Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes

I was reminded recently that I have more of Shani’s books on my TR list, and high time I got around to them, as I am in need of some chilling!

So here are two of our favourites…

Rise To Me…  by Shani Struthers

The opening prologue of this stunningly unusual second book in the series, instantly grabs you by the throat. We meet Ruby, a young psychic child, one already well used to communicating with spirits, finding herself confronted with one who is not human or ever was.

Fast-forward 18 years and Ruby now runs a successful domestic spiritual clearance business, called Psychic Surveys, using psychic detection to solve old crimes.

In the course of her job, she encounters an angry ghost and tries to help it move on, but this turns out to be no ordinary haunting. Usually good at her job, she finds herself confronted by something very unexpected. Something she may not be able to do anything about, something from her past comes back to haunt her.

On a lighter note, all psychics have a spirit guide, and Ruby’s is far from ordinary. Hilariously different and fiercely protective, Ruby’s guide is a dog called Jed.

This book has everything. Well written with a nightmare ending, brilliantly suspenseful and gripping.  I enjoyed reading it immensely.

About The Author

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Here is our review for the next book in the Psychic Surveys series, 44 Gilmore Street!

“We all have to face our demons at some point.”

 Psychic Surveys – specialists in domestic spiritual clearance – have never been busier. Although exhausted, Ruby is pleased. Her track record as well as her down-to-earth, no-nonsense approach inspires faith in the haunted, who willingly call on her high street consultancy when the supernatural takes hold.

But that’s all about to change.

Two cases prove trying: 44 Gilmore Street, home to a particularly violent spirit, and the reincarnation case of Elisha Grey. When Gilmore Street attracts press attention, matters quickly deteriorate. Dubbed the ‘New Enfield’, the ‘Ghost of Gilmore Street’ inflames public imagination, but as Ruby and the team fail repeatedly to evict the entity, faith in them wavers.

Dealing with negative press, the strangeness surrounding Elisha, and a spirit that’s becoming increasingly territorial, Ruby’s at breaking point. So much is pushing her towards the abyss, not least her own past. It seems some demons just won’t let go…

Having previously read Rise To Me, I knew I would enjoy 44 Gilmore Street too. And I was right, new cases, new emotions and a shed load of intrigue.

Again, I marvelled at the depth of the author’s knowledge of psychic phenomena as the characters explore a new field, that of past life regression, or reincarnation if you will. A truly fascinating subject.

We read a lot of books in many different genres, but Shani Struthers writes such unusual stories in an equally unusual field, and she does it brilliantly.

Deliciously different, not the typical stereotyped glory stories which usually  sensationalise the subject. 44 Gilmore Street shows us  what a strange, dangerous job domestic spiritual clearance really is.

The characters are genuine, down to earth, caring people, with believable relationships. I loved them all, foibles and all, and I particularly liked the new sadness element that usually accompanies these dealings.

The tension builds slowly in this book, stretching your nerves to breaking point, and the end of the story is literally hair raising. You might need to leave the light on at bed time!