Sunday, November 27, 2016

Bookish Thoughts: The Madness of Mercury by Connie Di Marco

There are those among us who prey, who hunt under the guise of trust. The Madness of Mercury by Connie DiMarco


The Madness of Mercury by Connie Di Marco
Midnight Ink, 2016
Crime Fiction (Cozy); 312 pgs
Source: I received a copy of this book  from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

The Madness of Mercury received the least amount of votes in my October TBR List Poll, but it was one I really wanted to read around this time of year, and I am glad I was able to. Set in one of my favorite cities, San Francisco, Connie Di Marco's novel is the first in a cozy mystery series featuring astrologer Julia Bonatti. This book was a lot of fun to read. Her advice column has drawn the unwanted attention of a well-respected religious figure. On the surface he may appear on the up and up--mostly thanks to his money and powerful connections--but underneath it all is something much darker.

Julia's client is the niece of two elderly women, one of whom is under the spell of Reverend Roy and the other who believes her own life is in danger. Could it be the niece is out to get her aunts, under the guise of trying to help them? Or what of the long lost nephew that suddenly has shown up on their doorstep? And what about the death of the gardener? Was it really an accident?

For a cozy, this was a bit darker than I had expected, but not at all in a bad way. The fear for the aunts is palpable the more the story unfolds, not to mention the tension building as the protests and violence of the followers of the Prophet's Tabernacle grows with each turning page. Not only is Julia's livelihood on the line, but so is her apartment, and her friends are being threatened. It is for these reasons Julia sticks her nose in deeper than is probably wise when her client's family. Unfortunately, I didn't completely buy it. Julia seems a little too nosy for her own good, even with her good intentions. Not to mention her TSTL (Too Stupid To Live) moment(s). At least she notified her friends where she was going when she headed out of town to take on the bad guys. It made for suspenseful reading, but I really have to question Julia's common sense. She seems like someone who doesn't always think things out fully before acting, which comes with both its advantages and disadvantages. Still, it was hard not to like her and she meant always meant well.

The author's background in astrology shines through in her descriptions throughout the book. It is much more complex than the definitions of the Zodiac signs most of us are familiar with and the horoscopes you find in the paper. I admit to being a tad bit skeptical, but I find astrology fascinating, and have always been curious about it. As a result, The Madness of Mercury appealed to me for more than just one reason.

Overall, I enjoyed The Madness of Mercury and am interested to see what Julia gets up to next. If you like your cozy mysteries with a dash of paranormal, ghostly sightings, a bit on the darker side, and lots of tension, I think you might enjoy this one.


To learn more about Connie Di Marco and her work, please visit the author's website. You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.


© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

12 comments:

  1. Sounds like an interesting book! A slightly darker cozy sounds like it's different in a good way.

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  2. I think this would be perfect for my mom - she loves cozies and astrology.

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    1. Kathy - I hope your mom likes this one if she tries it!

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  3. Loving the cover as I do i would have been so disappointed if you hadn't enjoyed this book. It's definitely one for my wish list.

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    1. Tracy - It's a great cover, I agree. I hope you like this if you do read it.

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  4. This would be my category of cozy. :)

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  5. Ah, I know I said no talking ghosts preferred in my cozies, but this is a different type of PN cozy, at least it seems to me. I like the cover and the blurb, and that it is darker. I sound creepy, but I like darker cozies; too light, silly and fluffy turn me off :)

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    1. Rita - Sometimes I find exceptions to reading "rules" I have too. :-) I tend to prefer the darker cozies to the lighter ones too, admittedly.

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  6. That's a lovely cover! I've to admit I rarely read cozies but I've A Dark and Stormy Murder on my to-read list. Will keep this book on my wishlist. :)

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    1. Melody - I read cozies off and on. I have to be in the mood for them. This one was enjoyable. I hope you like it if you give it a try. I highly recommend A Dark and Stormy Murder though, if you get a chance to read it.

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