Customer Reviews

Better Read Than Dead (Psychic Eye Mysteries, Book 2)

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A new face has been added to the list of must read authors - Ms. Victoria Laurie. Better Read Than Dead is the 2nd book featuring Abby Cooper, a gifted intuitive in Michigan, and her friends and loved ones. Where the 1st book really introduces Abby and her friends to us, this book pulls out the stops and lets us see the world of the paranormal. There is a favor a friend calls in to read fortunes with Tarot cards at a Greek wedding reception that lands Abby in some hot water indeed. The plot is believable as she deals with the unsavory consequences of having read a hit man's cards at the reception. This brings her to the attention of a Greek gangster, who wants Abby to advise him about his 'business' and subsequent heirs.
Having lived in Detroit and suburbs of Detroit, I can remember Greektown and working at RenCen. Ms. Laurie is hitting her stride, very comfortable in Abby's skin and effortlessly gets us involved in her life and friendships of Dutch, her hunky FBI boyfriend, and their friend Milo, a great cop, her sister Cat, her handy man Dave, and her sweet pooch, Eggy.
This book gives insight to the world of the psychic and their responsibility of their readings - what if someone not skilled read fortunes and completely misinterprets what is before her like Cat did? or visions were read another way than intended? It is a great responsibility that professional psychics face, and Abby is a great example of that - dealing with her Crew - her guides etc who help her from the Other Side.
Ms. Laurie is a delightful writer and gifted psychic herself, causing this reader to see her website and get a reading - she was excellent and a super person. Highly recommend you try too. If you are a fan of Abby Cooper's, you are interested in the paranormal. Follow your guides and read Abby's adventures and see how special this series and their writer truly is.

Yes, I'm very grumpy today. I was up until 1:20 a.m. because I COULD NOT put this book down. My normal bedtime is 9 p.m. but this book just kept me going and going and going. And, instead of taking a brief nap on my lunch hour, instead I am going to the book store to buy more. This was the first book I read and I devoured it in two days. Victoria Laurie is now right at the top of my 'must read' authors!

The first of the series, "Abby Cooper - Psychic Eye" introduced us to Abby's life as a Pyschic and to her sister Cat, Dave the Handyman, Eggy the pooch and Police Officers Dutch and Milo.

The second books takes off running. This is a very well written book. I love the fact that we are immersed in Abby's world as we follow her to work and home, get involved in her sister troubles, as well as worries about her house.

Abby always explains who she is and how life as a Psychic works, or not, depending upon just how much information she gets and if she understands what's being said to her.

The story has several twists and turns and I always find myself worrying about her life as well as the lives of the people who surround her.

I don't want to write about the plot or lay out a list of what happens because that's why you read the book. I do recommend this if you love mystery, intrigue, witty dialogue, great writing and most importantly, good fun.

I see a great writing career for Victoria Laurie and I hope to see a long run for Abby Cooper. It won't take long for her to join the ranks of "Stephanie Plum," or "Kay Scarpetta".

I would buy or borrow this book today as it's a great read if you're interested in detective stories, the Pyschic world, great characters, and an author who takes you places you've never been. You'll thank her for the trip. It's well worth it!

Although I enjoy this series and will probably continue to buy the books, I can't help thinking that Abby is incredibly immature. The whole scene with Dutch's new partner was straight out of junior high. And this continues into the next books. As soon as someone tells Abby not to do something, she goes out and does it just to spite them, even if it means putting herself in danger. At 30 something, I would think she'd be a little more grown up. Also, Cat is just plain annoying.

I'm sorry. I hate to disparage anything, but I would enjoy this series a great deal more if Abby could mature a little.

I am so excited to find this series. I've always loved mysteries and being an Angel Therapy Practitioner, I obviously love the metaphysical aspects of the world. I'm sure the Universe helped me stumble into this delightful series written by Victoria Laurie. It is such a fun experience, especially for us weirdos who can relate to the descriptions of funny feelings of intuition and little voices. Abby's character is charming, wonderfully real and grounded for being a little weird. My absolute favorite part of this book is Abby's perfectionistic sister's attempt at a Tarot party. I "knew" where that one was going. Thanks again Victoria and please keep up the good work!!!

Love, love, love this series, wit, charm, humor, suspense, mystery, what more could you ask for. I recommend you read them in order. Victoria Laurie brings a fresh new plot to the mystery world and for me she can't write fast enough.

Highly recommended.

I read this book because I liked the first one enough to want to know more. Abby is an intriguing character and her being a psychic gives the whole mystery novel thing a good twist but this book was just kind of boring.
I was hoping for Abby to become more dimensional in this book. For Laurie to explore the character, but Abby didn't grow at all in this book and for a 30 something year old she seemed immature. The story line was also kind of passe, the first book was all about Abby and Dutch ( a detective she fell for) and their tango into love but at the beginning of this book you learn that Dutch is going to be MIA for most of the book and even when he is present all you want to do is hit him. And then two story lines are weaved together (not too convincingly) for a predictable but way too contrived ending. And Abby seems to have varying levels of psychic abilities throughout the book. I get that sometimes a psychic is on and sometimes they aren't but the differences in her abilities seemed a bit too extreme for that excuse.

However, I do still like the idea of the character and I can see potential in the writer. The skills need to be honed and the style needs to be a bit cleaner but in the future I might give one of her stories a read again.

I would pass on this book... Give the third one a try maybe, I've heard that Abby starts to round out at some point.

This one is just as good as her first, Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye. It's fun and serious and managed to keep me from putting it down until I finished. Abby Cooper is about as real as any character gets (except for the psychic part, don't we all wish we were?). Victoria Laurie created a character that you can't help but love. I will be reading her 3rd and I hope she continues to write.

Also, as I wrote in my review of Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye, if you love the Stephanie Plum series, you should seriously consider this one. I can't put either down once I start. Happy Reading!

I really enjoyed the first books of this series, Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye, but this one wasn't as much fun. The plot is overly convoluted and there are huge plot holes.
Spoiler Alert*********Spoiler Alert*************Spoiler Alert***********Spoiler Alert***

Abby and Kendal just blow-off a mafia family wedding? You don't have to be psychic to know its a really bad idea to take a mobsters money and run.

We have Dutch, a new FBI agent, being assigned to a high-profile mafia case in the town he was a police detective in just a couple of months ago. AND there are local cops on the mafia don's payroll that worked with Dutch, but still it takes Abby's mention of a parking ticket to cause Dutch and Joe problems?

In the first book Abby purposely booked her clients for phone readings when she is being threatened by a murderer, but in this one she doesn't think of doing this at all. It takes one of her clients to suggest this solution.

The whole mafia harassment story arc was annoying rather than entertaining.

Abby's reaction to Dutch's boss Joe was way too over the top. Who, over the age of 15, acts like that. And, how can someone in their 30's not know that you can warn off potential rivals all you want, but a cheater will cheat if they want to.

Then there is Joe's funeral. It says it was a heart-wrenching affair. How so, when Abby hardly knew the woman and really didn't like her at all. I can understand that Abby felt empathy for the family, but I can't understand her character being heart-broken over the situation.

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I still think this series has potential so I will give the next book a try, but I'm hoping the plot is tighter and Abby more mature.

6-17-10

Better Read Than Dead by Victoria Laurie is amazing psychic mystery ride. This book has rape, The Mob, The FBI, Kidnapping and amazing chase. I bought her next book this weekend and can't wait to find out what the next adventure will be....They just get better and better!