A Panicked Premonition is the fifteenth book in the Psychic Eye Mystery series by Victoria Laurie. I read many of this series, but am certain I missed some along the way.  I think most fans of the author, even if they missed a book or two, will be able to catch on quickly. However, some newcomers to the series might get lost in the relationships and quirks of the series.

Professional psychic and FBI consultant Abby Cooper has used her inner visions to get her out of many a scrape—and solve many a crime—but she’s about to face a murder scene that will put all her powers to the test. Abby’s husband Dutch has a side business providing security and building panic rooms for wealthy clients. One morning, one of Dutch’s partners, Dave, goes missing on his way to meet a client. Abby’s intuition tells her something terrible has happened to him.  Then two of Dutch’s clients are found brutally murdered inside their brand new panic room, and most of the evidence points to Dave as the killer.  With the authorities racing to find and arrest him, Abby's got to use all her intuitive prowess to get to Dave first, discover the real killer, and save her husband's business. This is one case where Abby is positive there’s far more to this mystery than meets her inner eye.

A Panicked Premonition holds up well in the genre of cozy mysteries. I found that Abby and her friends continue to grow and change as the world around them effects them. I like that they so obviously care about each other, and tell each other the truth- even when it might be hard. I also like that the mystery is multi layered, and while I quickly decided that it was not the obvious culprit- the final reveal left me stunned on a few small details. I liked the way the psychic flavor was worked into the story, definitely playing its role without coming in as campy or solving the entire case with out overcoming actual detective work. I loved seeing the interactions between Abby, Dutch, and the rest of the crew as they settle into life as married couples, and working together in their own way. The characters and the solid mystery kept me eager to see what would happen on the next page, and how Abby might react. I did feel like I might have missed a book or two, or perhaps it has just been too long since I read the previous book, because I did not remember some little things mentioned or alluded to in the book. 

A Panicked Premonition is a wonderful continuation to the series, and had me guessing until the very end. The characters and writing style have stayed consistent, and the mysteries seem to have gotten more complicated and compelling.

Victoria Laurie is a favorite of mine.  I would recommend her to any of my library patrons.

Saturday I started and finished A Panicked Premonition by Victoria Laurie. This is the 15th book in the series and I am truly amazed by her ability to write books I simply can not put down. She has a wonderful way of writing not only characters but intense scenes that are so easy to picture that you feel so involved in the story. While these are paranormal cozy mystery books they also have an element of suspense that you do not often find in cozies. I know these would make amazing movies as the words are so vibrant on the page they seem to jump out at you and play like a movie in my head. This story was about panic rooms, but it was also about relationships, goals, leaving your comfort zone, taking chances and having an enormous amount of faith. One of the best series out there, long running and after the first book you will see why.  This book is out now and is a book and series I can highly recommend.

A Panicked Premonition by Victoria Laurie: Getting to the 15th book in any series is always a bit daunting, the story stales, characters get repetitive, and you might be asking yourself – did I already read this one? But, I’m happy to report, this is not the case with Laurie’s Psychic Eye series! When her friend Dave is simultaneously abducted and framed for murder, it’s up to Abby and her crew to save the day. (4 Stars)

I have had this series on my “Want to Read” Shelf in Goodreads forever!  I am sooo glad I was selected to read it, because I probably wouldn’t have started it otherwise.  This is #15, and now I’ll be reading all the others.  Abby is a professional psychic who works with her Private Investigator friend, Candice.  Abby’s hubby, Dutch, is an FBI Special Agent and Candice’s husband is Dutch’s partner, Brice.  One of Dutch’s partners, Dave, goes missing and Abby get a bad feeling about it.  Then, when two of Dutch’s clients go missing, Dave becomes the prime suspect.  Shortly afterwards, Dave’s wife, Gwen, goes missing.  The two couples set out on a mission to solve the mystery and find Dave and Gwen.  It was a cute mystery/ action book.  Chick lit at its best!

A Panicked Premonition
A Psychic Eye Mystery, Book #15
Victoria Laurie
5 Stars

Synopsis:


In New York Times bestselling author Victoria Laurie’s newest Psychic Eye mystery, Abby Cooper has one rule to follow: don’t panic!

Professional psychic and FBI consultant Abby Cooper has used her inner visions to get her out of many a scrape—and solve many a crime—but she’s about to face a murder scene that will put all her powers to the test. Abby’s husband Dutch has a side business providing security and building panic rooms for wealthy clients. One morning, one of Dutch’s partners, Dave, goes missing on his way to meet a client. Abby’s intuition tells her something terrible has happened to him.
 
Then two of Dutch’s clients are found brutally murdered...inside their brand new panic room, and most of the evidence points to Dave as the killer.  With the authorities racing to find and arrest him, Abby's got to use all her intuitive prowess to get to Dave first, discover the real killer, and save her husband's business. This is one case where Abby is positive there’s far more to this mystery than meets her inner eye…  (Goodreads)



Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded.  I really love Abby and Candice.  They are more than best friends, they are as close as sisters.  We should all have a Candace in our lives.  When they found out that their friend, Dave, has disappeared, they never hesitated in trying to find him.  And when it looked like Dave was going to be accused of murder, they worked doubly hard.  I enjoy the way their husbands acted like they are in control of everything but really the girls are in charge.  I enjoyed getting to spend more time with all of them.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read.  The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the story, I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place.  I could imagine the mansions and estates that Abby and Candice visited, and see how the rich live.  

The mystery was carried on well throughout the entire book.  There were quite a few suspects to consider and clues to sift through and it was not an easy mystery to solve.  Throw in some red herrings and even the most experienced armchair detective will struggle with finding the correct culprit.  I really like that not only did Abby and Candace have to figure out how Dave was involved in the murders (Abby refused to believe he was responsible) but they also had to find Dave before it was too late.  Having two mysteries to solve is twice the fun.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  If you enjoy paranormal cozies, this book is a must read book.  I felt this was a more edgier cozy, with harsher language than is typical for cozies, but that did not dim my enjoyment of the book in any way. 

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.  I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Victoria laurie continues her Psychic Eye mystery series with A Panicked Premonition.  Abby Cooper, professional psychic and FBI consultant have to find a colleague of her husband who has become a suspect in a messy group of murders.  Abby and her friends use more detective skills than psychic tips in this very effective police procedural.  Well worth reading.

I just love this series Abby and Dutch are still hot and steamy but her interactions with Candice that make it laugh out loud funny that alone is worth the read.  Great mystery as well

A PANICKED PREMONITION is book 15 in Victoria Laurie's Psychic Eye mystery series. In A PANICKED PREMONITION, Abby pounds the pavement and does some old-fashioned detective work when her psychic intuition is somewhat stymied. There is always a sense of urgency and foreboding in a Psychic Eye mystery. Because it's a friend who has disappeared, makes things extremely personal for Abby and her friends. For his family and friends, as well as longtime fans of this series, there is no doubt that Dave McKenzie is a victim and not the villain that local law enforcement suspects him of being. Trying to figure out what happened to Dave is just as big a mystery as trying to figure out the identities and motivations of the shadowy bad guys. Kidnappings, murders, and locked rooms make for a thrilling mystery and a book you can't put down. The close friendships and romantic relationships help balance out the tragedies and crime scenes littered throughout A PANICKED PREMONITION.

The women in A PANICKED PREMONITION are an extremely diverse group, but their presence and personalities loom large in this story. At the opening of the book, Murielle McKenna is a wealthy pathological mess who could give Cruella de Vil a run for her money. Murielle's methods to obtaining what she wants are insidious and you just know that she has to be guilty of something. Murielle's polar opposite is the wife of Abby's missing friend Dave. The heroines of this piece are Abby, her BFF and business partner Candice, and new friend and fellow crime buster Detective Nikki Grayson. Abby and Candice are always a blast to read about, but Nikki makes a welcome addition. I love the teamwork and the way the ladies wipe the floor with any and all assorted villains.

A PANICKED PREMONITION is first-rate detective yarn with some kick-ass female sleuths to save the day. This is a great book for readers who like their mysteries with a twist, and suspense with a few laughs mixed in. A Victoria Laurie mystery is always a treat to be savored and I eagerly await her next book.

3.5 Stars

Abby Cooper is a professional psychic who uses her abilities to do readings for her clients and also for crime-solving when she consults with the FBI. Her husband Dutch is an FBI agent and has a new side business with their friend Dave installing panic rooms for a wealthy clientele. Things are looking up for couple, but it seems things were too good to be true. Now Abby and Dutch's good friend Dave is missing and becomes the prime suspect when two of Dutch and Dave's clients are murdered. Abby has to use all of her investigative and psychic abilities to find Dave and prove his innocence to save his life and Dutch’s business.

I followed this series in the beginning, but haven't read all of the most recent books. A little disbelief must be suspended with Abby and her best friend Candice playing such a large role in the FBI investigations with Dutch and his best friend, who is also an FBI agent and Candice’s husband. The best part of this book and the entire series is watching Abby use her psychic abilities, with her clients to tell them things about their life or to find clues in solving a case. Abby is smart, quirky, and uses her intelligence along with her intuition when investigating. She and Candice make a good team and in this book, both work well with the detective officially assigned to the case, Nikki Grayson. I wouldn't mind seeing Nikki in future books. She knows how to mix going by the rules with open-mindedness to work toward solving the case, and she is a good complement to both Abby and Candice.

There are a few downsides to the book. Abby's confidence can sometimes come across as conceit, and all the talk about her new healthy diet and workout regimen takes away from the case. There are also several instances of strong language that seem forced and don't add anything to the story. Overall, I like the book and enjoy Abby's flip sense of humor and the way the case was resolved in the end. Fans of the series will enjoy the latest Psychic Eye mystery.

~ Christine

This is my second Abby Cooper book. Yes, I know, a little late to the game. However, this character is really growing on me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading reading this book. Lots of quirky characters, action and suspense. All right up my alley!

This one involved a murder in a panic room. What? Isn't that where you go to be safe if your house is being invaded? Abby's husband is seriously involved in this on a very personal reason. His side company builds panic rooms and. . . they just happened to build this one. Getting to the bottom of this one has Abby meeting a lot of people that she would rather not meet. (I love the barbs she self consciously throws out!).

Trying to figure this one out has everyone involved and I sped through this book. There are also lots of suspects with the main one coming to everyone's list, except Abby and the team, is Dave, Dutch's good friend and employee. Lots of laughs to go with all the action, definitely an entertaining read.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Company and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Laurie is a favored author and knows how to bring a story not to mention a mystery to life.  Each book just gets better and better, I always look forward to new releases.  In this 15th book of the series Abby has settled into life in Texas and made some healthy changes.  Her husband Dutch's side business is booming and all is looking well for the couple and their future.  When two of Dutch's clients are found murdered and friend/handyman Dave is the main suspect Abby must use her ability to find the truth.  Did Dave kill the clients, Abby doesn't think so and will do anything she can to save Dave from a murder conviction.  Will Abby's senses help her in helping Dave?  Follow along as Abby tries discover just what went wrong in that big house and why people say they saw Dave leave the murder scene.  This was a terrific read and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good cozy with a side of the mystical.

I’ve been a huge fan of Ms. Laurie since the beginning and I am always glad to see a new book in this series. I’m always afraid that when a series gets to have many books in it that something will happen (author loses interest, the story lines get stales, etc.) and it’ll get stale, but I am happy to report I see no sign of this happening with series. This installment has Ms. Laurie’s wonderful characters that are so well-drawn you feel like you know them, and as always, it’s very well-written. I do have to admit I had to suspend my disbelief a teeny, tiny, little bit in a couple places, but I so enjoyed this one I didn’t even mind at all. These books are always so much fun, and I think this was one of the best one yet. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-copy of the book which I voluntarily reviewed.

Fantastic addition to the Psychic Eye Mystery series!
 
What I liked: I’ve read this series when it first came out, took a break because so many books, not enough time, and Ms Laurie has found a way to keep it fresh and entertaining. I’m to the point where I would really love to hang out with Abby and Candice. Yes, they’re best friends but their personalities complement each other in a great way.
 
In A Panicked Premonition, the emphasis is on a new business Dutch (Abby’s husband, FBI agent) and Brice (Candice’s husband and Dutch’s boss at the FBI) have begun with their all-round handyman and friend, Dave. I love Dave! Their business is installing panic rooms and business is booming but so is murder. First Dave goes missing, then 2 clients are murdered and all the info points to Dave. As a matter of fact, the evidence is so overwhelming that his friends are even questioning their knowledge of him. Never fear, Abby and Candice are on the case with a heavy assist from their guys.
 
Sounds simple, doesn’t it? It’s not and Ms Laurie has changed things up a bit. First off, Abby is the queen of unhealthy eating but evidently some time has passed since the ending of the last book, A Grave Prediction, and Abby is working out, eating really healthy, and enjoying it. Wow, I did not see that coming. Seriously though, there are a few subplots that turn out to have a bearing on the case, or not?
 
Abby is one of my favorite characters in a series. If taken alone, she could become obnoxious very quickly but the snark, the childish actions, in some cases her self-absorption would lose my interest quickly. Ms Laurie has a gift of knowing when each part of Abby’s personality fits what scene or when it’s not all about her but the family and friends around her.
 
I did not figure out the bad guys, well, maybe I did a bit but not completely. I also enjoy the relationships between the main characters. Yes, there is a bit of drama but overall, the characters feel like regular people dealing with their respective careers and all that entails. Well, of course, I’ve never met a regular psychic person but Abby is just herself with a little help from her guides in the ether. She has to work at interpreting what they are trying to convey to her and her gut doesn’t always warn her in time and mayhem ensues.
 
The relationship between Abby and Dutch is loving and comfortable but they are each individuals who respect each other and accept each other as they are. The same can be said of Abby and Candice. Ms Laurie pairing them as partners was a fantastic choice and I think has extended the life of this series.
 
What I didn’t like: A Panicked Premonition is the 15th book in this series and the only thing that jumps out at me is Abby’s insecurity when dealing with people who don’t believe in her psychic powers. Then I started thinking, even at my advanced age, there are still things I’m insecure about that have followed me most of my life. So basically, nothing not to like.
 
I know Ms Laurie is having some issues finding a new home or perhaps self-publishing in continuing this series. As a reader, I can tell that Ms Laurie puts her heart and soul into her writing. Her books reflect her research in the setting, her plots are interesting but not over the top unbelievable, and her characters won my heart from the beginning. I’m looking forward to more of Abby’s adventures!
 
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
 
Highly Recommended!!

A Panicked Premonition:  A Psychic Eye Mystery
By Victoria Laurie
Berkley
July 4, 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

It’s amazing to see how far Abigail Cooper has come since her first appearance in 2004’s Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye.  Fourteen books ago Abby had a small psychic reading practice and was a self-declared P.I.; as in Psychic Intuitive.  Since then Abby has become a true professional private investigator in Austin, partnered in a practice with her best friend Candice Fusco and taking on clients that include the FBI.  It of course helps that both Abby’s and Candice’s husbands are FBI agents and business partners themselves, running a private security agency now specializing in high-tech safe rooms.  It’s that connection that has Abby and Candice involved in multiple murders when the home of one of Safe Chambers’ clients is breached and the residents and staff ruthlessly murdered.   What makes it personal is the simultaneous disappearance of Dave McKenzie, who is not just Abby and her husband Dutch’s friend, but part-owner and contractor of their panic rooms.

A scheduled meeting and bloody handprint places Dave on the scene at the time of the murders, but Abby refuses to believe that she could ever have been so off about someone’s character.  Dave’s connection with Safe Chambers also opens them up to disastrous litigation, giving them even more motivation to track him down and prove his innocence.  As clues fall into place, their path leads towards another client, one whose predatory wiles places right in the middle of the chaos.  Abby’s gifts are impressive, granting her the ability to tell truth from lies and providing startling insight into one’s predominant thoughts.  Abby is not omniscient though, and the turbulence of Dave’s emotions cloud her senses and only indicate that he is in the middle of danger.  Using her intuition and faith in Dave, Abby and her friends follow of trail of international intrigue, corporate espionage, and multiple betrayals.

This being the 15th of an always compelling and intricately plotted mystery series, it makes sense that Abby’s investigation operates on a very professional and practical level.  She and Candice are canny detectives who use modern investigative techniques to lead them through an ever more elaborate maze of crimes.  Yet those interludes where Abby is able to utilize her psychic intuition to dazzle investigators and guide clients often prove to be the highlight of the novel, especially when they slap down doubters mocking her gifts.  Since the previous novel separated the women from their spouses, it’s a delight to see them all back together again, navigating through their complicated relationships and the overprotectiveness that often goes both ways.  The humor starts the novel off on a light note, introducing a brand-new Paleo-eating, exercise fanatic Abby whose healthy body focuses her psychic skills.  While the tone darkens as the crimes intensify and the stakes are raised, Abby and Candice continue to leaven the novel through their strong friendship and good-natured teasing.  The combination of Abby’s intuition and supportive law enforcement officers delivers a surprising and unpredictable conclusion to an extremely complex case.  Professional psychic Victoria Laurie gives readers yet another satisfying and entertaining mystery, one that relies on classic detection skills sparked by a little paranormal fun.

This is the fifteenth book in the Psychic Eye series and the first one that I have read. After some initial fear that I wouldn't know enough, I began reading this and was quickly drawn into the story. Abby Cooper is a professional psychic married to an FBI Special Agent named Dutch who has a side business providing security and panic rooms to the very wealthy. She works with her friend Private Investigator Candice who is married to Dutch's partner Brice.

After one of Dutch's partners, Dave, goes missing seemingly between clients, Abby feels that something is very wrong. Things get even worse when two of Dutch's clients are brutally murdered in their panic room. Dave is the prime suspect. Then Dave's wife Gwen goes missing. 

Abby, Candice, Dutch and Brice have to find their friends Dave and Gwen and solve the murders to keep Dutch and Brice's business from being sued into extinction. There are lots of wonderful suspects from the rich barracuda who has been hitting of Dutch and once had an affair with one of the murder victims to the same victim's sister who resented her sister's success to the other murder victim's business partner who is scrambling to find a computer program the victim wrote that will keep their company from going under. 

I loved the relationships between the characters. It is nice to see strong marriages in stories where the partners both love and support each other. Abby also has a unique, quirky way of look at the world and we see this clearly as she is the narrator of this story. 

I'm eager to backtrack and read more books in this story which was an engaging mystery with touches of humor.

Another great read from Victoria Laurie.  While not deep reading or inspiring, it is a fun read for those who want a little twist to the usual cozy mystery.

I enjoy all of the Victoria Laurie books. This one just seemed to move all over the place. It was a little hard to follow at times with all that was going on. I almost needed a list of who was who and who did what. I still enjoyed it though and recommend it as a decent addition to the series.

I love it when I am reading a mystery and begin to have my own “but what about” questions and then one by one the author answers them.  “It’s like she gets me” (ok, you will have to read the book to get that reference). 

This is a unique series in that fourteen or so books back this was a cozy mystery series and within time, they have shifted more to a regular mystery with parts and subjects that are on the un-cozy side yet you forgive Victoria Laurie because, as a writer, she is growing. 

With a twisty plot that involves dear friend Dave and the new panic room business that Dutch and Brice have started, now that Milo is no longer in the picture, things go sideways quickly when there is a double murder at a recent project and Dave is nowhere to be found. 

Abby and Candice are the main focus in this book and in between working out, the ladies tend to be going back and forth between their private investigator skills and their being on the FBI payroll.  Guess you walk on a very narrow edge when you husbands are with the FBI and they need their girlfriends to solve crimes. 

After a few bumpy books in this series, I can say that this is one of the better ones.  Not too much is given away early and though the author sends you down a couple of weedy paths, the conclusion makes sense without the reader having to reach too far out to pull in all the pieces.