4 out of 4 stars
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I absolutely loved this book, and I will be adding this author to my favorite authors list! As a fan of both the supernatural & mystery genres, I'm always eager to pick up anything new, and this delightful book did not disappoint. Mixing the supernatural with mystery isn't unusual, but rarely have I seen it done so well and a debut book at that! The book has just the right blend of paranormal and mystery, and I loved the magic and whimsy of it.
Escape Clause by GA VanDruff is a spellbinding paranormal cozy mystery with a unique and fresh voice. The author has taken the paranormal mystery to a whole new level! This is the first book in 'the Murder Off Screen' series, featuring Jaqie Shanahan, a successful screenwriter. The story is told in the first person, from the point of view of our feisty heroine.
The book literally opens up with a bang, and it goes uphill from there. All her plans of a peaceful vacation in the Caribbean go awry, when Jaqie finds a corpse on the beach instead of the coveted seashells. That sure wasn't in the holiday brochures. Join Jaqie and her merry entourage (her dog Doofus, her gecko José, and the ghost of Jeep) as they sail onward to the adventure of their lifetime, and try to catch a murderer, or two, in the bargain.
When Jaqie anchors offshore and takes a dinghy to Puerto Rico coast, she didn't expect to see the ghost of her best friend Jeep McBain standing over a corpse and chasing seagulls off him. Deciding to throw caution to the wind Jaqie launches herself into the case, and soon finds out that murder investigation isn't what it is cracked up to be. The situation rapidly spins out of control when she becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her friend. She was hoping for a dream vacation, and got Murder She Wrote instead.
Jaqie may have lousy taste in men, but she is a resourceful and lively lady to boot. Pretty soon she is up to her neck in sticky situations and hilarious shenanigans. With the help of her best friend, the movie star Madrille Keiser, and Madrille’s head of security, the handsome but irritating Paul Bracken, Jaqie keeps digging for answers and stumbles into a web of intrigue, suspense, and danger. There are many adventures and mishaps along the way, and there isn't a dull moment. Add to the mix a missing manuscript, mayhem, a lovesick ghost, a little romance for good measure, magic, and humor, and you got a gem of a book!
Have I mentioned that I loved the book?? It was a fun read, and a world I’m desperate to dive back into. I smiled throughout the book, and I often chuckled at the antics of the cast. The book is sprinkled with many witty, and laugh-out loud, lines, and I enjoyed every one of them! I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The premise was sound, the execution supreme, the dialogue was quick and witty, the characters endearing and well-drawn with endearing idiosyncrasies, and the writing supreme! The story tackles themes such as friendship, love, loyalty, betrayal, loss, acceptance, but the most prominent one is moving on with your life after a loss.
The author does an excellent job of pulling you into the story, and the ending leaves one wanting more! Every loose string was tied up nicely, though the ending was a bit abrupt. I look forward to reading the next one in the series. The book had everything I like in a book: exotic location, quirky characters, tantalizing mystery (not one but several deaths!) and likeable leading characters. While I was able to guess some of the twists early on, others caught me by surprise.
I would recommend this book as an excellent read to all lovers of the genre. If you're looking for the most delicious blend of magic, mystery, and romance you will ever read, run, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore, and grab this book! Kudos to the author for a splendid book!
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Escape Clause
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Great review, gali!
