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Elizabeth Chase #3
Aquarius Descending
Martha C. Lawrence's "remarkable first novel" (Library Journal), Murder in Scorpio, introducing psychic detective Elizabeth Chase, won her nominations for all three of America's most prestigious mystery awards, while the refreshingly down-to-earth Elizabeth was recognized as a unique and wonderful new heroine. The acclaim continued with her second mystery, The Cold Heart of Capricorn, with raves about this "superior shocker" (San Diego Union-Tribune) "that offers a truly intelligent heroine to solve it" (Denver Post). New Elizabeth Chase is back in an explosive new novel, packed with danger and suspense, that sends her deep within the ranks of a cultlike community that calls itself The Bliss Project.
Tom McGowan, Elizabeth's cop boyfriend, asks her to take on a case that seems to be more in her line of work than in his. The father of Tom's ex-fiancee has come to him in desperation: He fears a mysterious package he's just received means that his daughter, who has disappeared in The Bliss Project, must be dead or in terrible trouble.
Although Elizabeth is not too keen on the idea of accepting a case so close to home--she didn't even know Tom had an ex-finacee, and The Bliss Project's efforts at mind control threaten to wreak havoc on her finely attuned senses-she agrees to investigate. But infiltrating a cult is no easy matter, especially one that seems to have as many secrets as this one, and soon Elizabeth finds herself in a life-and-death battle that will lead to a shocking conclusion.
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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92 people want to read
About the author
Martha C. Lawrence
13 books21 followersMartha C. Lawrence has worked as a book editor, a professional astrologer, and a business writer. She is the creator of 'Dr. Elizabeth Chase', P.I. and parapsychologist in San Diego, California.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 16, 2012
Elizabeth Chase is hired by the father of her boyfriend's ex girlfriend. Jen has not been heard from in years - she joined The Bliss Project and disappeared. Elizabeth goes undercover and joins the 'cult' hoping to find Jen, or what happened to her. I really like Elizabeth Chase and the world she lives in (aside from the bad guys she brings down). I will definitely read the next in the series.
September 10, 2020
Story made me uncomfortable.
March 1, 2020
Elizabeth Chase, psychic investigator, is hired to find a woman who disappeared into a cult. Elizabeth is reluctant because the missing person is her boyfriend's ex girlfriend. Eventually she is convinced to take the case, and from then on, we're dealing with a scary organization, as witnessed through her eyes.
I have three nits to pick. Elizabeth's boyfriend is introduced by his last name, then referred to later by his first. It took me awhile to realize who she was mentioning. Sometimes we are planted in a scene and don't learn until a few paragraphs later where we are. And when Elizabeth hears a nightingale singing, I must remind myself she is in America, in Los Angeles and not England.
Other than those three nits, I'm impressed with the clarity of the author's writing and the atmosphere. The cult woos its victims with friendliness and nice amenities, as well as lovely lies. Meanwhile its tentacles reach into the victim's mind and strangles independent thought. Elizabeth goes undercover in the organization and struggles against its attempts to capture her mind. By simply showing us what is happening, the author conveys a convincing scary mood. And it's particularly frightening when one considers that some cult leaders become dictators or even presidents.
Because the author is a psychic, I value her explanation of how it is to be clairvoyant. It is nothing one can conjure. It comes on its own and often requires interpretation. It reminds me of spiritual guidance and makes me wonder if there is a relationship.
Here is a fast-moving mystery, a quick and thoughtful read. The ending has mixed results, some good and some...well...suitable material for the next story about Elizabeth Chase, psychic investigator.
I have three nits to pick. Elizabeth's boyfriend is introduced by his last name, then referred to later by his first. It took me awhile to realize who she was mentioning. Sometimes we are planted in a scene and don't learn until a few paragraphs later where we are. And when Elizabeth hears a nightingale singing, I must remind myself she is in America, in Los Angeles and not England.
Other than those three nits, I'm impressed with the clarity of the author's writing and the atmosphere. The cult woos its victims with friendliness and nice amenities, as well as lovely lies. Meanwhile its tentacles reach into the victim's mind and strangles independent thought. Elizabeth goes undercover in the organization and struggles against its attempts to capture her mind. By simply showing us what is happening, the author conveys a convincing scary mood. And it's particularly frightening when one considers that some cult leaders become dictators or even presidents.
Because the author is a psychic, I value her explanation of how it is to be clairvoyant. It is nothing one can conjure. It comes on its own and often requires interpretation. It reminds me of spiritual guidance and makes me wonder if there is a relationship.
Here is a fast-moving mystery, a quick and thoughtful read. The ending has mixed results, some good and some...well...suitable material for the next story about Elizabeth Chase, psychic investigator.
August 3, 2014
Hooo-kay. This is not the book to skip in the series. Having said that, there is really not a way to discuss this without issuing spoilers. I'll do my best, however.
Elizabeth's fiance comes to her in desperation asking her to search for his former fiancee. Yeah, just what every girl wants to do, right? The background is that the woman in question joined a cultish self-examination group called The Bliss Project years ago while engaged to Tom, before breaking their engagement. Suddenly, several packages that could only come from her, or from someone with her belongings and knowledge, have begun arriving at her father's door. He's afraid she's dead or something worse.
Despite some huge misgivings, Elizabeth goes undercover to scope out this group. What she finds is terrifying and creepy, and, like all groups that require a heavy up-front entrance fee, naturally prone to shady dealings, especially of the financial type. All well and good so far for a series mysery. She even turns up the former fiancee, only to be caught in a shootout between her boyfriend--a cop--and the leaders of the Project, who are bent on escaping prosecution. And that's where the reader realizes that if this book is skipped, the next book is going to be confusing and depressing. Yes, depressing, just like the end of this one.
Ugh. So, good writing, kept my interest, I didn't really expect the ending to be the way it was, and I guess that's a tribute to the author. But I still feel like I got slugged. And when you're reading about a psychic, you sort of feel like you ought to have some sense of foreboding...
Elizabeth's fiance comes to her in desperation asking her to search for his former fiancee. Yeah, just what every girl wants to do, right? The background is that the woman in question joined a cultish self-examination group called The Bliss Project years ago while engaged to Tom, before breaking their engagement. Suddenly, several packages that could only come from her, or from someone with her belongings and knowledge, have begun arriving at her father's door. He's afraid she's dead or something worse.
Despite some huge misgivings, Elizabeth goes undercover to scope out this group. What she finds is terrifying and creepy, and, like all groups that require a heavy up-front entrance fee, naturally prone to shady dealings, especially of the financial type. All well and good so far for a series mysery. She even turns up the former fiancee, only to be caught in a shootout between her boyfriend--a cop--and the leaders of the Project, who are bent on escaping prosecution. And that's where the reader realizes that if this book is skipped, the next book is going to be confusing and depressing. Yes, depressing, just like the end of this one.
Ugh. So, good writing, kept my interest, I didn't really expect the ending to be the way it was, and I guess that's a tribute to the author. But I still feel like I got slugged. And when you're reading about a psychic, you sort of feel like you ought to have some sense of foreboding...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2013
Elizabeth Chase is not your normal California PI - she's got an extra edge and a psychic one at that. When the main man in her life, Tom, an FBI agent, is asked by his former fiancee's father for help locating the missing women, Tom turns to Elizabeth for her insight.
Elizabeth relucantly takes the case to locate Jen, who has joined The Bliss Project, a group with cult-like characteristic. Faced wtih dead ends, Elizabeth is forced to infiltrate the group. As Elizabeth is drawn further into the group, her psychic abilities may not be the only thing she's in danger of losing.
I wish I had started this series with the first novel (Murder in Scorpio). I'm okay with the psychic aspects of the novel, but the new age cult aspects put me off a bit, which made it difficult to really get into the book. Elizabeth is an engaging character, and had I started at the beginning, with more traditional cases, I might have felt more attachment to the character. Overall, the book was well done and an interesting change of pace.
Elizabeth relucantly takes the case to locate Jen, who has joined The Bliss Project, a group with cult-like characteristic. Faced wtih dead ends, Elizabeth is forced to infiltrate the group. As Elizabeth is drawn further into the group, her psychic abilities may not be the only thing she's in danger of losing.
I wish I had started this series with the first novel (Murder in Scorpio). I'm okay with the psychic aspects of the novel, but the new age cult aspects put me off a bit, which made it difficult to really get into the book. Elizabeth is an engaging character, and had I started at the beginning, with more traditional cases, I might have felt more attachment to the character. Overall, the book was well done and an interesting change of pace.
April 27, 2013
The third in the Elizabeth Chase Investigations series, following Murder in Scorpio and the Cold Heart of Capricorn.
Elizabeth Chase is a psychic investigator and is called on a case to investigate the whereabouts of her lover's x girlfrield, Jen Schaffer, who has been part of the cult, The Bliss Project and has been missing for 2 years.
Although she gets ' bad vibes' about the project, Elizabeth must join the Bliss Project in order to find Jen, yet will she survive their brainwashing and will her life be at stake if they find out who she is?
Elizabeth Chase is a psychic investigator and is called on a case to investigate the whereabouts of her lover's x girlfrield, Jen Schaffer, who has been part of the cult, The Bliss Project and has been missing for 2 years.
Although she gets ' bad vibes' about the project, Elizabeth must join the Bliss Project in order to find Jen, yet will she survive their brainwashing and will her life be at stake if they find out who she is?
September 24, 2014
A great mystery series with psychic P.I. Elizabeth Chase. This time, she's going undercover into the "Bliss Project," a group of individuals part cult, part scam, and all danger. She might come out with little left of her own mind, if she comes out at all...
Thrilling, and with one major plot change in the form of a major character, this book made me cringe, cry, and furious all at the same time as I was enjoying it to the fullest. Nab it! But start with the series beginning, "Murder in Scorpio."
Thrilling, and with one major plot change in the form of a major character, this book made me cringe, cry, and furious all at the same time as I was enjoying it to the fullest. Nab it! But start with the series beginning, "Murder in Scorpio."
July 7, 2024
This book is like reading a first draft. Little to no character depth or development. No effort was made to make me feel I liked the main character or not, or why I should care about her case. The only motivation was her boyfriend who has no real qualities except that he has nice eyes. By the end I was unsure if this was even a story about a detective or a story about her vague relationship with her boyfriend. Couldn’t tell if the author knew either.
Story definitely had potential, but the author barely grazed the surface with this book.
Story definitely had potential, but the author barely grazed the surface with this book.
March 19, 2017
Number three, and my favorite, in the mystery series of PI and parapsychologist Elizabeth Chase. Elizabeth investigates the abduction of a young woman into a cult and meets individuals that match her psi capabilities. Haunting and keeps you on edge, with serious potential to tug in your heart strings, too!
July 29, 2008
I really love this series. The main character is great, the book is fast-paced and easy to read. And the plot twist in this one was amazing. I never saw it coming.
August 14, 2009
there are some very interesting aspects to this series
April 16, 2010
I LOVE Psychic mysteries! This one should be read before Ashes of Aries though
March 1, 2014
First time reading this author and I would read her again. The book is fast paced about a psychic female detective.
July 30, 2016
Only the second book I've read in the series, and already Lawrence has broken my heart. A very good read!
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June 26, 2016Another good book by this author, sad ending
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews