Pisces Rising

As a Southern California-based mystery writer, I have been genuinely impressed by Martha Lawrence's works. Many people initially react to Ms. Lawrence's psychic detective as a silly gimmick. As created by Ms. Lawrence, Elizabeth Chase is a fully-realized and realistic character. In this fourth outing,PISCES RISING, Elizabeth is mourning the death of her lover, and she becomes involved in investigating homicides that occur on an Indian reservation. Gambling issues play a major part in this novel, as does Native American beliefs. Ms. Lawrence tells a fine tale with a swiftly moving plot and fabulously drawn characters. Another winner for Martha Lawrence.

I just love entering Martha Lawrence's world, and I so hate to leave it! This one is her best yet, and the others are terrific too. ( I'd recommend reading them all chronologically.) I applaud her gutsiness as an author in doing away with appealing characters in situations that realistically might call for that. (I'm reminded of T. Jefferson Parker doing the same with Tim Hess in The Blue Light--a very interesting and appealing character.) ... was a real loss, I felt, but it's clear that she has even better characters up her sleeve.. I'm particularly drawn to the Sequoia character in this book. Wish I knew someone like him. Her ear for dialogue is unerring...I'm a stickler for fake-sounding conversation and I can't find remember a false note being struck in any of her books. Wish you could write faster, Martha!

I've been a fan of Martha Lawrence ever since her first book, following her psychic detective, Elizabeth Chase, around the zodiac from Murder in Scorpio to the current Pisces Rising. Her gutsy detective, Chase, combining sound detective skills with her psychic gifts, sets out to discover the murderer of casino owner, Dan Aquillo. Along the way she encounters one of Lawrence's most compelling characters, the Native American shaman, Sequoia. Lawrence introduces the reader to some fascinating Native American lore, as she combines a taut, thrilling tale with tantalizing psychic phenomena. Combining suspense with New Age is rare, but fascinating. The only other book I can think of that does that successfully is "The President's Astrologer", which interweaves an exciting political drama with the world of astrology.

WOW! Lawrence's latest Elizabeth Chase adventure brings both gals (author and protagonist) back saucier, sexier, edgier, and a tad more street-smart!Elizabeth has grown in this adventure, and you get the distinct feeling she's on the road to realizing she has to be a tad tougher to prosper in her chosen field, and that she's also realizing she doesn't have to take crap anymore!Lawrence also does a fine job in handling the sometimes entirely different ways (especially emotionally) in which men and women approach a task, as well as their different responses to an action or situation . Elizabeth comes off as totally female, with all the accompanying baggage, and her character is so fully developed and so real in this effort that I alternately grow frustrated with her tears and want to shake her by the shoulders and say "Get over it!", and in the next scene I'm applauding (and somewhat amazed by) her courage as she forces herself to continue to face difficult and dangerous situations and perform well! (And Lawrence also convincingly portrays us guys, with all our accompanying baggage, too!) When the characters are so real and so human that you find yourself as attracted to and repelled by their character traits as you would a person in "real life," you know the author has succeeded! I've always said Lawrence was terrific at dialogue, and this book proves it in spades! The language the characters use is appropriate to their lifestyles and belief systems, and as gritty as reality actually is. And as far as character development, I can point to a parallel in the "real" world for every single character in her book! I've really metthem all!I especially love the way Lawrence handles the psychic twists and turns, and the fact that she never jumps off the path into silly dogma and unworkable nonsense.This book is definitely a page-turner, and I was both deeply satisfied with the excellent ending and frustrated because I'm wanting MORE!No wonder Sue Grafton said "Reserve a spot for Martha C. Lawrence on the best-seller list! "

Private detective Elizabeth Chase has an edge over most of her peers since she possesses psychic powers. Even with the sight, Elizabeth fails to save someone she loves from being killed. Three months later, Elizabeth remains a recluse, unable to accept any clients. That finally changes when a legal colleague asks Elizabeth to find evidence that would prove his client did not kill and scalp the owner of the Mystic Mesa casino on the Temecu Reservation in California.Former doctor Bill Hunter lost his license to practice medicine because of illegal activity associated with his gambling addiction. Now he is the prime suspect in the murder case that sends Elizabeth to the Native American reservation. After she starts her inquiries, Elizabeth learns that Bill confessed to the killing. Apparently, Bill's former spouse was murdered while he languished in prison. Elizabeth quickly realizes that the gambling question is complex and volatile issue with both sides wanting their agenda executed.PISCES RISING is a fantastic who-done-it that is filled with numerous viable suspects, leaving the reader to wonder whom is truly guilty. However, the exciting story line takes a backseat to Elizabeth. The audience has deeply cared about Elizabeth during her previous novels, but will cherish her even more this time as she struggles with her grief. Martha C. Lawrence proves once again that she is a brilliant storyteller.Harriet Klausner