Table of Contents
Acclaim for the
Psychic Eye Mystery Series
Intuition tells me this book is right on targetI sense a hit!
Madelyn Alt, author of Where Theres a Witch
Victoria Lauries books are a delight to devour.
Savannah Russe, author of
Dark Nights, Dark Dreams
There are plenty of surprises and revelations in the exciting story line; these keep the heroine and readers slightly off balance, especially in anticipating whats next.
Gumshoe
An invigorating entry into the cozy mystery realm.... I cannot wait for the next book.
Roundtable Reviews
Victoria Laurie has crafted a fantastic tale in this latest Psychic Eye mystery. There are few things in life that upset Abby Cooper, but ghosts and her parents feature high on her list... giving the reader a few real frights and a lot of laughs.
Fresh Fiction
A great new series... plenty of action!
Midwest Book Review
Fabulous.... Fans will enjoy Abbys return to what she does best.
The Best Reviews
A fun light read, and a promising beginning to an original series.
The Romance Readers Connection
Ms. Laurie gives readers an edge-of-your-seat mystery that unfolds through a myriad of twists, turns, and deadly surprises.
Darque Reviews
Worth reading over and over again.
BookReviews.com
Praise for the M. J. Holliday,
Ghost Hunter Mysteries
Lauries new paranormal series lights up the night.
Elaine Viets, Anthony and Agatha award-winning
author of Half-Price Homicide
Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun
[A] fun, suspenseful, fast-paced paranormal mystery. All the elements combine to make this entry in the Ghost Hunter series a winner.
The Romance Readers Connection
A hair-raising tale that will keep readers engrossed in the ghost-driven action. Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun has as much dark and danger-filled action as ever, and introduces a wonderful new character that readers will be hoping to see more of in the future. This is a must read in the series!
Darque Reviews
A lighthearted, humorous haunted hotel horror thriller kept focused by graveyard-serious M.J.
Genre Go Round Reviews
Demons Are a Ghouls Best Friend
Ms. Laurie has penned a fabulous read and packed it with ghost-hunting action at its best. With a chilling mystery, a danger-filled investigation, a bit of romance, and a wonderful dose of humor, theres little chance that readers will be able to set this book down.
Darque Reviews
M.J.s first-person worldview is both unique and enticing. With truly likable characters, plenty of chills, and even a hint of romance, real-life psychic Laurie guarantees that readers are in for a spooktacularly thrilling ride.
Romantic Times (4 stars)
Whats a Ghoul to Do?
A bewitching book blessed with many blithe spirits. Will leave you breathless.
Nancy Martin, author of the
Blackbird Sisters mysteries
The Psychic Eye Mystery Series
Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye
Better Read Than Dead
A Vision of Murder
Killer Insight
Crime Seen
Death Perception
Doom with a View
The Ghost Hunter Mystery Series
Whats a Ghoul to Do?
Demons Are a Ghouls Best Friend
Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun
Ghouls Gone Wild
For my dear, dear friend, Dr. Jennifer Casey.
Acknowledgments
My humble and most profuse thanks goes to the following people:
My editor, Sandra Harding, whose attention to detail and marvelous enthusiasm make my job sooooo much easier! Thank you, Sandy, for all that you bring to the table and for being delightfully fabulous to work with!
My agent and dear friend, Jim McCarthy. What is there left to say after fourteen published books together except, lovie, you da bomb and I heart you so! Thank you for being SO great both personally and professionally and heres to the next fourteen! (er... assuming the workload doesnt kill me, of course...) Mmmmwah!
My publisher, Claire Zionthank you for the faith youve placed in both Abby and M.J. Your support has meant everything to me.
My gratitude also to the marvelous Michele Alpern for another awesome copyedit!
A special thanks to Dr. Jennifer Casey, who has been the Candice to my Abby and who has blessed me with one of the greatest friendships of my life. Thank you, sweetie, for all your help on this book, and for being such a great sidekick!
Extended thanks to my family and friends with a few honorable mentions to those of you who have given extra-special support to me and the books, and you are: Elizabeth Laurie, Mary Jane Humphreys, Hilary Laurie, Chris Humphreys, and Jessica Najdowski, Nora and Bob Brosseau, Karen Ditmars, Katie Coppedge, Leanne Tierney, Suzanne Parsons, Silas Hudson, Shannon Dorn, Pippa and Betty Stocking and my marvelous webmaster, Jaa Nawtaisong. I am eternally grateful for the difference each and every one of you have made in my life.
Hugs and love,
Victoria
Chapter One
Let me just state for the record that being the FBIs civilian intuitive profiler (aka resident psychic) was not the cake job I thought itd be. Im not sure what I actually expected when I took the position: perhaps my name printed on the door to a nice candlelit room with soft cozy furniture, where Id jot down my impressions as they came to me and hand them off to an attentive agent for follow-up. I learned quickly that the FBI doesnt do cozy and candles. Nope. Theyre all business. Just the facts, maam. Oh, and paperwork. The FBI is all about its documentation... in triplicate.
But back on April first, I had no idea that I was about to be strapped to a desk in a crowded room, lit by the unflattering light of fluorescents, while piles of files stacked up around me, threatening to crush me in a tsunami of recycled paper. No, on this day I was actually feeling pretty upbeat as the bureaus newest civilian profiler. I was super-excited about my prospects, in fact, and all I thought to contribute to solving crime and bringing in the bad guys.
I should have known then that nothing good ever happens on April Fools.
Still, as my sweetheart, Dutch, and I cruised through Waco on our way to Austin on that last day of March, I will admit, I could have been overly optimistic due to all the exciting changes taking place in our lives.
Now, Dutch has been my steady for the past three years. Until the end of March, wed been doing the living in sin thing at Dutchs bungalow back in Royal Oak, Michigana quaint suburban town just outside Detroit. Then the offer had come in to relocate to Austin, and wed said yes.
The move was driven a little more by Dutchit meant accepting a promotion for him and helping to pioneer a brand-new division: two challenges that my S.O. really wanted to tackle. And because I genuinely love him, Id gone along with the idea. Okay, so maybe thered been a job offer for me in there too, but it hadnt come without strings attached, believe me.
Anyway, as far as our relationship goes, I will freely admit that, of the two of us, Im the lucky one. Dutch is a manly sort of man; heck, even his five-oclock shadow arrives by four, and his voice is this wonderfully rich baritone that reminds me of chocolate and espresso: rich, smooth, and earthy. And did I mention that hes also really easy on the eyes? No? Well, let me just state for the record, thenthe man is fan-yourself-when-he-passes beautiful and then some.
