Harper, Lana and Gagnon, Jilly – Cards on the Table

Cards on the Table

~Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon

Cards on the Table by Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon doesn’t just shuffle the deck, it deals you a hand full of secrets, then dares you to call the bluff.

It’s fall in Salem, and sisters Tori and Cassie are working their booth at the Faire of Darkness, reading tarot, creating spell jars and sachets, and providing whatever else tourists request. The two are direct descendants of Bridget Bishop, one of the first women persecuted during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Frustration runs deep as business isn’t as fruitful as they’d hoped, but when a stranger shows up offering them a “witches-in-residence” gig for her client, Mrs. Rose Berwyn, Tori vehemently expresses her disapproval of the idea, while Cassie reluctantly goes along with her sister.

But after a run-in with their landlady, Mrs. DiRenza, and an eviction notice, Tori reconsiders the offer. Soon, she and Cassie are on their way to the Berkshires to meet Mrs. Berwyn. Once they arrive, however, they discover that far more is at stake than they were led to believe. Prickly family members abound, the staff deserves a second look, and secrets are stacked like tightly packed tarot decks. The Bishop sisters soon realize they are more than just a magic act for a lonely old woman. Something far darker is lurking beneath this family’s estate, and their only way out is to utilize their magic as it was destined to be used, along with a healthy dose of street smarts.

I am really enjoying these dual-authorship novels. Having two points of view and two authors writing the characters gives the story additional depth and likability. Tori and Cassie are the beating heart of this book. Both experienced trauma at a young age after being abandoned by their mother. Tori shielded Cassie from the ugliness of what happened, giving her good memories of their mom while carrying the weight of the painful truth herself.

The sisters are as different as orange and black socks, yet they mesh surprisingly well, creating a team that functions with all the messy, protective, hilarious energy of a true sisterly unit. Readers are immersed in their banter, real emotions, and protectiveness that extends far beyond their occasional animosity.

Rose, the widow nearing the end of her life, is another important focal point of the story. She’s witty, intelligent, and sharp for a woman approaching 90 while battling congestive heart failure. Her grief feels genuine, and her journey toward salvation is clear. The supporting characters do more than simply hand out candy for Halloween. Their roles are well defined, giving them a sense of necessity rather than making them feel like characters dropped in simply to add definition to the story.

Harper and Gagnon do not short-change readers when it comes to atmosphere. From the shadows cast by skeletal trees to ancient, warped windows that feel like narrow eyes watching from the darkness, the setting practically breathes around the characters. There are eyes that seem to trap others in their clutches, secrets hiding behind every corner, and a sense that something is always watching.

This is a slow-burn paranormal thriller with a touch of romance that checks all the boxes if you’re looking for your next fall read. Cards on the Table is scheduled for release on September 1, 2026, and I highly suggest adding this one to your TBR now in preparation for its release in less than two weeks!

Finally, how amazing would it be to create a sister-bond like Lana and Jilly have, writing together with the kind of passion and friendship that bleeds through the pages? To Lana and Jilly, if you ever need a third Musketeer, I’m just saying, I’m available. 😉

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and authors Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon for the opportunity to preview Cards on the Table. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. Karen Brooks aka The Tx Lit Chic I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review of Cards on the Table.

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