The Hanged Man

Interesting take on your average whodunit murder with a missing suspect. Mix government sanctioned telekenitic espionage, a psychic who ends up playing lead investigator in the murder , and a telepath with powers straight out of "Scanners" as your villain and the result is a fun read.

SUMMARY: The novel that introduces psychic bookstore owner Mira Morales, her feisty grandmother Nadine, and precociously impish daughter Annie, The Hanged Man is the story of Fort Lauderdale floating detective Wayne Shepherd, searching for the killer of famed criminologist Andrew Steele and the disappearance of his wife Rae. His search leads him to a tip phoned in by a reluctant Mira, whom he draws into this web of intrigue. Also on the trail of the perpetrator is FBI big-wig Lenora Douglas, who chaired a covert operation called Delphi with the late Steele. Solving his murder is imperative to her admonition by her superior to erase all traces of Delphi.

WHY YOU'LL LIKE IT: If you enjoy elements of the supernatural in your novels, or are show more an aficionado of psychic detective fiction, you'll immensely enjoy this story. Mira is written as a strong, brave heroine with human foibles, and her family life is as integral to the story as her unique abilities. Shep is a rarity in the detective fiction genre - a masculine, stalwart guy who is not so entrenched in his beliefs about the system or his own ability that he is willing to disregard pertinent information, regardless if it comes from a sense other than the usual five.

WHY YOU WON'T: MacGregor attempts to invoke some sympathy for the killer from the reader, but it just doesn't wash. Everyone has a sob story, and his isn't so terrible that it excuses his actions. However, he is cleverer than most villains, and his preternatural ability is terrifying.

BOTTOM LINE: Suspenseful, action-packed, and romantic, this is a wonderful offering from a woman who always delivers compulsively readable fiction. Highly recommended. show less

A psychic who can see murders teams up with a cop to find a psychic killer who used to work for the FBI or CIA.