Cassie Scot

Title: Cassie Scot: Paranormal Detective (Cassie
Scot #1)

Author: Christine Amsden

Category: Paranormal Mystery

Published: May 15, 2013 by Twilight Times

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Add: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon | IndieBound | Book Depository

Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

 

Cassie Scot is a good mystery with a paranormal twist, but to be honest Cassie herself is what sold me on the book.

Setting: Eagle Rock is an interesting town full of regular folks and magical folks. The magic is not in the open but it’s kind of one of those known secrets. People suspect and respect the magical families but never actually accuse them of anything, probably because how do you accuse someone of being a sorcerer? The town lies near Table Rock Lake and underneath that lake is a node, a concentration of energies that sorcerers can tap into, which accounts for the unusually large number of practitioners in the area.

Main Character: Cassie  is the star of the story and the reason I enjoyed it. She’s real, well if the only non-magical child in a family of sorcerers can seem real. She’s struggling with gaining her independence and needing her family’s support, love, and, let’s be honest, protection in a town where magic can, and usually does, rule. She’s smart and funny and I liked her. I’d like to be her friend. She’s loyal, perhaps to a fault, and tenacious, even when the odds are against her.

Cassie has the advantage of understanding the reality of magic but also it’s limitations. She’s knows the magical families in town, their “gifts” and tendencies. Although not having any magic ability of her own leaves her a little vulnerable, she deals with it well. She even knows better than to wear a short skirt and heels when heading out to fight a vampire.

Her love interest, Ethan, is probably one of the most powerful sorcerers in town. He’s the one that drags her into the investigation. It starts with his cousin being killed, but quickly spirals when a local sorceress is found dead and changed into a vampire, something that should have been impossible. It’s dangerous when magic’s flying, vampires are stalking you, and your crush has the “kiss of death”  (not actually as bad as it sounds).

Plot: I was worried the paranormal aspects of the book would overwhelm the mystery, but it was fairly well-balanced. The story moves along quickly and there are clues but I didn’t put it all together.

Romance: Ethan and Cassie have known each other since elementary school and they work together well. He respects her and doesn’t force her to do what he wants her to, and he doesn’t expect her to stay safe at home. He knows she needs to be part of the action. I liked them as a couple, I could feel the attraction, but then the last chapter left me uneasy, uncomfortable. Hopefully my issue will be resolved in the next in the series.

Recommendation: Cassie Scot may lean a little to the YA side, but I really enjoyed it. It’s light, fun, a good summer read for me.

Cassie Scot Series

  1. Cassie Scot: Paranormal Detective
  2. Secrets and Lies (expected September 2013)

 

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Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective Virtual Book Publicity Tour Schedule

Monday, May 13 – Book reviewed at Sara’s Organized Chaos

Tuesday, May 14 – Book trailer reveal at Margay Leah Justice

Wednesday, May 15 – Book spotlight at The Busy Mom’s Daily

Thursday, May 16 – Character interview at Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews

Friday, May 17 – Book reviewed at By the Broomstick

Monday, May 20 – Interviewed at Review From Here

Tuesday, May 21 – First chapter reveal at Offbeat Vagabond

Wednesday, May 22 – Book reviewed at Offbeat Vagabond

Thursday, May 23 – Guest blogging at You Gotta Read

Monday, May 27 – Book reviewed at My Cozie Corner

Thursday, May 30 – Guest blogging at Miki’s Hope

Monday, June 3 – Guest blogging at Janna Shay

Tuesday, June 4 – Guest blogging at The Book Connection

Thursday, June 6 – Book reviewed at Miki’s Hope

Monday, June 10 – Interviewed at From the TBR Pile

Tuesday, June 11 – First chapter reveal at By the Broomstick

Wednesday, June 12 – Book reviewed at Waiting on Sunday to Drown

Thursday, June 13 – First chapter reveal at Butterfly-o-Meter Books

Friday, June 14 – Interviewed at Literal Exposure

Monday, June 17 – Book reviewed at Carol’s Notebook

Wednesday, June 19- First chapter reveal at Inside BJ’s Head

Thursday, June 20 – Book reviewed at Quilted Reviews

Friday, June 21 – First chapter reveal at Literary Winner

Monday, June 24 – Interviewed at The Writer’s Life

Tuesday, June 25 – Guest blogging at Janna Shay

Wednesday, June 26 – Book reviewed at From the TBR Pile

Thursday, June 27 – First chapter reveal at As the Pages Turn

Friday, June 28 – Interviewed at American Chronicle

Wednesday, July 3 – Book trailer reveal at Pump Up Your Book

Friday, July 5 – Book reviewed at Inside BJ’s Head

Monday, July 8 – 5 Things at Literarily Speaking

Thursday, July 11 – Book reviewed at Mary’s Cup of Tea

Friday, July 12 – Interviewed at Digital Journal

Monday, July 15 – Interviewed at Broowaha

Friday, July 19 – Book featured at By the Broomstick

Monday, July 22 – Book featured at Book Marketing Buzz

Tuesday, July 23 – Interviewed at Examiner

Wednesday, July 24 – Book reviewed at Naturally Kim B

Thursday, July 25 – Book reviewed at Review From Here

Friday, July 26 – Interviewed at Pump Up Your Book

6 Comments

  • Sounds like a good read though perhaps one for the slighter younger YA audience. I also like the cover with its average looking character instead of the one wearing very little and bearing weapons.

    • Thanks so much for hosting and for the lovely review!

      FTR, here are my feelings on classification: This is borderline YA but definitely adult, especially as the series goes on. It has that light feel but Cassie, at 21, is a functioning adult so it doesn’t really fit into the YA range. I certainly wouldn’t recommend it for anyone younger then high school due to some mild sexual content. I think the first chapters have a YA feel, partly because I referenced Harry Potter and partly because I reference Cassie’s high school days. But she lives in a small town with the same friends she’s had since high school so that’s why it comes up. It’s not like she’s still in high school…been out for a few years.

      I’ve been calling this new adult because I think it might be in that gray area in between. Of course, I hope it appeals to a lot of people.

      And again, thanks so much for your review. The amazing feedback on this book has been nothing short of overwhelming. I’m humbled. I only hope the rest of the series lives up to the expectations I’ve set. 🙂

      • Thanks for stopping by. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

        “New adult” is too confusing for me, it doesn’t really mean anything yet. At lest this first one, while I did categorize it as a paranormal mystery, not YA, it does still lean that way. Her struggles, finding her place, does he like me or doesn’t he, feels kind of teenage to me, even if she’s 21. And I actually would consider 21 still young adult.

  • TBM

    It’s supposed to be sunny in London this weekend and this sounds like a good read whist sitting outside enjoying the warmth.

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