dinsdag 8 november 2011

Victoria Laurie – Doom with a view

The seventh book in the Psychic Eye Mystery series, published September 2009.

Doom with a view

Business has been frustratingly slow for Abby. She reluctantly agrees to a job with the FBI, putting her at the center of an internal political struggle between two agents. Abby's skills and patience are tested, but when she helps them locate three college students who've mysteriously disappeared, they know she's the real deal.

Her intuition says these weren't random abductions. With her psychic eye wide open she sets out to find a kidnapper.


Due to the economic malaise, both Candice and Abby’s practices are low with work, and income. So when Dutch’ boss, whom they met on the previous case, asks for their help with a case the FBI is stuck at, they agree. They won’t get paid, but they do have the time. Only, the agent in charge with the case, totally does not believe in Abby’s gift, and he treats them with a lot of contempt, even though Abby passes all of his tests. Agency politics are really playing a big role, as this agent Harrison is pulling at the stops out at getting them dismissed of the case. His father was a big wig at the agency, and his uncle still is, and he is on the fast track to becoming one. He plays strictly by the book, and engaging a psychic is really not one of the rules. But he is overruled and has to play nice. Which he really can’t do.

The children from some prominent senators are being abducted, and the FBI can’t find a clue at all. Abby knows the first two are death already, and the third girl is still alive, but not for long! And she feels a fourth kid will be abducted shortly. But who that will be? First they have to find the connection between them, though the FBI thinks otherwise.
Thanks to Abby, the first two kids are found. When they are kicked of the case after that, the parents of the first kid hire them to find their daughter’s killer. And so, they keep investigating, and finding clues which the FBI can work with. It looks like they are finally believing in Abby, until she mentions ghosts. That really took away all her creditability. But of course she is right, and I have to admit, that last scene was extremely scary.


A really good mystery this one. Dutch had asked her to look into the case before, when she was still recovering, but she did not really get any clues back then. This time, she is totally open to it, although Harrison really hampers her with his disbelief and ridicule. She is totally scared of him. Harrison is Dutch’ boss, but Harrison’s boss is backing them up as much as he can. As I said, politics. Which is not Abby’s forte, but Candice really knows how to play them, and anger Harrison the most.
Okay, I did find out a tiny detail before Abby, but the whole case had me stymied. I did not see this coming. It was a bit scary, and suspenseful, and if you really think about it, very sad. Bad parents have a lot to account for. In books, but also in real life.

Dutch and Abby are still going strong, and Candice is my favourite secondary character. Not much of Dave and Milo in this book though. Though, ofcourse, Milo rats them out to Dutch again.

I have to admit, I find the use of all those titles tiring. Harrison wants to be called Agent, and not just mister, or something like that. Special Agent in Charge, Assistant Special Agent in Charge. And the political bigwigs also are called by their office. I don’t believe that is so important here in Holland, but then, I have no personal dealings with people so high up the political foodchain.

I really love this series, and I have two more books to go. And two other series by this author, so I am going on a reading binge for a while longer. I’m really enjoying myself, even though it is sometimes a bit scary (yes, I am a huge scaredy cat). Luckily, my boyfriend is very good at chasing away nightmares.

9 stars.

4 opmerkingen:

  1. Only two more to go? WOW! You have speed through these. Glad you are having a good time with them.

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  2. Two more books and then even more o_O Wow she has been busy :D

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  3. I do need to get back to the series. I didn't realize there were so many in the series. I have some catching up to do.

    Vickie

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  4. @Missie: they read really fast, difficult to stop as the suspense grows
    @Blodeuedd: yes, am looking forward to the other series. I believe the books with the ghoul titles are an offspin, one of the characters who appeared in the third book.
    @Vickie: you are one of the people who pointed me to his series/author, so yes please, do catch up :)

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