Reviewed by Cheryl K
TITLE: Dead Wood
SERIES: Cold Case Psychic #24
AUTHOR:Pandora Pine
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 188 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 15, 2023
BLURB:
After the harrowing events aboard the ghost train, Detective Ronan O’Mara is excited to reach the Double D Ranch in Deadwood, South Dakota. He plans to immerse himself in the old west by learning to ride horses, panning for gold and attending a rodeo. It’s the perfect mix of rest and relaxation he so desperately needs.
Psychic Tennyson Grimm also plans to take full advantage of this well-deserved downtime, but a visit to the famously haunted Bullock Hotel changes everything. Ten and Everly encounter a spirit desperately searching for her lost baby. When questioned, the woman can’t remember who she is, only that her missing daughter’s name is Madeline.
With the help of a local historian, Ten is able to determine the spirit is Grace Bailey, a southern debutante who’d fallen on hard times, dying in a brothel fire in 1894. When the ghost of Grace’s scoundrel husband appears, he has information that could solve the mystery of the fire and what happened to Madeline over a century ago, but the selfish man isn’t talking.
Who started the fire? Why? More importantly, what happened to baby Madeline?
REVIEW:
Disclaimers – you need to read the previous 23 books in the Cold Case series and the previous 16 in the series Haunted Souls. All the characters from the previous series, play key roles in this newest addition to the Cold Case Psychic series.
With each new book in this series, Pandora consistently brings a fresh approach to each story and doesn’t become mired in the same story pattern. She finds unique and interesting ways to move the stories along and keep the reader engaged from start to finish. What I especially loved about this book was, it was the conclusion to the crossover arc with the last book in the Haunted Souls series.
Her worldbuilding with this series of books continues to evolve and expand into other locales and doesn’t become repetitive. Using the backdrop of Deadwood, South Dakota was genius. What an epic area to encounter ghosts on such a grand scale. She is always bringing a fresh approach to all the characters, whether they are a main or side characters. In this book we see the reappearance of a previous main character. It was an unexpected, yet important plot twist to the story and keeps the importance of the family theme progressing forward. Pandora also excels at the prose. We go from heavy intensely emotional scenes to humorous, tension releasing scenes. Not those kinds of scenes, people… Well, ok we do have some hot and steamy sexy times too. I have found that sometimes it can be very hard to write scenes and convey the humorous aspect embedded. But I think Pandora does this brilliantly.
Ten turned from the window and wordlessly took a seat. “I know what you’re going to say.”
“Oh, yeah, Nostradamus?” Ronan asked with a cheeky grin. “Tell me.”
“You’re going to say we’re on vacation and have had enough fun with spirits over the last week to last a lifetime. We’re here to relax and learn to rope and ride and whatever the hell else cowboys do.” Ten’s left eyebrow arched high. “I draw the line at learning to chew and spit tobacco.”
Ronan burst out laughing. Of all the things he expected Ten to say, spitting tobacco wasn’t remotely near the top of his list. “As a matter of fact, you’re wrong.” He bent forward, pressing a kiss to Ten’s cheek.
I enthusiastically recommend this book. Don’t forget to RUN off to your favorite eBook purchasing site and grab up this book – pronto, you won’t be disappointed. If you want to experience Ronan riding a horse, this is the book you must read, because it is epic. I truly love this series and can’t wait for the next story.
RATING: 
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