Madam Tulip by David Ahern

Well...with the holidays upon us, I have not been able to read as much as I would have liked.
I most recently read Madam Tulip. This was recommended to me by my really long distance, internet friend, Virginia King, who writes the Selkie Moon series.



"Suspense, mystery, action, a little romance and lots of laughs.

Derry O’Donnell, an out-of-work American actress living in Ireland, is young, talented, a teeny bit psychic … and broke. Spurred on by an ultimatum from her awesomely high-achieving mother, and with a little help from her theatrical friends, Derry embarks on a part-time career as Madame Tulip, fortune-teller to the rich and famous. But at her first fortune-telling gig - a celebrity charity weekend in a castle - a famous rap artist will die.

As Derry is drawn deeper into a seedy world of celebrities, supermodels and millionaires, she finds herself playing the most dangerous role of her acting life. Trapped in a maze of intrigue, money and drugs, Derry's attempts at amateur detective could soon destroy her friends, her ex-lover, her father and herself.

Madame Tulip is the first in a series of Tulip adventures in which Derry O’Donnell, celebrity fortune-teller and reluctant detective, plays the most exciting and perilous roles of her acting life, drinks borage tea, and fails to understand her parents."

I really liked this first book of this new (to me) cozy series.

Derry's funds from her mother are about to be cut off and her career as an actress isn't really taking off. What is the daughter of a seventh son of a seventh son (as the legend goes) to do? With her gift of second sight, be a fortune teller for money of course. With a quirky costume put together by Derry and her friend, Bella, Madam Tulip is for hire for all your party needs. Sounds fun right? Derry gets more than she bargained for when a murder takes place at her first big event, and her friend is arrested for it. Derry is smack in the middle of murder, drugs and seedy characters. The book starts out fun and light, and turns to quite the thriller. Fast paced. A hint of romance. A lead into the second book in the series. What will Derry get into next with her career as MadamTulip? Probably more trouble.

About the author:

David Ahern grew up in a theatrical family in Ireland but ran away to Scotland to become a research psychologist and sensible person. He earned his doctorate but soon absconded to work in television. He became a writer, director and producer, creating international documentary series and winning numerous awards, none of which got him free into nightclubs.

Madame Tulip wasn’t David Ahern's first novel, but writing it was the most fun he’d ever had with a computer. The second in the Madam Tulip mystery series, Madam Tulip and the Knave of Hearts, was published in autumn 2016. He is now writing the third Madam Tulip adventure and enjoys pretending this is actual work.

David Ahern lives in the beautiful West of Ireland with his wife, two cats and a vegetable garden of which he is inordinately proud.

You can learn more about David Ahern and Madam Tulip on his website www.davidahern.info