DEATH AT FIRST SIGHT by Lena Gregory

Publisher:    Berkley

Published:   November 1, 2016

ISBN:        978-0425282748

Genre:       Cozy Mystery  

Format:     Print

Obtained via:  Publisher  

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

TWO-1/2 HEARTS

Not so long ago Cass Donovan left her psychiatry practice in New York City behind and headed back home to Bay Island not as a therapist but as a psychic.  Not that she sees herself as a real psychic, but by using common sense, well it pays the bills. Thing is, she just may be psychic.  Life in Bay Island is pretty nice— she has some really good friends, especially Stephanie and Bee, can walk almost anywhere she wants to go and is active in Bee’s annual fashion show.  But a dark shadow crossing her path after giving a local resident a reading sends her life down a path she never anticipated. And that dark shadow isn’t just her intuition or even her imagination.  It’s actually very real in the form of Marge Hawkins.  When Cass finds Marge’s body in the town’s theatre Sheriff Landgon quickly decides she must be the killer.  Can Cass find the real killer before he finds her?

I liked the premise of Lena Gregory’s DEATH AT FIRST SIGHT, a Bay Island Psychic mystery.  Cass’s original profession didn’t really factor into the story except as a vehicle to get her to Bay Island.  She could have any career and it would have worked. If she relied a little bit on her psychiatric training it would have made for a more interesting read….a psychiatrist has medical training yet Cass is at a loss of what to do to treat someone such as Ellie when she is hurt.  And she certainly could have used it when the killer captures her. 

And while Cass herself admits she doesn’t think she is psychic, why call it a “psychic mystery”?  If that’s the hook, at least have more two shadows cross her vision.

And the name “Bee” just didn’t do it for me – especially for a character that has a lot of potential.  I really liked him. I can definitely see some great developments with him going forward.  Cass herself was a solid character—or at least one with a lot of potential.  My favorite though was Beast.

Normally if I don’t care so much for a book I pass on the rest of the series.  In Gregory’s case, however, I see a lot of potential and like I said, I liked the characters.  I’m game for checking out book 2 when it’s available.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.