Play the Fool is billed as a thriller, but in reality it’s more of a women’s fiction with a mystery thrown in. Katie True is a strong female protagonist, but at times her actions border on sheer stupidity. She’s failed an attempt to live in Chicago and come home to Lake Terrace, a suburb of Chicago. There she’s living in a crappy apartment and holding down a crappier job at a shop that sells Russian tchotchkes. Katie’s sole job qualification has been reading tarot cards. She makes friends with Marley, a woman who works nearby, and this friendship makes Katie feel like she could actually succeed at something. The mystery arises when she sees a photo of Marley dead from a gunshot wound to the head.
The tarot aspect was intriguing but didn’t get enough play in the latter half of the book. I liked that when Katie looked at someone, she “saw” a particular tarot card representing that person’s personality. I’d have liked to see that idea more fully developed. She does undergo some character growth. However, the romance isn’t quite strong enough to hold its weight. The prose isn’t great nor is the mystery aspect. The first third of the book was far better than the rest of the book.
********************
Play the Fool (Bantam, March 28, 2023) is available through:
********************
This post may contain Amazon Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small amount from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
