Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia was published in 2019.
Our Sleuth: Tuesday Mooney, 33, a prospect researcher for a large Boston hospital — meaning she finds information that helps the hospital raise money. A loner in black, a “Grown-ass Wednesday Addams, one day of the week earlier.”
The Setting: October in Boston, 2012.
The Premise: Vincent A. Pryce, a cape-wearing silver-haired Vincent Price double with a devotion to Edgar Allan Poe, dies at an auction put on by Tuesday’s hospital. When he, via his obituary, invites the public to play a game to win a portion of his great wealth, Tuesday joins others in playing to win.
Themes: Tuesday’s sense of alienation stems in part from the disappearance of her childhood friend 15 years earlier, when both girls were 16, and how those around her reacted. So a large part of the story is how Tuesday learns to trust in an oddball collection of friends and a mysterious love interest.
My Take: Racculia’s novel is billed as “an adventure” and it is one of the most delightful and quirky stories I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Tuesday is an appealing protagonist, not the least because of her eccentricities and her imperfections. It’s a fast-paced and funny yet thoughtful read as Tuesday figures out a place in the world.
Opening Lines:
The woman in black was alone.
It was five thirty-five on a warm Tuesday evening in October. She shuffled through the revolving door of the Four Seasons Hotel, her eyes sliding around the room, unable to stick to anything but cool marble, everything tasteful and gleaming under the recessed lighting. She caught the rich murmur of voices from mouths in other rooms. The hotel staff didn’t make eye contact. They knew she wasn’t checking in.
Of Note: It’s unclear if Tuesday will be a recurring character, but I hope to go on another adventure with her.
Heads Up: More traditional than cozy, with some cursing and heavy elements involving the disappearance of a teenager and violence within a family.
FemaleSleuths.com 
Leave a comment