Tail of the Dragon

Connie di Marco

Aug 2018 · Llewellyn Worldwide

About this ebook

A rare astrological event could help San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti avoid a deadly destiny

Julia Bonatti loves the freedom of working for herself as a professional astrologer. But after receiving several unexpected bills, she considers a temp job offer from her old boss a stroke of luck too good to pass up.

On her first day, the posh law office becomes a crime scene when one of the partners is found dead. Julia discovers that a series of death threats have been sent to several employees of the firm, and she uses her astrological expertise to discover possible motives. But before she can convince the authorities of what she knows, the killer strikes again. Will Julia unmask the culprit before he, or she, takes another life?

Praise:

"Connie di Marco does a good job keeping the reader guessing whodunit in this psychic cozy."—Publishers Weekly

"A by-the-numbers cozy distinguished...by its San Francisco setting and astrological appeal."—Kirkus Reviews

"[An] engaging mystery...The author's characters are quite believable and appear to be made of flesh and blood, not simply pen and ink. She also does an exceptional job of making the city of San Francisco a character itself by incorporating vivid depictions of the fabled city by the bay."—US Review of Books

Praise for the Zodiac Mysteries
All Signs Point to Murder

"Di Marco crafts an intricate, twisting plot and layers on the astrological details that fans of psychic mysteries so enjoy."—Booklist

The Madness of Mercury
"This smartly written debut from di Marco sets the stage for a promising series."—Kirkus Reviews

"Di Marco's series starter features a clever plot and a smart and feisty heroine with feet firmly planted on the ground while she searches the stars."—Library Journal

"Danger figures in the stars for Julia, along with mixed astrological energies, some wolves in sheep's clothing and an amiable stranger with a down-under accent."—BookPage

"With The Madness of Mercury, Connie di Marco begins a fascinating new series set in the intriguing world of astrology in San Francisco. I really loved this book! The writing is clever and compelling and the protagonist is smart and gutsy. The villains are seriously sinister and the darkly intricate plot will keep you turning pages late into the night. I'm looking forward to many more in this series. Connie di Marco knows her stuff!"—Kate Carlisle, New York Times bestselling author

"Connie di Marco blends real-life tragedy, heart-rending betrayal, loyal friends, and the kindness of strangers in this fast-paced, entertaining read."—Leslie Budewitz, two-time Agatha Award-winning author of the Seattle Spice Shop Mysteries

"The stars may not align for the unlucky characters in The Madness of Mercury, but they certainly do for readers who discover this book. An astrologer with her eyes on her charts and her feet planted firmly on the ground, Julia Bonatti is an original sleuth, juggling astrological readings with a mysterious death and a Jim Jones-like cult leader. Dark wit and darker motivations unite to create a satisfying read."—Kim Fay, Edgar Award finalist for The Map of Lost Memories

"A great read is in the stars! With the Zodiac Mysteries, Connie di Marco gives us a bright and interesting heroine and a mystery with plenty of twists and turns. Lots of action and well-written suspense equal good fortune for readers."—Casey Daniels, author of Graveyard Shift

"An enjoyable read."—Reviewing the Evidence

Ratings and reviews

This is the third in a series. I hadn't read any of them previously and though some previous events are referred to, it was done in such a way that I don't believe there were any spoilers. I guess when I read the others, that'll be confirmed or not. I loved the concept of an astrologer using their skills to help solve cases by learning more about the individuals involved and what's going on in their lives based on their astrology charts. I learned just enough about astrology to know that I need to learn a lot more. Connie di Marco definitely knows her stuff and I was a little lost a few times. I did like how she used some characters and their conversations to "dumb it down" for the rest of us for lack of a better term. Real issues are addressed like moving on after the loss of a loved one, re-entering the dating scene, and I felt like there's a long-term mystery that will be dealt with throughout the series. I hope that's the case. Overall, this was an interesting, well-written book that I highly recommend. Thank you to Midnight Ink, Connie di Marco, and NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read this book and share my thoughts and opinions with others.

About the author

Connie di Marco (Los Angeles, CA) is the bestselling author of the Soup Lovers Mysteries (Penguin), which she published under the name Connie Archer. She has always been fascinated by astrology and is excited to combine her love of the stars with her love of writing mysteries. Visit her at ConniediMarco.com, on Facebook at Connie di Marco (Author), or on Twitter: @askzodia.