Carole's Sunday Review: Madam Tulip and the Bones of Chance - David Ahern

Author: David Ahern 

Title: Madam Tulip and the Bones of Chance (Madam Tulip #3)

Genre: Mystery

Pages: ebook

Published: April 12th 2018

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

A surprise role in a movie takes actress Derry O’Donnell to a romantic castle in the Scottish Highlands. But romance soon turns to fear and suspicion. Someone means to kill, and Derry, moonlighting as celebrity fortune-teller Madam Tulip, is snared in a net of greed, conspiracy and betrayal.

A millionaire banker, a film producer with a mysterious past, a gun-loving wife, a PA with her eyes on Hollywood, a handsome and charming estate manager—each has a secret to share and a request for Madam Tulip. 

As Derry and her friend Bruce race to prevent a murder, she learns to her dismay that the one future Tulip can’t predict is her own.

This is the 3rd installment of the series. The first one was really good. The second one was okay. This one? Really good. In some ways, I enjoyed it more than the first book!

The story follows Derry and her pals are unknowingly going to be dragged into another adventure of the mystery kind. A surprising role comes out of the blue and it is suspicious. It drove me insane that Derry and her pals couldn't really see that. Derry, I think, was a hair suspicious, but her friends seemed a little oblivious. Well, Derry takes the roll and heads to the Scottish Highlands to film. Mystery, of course, pops its ugly, but a highly entertaining head. 

I adore Derry and her pals. I don't envy her life though. Well...a part of it. I would love to live over there, but I would want a boring desk job like what I have now. Get my money and then go have fun! Trying to be an actress seems like a rough journey. 

Anyways...

Yes, Derry will have her toughest gig yet! I would've taken the gig even if it was suspicious. Money is money I guess ;) 

I loved the fact we got a little closer to some sort of truth about Derry's "powers". It seems her powers are legit and blossoming more so, but super weak. In the other two you weren't really sure if she had legit "powers" or just a good sixth sense about some stuff. Maybe if she can strengthen this gift she can find more ways to get a steady income. Girl! I want you to be rich! Haha!

There were a couple slow spots, but overall, I could not put this down. I finished this in a couple of settings.

Both the ending of the mystery part of the story and the non-mystery part was good. I'm excited to see what is next for our lovable characters! Yes, they are all lovely especially Bruce. Still my favorite!

A cozy mystery for everyone. It could stand alone, but I think you should read the other ones in the series to get the full backstory. Totally worth it! I'll stamp this with 4 stars.  

Madam Tulip and the knave of hearts - David Ahern

Author:  David Ahern

Title: Madam Tulip and the Knave of Hearts (Madam Tulip #2)

Genre: Mystery and Fiction

Pages: ebook

Published: Oct 2016

Where I Got It: My Shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

When out-of-work actress Derry O'Donnell moonlights as celebrity fortune-teller Madam Tulip in an English Stately home, she’s trying to make some cash. 

Instead, she is drawn into an alien world of wealth, titled privilege and family secrets. 

A countess once a chorus girl, a gambling earl and his daughters, a cultured and handsome art expert—all caught in a terrifying web of ghastly threats, murder and 

abduction. As an aristocratic engagement party turns into a nightmare, Derry and her friend Bruce face the prospect of a gruesome and infamous death. 

This is the second book of the Madam Tulip series. However, it could be read as a standalone if need be. I do encourage reading the first one first just to really get an understanding of Derry and her entourage. 

Again, poor Derry is out of work again as an actress. She really should hang up her acting career and focus on being Madam Tulip and work with the police force. Maybe she can do some undercover work? That takes acting skills! But yes...the stage and her are not meant to be. 

She is back at it again and this time there is a lot more mystery going on. I must admit I had no idea who was the baddie and I had no idea where the story was going to go. Kuddos to the author on this! 'Tis a hard feat to really throw me for a loop. 

Now, I must admit this was not as funny or action-packed as the last one. Sure there was a lot going on, but the pace seemed stretched out and not as well done as the last book. There were a few times it seemed to draaaaaaaaaaagggggggggg, but then an event would happen and I would be hooked again. As for the humor? There were some funny moments especially with Derry and her crazy parents, but it seemed very scarce compared to the last one where I was nonstop laughing. I blame the boring rich people...they are rarely fun. 

I must give a hand to the author for his writing style and his character development. He certainly knows how to bring the characters alive and make them feel real. I adore Derry, but she really needs a kick of reality that she is not meant for the stage anymore....solving crimes and future-reading is her trade. 

In the end, this was okay. Not as good as the first book in many ways, but it did have a better mystery than the first one. I am curious to see where and what Derry has in her future. I recommend this series to those who like a good mystery. I shall give this a 3. 

About Carole the Reviewer

What is there really to say? I am of course a lover of books, poetry, movies, plays, and music. Nothing is better than enjoying a cup of tea and immersing yourself in another world and forgetting about the world for just a little bit. My cat and chinchillas keep me entertained over here in Michigan (the mitten state of the USA). I'm game for any genre of book or movie. You can find me over at Carole Rae's Random Ramblings.

Carole's Tuesday Post: Madam Tulip - David Ahern

Author: David Ahern

Title: Madam Tulip (Madam Tulip #1)

Genre: Mystery & Fiction

Pages: ebook

First Published: April 3rd 2016

Where I Got It: My Shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest opinion)

Out-of-work actress Derry O'Donnell is talented, professional, just a little psychic... and broke. Spurred on by an ultimatum from her awesomely high-achieving mother, Derry embarks on a part-time career as Madame Tulip, fortune teller to the rich and famous. But at her first fortune-telling gig - a celebrity charity weekend in a luxurious castle - a famous rap artist mysteriously dies.

As Derry is drawn deeper into a seedy world of fashion, millionaires, horses and cocaine, she must race to save her best friend from jail and a supermodel from being murdered. Her efforts threaten to destroy her friends, her ex-lover, her father and herself.

Ahhhh what a lot of fun that was! 

I simply adored Derry and her little trope. Her parents though were something special. She didn't stand much of a chance honestly. ;D But yes, Derry is a delight. 

Derry is an out-of-work actress who has a little bit of psychic ability. She decides the mix the two together that produces Madam Tulip. She quickly lands a gig, buuutttttt it will not be easy. She is thrown into the dark world of the rich and powerful that will take her on a crazy adventure. 

Did I mention how much I like Derry? I think I might've. But I also loved her friends especially Bruce. He was a cutie. They were all a hoot. They had me laughing! 

I think my only issue was how downplayed her powers were. There was a lot going on mystery-wise and drama-wise, and not a lot of her powers. Maybe there will be more in the next book? I hope so! I want to learn more about her abilities and maybe she'll get better in the next one. Her abilities are limited and not always clear until it really happens. Maybe she'll get less vague or more direct with her visions. We shall see.

I am curious to see what is going to happen between her and her lover in the next book. He seems interesting but he wasn't a big part of this, which I am glad that the romance wasn't the main part of the story. Honestly, I hope he doesn't play huge roles in the future books either. Part of the charm is that even with the craziness and psychic abilities, it seemed very realistic.

This was a fun story and a fun set of characters. Certainly a good intro to the series! I am curious to see what is next for Derry/Tulip and her troupe. I do recommend this. It was light and fun. I do think there should've been more emphasis on her abilities. Out of five stars, I'll give this 4.