I did not think I would enjoy this at first but what a story! This is truly twisted in an absolutely gripping way and worth every moment spent reading it!

This was such fun to read - a Scooby-Do-style treasure-hunting adventure for grown-ups, with a charming cast of characters and a crazy, fast-paced plot that kept me turning pages right 'til the end. Loved it!

Oh boy, did this book disappoint me. I thought this would be a good, old fashioned horror yarn. The blurb intrigued me. Unfortunately, this is not what I expected at all. This is more of a campy, cheesy horror book than anything else. I don’t rate those sorts of books highly, unfortunately. The first clue is that the dead billionaire is called Vincent Pryce. Oh, dear! The book tries so hard to be many things and fails at most of them and ends up being a bit of a mess with too much crammed into it. The kids doing the scavenger hunt have no real substance. The spooky mansion is about as far from spooky and scary as you can get. The ending is ludicrous nonsense. There’s just so much going on. I couldn’t be bothered keeping up with it and when I made an attempt to I got a migraine. Not so good! I also hated the main character Tuesday Mooney with her stupid name! She veers between smart and dumb and is never more than flat and bland. There’s a lot of crass humour in the book shoehorned with attempts at seriousness that fall flat. There is also a ridiculous amount of characters, most of which are unnecessary and none are more than chalk outlines.

I started this a few days ago, we’re hitting prime Halloween time and I figured that a slightly spooky ghost story with a puzzle would be a good break from the normal fantasy that I’ve been reading.

As you can tell from the blurb, we follow Tuesday Mooney’s story as she gets involved in a treasure hunt when Vincent Pryce, an eccentric billionaire, drops dead. Vincent was a lover of all things weird and wonderful and was a collector. Tuesday is her own person – she is a stereotypical ‘goth’ loner with an even more stereotypical gay best friend who she doesn’t realise is actually a best friend. Tuesday and the gay best friend (Dex) along with the teenage neighbour (Dorry) get involved with the mysterious rich man who turns up to solve the treasure hunt… And so the story goes.

The Positives:
- The characters. I enjoyed the main characters, specifically Tuesday, Dorry and Dex. Although they were so stereotypically written (hellloooo not every kid that dresses all in black is a loner or ‘weird’ or anything else), they were written well and I enjoyed them. The way that Tuesday’s analytical brain was reflected was fantastic, the mental notepad and files just resonated. I can say exactly the same for how the personality traits of Dex and Dorry were portrayed.

- The plot and premise. This was an intriguing plot – a dead man’s treasure hunt around Boston with a prize that no one really knows that might or might not involve ghosts just sounds fantastic. And for the most part it was – the plot was well thought through with a clear line of thought throughout. There were sub plots and tangents, but everything tied together, everything happened for a reason and to further the plot, even if that didn’t become apparent until further down the line.

- The Undercurrent. Although this story has a very clear plot line and a very clear story there is a sub plot/undercurrent that drew me in. The Arches Family story was one that intrigued me and that added a darker touch to this. It was cleverly weaved throughout the bigger plot without taking over. It was clear that this was supposed to be the ‘main’ plot but for me it wasn’t.

- Pop Culture. I thoroughly enjoyed a lot of the pop culture references that were present in the book. I grew up in the 90s so hearing so many things referenced like Ok Computer and X-Files made me smile. There were some nice touches in there that reminded me of something like Ready Player One without the intensity and info dumps about the era.


The Negatives:
- The actual writing. I enjoyed this book, but I was actually a little bit shocked to discover this was an adult book and not a middle grade or YA book. The writing was good and was enjoyable but very young at points.

- The Characters. I know, I know, I’m doing it again – a positive and a negative! While I enjoyed the main characters themselves, there were so many characters in general that I lost track of who was who and who was doing what and involved in what. Ned, Lisa Pinto, Cass, Verena, even Lyle, Constance and Emerson. There were just too many and in truth I’m not sure how much value some of them added.

- The lack ghosts… I shall say no more.

Overall, I gave this one 3* out of 5. I enjoyed this and would pick up another book by this author. To say it was an adult book still surprises me, but overall it was a fun, easy read.

As always the eARCs was provided by NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for a fair review.

I adored this witty, quirky read. Flawlessly written, with memorable characters, it can be enjoyed on many levels. I rarely read a book twice, but will make an exception for this to make sure I haven't missed anything.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Tuesday Mooney wore black because she was a bit of a goth. Well she was born and brought up in Salem. What a girl. She lost her best friend in their teenage years and her parents are very "I told you " type of people. She escapes to Boston, gets a job and does very well until she searches in the wrong place. She is caught up in a game and the story develops. A very gripping book, full of adventure, fun and danger. A very solid storyline and a very enjoyable book to read

I bloody loved this. It's funny, laught out loud funny. It's a bit dark, but in all the right places. It's fast paced and a real page turner. The characters are fantastically written adn incredibly complex. You can't help but get invested in the outcome and I found myself willing them along. It's full of mystery and intrigue and I can't believe I read it so fast.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy of Tuesday Mooney Wore Black (not a great title)
il
This is a very American, quirky and multi-layered novel with a seemingly unique plot the like of which I wouldn't normally choose to read. Having said that it was a warm, enjoyable and worthwhile read which I think would translate well onto the wide screen.

What a quirky, fun and engaging story. Tuesday Mooney is a woman who has never quite fit in. And then one night whilst she's working she meets a challenging billioniare and witnesses the death of an excentric one, and suddenly everything starts to change. Vincent Pyrce sets up an elaborate game so that people can inherit part of his fortune. A treasure hunt through Boston ensues, and we meet an electic mix of seekers, each one looking for something else.

There was lots to love about the book. It's crazy and bonkers, and fun, and challenging. The story was pretty multifaceted, but it did mean that at times I felt like the author dropped the ball. Unless we plan to come back to Tuesday Mooney at another time, there really were a lot of questions that could have done with being answered. Not big enough to have a hole in the story, but enough that makes you go *sigh*.

Underpining all of this book is a story about friendships, relationships, and how far we'll go to find who we are. It's a lovely sentiment, filled with lots of fun and laugher on the way.

I can see why Tuesday Mooney Wore Black has been compared to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. The titular characters have similarities in their defensive isolation and detachment from/lack of awareness of social interactions.

The comparison really ends there though. For one thing, Tuesday can be perfectly social – she chooses not to and is reasonably indifferent to what others think of her choice. For another, she shares the limelight of this story with Dex – who is supremely and desperately social – which brings a balance to the story as the two very different friends unite and help to smooth each others rougher edges.

The plot is a scavenger hunt to find a dead eccentric’s missing treasure, with lots of Gothic-homage puzzles to solve along the way, but the real mystery is what is going on with mysterious rich-boy Nathaniel Arches and his family, and what really happened to Tuesday’s childhood best friend, who disappeared many years ago but somehow never completely left.

There is an underlying theme running through the book of secrets and lies: the lies we tell other people to appear cooler, smarter, nicer, braver; and the lies we tell ourselves to get through each day – the dead are not gone, I’m doing my best, I’m okay. Every character in the book is vulnerable and doing their best to appear strong, even if they all approach it in different ways.

Tuesday Mooney Wore Black is a fun, sometimes touching, mystery story. I would love to see more of Tuesday, Dex, Archie and Dorrie’s puzzle-solving team, and find out a bit more of one of Tuesday’s more esoteric talents: the alternative title of the book is Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts!





The truth was this: Dex genuinely believed Tuesday didn’t give a shit what people thought when they looked at her. But the truth was also: he spent a fair amount of his free time with her – when he wasn’t with a future ex-boyfriend – and he didn’t really know what the deal was with her either. He knew how she was. He knew she cared about him, though he also knew he cared more about her. She kept him outside. After all these years, after all this time, he knew her without really knowing her at all.

– Kate Racclia, Tuesday Mooney Wore Black


Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

I received a free ebook version of this book from Netgalley. Thankyou to both Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this! My review is still honest.

I'd heard nothing about this book or author before reading it, but I received an email from the publisher directly inviting me to request it. Once I'd read the premise of a wild treasure hunt orchestrated by an eccentric billionaire after his death, with ghosts-well, how could I not?
As the description suggests, this book is brilliantly quirky. It's different and creative and all the more intriguing because of it! The plot itself is interesting and engaging, with plenty of mystery and action and emotion. I enjoyed how the main plot of Pryce's treasure hunt intertwined so well with the many side plots from each of our 4 main characters, all without it ever becoming too busy or confusing. There were some genuinely touching moments concerning grief and finding yourself, and I really enjoyed the hint of paranormal in an otherwise realistic world.
I will say that this took me a long time to read-it was one of those books where I felt like I was reading for long periods of time, and yet the percentage mark at the corner of my Kindle barely moved. I'd say this applied more to the first half than the last, which I flew through! Nevertheless, be warned this is fairly slow paced.
On the whole, though, I liked this one, and I'm so glad the publisher sent me that email. Also, loving the redesigned title of 'Tuesday Mooney Wore Black'! 'Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts' sounds much more like a children's novel.

Hooked from the start. An unusual tale of love, loss and treasure hunting with an entertaining cast of characters.

My thanks to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This isn't really a puzzle adventure story.
It's part murder mystery, part romance, part coming of age, part ghost story. There's unresolved mysteries, childhood loss and witchcraft.

Vincent Pryce's strange quest isn't as much about wealth as it is about self-discovery and realises your dreams. There's ancient grudges and new relationships, as the cast of characters learns to accept the influence the ghosts of the past have on the present, and even the future.

Some of the reviews for this book are mixed, but I loved it. The characters are quirky and complex and absolutely enthralling. Solving the puzzle, which is in itself intriguing, comes second, to the characters' individual journeys. An uplifting and utterly hopeful book that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

I've fluctuated between giving this 3 or 4 stars, but nudged it up in the end as I did find it a really good read. The things that niggled were the length (too long), the scavenger hunt (where were the puzzles?!) and the ever more unrealistic finale.

I liked Tuesday (at times I loved her), and I really liked Dorry, and Tuesday's best friend Dex was fabulous too. I was less keen on the love interest, and I felt the murder story line got in the way of other things in the end. Without spoilers I'll just say that the more ends that were oh-just-oddly-enough all being tied up right at the end made me feel manipulated as a reader, and not in a good way.

But I liked Tuesday. And I liked the premise of the story. It's not really about ghosts so much, and there's no horror in there. But there's plenty of life lessons, general day to day difficulties, and the usual relationship struggles to contend with. And Tuesday, who is probably the real reason I nudged to 4 rather than 3 stars.

An interesting read, difficult to categorise, part ghost story, part mystery with a quirky main character. Could almost sit at the top of YA fiction as one of the main characters is teenage.

Tuesday Mooney is a thirty three year old researcher, whose best friend, Dex, is a banker with an interest in karaoke and a penchant for dressing as Madonna. Tuesday grew up in Salem, where her best friend, Abby, vanished, when they were sixteen and this event has haunted her, in more ways than one. Tuesday works at Boston General Hospital, where she spends her time trying to locate wealthy donors. At a charity auction, she immediately recognises Nathanial Arches, from an extremely wealthy, and influential, family. Like her, the Arches are haunted by a disappearance – that of their father.

At the auction, eccentric billionaire, Vincent Pryce, dies – with Dex at his table and Tuesday and Arches in attendance. Pryce may be gone, but he is determined not to be forgotten. He leaves behind a city wide treasure hunt, which Tuesday becomes involved in – along with the characters already mentioned, and her lovely young neighbour, Dorry Bones. I have a feeling that this novel will divide readers. However, in my opinion, this was a wonderfully enjoyable romp – peopled with a great cast of characters. It does have a serious side, though, despite the fun storyline and the author never loses touch with her characters, or her readers, while keeping the action going. One of my favourite reads this year.

Tuesday Mooney Wore Black (or Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts, as I believe it's also called), is a hard book to categorise.

To my mind it's a gothic, contemporary, fun, scary, mystery caper. For adults (most characters are 30ish), yet also reminiscent of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Tuesday's main job is researching people for charity fundraisers - ie to see how much they'll spend and how best to press them. She wears all black and she doesn't need people - only the people she likes.

She's pulled into the biggest mystery of her life when eccentric billionaire Vincent Pryce (and Edgar Allen Poe-obsessive) dies, leaving behind an open invitation to solve a problem he's set and win a bunch of money in the process. Together with her teenage neighbour, gay best friend and mysterious/alluring rich boy she's just met, they set out to solve the puzzle before anyone else.

It's not a romantic suspense (not really). It's not a paranormal. It is a little spooky. It is a lot of fun. There's a crime AND a mystery. The former isn't too complex, but I had fun following the latter.

This book won't be for everyone - I suspect it will be quite hard to target it at the right set of readers. But I thoroughly enjoyed it and will seek out this author, and these characters if possible, again.

A really enjoyable story. It was an adventure, a mystery and a ghost story, all rolled into one. In with the mix was a little romance; sorrow from the past with a motherless teenager seeking closure and our main character still feeling the loss of her best friend from years ago . What a winning combination of ingredients. They all come together, to give us a great story. A real treat of a read.

A Thoroughly Enjoyable Theatrical Treasure Hunt of a Book

After reading the blurb for Tuesday Mooney Wore Black, I was rather intrigued and really quite excited to read it. It seemed like it would be part detective, part mystery novel and more than anything else it sounded fun.

It didn't disappoint. This is a detective story but not a 'whodunit'. It is more of a 'who will inherit' in the form of a grand treasure hunt around Boston. It is a great big puzzle and one thing I do love is a puzzle.

The premise reminded me of the books we had as children, which if you could solve them, would lead you to some buried treasure somewhere in the country. We found them terribly exciting and would pour over them looking for clues but sadly they were impossible to solve.

For Tuesday Mooney though it doesn't seem so impossible. In her day job she is a seeker of information. She already has a file on the deceased and this gives her something of a head start when it comes to the treasure hunt.

I found Tuesday intriguing and likeable even though she has the makings of a loner. She wears black, played at witchcraft as a teenager and talks to the ghost of her presumed dead best friend.

I liked the other characters in the book too. Tuesday's attempts to keep the world at a distance are frustrated by her friend Dex and her teenage next-door neighbour Dorry. Both the hiders and the seekers are an entertaining and eccentric bunch of people, with different motives for their involvement in the game.

It isn't all fun and games of course. There is a lot at stake and there is a serious and sinister undergame being played at the same time. As the hunt continues the two games become intertwined and Tuesday becomes caught up in both.

It was a great read on a rainy day and it made me smile.

Reviewed by Ali Walker for The Glass House Book Club

Took a while for me to get into it. Did enjoy it when I did. Bit of mystery, a few things to solve. Story of friendship, and overcoming past events. Overall was a good read.