This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S FLIGHT RISK ABOUT?
Grady and his daughter lose their dog while visiting Mt. Rainer—but never fear, they find him—much to their relief. They're not at all relieved by the fact that when he's found, he's carrying a human leg in his mouth. While it's a different jurisdiction, it's soon determined that the (probably dead) man missing a leg is/was a Seattle resident, so Grady handles that end of the investigation.

At the same time, Leda is approached by a man to find his sister. This is a major step up for Leda's psychic consulting—since the news coverage stemming from the events in Grave Reservations, she's been hired to find a few missing things (mostly successfully), but a person that's been gone for a month is a significant case. She takes it on with some hesitation, and several caveats toward the brother that she might not find anything, and he might not like what she is able to find.

Naturally, there's a connection between both missing persons, and Grady and Leda team up again.

Leda's having a hard time making headway, at first, with her case, and calls in the woman who'd offered to mentor her for some help. Almost immediately the medium demonstrates that this was a wise choice and that she's the real deal. As she works with Leda, providing a nudge or two, she hints that Leda may discover other abilities as she grows as a psychic—which will be interesting to watch, for sure.

DET. GRADY MERRITT
Flight Risk features a lot more of Grady on his own (still plenty of Grady with Leda and Grady with everyone else, don't worry) doing police work. It's good to see him plugging away at things and interacting with his partner (who I hope we get more time with in the future—Sam and Niki would be a fun team-up).

He doesn't strike me as a super-cop like Bosch or Ballard—but he's the kind you hope our police departments are full of—decent guys who are dedicated to their jobs, driven by curiosity and a sense of duty. He just happens to be pretty lucky and he now has a psychic friend who can lend a hand. I enjoy reading about this kind of police detective*, it gives me hope.

* I'm still devouring books about Bosch, Ballard, Washington Poe, and other super-cops, don't get me wrong.

NIKI
Leda's best friend Niki is, of course, back. In Grave Reservations, Niki essentially pushed Leda to take risks, to persevere in the investigation, and so on. Then, when she accompanied Leda and Grady when they were investigating, she could be relied upon to go a little further than Leda, and would carry the comedic weight in her scenes.

Here in Flight Risk, she has the same roles. But Leda's more confident now and doesn't need her friend egging her on quite as much either on-stage or in her office. She is still a little more "out there" when she rides along with Grady and her friend, but I think she's more restrained there, too.

I might be a little off here, and if I revisit this next year, I'll wonder what I was thinking here. But right now, Niki seems to be the weak link in this book, not bringing quite enough to the plot or to the comedy. A toned-down Niki is more grounded, more realistic—absolutely. But if she's not being Lula to Leda's Stephanie Plum, I'm not sure what purpose she's serving. I should stress, I don't think Priest shouldn't have her around, nor do I want her to be as goofy as Lula (the world doesn't need another one)—but we just need her to be a little less restrained.

THE LAW OF INTERCONNECTED MONKEY BUSINESS
So, anyone who's read a mystery novel before will be pretty sure that there's a tie between Grady's and Leda's cases are going to be connected. Obviously, if you read the above section or the description on the back of the book or on the online store of your choice, you'll know that, too.

That's not what I want to talk about—it's the way that Priest combined these two cases and got Leda and Grady to work together again. I honestly expected that this series would be Grady bringing cases to Leda, either on his own or because he's instructed to, when the SPD comes up against a tough case. But that's clearly not going to be the case.

There's going to be flexibility—even possibly some times when Grady comes into things pretty late in the game (I can't see leaving the police out of a book entirely). The fact that Priest stayed away from the structure of the first book already is an encouraging sign and shows that this isn't going to be a cookie-cutter kind of series, but that she's going to bring something new each time.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT FLIGHT RISK?
I have to say this one was a tough one to write about—I almost felt like I could copy and paste what I said about Grave Reservations here. If you liked that novel, you'll dig this one—having introduced the characters and world, Priest (and the readers) can focus more on the mysteries, and the book is better for it.

The mysteries were well-designed and executed, with the psychic clues/impressions/whatever along the way pointing Grady and Leda in the right direction, but not giving them so much that they don't have to work out things for themselves (with one notable exception). This is the way to do a Psychic Detective novel. The red herrings and false trails were particularly well-done and I enjoyed seeing our protagonists dealing with them.

We got a better sense of all the supporting characters, as one would expect/hope, and I enjoyed them all. This is really a pleasant little universe that Priest has given us and I hope we get to hang out with these characters for a good while to come.

Flight Risk would be a good introductory novel for this series as well as a pleasant continuation for those who read Grave Reservations—it's light(ish) fun with a dash of the supernatural to enliven the mystery, the combination of police and amateur detectives working together is a tried and true way to make things entertaining—and Priest uses it well. This novel hit the spot for this reader, and I look forward to another case or two soon. I definitely recommend this one to you.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post that reflects my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.

“𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎, 𝙻𝚎𝚍𝚊, 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚎𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚞𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚛𝚜.”

Fact: When you want humor mixed into your mystery you reach for a Cherie Priest novel.

People don’t know that Paul Reddnick, a professor known for his philandering has gone missing until his leg is retrieved at a national park by a dog which happens to belong to Det. Grady. Coincidentally, Leda’s been approached by someone to look into the disappearance of Robin Reddnick, the wife. Grady and Leda are initially unaware of any connection, but soon they team up once again to solve this two-for-one mystery.

My favorite thing about this series is that Grady doesn’t look down on Leda’s psychic ability. Leda’s ability manifests in odd ways so working with her requires some patience and also a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants attitude. I absolutely love their dynamic! It’s respectful and balanced. Then there’s Niki, Leda’s best friend who joins in on some of the adventures even though she’s opposed to cardio. And when they need sustenance, they go to Castaways, the bar where Leda is billed as the “Psychic Psongstress” to the patrons, to enjoy, at their own risk, experimental cocktails served up by the bartender.

I enjoyed the mystery here with more suspects, intriguing scenarios, even some unintentional physical comedy. A rescue dog that literally eats anything. Funny lines served lightning fast and with deadpan delivery; I could picture it all play out so vividly.

If you’re a mystery fan and want to something slightly more whimsical, I couldn’t recommend this enough!

My thanks to @netgalley & @atriabooks for my ARC. This is my honest review. 𝙁𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙠 is out 11/1.

I’m really loving this series. It’s got some cozy mystery vibes, but feels less cozy and more like a hilarious romp of a mystery. The main character, Leda, is such a blast, and I love her weird psychic psongstress/travel agent/murder consultant situation, how much time she and her best friend Niki spend at their favorite bar, and their relationship with Grady, the police detective who clearly needed them to spice up his life. The Seattle setting is super fun, too. It’s one of those settings that really gives a vibe to the book and becomes its own character. There are some great side characters we’re getting to know more in this installment, and we get not one but TWO mysteries to solve. So satisfying!

Leda Foley is a travel agent and a psychic. She's getting more business and helping more people. A man asks Leda to help find his sister who went missing a month ago.

Grady the detective for the Seattle PD was hiking at Mount Rainier when his dog went missing. His daughter Molly is distraught and they spend lots of time searching for Cairo. They eventually find Cairo with a man's leg in his mouth. Coincidentally their cases are for a married couple and they need to work together to find out what happened.

This was a fantastic mystery full of psychic predictions and good old crime solving. I'm loving this series and excited to see what happens next.

Flight Risk by Cherie Priest is a fun and preposterous unrealistic murder mystery involving a psychic travel agent, a police detective and a mischievous limb finding dog.

This charmingly sarcastic novel will appeal to a large variety of readers.

This book had just the right mix of light hearted and yucky corpse detail. You got into the characters and.into the story. I was drawn in and wanted to figure it out and stay on until the end for the results. The plat had enough suspects twists and turns that it kept me interested. It wasn't too easy . Where they find some things was unexpected and imaginative. The author made us work for it while enjoying ourselves. This book is the second in a series but it would be enjoyable even if you haven't read book one. A good effort . well done

I enjoyed the second installment in this cozy-ish mystery series as much as the first! I love the “found family” here, and that there’s not too much romantic tension between the male and female leads. I predict the series is going in that direction (will they/won’t they Moonlighting style) but I appreciate that the author isn’t laying it on too thick in these early installments. The mystery here was interesting and the outcome felt plausible. The somewhat dry humorous tone in this series is great, and I love the Seattle setting!

A riveting read, surprisingly. I think it is part of a series, but I liked it and did not feel lost in the story

The clairvoyant super sleuth is back for The Booking Agent series in Flight Risk. This mystery is just intriguing enough to keep me reading and filled with so many likable characters. While a bit less mysterious than the previous book, Flight Risk had a funny dog and downright hilarious shenanigans especially the running sequences. Her and the detective I feel need some romance, its there lingering on the outskirts I feel why can't she see it.

Overall, this book is a fun, cozy mystery series I enjoy. Thank you Atria Books for the complimentary copy.

3.5 stars!

The series has some very Dial A for aunties vibes with the mystery and funny antics!

I really enjoy the MCs, Grady and Leda. They're funny together and apart. I enjoyed the two mysteries involved and how they were connected. This was quick read but some parts felt like they dragged on IMO. Definitely recommend reading this one if you've read the first though!

Thanks to NetGalley & Atria Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I think this was a super fun and fast read . I literally couldn’t put my kindle down. This picks up where Grave Reservations left off . I definitely recommend a really fun time

Leda Foley is back and using her psychic skills to help find a mom who has been missing for over a month. Detective Grady Merritt is back trying to help solve the murder of a local professor. It seems the two cases may or may not be connected and the duo must work together to solve the mystery.

This was another fun cozy mystery that was funny and entertaining. This team always makes me have a good time when I'm reading. I love that these books are definitely made for tv. I adore these characters. Their banter, wit and friendship. The storyline kept me guessing until the very end. I can't wait for more books from this series.

Cherie Priest is back with a new installment of the cozy mystery series featuring a psychic travel agent and a police detective. A woman goes missing and the family asks Leda's help in finding her whereabouts. The missing woman's husband, a college professor also disappears. Grady's dog discovers random body parts and they set off to search for the rest of the body. Good dog. Everyone at the Klairvoyant Karaoke bar provides moral support. I loved the groups antics as they chase down suspects. There is a surprise birthday party for the grumpy police detective. It ends with a smile. I look forward to more adventures of Grady and Leda and friends.


4 1/2 Stars

ARC review copy via NetGalley

This is the second book in a fun and warm hearted cozy mystery series set in Seattle. You don’t really have to have read the first book in the series to enjoy this one, but it wouldn’t hurt. The first book sets up the relationships between all of the main characters as well as some of the recurring minor ones.

Leda and Grady are back and solving the latest murder with straight forward detective work and a little bit of woo woo psychic insight. These two make such a good team. Grady is a little gruff and a straight by the book detective, but he isn’t afraid to use a little bit of psychic insight when he gets stuck. This new murder has him seeking Leda’s help, especially when they discover that their two cases are overlapping. I love Leda’s style and enthusiasm towards life in general. She really wants to help people with her abilities but she doesn’t have any patience for people who take advantage of her ability or kind heartedness. What I really like about the series is their growing friendship. They don’t know each other well yet, but you can tell that they care about each other’s well being.

The story was great and I really liked how the two cases overlapped. It really had me guessing as to what really happened to the these people, for awhile, but I was able to figure it out way ahead of Leda and Grady. Especially Mr. Leg’s murder and where the rest of his body was found. But I was enjoying the characters and their journey so much that I really didn’t care. It was also a pretty fast read, especially as the pacing was steady and the reveals of the clues were well done. There were a few red herrings but they were easily dismissed.

If you like cozy mysteries this is a series you want to set your sights on. You will love the characters and the mysteries are interesting and a lot of fun. You just can’t go wrong with a book that has Klairvoyant Karaoke! That is something I really would love to see.

In this sequel to Grave Reservations, homicide detective Grady Merritt and psychic Leda Foley return to their partnership to solve two mysteries. An odd couple with a developing friendship, solid Grady and quirky Leda bounce off each other charmingly as they pursue clues. Additional quirky supporting characters add to the mix. Light and breezy in tone despite the subject matter, this is a quick and easy read that offers a fun alternative to heavier detective fare.

It’s been a while since I’ve read this author, but since I loved the book I read, I requested this one even though I didn’t read the first one. I found this to be so much fun! Leda is such a fun, interesting, quirky character who doesn’t take her “woo-woo” stuff too seriously or rely on it too much. I admit that “woo-woo” stuff is the element that made me request this book, but the great writing, interesting characters, and a fun, great time will keep me coming back for more. I adored all the side characters and getting to know everyone in this universe while solving a murder. This is a great cozy-like mystery that is not possible in real life, but it’s worth a read because it’s so much fun. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Leda’s latest client to employ her psychic skills is looking for his sister who disappeared a few weeks ago, and whose husband didn’t even bother reporting her missing. Officer Grady gets tied up in a separate case when his dog, lost for a couple days in the trails around Mount Rainier, is found with a human leg in his mouth. After doing a DNA test, Grady learns that the leg belongs to none other than the cheating husband to the subject of Leda's case. Working together and relying on Leda’s psychic powers, they have a better chance of discovering the truth, but things aren’t looking too good. There’s too many people who want the owner of the leg dead, and not a good explanation for the wife’s disappearance . Too many questions and not enough psychic secrets coming through.

The sequel to //Grave Reservations// proves to be easily as good as the first. The building relationships provide the backbone to the story, relying on good old conversation and camaraderie rather than attraction and sex, a refreshing take on a mystery. Witty dialogue and unexpected developments create a thoroughly enjoyable page turner, perfect for readers who enjoyed Finlay Donovan and Stephanie Plum.

I might be biased because I loved the first book in this series, but the first chapter in this one was killer! Funny and dark, and absolutely the perfect setup to immediately draw me in! The whole book is hilarious, the type of banter I wish I could write myself if I’m being honest! Leda and Grady are great. I can’t wait to read more of them! Such a great and entertaining story! I’m definitely a fan!


Huge thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

This series is 100% ridiculous in the right way. This series should be picked up when you need something happy, light, fluffy, fun and escapist!

Things in this book would never happen in real life, and thats ok! Escape into a cozy mystery and enjoy it!

Psychic travel agent Leda Foley has taken a new case. She has been hired to find Robin Reddick who disappeared with a sack of her employer's cash and driving a vintage orange car. Her husband didn't report her missing but her brother and her son are sure that something bad happened. Leda uses psychometry to try to find her but gets only inconclusive results.

Meanwhile, Seattle PD detective Grady Merritt and his daughter are looking for their lost dog who ran off while they were hiking at Mt. Ranier. It is on their third trip back to Mt. Ranier that their dog Cairo appears. He happens to have a man's leg in his mouth. However, Cairo is basically untrained and not at all able to lead Grady and the Rangers to the rest of the body.

DNA testing indicates that the leg belongs to Paul Reddick who is the missing Robin's philandering husband. Paul is a professor at a local college who has an affair with a new student each school year.

I liked the way Grady and Leda work together to solve both of their cases. There are so many good things about this book. Leda doing Klairvoyant Karaoke at a local bar. Grady accepting that at least sometimes Leda's psychic abilities can be used to solve crimes. I liked Leda's circle of friends and even her pet beta fish.

This was fun and entertaining. I hope there are more stories coming in this series.