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Aubrey Arbuthnot #1
Strong Spirits
ENOUGH TO WAKE THE DEAD
Aubrey Arbuthnot's father Farquhar, the Sixth Baronet of Flummox, died recently, leaving a paltry sum to his good-for-nothing son. And to make matters worse, the old man's ghost has decided to stick around -- in order to keep a close paternal eye on his untrustworthy heir.
Being both haunted and impoverished is almost too much for Aubrey to bear. But his efforts to banish the meddlesome specter have the determined young man floundering in a world of would-be spiritualists -- and whizzing back and forth across the astral plane. For dabbling in the unknown has awakened Aubrey's dormant psychic powers -- leading him on a weird and wacky excursion into the supernatural that could drive him well and truly mad.
Aubrey Arbuthnot's father Farquhar, the Sixth Baronet of Flummox, died recently, leaving a paltry sum to his good-for-nothing son. And to make matters worse, the old man's ghost has decided to stick around -- in order to keep a close paternal eye on his untrustworthy heir.
Being both haunted and impoverished is almost too much for Aubrey to bear. But his efforts to banish the meddlesome specter have the determined young man floundering in a world of would-be spiritualists -- and whizzing back and forth across the astral plane. For dabbling in the unknown has awakened Aubrey's dormant psychic powers -- leading him on a weird and wacky excursion into the supernatural that could drive him well and truly mad.
151 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
20 people want to read
About the author
Elisa DeCarlo
5 books7 followersIn 2015, the Exit Press published Cervix With A Smile: The Comedy Sketches And Plays by Elisa DeCarlo !! For 20 years, Elisa has honed her voice on the stage, despite alcoholism and mental illness. She has strong feminist convictions, and critics agree, she presents them in a brilliantly entertaining way!
She published two novels, Strong Spirits and The Devil You Say with Avon Press, as well as The Abortionist's Daughter: A Novel in 2014. As well as dozens of good reviews on Amazon and across the Internet,The Abortionist's Daughter was named one of the Best Books of 2014 by alt.current.com!
Her humorous essays are in a number of anthologies, including Life's A Stitch: The Best of Contemporary Women's Humor. Elisa has also written and performed a number of solo shows across the country.
Elisa was born in Westchester, NY, and grew up there and in New York City. As an actress, she has performed in television, radio and film. She is married and still lives in New York City.
She published two novels, Strong Spirits and The Devil You Say with Avon Press, as well as The Abortionist's Daughter: A Novel in 2014. As well as dozens of good reviews on Amazon and across the Internet,The Abortionist's Daughter was named one of the Best Books of 2014 by alt.current.com!
Her humorous essays are in a number of anthologies, including Life's A Stitch: The Best of Contemporary Women's Humor. Elisa has also written and performed a number of solo shows across the country.
Elisa was born in Westchester, NY, and grew up there and in New York City. As an actress, she has performed in television, radio and film. She is married and still lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 15, 2025
4.5 Stars
I thought this was hilarious. It's a supernatural novel set in 1928 London, but the best part of the novel is the humor. Just really well done with some laugh out loud moments. If you like some humor in your reads, this is worth a go.
I thought this was hilarious. It's a supernatural novel set in 1928 London, but the best part of the novel is the humor. Just really well done with some laugh out loud moments. If you like some humor in your reads, this is worth a go.
November 16, 2023
If you are a Wodehouse fan who wishes Plum had delved a little more into the realm of the occult (yes, ‘tis I, I am that exact Wodehouse fan!), then this fizzy little pastiche is for you.
Aubrey Arbuthnot is a relatively carefree young gadabout when his estranged father dies unexpectedly after cutting Aubrey out of his will, leaving him penniless and adrift. To make matters worse, he is haunted by the apparition of the recently departed pater familias.
In despair and at a loss for how to deal with the ominous and reticent spirit, Aubrey reluctantly attends a séance with his friend Percy. Hosting the affair is the imposing Ronald Cockcroft, a medium who may or may not be a complete charlatan. Aubrey’s all-too-real psychic abilities manifest themselves in dramatic fashion during the séance, setting off a series of rollicking supernatural hijinks involving an aging music hall actress driven to distraction by the ghost of her late husband, a power-mad medium dabbling in dark magic, a beautiful heiress whom both Aubrey and his friend Percy are keen to court, and a spooky but sympathetic valet who may hold the key to helping Aubrey develop his latent talents.
Aubrey Arbuthnot is a fair bit pricklier than his literary antecedent, Bertie Wooster (and certainly less of a preux chevalier). In contrast, the psychically gifted valet Hornchurch comes across as a gentler soul than the perpetually snarky and passive-aggressive Jeeves. But they make for a similarly delightful duo, and I look forward to reading about more of their adventures in the sequel, The Devil You Say.
Aubrey Arbuthnot is a relatively carefree young gadabout when his estranged father dies unexpectedly after cutting Aubrey out of his will, leaving him penniless and adrift. To make matters worse, he is haunted by the apparition of the recently departed pater familias.
In despair and at a loss for how to deal with the ominous and reticent spirit, Aubrey reluctantly attends a séance with his friend Percy. Hosting the affair is the imposing Ronald Cockcroft, a medium who may or may not be a complete charlatan. Aubrey’s all-too-real psychic abilities manifest themselves in dramatic fashion during the séance, setting off a series of rollicking supernatural hijinks involving an aging music hall actress driven to distraction by the ghost of her late husband, a power-mad medium dabbling in dark magic, a beautiful heiress whom both Aubrey and his friend Percy are keen to court, and a spooky but sympathetic valet who may hold the key to helping Aubrey develop his latent talents.
Aubrey Arbuthnot is a fair bit pricklier than his literary antecedent, Bertie Wooster (and certainly less of a preux chevalier). In contrast, the psychically gifted valet Hornchurch comes across as a gentler soul than the perpetually snarky and passive-aggressive Jeeves. But they make for a similarly delightful duo, and I look forward to reading about more of their adventures in the sequel, The Devil You Say.
February 5, 2020
Strong Spirits is a slim little novel, weighing in at a mere 151 pages, and the elevator pitch on the cover sums it up perfectly: “Aubrey’s father has given up the ghost… but the ghost isn’t ready to give up Aubrey!” Expect quick, fun absurdity paired with dry humor in 1920s England. If that’s what you’re in the mood for, Strong Spirits absolutely delivers.
[I read old fantasy and sci-fi novels written by women authors in search of forgotten gems. See a full-length review at forfemfan.com]
[I read old fantasy and sci-fi novels written by women authors in search of forgotten gems. See a full-length review at forfemfan.com]
January 28, 2025
I think I wanted to like it more than I actually did, because I stopped somewhere in the middle as just never bothered to finish. Would try again.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews