Madam Tulip by David Ahern

I have received a free e-copy of the book Madam Tulip by David Ahern to review.

Here is the book blurb.

Suspense, mystery, action, a little romance and lots of laughs

Out-of-work actress Derry O’Donnell is talented, professional, just a little psychic… and broke. Spurred on by an ultimatum from her awesomely high-achieving mother, Derry embarks on a part-time career as Madame Tulip, fortune teller to the rich and famous. But at her first fortune-telling gig – a celebrity charity weekend in a luxurious castle – a famous rap artist mysteriously dies.

As Derry is drawn deeper into a seedy world of fashion, millionaires, horses and cocaine, she must race to save her best friend from jail and a supermodel from being murdered. Her efforts threaten to destroy her friends, her ex-lover, her father and herself.

Madame Tulip is the first in a series of thrilling and hilarious Tulip adventures in which Derry O’Donnell, celebrity fortune-teller and reluctant amateur detective, plays the most exciting and perilous roles of her acting life, drinks borage tea, and fails to understand her parents.

The book starts with Derry, an unemployed actress receiving a telephone ultimatum from her mother Vanessa that she wants Derry to return to the US and take a job in PR. Vanessa is not going to pay Derry’s rent any longer and is coming over to Dublin to discuss it.

Derry’s best friend Bella suggests Derry make money out of her psychic card-reading talent. They decide she will be called Madam Tulip. The theatre wardrobe ladies kit her out with a costume and make-up so she looks just the part.

Meanwhile Derry meets her artist dad Jacko at the races, who bets 40-1 on a horse called Inside Out on the basis that Derry said “should have brought a brolly”. He then spots some celebs he knows and gets them into the VIP suite. Supermodel Marlene and husband Doyle are impressed when Inside Out wins the race and Marlene asks Derry to come and do fortunes at their celebrity charity event. She is amazed when the organiser offers her a 1500 euro fee, more than a month’s rent. And Marlene requests a reading, at which Derry sees a lucky escape.

Bella gives Derry a lift to the event, where they discover another actor friend Bruce working as security at the castle. As they arrive, they spot rapper Mojo and singer Sonya Dee. Whilst in costume, Derry is surprised to spot ex-boyfriend Fitz of the Met Police dressed like a millionaire. She calls out to him, but he hurries past, saying she has mistaken him for someone else. Shortly afterwards, Bella who was supposed to have left, bursts into Derry’s room saying that Mojo has collapsed.

Bella had snuck back to try to get a selfie with Mojo. When Mojo subsequently dies, Bella ends up framed for his murder. Can Derry work out what is going on? Plenty more twists and turns to come.

Madam Tulip is available on Amazon, currently priced at £7.99 in paperback and is also available in kindle format. This is the best of both worlds – a funny mystery. Highly recommended. Book 2 in the series is already out and added to my ever-growing wishlist. And I certainly hope there will be more to come in this series.

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About the author

David Ahern grew up in a theatrical family in Ireland but ran away to Scotland to become a research psychologist and sensible person. He earned his doctorate but soon absconded to work in television. He became a writer, director and producer, creating international documentary series and winning numerous awards, none of which got him free into nightclubs.

Madame Tulip wasn’t David Ahern’s first novel, but writing it was the most fun he’d ever had with a computer. The second in the Madam Tulip mystery series, Madam Tulip and the Knave of Hearts, was published in autumn 2016. He is now writing the third Madam Tulip adventure and enjoys pretending this is actual work.

David Ahern lives in the beautiful West of Ireland with his wife, two cats and a vegetable garden of which he is inordinately proud.

You can learn more about David Ahern and Madam Tulip on his website www.davidahern.info

Connect with David Ahern on Facebook: www.facebook.com/davidahernwriter
and Twitter: www.twitter.com/daveahernwriter

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Disclosure.  This post is a review of an e-book I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.