Sandra's Book Club: Blog Tour: LUCKY SECRETS by B.T. Polcari

LUCKY SECRETS

B.T. Polcari

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GENRE: Young Adult Cozy Mystery

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BLURB:

College student Sara Donovan is in the homestretch of graduating when a mysterious package arrives with an invitation to an exclusive contest. One that will drastically change the winner’s life. Included are unsettling photographs from forgettable chapters in her life and a threatening note strongly suggesting she participate.

With no good options, Sara enters the contest and finds herself at a fabulous mansion up against eight formidable opponents, each with a dark secret and all racing to solve seven levels of riddles and puzzles.

After a contestant’s body is discovered, Sara contemplates dropping out when another package arrives, its chilling contents making clear she’s at the center of a dangerous game with deadly consequences if she quits. But what it doesn’t say is—what happens if she wins?

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Excerpt Three:

Karsh Azarian’s pretentious voice came from the end of the table. “It would appear I am now the only courageous one going it alone.” He held a glass of red wine aloft in our direction, a smug grin splashed across his stupid goateed face. “As it should be, I suppose. Fair play and what not.”

Across from me and next to Olivia Fantucci, Scooter Jablonsky’s attention bounced between Karsh, Jimmy, and I. Then he pointed with his half-full drink glass toward Frederick Volkov and Rod Toft, who were seated on our side of the table to Azarian’s right. “Hey, Freddie boy, y’all been quiet tonight. Whatsa matter, your contest off like a herd of turtles?”

Volkov fixed his hound-dog eyes on Scooter. “Quite the contrary, Burl. Tell me, have you and Spencer made it out of your rooms yet, or are you still wrasslin’ with that devilish first clue?” Volkov finished with an amused laugh and clinked glasses with Toft. “Cheers, my friend.”

Scooter was about to blow when Spencer Fernsby inserted himself in the conversation. “Frederick, throughout my career, I have seen your kind come and go. Usually to prison for insider trading and fraud, I might add.” He raised a water glass to his lips. “My goodness, it would be quite difficult to win the contest from a jail cell, don’t you think?”

Volkov jumped to his feet. Even from my vantage point, I could see the blue vein throbbing in his forehead. “Are you threatening me, Fernsby?”

Fernsby smiled warmly, a contrast to his suddenly stone-cold blue-gray eyes. “That certainly wasn’t my intention. My respectful apologies.”

Jimmy whispered in my ear, “The plot thickens.”

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Review: It all started with a strange package with a $50,000 diamond and a chance to participate in a life-changing contest. What to do?

Story is told in the unique and witty voice of Sara, a college student. Although Sara tells the story in a refreshing way, there was still some considerable lag. It was the long narrative and the long chapters that were the culprit for me. It took a while to realize that Sara was, in fact, meeting a blackmailer in this “contest.” So, like the movie, Clue, everyone in a select group of people had a secret except that there would be one winner with what would be deemed a “lucky secret.” O-kay. Rather odd and confusing.

Here is where we get too many characters thrown into the mix, which made it a little too confusing. This sounded like a promising read. I liked the voice and the premise, but the details just seemed a little too scattered and confusing. I would’ve much preferred a simpler and quicker mystery. Typically, cozy mysteries have the dead body in the first few chapters, but this one takes a long while to get to it.

The read itself was pretty good. I might’ve been able to get into it more had I read the first book in the series, but, quite honestly, it wouldn’t have been a huge help.

A fairly nice read and a decent effort.

Rating: 3 stars

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

B.T. Polcari is a graduate of Rutgers College of Rutgers University, an award-winning mystery author, and a proud father of two wonderful children. He’s a champion of rescue pups (Mauzzy is a rescue), craves watching football and basketball, and, of course, loves reading mysteries. Among his favorite authors are Richard Osman, D.P. Lyle, Frederick Forsyth, and Michael Connelly. He is also an unapologetic fantasy football addict. He lives with his wife in scenic Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Website: http://www.btpolcari.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/btpolcari

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btpolcari/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/btpolcari

Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/btpolcari

Signed Copies: www.btpolcari.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Secrets-Mauzzy-Me-Mystery/dp/1509261427/ref=sr_1_1

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/lucky-secrets/id6744645288

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lucky-secrets-b-t-polcari/1147214891

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/lucky-secrets/41569b963e658847

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