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Showing posts with label A Psychic Eye Mystery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A Psychic Eye Mystery. Show all posts

Monday, July 20, 2015

Review: Sense of Deception by Victoria Laurie - and Giveaway - July 20, 2015


Sense of Deception
Author:  Victoria Laurie
Series:  A Psychic Eye Mystery 13
Publisher:  NAL, July 7, 2015
Format:  Hardcover and eBook, 368 pages
List Price:  $24.95 (print); $11.99 (eBook)
ISBN:  9780451473868 (print)
Review Copy:  Provided by the Publisher

In New York Times bestselling author Victoria Laurie’s newest Psychic Eye Mystery, Abby Cooper senses a convicted killer is innocent, but she’ll need hard evidence to save the woman before it’s too late…

A ticked-off judge has tossed Abby in the slammer for contempt of court, and during her brief but unpleasant stay she learns the story of a condemned woman who is facing a far more serious sentence. Skylar Miller has been found guilty of murder and faces the death penalty. Everyone believes she’s guilty, including her own family and her ex-husband—everyone, that is, except Abby, whose finely honed intuition tells her this woman doesn’t belong behind bars.

With the help of her husband Dutch and her friend Candice, Abby launches into her own investigation to clear Skylar and find the real killer. But after a final appeal is denied and Skylar’s attorney scrambles for a stay of execution, time is running short—and the list of suspects keeps growing. There’s no margin for error as the life of an innocent woman hangs in the balance…
Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound



Jennifer's Review

Sense of Deception is the 13th novel in Victoria Laurie’s successful Psychic Eye Mystery Series. In this installment we see Abby Cooper whisked off to jail from contempt of court after using her psychic gift to publicly humiliate a nasty federal court judge who baited her while on the witness stand. While in jail, Abby meets death row inmate Skylar Miller, who is on her last appeal for the brutal murder of her young son, Noah, a decade ago. Abby’s psychic senses convince her that Skylar is innocent, so she sets out to prove this in the short amount of time remaining before Skylar is executed.

Abby is a well established and masterfully realized character. She uses her psychic abilities in her daily life as a personal reader, private investigator, and FBI consultant. Abby commits all of herself when on a case and works well under extreme pressure. She is practical but loses her temper quickly when she is challenged, which can be detrimental, as evidenced by her courtroom outburst and arrest. Abby’s husband, Dutch, best friend and business partner, Candice, and the usual team of FBI contacts are all featured in this book. Dutch is an amazing guy; he is lovable and protective of Abby and an excellent investigator. Candice is fiery and strong and always has Abby’s back. Candice’s husband and FBI supervisor, Brice, has a smaller supportive role in this story, but still comes across as an all around great agent and friend. Bill Gaston, the Regional Director of the FBI, is very fond of Abby and respectful of her abilities, giving her a great deal of latitude in her investigations, and using his status to help her out of the sticky situation she sometimes finds herself in. Agent Oscar Rodriguez has been in a few novels in this series, but has a more prominent role in this one. Oscar, who is on a forced vacation because he hasn’t taken time off in three years, helps Abby in her quest to free Skylar. In exchange for his off the grid help, Abby has decided to help the handsome young agent to smarten up his look, along with finding him a house to replace is dilapidated apartment and help him with his love life. She, of course, uses her talent to steer him in the right directions.

Skylar Miller herself plays more of a behind the scene part in the book, Abby’s access to her being limited due to her status as a death row inmate, but she is still a compelling character that powers the story. She has a cherubic appearance but is visibly defeated by the death of her beloved son and her subsequent conviction for his heinous murder. Skylar’s venomous mother, Faith Wagner, is downright mean and completely unlikeable, which makes Skylar’s story even more tragic. Skylar’s ex-husband, who fully blames Skylar for their son’s death, is also unlikeable even in his grief. Molly Cummins is the sweet little old lady that currently lives in the house where Noah was murdered. Doreen and Ted Mulgrew, a regular older couple who knew Skylar and Noah, still live right next door to the murder scene. Ray Dioli is the hardened police detective who worked on Skylar’s case and is absolutely convinced of her guilt. Dioli is willing to work with Abby for his own ends, only allowing her access to his files if she assists him on a cold case he’s been working on, all the while expecting Abby to fail in her mission to free Skylar. We see attorney Calvin Douglas again, who helped Abby and Candice in an early book in the series. He agrees to take Skylar’s dire case as a favor to Abby. There are also various other supporting characters with connections to Skylar’s past and the case that are interesting in and of themselves.

As is typical for the Psychic Eye Series, this book is fast paced, with well timed action throughout and snappy dialogue. The author is an expert at building the tension to an exciting ending with her specialty being injecting urgency into the entire story, making the mystery all the more gripping. This is not a thriller, but a skillfully crafted mystery that keeps the reader interested and entertained from beginning to end. The subplot, which runs parallel to the main storyline, is fully integrated and complimentary, another skill that Ms. Laurie has perfected. And finally, the clever and easy banter, that has marked the relationship between Abby and Dutch throughout the series, gives the reader small, well placed respites from the action and works exceedingly well in making the story feel true to life. Sense of Deception is a wonderful addition to this series and I can truly say that I impatiently wait to discover what will come next in Abby’s world.





The Giveaway

What:  One entrant will win a Hardcover copy of Sense of Deception by Victoria Laurie from the publisher. US ONLY

How:  Log into and follow the directions in the Rafflecopter below.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a US mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59PM US Eastern Time on July 29, 2015. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules and duration are subject to change without any notice.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Review: Fatal Fortune by Victoria Laurie


Fatal Fortune
Author:  Victoria Laurie
Series:  A Psychic Eye Mystery 12
Publisher:  Obsidian, June 2, 2015
Format:  Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 336 pages
List Price:  $7.99 (print)
ISBN:  9780451469250 (print)
Review Copy:  Provided by the Publisher
Previously published in Hardcover, July 1, 2014

Fans of Harper Connelly and TV’s Medium will love the psychic detective in this New York Times bestselling series….

Abby Cooper can’t believe her eyes after the police show her surveillance video of her best friend and business partner, Candice Fusco, shooting a man in cold blood. And when the cops tell her they think the victim has ties to the Mob—and perhaps Candice does too—Abby can’t believe her ears. Surely there is a logical explanation. But Candice is nowhere to be found.

Trusting her intuition, Abby decides to search for the truth in Vegas—which may be the biggest gamble of her life. Once in town she begins to uncover a rigged game of dirty double-dealing where the stakes are no less than life and death. And if she’s not careful, Abby can forget about ever leaving Las Vegas…alive.
Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound



Jennifer's Review

Fatal Fortune is the 12th installment of Victoria Laurie’s long running Psychic Eye Mystery Series. This time around we find psychic, Abby Copper, racing to find answers after her partner and best friend, Candice, is accused of the cold blooded murder of a well liked doctor. The crime was caught on camera and clearly shows Candice shooting the doctor at point blank range, but Abby’s radar is telling her different and she is on the hunt for the killer, who may or may not be Candice, and for Candice herself, who has disappeared after leaving a cryptic message on Abby’s voicemail.

Abby is a well developed character that has evolved immensely over the course of the books. She is independent and practical and often relies on her psychic gift to make important choices in her life. She uses her psychic abilities in her professional life as well, having her own clients within the investigative firm she runs with Candice, and working part time as a civilian profiler for the FBI. This book focuses heavily on Candice and her past. Candice has always been a bit a mystery; she is a skilled investigator and is strong, physically and emotionally. She is very secretive and protective of her past and privacy, but has been a staunch friend to Abby, saving her life on multiple occasions. Now Abby needs to save her, no matter how much Candice protests. Candice’s new husband, FBI Agent Brice, figures prominently as he deals with his fear for his wife and the growing concern that she might not be who they all think she is. Abby has been with Dutch Rivers, also an FBI agent, since the beginning of the series, finally tying the knot in the last book. Dutch has a secondary role in this story, but is still a huge presence in Abby’s life. They have a wonderful relationship, built over years of missteps and several life-and-death experiences.

Abby travels from her home base of Austin, Texas to Las Vegas to follow clues and search for Candice, encountering various people along the way. We meet purported mobsters and rival casino owners Salazar Kato and Frank Garafalo. Garafalo, an intimidating personage, has a connection with Saline Hamon, a shadowy character who figures into the mystery. Kato is an older and refined mobster who has some kind of tie with Candice and vows to punish her for the murder of his friend, Dr. Robinowitz. Arlo and Michelle work for Kato. Arlo is a typical Vegas type thug, pushy and mouthy, and Michelle is an attractive young woman, who has an enigmatic role in Kato’s organization. Vegas PD Detective Brosseau, who was featured in a previous novel, comes back in this book to assist Abby in her quest for the truth. Special Agent Oppenheimer is tasked with bringing Candice to justice and is someone Abby must avoid until she uncovers proof of Candice’s guilt or innocence.

Laurie’s writing is fast paced, with lightning quick twists and turns. Her stories are generally action packed and suspenseful, which is definitely the case with this book. There are moments of pure excitement, dizzying confusion and high emotion. The story never hits a dull moment and I found myself getting lost in Abby’s world, laughing out loud at her ill fated attempts to curb her swearing habit, and reading well past my bed time to see where the next clue would take her. I am excited that the next installment of the series will be coming out in July 2015 with Sense of Deception.

Due to the fact that this novel is part of a well established series, I would recommend starting with the first book or the nuances of the characters pasts and their currents lives will be missed.





The Giveaway

What:  One entrant will win a Mass Market Paperback copy of Fatal Fortune by Victoria Laurie from the publisher. US ONLY

How:  Log into and follow the directions in the Rafflecopter below.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a US mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59 PM US Eastern Time on June 19, 2015. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules and duration are subject to change.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Upcoming

Sense of Deception
A Psychic Eye Mystery 13
NAL, July 7, 2015
Hardcover and eBook, 368 pages

In New York Times bestselling author Victoria Laurie’s newest Psychic Eye Mystery, Abby Cooper senses a convicted killer is innocent, but she’ll need hard evidence to save the woman before it’s too late…

A ticked-off judge has tossed Abby in the slammer for contempt of court, and during her brief but unpleasant stay she learns the story of a condemned woman who is facing a far more serious sentence. Skylar Miller has been found guilty of murder and faces the death penalty. Everyone believes she’s guilty, including her own family and her ex-husband—everyone, that is, except Abby, whose finely honed intuition tells her this woman doesn’t belong behind bars.

With the help of her husband Dutch and her friend Candice, Abby launches into her own investigation to clear Skylar and find the real killer. But after a final appeal is denied and Skylar’s attorney scrambles for a stay of execution, time is running short—and the list of suspects keeps growing. There’s no margin for error as the life of an innocent woman hangs in the balance…
Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

Friday, October 31, 2014

ParaMysMo 2014: Victoria Laurie, author of the Ghost Hunter Mysteries and more! - October 31, 2014


To close out Paranormal Mystery Month, we have M. J. Holliday from the Ghost Hunter Mysteries written by the fabulous Victoria Laurie!  Victoria also writes the Psychic Eye Mysteries (and more).




       Hey there, M. J. Holliday here. Ghostbuster by trade, kicker of ghoulie ass by necessity.
       Tonight, October 31st marks the worst day of the year for me and my crew. Oh, yeah, it might seem like all fun and games as you and your kids get all dressed up in some creatively spooky costume and parade up and down the streets collecting candy, scaring the neighbors, or TP the house on the corner with the lights out when clearly someone’s home.
       But it’s no fun and certainly no game for me. I deal with the real thing. The real Halloween. All Saint’s Eve. The one night a year when the veil between our world and the lower realms - the one that many evil ghoulies haunt like a local tavern - thins.
       For me and my ghostbusting crew, (my BFF Gilley and my sweetheart Heath), the result is usually a cross between Nightmare on Elm Street and Platoon.
       Around eight o’clock my cell will start ringing, ‘cause some of you decided to get out that Ouija board in between trick-or-treaters, or host a séance for some party guests, or make your house so attractive to the spooks by decorating it to its creepy limits and charging up the ether with all that fear from the little ones, that a tear in the veil will allow the ghoulies to freely enter your home sweet home.
       It usually begins with a flickering of the lights. Just a quick flash of darkness that you’ll shrug off to a surge in the current. Then, maybe there’ll be a creak upstairs. Perhaps some disembodied footsteps. Following that, maybe a door will slam, or a photo of a deceased loved one will fall off the wall. You might shrug a few of these off for a bit, but as the hour grows late and the streets empty of children and your guests head home, a cold chill will start to fill your house. You’ll check all the windows of course, looking for the source of the draft, and maybe you’ll venture upstairs. Maybe the lights will flicker again. You’ll pause on the staircase and wait, but nothing more will come and you’ll keep advancing up the steps. Then maybe there’ll be a creak. A moan. And the haunting sound of quiet…distant…laughter.
       The hair on the back of your neck will stand on end and goosepimples will line your arms. You’ll hold your breath, tell yourself that it’s just your imagination, but then…but then there’ll be a whisper of something from somewhere behind you even though you’re certain you’re the only one upstairs. Perhaps it’ll be a rustling of clothing. Maybe the barest sound of your name. But something will feel like it’s standing right behind you on the landing, and as you turn your head slooooowly around, you’ll realize, you really did venture upstairs alone.
       Or so you thought.
       And then maybe another door will slam. Or the walls will start to ooze a gooey gray substance - ectoplasm - and then you’ll feel that touch to your shoulder, or the weight of someone not there, but there will press up against you. You’ll scream, and then you’ll turn to flee, but as you descend the stairs you’ll swear someone is giving chase. Maybe you’ll scream again. Maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll be too terrified and no sound will come from your throat. Maybe you’ll simply race out of the house and give me a call.
       Which is fine. I’ll be there soon. Armed with magnets to target the electromagnetic energy of your house, sending the spooks scurrying, and stakes to drive into that tear you created for them to climb through. I’ll save you butt while kicking theirs. But it’ll cost you. I’m not cheap, and these busts aren’t child’s play. Trust me on that at least.
       So remember, this Halloween if you want to get out the Ouija board, or host a séance, or turn your home into that house on Elm - go for it. Just remember to get out your checkbook and put my number on speed dial. Look me up. I’m in the book under kicker of ghoulie asses. Pinkie swear.





Ghost Hunter Mysteries
Recent and Upcoming

The Ghoul Next Door
A Ghost Hunter Mystery 8
Signet, January 7, 2014
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 352 pages

On a well-deserved hiatus from the ghoulish grind of their TV show, Ghoul Getters, psychic medium M. J. Holliday, her boyfriend, Heath, and her best friend, Gilley, are back home in Boston. But there’s no rest for the weary ghost busters. M. J.’s ex comes to her for help—his fiancée’s brother Luke seems haunted by a sinister spirit.

The crew sets up surveillance cameras to watch for the possessive poltergeist while Luke is sleeping. But when he goes outside in the middle of the night and returns hours later covered in blood, they are all very concerned—especially when the news reports the murder of a young woman in the neighborhood.

Now M. J., Heath, and Gilley must remain self-possessed as they try to stop a wicked ghost whose behavior is anything but neighborly.
Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound



Upcoming

No Ghouls Allowed
A Ghost Hunter Mystery 9
Signet, January 6, 2015
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 352 pages

On a trip to Georgia to see her father, M. J. Holliday finds herself trapped in a haunted mansion and discovers…

THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN—FROM THE DEAD

M.J. has had a distant relationship with her father since her mother died more than two decades ago. But when M.J., her boyfriend, Heath, and BFF, Gilley, take a break from their show, Ghoul Getters, and visit her family home in Valdosta, Georgia, they find Montgomery Holliday a changed man. The source of his happiness seems to be his new fiancée, the charming Christine Bigelow.

But despite the blush of new love, Montgomery and Christine are dealing with a big problem in the form of the antebellum mansion she is having renovated. After a series of strange accidents, the work crew is convinced the place is cursed, and the contractor has walked off the job. At Christine’s request, M.J. and her pals agree to find out if they’re really dealing with some spirited saboteurs and a possessed plantation home.
Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound


To see all of the Ghost Hunter Mysteries with covers descriptions and buy links, 
please click Read more below.






About Victoria



Website  ~  About  ~  Facebook Group  ~  Twitter @Victoria_Laurie





The Giveaway

What:  One entrant will win 1 Mass Market Paperback copy of her/his choice of Ghost Hunter Mysteries 1 - 8 by Victoria Laurie.

How:   Log into and follow the directions in the Rafflecopter below.

Who and When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59 PM US Eastern Time on November 15, 2014. Void where prohibitedby law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules and duration are subject to change.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Friday, May 30, 2014

Guest Blog by Victoria Laurie - Murder and Mayhem Amongst Friends - and Giveaway! - May 30, 2014


Please welcome Victoria Laurie to The Qwillery. Deadly Forecast, the 11th Psychic Eye Mystery, is out in Mass Market Paperback on June 3 from Obsidian.






Murder and Mayhem Amongst Friends

      A few years ago I was at a book conference with some of my writer peeps, namely, Juliet Blackwell, Sophie Littlefield, Nicole Peeler, Mysti Berry, Jaye Wells, and Gigi Pandian, and in between the panels, gossip, great food, (and drink…ahem) we all had a chance to talk shop.

      Our conversations were lively, spirited, and laugh-out-loud funny - these ladies are quick with a punch line! I remember feeling so animated and excited while we chatted about things that might make any of my other friends wince. We ladies of paranormal mystery swapped stories of murder and mayhem like recipes for a Sunday brunch, and it was amazeballs.

      Juliet - Julie - and I are particularly close. Not only is she a lovely, kind, intelligent, and all around great person, but we both write for the same publisher, and our genres are identical, not to mention that we both have two ongoing series. It was so fabulous and fun to share new techniques and ideas with her. Julie likes to push the envelope of her own creative genius as much as I do, and I can’t fully describe how liberating it is to befriend a fellow writer who’s as non-conformist as I am.

      After dinner, Julie and I talked late into the night about the ideas for novels - separate from our series - that we wished we had time to write. Mine was an idea for a YA novel I’d been kicking around for years, and Julie’s was a contemporary novel set in Paris. I remember we both sighed wistfully and bemoaned the fact that our schedules were crazy full, and where were we ever going to find the time to write these books?

      Then we moved on to discussions about our respective series, and how difficult it can be to come up with new and unique mysteries for our heroines to solve. I confessed to Julie that I really wanted to challenge myself by attempting a dual storyline for Abby and M. J., and she lit up like a Christmas tree. Based on her immediate reaction I knew I absolutely had to write that book. We talked at length about how to construct the story, and thinking it through out loud with her helped me solidify that the book would definitely be a Psychic Eye novel with Abby in first person, and alternating chapters featuring M. J. in third person. I wanted to root the story firmly in Abby’s world on the day of her wedding, but also introduce readers who might not be familiar with M. J. to my other plucky protagonist without the reader feeling like they needed to have read that series from the start. Julie could not have been more encouraging.

      Once I was home from the conference, I got right to work, and low and behold a few months later, Deadly Forecast was born. Hands down it was the most challenging and yet rewarding book I’ve written in either series, and I’m oodley thankful to Julie for giving me the encouragement I needed to tap it out.

      Still feeling buoyed by those late night talks with my friend, immediately (and I do mean immediately) after finishing Deadly Forecast I went on to finally crank out that YA novel I’d been dying to write, which then sold to a publisher a few months later and now Death Date is set for release in January of 2015. After accepting the offer, one of the first people I shared the news with was Julie, who was so amazingly kind in her praise and congratulations. I remember being so giggly and excited when I told her the news; I hope she knows how much she inspired me to go for it.

      And now here it is almost two years later and I’m certainly not the only one who’s been busy! My fabulous friend has also recently snagged a deal to write that idea she first told me about of a novel set in Paris, and I believe she’s tapping it out as we speak! Also, she’s gone on to pen a crossover herself, and, A Haunting Is Brewing, is now available for pre-order! Personally, I can’t wait to see what Mel and Lily are up to!

      Meanwhile I’m busy working on the next M. J. Ghost Hunter Mystery, and someday, perhaps Julie and I will have our respective heroines come together for some murderous fun. Me thinks Abby, Mel, Lily, and M. J. would get along famously!





Deadly Forecast
A Psychic Eye Mystery 11
Obsidian, June 3, 2014
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 352 pages

Wedding bells are ringing for psychic Abigail Cooper. But her senses are tingling that her fiancé, Dutch, is in danger. And he’s not the only one.…

ON HER WEDDING DAY, ABBY’S A TICKING TIME BOMB.

It’s said to be good luck if it rains on your wedding day, but Abby sees something darker than storm clouds on the horizon. She’s just had a disturbing premonition of her fiancé’s murder. Her husband-to-be has been assigned to a case involving a series of bombings, and Abby’s spirit guides warn her of imminent danger.

FBI agent Dutch Rivers is keeping his cool, but Abby can’t quell her anxiety. After another bombing at a local beauty salon, Abby vows to do everything in her power to keep Dutch safe and get him to the altar. But on the morning of the ceremony, she finds herself in a dire situation, with time running out….
Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound





Victoria Laurie


Website  ~  Facebook Group  ~  Twitter @Victoria_Laurie





The Giveaway

What:  One entrant will win a Mass Market Paperback copy of Deadly Forecast by Victoria Laurie from the publisher. US ONLY

How:  Log into and follow the directions in the Rafflecopter below.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a US mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59PM US Eastern Time on June 7, 2014. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules and duration are subject to change without any notice.*


a Rafflecopter giveaway