Cards on the Table is a paranormal cozy(ish) mystery by Lana Harper & Jilly Gagnon. Released 1st Sept 2026 by Penguin Random House on their Bantam imprint, it's 400 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
Told in alternating chapters PoV of the two MC who are sisters, the closed suspect pool isolated setting feels like a fitting homage to the golden age classic mystery. Protagonists Cassie and Tori become chief suspects of incompetent local police when a client whose mansion they've moved into suddenly passes away during a séance, and a large fortune goes missing.
There is a light paranormal aspect, the sisters are descendants of a victim of the Salem witch trials, practicing their divination, card reading, and spellcraft in the modern era. They have a complex relationship with one another, also working through abandonment issues and trying to rely on each other and make a life for themselves.
The writing is engaging, with well developed believable characters (for the genre). The pacing is slow in the first half of the book, but picks up around halfway. The climax and denouement are satisfying with an extra little "last chapter twist" which was nice. It's not explicitly stated, but there's strong foreshadowing for a continuing series with future adventures for the sisters.
Three and a half stars. It would be a good choice for public or home library acquisition, or a nice buddy read for fans of the genre.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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