Dating Can Be Deadly (Red Dress Ink Novels) [Paperback]

Wendy Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Series: Red Dress Ink Novels | Publication Date: February 1, 2005

Single Clairvoyant Seeks Partner in Crime
Some gifts are easy to return-like the parrot earrings from Aunt Ruth-but when your gift is clairvoyance, Tabitha Emery finds there is a definite No Refund Policy. Now she's having visions of black magic rituals and dismembered bodies, and she's not sure what to do. She didn't ask for this talent and certainly doesn't want it, but it clings to her like a thong and is just as uncomfortable.

Tabitha's goals are simple ones: A) to rise above law office receptionist B) to spend Friday nights uncovering the mysteries of butterscotch schnapps with her comrades, and C) to procure more than a passing glance from Clay Sanderson (Greek-god-type lawyer).

But her second sight has turned her life upside down-and now she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation where the only clues are in her persistent premonitions-making her not only the key to solving the mystery but perhaps a suspect, as well. (On the plus side: she could use some legal advice, so now she and Clay have something to talk about.)

And somewhere in the middle of all this is the real culprit, the mystery man, who wants this clairvoyant dead. . .

A charmingly clever chick-lit novel for whodunit fans everywhere!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Tabitha Emery, the psychically talented star of Canadian author Roberts's chick-friendly debut mystery, works as a receptionist at a prestigious Seattle law firm, where she hopes for a better position - and some attention from hunky lawyer Clay Sanderson. A purse-snatching (hers) and a broken-down car (also hers) put her in a bind, though she can turn to friends Jenny, Lara and Cathy for both drinking companionship and support. When her psychic abilities lead to the discovery of a murder site, the result is suspicion on the part of the police, solicitous attention from Sanderson and suspension (automatic) from the law firm. She also receives, with ambivalence, attentions from the darkly handsome owner of the Scrying Room, a metaphysical retail establishment. Despite her dithering doubts about her own attractiveness, intelligence and decision making, Tabitha emerges as a likable damsel in distress with a promising series future.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Tabitha Emery's clairvoyant powers can't save her from having her purse snatched, but they do help her uncover a crime scene across from the movie theater where she has just taken a second job. The police are quite suspicious about how Tabitha just happened upon a dumpster with an inverted pentagram spray-painted on it and a significant amount of blood inside it. Clay Sanderson, a sexy lawyer at the firm where Tabitha works, advises her to stay away from the case. Instead, she visits a local "magick" store, the Scrying Room, where she meets the handsome proprietor, Lucien Roskell. Lucien gives her a special mirror and encourages her to channel her psychic abilities. She does, but what she learns causes the police to become more skeptical about her knowledge and attracts the killer's attention. Roberts' first novel blends chick lit--Tabitha frequently shares her guy troubles with friends over drinks at a local bar--with paranormal romance and mystery in a seamless, entertaining story. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Red Dress Ink (February 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373895127
• ISBN-13: 978-0373895120
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,387,364 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

An armchair sleuth, fan of all things mysterious but a huge chicken at heart, Wendy Roberts' mind is often in a secretive, cloak and dagger world of intrigue.

Wendy resides in the Pacific Northwest where she is hard at work on her next novel. You can visit her on the web at www.wendyroberts.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Paranormal chick-lit, chock full of suspense, May 31, 2005

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dating Can Be Deadly (Red Dress Ink Novels) (Paperback)

Tabitha is a clairvoyant receptionist at a Seattle law firm. Just a simple touch or feeling can invoke premonitions. When her purse is snatched, and she pursues the 50 year old smoker who outruns her, she gets that feeling, and comes across a mutilated cat in a pentagram. A few nights later, while leaving the theater (her second job), she gets that same feeling, and finds a dumpster with the same pentagram. Her friend calls 911, the cops come and determine that it is human blood.

When she is visited by a detective, Clay Sanderson, the lawyer she has a crush on is there to provide counsel. The cynical detective thinks that Tabitha may be involved, especially since he thinks psychics are phony (and there is no body). Clay gets frustrated with Tabitha, because she keeps talking to the cops without him to provide counsel, and investigates the crime, despite his requests no to.

She soon hooks up with Lucien Roskell, the owner of a paranormal shop who wants to help her with her "gift." He sends her a gift of a scrying mirror, which is supposed to help her with her psychic visions. He also is attracted to Tabitha, much to her gay friend Jeff's delight. When it appears that she is now a target of violence, both men in her life become concerned, and she is forced to move in with a friend temporarily.

"Dating Can Be Deadly" is cleverly written, and is suspenseful - you never really know who the bad guy is until the end. Roberts also does a good job presenting two totally opposite but wonderful men that have feelings for Tabitha. Who she ultimately chooses is also a mystery until the end.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Light, fluffy, SPOOKY chick lit, January 30, 2005

By 

PamelaC "Pam" (Plymouth, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dating Can Be Deadly (Red Dress Ink Novels) (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book, and read it in one sitting. It kept me up late, and kept me from falling asleep easily. The storyline with clairvoyance and satanism is a little creepy, but the author manages to find a happy balance between the fluffy chick lit issues of what to wear and the fear of a local murderer who worships Satan, and haunts her dreams. Add two hot men, one blonde and an attorney, and the other, wickedly hot, and dark, and with the name Lucien, perfectly suited to run an occult shop. But what else does he dabble in? The author has written a lively, fast-paced fun story. My only quibble, that keeps me from giving 5 stars, is that I didn't get into it right away, because of the somewhat young tone. But, overall, this one is a winner.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting mystery-slash-paranormal chick-lit..., March 24, 2005

By 

CoffeeGurl - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dating Can Be Deadly (Red Dress Ink Novels) (Paperback)

I used to be a big fan of Red Dress Ink books before I realized that all of the stories were too similar and felt like I was experiencing a literary deja vu. But when I read the back cover blurb of Wendy Roberts's Dating Can Be Deadly I knew I had to give it a whirl. The idea of an RDI paranormal whodunit fascinated me. Tabitha Emery is the typical twenty-something chick with job problems, dating woes and a circle of friends she can rant and rave with during drinking excursions. So far this all sounds like a typical chick-lit novel, but Tabitha has a rather unique gift: she is a clairvoyant. She is able to perceive things and events unlike any other human can. She has never liked having a second sight that can often see unpleasant things, and things only get worse when she becomes a suspect of an investigation centered on the murder of a woman who appears to have been killed during a satanic ritual sacrifice. She is able to gather clues by way of nightmares and visions -- and the only way to make things better is either using a scrying mirror or getting involved in various forms of magic. There are various twists throughout the novel.

The paranormal aspect of the novel drew me in as much as the whodunit part did. This novel is a great departure from the same old single-girl-with-job-and-dating-troubles-meets-with-friends-in-the-city books. Not only was the mystery part of it fun to follow, but I also had a great time trying to guess which hunkster would end up with Tabitha -- gorgeous lawyer Clay or darkly sexy Lucien, a magic practitioner and owner of the Scrying Room. The author kept me guessing on both accounts. The subject matter of this book may seem dark and creepy, but it is also quite clever and, like I said before, a great departure from traditional chick-lit. The characters are great. I loved Tabitha's friends and thought both Clay and Lucien sounded delicious. The heroine got on my nerves every now and then because she comes across as whiny and petty at times. All in all, Dating Can Be Deadly is a great, unique chick-lit novel with a clever mix of mystery, romance and paranormal and you should give it a whirl. I hope Red Dress Ink continues to release oddballs like this one.