Aquarius Descending

VOYA - John Charles

When Vince Shaffer tries to hire psychic investigator Elizabeth Chase to locate his missing daughter, Jennifer, Elizabeth's first reaction is to turn him down. While missing person cases are Elizabeth's specialty, this time she feels she is too close to things-especially because years ago, Jennifer had been Elizabeth's boyfriend Tom's fiancée. What changes Elizabeth's mind is the offer of a sizable finder's fee, plus the fact that Elizabeth thinks she might be able to succeed in locating Jennifer even though three other detectives hired by Vince have failed. Vince recently received a package from Jennifer-the first time there had been any communication from her in two years-but fears the package means his daughter is in danger. Several years ago Jennifer joined a cult called "The Bliss Project," and immediately cut off all ties with her brother and father. Elizabeth quickly discovers that she has to infiltrate the cult if she is going to learn anything about Jennifer's current whereabouts. Put together a fast-paced story featuring a strong heroine, a touch of the paranormal, and a dangerous cult and you have a mystery guaranteed to hook teens from the first chapter! The story is told from Elizabeth's point of view and her courage, vulnerability, and sharp sense of humor are some of the best things about the book. Aquarius Descending is the third book in a series featuring Elizabeth Chase, the first of which, Murder In Scorpio (St. Martin's, 1995), was nominated for three major mystery awards as well as being a VOYA Clueless 1997 pick. Recommend this title to older teens who have enjoyed Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone books or Marcia Muller's Sharon McCone mysteries. VOYA Codes: 5Q 4P S A/YA (Hard to imagine it being better written, Broad general YA appeal, Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12 and adults).

Library Journal

Private investigator and parapsychologist Elizabeth Chase (The Cold Heart of Capricorn, LJ 1/97) approaches her third case with apprehension, then with zeal. As she searches for the missing ex-fiancee of longtime boyfriend Tom McGowan, now an FBI agent, Elizabeth infiltrates a secretive and potentially dangerous California religious cult known as the Bliss Project. With her relationship at stake and her psychic powers at best undependable, Elizabeth almost becomes a victim herself. A believable plot, well-developed characters, and a heroine with an interesting edge.

Kirkus Reviews

Who's the logical person to look into the ten-year-old disappearance of crime-victim activist Jen Shaffer after three other investigators fail (one did nothing, the second vanished himself, the third was scared off the case)? It's Elizabeth Chase, of course, the San Diego p.i. who's also a P.I. (Psychic Investigator). Jen's father Vince and her brother Jeremy remain staunchly convinced that she'd never leave them behind willingly to join a cult that changed its name from The Church of the Risen Lord to The Bliss Project to avoid association with right-wing fundamentalists (a nice touch). Jen must be held captive, they tell Elizabeth, or dead, as the package containing her Medic Alert bracelet darkly suggests. So after making the obligatory review of the case, Elizabeth, urged on by her main squeeze, FBI agent Tom McGowan, goes undercover as one Whitney Brown, a slightly psychic, slightly skeptical candidate for The Bliss Project's high-priced rocket to nirvana. The basic plot is as old as E. Phillips Oppenheim, but Lawrence handles its formula-the perilous masquerade that will lead to revelations most readers suspect early on-with quiet confidence, rising tension, the occasional surprise, and a welcome air of realism that doesn't flag until the final melodramatic flourishes. Though Elizabeth's third case (The Cold Heart of Capricorn, 1997, etc.) makes more use of traditional detective work than of psychic powers, readers will likely find it her most polished appearance yet. .