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A Kalli Ballas Mystery #3
A Touch of Malice
The universe has aligned and things are finally going well for introverted OCD fashion designer, Kalli Ballas. Her lingerie line is a big success, she’s living on her own for the first time, and dating Detective Nik Stevens doesn’t stress her out thanks to her mind-reading ability. Her prissy calico cat and his sloppy St. Bernard have even called a truce. But when her biological mother shows up unexpectedly during the Fall Harvest Festival, looking for a handout, Kalli’s life gets turned upside down once again.
Kalli’s adopted Greek Ma thinks her biological mother gave her The Evil Eye. The Greek superstition says if someone wants you to be ill or have bad luck, they think evil thoughts and give you the evil eye, and you end up with a headache and bad luck. Ma starts having migraines and a string of horrible luck, the worst being when Kalli’s birth mother winds up dead and her Ma becomes the number one suspect. Kalli must put dating her Dreamy Detective on hold and use her ability to look into her birth mother’s shady past in order to clear her Ma’s name, so the pieces of Kalli’s life can fall blissfully into place once more.
Kalli’s adopted Greek Ma thinks her biological mother gave her The Evil Eye. The Greek superstition says if someone wants you to be ill or have bad luck, they think evil thoughts and give you the evil eye, and you end up with a headache and bad luck. Ma starts having migraines and a string of horrible luck, the worst being when Kalli’s birth mother winds up dead and her Ma becomes the number one suspect. Kalli must put dating her Dreamy Detective on hold and use her ability to look into her birth mother’s shady past in order to clear her Ma’s name, so the pieces of Kalli’s life can fall blissfully into place once more.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2022
14 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Kari Lee Townsend
54 books458 followersNational Bestselling Author, Agatha, RT Reviewer's Choice & Golden Duck Award Nominee. Kari lives in Central New York with her husband & Samoyeds. She's a lover of wine & travel, obsessed with reality TV, and loves a good book with mystery, romance & humor. Inspired by TV shows like SMK, Moonlighting, Bones & Castle, she writes cozy mysteries & upper Middle Grade as Kari Lee Townsend, romantic suspense, romantic comedy & women's fiction as Kari Lee Harmon.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 5, 2024
Excellent third book in the Kalli Ballas Mystery series. There's plenty of mystery, danger, intrigue, shady dealings, romance, quirkiness, laughter, teasing of the pole, and a Greek ma doing everything she can to protect her beloved adopted daughter from her shifty biological mom who shows up out of the blue....with her hand out. I couldn't put it down until I was done.
Many thanks to Oliver Herber Books and Bookfunnel for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.
Many thanks to Oliver Herber Books and Bookfunnel for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.
October 12, 2022
A fun cozy mystery with Kalli and Nik and their big Greek family. Kalli is a germaphobe who can also read the minds of the people she is touching. Her boyfriend Nik is a police detective. It is great fun as her mother is accused of murder and they set out to try and solve the case. There are fumbles and mishaps that will make you laugh.
August 2, 2023
Best ending ever
When Kalli's birth mother shows up in town wanting money, her overprotective Greek mother decides to pay her off so she'll go away. It might have worked but she's found dead at the meeting place.
This is an excellent cozy mystery. People showing up dead or badly injured every. Someone tries to kill Kalli but luckily is not successful. Several long lost family members and strippers.
I have read many of this author's books and they never disappoint. She writes in several different genres and I recommend them all.
When Kalli's birth mother shows up in town wanting money, her overprotective Greek mother decides to pay her off so she'll go away. It might have worked but she's found dead at the meeting place.
This is an excellent cozy mystery. People showing up dead or badly injured every. Someone tries to kill Kalli but luckily is not successful. Several long lost family members and strippers.
I have read many of this author's books and they never disappoint. She writes in several different genres and I recommend them all.
October 11, 2022
This little town was just full of mysteries, suspects, motives and secrets. I couldn't put it down because it pulled me into the story and I had to see what happened next. I loved the characters, the many twists and turns this story took, and how it kept me guessing. Excellent read!
October 27, 2022
So good
As a romance developed the mystery began. Revelations a aplenty and life surprises everywhere. Don't miss this book or series.
As a romance developed the mystery began. Revelations a aplenty and life surprises everywhere. Don't miss this book or series.
October 11, 2025
Quirky and Cute
I give five stars if I end a book with certain emotions. I closed this one with a big smile. It earned it's rating, one crazy Greek mama at a time.
I give five stars if I end a book with certain emotions. I closed this one with a big smile. It earned it's rating, one crazy Greek mama at a time.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews