P.D. Workman

My third read from author P.D. Workman (the first two were so good I had to read another immediately), although I own several of her books I’d never gotten around to reading one and after I’d acquired Auntie Clem’s Bakery #3 I wanted to read the first two books in the series before reading it, I really don’t like to read books out of sequence. Allergen-Free Assignation is extremely well written, the characters well developed. I’m a character reader, I get into the characters. Who show more and what they are. Why they do the things they do. The things that make a reader get invested into the characters and thereby the book and now in the third book of the series you already know the characters and can appreciate the continued growth of the characters and the community as well as the author’s 3-book weave to get to this point. So many things from the first two well-written books now make even more sense with the culmination of the third book. I’m really glad I read the books in order and look forward to P.D. Workman’s next book. show less

If you're looking for a paranormal cozy mystery with suspenseful twists and turns and complex characters, you may want to give this book a try!

I was most intrigued by the morally grey nature of some of the characters, including our protagonist Reg, who is a seasoned con artist turned medium. This ​contributed to making the characters well-rounded and realistic. I also thought it led to the characters making some interesting choices, choices that you don't normally see in cozy show more mysteries.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat! Part of it is because of the unique mystery (a dead man who might not be dead after all) and part of it is because of the wonderful world-building that Workman does. World-building is especially important for a paranormal cozy mystery; to me, it can make or break a book. In this case, it really enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

Spoiler about the world-building:

It was very interesting to see the paranormal nature of Black Sands through the eyes of an unbeliever like Reg. The way the magic system works is slightly confusing, but it makes sense given that Reg is probably even more confused about magic than we are.


To be honest, Reg isn't the most insightful character; she can be more than a little dense at times. I found it frustrating that she was overlooking certain details. At times, I wanted to shout at her through my pages!

I enjoyed the other parts of the book so much that I wasn't really bothered by her cluelessness. However, readers who don't enjoy reading about clueless main characters may want to give this book a pass.

Please note that there are some brief references to past child abuse. This book also has a few loose ends. No cliffhangers, but there are definitely elements that could be used as a segue into future books in the series.


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I love this series, and have been waiting for Chloe's story for quite awhile.

Chloe's behavior has been a mystery throughout the other books in this series, as her brother and sisters have acted out or fought back as their parents abused them, leading them into the 'system,' whereas Chloe has stood by her mother's side, supporting and defending her, when readers know that her mother must be abusing her as well. Chloe's story is horrifying yet hopeful, a harrowing read for anyone who works show more with children from an abusive background, in foster care, or situations where there are no responsible, loving adults to care for them and guide them, resulting in young adults who have no idea how to love themselves or others, or how to live in the world safely and successfully. Chloe's happy ending is hard-won, and a reminder that there are children (and adults) out there who need help, and that we should never look away when there may be signs of abuse or neglect. show less

Out with the Sunset introduces us to Workman's newest series. Margie Patenaude is a homicide detective who's just relocated to Calgary (from Winnipeg) with her teenage daughter in tow.

For me this one gets top marks for writing, editing, Indigenous representation, Canadian content – and for highlighting Canada's horrific past with regard to residential schools.

However, I'm not entirely comfortable with the resolution. Was it handled more sensitively and compassionately than some other show more writers would have done? Absolutely. But did this story need to be told? Especially in a world where refugees are demonised, vilified, and othered on a daily basis? I'm not convinced.

I believe the author's intentions are good. But not every story that could exist needs to be told. show less