Cards on the Table by Lana Harper
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
**3.5-stars**
Cards on the Table follows two witchy sisters, Tori and Cassie, who find themselves down on their luck when their tarot reading business is no longer able to sustain them. They’re late on the rent for their subpar Salem apartment and are on the eve of eviction.
It’s in this time of need that an apparent windfall is presented to them. A woman tracks them down and offers them a massive sum of money to travel to the Berkshires and play ‘witches in residence’ to an elderly widow.
They have mixed feelings, but honestly don’t see a lot of other options. This is their chance to get the money they need to finally have stable housing. Therefore they agree to the terms and head to Western Massachusetts.
Upon arrival they’re stunned by the opulence of the property. Surely, not just one family owns all of this. Then they meet said family. Oh boy, they’re some toxic folks, except for Rose, the widow they’re there to help.
She actually seems like a lovely woman, who called upon them because she has some unresolved spiritual needs before she passes, which seems imminent.
The dynamics in the house are complex though, and helping Rose without family intervention proves more difficult than one would expect. Tori and Cassie feel dangers around every corner. The house is a hotbed of competing motives, with everyone seemingly in it for themselves.
One fateful night, it happens. Rose dies. After her death, millions of dollars disappear from the estate overnight, and Tori and Cassie are instantly suspected as the culprits. The sisters were just there to try to help Rose, and get the money offered them for doing so. They wanted nothing else, but someone is clearly using them as the perfect scapegoats.
Can the sisters find out who the real thief is and prove their own innocence, or are they about to go down for a crime they didn’t commit?
This is a cute book. I always enjoy the vibes of Lana Harper’s books, as well as the character interactions, but unfortunately, the plots tend to feel a tad lackluster. I’m not sure what it is exactly, but I tend to zone out with Harper’s writing at different points over the course of the stories.
I know this is cowritten, but honestly, I couldn’t tell. It felt very much in-line with The Witches of Thistle Grove series, which I’ve also enjoyed and continued one with, but never loved, if that makes sense.
The set-up of this was really fun. I did love the down on their luck sisters being offered this incredible opportunity and them taking it. The setting of the Berkshires and the atmosphere of this mansion were also very well done.
Some of the family drama got a little confusing and overused for me. I know that part of the story was important for where the plot was going, but it was almost too drawn out, causing my attention to wax and wane.
After Rose’s death, that’s when I became locked in, as that was when Tori and Cassie were put to the test. There were suddenly heavier stakes and that was the bit I found the most interesting.
I didn’t care for the romance aspects of the story, and feel like it would have been better without those bits. Let’s just have the family drama and the mystery. The romance to me felt forced and in no way enhanced my enjoyment.
This is a solid story though, and if you’re someone who enjoys romance in your mysteries, that part may be a win for you. Overall, it was a fun way to kick off my Spooky Season reading, and I’m glad I gave it a shot.
Thank you to the publisher, Bantam, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would recommend this as a fun witchy story. Bonus points if you enjoy tarot included in your Paranormal Mysteries.