"The Case of the Unfortunate Fortune Teller" By Cathy Ace: Review/Giveaway

Review by Cynthia Chow

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

It’s the Christmas season in the village of Anwen-by-Wye, and the women of the WISE Inquiries Agency are preparing for an onslaught of family guests and festivities. While working on one of their cases – designated as The Case of the Irritating Irrigator – Annie Parker meets a woman in distress needing their services. Also known as Madame Paulina, Pauline Thomas believes that she has been the subject of too many accidents and incidents for them not to have been intentional. A fortune teller and tarot card reader, Pauline hires the agency to look into who may be responsible for these series of attacks. After all, who would trust a fortune teller who can’t predict or prevent a fall? As the Welsh, Irish, Scottish, and English ladies take on the titular case and investigate Pauline’s possibly unhappy clients, activities at the Duke of Chellingworth’s household are becoming complicated as well. Dowager Duchess Althea Twyst has invited her longtime friend, dancer, and old crush Oswald Featherington to direct an original production of Mother Goose on Boxing Day.

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While Oswald and his ego stir up problems with the local cast, the ladies of WISE begin looking into Pauline’s possibly unhappy clients. When a woman who accused Pauline of matching her with a romantic scammer is found dead, Christine, Annie, Mavis, and Carol find themselves pursuing a multitude of suspects using their diverse set of skills. Each of them are dealing with their own personal challenges as well, which include pregnancy, motherhood, and their respective romantic relationships. The Duchess’s own rather flighty daughter may have finally settled down into a respectful and surprisingly healthy marriage, but Clementine has rather impracticably decided to become a mother despite her advanced age. Events will unexpectedly collide together just as Christmas and the theatrical production arrive, tying up ends while also bringing the women together. 

In this 11th of the series motherhood, parenting, and family connections all become central topics that play integral roles in their investigations. After reading the authors’ note, it becomes clear that this was written during a challenging time and it results in the novel becoming all the more moving. The friendships between the women are always what bind the novels together and make them so enjoyable to read, as their bonds have become stronger as they lower their guards and share their deepest secrets. These very different women from different classes and backgrounds are so entertaining and likable that they dominate every novel and make their many complicated cases bonuses that enhance the stories and build out their characters. 

To enter to win a copy of The Case of the Unfortunate Fortune, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "unfortunate fortune,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen June 14, 2025. US and Canadian residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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! A new episode goes up next week.

You can click here to purchase this book.

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

 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.