Book Review & Interview: Pall in the Family by Dawn Eastman

Pall in the Family

Pall in the Family
Family Fortune Series, Book 1
Dawn Eastman

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Berkley

Date of Publication: August 6, 2013

Number of pages: 304

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     B&N    Sony    Kobo

The aptly named Crystal Haven is the destination for tourists seeking psychics, séances, and the promise of contacting the spirit world. In this small western Michigan town, everyone knows the Fortune family. Rose is gifted with tarot card readings. Her sister, Vi, is a self-proclaimed pet psychic. And Rose’s daughter Clyde is…

A cop. A cop on leave from Ann Arbor, more specifically, who’s come home to kooky Crystal Haven to reevaluate her life. Mom and Aunt Vi can’t wait for Clyde to finally embrace her own psychic gifts and join the family business. Clyde would prefer the low-stress lifestyle of a dog walker and the low-key company of her nephew, Seth.

But when a local psychic is killed, leaving behind a traumatized Shih Tzu, it seems to be in the cards for Clyde to get involved. With her old flame Mac leading the investigation, that may prove awkward. Whether she uses her skills as a cop or her long-denied psychic abilities, it’s up to Clyde to divine a killer’s identity before someone else suffers more misfortune.

Interview: 

Today, we welcome Dawn Eastman to Musings and Ramblings. Let's all give her a big Geeky welcome!

I have some questions for you that are writer specific as well as some fun stuff so that we can really get to know the real you. *grin* Plus we will finish things off with round of Think Fast. Ready to begin?

Writing Specific
1. Tell us something about yourself that's not in your bio.

I adore chimpanzees and wanted to be Jane Goodall when I was a kid (if the whole Nancy Drew thing didn't work out).

2. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Knitting and reading or knitting while listening to an audiobook (best of both worlds)

3. How did you choose the genres you write in?

I love mysteries and puzzles so it was an easy choice for me and I love to read cozies.

4. Is there any particular author or book that has influenced you or your writing?

So many have influenced me - Salinger and Yeats are my two favorites. I read almost any kind of fiction so I have probably picked up things from all over. Rowling's books were a big part of our family life. Non-mystery favorites include Deborah Harkness, Kate Morton, and Diana Gabaldon. Mystery author favorites are Louise Penny, Laurie King, Tana French, and Margaret Maron.

5. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

When I was in 3rd grade, a rather horrible teacher told me to stick to math and science because 'you can't write'. Since then, I haven't heard anything that was unhelpful, so even if it was tough, I was able to use it to make the writing better.

Best compliment was in a writing workshop in college. It was the first time I had ever let strangers read my writing and I was really nervous. There was another student who wrote very well and I admired his work. When it was his turn to critique the piece I had submitted, he said, "I wish I had written this." That small comment has stayed with me over the years whenever I thought about giving up. Also, people have said they laughed out loud reading something I wrote (in a good way) and that, to me, is the highest compliment.

Fun Stuff
6. If you could have dinner with anyone, past or present, fictional or real, who would it be and why?

JK Rowling - I have a lot of questions about what happened after book seven. I know she knows where all those people went and I'd like to hear more about them.

7. You are going to be stranded on a deserted island and bring 3 luxury items. What would they be?

My iPad, a solar charger, and tea

8. Pick two celebrities to be your parents. Who are they and why?

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz but only if they were more like the Ricardos than they were in real life.

9. What would we find in your refrigerator right now?

Half and half, guacamole, wine, ice cream

10. If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

Deep Shih Tzu

Think Fast
Summer or Winter? Autumn
Coffee or Tea? Tea
Cake or Pie? Cake
Car or Truck? SUV
Print or Electronic? Print

Thanks for coming by and spending some time with us.

Review: 

Sorry about this review, but my computer recently crashed.  I will be doing a much better job of this review, just as soon as I get it fixed.  As it is I am getting this post done on my local library's computer and they are telling me 10 minutes till close.

Basically, this book Rocked!! I loved Clyde.  Her relationships with each of her family members is not to be missed.  The town and all of the supporting characters made this a fun book to read.  I was so engrossed with what would happen next, I finished the book in one sitting.  The story just kept me turning those pages. This book earned every one of the 5 stars I gave in on Goodreads.


Review, Redux: 

This is the first book in the Family Fortune Mystery series by Dawn Eastman.  This is a new to me author, that I discovered via the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. I really liked the idea of a family of psychics juxtaposed with the logical cop, throw in a small town you know is full of wacky and zany characters (uh hello, a town full of psychics and mediums) and you just know there is going to be plenty of laughs along the way.

The story opens with Clyde coming downstairs to find that a bat has gotten into the house, again. Her mother - Rose, Aunt Violet and nephew Seth are all trying unsuccessfully to capture the bat and/or shoo it outside. It is strongly implied that this chaos is a normal occurrence.  The bat eventually flies outside and Clyde and Seth head out to start the daily routine of dog walking for the neighborhood.  Yes, Clyde is a little old to be walking dogs, but she is on administrative leave from her job as a police officer in Ann Arbor and her Aunt Vi, the pet psychic, helped her line up most of the dogs.  So far it has been about a month and Clyde still hasn't come clean with her parents about why she taking a "sabbatical".  Her mother hopes it is because Clyde will once again acknowledge and start training her own psychic powers.  Clyde meanwhile continues to just want to be normal and for the visions to go away.

When Clyde and Seth get to the home of Sara and Tuffy, Tuffy refuses to come when he is called.  Clyde goes in and checks things out, only to find that Sara has been killed in her kitchen.  Since Clyde is a trained police officer and Sara was a family friend, she is quickly pulled into the investigation.  Of course the rumor mill starts quickly that Clyde will be using her intuitive powers to solve the case.

This was a great book.  The town and all the supporting characters made this a fast, fun read.  The family dynamics are both amusing and poignantly touching.  Clyde's relationship with Mac, her old flame, has to overcome past regrets, misunderstandings and misconceptions.  While her relationship with her best friends, Diana and Alex, is one we all wish we could have.  I consumed this book in one sitting.  I just didn't want to put it down. This book earned every one of the 5 stars I gave in on Goodreads.

Giveaway: 

I have 1 paperback copy of Pall in the Family, generously provided by Great Escapes Book Tour and the author.  Let's make this a simple one:  Give the author some generous love in comment form and make sure to leave your email address. 

Book Tour Info: 
Don't forget to check out the other stops on the Book Tour:

August 5:
Mochas, Mysteries and More - Review & Interview

August 6:
Michelle’s Romantic Tangle - Review

August 7:
Lily Pond Reads - Review

August 8:
Musings and Ramblings - Review & Interview & Giveaway

August 9:
Girl Lost In a Book - Review

August 11:
Cozy Up With Kathy - Review & Interview

August 12:
Mommasez… - Review & Interview

August 14:
Kaisy Daisy’s Corner - Review & Giveaway

August 15:
Griperang’s Bookmarks - Review

August 16:
Queen of All She Reads - Review & Giveaway


Author Bio:
Dawn Eastman lived in Michigan for many years, in a house full of animals, unusual people, and laughter. She now lives in Iowa with her husband, son, daughter, and one extremely bossy small dog. Pall in the Family is her first novel.

to connect with the author online:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads