LOST UNDER A LADDER is Book one in Linda O. Johnston's Superstition Mystery series. Like most cozy mysteries, LOST UNDER A LADDER takes place in a charming small town. What's unusual is the reason the female protagonist, Rory Chasen, finds herself in the town called Destiny. The town of Destiny celebrates superstitions. That's what they are known for and cater to tourists based on. Rory is not a tourist, but looking for answers to relieve her mind after the tragic death of her fiancé.

Rory is a likable character and makes a tenacious amateur sleuth. The residents of Destiny are fun and quirky. Linda O. Johnston fills LOST UNDER A LADDER with various superstition lore and you either like that and find it interesting, as I do, or it's not for you. The supporting characters pulled me into the story and I think they add to the overall enjoyment of the reading experience. So many townspeople are friendly to Rory but they make good suspects as well. LOST UNDER A LADDER kept me guessing who was behind all the bad deeds. Even though LOST UNDER A LADDER is a quintessential cozy mystery, there are some very exciting moments full of suspense.

In addition to the compelling mystery, I like the romantic tension that develops between Rory and Justin -- the Police Chief of Destiny. I like that Rory doesn't really have an adversarial relationship with Justin and the rest of the police force, even though she's trying to clear a number one suspect. I also like how Linda O. Johnston wrote Justin. He cautions Rory since she is not somebody in law enforcement, and he cares for her safety, but I never felt as though he was treating her like a disobedient child. Instead, he's a sweetie with a sense of humor. I definitely hope their relationship continues to evolve in future books.

LOST UNDER A LADDER is loads of fun, with an exciting mystery and an entertaining cast of characters. I look forward to reading more books in this series by Linda O. Johnston and seeing what else is in store for Rory.

Book Summary

Is it luck or is it . . . Destiny?

Are superstitions real? Rory Chasen doesn't think so—until her beloved fiancé walks under a ladder and is killed by a car five minutes later. Needing closure, Rory takes her dog Pluckie to a town called Destiny, where superstitions are a way of life.

Rory's visit to Destiny takes an unexpected turn when Pluckie saves the life of Martha, the owner of the Lucky Dog Boutique. To show her gratitude, Martha offers Rory a job at the pet store. But when Martha becomes the prime suspect in the murder of the local bookshop owner, Rory refuses to believe that she would do it. Rory is convinced the real killer still roams Destiny's streets, and she must uncover the truth before Martha is hauled off to jail.