Book picks similar to
The Scrying Game by Christine Zane Thomas


mystery
fantasy-sci-fi
tbr-adult-thriller-mystery
united-states

Break the Stone


Cassie Swindon - 2021
    She doesn’t have time to learn what’s inside when Pa uproots her from the only home she’s ever known, leaving the mysterious trunk behind. Meanwhile, Specialist Kody Walsh focuses on his advancement in the army. Raelyn walks into his life and derails his plans. They awaken a spark inside each other, but deny their interest. Forced to work together, Raelyn and Kody find evidence that her Ma might still be alive. While hunting for the truth, the two grow closer as complications and danger arises. Will Raelyn ever find out what really happened to Ma? Will Kody tear down his walls and let Raelyn into his heart? Or will the challenges tear them apart?

Antiques & Avarice


Jane Firebaugh - 2015
    It will make you smile and keep you guessing from start to finish! Olivia McKenna has her own antique shop in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire, where she makes just enough to keep her Golden Retriever, Molly, stocked in treats. But her peaceful existence is about to get turned upside down. One day, while she's out antiquing, she discovers a body in a quaint little antique store. And that leads to a fateful meeting with Josh Abrams, the stunning state trooper with the sexy blue-green eyes who's leading the investigation. Can Olivia help Josh solve the mystery? Will their instant attraction turn into true love? Order the paperback today and find out!

Petal to the Metal


Annabel Chase - 2021
    After a disastrous career-and-relationship-ending event, she escapes New York City and moves to a sleepy river town in Pennsylvania, courtesy of a dead aunt she never knew. Aunt Hazel was the reclusive family nut, a self-proclaimed psychic. Of course, Mia’s dad always told her that she, too, had the gift, but after his death, her mother made sure to squelch the notion. No square pegs allowed!Aunt Hazel’s old cottage is only slightly better than the decrepit gardens surrounding it. Mia doesn’t know the first thing about gardening and expects this will be one more failure on her seemingly endless list. Even Aunt Hazel’s ancient cat seems to have pegged her as a loser.When Mia stumbles over a body in the overgrown garden, the newcomer catches the eye of the police chief and his hotshot detective, Derek Fairfax, and she becomes the number one suspect in the case. Much to her shock and awe, she also catches the eye of Derek’s brother, Dane, a lawyer with a head for what’s legal and a bod for what isn’t—but getting arrested for murder would certainly put a damper on her dating life.Will Mia tap into her long-buried psychic skills in order to save herself or will she end up digging her own grave?Petal to the Metal is the first book in The Bloomin’ Psychic series.Other series by Annabel Chase:SpellboundSpellbound Ever AfterStarry Hollow WitchesMidlife Magic Cocktail ClubPandora's PrideDemonspawn AcademySpellslingers Academy of MagicDivine Place

Meowing for Murder (A Clever Cat Detective Series Novel Book 1)


Sandra Baublitz - 2020
    It’s what sisters do.Lillian knew they’d argue like they always did. But murder?She’s shocked to find a dead neighbor in the middle of her sister’s living room. Why did the woman break in? And who killed her?It’s time for Lillian to pick up her spyglass and Saber to prowl for clues. A killer is on the loose.It will take one clever cat and one canny older woman to solve the purr-fect murder.

Misty Hollow Cat Detective


K.J. Emrick - 2014
    Here are just a few of his stories!The Letter: When Smudge's friend, Twistypaws, comes to him for help he can't say no to the beautiful girl cat he has a major crush on. Her owner is in trouble and it seems that Smudge is the only one that can get him out of it, with Darcy's help of course.The Rat's Trail: It's Smudge to the rescue when Rolo the timid cat has a rat problem. Why would a rat be trying to evict Rolo from his home? Smudge is on the case to find out.The Sparkly: Corvin the crow is beside himself when he loses a special sparkly people feather he was going to give his new girlfriend. Smudge must find out what happened to it and get it back for Corvin.Stealing Heidi: Twistypaws enlists Smudge's help when she receives an SOS from Jocko the guinea pig. It seems that his owner's belongings are going missing one by one. It's up to Smudge to work out what's going on.The Circle of Life: Smudge the cat has only eight lives left. We learn how he lost the ninth life and it's not how you might think.

Better Witch Next Time


Stephanie Damore - 2019
    It's the present day that trips her up. So when a missing persons case comes in, throwing her back to 1958 New York City, Vee sets off to solve it.But nothing about this case is what it seems.Rogue witches, power-hungry shifters, and friends who are anything but innocent send Vee on a supernatural chase that just might require more power than even this witch can summon. Can Vee solve the case before her time is up or will Irene Borstein remain missing forever?Dive in to the Witch in Time series and get lost in a great mystery today.Each book stands completely on its own, but you'll have more fun if you read them all together!

Suitable for Framing


Lori Roberts Herbst - 2021
    So why does she end up—once again—focusing her lens on murder?Callie Cassidy is no stranger to dead bodies. Two decades as a photojournalist on a big-city newspaper landed her face to face with so many of them that her colleagues dubbed her Queen of the Dead. Now, Callie believes her days of hanging out with cadavers are behind her. With her lovable golden retriever Woody in tow, she has returned in disgrace to Rock Creek Village, Colorado, where she licks her wounds in a cabin on her parents’ Rocky Mountain ski resort property. But when her mother persuades her to abandon her fetal position beneath the quilts and take a photography gig at the Snowflake Swirl winter ball, Callie’s foray back into the real world lands her smack in the middle of town drama.Before the first partygoer arrives, Callie stumbles across a deadly scene. A former classmate, one of the “mean girls” from high school, lies lifeless on her office floor. Another woman from Callie’s past crouches above the body, holding a bloody letter opener. The conclusion is obvious—at least to rookie detective Raul Sanchez. But Callie believes there’s more to the picture. With the help of an adopted stray cat named Carl, whose investigative skills may rival her own, Callie sets out to find the real murderer. Because unless she, her pets, and a quirky group of villagers can solve the mystery, Callie’s photos won’t be the only thing being framed.

Count Your Hexes


Wendy Meadows - 2019
    Was Daniel George an unfortunate victim of some dark magic, or some invisible revenge? In the sleepy tourist town of Wickrock Bay, Maine, Mimi’s artifact and antique shop is a hit with customers far and wide, especially crotchety next-door cafe owner Daniel George, who likes to duck into the shop often to spot what Mimi has in her collections.  But, after three Wickrock Bay citizens rub Daniel the wrong way, in one form or another, the man moves to take action against them.Only for him to turn up mysteriously dead.Wickrock Bay Police Chief Robert Thompson, and soon along with his crush Mimi, are immediately on the case.  But Mimi also has to be cautious, because the object used to murder poor Daniel had come from her shop.  Wickrock Bay may be a small, cozy seaside town, but tongues could wag if enough people find this out.This cozy mystery is a clean read: no graphic violence, sex, or strong language.

Royal Flush


Scott Bartlett - 2011
    Meanwhile, the King is cruising seedy taverns looking for likely maidens. "The King" is his only name. He avoids responsibility at all costs. He executes anyone who annoys him. He keeps his mother locked in a dungeon. But deep down, what the King really wants is to be loved. During this misguided search for romance, he is portrayed as a cross dresser by the Kingdom Crier (the Kingdom's most popular tabloid). Shortly after, he must defend his castle against a siege, with only his royal fiddler - while attempting to steal his royal fiddler's girlfriend.Royal Flush is a recipient of the H. R. (Bill) Percy Prize.

Slip and Go Die


Sharon Rose - 2012
    A terrible accident say the local police. But why did Beulah leave her cabin without a coat? It was thirty below in Parson's Cove. Someone must have forced her, amateur sleuth, Mabel Wickles suggests to her friend, Flori. Nobody seems to know anything, and Mabel is becoming frustrated.When Mabel witnesses some strange goings-on one night in the vacant house next door, she perks up. A person or persons unknown appear to be using the empty house for nefarious purposes. Could they be connected to Beulah's death? Mabel suspects they might and she sets out to investigate.But Mabel should be cautious. One unsuspecting resident of Parson's Cove has already slipped and died. She might be next.

The Guard


N.L. Westaway - 2020
    Thumbing back through the pages again, slower this time, I found it. It was about an inch thickness in… Mom’s handwriting… pages of it.When a woman linked to the supernatural, discovers her adoptive mother’s journal holds a cryptic mystery, she and her closest friends race to uncover a secret matriarchal society safeguarded by mystical unseen forces. What if Cancer wasn’t just an illness or evil sickness that took our loved ones? What if it’s something bigger—a sacrifice or choice to keep humanity safe—to keep the balance?Ottawa, the capital of Canada, is considered the 3rd cleanest city in the world and rated the 2nd highest quality of living of any big city in the Americas, but unless you’re Canadian you probably wouldn’t know any of that stuff. And it’s all very nice and well, but boring as hell.... That’s what four unsuspecting girlfriends thought, until their good friend Lynn Westlake came home to visit, and they found themselves in the biggest mystery and adventure of their normal boring lives.The Guard is the first book in the N. L. Westaway urban fantasy/paranormal mystery trilogy. If you appreciate brilliant urban fantasy or paranormal mysteries involving everyday people, you’ll love this entertaining three-part trilogy. Note; it is recommended that you read the books in order as the mystery is in three parts, and not individual stories per book.

Murder And Grits: A Piper Sandstone Savory Mystery Series (A contemporary Gulf Coast mystery with recipes), Book 1


Karen McSpade - 2021
    

The Handyman Homicide (Reckless Camper Cozy Mysteries Book 1)


Libby Howard - 2022
    

Witch Way to Murder


Shirley Damsgaard - 2005
    She's created a comfortable existence with her kooky, colorful grandmother Abby, and if it were up to her, they could live out their days—along with Ophelia's dog Lady and cat Queenie—in peace and quiet. But, to Ophelia's dismay, she and Abby aren't a typical grandmother/granddaughter duo. She possesses psychic powers, and Abby is a kindly witch. And while Ophelia would do anything to dismiss her gift—harboring terrible guilt after her best friend was killed and she was unable to stop it—threatening events keep popping up, forcing her to tap into her powers of intuition. To make matters worse, a strange—yet devastatingly attractive—man is hanging around Ophelia's library, and no matter how many times she tells him she's sworn off men forever, he persists. Soon this handsome newcomer reveals he's following a lead on a local drug ring, and then a dead body shows up right in Abby's backyard. And much as Ophelia would like to put away her spells forever, she and Abby must use their special powers to keep themselves, and others, out of harm's way.

The Old Man and the Princess


Sean-Paul Thomas - 2016
    A Nashville Film Festival Screenplay Finalist and now recently optioned to be a MAJOR MOTION PICTURE'He promised her the world, just not this one...' Derek, a mysterious old Irish man, who claims to be not of this Earth, kidnaps Sersha, a young, headstrong, Irish foster girl, from the streets of Galway and tries to convince her that her life's destiny is tied to a seemingly random cave in the Scottish Highlands. But with half of the Irish criminal underworld violently on their trail, the kidnapped Sersha, struggles back and forth with the old man's real identity and far-fetched schemes and intentions to whether he truly is genuine in his wild and fantastical beliefs. Or is he just some kind of mad, demented and misguided old fool, having a mental breakdown in his twilight years?