts that didn’t wholly connect. There were a lot of unexplained things written off as “magical” - not entirely relevant but enough to be mildly annoying.

Overall though I really loved this story. Both writers have a great balance of serious and fun, so it’s an entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lana Harper & Jilly Gagnon, and Bantam for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Rhonda Holden]

Couldn't get into this one. DNF 70 pages in.

[Samantha]

A really enjoyable and light Mystery.

Lana Harper has previously written some fun witchy books that I enjoyed, so I was eager to try this one. And it doesn’t disappoint.

Two sisters who are tarot readers find themselves mixed up in an inheritance mystery with a truly awful family in this cozy-ish mystery.

This is a dual POV novel, and each of the sisters is a distinct and well-rendered voice. There’s some nuance to their relationship and certainly to how they approach their profession, all of which plays into the mystery that is the focus of the plot.

There’s less detail about tarot here than I would have hoped for given the way the book advertises itself as centering on that theme, but what tarot content we do get is interesting and well crafted.

To that end this is more a mystery than a book about tarot readers, which makes the publishers summary a bit misleading but doesn’t mean it isn’t a good book.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Cam]

Thank you to Ballentine for this eARC. This was an interesting read. It's a little different than something I would normally pick up. A witchy whodone it kind of. It kind of skims along the surface of the witchy aspects, dancing on the line of if even the characters believe in what they are doing or if they are just in it for the money. I think I was a little thrown off, expecting a heavier romance aspect but still a very solid read.

[Emily]

Review of advanced copy received from Netgalley

A cute short read. It started off a bit slow and the mystery behind it didn’t start until half way through the book. There is a lottttt of family drama. But it was a cute read with a twist at the end.

Big thanks to Netgalley & the Author for providing this advanced reader copy in exchange for my review. All thoughts and honest opinions are my own.

[Valerie Hazelwood]

This was such a fun book to get and review!
It for sure put me in the spooky mood for this season!
Lana Harper is one of my all time favorite authors! And she once again delivered on this book!
It has twist and turns! It surprised me in the perfect Lana Harper type of way!
I would recommend this to enter into spooky season when it drops!
Writing 4⭐️
Vibes 5⭐️

[Diana Long]

Thank you to NetGalley and the authors for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for my honest feedback.

House of Cards is a closed door, witchy mystery that feels a lot like the game of Clue. I loved the cozy witchy magic and the “whodunnit” mystery of this book. There are some spooky elements which were perfect for a rainy fall weekend. I really enjoyed this book, overall.

[Karen Brooks - TheTxLitChic]

Cards on the Table

~Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon

Cards on the Table by Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon doesn't just shuffle the deck, it deals you a hand full of secrets, then dares you to call the bluff.

It's fall in Salem, and sisters Tori and Cassie are working their booth at the Faire of Darkness, reading tarot, creating spell jars and sachets, and providing whatever else tourists request. The two are direct descendants of Bridget Bishop, one of the first women persecuted during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Frustration runs deep as business isn't as fruitful as they'd hoped, but when a stranger shows up offering them a "witches-in-residence" gig for her client, Mrs. Rose Berwyn, Tori vehemently expresses her disapproval of the idea, while Cassie reluctantly goes along with her sister.

But after a run-in with their landlady, Mrs. DiRenza, and an eviction notice, Tori reconsiders the offer. Soon, she and Cassie are on their way to the Berkshires to meet Mrs. Berwyn. Once they arrive, however, they discover that far more is at stake than they were led to believe. Prickly family members abound, the staff deserves a second look, and secrets are stacked like tightly packed tarot decks. The Bishop sisters soon realize they are more than just a magic act for a lonely old woman. Something far darker is lurking beneath this family's estate, and their only way out is to utilize their magic as it was destined to be used, along with a healthy dose of street smarts.

I am really enjoying these dual-authorship novels. Having two points of view and two authors writing the characters gives the story additional depth and likability. Tori and Cassie are the beating heart of this book. Both experienced trauma at a young age after being abandoned by their mother. Tori shielded Cassie from the ugliness of what happened, giving her good memories of their mom while carrying the weight of the painful truth herself.

The sisters are as different as orange and black socks, yet they mesh surprisingly well, creating a team that functions with all the messy, protective, hilarious energy of a true sisterly unit. Readers are immersed in their banter, real emotions, and protectiveness that extends far beyond their occasional animosity.

Rose, the widow nearing the end of her life, is another important focal point of the story. She's witty, intelligent, and sharp for a woman approaching 90 while battling congestive heart failure. Her grief feels genuine, and her journey toward salvation is clear. The supporting characters do more than simply hand out candy for Halloween. Their roles are well defined, giving them a sense of necessity rather than making them feel like characters dropped in simply to add definition to the story.

Harper and Gagnon do not short-change readers when it comes to atmosphere. From the shadows cast by skeletal trees to ancient, warped windows that feel like narrow eyes watching from the darkness, the setting practically breathes around the characters. There are eyes that seem to trap others in their clutches, secrets hiding behind every corner, and a sense that something is always watching.

This is a slow-burn paranormal thriller with a touch of romance that checks all the boxes if you're looking for your next fall read. Cards on the Table is scheduled for release on September 1, 2026, and I highly suggest adding this one to your TBR now in preparation for its release in less than two weeks!

Finally, how amazing would it be to create a sister-bond like Lana and Jilly have, writing together with the kind of passion and friendship that bleeds through the pages? To Lana and Jilly, if you ever need a third Musketeer, I'm just saying, I'm available. 😉

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and authors Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon for the opportunity to preview Cards on the Table. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. Karen Brooks aka The Tx Lit Chic I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review of Cards on the Table.

[Thio Moss]

When a too-good-to-be-true opportunity to make some real money falls in their lap, Tori and Cassie Bishop are skeptical…until circumstances leave them little choice. Carpe Diem. Though they were recruited to entertain a sick old woman with an interest in the occult, they quickly realize all is not as it seems. The creepy mansion is full of suspicious characters, and events quickly spiral out of control.

What a deeply ironic title; literally no one has their cards on the table. This book is a guessing game of who to suspect most…without knowing entirely what to suspect them of. There are several reasonable options. Think Knives Out, but with witches.

This book is difficult to quantify. On one hand, the plot largely follows a known plot pattern, but does so reasonably well. On the other, there was a twist, well-seeded so an engaged reader could make a few cunning deductions, that livened things up considerably. Emotionally, some parts were genuinely stressful—evocative, but not entirely pleasant. I’m torn on the ending. I like one part and not the other.

Tori—I may be biased; I identified with her more—showed definite growth. Cassie attempted to grow, but switched naivete for cynicism until her sister corrected her mindset. The desire to grow is admirable; to struggle with it, human. This started as a criticism, but now I’m coming around to it. There is deep friction between Cassie’s rose-colored perspective and Tori’s more informed acquaintance with reality.

Brynn was fun; Rose was both delightful and irritating by turns. I haven’t made up my mind about Parker. Linda and Callum—well, there’s one (or more) in every family. Detective Hillary was, to be honest, a wasted opportunity. He could have brought a bit of comedy, competence, or a fresher version of the bumbling, puffed-up detective. Instead, he was a bit standard, though his role was brief.

The two areas where the story truly shines are style and emotional impact. It reads as a fairly straight narrative, not poetic and not too puzzling, but there is a subtlety I very much admire. It’s a risk; it requires attentive reading, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

Again, emotionally, I needed a breath here and there. The Bishop sisters’ history is not an easy one. Almost everyone in the story has some degree of trauma—well, people do, don’t they? The biases that betray themselves, the sibling drama, the struggle to survive all feel heavy. I’d advise reading this when you’re already in a good mood; if you're already dealing with a few things, read at your own risk. Maybe have some Twizzlers near at hand—something to gnaw on a bit.

Cards on the Table will have fairly wide appeal in the contemporary fantasy genre—there’s mystery, personal growth, and a light whiff of romance. The setup is familiar, but it does take a few risks.

Thank you, Ballantine/Bantam, for the opportunity to read Cards on the Table. I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley, and I am voluntarily writing this review.

[Merrit Townsend (always1morebook)]

The Cards On the table was Intriguing… But the story was still missing a little something...

There was so much about Cards on the Table that drew me in. The title, the premise, the witches, the tarot cards, the eerie atmosphere… I was IN. And honestly, the beginning hooked me right away.

Written by Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon, this story follows two sisters who are true witches with a family history tied to Salem, Oregon. They’re down on their luck and barely scraping by with their tarot and palm-reading tent when they’re given what seems like the perfect lifeline: an opportunity to move in with Rose, an eccentric older woman who is absolutely fascinated by witches and the occult plus a large compensation for doing what Rose wants. And at first, things seem pretty great.

Which, of course, is when the little alarm bells start going off.

Because things begin not to add up, and the sisters get the distinct feeling that something isn't quite right. Then Rose dies, they’re accused of stealing money, and suddenly they’re not only trying to clear their names but also trying to figure out whether those uneasy feelings they’ve been having are warning them that something much bigger is coming.

There’s a lot to like here. The mystery was fun, the atmosphere had that slightly eerie, spooky feeling that makes this a perfect fall read, and I absolutely loved the sisters. Their relationship was complicated, messy, and felt like there was a lot of history between them. Watching them navigate all of that while dealing with everything happening around them was one of my favorite parts of the story.

And let’s talk about that family… because WOW. They were absolutely miserable, and I had thoughts.

The premise really is fantastic, and there were moments when I was completely invested and dying to know what was going to happen next. But somewhere along the way, I felt myself starting to lose that connection with the story. The further I got, the more I felt like something was missing for me. I can't even put my finger on exactly what it was, which honestly makes it even more frustrating because there were so many pieces here that I SHOULD have loved.

The ending was…well, kind of happy, but also not really......? And while I appreciated where things ultimately landed, I was left with that feeling of “Okay… but I think I needed just a little MORE.”
That’s the hardest part about this one for me. I genuinely enjoyed so much of what was here, but the story just didn't completely come together for me the way I wanted it to.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, especially if you love witches, family secrets, mysteries, a little bit of creepiness, and books with a strong fall atmosphere.

For me, though, Cards on the Table was a case of loving the ingredients but never quite getting the finished dish I was craving. Still, give me witches, tarot cards, secrets, and an eerie old house in the fall and apparently I’m going to show up every single time.

[Shannon Mabrito]

The Bishop Sisters, Victoria (Tori) and Cassandra (Cassie), are descendants of Bridget Bishop, the first woman to be executed for witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Using their lineage in order to make a living, they are modern day practicing witches. When they are offered the job of a lifetime, with enough pay in order to live their frugal lives, they cannot pass it up. But little do they know that accepting this job will quickly turn their lives upside down.

Tori Bishop is the more practical sister. While she plays the role well, she doesn't fully believe in the magic they spew. As the older sister, and having to take care of Cassie on her own since she was 12 years old after their mother abandoned them, she needed to be more motherly, more practical, thinking of everything they needed to do in order to live and survive. On the other hand, Cassie Bishop is more of a free-spirit, believing wholeheartedly in her abilities, in the magic that was descended down to them over many generations, and even holding onto the idea of her mother being more saintly than Tori remembers despite being well aware of the abandonment.

Throughout the novel, Cassie is quite frankly, for lack of a better word, annoying. At 26 years old, you would think she would act more like an adult instead of a lower-age teenager, but this is not the case through about 80% of the novel. While I think she wants to see the best in people, her ability to overlook what is clearly in front of her face makes you want to smack her. Tori being the actual head on their shoulders helped, allowing us to see that she did what needed to be done in order to get by.

Like any other mystery novel, it comes with a slew of shady characters, going back and forth of getting along with our sisters or completely tossing them to the side. The most enigmatic of this is Rose, the overall "matriarch" of the family, who hires the sisters herself to indulge in her love for the occult. But like any other 90 year old woman (or man), she comes off as crotchety, only caring for herself and those she deems worthy of her love and affection.

Overall, I'm giving this one 3 stars. I loved the story - the massive estate, the witchy vibes (sort of wish I could have read this one in October, full on fall going on outside, but alas, I made due), the book starting and ending in Salem, where many woman had lost their lives over supposed witchcraft. However, I knocked two stars off of the book because of the ending. The Sisters spend the entire time bashing their mother (or at least one of the sisters does), only to decide to end up just like her. I figured a novel where they spent the entirety of it having to prove their worth would end up enjoying their newfound money, allowing them to actually work a decent job for a living.

Thank you to Netgalley, authors Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Hope Stewart]

This book and I had a very complicated relationship.

It showed up wearing a fabulous outfit: a crumbling mansion, tarot-reading sisters, witches in residence, a wildly dysfunctional wealthy family, a séance, old secrets, and the promise of murder. I looked at all of that and thought, "Well, obviously I'm going to have the best time."

Reader, the best time arrived... eventually.

For what felt like the first two-thirds of the book, the mystery was less "investigation" and more "let's all wander around this creepy house while rich people continue being exhausting." There are only so many family arguments, passive-aggressive comments, and suspicious glances a person can witness before starting to root for the ghost.

The real stars are Tori and Cassie. Their relationship is warm, funny, believable, and the main reason I kept turning pages instead of dramatically setting the book aside to sigh at the ceiling. Their banter feels authentic, and I would've happily followed them into a completely different story. Preferably one where someone gets murdered before everyone has finished introducing their emotional baggage.

And can we talk about this family? Every time I thought I'd found the least likable relative, someone else would stroll into the room and say, "Hold my inheritance."

Once the mystery finally remembered it was, in fact, a mystery, things picked up considerably. The twists were clever, the reveals were satisfying, and I suddenly found myself reading much faster. Which was great, except by then I was also thinking, "See? You could've been doing this the whole time."

The atmosphere is spooky without going overboard, the magical elements are fun, and the mansion deserves its own fan club. Honestly, the house had more charisma than half the people living in it.

In the end, I liked this book more than I loved it. It kept dealing intriguing cards but insisted on explaining the entire history of the deck before letting anyone play poker.

Would I recommend it? Yes... with the caveat that you should settle in, grab a snack, and prepare to spend a lot of time watching spectacularly unpleasant rich people make questionable life choices. Thankfully, the sisters make the trip worthwhile. Even if the murder is running fashionably late.

[Booksy]

3.5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I truly adored the concept behind this one. Witchy sisters, tarot cards, a spooky mansion, a rich family with lots of secrets and a murder mystery! These are all ingredients that I usually adore and they had been blended into an interesting mixture.

Tori and Cassie Bishop make their livings as tarot readers; however, their lives quickly expand beyond readings when they are invited to stay with a very wealthy family by the family's matriarch, Rose Berwyn,  at her secluded mansion in the Berkshires and get swept up in the family's many secrets. What starts off like a character and family drama quickly evolves into a much more traditional mystery as a dead person and a missing fortune leave everyone looking like a suspect.

However, my main critique is about the pacing. For me, the actual mystery of the novel only really began around the 60% mark and it took a lot longer than what felt imo. A good portion of the book felt like filler while waiting for the murder mystery part of it to really start in full swing and by the time it had gotten there, I was a tad bit impatient. When the murder mystery did finally get started I found it much more engaging and enjoyed seeing how everything was going to untangle itself.

I also thoroughly loved the connection between sisters Tori and Cassie. I enjoyed seeing a sisterly bond center the story instead of a romantic connection, because their bond made everything feel very natural to one another. And the witchy aspects of it was perfect for a cozy but mysterious read.

This book was fun to read overall with an interesting premise and would recommend it to anybody who is trying to read more drama-filled mystery-focused novels, though I truly wished that the mystery aspect of this novel had happened much earlier. If it did, this book may have even warranted a higher rating from me. Nonetheless I definitely recommend this fun read and 3.5 stars seems fair!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Publishing for the ARC*

[Patti]

Sister witches and Bishop decedents Cassie and Tori make a living reading cards and such at faires, but recent low turnouts have them struggling
With over-due bills and a pending eviction, when they’re approached with the offer of a lifetime they can hardly refuse 

$25,000, room and board, and access to an extensive collection of magical artifacts. All for just a couple week’s work entertaining Rose, an rich elderly woman who wants to make things right with the spirit of her son
On arrival they’re surprised to see Rose not alone, but surrounded by family. None are happy to see them

I’m torn on rating this one

The first half of the book intrigued me, mainly the relationship between the sisters and their practices

Cassie being much more spiritual, a true believer. Tori tending towards practical - having been parentified her whole ‘childhood’ because of their mother’s choices - believing more in manipulation than magic 
How this in turns balanced or split them apart

But Rose’s people are insufferable. There is not a like-able person in that house. Honestly not even Rose, with her trying to trap them with tests and questioning 

And - maybe this is on me - but I expected more of a mystical locked room mystery type story. Instead there’s a predictable death, followed by a bunch of rich people arguing over money. 

There *are* readings, seances, discussions about magical artifacts and historical figure at the start. But you’re looking for a locked room type mystery where two witches have to use their skills/power to prove their innocence of murder - like I’d hoped - this is not it 

However, if you’re looking for a book where backstabbing prone wealthy people behave abhorrently towards  each other and people in their way, with a side of upstairs/downstairs type drama  -  then this is it, right here

I do sometimes enjoy that type of story, it just wasn’t really what I was hoping in this

Thanks to Ballantine for the arc

[Annie]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Cards on the Table is a paranormal cozy(ish) mystery by Lana Harper & Jilly Gagnon. Released 1st Sept 2026 by Penguin Random House on their Bantam imprint, it's 400 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

Told in alternating chapters PoV of the two MC who are sisters, the closed suspect pool isolated setting feels like a fitting homage to the golden age classic mystery. Protagonists Cassie and Tori become chief suspects of incompetent local police when a client whose mansion they've moved into suddenly passes away during a séance, and a large fortune goes missing.

There is a light paranormal aspect, the sisters are descendants of a victim of the Salem witch trials, practicing their divination, card reading, and spellcraft in the modern era. They have a complex relationship with one another, also working through abandonment issues and trying to rely on each other and make a life for themselves.

The writing is engaging, with well developed believable characters (for the genre). The pacing is slow in the first half of the book, but picks up around halfway. The climax and denouement are satisfying with an extra little "last chapter twist" which was nice. It's not explicitly stated, but there's strong foreshadowing for a continuing series with future adventures for the sisters.

Three and a half stars. It would be a good choice for public or home library acquisition, or a nice buddy read for fans of the genre.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[The Page Ladies Book Club]

🍂🔮 Give me an old mansion, a little witchcraft, a suspicious death, and an autumn storm outside the window, and I am IN.

Cards on the Table by Lana Harper & Jilly Gagnon felt like the perfect spooky-season escape! With tarot cards, family secrets, an isolated Berkshires mansion, and a suspicious death at the center of the story, this book had exactly the cozy-but-creepy atmosphere I was craving.

Tori and Cassie Bishop are descendants of a Salem witch trial victim, but their modern-day witchy business isn't exactly keeping the lights on. When they're offered a tempting amount of money to become "witches in residence" for an elderly woman at her secluded estate, it sounds like the kind of opportunity they can't afford to pass up.

Naturally… nothing about Berwyn House is that simple. 😂

I loved the setup of this story. The mansion immediately gave me that deliciously unsettling autumnal feeling where every hallway seems to hold a secret and absolutely no one is as innocent as they look. Once Rose dies and millions of dollars vanish, the sisters find themselves framed and suddenly their little supernatural side hustle has turned into a very real murder mystery.

What I enjoyed most was the combination of cozy atmosphere, playful witchy elements, family drama, and mystery. There’s something so satisfying about watching Tori and Cassie use both their occult knowledge and good old-fashioned detective work to untangle a house full of greed, resentment, secrets, and suspicious behavior.

The whole time I was reading, I could practically picture falling leaves outside the windows, a crackling fire inside, and a tarot deck sitting ominously on the table. 🍁🕯️🔮

If you're looking for an atmospheric autumn read with witches, tarot, a secluded mansion, family secrets, and a playful mystery, Cards on the Table would make a fun addition to your spooky-season TBR.

💌 Thank you to Bantam, Lana Harper, and Jilly Gagnon for sharing Cards on the Table with me!

[Sherri]

***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review

Tori and Cassie Bishop, descendants of one of the original Salem witches, have the occult credentials, but they are still barely scraping by. The tarot readings they give at the fairs they attend are sparsely attended, and now they are on the verge of getting evicted from their apartment. Then their luck changes when a customer visits their tent with a too-good-to-be-true proposition: play “witches in residence” for a dying, wealthy widow in her secluded Berkshires mansion for the Fall season for a whopping $25,000. From the moment they enter the gothic estate, they realize that they are involved in something far riskier. The family is conniving & cutthroat, it is impossible to tell who to trust, and everyone acts suspicious. Then Rose dies after a séance—and her millions vanish overnight. Trapped in a viper’s nest of greed, competing motives and twisted secrets, Tori and Cassie need to figure out a way to clear their name - because someone else in Berwyn House is running their own con . . . and they’ve set up the sisters to take the fall.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I love any kind of locked room mystery, and when you add witches to the mix..... well, that is perfection in my book. This had an excellent cast of characters - both likeable & unlikeable, scam artists & a dying wealthy woman with regrets. The vultures are circling, because they know the time is near, and she wants to make amends, so she needs Tori & Cassie to perform a seance. Then when Rose dies after the seance and chaos ensues. Everyone is pointing fingers at Tori & Cassie & it is like a literal witch hunt. I was on the edge of my seat wondering how the girls were going to get out of this, because it definitely wasn't looking good. I highly recommend this one!

[M. K. French]

Tori and Cassie Bishop are descended from a Salem witch, but their Tarot readings don't pay the bills. Rose is a dying, wealthy widow who invites the sisters to her gothic estate to be her "witches in residence." The widow is desperate, and her family is conniving and awful. Some guests are drawn to the sisters in uncomfortable ways. Rose dies after a séance, and her millions vanish overnight. Now Tori and Cassie must untangle a web of greed and deception to clear their names. Someone else in Berwyn House is running their own con, and they’ve set up the sisters to take the fall.

Money is tight for the sisters, and Tori wants to protect her younger sister Cassie as much as possible. They agree to the job, which seems like a considerable amount of money to stay for two weeks and talk about the Occult and read the Tarot. Rose is bristly, and her family is obviously money-grubbing with secrets of their own. They're playing off each other and the sisters, putting them down and making us sympathize with them more. We don't like those characters much, for all that we get glimpses of a family feeling decades ago. When Rose dies during the séance, it becomes a murder mystery to prove their innocence.

I enjoyed the story overall and got sucked into the way the sisters interacted with each other as well as with the members of the household. The police presence was almost absent, and it was so bad in such a caricature kind of way. Aside from that, the finale was neatly done and explained everything that was going on. I appreciated it, but hoped to see more of Tori embracing magic and becoming more adept with it. There's something of an open ending, so maybe it can be part of a sequel.

[Elisabeth Jewell]

It's witchy season, readers!

Gather ye round for a tale of two sisters, and the weird rich messed up family whose matriarch hired them to get some answers and clarity in her final days, in CARDS ON THE TABLE by @lanalyte and @jillygagnon !
Descended from one of the original accused women during the Salem Witch Trials, the Bishop sisters definitely could use a hefty payday in their bank account, but I'm not certain that even that many zeros is worth dealing with this messed up entitled rich family. These people have issues, and they really need to talk to a therapist. And then a different therapist. And then maybe they need someone to pick a fight with them in a Waffle House and humble them.

Publisher marketing calls this book a mystery, but I'm not sure what they were on about. The only "mystery" that the marketing mentioned happens about 80% of the way through the book, and the rest of the book is our two ladies trying to navigate their complex feelings about their own parentified relationship with each other and their feelings about each other's relationship with their spiritual skills. One believes that they have a skill in reading people through micro expressions and people skills, and the other believes that their skills are magical in origin. Both think the other needs to wake up.
This is, at its heart, a novel about sisters. it is also a novel that left me feeling unsettled and WATCHED throughout most of it as I waited and waited for something to jump out at the characters. Don't worry, this is not a horror novel. It feels thriller adjacent? Nobody gets stabbed, thankfully, and nobody gets murdered. Is this what book descriptions mean when they say "atmospheric"?

There were no dragons.

[Juli]

Tori and Cassie Bishop are descendants of an original victim, Bridget Bishop, of the Salem Witch Trials. Unfortunately, that doesn't pay the bills. Luck comes to them in the form of a representative of Mrs. Rose Berwyn, who offers the sisters 25,000 dollars to be "witches in residence" for two weeks. The sisters, after receiving an eviction notice agree to the job. They find that Rose is not alone, but family members are also there. Rose is a rich woman and wants to contact the spirit of her son. Seances are conducted witchy artifacts are looked at, the whole house has a creepy atmosphere. A murder occurs and money is missing and the sisters are the main suspects. Told from each sister's point of view we follow the investigation.

Tori and Cassie are very different from each other. Tori is the more pratical, grounded, having raised her younger sister when their mother left. Cassie is more free spirited and embraces her magic and tends to act younger than her 26 years. They do have a good relationship and their sisterly banter was enjoyable.

The plot moved slowly throughout most of the book, it wasn't until the later part that it picked up the pace. I will say I had a preconceived notion when I started Cards on the Table, and the plot did not live up to it. I was expecting more .locked room mystery with witchy undertones, and instead got family drama with alot of backstabbing. Rose's family members are insufferable and the estate's staff are not much better with their own secrets.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Bantam, for an ARC. The opinions in this review are my own.

[Abby Rose]

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to Ballantine through NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC! All opinions are my own.

Cards on the Table is the perfect spooky, atmospheric, and witchy mystery to kick off fall! The setting of a spacious, slightly decrepit mansion in the Berkshires was the perfect backdrop to the complicated dynamics of both Rose’s family and the Bishop sisters.

As a younger sister (by a minute LOL), I really enjoyed Cassie as a character. Cassie relied so much on Tori, both because she was her older sister and because she practically raised her. Their relationship was a little chaotic, with Tori not totally believing in their craft in the same way Cassie did, but they were always there to protect each other. Tori was the quintessential eldest daughter, and I really enjoyed seeing her growth throughout the story. Both her and Cassie started to understand the other’s relationship to their craft, and I think it was really able to strengthen their bond.

Where the story went a little wonky with me was the mystery. Rose was a wonderful character: an elderly woman stuck in her ways, wanting to be able to come to terms with her life and her past as she nears the end. I enjoyed the part Cassie and Tori played in that aspect, especially when it came to Tori coming into terms with her magic and Cassie understanding the perceiving abilities of her sister. The overall mystery with Rose’s family was just a little slow for me, and then so much happened at the end and took a turn that I didn’t love. But her family was so entertaining!

Overall, a fun mystery to start off spooky season with!

[Kheyra Santos]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book! As someone who is a huge fan of witchy stories, this had everything I look for in a fun magical read. The premise immediately grabbed my attention with two sisters who make a living as witches in residence, a mysterious wealthy family, secrets, romance, and plenty of magical elements. It was such a fun combination that kept me entertained from beginning to end.

Tori and Cassie were definitely the heart of the story. I loved their sister bond, the way they supported each other, and how their relationship grew as they faced secrets, betrayal, and unexpected challenges. Their dynamic felt genuine, and I enjoyed seeing them learn more about themselves and each other throughout the story.

The mystery had a slower start, but I didn't mind because I was enjoying the atmosphere, the witchy elements, and the family drama. Once the secrets started coming together, I was fully invested and loved uncovering all the twists and surprises. The magical details, tarot, and spooky mansion vibes made this the perfect cozy mystery for anyone who loves a little bit of magic mixed with suspense.

Overall, this was such an enjoyable read and exactly the kind of witchy story I love. The characters, atmosphere, and magical elements made this a five-star read for me. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys paranormal mysteries, family secrets, and stories with a little witchcraft sprinkled in.

[Sophia Dyer • bookishly.vintage]

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

I kind of went into this expecting it to be a murder mystery, and even after the death I was expecting something nefarious to happen, and for it to be something other than a natural death. Every character in this book was suspicious and had their own motives, so it did feel a bit like Clue trying to suss out who was truly awful and who was just there.

I will admit that I guessed who the "bad guy" was pretty quickly in the story. Still, I kept going because I wanted to know why, and how the story would end - would they get away with it, or would they pay? The other characters were just truly awful in their own way, so I was hoping if my guess was wrong that there would still be come surprise.

Cassandra's chapters were more captivating than Tori's, and I found myself wishing for more on her end. Both POV's were definitely unique though, so I had an easy time separating the two sisters and who's story was whose. Plus, they both found out different parts of the story, so together they figured out the mystery in the end.

The story was slow, and I found myself not wanting to read more than 2 chapters at a time before setting this down. I was interested enough to keep going, but not enough to think about the story after I set it down. The ending felt like a bit of a cop out, but it did feel like a very "stick it to the man" type ending. All in all, it was just fine.
content warnings: loss of a loved one, gaslighting, terminal illness

[Brittani Hamilton]

In Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon’s Cards on the Table, sisters Tori and Cassie Bishop make a little extra money reading tarot cards. When they’re offered a pretty tempting amount of cash to help an elderly woman contact her dead son, the sisters head to her mysterious mansion… because apparently accepting money to enter a creepy house is always a great idea.

I was lucky enough to receive this ARC from Bantam in exchange for my honest review. A big thank you to Lana Harper, Jilly Gagnon, Bantam and NetGalley for sharing this one with me.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I’ll be honest: this one was a bit of a slow burn for me. The mystery doesn’t really get going until about halfway through the book, so I spent a good chunk of the beginning wondering when things were going to start happening. And then, suddenly, they did.

But the part of this book I really liked was the relationship between the sisters. They’re very different (just like my sister and I are), they have plenty of flaws (…ditto), and their sister bond feels realistic. There’s love, frustration, old wounds and a ton of family drama.

Once the mystery finally kicked in, I was invested. I wanted to figure out what was actually going on, and I thought the ending had a clever little twist.

This book has a cozy, spooky atmosphere and some paranormal elements. Kind of perfect timing for this to come out (Y’all know that Practical Magic 2 comes out next week, right?)

So if you like your mysteries with a little magic, a creepy house and sisters who have some serious baggage to unpack, this is for you!

[Susan Belman]

This book was **SO much fun to read**, and I honestly wasn’t expecting to love it this much!

I’m a huge *Knives Out* fan, and that was exactly the feeling I got while reading this. You have a wealthy family, a secluded mansion, an enormous fortune, questionable motives, and a whole bunch of people where you’re thinking, **“Okay…who can we actually trust here?”** 😂

Tori and Cassie are sisters descended from a Salem witch, making a living doing tarot readings and other “witchy” tricks. They end up at the secluded mansion of wealthy Aunt Rose, who wants them to play witches in residence. But when Rose dies after a séance and her millions suddenly disappear, the sisters find themselves right in the middle of a very suspicious situation, and possibly being set up to take the fall.

And OH, I was invested. My heart was racing because I wanted to know **who was going to try to kill Aunt Rose for her fortune, how they were going to do it, and how the heck they were going to get away with it!** And then there was the question of the sisters themselves: **Were they really witches? Did they actually have powers, or was this all just a really well-done parlor trick?** 👀

There are secrets, family drama, greed, deception, and enough suspicious characters to keep you guessing. I loved trying to figure out who was behind everything and watching all the pieces come together.

**Delightfully fun, clean, and engaging.** This was exactly the kind of locked-room mystery I love, and I had a blast reading it!

[Jeremy Reppy]

“Cards on the Table” was quite good. I definitely did not anticipate the ending. And I expected Rose’s death to occur earlier, with Cassie and Tori spending more time trying to prove their innocence. Though the pacing of the story worked out quite well. There were times I was a little frustrated that Cassie and Tori were not sharing the strange things they saw or overheard with each other. However, the tension between the two sisters, including how they viewed their abilities, was an important aspect of the story. I think it worked well to have Tori experience something that profoundly changed how she saw their powers. Which coupled with Cassie’s betrayal by someone she trusted (and whom she was interested romantically) forced the sisters to open up to each other on a deeper level than before.

The story is full of surprises, with lots of scheming and plotting by Rose’s family — some of it more benevolent and some it avaricious. And because “secrets” were often “discovered” without proper context, and it was assumed that Cassie and Tori knew certain information about other characters, there was a lot of confusion and misunderstandings, making it harder to know who could be trusted and how widespread was the collusion. The occult elements were creative, especially with the various artifacts and the past famous practitioners, some of whom were known to be frauds, as well as how much various characters believed or did not believe in the occult practices.

[Rebi]

For me personally, this book was ok. However, I can see why people would love this book and anyone who loves sister dynamics, a witchy mystery, and a twist.

We follow sisters Cassie and Tori who are enlisted to help an elderly woman named Rose come to terms with her grief of losing her son. Rose, an extremely rich woman, doesn’t trust her family members who come to her side as she waits to die. She enlists Cassie and Rose to not only help with her grief before she dies, but she has them looking into who she can really trust.

Cassie and Tori each have their flaws that they can improve upon, and it becomes painstakingly clear very quickly. Tori is older and acts more often like a parent than a sister, which Cassie hates this. Tori bottles things up and tries to hide things from Cassie in hopes of protecting her. Instead of working together, they clash. Cassie is the idealist or maybe just more open minded, where as Tori is the logical, realistic one. I do think that Cassie should be more open to what they went through when they were younger and what role Tori stepped into. I believe this story is about coming to terms with grief and rebuilding relationships, whether that’s Cassie and Tori, or Rose and her family members.

There are characters you love in this book, ones you hate, and ones you don’t know if you’ll ever be able to trust.

I received an eARC from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Joan]

Review of Advanced Reader’s Copy

Sisters Cassie and Victoria [Tori] read tarot cards . . . but it doesn’t bring in enough money to keep the bills paid. However, when they are invited to temporarily stay with Rose Berwyn at her secluded estate in the Berkshires as “witches in residence” . . . with a large payment offered . . . they decline. But when paying the rent for their apartment becomes too difficult, they decide to accept the offer.

When Rose dies following a seance, the two sisters become the prime suspects in the disappearance of a large sum of money. Can they discover the truth and reveal the true killer?

=========

Well-developed characters and a unique plot work together to create an intriguing tale of murder and mystery. Early on it is clear that Rose’s conspiratorial family is a problem and the situation into which the sisters have stepped is definitely problematic. The unfolding cozy mystery keeps readers guessing as to which characters are trustworthy.

Readers who enjoy tales of family drama, stories with a bit of fantasy, and sisterly relationships are likely to enjoy this story. However, the unnecessary overuse of a particularly offensive expletive is likely to be off-putting for many readers and lowers the rating for this book.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Ballantine / Bantam and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#CardsontheTable #NetGalley