April Evil (Lou Corso Mystery Series Book 4)

Lou Corso Mystery Series by Carter Swart

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There are several secrets going on This was my first book by this author and it won't be my last. There are several secrets going on besides the recent death of Leona the Manor House owner. I think it all came at a great time for Bella. Otherwise, she was going to have to go live with her mother-in-law. I'm shivering to think that would have to happen. Read the book and you would shiver too.

It was definitely a fun read which I found captivating and pleasant. You have turned me on to another new author! Mar 19, Becky rated it it was amazing.

After reading the first one, I was already a fan--and started collecting more to read. I don't think that I've ever read one of her books that I didn't like. So it doesn't surprise me that I absolutely loved this book! The characters, the cats, the wonderful little town that it's set in I love it all!

April Evil - Carter Swart - Google Книги

Oct 02, Julie rated it really liked it Shelves: Keep your eyes peeled for it by visiting http: Sep 22, Lorna rated it really liked it Shelves: I loved the cover of this book and the synopsis so I ordered it from Net Galley in exchange for a fair and honest review. If you like cozy mysteries with a side of supernatural, that happen in small towns, this could be your next good read.

Lily Dale is a town that is made up of mediums, and I am not talking about sizes. They do psychic readings and have a season where outsiders spend periods of time getting all kinds of spiritual things done. What made this book extra fun for me is that I once spent a three day weekend in a town exactly like this and had a fantastic time getting read, having handwriting analysis that fit me to a tee and even hearing from a boy that died back in high school-and the psychic even said his real name to me!

I was freaking let me tell you! So with that experience in hand, I jumped into this book and enjoyed every minute-well except for a couple things. Bela Jordan has had more than her share of bad luck. Her beloved husband died leaving her and her young son destitute due to medical bills. So she packs up her child to move to Chicago from upstate New York to live with her pretty horrible mother in law-the one that never approved of her.

Since she has no family left, this is her only option. Right before they have to leave, a pregnant cat shows up on their doorstep and wont leave. Relunctantly, they leave the town that Bela spent her married life and the only home that Max has ever known. During a horrible storm while trying find a campground, Bela and Max have to stop for a cat in the road-one that wont move.

It looks just like the cat they left hundred miles away-right down to the pregnancy and the same collar.

I am not going to go into the mystery or even all the spooky things that happen. But I will say that there are supernatural things afoot in this town as well as an evil human. However, two men are introduced into the story that could very well be romance material for Bela, who by the way, is still grieving for her husband-so in that respect it was very realistic. Through the whole thing, the cat named, Chance the Cat, becomes a main character.

And Max starts exhibiting a bit of psychic behavor himself when it comes to the cat.

I enjoyed all the characters of this small town, and of course all the guests that come only add to the quirkiness. Bela, at times, made me want to shake her when she would not tell something important to the mystery or when she has a too stupid to live moment towards the end of the book.

And when Bela comes under suspicion for something that she could have never done because hello-she lived miles away when it happened-that kind of irked me. Just was pretty unnecessary and not something that would have happened in real life.

Other than that, I really enjoyed the mystery, the town, the cat and her babies, and the possibility of a romance for Bela in a future book. Lily Dale is a tiny town and the birthplace of the Spiritualist religion. Once a year, its residents, nearly all mediums, welcome visitors from across America. Leona Gatto, a medium and the owner of Chance the Cat, is busy preparing her guesthouse for the guests that return each year. Unfortunately, these guests will not have the pleasure of her hosting.

Her body is discovered beside the lake.

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Would she really kill herself in this manner? Isabella Jordan and her young son Max have had to leave their home in Bedford, New York, after the tragic death of her husband Sam. His medical bills have left her almost penniless. She feels that her only hope lies with moving in with her mother-in-law, Millicent Jordan. As much as she dreads this new arrangement, she and Max start their long car journey to this new home, but their plans are scuppered by Chance the Cat.

Bella finds her in the middle of the road and is forced to take her to the nearest vet, who happens to practise close to the town of Lily Dale. As it's dark and the weather is not very pleasant, Bella decides to spend the night in Lily Dale and Max has insisted that Chance the Cat needs him to look after her, especially as she's heavily pregnant. And so Bella finds herself staying in Leona's guesthouse and is also somehow persuaded by Leona's neighbour, Odelia, to run the guesthouse "just until the season".

I loved this book for lots of reasons, but possibly my main reason is that Bella is a complete sceptic to all things of a spiritual nature. She doesn't believe in mediums or messages from "the other side", but slowly through the story, she starts realising that there must be "something". Her son Max also surprises her with certain "facts". How could he possibly know certain things, especially about Chance the Cat and the litter of kittens she's due to have? Wendy Corsica Staub has incorporated some beautiful characters into this story, which is also a really good murder mystery!

I will definitely be following this author's future stories from this quaint little town. Treebeard Breakaway Reviewers were given a copy of the book to review May 19, Jordan rated it liked it Shelves: This is apparently the first Lily Dale mystery for adults, though while reading it I felt very much as though I were reading one of the YA mysteries I used to love when I was little. The mystery genre aspects were also deftly handled—plenty of red herrings but also a conclusion that made perfect sense.

My biggest complaint was that the heroine of the novel—Bella Jordan—is, though grief-stricken, almost unforgivably shortsighted and ineffective as a detective. Also, I felt that too much of the narrative was given over to explanations of how Lily Dale operates and what, exactly, mediums are doing when they connect with the dead. Nov 09, Darlene rated it it was amazing. Having read several of Wendy's books, I knew right away this was unlike any of her previous books I had read. Mystery, murder, a cat, mystics, psychics, mediums, messages from those who have passed on, it all happens in this wonderful book.

Truly this was an enjoyable read and I hope it leads to a sequel, and if Lily Dale were a real town it is surely a place I would love to spend time in Having read several of Wendy's books, I knew right away this was unlike any of her previous books I had read. Truly this was an enjoyable read and I hope it leads to a sequel, and if Lily Dale were a real town it is surely a place I would love to spend time in. Oct 24, Kate rated it liked it. This is my first book by this authorit was okay.

Loved the concept but I just felt it all kind of read like an episode of Murder She Wrote. Everything was very convenient when people just stumble across clues, hiding places and all potential single men might like the new woman in town. Oct 15, KRGirl rated it did not like it. Oh, how I miss having young Max and his mom, Bella, in my car! It is so much better than I could have imagined! Bella, a young widow and mother to little Max, was recently laid off from her teaching position.

With no other place Oh, how I miss having young Max and his mom, Bella, in my car! With no other place to go, they were driving from New York to Chicago where they would live with her stern mother-in-law. Searching for a campground that nobody has heard of led Bella and Max off the freeway, along with a very pregnant cat sitting across their lane, forcing them to stop and pick her up. They went from a local vet who read the microchip data, to the address of the owner in Lily Dale.

They learned from a neighbor that Leona, the owner of the cat that Max named Chance the Cat , died unexpectedly and mysteriously merely days earlier. What began as a one-night stay in the guesthouse that Leona owned turned into a few more days. Bella helped with guests while waiting for her car to be repaired.

Lily Dale was having its annual event with psychic mediums and seminars, and the inn was fully booked. Some positive things occur; Max finds a young friend to play with. The vet paid a house call to see how Chance the Cat is and befriends the family of two plus cat. His help is invaluable with the kittens, especially with the tiny one who needs dropper feeding. But the unusual things begin, such as the visions Bella have of herself in the mirror. Chance disappearing from a locked room and turning up somewhere else.

And it only gets worse. I really, really like Bella and Max. The narrator brings to life to their delightful and loving dialog, as does the author with these endearing characters. Others who live in and near Lily Dale are likable while a bit eccentric. The plot is infused with twists and turns that begin with the initial sightings of Chance the Cat before they even reach Lily Dale.

The ultimate terrifying crisis and explosively stunning denouement resolves the events in Lily Dale. The culprit was someone totally off my radar, someone I had not considered. I am now looking forward to reading the third in series, Dead of Winter, when it is released later this year. From a thankful heart: I received the audiobook of this novel from the author through a Writerspace contest; no review was requested. Jul 18, Cornerofmadness rated it really liked it Shelves: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Both are spiritualist villages which means the people there hold a belief if talking to Spirit, those who have passed over and psychic readings among other things.

This is important to the plot. This was more of a 3. Bella is dealing with the double blow of losing her teaching job due to budget cuts and losing the l I was looking forward to reading this because it was set in Lily Dale, New York, sister city to Cassadaga FL, where I used to live. Bella is dealing with the double blow of losing her teaching job due to budget cuts and losing the love of her life to cancer.

She volleys back and forth being suspicious of everyone then changing her mind at a drop of the hat. I wanted to like Bella more. Jul 11, Linda rated it it was amazing.

I totally didn't expect this book to be what it is. I have read a Lily Dale Young Adult series by Wendy Corsi Staub where the protagonists belong to the medium community of Lily Dale and the book is overshadowed by psychic phenomena. I liked that series very much! I thought this book was part of that series. This is an adult mystery that takes place in Lily Dale, NY. There are allusions to mediums and psychics and there are some amazing coincidences that lead the reader to believe th I totally didn't expect this book to be what it is.

There are allusions to mediums and psychics and there are some amazing coincidences that lead the reader to believe that they come from beyond the grave- just enough to keep the story exciting- but the protagonist does not attend any readings or seances. Isabella is a recently widowed woman with a 5 year-old son. She has lost her job and with no means to support her son she loads what she can into her beat up old car and leaves for Chicago and her disapproving mother-in-law.

But her car breaks down and strands her in Lily Dale. People are friendly there and she is directed to an Inn, but the elderly woman who ran it recently drowned. Before she knows it, Bella is running the Inn and her dreams are starting to suggest that the previous innkeeper was murdered. An uncanny cat adds to the mystique of the story. I loved this book and I hope that there is a sequel! Jul 05, Kristen rated it did not like it Shelves: I thought I would like this. It sounded like my kind of book - a town of psychics and people who talk to ghosts? Unfortunately it did not work for me at all and I didn't finish this.

First off the narration was odd. Switching between first and third person was jarring and felt very disjointed to me. Don't get me wrong - I like kids. But this one was whiny and dramatic and bratty. I wanted to smack him more than once. There was just nothing about this - not the story, not I thought I would like this. There was just nothing about this - not the story, not the characters, not the setting - that drew me in at all. This just wasn't a good fit for me.

May 07, Kristina rated it it was ok. I usually like Wendy Corsi Staub's books and although I managed to finish it, I almost quit several times.

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I enjoyed her young adult series set in Lily Dale and was originally excited that some of the same characters were in this one. However, Isabella was annoying and quite stupid which ruined the story for me. I was amazed she lived to the end of the book and didn't die out of sheer stupidity. Her 5 year old seemed better equipped to handle life than she did.

Overall, I was extremely disappoin I usually like Wendy Corsi Staub's books and although I managed to finish it, I almost quit several times.

Overall, I was extremely disappointed in this story, but would still recommend the author as many of her other books are enjoyable. Dec 03, Marla Bradeen rated it really liked it Shelves: I enjoyed the characters and the small-town setting, and the heroine is someone you'll root for from the very beginning.

There are enough paranormal aspects to be intriguing, but not so many as to turn off readers who might prefer more traditional mysteries. Cozy mystery fans, especially those who like cats, will enjoy this book. I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway. Jun 28, Paula B rated it really liked it. Bella, Max, and especially Chance the Cat have now been added to my list of favorite characters. He and his partner have tracked a pair of p A Lou Corso Mystery - 3.

What is The End Game? Unfortunately, that unfinished business is Lou Corso. Lou, the tough ex-LAPD cop with the heart of gold, is slowly drinking himself to death over the A Lou Corso Mystery - 2. For Lou Corso, life is going well. His security firm has just moved into new offices and his relationship with his lady friend, Pauline is sweet.

Once they moved ahead with this, there would be no turning back. But after an agonizing moment of fruitless appraisal, he sighed and curtly nodded his head. The men moved back toward the trunk of the car pushing with a mighty gru Jim Nightingale is a law man used to chasing really bad men in the name of justice, but when he returns home from his posse after a long pursuit, his life is turned upside down.

Nightingale is brought low, lower than he can live with so his answer is Caught up in the epic drought, the town is the focal point for an escalating blood feud between stockmen and homeste View on the Mobile Site. Dark Roads Mystery Mar The Dunnigans General Fiction Sep Patrick Dunnigan, a successful gentleman gambler running a regular table game in a grand hotel in Kansas City, receives a disturbing letter from his uncle, Ethan Brooke. Murderville Suspense May Once they moved ahead with this, there would be no turning back.

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