Mixed Signals: A Grace Street Mystery

An eclectic collection of residents inhabit the 302 Grace Street boarding house in Parkland, N.C., in Tesh%E2%80%99s tepid second cozy featuring PI David Randall and his psychic friend, John Michael %E2%80%9CCam%E2%80%9D Camden (after 2011%E2%80%99s Stolen Hearts). Others include David%E2%80%99s girlfriend, Kary Ingram, and, as Christmas approaches, temporary guests like David%E2%80%99s mother, Sophia. The brutal slaying of Cam%E2%80%99s friend Jared Hunter leads to David%E2%80%99s recurrent flashbacks in which he seems to sense the killer%E2%80%99s thoughts, firing a determination to catch the killer. Meanwhile, a would-be superhero dubbed the Parkland Avenger tries to assist, but only hinders, police efforts to solve a string of robberies plaguing the town%E2%80%99s merchants. Romantic entanglements for both David and Cam, the zany Super Hero Society%E2%80%99s members, and Parkland%E2%80%99s Underground Railroad history lend interest, but Tesh%E2%80%99s feeble attempts at wit, her characters%E2%80%99 hopelessly immature approach to relationships, and far-fetched plotting disappoint. (Oct.)