Thanks to #netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Another great story with Xana coming to the rescue!

What a fantastic read!
Xana and her hunka hunka burnin' love Thorne are back! This time, Thorne goes chasing a murder while Xana spends time on the home front - a family emergency takes most of her time. But, things change in the latter half of the story and the investigative duo go in search of the perp.
This is surely a new favourite of mine in this series. I really liked the way things end for Xana and Nora. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Cannot wait to see what's next for Xana and Thorne.

4th in Tarot Mysteries Series
Xana (pronounced X-anna) Bird, a comfortably wealthy San Franciscan who reads Tarot to help others, not for money. She and her enigmatic tenant/lover are in a loving relationship and when he accepts a job as a bodyguard for a woman, Mona Raglan, who has aged past her sexual infamous prime and is now plagued by murder attempts. While the mystery itself is not complex, the characters and situations are expertly depicted which makes for a thoroughly enjoyable, and quick, read.

We meet our leading lady Xana Bird who is so used to the presence of her 'Tenant' Thorne that she mildly resents his new job that is termed as indefinite. She is at a loss and does not know what to do with her time, and then she gets dragged into two separate issues. One is personal, with her sister making a sudden stop. The second has her reading cards for someone really hostile. Mona, the client, leaves no stone unturned to upset Xana but then changes her tune suddenly. The character of Mona is drawn in so many shades that it was hard for me to keep track of the emotions I was supposed to feel for her. 

As with the first three, there are some interesting dialogues and some side commentary that makes the reading all the more impressive. This instalment had so many points of view that it should have confused me, but for the most part, their voices sounded distinct enough for me to keep them apart.

The ending was not much of a surprise due to the previously mentioned numerous voices. Despite that fact, it was interesting to spend time with Xana again.
Each book has enough iterations of the main framework of the narrative to be read as a stand-alone, but reading them in order will ensure appropriate emotions will make their presence felt faster. 

I received the ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my reading experience of the entire series.

I read all the books in this author's series and really loved all of them. The author got better with each successive offering.

Another slant on a tarot reading. The woman who is seen to be represented by the Empress is more represented by the negative - reversed - Empress. The reading of the cards always wants me to drag out a long buried pack and read them for myself, but I don't as they're not my readings.

Excellent story once again.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

If you're looking for a solid cozy mystery series to cuddle up with, then you can't go wrong with the Tarot Mysteries. I'm sure each quick, easy read would make a good book even for those who know nothing about the tarot. My wife, who is a tarot card reader, greatly enjoyed this entire series.

They just keep getting better!

I am beyond excited that I stumbled upon this series through NetGalley! The stories are, without exception, engaging and original and fun to read. They are not overly violent or graphic or sexualized, focusing instead on character development and interesting and unusual plot lines. As a result they are great before-bed reads - quick, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable.

This time out, I really enjoyed seeing Mater fleshed out. In the earlier books she comes across as a great foil but a bit of a caricature. In this book, she becomes a fully-developed character, and while I entirely expect she'll continue to WASP-torture Xana in future installments, it was fascinating to get a peek behind her curtain...

Looking forward to the next book, which I'm starting post haste!

The series is very good. This review is for the series and I'll be posting the same review for each individual book -- each one is quite good. The main character Xana is pretty entertaining, and she and the other characters are appropriately quirky. Sometimes the plots are a bit predictable, and a bit unrealistic, and I'm not into Tarot Cards, but still enjoyed these. The author does a good job bringing the characters to life and obviously has talent. She knows how to build tension and characters, and writes pretty good dialog and humor.

The first book is good and the series gets better as the series progresses. These are not "literature" but they're good cozies if that is what you're seeking.

I really appreciate the review copies from NetGalley!!

The Empress Card is the 4th book in the Tarot Mysteries by Bevan Atkinson. Originally released in 2015, this reformat is 183 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.

The plot gallops along, it's a short and satisfying read, and the technical aspects of the writing are seamless and enjoyable. This is an author who can really write. The secondary characters are well and sensitively drawn. The language is G-rated, there's no on page sexual content (though there is implied off-scene consensual sex between Xana and Thorne), and it's an enjoyable and humorous ride from start to finish. Just a solidly entertaining read.

The sense of place is palpable and the author has a gift for descriptive prose. There are some (few) potentially unrealistic aspects of the book and especially the denouement. I don't think the official police presence would've accepted Thorne disappearing without a trace or not have tried to track him down relentlessly. The stories are so entertaining though, that I'm perfectly willing to suspend my disbelief and just enjoy the ride. I also love it that Xana is preternaturally perceptive and intuitive . I find her a thoroughly appealing character.

The plot here is relatively straightforward and linear. I found it well written and full of tension. Even Xana's mother's friends are starting to grow on me. The denouement in this installment was a little bit over the top, but I can see how it was necessary for the satisfying and complete resolution of the main plot arc.

Possibly worth noting for Kindle Unlimited subscribers, the first book in this highly entertaining series (The Fool Card) is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. It's always fun to find a new to me author and series to read. I would definitely recommend this one to fans of modern American mysteries. I'm looking forward to binge reading the rest of the series.

Four stars.

I'm more than happy I requested this ARC because this is an excellent series, gripping and entertaining.
I liked the well written cast of characters, the well crafted plot and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

What a fantastic read! This is book four in the series and it reads just as exciting and fun as the three prior. I love seeing the characters develop and grow and I'm thrilled that's Xana and Thorne have developed a solid relationship. The new edition of Xana's sister is a great addition to the series. It will make for good storylines in the future. Again, the Tarot is explained thoroughly and knowledgeably. You can tell that the author knows her Tarot. I enjoyed this book very much and was sad when it ended. It was a quick read for me. I've already downloaded the next one in the series and can't wait to read it. I totally recommend for lovers of mysteries.

I would like to thank the author/ publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for fair and honest review.