A Glimmer of Death

Widow Odessa Jones, the psychically gifted narrator of this strong series launch from Wesley (the Tamara Hayle series), can see glimmers, auralike colors that correspond to a person’s emotional state. Odessa works at Risko Realty, a cut-rate real estate agency in an aging New Jersey town. When the agency’s owner, Charlie Risko, a bully who never passes up an opportunity to humiliate his staff, is shot dead with his own gun, no one is surprised. Everyone in the office had a motive, and they all agree that Charlie deserved to die. After Odessa’s workmate Harley Wild is arrested for the crime and her glimmers tell her Harley is innocent, Odessa decides to follow her instincts and find the killer. The sheer goodness that Odessa displays in her dealings with others, including her witchy aunts, makes this cozy a standout. Wesley perfectly captures her protagonist’s emotions, including the lingering melancholy she feels for her late husband. Only a weak resolution to the mystery disappoints. Readers will hope to see a lot more of kind, empathetic Odessa. Agent: Faith Childs, Faith Childs Literary. (Feb.)