Patricia Fisher is trying to settle into village life, but the dead won’t let her be. She’s a P.I. and used to investigating murder, but her latest case is just … well, it’s spooky.
What started as a missing person case goes south fast when a body is found in the woods marked with pagan symbols. It’s her client’s son-in-law, but the daughter is still out there and a chance encounter with another … with another investigator, none other than famed paranormal investigator Tempest Michaels, sets Patricia on a path of paranormal discovery and starts a race against time to save the missing woman.
The pagan symbols point to a hidden cult and the dread suspicion that they plan to sacrifice her client’s daughter at midnight on Orion’s solstice.
And that’s tomorrow night!
While the police chase false clues, Patricia’s super team follow the breadcrumbs, but they soon discover this case is far bigger than they thought. As they glimpse the truth, and her friends start to go missing, Patricia realises she had come too far to stop now …
This humorous cozy mystery contains no cussing and no graphic descriptions of violence or sex.
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Love the mix of characters!
A great story which also adds characters from another series as they join together to figure out what’s going on when a man is found murdered and his wife is missing. I just love the author’s imagination and how swiftly and smoothly his mind works to create the most interesting stories. Such an intricate weave, and yet, he does it with ease! Don’t miss out on a great adventure!
Patricia Fisher manages to foil the plans of a group of pagans with diabolical plans for their rise to power and wealth!
Knowing Patricia was hired to investigate the disappearance of a young married couple, her friend Detective Mike Atwell calls when a body is found in a copse just off the beach. A young man is seated in a chair made from broken tree branches, his naked body covered with pagan symbols and dead from a stab wound to the heart. Not far away, Patricia notices a tall man and realizes she’s met him before — he’s Tempest Michaels, owner of the Blue Moon Investigation Agency. She rents his former office space across the street and they previously bonded over owning dachshunds.
Now, approaching the crime scene, he admits an interest in the case — a year earlier, he was hired to find two missing women, but their bodies turned up in similar condition. He hasn’t been able to forget them, and the two decide to work together, although Patricia’s new client will take precedence.
It’s clear to Mike, as well as forensic experts Steven and Simon, that the victim was ritualistically murdered. With help from bookshop owner Frank, Tempest and Patricia are soon scoping out an abandoned industrial plant, where an occult group prepares to sacrifice a young woman — halted, of course, by the timely arrival of what appears to be a floodlight-equipped police helicopter with a bellowing Mike on the horn, followed by Patricia driving a participant’s pricey BMV into an empty drainage pool. However, the police threat is just a ruse to intimidate the cultists, comprised of a crew headed by the ever-resourceful Jermaine, and the cult members vanish into the night before the arrival of DI Quinn and the newly-installed Chief Constable for Kent, Albert Brady. The latter is so infuriated by the botched raid that he upbraids Quinn and fires Mike on the spot. Stunned, Mike retreats with Patricia and Jermaine to her palatial manor along with Tempest, Big Ben (summoned to the plant by his old army buddy), and Jermaine’s boyfriend Marcus, the helicopter pilot. With Barbie in the mix, they devise a plan.
Patricia hadn’t planned on dazzling anyone during the rescue, but the newly elected Lord Mayor of Kent, David Sebastian, accompanied Brady to the plant and is thoroughly smitten by his new constituent. Although a bit flattered by his attention, she finds his unnecessary presence suspicious, which prompts Tempest. Calling upon Jane Butterworth’s invaluable hacking skills, he manages to snag the gang invitations to the exclusive birthday party of porn magnate Ivor Biggun, where Sebastian will be an honored guest, and they chase down the Lord Mayor, only to find far more dangerous activity on the menu.
After Mike is ambushed at the Kings Hill bypass while following an influential cultist, Jermaine and Patricia track the entire group to an ancient historical site. What they find stuns behind belief, quashing their theories and revealing a very personal group of hostages, as well as the identity of the murderous High Priest.
Steve Higgs has crafted a paranormal mystery combining the indomitable forces of two of his favorite characters and created an new and outstanding story that will doubtlessly lead to many more.
I suppose I am used to Patricia and her team solving puzzles on their own. Adding the Blue Moon team took something away from that for me. But this is only my personal opinion of what suits me. I’m sure other fans will welcome the combination of talents these two teams bring and be looking for the next book in the series. It was still a great story and thoroughly enjoyable book. You do write a ripping yarn Mr. Higgs 🙂
Solstice Goat is the second book in the Patricia Fisher Mystery Adventures and the first book in the Patricia Fisher Blue Moon Mysteries.
That’s right!!! steve higgs has brought P.I. (private investigator) Patricia Fisher together with P.I. (paranormal investigator) Tempest Michaels of Blue Moon Investigations. This is truly a winning combination!
I loved this book and found that the characters complement each other perfectly and work well together with their teams to solve this mystery. This book kept me completely entertained from start to finish with quirky characters, humour, action, pagan rituals, danger, and intrigue.
I cannot wait for the next book in this fabulous series!
I read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book with no obligation.
It doesn’t get any better than to blend Patricia Fisher and Tempest Michaels working together to solve a case. Patricia has solved many crimes with the help of her friends. Tempest has also solved his cases with the help of his friends. Put the two together and the fireworks explode.
Steve Higgs has taken his stories up a notch by matching these to sleuths together. His characters are fully fleshed and are consistent throughout his books. You can read the series in order or they work just fine as stand-alones. I can’t wait to see what adventures Patricia and Tempest have next. I definitely recommend this series.