Life Among the Dead by Lisa Williams, Simon Spotlight Entertainment, 2008

Lisa Williams sees dead people. A medium and clairvoyant, Lisa became aware of her gift at the age of four, and believes she inherited it from her grandmother, a respected psychic of her own time. After years of unfulfilling jobs and disappointing relationships (one which resulted in her becoming a single mom), the author finds her true love and her true calling as a professional seer, thanks in part to Merv Griffin, Hollywood, and the Lifetime channel. This is an interesting read about a likeable woman. Filled with instance after instance of her eerily correct visions, after reading this book, even skeptics may find themselves believers.

Psychic abilities have always fascinated me, and I do believe that certain people have the gift of ESP, including Lisa Williams. Althought the book is not a literary giant, it was an enjoyable and informative way to spend a few hours.

Readers who like this book may also like these fiction titles: After Life by Rhian Ellis, Viking, 2000 revolves around a mother and daughter, both with psychic abilities. The mother uses her talents as showmanship and to make money, but the daughter tries to come to grips with how to best use the gift she has. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz, Bantam, 2006 introduces readers to a fry cook with the ability to communicate with dead people in this novel that alternates humor with darkness.

Readers who like this book may also like these non-fiction titles: Uri Geller: My Story by Uri Geller, Henry Holt & Co., 1975. Uri Geller was one of the earlier psychics to gain worldwide renown and did so in an age where special effects weren't truly a consideration, adding credibility to his abilities. Psychic Connections by Lois Duncan, Delacorte, 1995. Lois Duncan wrote numerous books for young adults, and this is also aimed at that level. However, it provides a nice overview of what parapsychology really is. Additionally, although Duncan often incorporated extrasensory aspects in her novels, she was a skeptic until her daughter was murdered and the case was aided by psychics.