Review
The First Reluctant Psychic Mystery
Petra Cloch has the gift of psychometry. By touching objects she can discern the feelings and even some basic thoughts of whoever previously held the items. Sometimes a gift is more like a curse. Not having complete control of the ability, nor wishing others to think she's crazy, Petra prefers to keep to herself, enjoying the company of her animals rather than trying to form friendships. But when she moves from Seattle to New Mexico to work in the Banditt Museum, replacing their recently deceased geologist, things change. While cleaning her new office she picks up a crystal specimen and is flooded with images and feelings...all negative. Perhaps her predecessor's death wasn't so natural after all. Performing his job, living in the house he rented, is it possible she could be in danger? Compelled to find out more about the man, Petra starts to wonder about new co-workers. Could these friendly people actually become friends or is one of them a killer?
Petra inherits a lot from her predecessor, mainly a lot of problems. Getting a fresh start, but not wanting to get close to others, unless maybe she does, it's no wonder Petra has doubts about her new job. Add to that her new co-workers, well, pretty much everyone she meets in town, is a bit...different. But so is Petra. Her special ability is fascinating. I love her menagerie of pets, and yes, rats are wonderful pets. I appreciate how she prefers to keep to herself and I love how the others intend to draw her out and make her part of the group.
The mystery was unique and so well done. Her psychometry gives her clues, but not enough to know what exactly is going on. I love how she slowly investigates, how she slowly begins to trust, and how she gradually starts to accept her gift. Plenty of suspicious characters and red herrings keep readers on their toes.
Quirky characters in an unconventional museum pulled me in to this captivating mystery. I loved this series debut and I can't wait to return to the Banditt Museum!
**********************************************************************
A Stone Cold Murder (Reluctantly Psychic Murder Mystery) by Kris Bock
About Stone Cold Murder
Cozy Psychic Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - New Mexico
Publisher: Tule Publishing (April 28, 2025)
She hates her gift – but it just might save her…Geologist Petra Cloch can touch an object and sense the emotions of the people who’ve held it. It’s a miserable way to live. She studied rocks because they rarely ‘talk’ to her and she’s dodged friendships so she won’t need to explain her gift or feel like a voyeur. But when she takes a job as the rock and mineral curator at an unusual western history museum and picks up a jagged crystal in her new office, flashes of rage, fear and death hit hard.
Everyone says her predecessor died in a car crash, but what if he was murdered? Under normal circumstances, Petra would never become involved, but what if the previous curator died because of something he did on the job? She could be next. Petra knows she’ll need evidence, not her psychic sense she hides. Can she trust her chatty colleagues who invite her to lunch and to join a book club? And what about the far too watchful Sheriff who keeps showing up unexpectedly…
About Kris Bock
Kris Bock writes mystery, suspense, and romance, often with Southwestern landscapes. In the Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. This humorous series starts with Something Shady at Sunshine Haven, which made Barnes & Noble's list of “Handpicked Favorites You'll Love!” Kris’s romantic suspense novels include stories of treasure hunting, archaeology, and intrigue. Readers have called these novels “Smart romance with an Indiana Jones feel.”
Learn more about Kris’s books or sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter and get an Accidental Detective short story and other freebies. Then every two weeks, you’ll get fun content about pets, announcements of new books, sales, and more.
Author Links:
