Lance Underphal’s new friend, Callie, is concerned when she cannot contact her eighty-year-old uncle in San Bernadino, but the police do not seem to consider her worries important enough to check up on him. Meanwhile, Lance is arrested in regards to his wife’s death three years ago. As Lance’s issues are dealt with, PI Jake Jacobs heads off to San Bernadino to check on Callie’s uncle, who Jake finds dead in a decrepit cockroach-infested home. Even though the local police dismisses the death as natural and refuses to investigate, Jake’s instincts and Lance’s visions leads Jake to uncover a deadly gang conspiracy to take advantage of independent elderly, stealing their funds and killing their victims to hide their crimes. Yet, Jake’s investigation has only begun to uncover even darker secrets that generate more fearsome visions of horror to Lance. The author is very adept at delving into dark elements within his paranormal mysteries, especially with his main character’s insecurities and fears in having to deal with a psychic gift he never asked for. The main mystery around the death of Callie’s uncle is very well plotted for mystery readers. However, the secondary story of Lance’s legal problems from arrest to trial is a major stretch from reality and may not be accepted by readers, potentially undercutting the main story. ( )

Grey Daze: A Lance Underphal Mystery by Michael Allan Scott

Lance Underphal, a psychic who is guided by his dead wife finds himself in trouble. Determined to clear his name he gets help from his (Ghost) wife and a few other friends. Add to it he is not in the best of health, but he still is determined to solve this crime.

Things get dangerous as he unravels the truth and is faced with corrupt police, bad bikers, a drug addict and an underworld criminal. Add the ghost, and paranormal twist and we have the makings of a suspense filled intense read.

This is the third installment of the Underphal Mysteries, but I was still able to understand what was going on, and get a feel for each character. Lance and his ghost wife were very likable. The plot was fantastic, a lot of twist turns and surprises. Attention to details drew me in from the first page. I highly recommend Grey Daze: A Lance Underphal Mystery to those who love a great mystery with a paranormal twist. ( )

I’m sure you’ve read the thrilling excerpt for this book already. There’s no way I can describe this book any better.

I can say that, while this isn’t the first book in this series, I jumped right in and had no problems following it.

Being a fan of character driven stories, I found some strong ones here.

The main protagonist, Lance Underphal, isn’t your typical one. He’s no longer in his fifties, has a bad heart, and is still grieving over the loss of his beloved wife, who visits him from time to time..

He has met a new woman, one who might help fill that gaping hole, give him another chance at love. But first he has to solve a case. One that’s rife with unsavory characters. From deadly bikers, to corrupt police, Lance will need some friends if he’s to catch a killer and survive despite the bad odds.

The paranormal elements had me fascinated. There’s more than one ghost haunting Lance. He’s a psychic and not surprised by that. If only some of them didn’t scare the crap out of him. They aren’t all pretty and glowing when they appear, and some have their own agendas, dark ones.

The writing is excellent. I came really close to seeing the movie as I read it. Vivid detail and imagination put me in the thick of it. I got creeped out in several places. Especially at a nasty, run down house. The author didn’t hold my hand. He made me smell the awful stench of the place. Hear the scurrying of thousands of roaches. Feel the evil presence fouling it.

There’s such a great bunch of characters too. Aside from Lance and his ghostly wife, Sonja, there’s his new love interest, Callie. She’s no shrinking violet and has her own little paranormal talents.

Then there’s Lance’s friend, Detective Frank Salmon. He’s stoic yet fierce when his friends are threatened. Reminds me Hodges from Criminal Minds. Doesn’t say much and rarely smiles unless he’s around his wife, Lacey. She’s a nurturer with lots of patience.

Can’t forget Jake Jacobs, a federal private investigator. He’s a huge bear of a man and I could just picture him and his lady friend, Laura. She’s a bit older, sassy, and such a tiny thing. I had such fun with these two.

Things get so much worse for Lance. It appears he’s being accused of the negligent death of his wife by her sister and she’s also suing him.

The bad things keep on coming and Lance just hopes his heart can take it.

I got thrills and chills, plenty of mystery, and more than one plot to follow. All made for an excellent read. You can bet I’ll be going back to the beginning of this series now. ( )