Playing her cards right

The Mystic and the Missing Girl by Toronto author Vikki VanSickle is a metaphysical mystery with identity and self-acceptance at its core. It leans into the “cosy” category, despite a spatter of salty language.

VanSickle is a writing instructor and TV commentator, and is best-known for her books for children and teens, including the award-winning The Winnowing.

The 1998 disappearance of 17-year-old Ginny Evans haunts the Ontario town of Stanfield. The girl’s mother clings to hope that Ginny ran away to escape her abusive father, and is living a safe and happy life elsewhere.

Others believe she was murdered — but not dumped in a nearby lake, as the recently deceased and long-maligned “Hannah the Mystic” once suggested.

As the 20th anniversary of Ginny’s disappearance draws nigh, Hannah’s niece, Drew, having inherited her aunt’s mystic shop Good Vibrations, has returned from an unsatisfying life on the west coast to a chilly reception from townspeople. They still blame Hannah for confusing and ultimately derailing the initial investigation, and are wary of Drew.

Drew has also inherited her aunt’s psychic abilities, but has denied them due to the way Hannah was treated when Ginny’s case went cold. From an early age, Drew explored what she came to call “glimmers” with her aunt — their shared gifts created a special bond between aunt and niece.

But at age 13, at a time she might have begun to delve into her abilities more deeply, Ginny disappeared, and investigators asked Hannah — who at the time was celebrated for her work on a popular TV show — for help. She offered three words: lake, saint and gardenia. These clues did not lead police to Ginny, and the case went cold. Hannah was decried as a fake, and vilified. Teenaged Drew began avoiding her aunt — something that, as an adult, she regrets.

As Drew scrubs the spray-painted “Justice for Ginny” message from her vandalized shop window, her high school nemesis Nick arrives. He’s now a Toronto journalist back to write an investigative piece on Ginny’s disappearance. After some friction the air is cleared, and they agree to work together. Nick is looking for a “big break” story to boost his career; Hannah hopes to clear her aunt’s name.

VanSickle nips what reads as an impending and obvious romance though a reveal of Nick’s sexual orientation. His cautious manner is a good balance to Drew’s more impulsive personality. Trust builds slowly, and they become an increasingly strong team.

The story is organized into seven parts named after cards in a tarot deck: The Fool, Two of Cups, Eight of Swords, The Devil, Three of Pentacles, Nine of Pentacles and Queen of Wands. Each card has meaning within that section and represents Drew’s journey not only in unravelling the mystery, but also in learning to accept her psychic gifts.

Chapters are short and move at a swift pace with plenty of twists and turns. Clues are revealed through research, snooping, conversations and, eventually, visions and tarot card readings. To solve the case, Drew must accept her true self, which means embracing her psychic abilities. In the way of cozy mysteries, her journey is aided by a small-town setting, humour, quirky characters, a loyal best friend and even a pet.

With The Mystic and the Missing Girl, VanSickle makes a solid foray into writing for adults. If a clue offered at the end isn’t a red herring, this mystery is the beginning of what might become a series.

Author and actor Anita Daher best enjoys solving mysteries from her hammock in Gimli.