We’ve been fed with plenty of fun new AAPI reads in our book queue. And if you haven’t noticed, we aren’t letting up any time soon! Mia P. Manansala’s debut YA mystery, Death in the Cards, is a refreshing addition to our list.
Death in the Cards has an incredible storyline, a diverse cast, and a huge reveal. It follows high schooler Danika Dizon, a tarot card reader and aspiring investigator hoping to follow in her mother’s footsteps. She gets involved in an official case when one of her tarot clients goes missing after a reading. Her first case turns out to be so much bigger than she could’ve hoped.
There is so much to love about this book, from the Filipino representation to the intricate mysteries. For now, we’ll give you our top three reasons you should read Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala!
Book Overview: Death In The Cards
Content warnings: mentions of death and murder, some violence, weapons
Summary: Danika Dizon is a natural problem solver. Thanks to her private investigator mom and mystery author dad, she’s well equipped with the skills to offer guidance to anxious classmates who come to her for tarot readings between classes. For a price, of course.
But one of her clients isn’t just worried about finals. Something or someone has her terrified. And when the girl vanishes after an ominous reading, her younger sister Gaby begs for Danika’s help to find her. Danika takes the case to prove to her parents that she’s an ace detective—and that her deck is never wrong. It says change is coming . . .
What starts off as a compelling challenge quickly devolves into a darker mystery. Turns out the missing girl was living a secret life. A life that somebody wants to keep buried. If Danika’s not careful, the Death card that started it all might no longer be symbolic—it could be fate.
Danika’s Tarot Readings
Whether you’re a believer in tarot cards or not, we guarantee you’ll be mesmerized by Danika’s readings in Death in the Cards. We love the way she explains each card and what it means in the context of a client’s situation. Every time Danika does a reading, she keeps her advice honest and inviting. And it’s clear that her readings hit home for all her clients. The tarot cards even move the story along, depending on the person and what they ask. But we won’t reveal much more than that!
Her Support System
Call us sentimental, but we love a book with a big, supportive family like Death in the Cards. Danika’s relationship with her parents and younger brother Daniel comes from a place of true love and respect. And she’s super close with all her Titas and cousins on her dad’s side. Not only that, but her two best friends Junior and Nicole have become part of her family, too. Danika’s support system is unmatched, which becomes crucial the closer she comes to solving her first case.
Undercover Operations
The best part of any mystery is investigating and getting all the clues. Danika and Gaby work together to find Gaby’s sister Eli, only to find that Eli had a secret life and personality no one knew about. They get a job at the country club where Eli used to work, taking care not to tell anyone that she went missing. The girls are slow to trust, never revealing more than necessary. It’s eerie how much they find out from the other employees. Even more eerie than that is what other nefarious operations have been happening.
From the Filipina heroine and BIPOC cast to the compelling mystery and storyline, Mia P. Manansala’s Death in the Cards is a winner in our book.
Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala comes out May 13th, and you can order a copy of it here!
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