Yasmine Galenorn – Murder under a Mystic Moon

The third book in the Chintz 'n China series, published January 4, 2005.
Genre: paranormal mystery
Cover: beautiful



Delicious blends of tea aren’t the only draw at the Chintz ‘n China Tea Room – Emerald O’Brien, owner and medium also offers her customers tarot card readings. But Emerald, a single mother of two, never saw herself as a sleuth – which proves that even seers make mistakes...

With her teenage daughter’s birthday on the horizon and the Early Autumn Breeze Celebration in full swing, Emerald has her hands full with party preparations and teashop specials. But a request from her friend Jimbo has her using her abilities to look into the disappearance of his friend. In the woods surrounding the Klickavail Valley enclave, Emerald senses a strange energy manifesting itself – before literally stumbling across the body of Jimbo’s friend. While the police are willing to blame the death on a cougar attack, Emerald knows there’s something else wandering the forest – something that resembles the Klakatat monster of legend, but may be a monster of a more human kind ...


Emerald O’Brien is not amused when journalist Cathy Sutton from KLIK T.V. wants to interview her again. They had a few not so nice run-ins before. And now she wants her to let her intern George, a wannabe-psychic, observe her in action? There is such a thing as client confidentiality. So when George doesn’t get what he wants, and has to pay for some expensive china he destroys, he tries to destroy Emerald’s reputation by questioning her abilities as a psychic in public, or rather, on public t.v.. He even starts following her around trying to find out what she is doing, and trying to expose her.

When her friend Jimbo asks Emerald to come over and help him search for his missing friend, Emerald steps into her strangest adventure yet. The police don’t take it seriously, a missing biker is of no concern, good riddance. But Jimbo is certain something has happened to his friend Scar. When Emerald finds Scar’s mutilated body, the police, Murray’s commanding officer, is quick to write it off as a cougar attack, but they all know differently. A cougar would not hide the body, nor are the claw marks compatible. Case closed.
Of course Emerald, Jimbo and Murray don’t accept that answer, and Emerald reluctantly agrees to take a closer look around. Something has spooked some of the bikers in the Enclave lately, and Murray tells her about the legend of the Klakatat monster. Native American lore goes back way before the first white man set foot on their land.


I loved this mystery. The meeting between Emerald and the Klakatat monster is such a great surprise and so well written, it is unlike anything I have ever read before. Paranormal mystery at its best.
I disliked George from his first appearance in the book, and he does not improve over time. He might be Cathy’s cousin, but he has no redeeming qualities. A spoiled brat who doesn’t know what he gets himself involved in, and only wants the limelight.
Joe is showing his protective streak a bit too much, when he goes after a man who scares and threatens Emerald, only ending up in big trouble himself. He should know by now that Emerald is capable of looking after herself and needs him to love her, not to protect her.
And surprise, surprise, Murray and Jimbo have become an item, something her police friends will not like at all.
Harlow is still very pregnant, but she loves her new research job, and she is good at it.

I just love reading about Emerald and her kids and friends. She is such a capable woman, raising two kids on her own and owning her own shop. She deals with the paranormal stuff that the universe thrusts at her, with the help of her ghostly Nanna and friends. I like Murray’s aunt White Deer as well.

I don’t know if you should read this series out of order, but I think you can. This is the best of the 5 books in my opinion.

10 stars.

© 2014 Reviews by Aurian