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A Case of Imagination    by Jane Tesh Amazon.com order for
Case of Imagination
by Jane Tesh
Order:  USA  Can
Poisoned Pen, 2006 (2006)
Hardcover
* *   Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

Scene: Celosia, North Carolina. Principal players: Ex-beauty queen, present-day PI Madeline Maclin; also, would-be psychic and somewhat screwy Jerry Fairweather. Friends since forever, the two set up shop in Celosia in an old Victorian house that Jerry has inherited. He plans to hold seances; she would like to have her office there.

Madeline picks up some work trying to discover who is sabotaging the rehearsals for a local beauty pageant. Ultimately, one of the contestants is murdered and Madeline is off and running. Olivia, Jerry's shark-like lawyer girlfriend, is suspicious of the relationship between Jerry and Madeline. To Jerry, Mad is just a very good friend. To Madeline, Jerry is the dream man she would like to marry - but she can't quite bring herself to announce her feelings.

Things go from bad to worse in a short span of time. The story moves along at a satisfying clip with action in all the right places. A Case of Imagination is the first of this new and fun series. I like Jerry, although he does seem out of it most of the time. Madeline is a good choice for a sleuth – beautiful, intelligent and willing to do what her job demands. Ghosts make an appearance from time to time. I like them, too.

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