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Summary: The dawning of the age of psychic detective Elizabeth Chase
Review: FBI agent Tom McGowen fails to convince his girlfriend, psychic detective Elizabeth Chase, to search for his missing former fiancee, Jen Shaffer. However, Tom persuades Elizabeth to meet with Jen's father, who offers her $25,000 to find his missing daughter. The sweetener induces a still reluctant Elizabeth to accept the case. Elizabeth learns that Jen joined a cult, the Church of the Risen Lord, immediately following her break-up with Tom. Not too long after becoming a member, Jen ended all communication with her family. Recently, her father received Jen's medical alert bracelet. This leads him into believing she is in trouble if not already dead. Elizabeth joins the cult, knowing full well that if they uncover her true identify, they will eradicate her. The third Chase tale, AQUARIUS DESCENDING, continues the classy tradition of the first two novels (MURDER IN SCORPIO and THE COLD HEART OF CAPRICORN). Elizabeth remains a fabulous and unique sleuth and her support cast (recurring and new) adds much dimension to an already deep story line. Do not let the psychic hot-line fool the reader into thinking this novel is babble. Instead, the book is a well-designed, very plausible, and extremely suspense-laden tale that shows that the dawning of the age of Martha C. Lawrence is upon us. Harriet Klausner
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Summary: Wow!
Review: As a mystery writer with my debut novel in current release, I found myself initially reading Martha Lawrence's Elizabeth Chase novels with suspicion. I first thought her "psychic" PI was a bit too gimmicky for my taste. I was wrong. Once I began reading AQUARIOUS DESCENDING after attending an appearance by Ms. Lawrence at a mystery convention at which I was also appearing, I realized what a strong writer this woman is. AQUARIOUS DESCENDING is a marvelously plotted book in which Elizabeth Chase takes on a cult. It features strongly written prose and vividly drawn characters. It reads well. There are no gimmicks. I recommend this book, as well as the rest of Ms. Lawrence's excellent ongoing series.
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Summary: Fine Work by a Fine Writer
Review: As a mystery writer with my debut novel in current release, I found myself initially reading Martha Lawrence's Elizabeth Chase novels with suspicion. I first thought her "psychic" PI was a bit too gimmicky for my taste. I was wrong. Once I began reading AQUARIOUS DESCENDING after attending an appearance by Ms. Lawrence at a mystery convention at which I was also appearing, I realized what a strong writer this woman is. AQUARIOUS DESCENDING is a marvelously plotted book in which Elizabeth Chase takes on a cult. It features strongly written prose and vividly drawn characters. It reads well. There are no gimmicks. I recommend this book, as well as the rest of Ms. Lawrence's excellent ongoing series.
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Summary: A tense, exciting and wonderfully written book.
Review: Elizabeth Chase is a psychic PI, but don't let the occult element turn you off. Elizabeth is NOT a flake, but a very real and very centered person who realizes her gift is not something that she can control at will. In the third installment of this remarkable series, Elizabeth goes undercover to find a woman who became embroiled in a cult. The missing woman was the college girl friend of Elizabeth's FBI agent lover. Once inside the Bliss Project, Elizabeth must use all her strength of character as well as some methods that might be described as paranormal to keep her own sanity--and to remain alive. Almost unbearably tense as Elizabeth comes closer and closer to the truth, this is a not-to-be-missed novel. It is probably not necessary to read the first two in the series, but if you pick this one up, you'll immediately want the other two titles. And I don't have to be psychic to know that.
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Summary: Suspenseful and Entertaining
Review: I found this novel to be a very engrossing and quick read. I really enjoyed the characters, especially the various and eccentric cult members. The suspense compounded as the plot continued, I read it within a 24 hour period. Lawrence has a lot of potential as a writer. I really appreciated the way she handled the protagonist's psychic abilities. She allowed Elizabeth to question her visions as any "normal" person would. It made that aspect of the story much more believable. I look foward to her future works and plan to read her previous mysteries as well.
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Summary: Highly suspenseful
Review: I loved Martha Lawrence's first two books so I eagerly awaited her third and was not disapointed. In Aquarius Decending, Elizabeth Chase, main character and psychic investigator (yeah, she's a bit embarassed about the hoakiness her title inspires too) is sent to find her boyfriend, Tom McGowan's ex-girlfriend who has gone missing in a cult (the Bliss Project). While she is reluctant to investigate a cult or have anything to do with her sweetie's ex - she finally agrees against her better judgement. What was so great about this book was the way Martha handled the cult aspect. She wrote about a very believeable cult and from Elizabeth's eye -showed the way that they lure you in. Beyond, being glad to hear what her friends have been up to since the last book - I found Aquarius entertaining and a fast-paced read.
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Summary: Major Disappointment
Review: I really enjoyed Lawrence's first 2 books and was looking forward to this one. I couldn't be more disappointed. Without giving anything away, it has to be said that the ending of this book is UNBELEIVABLY contrived. Lawrence has presented characters who are smart and rational and the only way she can get to the denouement she wants is by having them act stupid and irrational, while throwing in some plot devices that made me want to throw the book across the room. Lawrence also joins in with a growing number of mystery authors who are turning the genre into soap opera. I like backstory in a mystery, especially in a series. A protaganist's relationships with family, friends and lovers add immeasurably to a reader's understanding of a character and, if done well, also adds to the reader's enjoyment. It's unfortunate that Lawrence chooses cliche and melodrama to try and entertain.
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Summary: My antipathy was emotional.
Review: I was so "turned off" by the subject matter (cults) that I couldn't enjoy the story. I have read Lawrence's other two mysteries and thought they were good, but this I was glad to be done with.
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Summary: Wow!
Review: I'm not a mystery fan in general , but I loved this book.I loved that it was set around a cult.I found that really interesting and I loved the psychic angle.Its so worth reading.
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Summary: Disappointing Compared to First Two Books
Review: It will be hard to review this book without giving away major plot points (but I won't--promise!). Suffice it to say that while in the previous books, the heroine is intelligent and makes good decisions, in this book from the very beginning she makes very bad decisions. As if that isn't bad enough, the authorities around her also make bad decisions and the cost at the end is more than would be worth paying if this were "real life." I like to read mysteries where the protagonist shows some skill in solving the mystery and where their good decisions (whether intuitive or otherwise) result in the solution. From the beginning, in this book, the heroine knows that bad things are going to happen and yet she keeps going anyway. What's the point of being psychic if you're not going to follow your intuition? I was stunned and disappointed when I finished this one. I guess if you're a fan of this series you ought to read it anyway (and I still plan on reading the next one). But this is clearly the weakest of the three so far.
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