The Cold Heart of Capricorn: A Mystery [Hardcover]

Martha C. Lawrence (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1997

Parapsychologist and licensed private eye Elizabeth Chase finds herself getting in too deep while working with victims of a serial rapist, but when she tries to back away from the case, she only ends up coming ever closer to its deadly conclusion.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An engaging protagonist makes just palatable this story's blend of forthright paranormality, questionable reality and boilerplate anti-rape crusading. Elizabeth Chase, the San Diego psychic PI who debuted in Murder in Scorpio, warns police of a future rape she has seen in a dream. The police, of course, aren't impressed. When the local serial rapist catches up with Chase's prediction, however, the cops hire her to help them, although she seems accountable to nobody. The meticulous rapist isn't done, and his most recent victim, a karate student, says he must be a trained fighter. Police introduce Chase to their favorite suspects, guys with auras that could put a psychic off her feed, but on her own she visits the rapist's four known victims and learns how the attacks have changed their lives. When a shocking murder throws the PD into disarray, only Chase remains the women's champion. Although her inquiries, normal and para, set up the dream-driven finale, the questions ignored are more interesting than those addressed. If the future is written in dreams, aren't villains as doomed to attack as victims are to be attacked? Or is it that attackers exercise free will and victims are only fate's road kill? Prediction: unless Lawrence confronts all the ramifications of having a psychic heroine, even Elizabeth Chase's endearing discomfort with her gift of perception won't save this series.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Lawrence follows her wonderful first novel (Murder in Scorpio, LJ 10/1/95) with another appearance by Elizabeth Chase, private eye and parapsychologist. This time, clueless San Diego police ask for help in capturing a violent serial rapist. Good work.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 225 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st edition (January 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312145691
• ISBN-13: 978-0312145699
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,110,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perceptive....Not Wierd!, September 19, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Cold Heart of Capricorn: A Mystery (Hardcover)

I have to admit when I read the first Martha C. Lawrence book(Murder in Scorpio) I was a skeptic about the physic hook. Let me just say I was quickly convinced that I had made a good choice of what to read. Dr. Elizabeth Chase is clever, insightful, funny and oh yeah, she sometimes percieves something before it happens! I found the story to be very believeable as well as thrilling and exciting. The love interest is also good. I am looking foreward to the third in this series.

Ree-view

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PULL UP A CHAIR BY THE FIRE WITH THIS ONE!, April 29, 1998

By 

John Russell<[e-mail]> (San Angelo, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cold Heart of Capricorn (Mass Market Paperback)

Martha C. Lawrence's psychic protagonist, Elizabeth Chase, is a refreshing entry into the genre of mysteries, particularly those engaging the realm of the paranormal. As I'm a professional psychic with over 25 years experience performing readings for my clients, and having personally encountered a barrage of extraordinary paranormal phenomena, I can vouch for the fact that Elizabeth Chase's experiences come across as realistic and credible. She's oftentimes as perplexed by her psychic ability's inconsistency (or rather maybe her occasional inability to decipher its messages) as she is enthralled when accurately aided by it. Not only does Martha C. Lawrence accurately portray the foibles of the paranormal realm in her writings, she has keen insights into human nature and relationships, and her writing is top-notch: fast-paced, consistent, believable and intriguing. Elizabeth Chase comes across as a protagonist you not only can identify with, but that you feel you already know. And the friendship is a delightful one. You don't have to be a fan of the paranormal to enjoy these excellent reads, just a mystery lover who enjoys fresh, exciting writing by an award-nominated author who is sure to continue to make a splash in the field! Enjoy!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as gimmicky as it sounds, January 23, 2001

By 

Tracy L. Benton "tlbenton" (Madison, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cold Heart of Capricorn (Mass Market Paperback)

I was a little worried by the idea of a psychic detective. I thought the book would be full of channeling and seances. But Dr. Elizabeth Chase is primarily a detective, and she uses common sense and skill as her main tools--her psychic gift is only occasionally helpful. She is a very professional woman, a doctor of psychology, and she commands respect from those she meets. Unfortunately I can't give this book 5 stars, because I guessed who dunnit the moment the character was introduced. But I plan to read more in the series.