A Different Kind of Reunion (A Gilda Greco Mystery)
by Joanne Guidoccio
About the Book
A Different Kind of Reunion (A Gilda Greco Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Ontario, Canada
The Wild Rose Press, Inc (April 23, 2018)
Paperback: 236 pages
ISBN-10: 1509220380
ISBN-13: 978-1509220380
Digital ASIN: B07BSTTNS2
While not usually a big deal, one overlooked email would haunt teacher Gilda Greco. Had she read it, former student Sarah McHenry might still be alive.
Suspecting foul play, Constable Leo Mulligan plays on Gilda’s guilt and persuades her to participate in a séance facilitated by one of Canada’s best-known psychics. Six former students also agree to participate. At first cooperative and willing, their camaraderie is short-lived as old grudges and rivalries emerge. The séance is a bust.
Determined to solve Sarah’s murder, Gilda launches her own investigation and uncovers shocking revelations that could put several lives—including her own—in danger. Can Gilda and the psychic solve this case before the killer strikes again?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Former teacher Gilda Greco is drawn back into the past when one of her former students dies. Was it an accident or was it murder?
Constable Leo Mulligan has persuaded Gilda to return to Parry Sound and reunite with some of her former students and participate in a séance to try to get clarity about the young woman’s death. The first séance ends abruptly and they try again and again. Each time the level of true cooperation diminishes but Gilda gets to see the truth about who her grade eight students have turned out to be.
The author took me back to junior high, you know the cliques of girls and boys, the Barbie’s, the Ken’s, the popular kids, the nerds. How much everything changes though when you are adults and out in the real world. It took me a little bit of time sort out these characters and their relationships but it became clearer the deeper I got into the story. They all felt very authentic, all dealing with different issues in their lives and trying to get to the truth of how their fellow student Sarah McHenry died.
Since my son’s death, I have thought several times about contacting a physic or a medium so I found the séance that took place within the story to be quite interesting. There are always skeptics – but when you lose a loved one and you miss them so much you are willing to try anything to reconnect with them. Especially if your loved one took their own life like my son leaving so many unanswered questions. I think that is part of the reason I was so enthralled with those parts of the story. It was also because the author wrote it so well that you feel you were right in the room watching it all take place.
The reunion to solve the mystery was a unique concept. We quickly saw the constables train of thought in bringing Gilda into the group. Sarah has reached out to her teacher in an email Gilda thought was spam and hadn’t read. If Sarah thought Gilda could help her then he knew Gilda could help him solve his case. Very much a closed room mystery we knew the people around that table were his suspects. Gilda even thought he could be involved in Sarah’s death. It was very enlightening to watch Gilda take her time meeting with each of the students trying to figure out if one of the was actually a killer.
The subject matter took me personally into this story so I think I may have “a different” point of view that most cozy mystery readers who read this story. It was very well plotted and written and had strong characters. One character really pulled at my heartstrings because in some ways he reminded me of my son. So for that, this wasn’t a “fun” or “entertaining” read for me. It was a novel that made me think. Think of so many things outside of the mystery to be solved. Circumstances hit me at a different level. I am sure more deeply than the author ever intended. I did enjoy the story but in a way I never expected.
About the Author
In 2008, Joanne Guidoccio took advantage of early retirement and decided to launch a second career that would tap into her creative side and utilize her well-honed organizational skills. Slowly, a writing practice emerged. Her articles and book reviews have been published in newspapers, magazines, and online. When she tried her hand at fiction, she made reinvention a recurring theme in her novels and short stories. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Romance Writers of America, Joanne writes cozy mysteries, paranormal romance, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.
Where to find Joanne…
Website Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Pinterest Goodreads
Praise for A Different Kind of Reunion (A Gilda Greco Mystery)
by Joanne Guidoccio
Here’s a “different kind” of cozy mystery. With a lot of suspense and tension, a lot of memory strolls, and the addition of an intriguing paranormal element, this mystery stands out.
~Mallory Heart’s Cozies
This was a fun, delightful mystery and I enjoyed every minute of it.
~Moonlight Rendezvous
This had been an interesting read, while we discover Gilda’s past, we will be involved in a quite twisted mystery; lies, jealousyandsecrets…
~Varietats
Buy links:
Amazon (Canada) Amazon (United States) Kobo Indigo Barnes & Noble iTunes The Wild Rose Press
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 29 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 29 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
October 30 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
October 31 – A Holland Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 1 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 1 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT
November 2 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 2 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW
November 2 – Rosepoint Publishing – SPOTLIGHT
November 3 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST
November 3 – Varietats – REVIEW
November 4 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 5 – Island Confidential – GUEST POST
November 5 – A Chick Who Reads – SPOTLIGHT
November 6 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST
November 7 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 8 – Laura’s Interests – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
November 9 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 10 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 11 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 11 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thank you for your review on “A Different Kind of Reunion” by Joanne Guidoccio.
Can’t wait for the opportunity to read this great sounding book which is on my TBR list.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Happy reading! 🙂
Lori, I’m so sorry to hear about your son’s death. My condolences to you and your family. When I created the character who pulled at your heartstrings, I was thinking of several former students who also struggled with life. Thank you for the insightful and thought provoking review.
@HauntedReadingRoom comes up as non-existent. You might want to double check that.
This sounds really good–ty for the giveaway.
You’re very welcome, Kara 🙂
Yay! Another new author to me! So looking forward to reading this book!
Happy reading, Renee 🙂
What a fascinating mystery! Thanks for sharing.
You’re very welcome. Hope you’re having a great weekend! 🙂
Thank-you for the interview