Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye

Psychic Eye Mysteries, Book 1

By: Victoria Laurie

Narrated by: Elizabeth Michaels

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

We predict amazing success for this brand-new mystery series starring Psychic Abby Cooper.

Abby Cooper is a P.I., psychic intuitive. But her insight failed her when she didn't foresee the death of one of her clients - or that the lead investigator for the case is the gorgeous blind date she just met. Now, with the police suspicious of her abilities and a killer on the loose, Abby's future looks more uncertain than ever.

Psy Chic: listen to more Psychic Eye mysteries.

©2004 Victoria Laurie (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Devil is in the details…

This is the first book of this series, so I think the author had a few skills to yet hone. The story is compelling and fun to follow. I found myself anxiously awaiting the next time I could pick up the story. However, when you write for mystery readers, you have to watch the details. Mystery readers are hyper aware of details because that’s where the clues live. They’re going to notice things like the main character buying a court of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, when Ben & Jerry’s isn’t sold in stores“. They’re going to notice the main character saying she can’t call someone back because she doesn’t have their number, yet a couple of chapters later she’s using *69 to call someone back in the same situation. There were a couple more blocks but not enough to curb my enjoyment of the story or to stop me from continuing with the series. So onto the next Abby Cooper adventure!

Very Enjoyable

What made the experience of listening to Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye the most enjoyable?

I really liked this book as it was entertaining and engaging. I enjoyed the mystery unfolding and the budding romance. I didn't find it predictable - though maybe others solved the murder way ahead of time, but I wasn't just trying to enjoy the ride and not solve the mystery. I liked that Laurie is going slowly with the budding romance and isn't having them jump between the sheets ASAP. I definitely recommend this book and I look forward to listening to the next in the series.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Waiting to see how the mystery was going to play out. Wondering if she and dutch were going to take it to the next level.

Interested

I think I'll listen to more of this series. I enjoyed it. Not my favorite narrator, but still good.

Unexpected winner

Where does Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

near the top

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I enjoyed the plot, It keep me near the edge of my seat and I was sad when the book ended, because I wanted to keep listening to this story.

What about Elizabeth Michaels’s performance did you like?

The storytelling its self was good.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was very enthralled in this book I enjoyed every moment.

Any additional comments?

I was shocked to find this story was set in places I was familiar with. It was wonderful imagining this story happening and being able to have an actual picture of the places that were being spoken of. But even if I didn't know the area I would have still found this book to be worth the listen.

A wonderful introduction to Psychic Abby Cooper

Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye (Psychic Eye Mystery, #1)
by Victoria Laurie, Elizabeth Michaels (Narrator)


I really enjoyed the introduction to Abby Cooper. I've never been to a legitimate psychic, and I found her "reading" process fascinating. It was always fun when she called out an impromptu reading or impression to the person she was talking with, not intentionally doing a reading.

Abby's calendar was full to overflowing, booked months in advance. When Abby did a reading, she recorded the entire session on tape. It seemed a bit odd to me that she then handed over the tape to the client without making a copy or even making notes, as far as I could tell. Some of those notes might have helped her when the police came calling with one of her tapes taken from the victim's pocket. For this story, the reading was extremely recent, so Abby remembered many of the details, but I wonder how clear all those details from infrequently seen clients would stay.

Abby was fortunate to have so many friends help her out when she ended up in danger and couldn't go to work, for instance, and her entire schedule needed to be changed. She had a great handyman who worried about her, too, and performed great feats for Abby.

It was the police officer who Abby fancied. They'd actually met first via a dating service where they had gotten along. When she needs a friendly neighborhood cop, she's glad it's Dutch. They had an instant camaraderie on the police case because of it, and Abby didn't want that friendship to distort the help she had offered to the police.

Abby's psychic ability was incredibly well accepted by her co-workers and clients. I was glad when the police officer she was working with began looking up the history of psychics and psychics from a law enforcement point of view. His behavior seemed reasonable and fair. The description originally given to "Dutch" sounded older than I suspected. It was later revealed that he had a serious relationship eight years prior, so that gave us an inkling of his age to be about 30. Abby's age was also later revealed to be about the same.

I found, however, that the narrator's voice sounded older than the way Abby was portrayed; her age was given in the second book as well which reinforced my feeling that an older woman than Abby was narrating; but she had loads of life in her voice and portrayed a good range of emotions.

need a narrator

the story was good, however the narrator could only do one voice. narrator needs more practice.

Don't Start

This is a good series with what appears to be a terrible ending.
There doesn't seem to be a book that wraps up the series. 4 years since the last book released with no conclusion. I find that frustrating after reading for years. I recommend not even starting unless you're ok with no ending in a series.

Fun Story, Not So Fun Narrator

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely, the story is good and I really enjoy Victoria's writing style. She always keeps me interested in what's going to happen next, and I like the developing relationships. But I would probably recommend it as a regular book or ebook.

Would you be willing to try another one of Elizabeth Michaels’s performances?

Probably not. She sounds like my grandmother -- an odd choice for a character who's supposed to be in her early 30s. I'm from Michigan, where the story takes place, and she does not sound like she's from Michigan. More like New York or New Jersey (yesterday is pronounced yes-ti-day?). She sometimes sounds super cutesy or like she's talking to children, and the emotions are fairly flat. She sounds the same when she's frightened as when she's happy. I'm listening to the samples of the others in the series to see if it gets any better or if I'm switching to the ebooks.

Wow, despite the harsh reviews....

I really liked the story, Yes, Abby is a bit vapid, but it's a story for heavens sake. The story did it's job. I was entertained, I laughed, I was eager to hear how it would end up-even if it was a little predictable. As for the performance, I liked that more than the story. The reader actually sold me on going further with the series. I like the warmth and lightness in her voice. I liked that I could hear her smile when Abby would be smiling. I felt as if we were sitting down to tea and she was telling me about her crazy hectic week. I did not think she sounded old. Abby is in her 30's, so I would not expect her to sound like a sorority girl. I agree, with the other reviews that this author aligns with Kyra Davis and Janet Evanovich.

Lite lit but really so fun and addictive...!

Any additional comments?

It was a sweet, fun, entertaining...addictive story. I listened nearly nonstop and was sorry when it was over. I think the author is a wonderful, engaging author.

Also, I liked the psychic angle because I, too, have had many psychic experiences in my life that just amazed the heck out of me. :-)