"Deja Diva" Zoe Donovan Mystery By Kathi Daley: Review/Giveaway

by Kathleen Costa

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of this book, and a link to purchase it.

Nemesis, /nem ə səs/, noun; (1) a long-standing rival; an archenemy; (2) the inescapable agent of someone's or something's downfall.

Whether during her various travels abroad or celebrating special holidays in Ashton Falls, Zoe Donovan-Zimmerman has been plagued by many mysterious deaths and outright murders. She’s never had to be on her own with great support and perspective found in her husband Zak, BFF Ellie and her husband Levi, and Sheriff Salinger, the local law enforcement who understands and uses Zoe’s special “zodar” to uncover motive, opportunity, and means. However unfortunate many of the felonious mysteries are, they are isolated, but there is one issue; there is one reoccurring issue that has been troublesome, dangerous to Zoe and those she loves...her nemesis, Claudia Lotherman.

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There’s Holmes and Moriarty, Batman and Joker, Roadrunner and Coyote, but none more dangerous than Zoe and Claudia! Their paths first crossed when Zoe and Zak were in Alaska, and Zoe discovered Claudia’s status as an international fugitive. Later, just before Zoe and Zak were set to marry, her extraordinary chameleon skill was on public display. The last interaction came soon after Zoe delivered her daughter Catherine. Claudia devised an elaborate challenge, The Sleuthing Game, with Zak’s life as motivation. Each time Claudia made serious attempts to end Zoe’s life, and each time Zoe was clever enough to escape...but as Yogi Berra said, “It's like déjà vu all over again."

Alaskan Alliance (2014)
Matrimony Meltdown (2015)
Hippity Hoppity Homicide (2018)


Deja Diva earns 5/5 Millie Braydon Cyphers...Engaging Page-Turner!
Halloween is an all out extravaganza in Ashton Falls. The committee, of which Zoe and Zak are members, has finalized a location for The Haunted Hamlet, assigned a decorating crew, arranged for various other events like the haunted barn and food vendors, and with a full moon expected for Halloween night, have decided to extend the hours for the spooky maze. However, an off-hand statement from her friend at the animal shelter, a missing family cat, a call from the bank about an incident, and a couple of curious notes seem more than just innocent oddities. They are clues and threats in a dangerous cat and mouse mystery that’s about to entangle Zoe and her family.

Brilliant! Kathi Daley has brought back a delightful adversary for the thirty-fourth installment of the Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery series with intrigue and danger. The mystery unfolds slowly at first with Zoe going about daily business with family and preparing for the annual Halloween fun, but a few mysterious occurrences, seeming innocent, cause a niggling feeling. Then the hacking, the kidnapping, the threats, and the puzzling cypher, indicate this is more than innocent. Engaging fun with links to previous childhood experiences and investigations that help uncover answers to some of the puzzles. Kathi Daley continued with descriptive language and dialogue to set the mood, the danger, and another nail-biting race with the clock, but it’s her writing style using the first-person narrative that put me vicariously into the drama with Zoe’s “I” perspective. Along the way, readers are treated to life in Ashton Falls following a delightful community as they prepare for the Haunted Hamlet festivities, plans to expand Zoe’s Zoo’s rescue shelter, and several casual conversations about family dynamics, school football games, rivalries between “townies and eggheads,” Zimmerman Academy, holiday preparations, and lots of intrigue...and yes, finally, a dead body makes a limited appearance. However, despite lives in jeopardy, motive is only a theory, direct contact is only thru texts, and closure is unavailable. Will Zoe’s Moriarty be back? It seems we’ll have to wait and see. Zoe better be checking behind her from now on!

Be a Big Kathi Daley Fan!
Along with this ten-book Tess and Tilly Cozy Mystery series, USA Today bestselling author Kathi Daley has twelve different series offering something for every cozy taste from Alaska to Hawaii, from the northwest to the southeast, with varied occupations and close relationships with family and “fur” friend companions, and in several series, easy-to-follow recipes. She has a great social media community of fans, an ARC team, and can be followed on Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub. Keep updated on all of her book releases, events, and goings-on by signing up for her newsletter HERE.

Facebook - Kathi Daley Books
Join the Club Kathi Daley Book Club
On the Web Kathi Daley Website
Blog - Random Thoughts and Meaningless Musings

To enter to win an ebook copy of Deja Diva, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "deja,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 29, 2020 . U.S. residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. You can read our privacy statement here if you like. We delete all emails after the contest is over.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! One of our past episodes features another of Kathi's books. You can listen to it here: mysteryratsmaze.podbean.com/e/boxes-in-the-basement-by-kathi-daley A new episode went up this week!

You can use this link to purchase the book. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:



Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is a 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying her retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband.
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Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.

Comments

  1. Kathi Daley never stops! Count me in!

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  2. I love this cover. Thank you so much for this chance!!! pgenest57(at)aol(dot)com

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  3. Thanks for the review. Have added it to my TBR.

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  4. The Zoe series is first Kathi Daley I read and my favorite!!!! Oneponychick66@hotmail.com

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  5. Love this cover so much! I love all of Kathi's books. jawdance@yahoo.com

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  6. Thanks for Sharing Kathi's books 📚 with us and For the Chance to Win a Copy of Deja Diva

    iamabho AT gmail DOT com

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  7. Shared Post Today on Twitter
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  8. I’d love to read this! Legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

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  9. Thanks for the opportunity! I can't wait to read it!
    techols9472@bellsouth.net

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  10. Sounds like another great book from Kathi Daley.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  11. Love Kathi Daley's books. Cannot wait to read Deja Diva embam1969 at comcast dot net

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  12. Another on the to be read list!

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  13. Another book to add to my TBR list. And I love the cover!

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  14. Another wonderful book by Kathi Daley. As always her covers are inviting.

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