Specialising in domestic spiritual disturbance, Psychic Surveys reputation goes before them. A thriving business, all is threatened by movie star diva, Cynthia Hart, still in residence at Highdown Hall, despite being dead for decades.
‘Good morning, Psychic Surveys. How can I help?’
The latest in a long line of psychically-gifted females, Ruby Davis, can see through the veil that separates this world and the next, helping grounded souls to move towards the light – or ‘home’ as Ruby calls it. Not just a job for Ruby, it’s a crusade and one she wants to bring to the High Street. Psychic Surveys is born.
Based in Lewes, East Sussex, Ruby and her team of freelance psychics have been kept busy of late. Specialising in domestic cases, their solid reputation is spreading – it’s not just the dead that can rest in peace but the living too. All is threatened when Ruby receives a call from the irate new owner of Highdown Hall. Film star, Cynthia Hart, is still in residence, despite having died in 1958.
Winter deepens and so does the mystery surrounding Cynthia. She insists the devil is blocking her path to the light long after Psychic Surveys have ‘disproved’ it. Investigating her apparently unblemished background, Ruby is pulled further and further into Cynthia’s world and the darkness that now inhabits it.
For the first time in her career, Ruby’s deepest beliefs are challenged. Does evil truly exist?
And if so, is it the most relentless force of all?
Professional Reviews
A great paranormal mystery with its feet on planet earth - highly recommended!,
I was so excited about this book and it didn't disappoint! I really like ghost / psychic stories but sometimes find they get a bit sensational and over the top. This book is neither of those things; it's believable and real, with a great selection of characters and a twisty plot that keeps you hooked.
Ruby Davis is a really nice young woman, with a strong psychic heritage behind her. I loved the intrigue around her family and the strange situation surrounding her mother. I like the way she is an average woman with unusual abilities, and I love the down to earth approach of Psychic Surveys as a high street business.
Her love interest, Cash, is so sweet. Very sweet, very lovely, uber supportive, and as for the dog, Jed, he is such a great character! You feel you know these people at the end of the book and I'm so looking forward to more.
You can't help but get sucked into the mystery of Cynthia Hart, and I could really feel the ambience of Highdown Hall. It grew in intensity throughout the story, and by the final third the pace was breathtaking, I was frantically turning the pages to find out what happened!!
I really, really loved this book. It was rich in imagery, with great characters and an excellent twisty turny plot. It you like ghosts and have a penchant for the spiritual anomalies happening all around us then this is definitely a must read for you!!
Can't wait for the sequel!!
Who You Gonna Call . . .,
. . . Psychic Surveys. Okay, maybe that doesn't have the same ring as "Ghost Busters - but neither is this book a run-of-the-mill ghost story. First of all I loved the cast of characters who helped Ruby in her quest to bring peace to Highdown Hall and to lead Cynthia 'towards the light'. As another reviewer has said - they are a great cast to carry forward into another paranormal. Especially Jed the spectral dog and Cash, the caring boyfriend. I read this novel quite quickly as I wanted to know if Cynthia had signed a pact with the devil (not telling!). I was also intrigued to find out what psychic experience had damaged Ruby's mum psychologically. (no spoilers here, either.) The author has a concise style and Highdown Hall was clearly written; I especially loved the detailed descriptions of Hastings and Brighton. But, for me, it was the heroine Ruby's determination to bring all lost souls towards the light (even when she was terrified) which makes this novel touching.That's why I give it five stars.
Exciting, unputdownable and spooky mystery!,
I've just finished this and had to write a review immediately as I loved every page of it.
The author writes in a clean, pacey style that had me hooked right from the prologue. There were plenty of twists and turns to the plot and whenever I got to the end of a chapter I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I love a novel that grips me like that and immerses you in its world. The characters are really well drawn and believable, and there's plenty of spine-chillingly, creepy and thought-provoking mystery to the main story, as well as the extra cases that Ruby and her Psychic Surveys team work on.
The idea of a team of private psychic investigators is inspired - and Struthers' great use of humour throughout, to balance the darker sides of the story, was very effective - she had me in stitches in places. It's a truly brilliant mix of great characters, great storytelling and great writing.
If there is a sequel - which I sincerely hope - I'll be buying it... I've got to know what happens next :-)
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