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Tarot Mystery #1
The White Magic Five and Dime: A Tarot Mystery
When Alanis McLachlan learns that her mother's been murdered, she's completely unsurprised. Not that Alanis had been given a glimpse into the future. That would be crazy, right? It's just that her con-woman mom, Barbra, was bound to cross the wrong people sooner or later. It's why Alanis was lucky to get out of her childhood alive - and why she hadn't spoken to her mother in decades.
But there is a surprise in store for Alanis. Barbra left her something in her will: a New Age shop in the tiny tourist trap town of Berdache, Arizona. The White Magic Five & Dime.
After going to Berdache to claim her inheritance, Alanis is drawn into the mystery around her mother's death. Did one of Barbra's customers finally get wise to her con-artist ways and take revenge? Alanis thinks she knows how to find out: She'll make those customers her own until she can find the killer. Alanis McLachlan, cynic and unbeliever, is about to become a tarot card reader.
With a little help from her mother's teenage apprentice and a snarky tarot how-to book called Infinite Roads to Knowing, Alanis begins bluffing her way through phony readings. But the more she gets to know the cards, the more she sees real meaning in them...and the closer the murderer comes to making her the next victim.
"Hilarious." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A clever and compelling tale filled with colorful and engaging characters." -Foreword Reviews
"Hockensmith, author of the award-winning Big Red/Old Red series, and coauthor Falco deliver a charming comic mystery." -Booklist
"The story is fun and light, and the mystical background and details of tarot reading are treated with good-natured skepticism." -Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
But there is a surprise in store for Alanis. Barbra left her something in her will: a New Age shop in the tiny tourist trap town of Berdache, Arizona. The White Magic Five & Dime.
After going to Berdache to claim her inheritance, Alanis is drawn into the mystery around her mother's death. Did one of Barbra's customers finally get wise to her con-artist ways and take revenge? Alanis thinks she knows how to find out: She'll make those customers her own until she can find the killer. Alanis McLachlan, cynic and unbeliever, is about to become a tarot card reader.
With a little help from her mother's teenage apprentice and a snarky tarot how-to book called Infinite Roads to Knowing, Alanis begins bluffing her way through phony readings. But the more she gets to know the cards, the more she sees real meaning in them...and the closer the murderer comes to making her the next victim.
"Hilarious." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A clever and compelling tale filled with colorful and engaging characters." -Foreword Reviews
"Hockensmith, author of the award-winning Big Red/Old Red series, and coauthor Falco deliver a charming comic mystery." -Booklist
"The story is fun and light, and the mystical background and details of tarot reading are treated with good-natured skepticism." -Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2014
469 people are currently reading
1963 people want to read
About the author
Steve Hockensmith
97 books525 followersSteve Hockensmith is the author of the New York Times bestseller Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls and several other novels, including the Edgar Award finalist Holmes on the Range. He lives in Alameda, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
November 29, 2017
I picked this book up in a charity shop for 50c on Friday. Bargain says I! It sounded like something I'd enjoy and for that price how could I not? Yesterday I remembered to add it to GR and discovered that this was the first of three books. The other two books are not on kindle and they are €11 each on Book Depository. It's like Age Action Ireland and Steve Hockensmith have partnered up for some elaborate book selling con!!
Obviously I bought Fool Me Once (oh how ironic) and Give the Devil His Due
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick, easy and a fun read and I picked it up in the first place because the Tarot element caught my eye and that was a really great part of this. I loved the Tarot back in college and me and my friend used to have so much fun with it. I personally don't believe that they predict the future but I've always liked the idea that they simply show you possibilities and I think that is reflected really well in this book. In actual fact combining it with the con artist element made Alanis discovering what tarot was all about even more enjoyable. Kind of a 'you can use your power for good or for evil' kind of thing.
The mystery was a little predictable but I actually enjoyed that as well. All in all this was a great find and I'm so glad I read it. Now I need the other two books to get here pronto!!
Also...
I may have done a thing...
I may have bought these in a cyber Monday sale...
I have the worst impulse control!!
October 16, 2016
The White Magic Five and Dime (A Tarot Mystery) is not a good book, but it is fun. Written by Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After author Steve Hockensmith assisted by SME (subject matter expert) Lisa Falco, The White Magic Five and Dime (A Tarot Mystery) is a nicely done puff piece of a cozy, complete with Tarot spreads. While much of the plot was predictable, the one-liners and amusing Tarot card descriptions frequently had me smiling. I particularly enjoyed the lighthearted descriptions of selected cards from the major arcana that appeared as chapter dividers.
November 19, 2018
Absolutely LOVED this book!
A great start to a series!😀 Can't wait to finish it!💖 I highly recommend this book! It's more than meets the eyes!
A great start to a series!😀 Can't wait to finish it!💖 I highly recommend this book! It's more than meets the eyes!
January 16, 2016
Alanis McLachlan has not seen her mother in 20 years so when she is summoned to Berdache, Arizona to collect her inheritance she is very surprised. Her con-woman mother has left her The White Magic Five & Dime, a small shop where her mother has her tarot card reading business. Unsure what to do with the place she decides to temporarily open the store to try to figure out how and why her mother died. She assumes one of her mother’s cons was run on the wrong person and she ended up paying for it with her life.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Alanis McLachlan (the name she is currently using) has quite a life which makes her a very interesting protagonist. Her mother has been a con-woman Alantis’ whole life and as soon as she was old enough she ran away and left that world and her mother behind. Arriving in Arizona with a long list of unanswered questions she finds her mother had a teenage roommate. Did her mother replace her with this girl to help her with her con games? She hopes by reopening the shop and meeting with her mother’s customers she may get some answers to her questions and find out who killed her mother. Alanis is very cynical but with her upbringing it is easy to understand why. She truly is a good person and wants to do right for a mom who really did a lot of things wrong. I was engaged by her story immediately.
The authors also gave us some great supporting characters. Clarice, who seems to be Alanis’ mother’s apprentice, and Josh Logan, the officer in charge of her mother’s investigation. The dialogue between Josh and Alanis is absolutely fantastic.
The mystery was well written and well plotted. All the information about Tarot Cards was very interesting. While this area of Arizona is know for psychics and its energy vortex the paranormal part of the story is very mild. Alanis starts out feeling it is just another of her mother’s con’s but the story has a nice twist that makes her question her theory.
I can’t believe how quickly I read this story. I was captivated from beginning to end!! I can’t wait for Book 2.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Alanis McLachlan (the name she is currently using) has quite a life which makes her a very interesting protagonist. Her mother has been a con-woman Alantis’ whole life and as soon as she was old enough she ran away and left that world and her mother behind. Arriving in Arizona with a long list of unanswered questions she finds her mother had a teenage roommate. Did her mother replace her with this girl to help her with her con games? She hopes by reopening the shop and meeting with her mother’s customers she may get some answers to her questions and find out who killed her mother. Alanis is very cynical but with her upbringing it is easy to understand why. She truly is a good person and wants to do right for a mom who really did a lot of things wrong. I was engaged by her story immediately.
The authors also gave us some great supporting characters. Clarice, who seems to be Alanis’ mother’s apprentice, and Josh Logan, the officer in charge of her mother’s investigation. The dialogue between Josh and Alanis is absolutely fantastic.
The mystery was well written and well plotted. All the information about Tarot Cards was very interesting. While this area of Arizona is know for psychics and its energy vortex the paranormal part of the story is very mild. Alanis starts out feeling it is just another of her mother’s con’s but the story has a nice twist that makes her question her theory.
I can’t believe how quickly I read this story. I was captivated from beginning to end!! I can’t wait for Book 2.
October 29, 2024
English version below
********************
Ich habe mir von diesem Buch ein erheiterndes Cozy Crime versprochen, ein leichtes Lesevergnügen zur Entspannung.
Und zumindest zu Anfang habe ich das auch bekommen.
Unsere Protagonistin Alanis hat ihre Mutter aus guten Gründen seit 20 Jahren nicht mehr gesehen und erhielt nun die Nachricht, dass die Mutter verstorben und sie die Alleinerbin ist. Obwohl sich alles in ihr sträubt, fährt Alanis trotzdem in die Kleinstadt, in der ihre Mutter gelebt hat, um sich zumindest Klarheit über die Situation zu verschaffen.
Wie sich herausstellt, wurde die Mutter ermordet und Alanis will nun herausfinden, wer der Mörder ist. Sie ist nicht auf den Mund gefallen und das führt sehr bald zu wirklich amüsanten Situationen und Dialogen.
Im Verlauf der Geschichte erfahren wir aber immer mehr über Alanis’ Kindheit, die sie zum großen Teil bei ihrer Mutter verbracht hat und schon ist es (zumindest für mich) aus mit dem Amüsement. Ich würde sogar so weit gehen zu sagen, für Menschen wie Alanis’ Mutter wurde die Hölle erfunden.
Ein weiterer Punkt, den ich nicht ganz so gut fand, war die Auflösung des Kriminalfalls, die mir ziemlich abrupt vor die Füssen viel und die er erst unmittelbar zuvor erahnen konnte.
Alles in allem hat mich also gestört, dass die Geschichte nicht so cozy und lustig war, wie von mir erhofft, so dass sie mir letztendlich 2,5 Sterne wert war.
------------------------
I expected this book to be an exhilarating cozy crime, a light, relaxing read.
And at least at the beginning, that's what I got.
Our protagonist Alanis hasn't seen her mother for 20 years for good reason and has now received the news that her mother has died and she is the sole heir. Although everything inside her resists, Alanis nevertheless travels to the small town where her mother lived to at least get some clarity about the situation.
As it turns out, her mother has been murdered and Alanis now wants to find out who the murderer is. She is not one to mince her words and this soon leads to some really amusing situations and dialogues.
As the story progresses, however, we learn more and more about Alanis' childhood, most of which she spent with her mother, and that's where the amusement ends (for me at least). I would even go so far as to say that hell was invented for people like Alanis' mother.
Another point that I didn't quite like was the resolution of the criminal case, which came rather abruptly to me and which I could only guess at immediately beforehand.
All in all, it bothered me that the story wasn't as cosy and funny as I had hoped, so in the end it was worth 2.5 stars to me.
********************
Ich habe mir von diesem Buch ein erheiterndes Cozy Crime versprochen, ein leichtes Lesevergnügen zur Entspannung.
Und zumindest zu Anfang habe ich das auch bekommen.
Unsere Protagonistin Alanis hat ihre Mutter aus guten Gründen seit 20 Jahren nicht mehr gesehen und erhielt nun die Nachricht, dass die Mutter verstorben und sie die Alleinerbin ist. Obwohl sich alles in ihr sträubt, fährt Alanis trotzdem in die Kleinstadt, in der ihre Mutter gelebt hat, um sich zumindest Klarheit über die Situation zu verschaffen.
Wie sich herausstellt, wurde die Mutter ermordet und Alanis will nun herausfinden, wer der Mörder ist. Sie ist nicht auf den Mund gefallen und das führt sehr bald zu wirklich amüsanten Situationen und Dialogen.
Im Verlauf der Geschichte erfahren wir aber immer mehr über Alanis’ Kindheit, die sie zum großen Teil bei ihrer Mutter verbracht hat und schon ist es (zumindest für mich) aus mit dem Amüsement. Ich würde sogar so weit gehen zu sagen, für Menschen wie Alanis’ Mutter wurde die Hölle erfunden.
Ein weiterer Punkt, den ich nicht ganz so gut fand, war die Auflösung des Kriminalfalls, die mir ziemlich abrupt vor die Füssen viel und die er erst unmittelbar zuvor erahnen konnte.
Alles in allem hat mich also gestört, dass die Geschichte nicht so cozy und lustig war, wie von mir erhofft, so dass sie mir letztendlich 2,5 Sterne wert war.
------------------------
I expected this book to be an exhilarating cozy crime, a light, relaxing read.
And at least at the beginning, that's what I got.
Our protagonist Alanis hasn't seen her mother for 20 years for good reason and has now received the news that her mother has died and she is the sole heir. Although everything inside her resists, Alanis nevertheless travels to the small town where her mother lived to at least get some clarity about the situation.
As it turns out, her mother has been murdered and Alanis now wants to find out who the murderer is. She is not one to mince her words and this soon leads to some really amusing situations and dialogues.
As the story progresses, however, we learn more and more about Alanis' childhood, most of which she spent with her mother, and that's where the amusement ends (for me at least). I would even go so far as to say that hell was invented for people like Alanis' mother.
Another point that I didn't quite like was the resolution of the criminal case, which came rather abruptly to me and which I could only guess at immediately beforehand.
All in all, it bothered me that the story wasn't as cosy and funny as I had hoped, so in the end it was worth 2.5 stars to me.
September 21, 2014
I thoroughly and completely loved Steve Hockensmith's Holmes on the Range series, so I was very pleased to see he'd been writing another mystery. I scarfed up White Magic Five & Dime the second it hit the public library shelves.
I was not disappointed. It's freakin' hilarious. (My favorite part is the tarot card reading given by the protagonist, who has no clue what she's doing. Now, I think a lot of tarot cards are very pretty, and I know a little about them, but Hockensmith's description of each card used in the reading scene ought to come with a "swallow first" warning, as the reader will undoubtably spew/choke on anything in her/his mouth while laughing uncontrollably.)
This book is billed as a cozy mystery, but I think I'll term it "cozy noir" instead. It's a bit darker than most cozies.
The basic plot is that a 36-year-old woman whose real name might possibly be Sophie, but who chose the name Alanis at age 18, arrives in a small town in Arizona because her estranged mother (with whom she's had no contact for 20 years -- and flashback scenes let the reader know why) has been murdered. Alanis has inherited her mother's shop and apartment -- and apparently her teenage apprentice/flunky as well. Alanis' mom has been a con artist for decades, so Alanis isn't at all surprised her mother was murdered. However, she feels the need to find the killer. Naturally, there's a handsome cop involved in this effort.
So far it sounds like the average cozy, doesn't it? We have the female protagonist who falls within the correct age-range, the theme or hook (in this case, the tarot shop), a murder, the sexy cop who tries to protect/dissuade the protagonist, and the small town.
But, not only is this book funnier than any other cozy I've read before, it has very distinct dark elements. Alanis was with her con-artist mom until she was a teenager; she is not particularly innocent. Her past is dark. She thinks nothing of breaking laws in order to bring about real justice. She does not trust people easily, and therefore, she never falls into the usual cozy scenario of needing to be rescued by the sexy cop or other male figure. I liked this side of the book.
Downsides? Well, Clarice's side-plot secrets are incredibly obvious, yet it takes Alanis forever to figure them out, which is annoying. But that's about all I can scrape up.
This is a great mystery read: funny, mostly cozy, and just dark enough to break the mold a bit.
I was not disappointed. It's freakin' hilarious. (My favorite part is the tarot card reading given by the protagonist, who has no clue what she's doing. Now, I think a lot of tarot cards are very pretty, and I know a little about them, but Hockensmith's description of each card used in the reading scene ought to come with a "swallow first" warning, as the reader will undoubtably spew/choke on anything in her/his mouth while laughing uncontrollably.)
This book is billed as a cozy mystery, but I think I'll term it "cozy noir" instead. It's a bit darker than most cozies.
The basic plot is that a 36-year-old woman whose real name might possibly be Sophie, but who chose the name Alanis at age 18, arrives in a small town in Arizona because her estranged mother (with whom she's had no contact for 20 years -- and flashback scenes let the reader know why) has been murdered. Alanis has inherited her mother's shop and apartment -- and apparently her teenage apprentice/flunky as well. Alanis' mom has been a con artist for decades, so Alanis isn't at all surprised her mother was murdered. However, she feels the need to find the killer. Naturally, there's a handsome cop involved in this effort.
So far it sounds like the average cozy, doesn't it? We have the female protagonist who falls within the correct age-range, the theme or hook (in this case, the tarot shop), a murder, the sexy cop who tries to protect/dissuade the protagonist, and the small town.
But, not only is this book funnier than any other cozy I've read before, it has very distinct dark elements. Alanis was with her con-artist mom until she was a teenager; she is not particularly innocent. Her past is dark. She thinks nothing of breaking laws in order to bring about real justice. She does not trust people easily, and therefore, she never falls into the usual cozy scenario of needing to be rescued by the sexy cop or other male figure. I liked this side of the book.
Downsides? Well, Clarice's side-plot secrets are incredibly obvious, yet it takes Alanis forever to figure them out, which is annoying. But that's about all I can scrape up.
This is a great mystery read: funny, mostly cozy, and just dark enough to break the mold a bit.
September 1, 2018
I'm truly ambivalent about this one. Setting and characters were done well, although I had some problems with the plot. Will probably read the second book for the psychic aspect of the series, as the co-author who handles that angle really did a good job in this one.
July 11, 2014
The Good:
~Though this book didn’t have what I typically consider a cozy feel it more than made up for that with it’s wonderful quirkiness.
~I loved Alanis and her sarcastic personality. We get to know her little by little throughout the story and by the middle of the book I was completely in love with her character.
~It’s no secret that paranormal cozies are one of my favorite genres and this one delivers without being too out there. Is there really something to the Tarot? Or is at all about the readers ability to read not the cards but rather the customer? I’ll let you decide, but either way…it makes for a great addition to the story.
~Well written and incredibly entertaining, this one captured me from the first page and I was hooked until the end.
~The interactions between Logan and Alanis were priceless.
~It’s also no secret that I love “woowoo,” the Tarot card elements of this story fascinated me and have renewed my interest to break out the deck I bought years ago and learn.
~Lots of clues were sprinkled throughout. You may or may not guess who done it…but regardless you’ll be entertained until the end.
The Not So Good:
~I wish that we had gotten to know a bit more about the town and it’s residents. Unlike most cozies, the town wasn’t really a “character” in this one…I suspect though that in future books in this series we’ll learn more about Berdache and the town folk.
Final Thoughts:
This book was very simply so much fun. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
~Though this book didn’t have what I typically consider a cozy feel it more than made up for that with it’s wonderful quirkiness.
~I loved Alanis and her sarcastic personality. We get to know her little by little throughout the story and by the middle of the book I was completely in love with her character.
~It’s no secret that paranormal cozies are one of my favorite genres and this one delivers without being too out there. Is there really something to the Tarot? Or is at all about the readers ability to read not the cards but rather the customer? I’ll let you decide, but either way…it makes for a great addition to the story.
~Well written and incredibly entertaining, this one captured me from the first page and I was hooked until the end.
~The interactions between Logan and Alanis were priceless.
~It’s also no secret that I love “woowoo,” the Tarot card elements of this story fascinated me and have renewed my interest to break out the deck I bought years ago and learn.
~Lots of clues were sprinkled throughout. You may or may not guess who done it…but regardless you’ll be entertained until the end.
The Not So Good:
~I wish that we had gotten to know a bit more about the town and it’s residents. Unlike most cozies, the town wasn’t really a “character” in this one…I suspect though that in future books in this series we’ll learn more about Berdache and the town folk.
Final Thoughts:
This book was very simply so much fun. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
October 5, 2015
Hockensmith? I'm in.
Tarot mystery? Don't care.
And indeed the tarot was very well handled and integrated.
Alanis is a smartass, and smart, and bold, and funny, and I want to see what she does next.
She starts in an interesting situation that gets more interesting as we learn more (with her).
The plot is surprisingly good for what looked like a generic small-towner.
Thoroughly enjoyable. Recommended.
Tarot mystery? Don't care.
And indeed the tarot was very well handled and integrated.
Alanis is a smartass, and smart, and bold, and funny, and I want to see what she does next.
She starts in an interesting situation that gets more interesting as we learn more (with her).
The plot is surprisingly good for what looked like a generic small-towner.
Thoroughly enjoyable. Recommended.
August 31, 2014
This book was a quick read and had some very funny one-liners. The reason I am giving it only 2 stars is that the entire book was only one-liners. Since it is written in first person, it was impossible to connect with the protagonist and she had zero depth. How can you route for someone who was so consistently one-note? I felt like i was in the company of a smart-ass stand up comic who had nothing to say except one wise crack after another. The mystery solving part was pretty pedestrian and since I figured out (correctly) the 'who done it' halfway through the book, I was disappointed in the lack of surprise at the conclusion.
February 15, 2020
An entertaining, light mystery. I guessed the villain halfway through but still enjoyed it a lot, especially the tarot card descriptions that separated the chapters.
December 11, 2021
So. I just finished this. I gave it five stars. I highlighted a bunch of stuff which is probably linked somewhere on this page. Those highlights will tell you part of why I was able to actually sit down and read this, which I do so very rarely that I'm not sure what the last book I actually read was.
So the voice, the snark, I loved it. Snarky tarot for the win.
But also, this book moved. It went fast [at least for me] and kept me clicking 'next' 'next' 'next' to turn pages. And the plot worked.
I guess the real acid test about how much I enjoyed reading this book is that as soon as I hit 'save' here I'm going to go find/buy the next book in the series, even though I'll evidently have to read-read it, too.
Remember as always my reviews such as they are are always about me, and how I felt when I ended the book. I enjoyed the heck out of this one.
# # #
Because I'm actually 'reading' this instead of listening, it's taking me much longer. But I enjoy it when I actually do grab myself by the scruff of the neck and force myself to sit down and read. Interestingly, something about the voice made me assume the first person pov character was male and I was surprised when it wasn't. I may look back at that to figure out why. Finding out they weren't male kind of threw me in a negative way, because the character had already established so firmly and positively in my mind and having to screech on the brakes and reimagine was frustrating. Since I did fall in deep with this book from the first page it will be interesting to see if I still feel that way by the end.
Also, I assumed this was going to actually have magical elements in it and it was a bit of a letdown to realize it doesn't, but the fact that the protaganist's dead mother was a con artist using fortune telling as a scam made up for it.
So the voice, the snark, I loved it. Snarky tarot for the win.
But also, this book moved. It went fast [at least for me] and kept me clicking 'next' 'next' 'next' to turn pages. And the plot worked.
I guess the real acid test about how much I enjoyed reading this book is that as soon as I hit 'save' here I'm going to go find/buy the next book in the series, even though I'll evidently have to read-read it, too.
Remember as always my reviews such as they are are always about me, and how I felt when I ended the book. I enjoyed the heck out of this one.
# # #
Because I'm actually 'reading' this instead of listening, it's taking me much longer. But I enjoy it when I actually do grab myself by the scruff of the neck and force myself to sit down and read. Interestingly, something about the voice made me assume the first person pov character was male and I was surprised when it wasn't. I may look back at that to figure out why. Finding out they weren't male kind of threw me in a negative way, because the character had already established so firmly and positively in my mind and having to screech on the brakes and reimagine was frustrating. Since I did fall in deep with this book from the first page it will be interesting to see if I still feel that way by the end.
Also, I assumed this was going to actually have magical elements in it and it was a bit of a letdown to realize it doesn't, but the fact that the protaganist's dead mother was a con artist using fortune telling as a scam made up for it.
October 2, 2019
Every once in a while you come across a book that you really like but you don't really know why. This is one of those. There's nothing overly special or unique about it. It's a contemporary murder mystery. A woman is notified that her estranged mother has died and left her all of her worldly assets, which includes a shop in a nothing of a town in Arizona. The shop (see title) is only one of several in the area that provide psychic readings and other woo-woo services. The deceased mom was a career con-woman. The daughter would rather not be, although it is what she was groomed for. So, when it turns out that the woman's death probably wasn't due to a burglary gone wrong but was, instead, a targeted slaying, the daughter is not surprised, and she begins to investigate.
I like stories with clever, witty, but essentially moral protagonists. The one in this book certainly qualifies. Alanis (possibly her real name, although she's had many aliases) is given depth in the story through flashbacks to scenes from her childhood, traveling around the country, living in hotels, and playing parts in her mother's cons. From these you see why she is what she is, and you admire that she's not been completely destroyed by her experiences, that she's somehow retained both her sanity and her humanity. One of her first acts upon arriving in Arizona is to make amends with some of the people her mother conned out of money or jewelry. But I think what I find most appealing about this spunky heroine is that she's a clear thinker, skeptical, logical, perhaps even a bit cynical. She arrives knowing that her mother, her shop, and the mystical stuff the town is known for are nothing more than ways of extracting money from credulous, superstitious tourists. But as she learns more, she wonders if the Tarot cards can't be more than just a con. In the hands of a skilled reader, perhaps they can provide comfort, or motivation, or confidence.... Rather than being used to cheat people, maybe they can be used to help them. Of course they'd need to be in the hands of someone skilled at reading people to do that. Alanis feels that she is.
There are two more books in this series. I just ordered the second, and the third is in my local library system. I've added both to my TBR list. I suppose you could consider that an endorsement of this one.
I like stories with clever, witty, but essentially moral protagonists. The one in this book certainly qualifies. Alanis (possibly her real name, although she's had many aliases) is given depth in the story through flashbacks to scenes from her childhood, traveling around the country, living in hotels, and playing parts in her mother's cons. From these you see why she is what she is, and you admire that she's not been completely destroyed by her experiences, that she's somehow retained both her sanity and her humanity. One of her first acts upon arriving in Arizona is to make amends with some of the people her mother conned out of money or jewelry. But I think what I find most appealing about this spunky heroine is that she's a clear thinker, skeptical, logical, perhaps even a bit cynical. She arrives knowing that her mother, her shop, and the mystical stuff the town is known for are nothing more than ways of extracting money from credulous, superstitious tourists. But as she learns more, she wonders if the Tarot cards can't be more than just a con. In the hands of a skilled reader, perhaps they can provide comfort, or motivation, or confidence.... Rather than being used to cheat people, maybe they can be used to help them. Of course they'd need to be in the hands of someone skilled at reading people to do that. Alanis feels that she is.
There are two more books in this series. I just ordered the second, and the third is in my local library system. I've added both to my TBR list. I suppose you could consider that an endorsement of this one.
August 11, 2016
I received an ARC of The White Magic Five & Dime through NetGalley.
(3.5 Stars)
I expected The White Magic Five & Dime to be a good guilty pleasure read for yet another snowed in winter night and was happily surprised when it turned out to be less "guilty pleasure" and more "genuinely enjoyable." While the book's premise (young woman inherits new age shop from her estranged con artist mother, finds herself at the center of a revenge plot engineered by her mother's marks) errs a bit on the absurd side, Hockensmith and Falco manage to keep things reigned in.
The present-day predicament of Alanis inheriting her mother's new age gift shop and tarot reading business is interwoven with flashbacks to Alanis's childhood. These flashbacks lay the groundwork for Alanis's eventual estrangement from her mother, taking the reader through a series of increasingly high risk and violent cons. As much as Alanis strives to escape her mother, she finds that she carries pieces of her wherever she goes. Through this look at Alanis's history, Hockensmith and Falco are able to ask some tough questions about the role that toxic family relationships can play in shaping our personalities.
The White Magic Five & Dime had a good blend of humor and suspense - but was never downright funny or scary. If you read a lot of mysteries, you'll see several well-worn tropes in play, the majority of which are executed skillfully. Like most good mysteries, The White Magic Five & Dime feels familiar from the outset, but is never entirely predictable.
(3.5 Stars)
I expected The White Magic Five & Dime to be a good guilty pleasure read for yet another snowed in winter night and was happily surprised when it turned out to be less "guilty pleasure" and more "genuinely enjoyable." While the book's premise (young woman inherits new age shop from her estranged con artist mother, finds herself at the center of a revenge plot engineered by her mother's marks) errs a bit on the absurd side, Hockensmith and Falco manage to keep things reigned in.
The present-day predicament of Alanis inheriting her mother's new age gift shop and tarot reading business is interwoven with flashbacks to Alanis's childhood. These flashbacks lay the groundwork for Alanis's eventual estrangement from her mother, taking the reader through a series of increasingly high risk and violent cons. As much as Alanis strives to escape her mother, she finds that she carries pieces of her wherever she goes. Through this look at Alanis's history, Hockensmith and Falco are able to ask some tough questions about the role that toxic family relationships can play in shaping our personalities.
The White Magic Five & Dime had a good blend of humor and suspense - but was never downright funny or scary. If you read a lot of mysteries, you'll see several well-worn tropes in play, the majority of which are executed skillfully. Like most good mysteries, The White Magic Five & Dime feels familiar from the outset, but is never entirely predictable.
June 25, 2014
I am far wiser for having read this book, having learned about the shortcomings of female gaydar and human goldfish funerals. Alanis McLachlan grew up in a loveless, makeshift family of grifters. When she inherits her estranged mother's last con, a tarot shop, she decides to make amends to her mother's victims while hopefully catching her mother's murderer. There is so much great information that comes through Alanis -- words of con artist wisdom that reveal great insight into human nature. Hockensmith and Falco keep the action dynamic and the characters are well developed...so much so that I grew to love Biddle who appears only in brief flashbacks, and as the voice of grifter wisdom in Alanis's head. I was especially thrilled when a murderer reveals a surprising multi-con. The tarot aspect wove its way surprisingly well through the story. The readings are not the standard, predictable readings, but specific to character/situation reveals, or just downright funny. Though Alanis is so serious and there is much criminality to be had by all, there is also an underlying hopeful feel to the book that is just sublime. It did take me a bit of time in the beginning to get used to Alanis's unique vernacular, so if any readers find themselves struggling with the same thing, I urge you to persevere. You will be greatly rewarded....and surprised by the ending. Which I never saw coming.
July 7, 2014
Do you believe in White Magic? After reading this book you might...or might not. Alanis is notified that her mother has died and she has been left everything. Yet when she arrives in Berdache AZ, she finds things maybe aren't as cut and dried as it seems.
For some reason, I thought this book was going to be a cozy mystery. I don't think I would put it in that genre. Mystery? yes! Cozy? hmmm, borderline. However, that doesn't matter because this is still a GREAT book! I have always been fascinated with things like psychics and tarot card readers (and maybe one day I will visit one for a reading!). This book explained more about tarot cards and what each card means (or could mean) when chosen.
The characters were very real and there were flashbacks to Alanis' life growing up that filled in the gaps as to why she hadn't seen her mother in 20 years and what it was like being a part of a con artist's life as a child. There are twists and turns that I definitely didn't expect and the book had an ending that could lead to another book, or could just as easily end here as a stand-alone book.
Worth the read!
For some reason, I thought this book was going to be a cozy mystery. I don't think I would put it in that genre. Mystery? yes! Cozy? hmmm, borderline. However, that doesn't matter because this is still a GREAT book! I have always been fascinated with things like psychics and tarot card readers (and maybe one day I will visit one for a reading!). This book explained more about tarot cards and what each card means (or could mean) when chosen.
The characters were very real and there were flashbacks to Alanis' life growing up that filled in the gaps as to why she hadn't seen her mother in 20 years and what it was like being a part of a con artist's life as a child. There are twists and turns that I definitely didn't expect and the book had an ending that could lead to another book, or could just as easily end here as a stand-alone book.
Worth the read!
March 7, 2017
2017 Notes: A re-read as I prepare to read the second book in this series. I was blown away by the main character and her sarcastic life outlook on my first read and this time through did not disappoint. I really really like this main character and while this is still more a cozy than not – there is no one quite like Alanis McLachlan (STILL not her real name). Loved it even more this time around!
2015 Notes: I can’t remember the last time a book made me laugh out loud so much. Alanis McLachlan (NOT her real name) is a second generation con-woman (sort of) who hoped to never hear from her mother again, which she didn’t (sort of). When her mother is murdered, Alanis inherits a new agey tarot card shop, a surly teenage roommate and a bunch of vague but menacing threats. Alanis perspective is wry verging on face-puckeringly sour and she cracks me up. This didn’t quite read as a “cozy” to me, but it was hysterically funny. I think I ended up reading about 1/3 of this book to my husband in random excerpts because Alanis’ POV was just that entertaining! Looking forward to the next book in this series and off to find more works by this author.
2015 Notes: I can’t remember the last time a book made me laugh out loud so much. Alanis McLachlan (NOT her real name) is a second generation con-woman (sort of) who hoped to never hear from her mother again, which she didn’t (sort of). When her mother is murdered, Alanis inherits a new agey tarot card shop, a surly teenage roommate and a bunch of vague but menacing threats. Alanis perspective is wry verging on face-puckeringly sour and she cracks me up. This didn’t quite read as a “cozy” to me, but it was hysterically funny. I think I ended up reading about 1/3 of this book to my husband in random excerpts because Alanis’ POV was just that entertaining! Looking forward to the next book in this series and off to find more works by this author.
October 5, 2016
Really enjoyed this one, though it isn't really a cozy. Our heroine was brought up by her con-woman mother & her boyfriend. She ran away as soon as she was old enough to fend for herself and never looked back. After years of no contact at all, she's more surprised when she gets a call that her mother has died and left all that she had to her. Once she arrives in Arizona she finds that Mom's death wasn't "natural". She was murdered. Even though she had no relationship with her mother, she feels like she ought to try and find out who did her in. Along the way she meets up with some disgruntled clients and some not so "gruntled". Was a bit surprised with "whodunit", but it worked for sure. Looking forward to the next in this series. The tarot got worked in handily, too! Recommend!
December 14, 2019
This is quite different from the other Hockensmith books I've read (in his Holmes on the Range series) but just as intriguing. Here, as in those, the voice is distinctive. In this case it's also snarky, which works just fine. I found myself smiling as I read. The only thing better than finding an enjoyable new-to-me mystery is realizing that there are more books already in print that feature the same characters. I'm looking forward to reading the second and third entries in this series.
July 17, 2018
The White Magic Five and Dime by Steve Hockensmith with Lisa Falco
When Alanis McLachlan gets a call that her 20-year estranged mother has been killed in a botched burglary and she has inherited her mother’s business in Arizona, she flies out of Chicago to assess the situation. Signing into the varied accumulations, she is also given the duty of the afters that follow death. Knowing her mother’s wish for cremation, she nearly seriously asks the executor “Where would you go around here to pick up some charcoal briquettes?”
Yeah, it’s one of those.
Set outside Sedona, where the vortexes are not as strong. Coming from a lineage of con artists, Alanis is hip to the sham and adept at playing dupe to get what she needs. Reverse con. Savvy from an upbringing of close escapes and constant lam life, she is street smart and super snarky.
Reading from a tarot lesson book by “Miss Chance”, Alanis gleams some necessary information and we, some chuckles, as she attempts to restart the business she just inherited. As a (not so) bonus, the upstairs apartment comes with a roommate, in a teenage girl Alanis’ mother was implementing in her scams. There are secrets both will divulge to each other after a testy span of trust-seeking.
Then there is hunky policeman who offers help and protection, a handful of inherited grudges, and a bevy of wrongs Alanis hopes to make right.
In her own backchannel method of seeking justice, the twists nearly vortex with comical dialogue before the totally unexpected climax. Hats off to this duo for that surprise.
I loved this read, just as I did Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Now, to seek out the others.
Favorite line: “Churches were just competition working a different kind of con.”
Page 74. Big LOL. Added bonus: Learned some tarot card tidbits
When Alanis McLachlan gets a call that her 20-year estranged mother has been killed in a botched burglary and she has inherited her mother’s business in Arizona, she flies out of Chicago to assess the situation. Signing into the varied accumulations, she is also given the duty of the afters that follow death. Knowing her mother’s wish for cremation, she nearly seriously asks the executor “Where would you go around here to pick up some charcoal briquettes?”
Yeah, it’s one of those.
Set outside Sedona, where the vortexes are not as strong. Coming from a lineage of con artists, Alanis is hip to the sham and adept at playing dupe to get what she needs. Reverse con. Savvy from an upbringing of close escapes and constant lam life, she is street smart and super snarky.
Reading from a tarot lesson book by “Miss Chance”, Alanis gleams some necessary information and we, some chuckles, as she attempts to restart the business she just inherited. As a (not so) bonus, the upstairs apartment comes with a roommate, in a teenage girl Alanis’ mother was implementing in her scams. There are secrets both will divulge to each other after a testy span of trust-seeking.
Then there is hunky policeman who offers help and protection, a handful of inherited grudges, and a bevy of wrongs Alanis hopes to make right.
In her own backchannel method of seeking justice, the twists nearly vortex with comical dialogue before the totally unexpected climax. Hats off to this duo for that surprise.
I loved this read, just as I did Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Now, to seek out the others.
Favorite line: “Churches were just competition working a different kind of con.”
Page 74. Big LOL. Added bonus: Learned some tarot card tidbits
March 3, 2018
I went searching for books involving tarot and stumbling across this fun mystery. Alanis McLachlin (even she admits her teenage name choice was terrible) is the daughter of a con artist. When her estranged mother is murdered, she finds out she's inherited a metaphysical shop and decides she needs to solve her mother's murder. The book incorporates some basic tarot lessons as Alanis learns the cards (and is ever the skeptic). Hockensmith plays with a lot of tropes of the genre, giving them some new spins. Overall, a fun, cozy mystery that's great for a relaxing read. Will definitely be seeking out the rest of the series!
September 1, 2022
I liked this, Alanis was very funny although the snark got to be a bit much at times. The story wasn't amazing, but it was a cute enough murder mystery (with some rather dark flashbacks thrown in) and I liked the tarot interpretations. I probably won't continue on with the series, but I did have a fun time reading this.
December 11, 2025
I had so much fun reading this book—a good little light mystery
August 25, 2017
4.5
*Book source ~ Library
Alanis McLachlan has not had a conventional childhood and it ended when she walked out on her mother. So she is understandably surprised when her mom croaks and leaves her everything. However, Alanis discovers, much like her childhood, nothing is ever as simple as it seems. Can she solve her mother’s murder and get to the bottom of what she was up to all while keeping herself alive?
This is told differently. Almost like Alanis is talking to the reader. I love it, but a lot of readers may find it off-putting. There’s a mystery to solve which is always nice, but her mother is a con artist of the finest order so it gets tricky, tricky and trickier. There’s humor and horror (Alanis’s childhood will give you nightmares), twists and turns, and the ending surprised me. I can’t wait to see what Alanis plans to do now. Glad I have books 2 & 3 from the library. This should be good.
*Book source ~ Library
Alanis McLachlan has not had a conventional childhood and it ended when she walked out on her mother. So she is understandably surprised when her mom croaks and leaves her everything. However, Alanis discovers, much like her childhood, nothing is ever as simple as it seems. Can she solve her mother’s murder and get to the bottom of what she was up to all while keeping herself alive?
This is told differently. Almost like Alanis is talking to the reader. I love it, but a lot of readers may find it off-putting. There’s a mystery to solve which is always nice, but her mother is a con artist of the finest order so it gets tricky, tricky and trickier. There’s humor and horror (Alanis’s childhood will give you nightmares), twists and turns, and the ending surprised me. I can’t wait to see what Alanis plans to do now. Glad I have books 2 & 3 from the library. This should be good.
August 7, 2021
Struggled with this book. Did not care for the snarky main character. I have to like the characters to like the book.
July 13, 2014
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
The premise is enticing and fun. Alanis is the estranged daughter of the owner of The White Magic Five & Dime. When Alanis’ mother gets murdered, Alanis inherits the business and feels it is only right to find justice for her mother. It is a light cozy, written as a story told by Alanis. I enjoyed the author`s style of writing. It made for a VERY easy read.
Each chapter begins with a picture of one of the tarot cards and a brief description of the card…according to Miss Chance, the author of Infinite Roads to Knowing. That is very fun :) and….later on you learn of a secret which is surprising and yet……….not surrounding the book. Even if you have little or no knowledge of tarot cards and associated readings, you will enjoy this aspect.
Biddle, Alanis’ male role model when she was growing up and still with her mother (by whatever name she was going by), is an intriguing character which the reader comes to know only in flashbacks that Alanis is having. He imparts wisdom and one comes to appreciate his role in her life growing up, a “somewhat stable” male role model.
I must say that the love interest angle was quite weak….and I was disappointed to a certain degree, but as luck would have it, other aspects of the book made up for this. Josh Logan (Berdache Police Department detective) and Alanis did not seem to really have that ‘spark’ even though Josh was portrayed as a “hunk”.
I quite enjoyed the spunky, older suspect – Kenneth Meldon…he was a hoot…especially when he pulls out his gun (not to worry – no more bloodshed occurred). The twists relating to Clarice added some much needed spice. I liked Clarice’s character……Don’t really want to elaborate….so as to keep the mystery alive until YOU read the book.
Overall, without giving away anything, the story was an enjoyable read. I was able to chuckle at Alanis’ vision of keeping the business alive, even with her lack of experience in tarot card reading. But hey….a con is a con….right? A satisfying end where the bad guy/gal is of course identified…and not who you thought it would be!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
The premise is enticing and fun. Alanis is the estranged daughter of the owner of The White Magic Five & Dime. When Alanis’ mother gets murdered, Alanis inherits the business and feels it is only right to find justice for her mother. It is a light cozy, written as a story told by Alanis. I enjoyed the author`s style of writing. It made for a VERY easy read.
Each chapter begins with a picture of one of the tarot cards and a brief description of the card…according to Miss Chance, the author of Infinite Roads to Knowing. That is very fun :) and….later on you learn of a secret which is surprising and yet……….not surrounding the book. Even if you have little or no knowledge of tarot cards and associated readings, you will enjoy this aspect.
Biddle, Alanis’ male role model when she was growing up and still with her mother (by whatever name she was going by), is an intriguing character which the reader comes to know only in flashbacks that Alanis is having. He imparts wisdom and one comes to appreciate his role in her life growing up, a “somewhat stable” male role model.
I must say that the love interest angle was quite weak….and I was disappointed to a certain degree, but as luck would have it, other aspects of the book made up for this. Josh Logan (Berdache Police Department detective) and Alanis did not seem to really have that ‘spark’ even though Josh was portrayed as a “hunk”.
I quite enjoyed the spunky, older suspect – Kenneth Meldon…he was a hoot…especially when he pulls out his gun (not to worry – no more bloodshed occurred). The twists relating to Clarice added some much needed spice. I liked Clarice’s character……Don’t really want to elaborate….so as to keep the mystery alive until YOU read the book.
Overall, without giving away anything, the story was an enjoyable read. I was able to chuckle at Alanis’ vision of keeping the business alive, even with her lack of experience in tarot card reading. But hey….a con is a con….right? A satisfying end where the bad guy/gal is of course identified…and not who you thought it would be!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
March 5, 2017
I loved this book! It was clever, it was funny as hell, and had a surprising ending.
I think the sarcastic humour of main character Alanis was my favourite part about this book. It wasn't surprising, you understand, because when you are the child of a stone-cold con artist mother who used you beyond the beyond, you're going to be a little jaded, and we all know sarcasm is the natural way to handle that. But I laughed out loud the entire way through this book. Alanis' reactions to things was just hilarious.
The - um, let's call it "unique" - perspective on tarot card reading was clever and cute and a nice - if unorthodox - touch, and that's as someone who actually reads tarot cards! I liked how the book used the Major Arcana as the start of each chapter with the creative explanations for what they meant.
The "mystery" [I didn't put this on my cozy shelf because I really didn't see it as a cozy, even though Alanis IS trying to figure out who killed her mother] in this is as non-traditional as everything else about this book, but it's still a cleverly-conceived, well told story, and it had me hooked from first page to last.
Honestly, this book was just a hoot and I enjoyed it start to finish and everything in between. The listing says this is "Book 1" and I am looking forward to reading the other two books in this series. This was a great start to what could easily become a favourite series for me!!
I think the sarcastic humour of main character Alanis was my favourite part about this book. It wasn't surprising, you understand, because when you are the child of a stone-cold con artist mother who used you beyond the beyond, you're going to be a little jaded, and we all know sarcasm is the natural way to handle that. But I laughed out loud the entire way through this book. Alanis' reactions to things was just hilarious.
The - um, let's call it "unique" - perspective on tarot card reading was clever and cute and a nice - if unorthodox - touch, and that's as someone who actually reads tarot cards! I liked how the book used the Major Arcana as the start of each chapter with the creative explanations for what they meant.
The "mystery" [I didn't put this on my cozy shelf because I really didn't see it as a cozy, even though Alanis IS trying to figure out who killed her mother] in this is as non-traditional as everything else about this book, but it's still a cleverly-conceived, well told story, and it had me hooked from first page to last.
Honestly, this book was just a hoot and I enjoyed it start to finish and everything in between. The listing says this is "Book 1" and I am looking forward to reading the other two books in this series. This was a great start to what could easily become a favourite series for me!!
March 12, 2015
Amusing. Sort of hard bitten noir voice.
Alanis, a name she chose when she walked away from her narcissistic (generous- maybe psychopathic)mother. Who is now using (well used)the name Athena Passalis. As Alanis said to the attorney who called her; "Does she want money or is she dead?" When hearing that dear old mom has passed to her reward, Alanis asks, "How was she murdered?"
Cynical, right?
Alanis (under many different names,she actually wonders what her name really is grew up on the road with "Mom" and Biddle running cons and scams across the country. When the cons turn too close to pandering, Alanis splits and leaves her mother to her own devices.
Fast forward 20 years, Alanis defines herself as Not My Mother which leaves a lot to be desired in a life. When Mom dies and leaves her of all things The White Magic Five & Dime Alanis decides to find Mom's murderer and ditch the Five & Dime.
So this noir is really 'closure' for Alanis who really is not sure what her name is, who her father is, or where she is going ultimately. As a woman who lives 'straight' but raised as a con artist she is uniquely skilled to find Mom's killer.
Many twists turns and surprises pop up as Alanis homes in on the killer. And really the reader starts to wonder if Alanis will survive the investigation.
Alanis, a name she chose when she walked away from her narcissistic (generous- maybe psychopathic)mother. Who is now using (well used)the name Athena Passalis. As Alanis said to the attorney who called her; "Does she want money or is she dead?" When hearing that dear old mom has passed to her reward, Alanis asks, "How was she murdered?"
Cynical, right?
Alanis (under many different names,she actually wonders what her name really is grew up on the road with "Mom" and Biddle running cons and scams across the country. When the cons turn too close to pandering, Alanis splits and leaves her mother to her own devices.
Fast forward 20 years, Alanis defines herself as Not My Mother which leaves a lot to be desired in a life. When Mom dies and leaves her of all things The White Magic Five & Dime Alanis decides to find Mom's murderer and ditch the Five & Dime.
So this noir is really 'closure' for Alanis who really is not sure what her name is, who her father is, or where she is going ultimately. As a woman who lives 'straight' but raised as a con artist she is uniquely skilled to find Mom's killer.
Many twists turns and surprises pop up as Alanis homes in on the killer. And really the reader starts to wonder if Alanis will survive the investigation.
September 12, 2019
This story is told by the main character, who is so strong and so interesting that I couldn't put it down. If you liked The Grifters and Lynda Barry's Cruddy, you'll guess the ending, but it's still a good read.
July 28, 2014
Have you ever started a book and after a couple of chapters thought to yourself that this drivel just wasn’t for you? That is what I first thought about The White Magic Five and Dime, but something kept me reading and I quickly became engrossed in this book.
At first the sarcasm and hidden self pity from Alanis was just a bit too over the top …until you read further and really get a feel for our protagonist. Initially I was annoyed with see all of the 80’s TV and movie references but it soon became fun to try and figure them out.
The story is a mystery and a very good one at that. I wonder how many other readers will have an easier time figuring out who done it and why, than I did, but I didn’t catch on until the real killer was actually revealed. Anything else I say about the big reveal will ‘spoil’ the story so I am not going to say anything more.
So many secrets, so many cons…this is going to make an excellent series and I am certainly going to be along for the ride.
Happy reading!
At first the sarcasm and hidden self pity from Alanis was just a bit too over the top …until you read further and really get a feel for our protagonist. Initially I was annoyed with see all of the 80’s TV and movie references but it soon became fun to try and figure them out.
The story is a mystery and a very good one at that. I wonder how many other readers will have an easier time figuring out who done it and why, than I did, but I didn’t catch on until the real killer was actually revealed. Anything else I say about the big reveal will ‘spoil’ the story so I am not going to say anything more.
So many secrets, so many cons…this is going to make an excellent series and I am certainly going to be along for the ride.
Happy reading!
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