Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia — ARC Review

Summary:

A dying billionaire sends one woman and a cast of dreamers and rivals on a citywide treasure hunt in this irresistible novel by the author of Bellweather Rhapsody.

Tuesday Mooney is a loner. She keeps to herself, begrudgingly socializes, and spends much of her time watching old Twin Peaks and X-Files DVDs. But when Vincent Pryce, Boston’s most eccentric billionaire, dies—leaving behind an epic treasure hunt through the city, with clues inspired by his hero, Edgar Allan Poe—Tuesday’s adventure finally begins.

Puzzle-loving Tuesday searches for clue after clue, joined by a ragtag crew: a wisecracking friend, an adoring teen neighbor, and a handsome, cagey young heir. The hunt tests their mettle, and with other teams from around the city also vying for the promised prize—a share of Pryce’s immense wealth—they must move quickly. Pryce’s clues can’t be cracked with sharp wit alone; the searchers must summon the courage to face painful ghosts from their pasts (some more vivid than others) and discover their most guarded desires and dreams.

A deliciously funny ode to imagination, overflowing with love letters to art, from The Westing Game to Madonna to the Knights of the Round Table, Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts is the perfect read for thrill seekers, wanderers, word lovers, and anyone looking for an escape to the extraordinary.

Review: 5 Stars

Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts was one of my top 10 most anticipated releases of the second half of the year. I expected it to be good, but I was absolutely blown away. As soon as I read the synopsis of this one I knew that I wanted it, but I’m shocked that this book appears to be flying under the radar. This book was such a fun, unique read that had me hooked from the start. I woke up early and went to bed late so I could fit in more reading time. I finished this book in two days despite working. Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts was so much fun and I can’t stop raving about it.

The plot is what grabbed my attention and the reason I was so excited for this book. A billionaire, Vincent Pryce, died and in his obituary, that he wrote himself prior to his death, he invited people to participate in a scavenger hunt to win his inheritance. The puzzles and clues hidden across the city made for a fun game, but the conflicts between characters added a whole other level to this plot. Vincent Pryce collected supernatural objects and had an obsession with Edgar Allen Poe, so the scavenger hunt had an eerie feel to begin with, but the main character Tuesday really helped add to that vibe as well as she felt like a Tim Burton character.

I loved every single one of the characters. Tuesday was my favorite and she had a mind for solving puzzles and investigating people. Her best friend Dex made me laugh a lot, but it was her teenage neighbor Dorry who truly got my heart. Tuesday and Dorry’s friendship warmed my heart. Dorry was struggling with grief after losing her mother and Tuesday really helped Dorry just by being a friend to her. All of these characters felt so real to me and had me so emotionally invested.

The climax and the ending of this story felt so satisfying. While I didn’t want the story to be over, it left me with such a good feeling. Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts really got me into a fall vibe and I can’t wait for it to be out in the world so I can make all of my friends read it. It was just so unique and so much fun to read and experience. I hope that this book gets the recognition that it deserves because people won’t want to miss this one.