Now You See Her

It's always fun to discover a new series and this one's clearly on my watch list! Engaging characters, plot that's not too obvious, and a strong sense of place.

Rebeccasreads recommends NOW YOU SEE HER as an entertaining evening's mystery, replete with believable people, layers of latent evil, & some devious characters all involved in an old murder, street drugs, illegal industrial waste disposal, rotten politicians, ranting street preachers, & a man sentenced to life who is still, after thirteen years, insisting he's innocent. Reggie Cutter sets out to find out if this is so, helped along by visitations of physical paranormal manifestations, a sinister biker, & a reluctant police detective.

Regina Cutter had it all and then it was gone. Her wealthy husband dumped her in favor of a trophy wife and suddenly her years of effort, sacrifice and support for his career and their marriage didn't matter. Gone were the club memberships, the private plane, and all the other perks and trappings of wealth and power. But, she still had her paranormal ability. She went back to Boston and moved into her recently departed Aunt's home. She shares custody of her Aunt Jo's dog, affectionately known as "Biscuit," with a rough character that rides a Harley and goes by the name Stark. And just like her Aunt did for years, she unofficially consults with the Boston Police Department in the form of Detective Frank Devaney. As the novel begins, he has a strange case for her. Devaney, pressured for a quick arrest and conviction, may have sent an innocent man to prison for a murder he did not commit. The victim was Peter Wald, the son of a very prominent politician. The accused killer was Henry Fraiser; a man with no connections and who still to this day claims to be innocent. He may very well have been nothing more than the wrong man in the wrong place at the time. The crime happened years ago during the cocaine years when crime was out of control, the police were overworked and stressed, and everything no matter how small turned into deadly violence. Initially, Regina does not pick up anything and then as he goes to leave, she gets a sensation that is almost to the point of an image for her which gives Devaney an idea to pursue. But, Regina isn't content to just tell the good detective what she sees and feels. Before long, she is actively sticking her nose into the case, asking questions of everyone and walking the old neighborhood where the crime took place. At the same time, she is also assisting a good friend of hers that sold a house that may or may not be haunted. The buyers are not happy and are very well connected and the outcome of their unsatisfaction could be a financial disaster for all involved. And then, what about the weird scuffling sound Regina heard in the thick fog the other night? Was a man attacked? Author Cecelia Tishy (also the author of the Kate Banning mystery series) pulls the various threads all together in a Sue Grafton style work and creates an atmospheric read that is very enjoyable. Despite lots of self-doubt, Regina Cutter is an enjoyable character realistically drawn and full of promise. The secondary characters, in particular Stark and Devaney, seem at times a bit stereotypical, but clearly they have the possibility to become realistically drawn individuals. If this becomes a series, the pieces are certainly there to more fully develop these characters and others. Coincidence does seem to play a strong role in the book whether in the form of the paranormal at just the right time or in the main story where something happens at just the exact right moment. However, that fact along with the fact that the paranormal plays a

Nashville City Paper Book club March 24, 2005 Tishy's Cutter Gets a Clue Saralee says Are you a fan of mystery series that feature the same character solving murders? If so you are anxiously awaiting the next in the series featuring Stephanie Plum by Janet Evanovich, Kinsey Millhone by Sue Grafton or Dave Robicheaux by James Lee Burke. Make room for Reggie Cutter - the best detective to come along since Sallie Bissell's Mary Crow. Imagine that you are a woman who is in her 40s. Your adult life has been spent building your husband's career and raising your two children. Your career is taking care of your husband and making sure he does all the right things in order to be promoted in corporate world. As your children reach adulthood your husband trades you in for a new and younger version. What do you do? This is what happens to Regina "Reggie" Cutter, the character featured in the new mystery series by Vanderbilt Professor Cecelia Tishy. When Reggie Cutter and her husband divorce, she moves to Boston into the home left to her by her eccentric Aunt Jo. She and her aunt both had something in common: the gift or curse of feeling the unexplained or the paranormal. Whether you believe in that kind of stuff or not, Now You See Her (Mysterious Press) is a fun read. When Cutter moves into her aunt's home she also picks up where her aunt left off with the local police by helping them solve mrders in an unofficial capacity. Cutter's realtor friend wants her to visit Back Bay, the most desirable of Boston neighborhoods, and see if she can pick up any vibes or unfriendly feelings in order to explain the happenings in a mansion. Right before Cutter arrives at the house, she hears someone being murdered. Soon she meets Frank Devaney, a homicide detective. Devaney and Cutter's Aunt Jo used to solve murders together and Devaney wants Cutter to step into her aunt's shoes. Not an easy feat for anyone, even if you have psychic gifts. Cutter must find out if a man serving a life sentence for a murder is really guilty; and to solve the crime she must interact with a rising state politician, a rich land developer, a socialite wife and keep her job at the Dress for Success shop where she helps women who are re-entering the workforce. Tishy succeeds in creating a character that is interesting, vibrant and puzzling as she solves the dilemmas of her daily life and the murder case. Larry's language Move over Robert Parker, Dennis Lehane, and Jeremiah Healy. Parker, Lehane and Healy have been the three best mystery writers basing their stories in Boston, but now Nashville's own Tishy has staked her claim to Boston in her newest mystery, Now You See Her. A sense of place is critically important when starting a new mystery series, and Tishy's Boston setting is grand since the reader can appreciate the references to the social scene, racial tensions, history, justice for the haves and the usual for the have-nots. Cutter is a survivor in a tough town in a tough

In Boston, Tania Arnot believes that the townhouse she is renting is haunted so she informs her realtor Meg Givens that unless she gets rid of the unwanted ghost, she will see her in court. Not wanting a court date or the negative publicity, Meg turns to the only person she knows who dabbles with the beyond, her friend psychic Regina Cutter. Reluctantly since Regina insists she is no ghostbuster, she agrees as she isn't afraid of no ghost, but finds nothing supernatural about the townhouse. While the Arnot case seems cold, Boston Homicide Detective Francis Devaney asks Regina for her professional judgment on the Henry Faiser conviction; Henry a black drug dealer was convicted of killing Peter Wald, son of a State Senator, thirteen years ago. Henry insists he is innocent and that the real killer still walks the mean streets. However, her ESP fails to determine anything so Francis goes with the original finding while Regina decides to investigate the old fashion way. Regina is an interesting character though her paranormal skills seem wanting at least when they count in this story line. The plot is at its best when she fumbles and stumbles with her psychic powers or with reassuring her two adult children, but seems inane when Regina turns amateur sleuth investigating the homicide. Fans will enjoy Regina paranormal detective but wonder about Regina investigator. Though that detour takes away from an interesting tale, readers of a different kind of heroine will enjoy NOW YOU SEE HER, but expect more of the psychic than the inquiring shamus in future adventures. Harriet Klausner