Hypnosis Is for Hacks

Description

The latest novel in Tamara Berry's charmingly quirky series weaves a hint of magic and romance into a smartly written, witty, and unpredictable cozy mystery, as an American faux-medium with latent supernatural gifts starts over in a quaint English village-and finds a new career, new love, and lots of intrigue. Eleanor Wilde has traded a career as a sham medium for a (relatively) respectable life in a small English town, providing the locals with herbal remedies and elixirs. But on a trip to the seaside town of Brighton, her past comes calling-and so does a killer... Though Eleanor is delighted that her brother, Liam, is visiting her in England, she must reluctantly agree that her quiet village lacks something when it comes to sightseeing-namely- sights. True, there's nearby Castle Hartford, belonging to the family of Ellie's boyfriend, Nicholas. But even Nicholas's mother is eager to ditch sleepy, sweltering Sussex for a vacation in Brighton, taking Ellie and a relieved Liam with her. Yet hopes of a breezy seaside holiday quickly turn stormy, in every sense... The ominous change in weather is accompanied by the reappearance of Ellie's former partner-in-crime, Armand Lamont. Back when Ellie earned a living as a phony medium, Armand's hypnosis skills helped the pair persuade many gullible marks to hand over their savings. Ellie assumes that Armand has resurfaced with blackmail in mind, but before she can figure out his angle, she and Liam witness a man being pushed from a boat by two shadowy figures who then vanish into midair. Phantoms? Demons? Though Ellie doesn't believe in either, the recovered body is real enough, as is a string of thefts plaguing their luxury hotel. Ellie has a theory, and it requires inviting Nicholas to join them under a fake identity. Their evolving relationship is as complex as this case, and Ellie's authentic supernatural abilities too are developing in surprising ways. But as for whether the outcome will be good or bad, not even her witchy powers can say...

Tamara Berry is the author of the acclaimed Eleanor Wilde Mystery Series as well as a number of contemporary romantic comedies under the pennames Tamara Morgan and Lucy Gilmore. She has a B.A. in English Literature from Eastern Washington University and lives with her family in Washington state. Please visit her online at TamaraBerry.com.

Praise for the Eleanor Wilde Mystery Series "A puzzling mystery laced with guile and humor." -Kirkus Reviews on Potions Are for Pushovers "Berry mixes a cunning whodunit with sly humor in what promises to be a winning paranormal cozy series." -Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on Seances Are for Suckers "When a saucy pseudo-psychic is hired to rid an ancestral estate of its alleged resident ghost, things are bound to get interesting. Add to that a charming English village, an eccentric family, and a killer on the loose, and Seances Are for Suckers delivers a winning blend of mystery and the paranormal, with a little humor and romance thrown in for good measure. Don't miss out on this first in a promising series!" -Juliet Blackwell, New York Times bestselling author of the Witchcraft Mystery series on Seances are for Suckers "A mystery with a haunted castle? What's not to love? Tamara Berry weaves a fun story with likable characters and a plot that kept me guessing until the end." -Rose Pressey, USA Today bestselling author of the Haunted Vintage Mystery series "One of the most delightful paranormal cozy mysteries I've ever had the pleasure of reading...Tamara Berry writes with a pitch-perfect authorial voice, depicting a modern American woman somewhat adrift in a traditional British town. With some really diverting curveballs thrown into the narrative, this felt like the quintessential paranormal cozy read." -Criminal Element on Potions are for Pushovers "Berry has fun with the contradictions at play in Ellie's life: She's a fraud, taking advantage of her friends and neighbors, yet they love and accept her as one of their own...For a witch with no real powers, Ellie still has some connection to the paranormal via her dead sister, with whom she communicates. Their exchanges can be humorous but primarily serve as a more serious, grounding subplot to a story that otherwise bubbles along like a hot cauldron." -Bookpage on Potions are for Pushovers "Ellie and Nicholas's blossoming relationship provides counterpoint to the spooky goings-on. Along with quirky characters and a twisty plot, Berry supplies a good foundation for more stories to follow." -Publishers Weekly on Potions are for Pushovers