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Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
Dark Perception (A Darcy Harbinger Mystery Book 1) by Anne Marie Stoddard is an intriguing murder mystery with a paranormal twist. Darcy Harbinger is an art student. She has more talents than just the ability to paint. As a child she drowned and, when she was revived, she returned with an unusual 'affliction.' If someone is going to die soon and she looks at them, she can see their dead bodies in all their gory detail. She refers to these nearly-dead people as 'goners.' You'd think that people would be grateful for the heads up, but unfortunately, Darcy found this to be quite the opposite. While partnering with Shannon, another art student, Darcy unconsciously paints Shannon's demise in her picture. When she views her portrait, understandably, Shannon is upset. The next night, in front of the class, Shannon confronts Darcy. Darcy had managed to work on it before bringing it to class and had done a good job of covering up the macabre depiction. Although the picture is non-threatening, Shannon doesn't calm down. Due to the disruption, the teacher throws the hysterical Shannon out of the class. That wasn't the end of the regrettable incident.
A short time later that evening, Shannon turns up dead. As luck would have it, Darcy is the one to find her. Her questionable picture is disclosed to the police, making Darcy the prime suspect in Shannon's murder. Of course, it doesn't stop there. Now Darcy notices another student has the look of a 'goner.' Despite the possibility of Karmic backlash, Darcy decides she has to help her. Her attempt at intervention fails. The police finally rule her out as a suspect, however, the murderer has turned their sights on Darcy. Will they catch the murderer or will Darcy become the next victim?
Dark Perception (A Darcy Harbinger Mystery Book 1) by Anne Marie Stoddard is a fascinating and irresistible murder mystery. Once I picked up the book, I couldn't put it down. The storyline is intriguing and moves along at a fast pace until it comes to a surprising conclusion. The characters in the story are engaging and natural. Darcy Harbinger is an amusing heroine with an unusual and fascinating gift. I think this book is charming! I enjoyed it and Darcy's sense of humor. I also thoroughly enjoyed her perspective. I recommend this murder mystery to those who love a good cozy mystery mixed with a touch of the paranormal.
