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Iowa Mysteries #1
To Catch a Storm
In this brand new series from national bestseller Mindy Mejia, a physicist and a psychic reluctantly team up to solve two missing persons cases during an ice storm in Iowa.
When her husband’s car is found abandoned and on fire—in the middle of a rainstorm—Eve Roth becomes the police's number one suspect. After all, her husband was suspended from the University of Iowa for inappropriate conduct with a student, and who else but an atmospheric physicist could incinerate a car in a downpour? But Eve has no idea why her husband disappeared. She's desperate to find him, both for herself and her beloved, disabled father-in-law.
Jonah Kendrick appears on their doorstep with a theory. He’s seen Eve’s husband, bound and bleeding in a barn. Claiming to be a psychic detective who dreams of the lost, Jonah has helped find missing people his entire life. He dreamed about a young woman trapped in the same barn months ago, and she’s still missing.
As a firm believer in the laws of nature, Eve rejects anything to do with psychics, but their investigations soon collide. As the temperature drops and Iowa turns to ice, Eve and Jonah race across the state to discover what happened to the people they’ve lost. But the truth is more deadly either of them expected, and the physicist and the psychic must learn to believe in each other if they want to escape this storm alive.
When her husband’s car is found abandoned and on fire—in the middle of a rainstorm—Eve Roth becomes the police's number one suspect. After all, her husband was suspended from the University of Iowa for inappropriate conduct with a student, and who else but an atmospheric physicist could incinerate a car in a downpour? But Eve has no idea why her husband disappeared. She's desperate to find him, both for herself and her beloved, disabled father-in-law.
Jonah Kendrick appears on their doorstep with a theory. He’s seen Eve’s husband, bound and bleeding in a barn. Claiming to be a psychic detective who dreams of the lost, Jonah has helped find missing people his entire life. He dreamed about a young woman trapped in the same barn months ago, and she’s still missing.
As a firm believer in the laws of nature, Eve rejects anything to do with psychics, but their investigations soon collide. As the temperature drops and Iowa turns to ice, Eve and Jonah race across the state to discover what happened to the people they’ve lost. But the truth is more deadly either of them expected, and the physicist and the psychic must learn to believe in each other if they want to escape this storm alive.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2023
149 people are currently reading
7213 people want to read
About the author
Mindy Mejia
12 books1,221 followersMy name is Mindy Mejia and I’m a writer. I write because, ever since I was six years old, my favorite game has been pretend. My life doesn't have symmetry, theme, symbolism, or meditated beauty and I gravitate toward these things like a houseplant to the sun. I love the perfect words; I love how 'fierce' and 'confounded' and 'swagger' look on the page and how my chest expands when I read them. I write because I believe in the reality of my fantasies, the truth in my fabrications. I’ve always had stories sneaking around my head, thrillers like LEAVE NO TRACE and EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE, and sometimes I inhabit those stories more than my own life. (Best not to mention that last part to my husband, kids, or boss.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
June 17, 2023
I obviously didn't thoroughly read the blurb when I requested To Catch a Storm. If I had, I never would have requested a book about a psychic. But I read and enjoyed Everything You Want Me to Be, so I had made the request.
Dr. Eve Roth thought she knew her husband, Matthew. She knew him as a chemistry professor at University of Iowa, albeit suspended for an inappropriate relationship with a student. But then his Tesla is found on fire in the middle of a winter rainstorm. And everything she thought she knew is now in question.
Into this mix comes Jonah. A psychic looking for a missing girl. And he’s seen Matthew Moore in a barn. The same barn this young woman, Celina, was in. Of course, it was in a dream. There’s also a police detective assigned to Matthew’s case who is a friend of Jonah’s.
Mejia has created a dynamic setting. Eve and Jonah realize the connection just as a massive ice storm hits Iowa. These two are definitely an odd pair - a scientist and a psychic. But I just couldn’t buy into Jonah’s abilities. I was most drawn to Eve’s father-in-law, who has had a stroke.
The book moves at a fast pace, due in part to alternating between the three POVs. Scenes were disjointed. If a good book allows the reader to easily envision a scene, this was the opposite. The plot required me to suspend belief more than I was willing to do.
My thanks to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for an advance copy of this book.
Dr. Eve Roth thought she knew her husband, Matthew. She knew him as a chemistry professor at University of Iowa, albeit suspended for an inappropriate relationship with a student. But then his Tesla is found on fire in the middle of a winter rainstorm. And everything she thought she knew is now in question.
Into this mix comes Jonah. A psychic looking for a missing girl. And he’s seen Matthew Moore in a barn. The same barn this young woman, Celina, was in. Of course, it was in a dream. There’s also a police detective assigned to Matthew’s case who is a friend of Jonah’s.
Mejia has created a dynamic setting. Eve and Jonah realize the connection just as a massive ice storm hits Iowa. These two are definitely an odd pair - a scientist and a psychic. But I just couldn’t buy into Jonah’s abilities. I was most drawn to Eve’s father-in-law, who has had a stroke.
The book moves at a fast pace, due in part to alternating between the three POVs. Scenes were disjointed. If a good book allows the reader to easily envision a scene, this was the opposite. The plot required me to suspend belief more than I was willing to do.
My thanks to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for an advance copy of this book.
July 6, 2025
(4.25 stars)
To Catch A Storm was a really engaging mystery/thriller. I loved that it was set in a place not too many books are set: Iowa, specifically Iowa City and its surrounding countryside. The main characters are a diverse group: Eve Roth, a physics professor whose specialty is essentially the weather; Jonah, a psychic who dreams about missing people and then investigates; Max, a police investigator, who has been friends with Jonah since college; Matthew, Eve’s chemistry professor husband who goes missing; and Earl, Matthew’s father who lives with them since having a debilitating stroke.
At first, Max suspects Eve, with the jealous wife theory, but eventually, he realizes that’s not the case here. There are a lot of twists and turns and Matthew’s chemistry skills come into play. As does the Iowa winter weather.
The audiobook was terrific, with three narrators: Alex Pineda, Brian Hutchison and Libby McKnight. Different chapters are told in the first person from each of their viewpoints.
Recommended - and I can’t wait to check out the second book in this series, which I understand is a true sequel to this one.
To Catch A Storm was a really engaging mystery/thriller. I loved that it was set in a place not too many books are set: Iowa, specifically Iowa City and its surrounding countryside. The main characters are a diverse group: Eve Roth, a physics professor whose specialty is essentially the weather; Jonah, a psychic who dreams about missing people and then investigates; Max, a police investigator, who has been friends with Jonah since college; Matthew, Eve’s chemistry professor husband who goes missing; and Earl, Matthew’s father who lives with them since having a debilitating stroke.
At first, Max suspects Eve, with the jealous wife theory, but eventually, he realizes that’s not the case here. There are a lot of twists and turns and Matthew’s chemistry skills come into play. As does the Iowa winter weather.
The audiobook was terrific, with three narrators: Alex Pineda, Brian Hutchison and Libby McKnight. Different chapters are told in the first person from each of their viewpoints.
Recommended - and I can’t wait to check out the second book in this series, which I understand is a true sequel to this one.
July 20, 2023
Holy action-packed…what did I just read?! This is another example of sitting down to start a book, and not being able to finish it until it’s over. It’s definitely a page-turner, and it’s because of the plot and the great characters:
Dr. Eve Roth, a physicist who studies weather and atmospheric phenomena. She’s like Helen Hunt in “Twister”; her father died in a tornado and she’s been chasing storms since. Her husband,
Matthew, is a professor at the University of Iowa, but has recently been suspended following allegations of sexual misconduct with a student. It’s his car that is on fire in the rain at the beginning of the book, and his disappearance is the catalyst for the story.
Earl is Matthew’s father, who lives with his son and Eve after suffering a stroke. Don’t count this feeble old man out, though - his mind is still sharp as a tack!
Jonah Kendrick is the psychic in the story - the one who teams with Eve to create a very unlikely duo. He’s been having dreams that may lead to Matthew…if only someone would listen, like his best friend,
Max, a member of the Iowa City Police Department and Jonah’s (former) best friend. Kendrick worked with the ICPD on many cases, but almost getting Max killed lost him his role of lead psychic investigator there.
When Eve and Jonah connect over finding Matthew, you get quite the odd couple - she believes in science, data, logic. He believes in his dreams and abilities. Their friendship, and their friendship with Earl, was so heartwarming. The characters in this really were flawless.
This was fresh and original, and I rarely say that about this kind of mystery book. The characters made the book, but you get lots of surprises and twists within this plot. The ending didn’t blow me away, but it was definitely surprising. The ending was also a little wild, but that’s my only complaint. 4.5 stars.
(Thank you to Atlantic Monthly Press, Mindy Mejia and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on August 1, 2023.)
Dr. Eve Roth, a physicist who studies weather and atmospheric phenomena. She’s like Helen Hunt in “Twister”; her father died in a tornado and she’s been chasing storms since. Her husband,
Matthew, is a professor at the University of Iowa, but has recently been suspended following allegations of sexual misconduct with a student. It’s his car that is on fire in the rain at the beginning of the book, and his disappearance is the catalyst for the story.
Earl is Matthew’s father, who lives with his son and Eve after suffering a stroke. Don’t count this feeble old man out, though - his mind is still sharp as a tack!
Jonah Kendrick is the psychic in the story - the one who teams with Eve to create a very unlikely duo. He’s been having dreams that may lead to Matthew…if only someone would listen, like his best friend,
Max, a member of the Iowa City Police Department and Jonah’s (former) best friend. Kendrick worked with the ICPD on many cases, but almost getting Max killed lost him his role of lead psychic investigator there.
When Eve and Jonah connect over finding Matthew, you get quite the odd couple - she believes in science, data, logic. He believes in his dreams and abilities. Their friendship, and their friendship with Earl, was so heartwarming. The characters in this really were flawless.
This was fresh and original, and I rarely say that about this kind of mystery book. The characters made the book, but you get lots of surprises and twists within this plot. The ending didn’t blow me away, but it was definitely surprising. The ending was also a little wild, but that’s my only complaint. 4.5 stars.
(Thank you to Atlantic Monthly Press, Mindy Mejia and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on August 1, 2023.)
July 5, 2023
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: August 1, 2023
One of the first things that came to my mind when I started to read Mindy Mejia’s new novel “To Catch a Storm” was- this must be a series. I was worried I had started the series right in the middle and had missed previous installments and as it turns out I was right about one of these. “Storm” is indeed the beginning of a series, focused on psychic Jonah Kendrick and physicist Eve Roth.
After losing her father in a tornado, Eve Roth has spent much of her adult life researching weather patterns and trying to understand the worst storms Mother Nature can offer. When her husband’s car is found at the side of the road, in flames, during a rainstorm, Eve immediately knows something isn’t right. Then Jonah Kendrick approaches her, telling her he has had visions of her husband, alive but being held captive, and offers to help. What Jonah believes goes against everything Eve has ever known but she is desperate to find her husband and discover the truth about the man she married so she agrees to team up. Jonah and Eve set out on a race against time to rescue Matthew and hopefully find clues that will uncover the secrets Matthew has been hiding.
Do I believe in psychics? Absolutely not. Will I devour movies and novels and any other media with psychics at the helm? Absolutely. Maybe it’s their introverted, socially anxious personalities that I relate to, but I haven’t yet come across a “psychic” (in a fictional world, anyway) that I haven’t loved, and Jonah is no exception. Mejia gives a little bit of Jonah’s backstory as it relates to Eve’s missing husband and his partnership with the police detective on Matthew’s case, but I wanted to know more, especially about Jonah’s childhood and the development of his “abilities”. Mejia manages to create in Jonah a character that the reader feels sympathy for and yet Kendrick is not pitiable or pathetic in any way. Eve, a brilliant female physicist, also manages to remain human and relatable, and I was invested in their outcomes from page one.
The story is narrated by Eve, Jonah and by Max (the detective on Matthew’s case and Jonah’s best friend), and in this case the alternating story lines are vital to character development, as Max provides his own experiences with Jonah. Max, too, has his own flaws but is the prototypical “jaded police detective with a tender heart”. Although his perspective seems to be strictly to help add some bulk to Jonah’s character, I still liked Max and wanted him to succeed.
“Storm” is a police procedural with Twister vibes, and it was engaging and thoroughly entertaining. The ending delivered a sucker punch of a twist, and I will definitely be on the lookout for more Jonah Kendrick!
Expected publication date: August 1, 2023
One of the first things that came to my mind when I started to read Mindy Mejia’s new novel “To Catch a Storm” was- this must be a series. I was worried I had started the series right in the middle and had missed previous installments and as it turns out I was right about one of these. “Storm” is indeed the beginning of a series, focused on psychic Jonah Kendrick and physicist Eve Roth.
After losing her father in a tornado, Eve Roth has spent much of her adult life researching weather patterns and trying to understand the worst storms Mother Nature can offer. When her husband’s car is found at the side of the road, in flames, during a rainstorm, Eve immediately knows something isn’t right. Then Jonah Kendrick approaches her, telling her he has had visions of her husband, alive but being held captive, and offers to help. What Jonah believes goes against everything Eve has ever known but she is desperate to find her husband and discover the truth about the man she married so she agrees to team up. Jonah and Eve set out on a race against time to rescue Matthew and hopefully find clues that will uncover the secrets Matthew has been hiding.
Do I believe in psychics? Absolutely not. Will I devour movies and novels and any other media with psychics at the helm? Absolutely. Maybe it’s their introverted, socially anxious personalities that I relate to, but I haven’t yet come across a “psychic” (in a fictional world, anyway) that I haven’t loved, and Jonah is no exception. Mejia gives a little bit of Jonah’s backstory as it relates to Eve’s missing husband and his partnership with the police detective on Matthew’s case, but I wanted to know more, especially about Jonah’s childhood and the development of his “abilities”. Mejia manages to create in Jonah a character that the reader feels sympathy for and yet Kendrick is not pitiable or pathetic in any way. Eve, a brilliant female physicist, also manages to remain human and relatable, and I was invested in their outcomes from page one.
The story is narrated by Eve, Jonah and by Max (the detective on Matthew’s case and Jonah’s best friend), and in this case the alternating story lines are vital to character development, as Max provides his own experiences with Jonah. Max, too, has his own flaws but is the prototypical “jaded police detective with a tender heart”. Although his perspective seems to be strictly to help add some bulk to Jonah’s character, I still liked Max and wanted him to succeed.
“Storm” is a police procedural with Twister vibes, and it was engaging and thoroughly entertaining. The ending delivered a sucker punch of a twist, and I will definitely be on the lookout for more Jonah Kendrick!
May 25, 2023
I am big Mindy Mejia fan and was thrilled to have received this ARC. I had trouble getting into this at the beginning. I am not a science-oriented person and I felt bogged down with all the scientific details which went right over my head. About 1/3 of the way through, though, everything fell into place and I was engrossed. I liked the main characters with all their disabilities/quirks. Some of their actions were incredibly stupid but it definitely succeeded in propelling the plot forward. There was a lot more action than psychology in this particular thriller. I did figure out one of the main twists at the end but it was satisfying nonetheless. I will recommend this to fans of Shari Lapena and B. A. Paris.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Atlantic Monthly Press and Mindy Mejia for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Atlantic Monthly Press and Mindy Mejia for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 2, 2025
What happens when a physicist's husband goes missing and a psychic tries to help her find him? A lot, and boy oh boy was it fantastic! I will definitely be picking up the next book in this series!
July 21, 2023
Read it! Read it! Read it! I am chanting, cheering while jumping up and down.
July 13, 2023
If I'm honest, I have to say I enjoyed this book more than I should have; it lacks flow, is more than a little disjointed, making reading somewhat of a slog. Still, the plot is clever - despite some shredding of the credibility line - and two of the main characters were quirky enough to make me want to read about them again (which it seems may be possible since I've read this is the first of a series).
University of Iowa physics professor Eve Roth is knocked for a loop when she learns her husband's car has been found abandoned and consumed by fire - in the middle of a snow and ice storm, yet - but her husband (a currently suspended chemistry prof at the same university) is nowhere to be found. Not long afterward, a desheveled man named Jonah Kendrick shows up, claiming he's "seen" her husband Matthew - he claims to be a psychic detective. Eve's "prove it" mentality, though, won't allow her to believe a thing Jonah says.
Acting as a sort of middleman is local police detective Max Sanderlin, who's back on the job after being injured during a confrontation that involved a rather freaked-out Jonah, who's now persona non grata with the department and, for the most part, Max. For her part, Eve reminded me a bit of a combination of Patricia Cornwell's Dr. Kay Scarpetta and her helicopter-flying niece, Lucy). Jonah is pretty much odd man out; his behavior is erratic and sometimes annoying, but his visions - while freaky - usually are spot on. He's not so much consumed with helping Eve as finding his missing niece - and he's pretty sure the two cases are somehow connected.
As the story progresses, it comes as no surprise that Eve begins to see things through Jonah's visions and begins to apply her more rational thinking to the whole situation. That, in turn, leads to more trouble - and an exciting, and surprising, wrap-up (with a few loose ends left for the next adventure). All in all, a good effort, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get in at the ground level by way of a pre-release copy.
University of Iowa physics professor Eve Roth is knocked for a loop when she learns her husband's car has been found abandoned and consumed by fire - in the middle of a snow and ice storm, yet - but her husband (a currently suspended chemistry prof at the same university) is nowhere to be found. Not long afterward, a desheveled man named Jonah Kendrick shows up, claiming he's "seen" her husband Matthew - he claims to be a psychic detective. Eve's "prove it" mentality, though, won't allow her to believe a thing Jonah says.
Acting as a sort of middleman is local police detective Max Sanderlin, who's back on the job after being injured during a confrontation that involved a rather freaked-out Jonah, who's now persona non grata with the department and, for the most part, Max. For her part, Eve reminded me a bit of a combination of Patricia Cornwell's Dr. Kay Scarpetta and her helicopter-flying niece, Lucy). Jonah is pretty much odd man out; his behavior is erratic and sometimes annoying, but his visions - while freaky - usually are spot on. He's not so much consumed with helping Eve as finding his missing niece - and he's pretty sure the two cases are somehow connected.
As the story progresses, it comes as no surprise that Eve begins to see things through Jonah's visions and begins to apply her more rational thinking to the whole situation. That, in turn, leads to more trouble - and an exciting, and surprising, wrap-up (with a few loose ends left for the next adventure). All in all, a good effort, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get in at the ground level by way of a pre-release copy.
August 29, 2023
Mindy Mejia knows how to write a page-turner and this book is no exception!
March 10, 2023
To Catch a Storm is the first book in a new series by Mindy Mejia. Eve Roth started to investigate the death of her husband after being notified by the law enforcement investigation that she was the prime suspect in her husband's death. During an ice storm in Iowa, Eve Roth became involved with psychic Jonah Kendrick, who believed someone killed Eva's husband. Jonah and Eve decided to join forces to find the killer. The readers of To Catch a Storm will continue to follow Jonah and Eva to discover what happens.
To Catch a Storm is the first book I have read by Mindy Mejia, and I did enjoy reading this book. I engaged with this book's story and plot from the first page. I like Mindy Mejia's writing style and how she portrayed her characters and their interaction with each other throughout this book. To Catch a Storm is well-written and researched by Mindy Mejia. I like Mindy Mejia's description of the settings of To Catch a Storm.
The readers of To Catch a Storm will learn about the roles of a Physicist. Also, To Catch a Storm, readers will understand the role of a psychic in a law enforcement investigation.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book.
To Catch a Storm is the first book I have read by Mindy Mejia, and I did enjoy reading this book. I engaged with this book's story and plot from the first page. I like Mindy Mejia's writing style and how she portrayed her characters and their interaction with each other throughout this book. To Catch a Storm is well-written and researched by Mindy Mejia. I like Mindy Mejia's description of the settings of To Catch a Storm.
The readers of To Catch a Storm will learn about the roles of a Physicist. Also, To Catch a Storm, readers will understand the role of a psychic in a law enforcement investigation.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book.
May 6, 2025
This is the first book in a series, and I already can’t to read the next in this series. Procedurals are one of my favorites and this was different with the inclusion of a physicist, Eve, and a psychic, Jonah, and I thought it worked well, especially with Eve being the wife of one of the missing persons. Two opposite ends of the spectrum, Eve firmly believes in facts and Jonah in feelings and senses, this worked so well, especially given Eve is the number one suspect, but Jonah shows up out of nowhere and Eve has her eye on him. I won’t say more but I was engrossed in this one from the start and listened to this in one setting, I could not put it down.
Thank you to Atlantic Crime #partner for the gifted copy to review.
Thank you to Atlantic Crime #partner for the gifted copy to review.
May 5, 2025
J’étais grave dans l’histoire je suis choquée genre what la chemistry entre Jonah et Eve, que ils veulent …
En vrai l’histoire est stylé et plot twist sur plot twist j’ai kiffé même si y’a un psychic en vrai c’est convaincant.
Gros miskine pour la femme de Max qui peut jamais dormir tranquille.
Je veux trop une suite en faiiiiiit
for work but fun
En vrai l’histoire est stylé et plot twist sur plot twist j’ai kiffé même si y’a un psychic en vrai c’est convaincant.
Gros miskine pour la femme de Max qui peut jamais dormir tranquille.
Je veux trop une suite en faiiiiiit
for work but fun
August 25, 2024
Round up to 4.5 stars.
September 22, 2023
This had such a great premise and could have been so good but it was too much, too fast for me. I found it to be very fast-paced but it didn't really grab my attention and my mind wandered several times when I was reading it. I didn't connect with any of the characters. This just wasn't for me.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
March 2, 2025
Somewhat dissatisfied with the conclusion of this book. I didn’t know that it was the start of a series.
June 28, 2023
I received a free copy of, To Catch a Storm, by Mindy Mejia, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Eve is in trouble, after her husband is suspended from his job, he goes missing, and she is the number one suspect. A juicy read. This book kept me guessing until the end. I did not know who to trust.
August 10, 2023
A Psychic, Physicist and a wheelchair bound older man head out in an ice storm looking for two missing persons and find themselves in the middle of something they could never have imagined.
Far fetched, absolutely. Fast paced, yes. Plot twist, definitely. Likable characters, 50/50. Different points of view offer different perspectives on the situations. First in a series, but don’t think this is for me. There was so much thrown into this that at times I had to go back reread parts. Well researched. Did not figure out the villain! I would give this author another try.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this ARC. This is my honest review.
Far fetched, absolutely. Fast paced, yes. Plot twist, definitely. Likable characters, 50/50. Different points of view offer different perspectives on the situations. First in a series, but don’t think this is for me. There was so much thrown into this that at times I had to go back reread parts. Well researched. Did not figure out the villain! I would give this author another try.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this ARC. This is my honest review.
January 5, 2024
I was engrossed in this novel.
Science mixed with supernatural elements.
I enjoyed this quick read.
This was my first, but not last Mindy Mejia novel.
I recommend To Catch A Storm.
Please see other reviews for more information
and opinions on this novel.
Science mixed with supernatural elements.
I enjoyed this quick read.
This was my first, but not last Mindy Mejia novel.
I recommend To Catch A Storm.
Please see other reviews for more information
and opinions on this novel.
December 20, 2023
Thriller/Mystery
This book was a candidate for book of the year, for me, from my READ books. I gifted it several times this year. Mostly because it's so great, but also because it is set in my local area.
Dr. Eve Roth is a professor, and the laws of physics are her guidebook. Her normal rules go out the window when her husband's car is found torched, and he goes missing. She becomes a suspect and doesn't know where to turn.
A very unlikely investigator, Jonah, turns up on her door, as he believes Eve's husband's disappearance coincides with his niece's disappearance a few months earlier. Jonah's methods are very unorthodox, and that has labeled him a quack with the local law enforcement, but Eve is desperate. Enough that she throws some of her long-held beliefs out the window.
I loved this story and these characters. It seems that they may reappear in another book and I, for one, would be very glad. The novel did remind me a little of Kay Hooper's books, mostly due to the ESP aspect.
Do yourself a favor and give this one a try.
This book was a candidate for book of the year, for me, from my READ books. I gifted it several times this year. Mostly because it's so great, but also because it is set in my local area.
Dr. Eve Roth is a professor, and the laws of physics are her guidebook. Her normal rules go out the window when her husband's car is found torched, and he goes missing. She becomes a suspect and doesn't know where to turn.
A very unlikely investigator, Jonah, turns up on her door, as he believes Eve's husband's disappearance coincides with his niece's disappearance a few months earlier. Jonah's methods are very unorthodox, and that has labeled him a quack with the local law enforcement, but Eve is desperate. Enough that she throws some of her long-held beliefs out the window.
I loved this story and these characters. It seems that they may reappear in another book and I, for one, would be very glad. The novel did remind me a little of Kay Hooper's books, mostly due to the ESP aspect.
Do yourself a favor and give this one a try.
August 6, 2023
I so badly wanted to like this book. I've enjoyed all Mejia's past stuff so was excited to see a new one. I read the synopsis and was hesitant; physicist/psychic teamup to fight crime isn't really my first go-to book. But I was still excited because it was Mindy Mejia.
Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. The characters were so flat. Not a single one had depth. The characters in question:
"Hi, I'm Science. I like Science and only speak in Science."
"Hey, I'm Psychic and I do Psychic. Everything sucks for me."
"I'm Police. I understand Police. I've been Police since before I was Police."
The plot was ridiculous and completely hinged on coincidence after coincidence.
Seriously jumped the shark with this one. I stopped reading at "We're gonna steal that plane."
Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. The characters were so flat. Not a single one had depth. The characters in question:
"Hi, I'm Science. I like Science and only speak in Science."
"Hey, I'm Psychic and I do Psychic. Everything sucks for me."
"I'm Police. I understand Police. I've been Police since before I was Police."
The plot was ridiculous and completely hinged on coincidence after coincidence.
Seriously jumped the shark with this one. I stopped reading at "We're gonna steal that plane."
July 30, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but unfortunately, the second half turned this book into a two star read for me. I enjoyed the initial mystery, and watching Eve and Jonah trying to find Eve’s husband. However, halfway through this book turns into an action movie style thriller and it really lost me there. There were so many long, drawn out action scenes that I found boring. So many times something would happen, and the action succeeding revolves around a huge coincidence that was just very unbelievable. This plot also contains an element that I don’t enjoy in books, and once I realized that was where it was going, I lost interest. I also found the ending very dragged out. Overall, I didn’t enjoy this and I won’t be continuing with the series.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but unfortunately, the second half turned this book into a two star read for me. I enjoyed the initial mystery, and watching Eve and Jonah trying to find Eve’s husband. However, halfway through this book turns into an action movie style thriller and it really lost me there. There were so many long, drawn out action scenes that I found boring. So many times something would happen, and the action succeeding revolves around a huge coincidence that was just very unbelievable. This plot also contains an element that I don’t enjoy in books, and once I realized that was where it was going, I lost interest. I also found the ending very dragged out. Overall, I didn’t enjoy this and I won’t be continuing with the series.
January 1, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! I’m a big science nut so the science-y stuff was right up my alley! If you’re not into science, action, or thrillers this probably wouldn’t be the book for you. But if you are, hang on for a wild ride! This book went in a direction I absolutely didn’t expect, and I have to admit I was floored when I found out who the big bad guy was. And that doesn’t happen often. Really well written and entertaining from the get go! You should definitely read this!
Huge thanks to Grove Atlantic and Netgalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
Huge thanks to Grove Atlantic and Netgalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
August 7, 2023
She’s a PhD! She’s a pilot! She’s…never questioned how she and her husband can live in a mansion on teacher salaries?
This is entertaining, but there are plot holes a mile wide.
This is entertaining, but there are plot holes a mile wide.
November 6, 2025
Finished reading: November 6th 2025
"Gravity takes care of everything eventually."
REVIEW
March 11, 2024
This mystery/thriller is told from three perspectives. Eve is a professor whose estranged husband goes missing with his car found on fire in a rain storm. Max is the detective investigating the case. And Jonah is a psychic who has a vision of Matthew. Jonah is Max’s friend and used to help him with his cases, but now that the police department has banned him, he instead teams up with the skeptical Eve to investigate on their own.
This book started out a really slow mystery, before taking a turn somewhere midway and becoming a rather preposterous thriller. I was feeling fairly meh on it, and then some completely unbelievable twists toward the end made it even worse.
I am all over the place with Mindy Mejia’s books - gave her first book 4.5 stars, her second book 2.5, her third book 4 stars, and now I’m back to 2.5 with this one. And given her next book is a sequel to this, I’m going to pass.
I got this one from Netgalley last year and never got to it, so decided to try it on audio from the library since it was relatively short and had 3 audio narrators, one for each character. Unfortunately I didn’t really care for any of the narrators. Oh well.
This book started out a really slow mystery, before taking a turn somewhere midway and becoming a rather preposterous thriller. I was feeling fairly meh on it, and then some completely unbelievable twists toward the end made it even worse.
I am all over the place with Mindy Mejia’s books - gave her first book 4.5 stars, her second book 2.5, her third book 4 stars, and now I’m back to 2.5 with this one. And given her next book is a sequel to this, I’m going to pass.
I got this one from Netgalley last year and never got to it, so decided to try it on audio from the library since it was relatively short and had 3 audio narrators, one for each character. Unfortunately I didn’t really care for any of the narrators. Oh well.
April 14, 2025
#ad mad love for my copy @crimeatlantic #partner
There’s a storm brewing and soon this house of cards will come crashing down. To Catch a Storm by Mindy Mejia is a fast-paced mystery/thriller that’ll have your heart racing and your mind conspiring. It is a short and fun read that I enjoyed.
Eve’e husband, Matt, is missing. His car found torched, but things are very weird around here. How does a car just catch fire when it’s pouring rain and the windows were down. Then there’s Jonah, he’s had psychic abilities since childhood and is searching for his missing niece, he randomly shows up on Eve’s doorstep claiming he can see where her husband is. Together these two characters go on a search of their life.
While the mystery continues to build, the action is kicking off in every chapter, making this a page turner you can’t put down. I absolutely loved this book and will def be reading more from this author.
The audio was also great. I enjoyed the separate narrators for each main character. This is one of those audiobooks that you can follow along and see it happening in your mind.
There’s a storm brewing and soon this house of cards will come crashing down. To Catch a Storm by Mindy Mejia is a fast-paced mystery/thriller that’ll have your heart racing and your mind conspiring. It is a short and fun read that I enjoyed.
Eve’e husband, Matt, is missing. His car found torched, but things are very weird around here. How does a car just catch fire when it’s pouring rain and the windows were down. Then there’s Jonah, he’s had psychic abilities since childhood and is searching for his missing niece, he randomly shows up on Eve’s doorstep claiming he can see where her husband is. Together these two characters go on a search of their life.
While the mystery continues to build, the action is kicking off in every chapter, making this a page turner you can’t put down. I absolutely loved this book and will def be reading more from this author.
The audio was also great. I enjoyed the separate narrators for each main character. This is one of those audiobooks that you can follow along and see it happening in your mind.
July 26, 2023
Eve is a very detailed and focused scientist who works well with facts. Jonah is a very much the opposite. He is a psychic and can feel others emotions. The two of them combine to make the most unlikeliest of investigative teams. Think Moira from Rizzoli & Isles and Shawn from Psych. Though, Jonah isn't a goofball like Shawn. But somehow this team works! It really does! And while I started off with the idea that I wouldn't be able to take a psychic seriously, by the end of the book I was wondering if this can be a series! The story itself was rather convoluted and probably isn't one you can speed read on a vacation with adult beverages on hand. But everything comes together and is solid in the end. A good read!
Thanks to Grove Atlantic for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to Grove Atlantic for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
June 2, 2025
“It made me want to die twice, first for me and again for her.”
-5
Tropes:
🩷 Grumpy sunshine
♥️Quest
🩷Quest
Spice:
1🌶️
This was a fascinating book! I read it in one day. I won a Goodreads giveaway for an ARC copy of the third book in the series and I am dying to read it! I love her and how number-centric she is. Its so sweet to see a FMC that’s different form the norm.
“A slow, hoarse chuckle began seeping out of his mouth "Are you hurt?" His only answer was a deeper cackle as he let go of the door handle to clap his hands in unsteady applause. Then Kendrick started laughing, and before I knew it I collapsed against my seat and joined them. We laughed like teenagers who'd gotten away with a reckless stunt, laughed until tears streamed down our faces and my side started to cramp, laughed harder than I remembered laughing in years.”
-5
Tropes:
🩷 Grumpy sunshine
♥️Quest
🩷Quest
Spice:
1🌶️
This was a fascinating book! I read it in one day. I won a Goodreads giveaway for an ARC copy of the third book in the series and I am dying to read it! I love her and how number-centric she is. Its so sweet to see a FMC that’s different form the norm.
“A slow, hoarse chuckle began seeping out of his mouth "Are you hurt?" His only answer was a deeper cackle as he let go of the door handle to clap his hands in unsteady applause. Then Kendrick started laughing, and before I knew it I collapsed against my seat and joined them. We laughed like teenagers who'd gotten away with a reckless stunt, laughed until tears streamed down our faces and my side started to cramp, laughed harder than I remembered laughing in years.”
July 25, 2025
To Catch A Storm was fast paced and action packed so it held my attention the whole time. I finished this in one day. If you like a mystery where you need to suspend your disbelief then this was a fun one. It involves a psychic which isn’t for everyone but I kind of liked Jonah the psychic.
Eve was all science so her and Jonah made an unlikely pair. I liked their journey into trusting each other in this.
I didn’t guess any of the twists but they also didn’t completely blow me away either. This is a mystery where the characters are the strong point. I liked them so I had a good time.
This is the first book in the Iowa Mysteries series and I’d be interested to continue the series after reading this!
If you like a mystery that is maybe a little far fetched but has interesting characters, then check this book out!
Eve was all science so her and Jonah made an unlikely pair. I liked their journey into trusting each other in this.
I didn’t guess any of the twists but they also didn’t completely blow me away either. This is a mystery where the characters are the strong point. I liked them so I had a good time.
This is the first book in the Iowa Mysteries series and I’d be interested to continue the series after reading this!
If you like a mystery that is maybe a little far fetched but has interesting characters, then check this book out!
June 19, 2024
Initially, I was able to quickly engage with the missing husband mystery that opens "To Catch a Storm". Unfortunately, as the novel progressed, I began to feel that the narrators, Eve, Jonah, and Max, weren't fully formed, authentic characters. I could accept Eve's obsessive analysis and Jonah's psychic gift but it still all seemed to be surface level, not deep characterization. Finally, the ending just unraveled for me. There were too many stretched scenes and implausible elements in place and it left me dissatisfied. At the half-way point, I could have seen this book being a solid three or, in a stretch, four star read. Alas, like this review, it devolved into something that was probably not worth reading.
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