‘Sleight of Hand’ by Tonya Kappes
Series: Maisie Doss Mystery #1
Published: January 18, 2023
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Mystery
Format: e-book
Spice Level: None
Stars:
Synopsis
Maisie Doss knew the weight of secrets all too well. Once a troublemaker in her small Kentucky town near Cincinnati, she struck a dangerous bargain to become a confidential informant for the police. But when betrayal led her to send a family member behind bars, the lines between right and wrong blurred. Unable to bear the weight of her actions, she fled into the secluded heart of Appalachia, praying her past wouldn’t catch up.
For a time, the hills kept her secrets. Determined to atone, she tried to lead a quiet life, but old habits die hard. When Maisie stumbles upon a mystery that begs her attention, she can’t resist diving in. Yet, this isn’t just any crime; it’s tangled with threads from her concealed past. And as fate would have it, a detective from her old life discovers her hidden refuge.
Now, he presents her with a chilling ultimatum: Return to her role as a CI and face the ghosts of her past or find herself behind bars.
In a game of cat and mouse, where trust is a luxury Maisie can’t afford, she must use every sleight of hand she knows to outwit the law, uncover the truth, and keep her freedom.
My Thoughts
Hearing that Tonya Kappes was coming out with a new mystery series I was very excited. When ‘Sleight of Hand’ came to my inbox I sent it right to my Kindle to read. At first when I was reading the book I thought it was a nice change to be on the darker mystery side instead of the cozy mysteries that Tonya is known for.
As I was hoping to learn more about the backstory I was instead given more characters and I felt like it was jumping from one place to another with no clear explanation of what was happening. I tried to like these characters and get into this story but these characters were dull and no real backstory was given. I was just left in the dark, and the end of the book was left on a cliffhanger that wasn’t what I was hoping for. The writing in this book felt off and nothing that gave that charm like her past books.
I’m sad to say but ‘Sleight of Hand’ is getting only 2 stars for me. As with all books, there is no spice in this book which is fine as the story the book tells is the important part. This book is now available to purchase and if you are a Kindle Unlimited member it is part of your membership.
**I would like to thank Tonya Kappes for the ARC copy of this book. Getting the ARC Copy did not influence my thoughts on the book as they are all my own.**
