Murder in Scorpio: A Mystery [Hardcover]

Martha C. Lawrence (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1995

Elizabeth Chase, a private eye with psychic abilities, uses her special talents to search for the killer of Janice Freeman, but when she gets close to the truth, even the intervention of the stars may not save her. A first novel.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lawrence's debut introduces Elizabeth Chase, suburban San Diego psychic who has abandoned her psychotherapy practice to solve crimes. Police sergeant Tom McGowan's gut feelings about the death of an old high-school flame don't match the department consensus. Although he says he is skeptical about Elizabeth's psychic abilities, Tom admits he has nowhere else to turn in the case, in which Janice Freeman's car, along with that of another driver, plunged off the side of a road, killing both drivers in what has been officially called an accident. Delving into the dead woman's background and trying to identify the driver of the other car, Elizabeth becomes increasingly convinced that Janice's death was intended. Finding many suspects in the young woman's life, including an old boyfriend who was hounding her and possibly dishonest co-workers at Pacific Properties, Elizabeth picks up clues using a believable blend of investigative technique and psychic information. In the end, she convinces readers as skeptical as McGowan that, while some phenomena can't be explained rationally, they can be enjoyed by readers.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Highly educated California parapsychologist Elizabeth Chase uses her psychic gift to solve crimes. When a skeptical Sgt. Thomas McGowen of the local police asks for help while investigating a death he believes is murder, Chase readily complies. Elizabeth's association with McGowen not only sparks a little romance but also results in contact with the victim's drug-addicted ex-boyfriend, an ambitious, secretive boss, and her unlamenting stepmother. The psychic's search for truth culminates in a scene of terrorizing suspense. Fine prose, a matter-of-fact approach to some rather extraordinary perceptions, and a wry sense of humor characterize a remarkable first novel.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 227 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031213567X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312135676
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,727,685 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lawrence's star is sure to rise, June 18, 2000

By 

Donna Errett (Hilton Head Island, SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder In Scorpio (An Elizabeth Chase Mystery) (Paperback)

Well crafted girl detective novel with a unique twist. Beautiful, sexy, former parapsychologist with extrasensory gifts and a private investigator's license is hired by, of all improbable people, a hunk of a California cop. Tom McGowan has a gut feeling that the death of a bright, young law student is not the tragic, but routine traffic accident it seems. PI Elizabeth Chase combines detective work with psychic insights to find out whodunit. Author Lawrence's talent is to make you care about her characters while holding your interest with plot twists. Certainly hope this is just the first of many Dr. Elizabeth Chase mysteries.

P.S. If you find a first hardcover edition of this first Dr. Elizabeth Chase novel, hold on to it. It'll be worth big bucks soon.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best debut novel I've since read Nevada B's Track of the Cat, November 16, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Murder In Scorpio (An Elizabeth Chase Mystery) (Paperback)

Martha C. Lawrence's "Murder in Scorpio" is the best first novel I've read in years. The novel's heroine, Dr. Elizabeth Chase, Investigator/Parapsycholgist, is not only strong-willed and intelligent, but made vulnerable by having (legitimate) psychic abilities which allow her to sense and feel the sensations, emotions and motivation of both victims and perpetrators of crime. "Murder in Scorpio" is a very interesting read. (I stayed up all night and read the whole book without putting it down!) Since, I've really taken Ms. Lawrence's sleuth to heart and have read her next book:" Cold Heart of Capricorn" (chillingly good!). I'm now waiting for her third Elizabeth Chase tale to make its way to the printed page. Martha C. Lawrence (a Sister in Crime author) was nominated for the Agatha, Anthony Bouchercon and Edgar literary awards for "Murder in Scorpio" - winning the Edgar for Best First novel. Well deserved! For a cozy night in front of the fireplace curled up with a great book, "Murder in Scorpio" is a winner. Don't miss it!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Let the CHASE begin, January 14, 2000

By 

tuppence (Adelaide , Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder In Scorpio (An Elizabeth Chase Mystery) (Paperback)

Enter Elixabeth Chase a sort of Physic Detective, hired by Cop Tom McGowan to investigate the death of Janice Freeman a one time crush of Tom's. Elizabeth is a very likable character full of self doubt and wry sense of humour, she is hired by Tom to look into the car crash that killed Janice Freeman a very lovely girl that worked for Pacific Properties. Was her death an accident or was it premeditated? this is what Elizabeth is hired to find out. We are introduced to quite a range of characters from Alan Katz Janice's Ex boyfriend to Pia who runs a bikini shop. I look forward to reading all the books in this series because Elizabeth is a very likeable character with a lot of scope to find out more about her personality. Do yourself a favour and read this book and you too will want to read more about Ms Chase.