3.5 Wine Glass #Review of Dead Eye by Alyssa Day

Title: Dead Eye
Series: Tiger’s Eye Mystery #1
Author: Alyssa Day
Format: Kindle, 210 pages
Published: February 27, 2017 by Amazon Digital Services
ISBN: ASIN: B06XBY7F6Z
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Reviewer: Linda
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 3 ½ out of 5 Wine Glasses

For Jack Shepherd, tiger shape-shifter and former soldier, life is heading for a dead end. Dead End, Florida, to be exact. When he learns that he inherited a combination pawn shop/private investigation agency from his favorite uncle, Jack’s first job is to solve his uncle’s murder. Because sometimes it takes a tiger’s eye to see the truth.

Linda's Thoughts:
“A tiger, an alligator, and a redneck walked into my pawnshop…” 

Dead Eye is a light paranormal cozy mystery by Alyssa Day. It’s set in Dead End, Florida in the heart of the Florida Everglades teeming with alligators. It marks the engaging debut of her new Tiger’s Eye Mystery series. From what I understand, the hero of this tale was first introduced in the author’s Warriors of Poseidon series. He was obviously a hit and fans clamored for him to have his own series. Ta-da! Here it is!

This story features Jack Shepherd, a solid six-foot, soldiering, motorcycling Bengal tiger shifter, and Tess Callahan, co-owner of Dead End Pawn with Jack. As the story opens, Jack has recently become aware that his uncle, Jeremiah, passed away and named him in his estate. His arrival in Dead End is heralded by the appearance of another dead body at the back door of Dead End Pawn.  Jack had been unaware until then that his uncle had been murdered and that the crime remains unsolved. Jack vows then and there to uncover the killer and exact justice. Unfortunately for Jack and Tess, who join together in the quest to track down those responsible, danger and bad guys are lurking at every turn. The couple is kept busy deciphering clues and staying alive.

I caught myself laughing out loud at the bantering between these two primary characters. Jack is sexy, protective and fun. Tess is spunky, resourceful and endowed with an intriguing super power of her own. Interestingly, Tess had a crush on Jack way back when she was sixteen. It’s been ten years since she’s seen him and she swears she’s totally over those swoony thoughts– until Jack walks in to Dead End Pawn and the chemistry sparks between them. I know this is a cozy mystery, but I honestly hankered for more romance between the two. Is it too much to hope that the next book will be a bit steamier? I plan to check it out soon!

I also want to go back and learn more about Jack’s rip-roaring past. I believe if I’d had the connection to Jack from the beginning, I’d have upped my rating. Please take my newness to her writing and to these characters into account as it appears that Jack is much-loved going into this series.

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from Dead Eye:

“Tess, someone just dumped a dead body at your back door."
"Not again," I moaned.
He whirled around. "Not again? What the hell does that mean?"
My knees gave out, and I collapsed back against the counter. "That's how I found Jeremiah.” 
--- 

There’s just not a huge market in used skulls these days.
--- 

“The secret about tigers,” he said, blinking owlishly, “is that tigers bounce.”
Before I could even process the ridiculousness of that, he leaned forward and kissed me. Jack was a champion kisser, even while drunk. I threw my arms around his neck, because my brain started to melt into my shoes.
That’s when the universe exploded around us…

If you are a fan of suspenseful, fun-filled, action-packed paranormal urban fantasies and/or are a Sookie Stackhouse fan (True Blood), you won’t want to let this series pass you by. Alyssa has been on my want-to-read list ever since she appeared on some panels I attended at the Coastal Magic Convention last year. I regret that it’s taken me so long to dive in to Dead Eye’s quirky world of murders, mayhem and dark magic and can’t wait to discover what will happen next in Dead End!



Suggested Reading Order: 
Traveling Eye (Book #.5)
Dead Eye (Book #1)
Private Eye (Book #2)