🕵️‍♀️ Book Review: Lucky Secrets by B.T. Polcari | YA Cozy Mystery with a Deadly Twist

Item: Lucky Secrets
Rating: 4
Author: Gina

"She’s at the center of a dangerous game with deadly consequences if she quits. But what happens if she wins?"

👋 Welcome to the Tour!

I’m excited to welcome you to my stop on the Goddess Fish Promotions tour for Lucky Secrets by award-winning mystery author B.T. Polcari. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a touch of danger, quirky characters, and brain-tickling puzzles, this young adult novel might be your next favorite read.

Post Highlights

🔻 Keep scrolling to enter the giveaway! 🔻

📝 Book Details

Lucky Secrets
By B.T. Polcari
Series: Mauzzy & Me Mystery #3
Published by Wild Rose Press on 23 June 2025
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Young Adult
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 366

College student Sara Donovan is in the homestretch of graduating when a mysterious package arrives with an invitation to an exclusive contest. One that will drastically change the winner’s life. Included are unsettling photographs from forgettable chapters in her life and a threatening note strongly suggesting she participate.

With no good options, Sara enters the contest and finds herself at a fabulous mansion up against eight formidable opponents, each with a dark secret and all racing to solve seven levels of riddles and puzzles.

After a contestant’s body is discovered, Sara contemplates dropping out when another package arrives, its chilling contents making clear she’s at the center of a dangerous game with deadly consequences if she quits. But what it doesn’t say is—what happens if she wins?

Source: Goddess Fish Promotions

🔎 Excerpt from Lucky Secrets

Winston forced a smile. “The founder imparted to me that every contestant was personally selected because each of you has a secret that absolutely must remain—a secret. Especially from law enforcement.” He glanced at me and raised an eyebrow. “Since the winner of the contest will become fabulously wealthy, it would seem, everyone is here because of a potentially—lucky secret.”

Zoe’s head whipped toward me. With eyes wide, she mouthed law enforcement. I threw her a little headshake, even as my body exploded in tingles. I have no such secrets—anymore. I think. A picture popped in my head of the open safe-deposit box with the gold artifact, gold bar, and emeralds. With my name on the signature card. Somebody obviously manufactured a secret for me. But why? And is it the same for all the contestants? Were they also blackmailed into coming for something they didn’t do? Or were they…

📚 Where to Find Lucky Secrets

Available on Amazon:

Book cover of Lucky Secrets by B.T. Polcari. A silhouette of a person walks across a reflective blue surface beneath a sky filled with puzzle pieces. On the left, a gothic mansion glows with interior lights. The subtitle reads: “Having all the luck is not always a good thing,” and a cartoon pup sits above the title as part of the “A Mauzzy & Me Mystery” series. — Lucky Secrets - A Mauzzy & Me Mystery

🛒 KINDLE | PAPERBACK

If the links above don’t direct you to your country’s Amazon store, feel free to contact me—I’m happy to share the correct one.

Using my Amazon affiliate links doesn’t change the price you pay. Amazon shares a small commission with me, which helps keep this blog running—thank you!

Do you prefer to shop locally?
🛍️ You can also purchase Lucky Secrets from your favorite indie bookstore online.

Bookshop.org is an excellent option that supports indie authors—and book bloggers like me—while avoiding the big-box route.

Also available at:
📘 Barnes & Noble | Apple Books

📌 Click the Pinterest Save button to pin it to your TBR board!

💭 My Thoughts on Lucky Secrets

Having all the luck is not always a good thing…

College student Sara Donovan is weeks away from graduation when a strange package upends her life. Suddenly, she’s swept into an exclusive contest hosted in a lavish mansion alongside eight strangers—each hiding secrets that must never see the light of day.

This book delivers a classic cozy mystery vibe wrapped in a YA thriller. Think: Knives Out meets The Westing Game, but with blackmail, riddles, and a snarky voice that adds bite to every chapter.

Sara is a relatable protagonist—smart, independent, and hilariously sarcastic (her “traumatized hatchback” line still makes me laugh). I loved the banter and character interplay, especially in the dinner scenes where tension rises like a whistling kettle. With puzzles to solve, rivalries to navigate, and a murder on the premises, Sara must play the game or risk becoming its next casualty.

Oh—and did I mention her adorable rescue pup, Mauzzy? That’s right, canine charm included.

Recommended for:

YA readers who enjoy cozy mysteries
Puzzle lovers and escape room fans
Anyone who likes ensemble casts with secrets
Readers who enjoy a fast-paced whodunit with snarky humor

I received a copy of the book as part of this tour. This review reflects my honest, unbiased opinion.

Don't miss these delightful cozy mysteries in the Mauzzy & Me Series!

About B.T. Polcari

Author B.T. Polcari smiles in an outdoor autumn setting. He wears glasses, a blue collared shirt, and a black leather jacket. His brown hair and mustache give him a friendly, approachable appearance.

B.T. Polcari is a graduate of Rutgers College of Rutgers University, an award-winning mystery author, and a proud father of two wonderful children. He’s a champion of rescue pups (Mauzzy is a rescue), craves watching football and basketball, and, of course, loves reading mysteries.

Among his favorite authors are Richard Osman, D.P. Lyle, Frederick Forsyth, and Michael Connelly. He is also an unapologetic fantasy football addict. He lives with his wife in scenic Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Signed Copies are available on the author's website!

⭐ Final Thoughts

With its irresistible blend of intrigue, humor, and high-stakes secrets, Lucky Secrets delivers everything a reader could want in a YA cozy mystery. Grab your magnifying glass—you won’t want to miss a clue!