As a believer in astrology when I saw this book on NetGalley I knew I had to read it and I’m very glad I did.
On the date of the wedding of her college friend Geneva Leary, Julia Bonatti is warned by astrological signs that it would end in disaster. However, being the bridesmaid does stop her from ruining the happy atmosphere, a decision she later regrets. An evening that was supposed to end in celebration ends in murder. With the lineup of Moon-Mars-Pluto, a series of unfortunate events take place: an unconscious wedding planner, a missing sister and a deadly shooting. When Geneva asks from Julia’s help, she can’t refuse. Guided by the planets and the stars, she will do everything to find the culprit… but what happens when she does?
Even though I didn’t read the first instalment of the series, I was able to get into the story and understand its characters.
The plot is very nice and it’s the perfect mix of fantasy and cosy-mystery. The unusual method of solving the mystery was spell-binding and it was easy to fall into the story and all of its amazing characters. This was the first novel I read where the main character is an astrologist and being a believer in this art made it a treat to read. All the conjunctions and lineup of planets are very well described and the reader can easily understand Julia’s reasoning without growing bored or getting lost. The ending came completely unexpected and suddenly all the clues come together to a surprising outcome. It’s a fast-paced novel that I couldn’t put down. The style of writing is simple and easy to understand.
The characters really are something else. Julia is a unique, fun protagonist that is easy to fall for: she’s witty, brave and even though she is trouble-magnet, she quickly thinks of a solution and her talent of use of astrological charts to solve a murder is amazing. Her determination and willingness to help her friend no matter the consequences (not that she really thinks about it) for herself is captivating.
A straightforward fantasy cosy-mystery that I recommend to anyone looking for a light, quick read that involves astrology.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Midnight Ink, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book.
Book Traveller 