Dawn EastmanRezensionen

Solid mystery though I was able to figure out most of the solution well before the end of the book.

I was browsing the library shelves for a Christmas cozy when this book caught my eye. I liked the book cover --the dogs and the castle. Little did I know when I checked it out that I'd be down with food poisoning and a reaction to a shingle shot soon after. I can't say how many cozies disappoint me in the first 20 pages by throwing too many characters at me and a few scatty details before someone is found dead. This one drew me in with the premise of being snowbound in this fabulous place with a possible ghost and secret passages. Just the kind of place I'd want to stay in. The knitters were fun-- I am totally inept at knitting, but loved the knitting bomb notion of knitting little surprises and hiding them around the place. Fun. The pace was good, characters diverse enough, and the suspects plentiful. A fun read.

Do No Harm is the second book in the Dr. Katie LeClair series, written by Dawn Eastman. Dr. LeClair is a family practitioner in the small town of Baxter, Michigan, who has helped out with the odd murder mystery on the side.
Full disclosure: I didn't read the first book in this series but because the back story was explained so well, that wasn't a problem.

I enjoyed this story very much. I agree with some other reviewers who have mentioned that this book felt more like a cross between a cozy mystery and a full on murder mystery, but I liked that about it. The characters were likeable and the mystery was set up nicely. The pacing was done well, which made this a quick, enjoyable read.

In summary, I enjoyed this story very much and look forward to reading more of this author's books in the future.

5/5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley, Dawn Eastman, and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Very enjoyable first book in the series about Dr Katie LeClair. A nice romantic cozy mystery, I look forward to the rest of the series.

Very enjoyable first book in the series about Dr Katie LeClair. A nice romantic cozy mystery, I look forward to the rest of the series.

Do No Harm (Dr. Katie LeClair #2) by Dawn Eastman

Set in Baxter Michigan, Dr Katie LeClaire is settling into her new life. A new patient (Eugene) walks into her office, she finds he was released from prison after being charged with murder. Then a College student (Taylor) goes missing, she was investigating the old murder case. Katie is uncertain if Eugene is guilty, she decides to begin her own investigation into the past murder and disappearance of Taylor.

A fast paces murder mystery with an interesting plot. Katie was very likable, she is determined to find the truth at any cost. Several suspects surface the more she investigates. Lives will be in danger the closer she gets to finding the truth. Overall I enjoyed Do No Harm and feel those who enjoy cozy murder/mysteries will enjoy it as well.

Note to would-be killers: It is not wise to commit a murder in a town filled with psychics.
(But it does make for a great cozy mystery!)

This book was fun to read! The characters are eccentric. The town and its citizens are strange yet endearing. The humor is awesome. And, the murder mystery is engaging. Perfect cozy mystery!
This is the first book by Dawn Eastman that I've read. I will definitely be reading more!

Plot basics: Crystal Haven, MI is a tourist town catering to those looking for psychic readings, seances, tarot readings and other occult fare. The Fortune family is well known in town. Rose offers tarot readings and Vi is a pet psychic. Rose's daughter, Clyde (short for Clytemnestra) has returned to town following a tragic incident. She isn't sure whether she will return to her job as a cop in Ann Arbor, or stay in Crystal Haven. Her family is encouraging her to hone her psychic abilities that she has spent years suppressing. She balks at the idea and becomes a dog walker rather than a psychic-for-hire. She changes her mind when a local psychic is murdered. Clyde has to use both her skills as a cop, and a psychic to discover the killer's identity before more Crystal Haven residents die.

Clyde's family and most of the characters in the book were outrageously kooky and fun. At one point, they are trying to investigate a murder suspect without alerting a local cop to their activities. So they are all taking turns following the suspect while hiding behind trees, running around corners, and pretending to be innocent by-standers just so the officer won't suspect they are investigating anything. The more they try to be stealthy the more obvious it is what they are doing. So funny! :)

Such a fun read! The characters' antics kept me smiling and engaged in the story just as much as the mystery portions of the plot. A great blend of mystery and humor.

Pall in the Family was Dawn Eastman's debut novel. There are now 4 books in the Family Fortune Mystery series. I can't wait to read more of the series!! This first book was a real hoot!!

Solid mystery though I was able to figure out most of the solution well before the end of the book.

Clyde Fortune is a former cop who has moved back to her hometown of Crystal Haven, Michigan, on the Lake Michigan shore. She and her boyfriend Mac, a local police detective, Clyde's nephew Seth and two dogs live down the street from Clyde's parents and Aunt Vi. Clyde and her nephew are preparing for Settler's Day and a Zombie Run which will benefit the animal shelter. The catch is that Clyde and most of Crystal Haven's residents are mediums of some sort or other. Clyde has the ability to find lost things and has dream premonitions. Seth can communicate with animals. Aunt Vi thinks she can communicate with animals. Clyde's mom reads tarot cards. otherwise crystal haven is a fairly normal small Midwest town. Clyde's sister Grace, at the last minute, decides to return from NYC after being absent for 15 years. Grace can see stock market numbers. The Fortune family hurriedly prepares for Grace, her husband Paul and daughter Sophie's visit. Something isn't right. Grace and Paul, out of the blue, ask Clyde and Mac to formally become Seth and Sophie's guardians, should anything happen to them. Clyde has very unsettling premonitions which she just can't seem to get a handle upon. Meanwhile the whole family participates in the zombie run. Fun was had by all until one of the zombie's turns up really dead.

I really enjoy Eastman's writing style and would love it if she would write more of this series.

2.5/5

4.5 stars.

Unnatural Causes by Dawn Eastman is a perplexing and refreshingly unique mystery. This first installment in the Dr. Katie LeClair Mystery series features a charming lead protagonist and a delightful small town setting.

Dr. Katie LeClair has settled into her partnership with Drs. Emmett & Nick Hawkins, the father and son duo who own family a practice clinic in Baxter, MI. However, Katie is bewildered and upset when one of her patients, Ellen Riley, dies from an apparent overdose of medication that she does not remember prescribing for her. Ellen's husband, Christopher Riley and her daughter, Beth Wixom, are also skeptical that Ellen committed suicide so Katie agrees to help Beth look into the case. When the autopsy proves Ellen was, in fact, murdered, police Chief John Carlson has his work cut out for him investigating her death since the crime scene was not preserved. Katie and her brilliant computer genius brother, Caleb, discover puzzling information on Ellen's computer, but will Katie be able to fit the pieces of this confusing puzzle together and unmask a killer?

Katie really enjoys working with both Emmett and Nick but immediately following Ellen's death, she notices their relationship appears to be a little rocky. She is also concerned by the uncharacteristic dimming of Emmett's typical upbeat personality. As she tries to uncover the mystery surrounding Ellen's prescription, Katie becomes aware of some troubling discoveries within the practice. When Nick unexpectedly takes time off from work, Katie experiences disturbing suspicions that something is just a bit off when she covers for him in his pain clinic.

Reluctant to search for evidence to back up these misgivings, Katie instead focuses on looking into the research project Ellen was working on just before her death. Ellen inadvertently stumbled across a secret that someone does not want revealed, but Katie is hard put to make figure out exactly what her deceased patient discovered. Her quest for answers leads to digging around in the complicated histories of some Baxter's citizens but Katie quickly learns just how far people will go to keep the past buried.

With a wonderful cast of quirky characters, an intriguing mystery and a gutsy heroine, Unnatural Causes by Dawn Eastmanis an engrossing mystery. The investigation into Ellen's death is fast-paced and the situation at Katie's family practice is quite interesting. With a dash of romance, a hint of danger and an unforgettable amateur sleuth, the Dr. Katie LeClair Mystery series is off to a promising beginning that will leave fans eagerly awaiting future installments.

4.5 stars.
Do No Harm by Dawn Eastman is an intriguing mystery that is fast-paced and multi-layered. Although this newest release is the second installment in the Dr. Katie LeClair Mystery series, it can be read as a standalone.

Dr. Katie LeClair has settled into life in Baxter, MI. She enjoys working in the family practice clinic with her mentor and she is in the early stages of a relationship with Dr. Matt Gregor. As a newcomer to Baxter, Katie lacks the background information of her newest patient, Eugene Lowe. Years earlier, Eugene was convicted of manslaughter in the death of Heather Stone. Having served his sentence, he has returned to Baxter to live with his mother. Not everyone is happy to have him living in town and Eugene is targeted by unknown persons as they attempt to force him to leave. These attempts have turned violent which is how Eugene's path crosses Katie's. She wants to trust her instincts that Eugene is not dangerous, but new information leaves Katie doubting her intuition.

Katie is very upset when she learns Taylor Knox, a college student whom she mentored, is now missing. Even more alarming is the discovery that Taylor is working on a class project about Heather's death and Eugene's conviction. Katie is worried that the advice she gave to Taylor right before she vanished is somehow connected to her disappearance. What, if any, new details did Taylor unearth about Heather's death that might have led to foul play?

Katie is a resourceful woman whose medical training also makes her an excellent investigator. With her computer wiz brother Caleb's assistance, she searches through Taylor's research to see if she can pinpoint exactly what raised the young woman's suspicion that Eugene might not have murdered Heather. Following the scant leads she unearths, Katie re-interviews key witnesses from the old case. She also discovers some very troubling information that lends weight to the theory that Eugene was not Heather's killer. But if Eugene did not murder Heather then who did?

Do No Harm is an engrossing mystery with a clever plot and a fantastic cast of characters. Dawn Eastman keeps readers on the edge of their seats as the novel hurtles to an action-paced conclusion. A suspenseful addition to the Dr. Katie LeClair Mystery series that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed this book - i found it suspensful and with an excellent plot and characters. I did not realize that this book was # 2 in a series but I don't think that that hindered my enjoyment of this novel in any way. I have not read anything before by Dawn Eastman but I look forward to. I think she is an excellent author.

medical-doctor, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, suspense

A young man is released from prison where he's spent the last ten years after being convicted of manslaughter of a college student after a frat party. He has always maintained his innocence, but few people believed him. Now cowards are wearing masks and assaulting him at night, which is how Dr Katie becomes involved. Add in a current college student who is studying the case intent on discovering proof of his innocence when she goes missing and is presumed dead. Follow Dr Katie as she becomes enmeshed in the mess and all sorts of other things as well. It's a twisty, convoluted story with some great characters and no lack of suspense. Truly a good read!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

If I could have squeezed a few more hours in the day I'm sure I would have read it in one day. I absolutely loved this book. A doctor who can't resist solving mysteries...not just the medical kind! 💜

story was too scattered and the characters were too vague along with an unnecessary amount of suspense. Foggy details, weak plot, too much ambiguity...

Clyde Fortune, a former Ann Arbor, Michigan police officer with inherited psychic abilities is ready to leave the cold winter behind for a nice tropical vacation with her boyfriend Mac, a homicide detective. However, on their way to the airport, a winter storm has canceled flights. Unable to drive home in the blizzard they find shelter at a possibly haunted castle turned hotel. A cozy fire would be fine, if it weren’t for the fact that the hotel was fully booked by a knitting workshop group. As luck would have it, Clyde’s Mom, Aunt Vi and Mac’s Mom were part of said group. All was well until one of the hotel owners is found dead and the storm knocks out the power. The handyman was new and didn’t know how to operate the power generator. Being totally snowed in, Clyde and Mac have to take over trying to solve the murder until local police can arrive. A cute but rather slow moving entry in this series, I kept having to put it down and read other things.

Clyde Fortunehas returned home to Crystal Haven, MIchigan after several years as a policeman in Ann Arbor. She lives with her folks and Aunt Vi in her grandmother’s home. Crystal Haven is not the everyday tourist destination on the Lake Michigan shore. It is a town of psychics. Clyde has some abilities, but prefers not to use them, as her abilities always seem to foretell bad things in the future. Clyde and her nephew Seth run a dog walking business. One morning she and Seth went to pick up her client Tuffy, but instead they found Tuffy’s owner dead in the kitchen. Upon calling the police, Clyde and her nephew continued taking care of the dogs. However, the Sheriff department’s homicide detective was not pleased that they had left the scene of the crime. Clyde should have known better. To make things worse, the detective was Clyde’s old boyfriend Mac. Clyde’s family was determined to solve the crime with or without Clyde’s professional as well as psychic help. A nice bunch of twists and turn kept the story ver readable. Although a few of the characters, I found to be quite annoying, especially Clyde’s Aunt Vi.½

Clyde Fortune is a former Ann Arbor, Michigan police officer, who has moved back to Crystal Haven, MI, a town where being psychic or Wiccan is not unusual. It is Halloween night and the Fall Festival is in full swing including a Wiccan ceremony welcoming of their New Year. clyde and her Aunt Vi are in attendence, although they are not Wiccan. Diana, Vlyde’s best friend, is leading the ceremony. Unfortunately, one robed celebrant falls down gasping for breath. Epicenter and CPR are administered, but Rafe, like an uncle to Diana, is dead. Was it an accident? What caused such a violent allergic reaction in Rafe? Once things settle down, Clyde goes home and is welcomed by her nephew Seth, who has run away from his home in New York City. And, to top it off, Diana’s brother is arrested and charged with the murder. Clyde is determined to figure out ehat’s Going on. Not a bad read. It isn’t overtly magical like Urban Fantasy, but just a regular town of people who tend to get premonitions, and Wiccans. Clyde is a relatively strong woman, who carefully balances her over-the-top Aunt Vi’s pushing of the psychic abilities with her need to forge a new life in Crystal Haven. It was a nice quick read, and I look forward to reading more, as I am familiar with this part of Michigan.

I was interested in this series since I learned that Crystal Haven is a real town near Grand Rapids, Michigan and only about an hour and a half from where I live. I'm not a fan of "cozy" mysteries but I do like books with supernatural themes and what better than a few murders in a witch's coven? Besides, Clyde has two wonderful dogs...Baxter and Tuffy which are a regular part of the series and communicate regularly with Clyde's tarot card reading Aunt Vi. If you are looking for a non- gory mystery with interesting and humorous characters...then this just might be for you.

Katie LeClair is the new doctor in a family practice in Baxter, Michigan. Her settling-in, following years of schooling, internship, and residency, is idyllic until one of her patients unexpectedly dies . . . and the death, ruled a suicide, came by way of an overdose of medication Katie prescribed. Only she has no recollection of writing the prescription.

However, the police discovery that the woman’s death was actually a murder draws Katie into an unofficial investigation where someone is willing to murder in order to keep the dark secrets of the past.

Likeable characters, an interesting plot, and steadily building tension combine to create a narrative that keeps readers involved in the tale and the ramped-up suspense keeps the pages turning.

Recommended.

Unnatural Causes by Dawn Eastman is the first book in A Dr. Katie LeClair Mystery series. Dr. Katie LeClair has joined the family practice of Dr.’s Emmett and Nick Hawkins (father and son) in Baxter, Michigan. She is called into the hospital when Ellen Riley is brought in from an overdose of diazepam (and Nick did not answer his page). The bottle states that Katie wrote the prescription, but she never issued it to Ellen. The police believe it is suicide, until Ellen’s daughter, Beth convinces them to take another look. Beth states that Ellen was stressed over research she had been conducting. Ellen had discovered something—did it get her killed? Katie wants answers and enlists her brother, Caleb to assist her. What was Ellen Riley researching and why did Nick not answer his page? Someone is not happy with Katie’s meddling and warns her off her search. Can Katie uncover the killer, or will she end up the next victim?

I thought Unnatural Causes was nicely written and had a good pace. The author establishes Katie’s background early in the story and I found her a likeable, relatable character. The transitions between scenes was smooth (nicely handled by author). There is a repetition of information that could have been eliminated. The same details do not need to be repeated throughout the book. There are two mysteries in the book and both can be solved. The murderer can be discerned early in the story. The why is slowly revealed as the story progresses. There are good clues that will aid readers in solving the mystery. It is slightly convoluted and there is a surprise that readers may not anticipate. There are several suspects and some nice misdirection. The secondary mystery (regarding Nick Hawkins) is interesting and a common problem in our society (unfortunately). The action ramps up in the last 12% of the story. There is a love interest for Katie in the story. I was glad that the romance element was light and not rushed. Unnatural Causes is different from Dawn Eastman’s A Family Fortune Mystery series. It shows the author’s versatility. Unnatural Causes has good bones, and I look forward to reading the next book in A Dr. Katie LeClair Mystery series.

Dawn Eastman, the author of the highly entertaining Family Fortune cozy series, is branching out with this book. Unnatural Causes is a fast-paced, solid mystery that kept me guessing, and the main characters are well placed to solve mysteries. Katie LeClair is a caring, gifted doctor, and what makes her a good doctor makes her a good investigator. Her brother Caleb is very good with computers, and since Katie saved the life of the police chief's dog, she also has an "in" with the police department.

All elements mesh together well and run like a finely tuned machine. The trouble is, I just didn't find myself warming up to any of the characters-- which is one of the main selling points of mysteries on the cozier end of the genre. Unnatural Causes is well-written and does have an appealing main character, so don't be afraid to give it a try. Your mileage may definitely vary!

Description

Katie LeClair has finally settled down as the new doctor in Baxter, MI. After years of moving, schooling, and training, she wants nothing more than to find a place she can call home, and a small town outside of Ann Arbor seemed perfect.

Katie quickly gets to work in building a life for herself in Baxter, and beyond reviving her love life, she also finds a pair of business partners in a team of father and son family practitioners. But that idyllic dream is immediately shattered when one of her patients is found dead. That wouldn’t be the worst thing, except the death is ruled a suicide, and as evidence has it, the suicide was a result of the medication Katie had prescribed. But she doesn’t remember writing it.

When a closer investigation reveals it was murder, Katie is catapulted into an off-the-books investigation that leads her down a dark path of past secrets. But someone is willing to kill to keep part of the town’s history in the shadows, and Katie must race to find out who before it’s too late in nationally bestselling author Dawn Eastman’s riveting series debut Unnatural Causes.

Available Editions
EDITION: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781683313137
PRICE: $26.99 (USD)

I wish to thank Netgalley, and Crooked Lane, N.Y. for the ARC so that I could read and provide my honest review.

MY BOOK REVIEW:

I’m afraid I don’t like the cover very much. The girl in the red coat has been over done. She seems to be on more and more covers that I review. The Protagonist is a doctor, so something that shows this would be more suitable.

This author also wrote: Pall in the Family, Be Careful What You Witch For, A Fright to the Death, and An Unhappy Medium. These are all part of the Family Fortune Mystery Series.

Unnatural Causes is the first of her new debut mystery series: A Dr. Kate LeClair Mystery.

I began this story hoping that I would be hooked within the first chapter and I was. The author’s voice was smooth and compelling and within the first chapter, I discovered who the Protagonist was and what was the conflict–an unexplainable death of a patient that involved a mysterious prescription. There was also a mentioning of the driving force behind the conflict, but I’ll let you read this for yourself.

The next chapter went on to clearly define the Protagonist’s own history and the reason behind her many choices. A setting was developed, as was a secondary character aimed at helping the Protagonist to reach her goals.

As the story developed, we are introduced to many other characters, some with possible motives. The author transitioned from one setting to the next smoothly and enticingly. The plot continued to develop with many twists and turns that kept you guessing and your interest peaked.

Overall, this was a good, easy page turning read. There wasn’t anything I found too exciting and riveting, but still interesting enough to finish the book. I had hoped for more.

I enjoyed the characters and their stories; they seemed genuinely real and wholesome. I would recommend the book to anyone wanting an uncomplicated read with a great outcome and interesting characters.

If a book can hold your attention when you're in a slump, it can't be half bad right?

I enjoy this series as it's one of the few rational cozy series out there; most of the characters are likeable, the small town setting is vivid and the plotting is usually pretty good. Clyde is a strong, normally intelligent main character trying to come to grips with a psychic gift she's ignored most of her life and her family is just crazy enough to be realistic. Mac is a great romantic lead who doesn't define himself by his ability to alpha male everyone around him.

This book's plotting, though, wasn't quite as strong as the others. I'm left with the impression that the mystery itself was just an excuse to further Clyde's family's story arc along. To string the mystery out, the author made Clyde dim: her visions were fairly easy for the reader to interpret as events unfolded, but Clyde remained clueless and the final denouement revealed a culprit that was never a suspect either for anyone in the book or the reader as there simply wasn't any forward progression after the initial murder scene.

I was going to ding the rating for this, but my rating reflects my enjoyment and I did enjoy this book; the character sub-story was interesting enough that I didn't miss what was missing from the mystery itself.