Monday, June 5, 2017

A GRAVE PREDICTION by Victoria Laurie

Publisher:   Berkley  
Published:      Hardback - July 26, 2016
                    Paperback -  June 6, 2017
ISBN:        978-0451473899
Genre:       Cozy Mystery
Format:     Print
Obtained via:  Publisher  

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

4 Hearts

 

Summoned to her boss’s office psychic consultant to the FBI’s closed case division, Abby Cooper (Rivers) is “asked” to go to L.A. to train the agents there on how to use their intuition for crime solving. While it would seem to be a flattering assignment, it’s not. Abby is quite aware of the scepticism seen in many of the agents when it comes to psychics.  When it becomes clear there is a deeper issue behind the request, she agrees to go.  Initially she’s off on her own, but before she boards her flight, best friend Candace Fusco arrives at the airport and the two take off for L.A.  What they encounter in L.A. turns out to be a lot more than some disbelieving agents. The staff, of course, tests Abby, and not in a nice way. In short order she manages to bait at least two of them…one by calling him a stalker and the other by telling him he’ll never solve a crime he’s determined to bring to a close. She does, however, hit on one case that seems pretty clear to have been a murder. Certain that 3, possibly 4 young girls were killed Abby leads the team to a construction site. There is definitely a body there, but it’s not a recent crime. Rather than appreciating her find, the L.A. team becomes even more antagonistic. So much so the special agent in charge sends her home.  Not that Abby and Candace are inclined to follow his direction. Especially not when their husbands fully support what they plan to do.
 
In several ways Victoria Laurie has come full circle with her latest, A GRAVE PREDICTION. What a great read. There is a solid focus on Abby using both her investigative and intuitive skills.  The blend of the two makes for some interesting aspects in her character.  There is still a level of anger to her character, but when Candace doesn’t just call her on it, but shows her a better way of dealing with it, it’s nicely done. The “anger” built over several stories, starting with when she was almost killed while working for the CIA. Laurie did a great job of showing how that anger, while coming out as snark and sarcasm directed at people Abby felt were dissing her, but that it was also affecting her internally. As a character Abby has grown and developed through each book.

Candace has gotten stronger through each book as well. I’m not sure I agree with some of her “tough love” directed toward Abby. It is clear, though, that it comes from a place of a loving friend.

I missed Dutch, Eggy and Tuttle in this one although if they were more present the story could not have been told as solidly as it was. Moving Candace and Abby to L.A. also worked well for taking them to their next level.

 
 
 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 

 

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