The true story of one families encounters with the paranormal and afterlife across several generations, as told by Jane, a very sceptical psychic.
You are about to enter a world where sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction, a place where the veil between two worlds wears thin and occasionally things bleed through.
Who were the "little brown men" that appeared in my brother's bedroom at night?
What was the strange secret behind the doll with the real hair and rheumy eyes of an old woman?
Why did my great grandmother return from the dead?
How was i able to foresee the death of Princess Diana and the destruction of the World Trade Centre?
And just what was the notorious Yorkshire Ripper doing in the phone box at the end of my street?
Spirits, ghosts, haunted houses, psychic pets, things that go bump in the night, premonitions, angels, imprints and astral travel... but in many respects we were an ordinary family, or so I thought.
Who knew the paranormal could be this much fun?
Death is not goodbye, it is just au revoir, until we meet again - Mary Holdcroft.
Excerpt
A sudden cough, a splutter, and she was back again. Only exactly where was back?
Throwing off the cover and sitting suddenly bolt upright: the old lady was alerted to another presence in the room by a gasp of consternation. Peering imperiously over the top of the sheet, her eyes settled on a small man with a startled face, wearing rather grubby overalls.
"You," she demanded "Come here!"
Professional Reviews
Book Review: Ancestors & Angels by Jane Cranmer
Reviewed by Tony Harrington
In Jane Cranmer’s debut novel “Ancestors & Angels“she reveals through whimsical tales and spine-tingling recollections what psychics and mediums have known all along: Death is not the end, it is simply the beginning.
What separates Cranmer from every other psychic and medium who has uttered these words is the flair for storytelling and the passion for the written word. Reading “Ancestors and Angels” is the equivalent of sitting down with a wisened individual who has experienced many fantastic and phantasmagorical things in their life and they hold your attention as the tales pour from them as smooth as vermouth.
“Ancestors and Angels” covers Cranmer’s journey to the person she is today, from the early days of her family tree as the descendant of gypsies to the thoroughly modern woman she has become as a result of those who had come before her. Each vignette builds upon the last as it slowly forms a rich and layered tapestry culminating in the realization that life overflows with family, faith, and above all, love.
The tales that make up “Ancestors and Angels” are often heart-warming, at times downright scary, always intriguing, and best read with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Cranmer knows that skeptical readers will most likely scoff at some of the personal experiences she describes but her writing style is so endearing that even the most jaded readers won’t judge too harshly.
The best parts of the book deal with the historical background of Cranmer’s bloodline and reveals fascinating histories of the colorful family members that dot her family tree. We learn of the rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-middle class roller coaster that forged an indomitable spirit that carried across generations and bridged life with the hereafter. We learn that through the hardships and strife there is also love and a strong sense of family that ultimately leads to the author arriving in the world and when that happens the stories become more poignant and the sense of storytelling shifts as hand-me-down folklore and legend become fact-based as a result of the authors first-hand experiences.
“Ancestors and Angels” is a fascinating read filled with hope, awe, wonder, and even a little bit of magic. The overall affirming message does not come across treacly or overbearing, it sort of lingers ethereally over the prose like the spirits of long-lost loved ones and angels watching over us.
In the end, Jane Cranmer has crafted a message of hope, that death does not mean good-bye. Death simply means “see you later” or sometimes, if you are open to receiving the messages of the spirits around us, it could mean “see you soon”.
Our culture has taught us to believe in many ideas which aren't actually real. Exposing these illusions allows us to recover the power to live our lives according to our deepest desires.
Intuitively, I know I've lived many lifetimes, and none more interesting than the one I'm living now. However, being born an old soul somehow did not excuse me from the same job I share with you and that is learning to craft a positive attitude about
