Hypnosis Is for Hacks is the 4th book in the Eleanor Wilde Mystery series.

Eleanor Wilde is an American bogus psychic who has set herself up as the local town witch under the guise of Eleanor's Cleansing Service in a quaint English village in Sussex. She is on holiday in Brighton with her brother Liam, boyfriend Nicholas Hartford III, and his mum. Hoping to escape the stifling heat of the Sussex country hence the trip to breezy Brighton, Ellie spots a former partner in crime, Armand Lamont at their hotel. Liam and Ellie also see someone go overboard on a boat in choppy seas. As other strange or nefarious deeds take place, fingers are soon being pointed...

Hypnosis Is for Hacks was my 2nd in this series. Although it was book four, I had no difficulties keeping up with characters and events and it worked for me as an individual story. Protagonist Ellie is a great character who I like immensely; she is fiery and has a knack for dramatising her witchy persona, instilling collywobbles or relief within her audience.

There was no shortage of comedy or engaging chapters so I was thoroughly invested in finding out what would happen next. The great cast of characters helped to zhoosh up this mystic cozy. Tamara Berry really impresses me with her fluid writing; the details of the plot are very well-executed, and the story is amusing and easy to follow. I was kept guessing almost until the end and really enjoyed this ghostly paranormal adventure. I am looking forward to reading book 5, as well as the others from the series. If you adore a great cozy mystery, don't miss out on Hypnosis Is for Hacks!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Summer in Sussex shouldn't be this hot so Eleanor Wilde, former fake medium from across the Pond (now sort of a local witch) is very glad to escape to Brighton for a breath of cool seaside air. Her brother, Liam, is visiting and her boyfriend's mother wants to take them to a posh hotel. She's very rich and the castle has workers doing things to the AC and such. So off they go to one of England's favorite holiday getaway spots. No sooner have they arrived when Eleanor's former partner-in-con, Armand, makes an appearance. Being a woman with a not very honest past as a fake medium with a talent for separating gullible people from their money, Eleanor suspects that Armand might be thinking of a bit of blackmail directed at her. Does he think that she is running a con on her boyfriend, Nicholas and his family?
If that isn't complicated enough, while out for a stroll in the evening, Eleanor witnesses a person being thrown overboard by what appear to be two men. Problem is they go poof, into thin air. The body is real but not much else seems to be. Is it in any way connected to a string of robberies in their hotel and might Armand have something to do with any of it? I'm not saying any more for fear of spoilers.
The combination of a strong, engaging female character (Eleanor), a top notch mystery, lovely setting, humor and more than a little bit of ghostly paranormal assistance makes for a series that became one of my favorites with the first book.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Eleanor Wilde, one-time fake medium and now a village witch in the English countryside, is thrilled to be hosting her brother Liam for the summer. What neither of the American siblings had accounted for when planning this visit was the countryside's dismal heat. When Vivian Hartford, local grand dame and the mother of Eleanor’s wealthy if currently absent boyfriend Nicholas, more or less invites them along on a Brighton holiday, they’re quick to accept. Sensitive to her own past habits however, Eleanor is insistent that the Wildes will foot their own bills regardless of Vivian’s generous offers otherwise.

The trio are at first glad to escape to the cooling seaside breezes of the resort town, at least until they run into a certain guest who’s also staying at their posh hotel. Armand Lamont is a mesmerist and mentalist who was previously Eleanor’s mentor and partner-in-crime, teaching her the tricks of the trade as they conned wealthy people out of their money under the guise of, among other things, spiritually cleansing allegedly haunted buildings. When greed got the best of him, a worried Eleanor decided he was going too far, and put a semi-permanent stop to his misdeeds. But now here he is in Brighton, cozying up to Vivian and Liam, and watching Eleanor's every move.

At first, Eleanor assumes that he’s arrived to enact his revenge on her, primarily by playing pranks like leaving creepy gifts outside the door to the hotel room she shares with her brother:

QUOTE
“What the…?” I bend down and pick up a small porcelain doll that’s sitting outside our door. She’s tiny, no bigger than the palm of my hand, and appears to be of ancient origin. I say this not just because the porcelain is yellowed and cracked, but because I’ve never seen such a terrifying plaything. Modern dolls have big, kewpie eyes and adorably painted bow lips. This monstrosity looks as though she clawed her way out of the depths of a grave, her white dress covered in dirt and her once-blond hair down to a few straggling strands.
END QUOTE

He’ll have to try a lot harder than that to scare our intrepid heroine though, especially after she and Liam witness the drowning death of a man at the hand of two shadowy figures that no one else seems to have seen. When other hotel residents begin reporting robberies that also involve the appearance of two shadow figures, Eleanor is intrigued, and not a little suspicious that Armand is somehow involved in this little crime wave. He swears up and down that he would never stoop to anything so blatantly illegal, and Eleanor is inclined to believe him, especially after he accuses her of ingratiating herself with the Hartfords for their money. Armand might be a crook but he’s a clever crook, and theft and murder aren’t his style. No, what he really wants is a cut of her action, as he’s convinced that she’s running a con on her rich boyfriend and his family. How to persuade him that she isn’t, while shielding the Hartfords from the truth of her own checkered past? And how to do all that while helping to solve the case of the murders and robberies plaguing their hotel?

I am such a huge fan of this series, and greatly enjoyed how Eleanor’s past, present and future converged in this delightful fourth installment. Nicholas himself shows up undercover to help her fend off Armand, as well as to help her with the suspicious police detective in charge of the case, who turns out to be none other than the ex-wife of Inspector Peter Piper from their own village. Smart, athletic and no-nonsense, Inspector Gillian Piper quickly inspires a girl crush on Eleanor’s part:

QUOTE
I can’t identify why I’m so excited at the prospect of Gillian Piper being a woman who inspires awe, but I am. I <i>should</i> be afraid of her--and in some respects, I am--but I mostly want her to consider me an ally worth having.

Nicholas must sense some of this, because he takes both of my hands and squeezes them. “There’s a reason she left Peter the way she did, moving away to take a job in a bigger city, never quite feeling settled in our little village.”

I can understand this perfectly.
END QUOTE

It’s always so refreshing to read books that showcase burgeoning female friendship and solidarity even, or perhaps especially, between a former con artist and an ambitious cop. I was also so, so pleased by the resolution of the storylines with Armand and Nicholas both, and am very much looking forward to how Eleanor’s relationships with them continue to develop in future books. Definitely pick up this book if you like a little paranormal activity, a lot of wicked wit and a healthy dose of emotional generosity with your cozy mysteries!

Eleanor Wilde is a (formerly) fake medium who talks to real spirits. While her boyfriend's castle is being renovated, she accompanies his mother to a seaside resort and almost immediately witnesses what she's sure was a murder. The man is definitely dead -- what's being questioned is whether those two shadowy figures Eleanor saw were real or a trick of the light. Oh, and Eleanor's former partner-in-crime, a shady mentalist, is staying at the same hotel and wants in on the scam he's sure she's committing against her boyfriend's family. There's also a creepy doll that keeps turning up just outside her door and terrifying her brother.

Eleanor is one of my favorite cozy mystery heroines. When she's faced with the idea of having her past secrets revealed, she doesn't back down. Instead, she calls Nicholas and involves him in what's going on. I absolutely loved this one!

I like this series, Nicholas is great and I love Ellie's debunking of supernatural but yet having supernatural abilities. I just couldn't get into Armand . But loved the mystery and kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The last person Ellie wants to see again is Armand especially not while she's on vacation in Brighton with her brother Liam, her love interest Nicholas, and his mother (whose castle is being renovated- a castle!). Armand, see, was her partner in crime back when she was posing as a psychic and ripping people off. Yes, her loved ones know what she did but not all of it. Turns out, Armand isn't as much of problem as the fact that she sees a man pushed overboard from a boat and no one believes her. Then more bad things happen at the hotel and fingers start to point. This is a fun cozy series with a terrific protagonist in Ellie, an American in the UK who started out grifting and now is doing her best to be legit. There's a bit of paranormal, a bit of romance, a lot of humor. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. One of my favorite series.

A couple is walking along a beach during an extremely stormy night and witnesses two men fighting and throwing a third man off the boat. Thus begins an investigation by a very renowned psychic and medium!

Eleanor is a gifted psychic with a group of ghosts who help her unravel the mysteries she seems to keep getting. She is surrounded by a group of never-do-wells, cats, and an ugly doll named Brunhilde. She also has a highly respected investigator named Armond Lemont who continues to question her investigation and appears more of a hindrance than a help.

She struggles through the investigation with Armond questioning every assumption. Her apparitions continue to guide and help her through the investigation. She has a suitor who is hoping to win her heart. He is Nicholas Hartford III. Even his name evokes status and wealth. His mother will have to expire before this becomes a reality though!

I found it very difficult at times to believe the narrative. Who can walk on a beach during a stormy night and witness a crime on the water in the dark?

The story was a fun rollick, however, and featured some interesting concepts and characters. It is a romp into the shadowy world of make believe.

Eleanor is one of my favorite endearing protagnist.This is the fourth installment in the Eleanor Wilde Mystery Series and I have loved the entire series. She has turned her life around after working as a fake medium. Now in England she is working prescribing elixers and herbal remedies. Trying to redeem herself with honest work she has left her former life behind.

Eleanor is on a trip with her boyfriend and his Mother to Brighton when her Brother arrives for a visit. She had hoped for a relaxing romantic coastal vacation but soon her former partner in crime appears and may have nefarious reasons for contacting her. In addition to her concerns she and her Brother witness a horrendous crime . After the crime occurs several odd happenings take place that may be a result of spirits or pranks by her former partner .

This was such a fun read with humor, mystery and a well crafted interesting sleuth. I like Eleanor as a person that does not suffer fools and stands up for herself. She is decent at her core and really trying to lead a honest life with her change in profession. This was a entertainng addition to the series. I look forward to the next in series.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Hypnosis Is for Hacks was my introduction to the Eleanor Wilde series. The description was very appealing, as well as the book cover. I was quite sure that I would enjoy the book, and I was not disappointed. Although I feel it's best to have read the previous books, I was pulled quickly into the story. Eleanor, the main character, is far from perfect, but it makes the book so much more interesting. Her brother, Liam, adds a bit of comic relief, which was welcome. It was interesting how Armand's presence was woven into the story, adding more mystery and danger. There were some nice twists along the way, it took me a while to figure out certain things. The conclusion was very satisfying, and I definitely want to read other books by Tamara Berry.

Once a fake medium, Eleanor Wilde now provides herbal remedies to residents in her small English village. Unfortunately, on a trip with her brother Liam and boyfriend Nicholas' mother to Brighton, Eleanor runs into Armand, a former partner-in-scams. While Armand tries to blackmail Eleanor, many at the resort become distracted by the jewel robberies and murder committed with a paranormal twist. Hypnosis Is for Hacks is another captivating chapter in Eleanor and Nicholas's delightful journey as they once again pursue answers to mysterious events.

Madame Eleanor was a fake. She would come to your house and eliminate whatever was haunting you, or remove the evil spirits or whatever, for a price. She would insure you didn’t rummage through the things she brought to the house or investigate her midnight wanderings, unless you wanted to see the cameras, noise makers, etc, she would install and manipulate as she needed.

All that changed when the sister, whose medical treatment Eleanor had been paying for with her work as a medium, died and began talking to her for real. As if that wasn’t enough, another medium, one Eleanor also believed to be a fake, died and now she talks to Eleanor, too. Add that to Eleanor’s decision to “go straight”, settling in a small English village and making herbal remedies and you have the current Madame Eleanor. She still wears costumes reminiscent of a witch, lots of black, and she still gets involved in solving murders, but she will be the first one to tell you it’s because she is an astute observer, nothing more.

All of that is threatened when she accompanies her boyfriend’s mother to Brighton beach to get away while their castle (did I mention they are extremely wealthy?) is having the heating and air conditioning upgraded. Almost the moment she walks into the hotel she is greeted by a former partner from her less than above board days, Armand. When she talks to him she becomes convinced Armand is there to fleece her friends and, as an added bonus, fill them in on all her former activities. They know much of Eleanor’s past, but she has kept the more lurid parts from them as she is afraid they would reject her if they knew.

Her brother, Will is also in England on a visit and has accompanied Eleanor on this trip. As she and Will are walking on the beach the first evening they see a man go overboard in rough seas. Troubling as that is, it’s even more troubling when they try to describe the two shadow figures who appear to be throwing him overboard and who disappear into thin air when he goes over the side.

That’s just the beginning of strange happenings at the hotel, and Eleanor is convinced Armand is somehow at the bottom of things. Jewels are stolen from safes, sometimes with the owner in the room. The same report is given in each case, there were two shadow figures in the room who just disappeared when the occupant was awakened by a noise like the crackling of a fire. Eleanor knows Armand, who is an accomplished hypnotist, uses noise as a way of lulling the brain, and she is convinced this is another one of his tricks.

She can’t prove the man who went overboard and drowned was murdered, and the police tend not to take her information seriously. However, when another of their suspects dies in his hotel room, it’s certain there is a murder to solve. Eleanor is determined to solve the case, although the police detective in charge is not interested in her assistance. This determination comes both from having seen the first murder and some strange happenings that keep pulling her into the case. Things like the antique porcelain doll that keeps reappearing in her room, even after Eleanor or Will throw it down the trash bin, toss it in the ocean, and crush it into dust.

Then there are Eleanor’s two cats, Frankie and Beast. Eleanor learned during her last case it wasn’t good for her to travel without these two, so she sneaked them into the hotel. The only problem now is that Beast keeps getting out of her room somehow, and appearing unexpectedly, at least once bringing the doll with him.

This book is both fun and a well-plotted mystery with several twists and turns that will keep the reader on their toes and entertained throughout. There are secondary storylines such as Eleanor’s relationship with her boyfriend, the extent to which she hears from her two spirit companions, and her reasons for giving up the less savory aspects of her life, which have been ongoing from the first book in the series. These are referred to, as are some of her previous work, without explanation. A reader coming to this book as the first one in the series might find references that leave them a bit confused, although they do not affect the outcome of the mystery itself. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys series to begin with the first book in the series and read them in order.

My thanks to Kensington Books for providing me an advanced copy for this review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Eleanor Wilde has traded a career as a sham medium for a (relatively) respectable life in a small English town, providing the locals with herbal remedies and elixirs. But on a trip to the seaside town of Brighton, her past comes calling—and so does a killer...
Another wonderful addition to this series. Eleanor is lovable, curious and funny.

#HypnosisIsforHacks #NetGalley

Delightful read with engaging characters and a story that kept my interest from the get go. Will be looking for more from this author.

Suspense! A great mystery and one I highly recommend. Hypnosis is for Hacks is the first book I have read from this author and hope to read more in the future. Great job!

*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This is the fourth installment in the Eleanor Wilde Mystery Series and my first one to read of said series. Eleanore "Ellie" Wilde crosses the pond to go to England and leave behind a life as a scam artist. When her brother Liam comes to visit, she wants to make his visit fun and they go to Brighton. When they observe what seems like a murder, they start to question what they saw. Especially when Ellie's old partner in crime, Armand Lamont, also pops up in Brighton. What does all of this mean?

As this was my first one to read of this series I felt a little lost. I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the previous installments, more would have been clear. What bothered me was that it is written in present tense when most books I read are written in past tense. But that is just how I feel. I rather read past tense books, so I will not have this influence my judging of the book, but I do feel the need to mention it as there are more people like me.

The characters are fun and likeable, but again, I didn't quite catch on who was who at the beginning, so I would say it would be better to read the other books first. Nonetheless the murder mystery itself was great! I was so betting on the wrong horse!!! I never expected the killer to be that person! I was entertained and guessing up to the last minute!

I was doubting between 3 or 4 stars, but I went with 4 because of the storyline. I really enjoyed that. I do want to read the previous installments and then reread this one someday so it will all make more sense. But if you are familiar with the series, you will certainly like this new installment with a very good mystery!

I started this series in the middle and now I'll go back and the entire series. Tamara Berry weaves a quirky and delightful story as the reader follows Eleanor (Ellie) Wilde, a "reformed sham medium" trades her former life for a more respectable life in a small English village. You'll fall in love with the quaint village Eleanor now calls home.

Trouble comes calling when Ellie takes her brother to the Brighton for some sun and sand. Instead she'll witness and impossible murder, find clues that involves ghosts and maybe demons, and just happen to run in to an old friend who may be out to blackmail her. Ellie will have to use her wits and her evolving supernatural abilities, along with a healthy dose of help from her friends, if she's going to help solve the murders at the posh hotel.

I enjoyed this book although it's a bit slow in the middle. I liked the characters. And I liked the twist at the ending of who the bad guy was. #HypnosisIsforHacks #NetGalley

Cosy mystery filled with paranormal activity. A fast paced, well written story with a great cast of characters. Highly entertaining read.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for the ARC.

Tamara Berry
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As expected, this fourth installment of the Eleanor Wilde mystery series did not disappoint! This is absolutely a cozy mystery–but yet it is a welcome departure from the tried-and-true formula that makes this sub-genre tiresome. Eleanor, our leading lady, is unlike the typical sweet and lovable “Mary Sues” of the cozy mystery scene. She’s a wise-cracking charlatan who cons people into believing she speaks to dead people. Hey, sometimes you have to go to extremes to make a buck these days! In her defense, she resorted to this unsavory line of work to pay for her dying sister’s medical bills, so she can’t be all that bad. To be honest, I rather prefer a protagonist with some real flaws instead of the cliched “flaws” attached to female characters to make them “relatable,” such being a perennial klutz or a carb-fanatic. Is this really the only way women can relate with other women? Strange. Either way, I digress. Eleanor is a fantastic protagonist with some really fun sidekicks including magical cats (aka familiars) and some ghostly spirit guides. In this mystery, she’s vacationing at a posh hotel in a quaint coastal English village. Ahh…such bliss. The mystery begins when she and her brother witness a man being pushed off a boat by two shadowy perpetrators. Adding to the mystery, there’s a jewel thief afoot! Could the two crimes be connected? Will the salty head detective ever take her seriously? Could all of these wrongdoings be tied to Eleanor’s ex partner-in-crime and current blackmailer? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

I literally squealed when I found this fourth installment in the Eleanor Wilde series. I never would have thought I'd be such a fan and so excited to read a Cozy Mystery, but I highly recommend Tamara Berry's books to all readers. This time around, Madam Eleanor and her brother, Liam, and the mother of her boyfriend, Vivian, journey to Brighton for a luxurious seaside vacation. But wherever Eleanor goes, trouble finds her. Soon she is witness to a murder, confronted by a former partner in crime, and embroiled in an impossible jewelry heist.