Victoria Laurie Launches a Winning Series with Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye
If you've ever wished your amateur sleuth had a genuine sixth sense — and the self-deprecating humor to match — then Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye is your next read. Published in December 2004 by Signet, this debut novel introduces us to Abby Cooper, a professional psychic intuitive working out of Royal Oak, Michigan, whose carefully ordered life unravels the moment one of her clients turns up murdered. What follows is a breezy, witty, and surprisingly heartfelt blend of paranormal mystery and slow-burn romance that set the stage for one of the more beloved cozy series of the 2000s. It's the kind of book that feels like it was written by someone who genuinely gets the psychic world — and as it turns out, that's exactly the case.
Victoria Laurie is herself a real-life professional psychic intuitive who has worked as a police psychic, and that authentic background infuses every page of this novel with a credibility that sets it apart from the crowd. Rather than leaning on tired tropes — no crystal balls, no dramatic fainting spells, no bangle-jangling mysticism here — Laurie crafts a protagonist whose abilities feel grounded and specific. Abby receives fragmented clues from her inner "guides" that she must actively interpret, which means the mystery retains genuine tension rather than being short-circuited by convenient visions. It's a clever structural choice that makes the paranormal element feel like a feature of the story rather than a cheat code.
Royal Oak's Reluctant Sleuth: Abby Cooper, Dutch Rivers, and a Murder That Hits Close to Home
The story kicks off with Abby navigating the thoroughly relatable chaos of online dating, which leads to a blind date with Roland "Dutch" Rivers — a handsome, deeply skeptical police detective who turns out to be far more significant than a single awkward evening. When Abby's client Allison Pierce is murdered and Dutch becomes the lead investigator on the case, their budding connection is immediately complicated by professional friction, mutual suspicion, and undeniable chemistry. The push-and-pull between the intuitive Abby and the logic-driven Dutch is one of the book's greatest pleasures, and Laurie plays their dynamic with just the right amount of comedic tension and genuine warmth.
What gives the plot its emotional weight is Abby's guilt: Allison had called her requesting a second reading, and Abby had put her off. That nagging sense of "what if I'd been there?" propels Abby into her own investigation even as the police grow suspicious of her involvement. She's joined in her sleuthing by her best friend Theresa, who has her own gift for communicating with the dead, and supported by her sister Cat and her loyal dog Eggy, who provides some of the book's most genuinely laugh-out-loud moments. The Royal Oak suburban setting — a real Detroit-area community — gives the story a grounded, lived-in feel that keeps the paranormal elements from floating off into pure fantasy.
The stakes escalate satisfyingly as Abby's visions bring her closer to the truth and, consequently, closer to danger. Dutch's partner Milo Johnson adds a welcome dose of warmth to the police procedural side of things, and the supporting cast is sketched with enough personality to make Royal Oak feel like a real neighborhood rather than a backdrop. The murder mystery itself won't leave hardened thriller readers breathless, but for the target audience — those who want atmosphere, charm, and a side of genuine suspense — it delivers exactly what it promises.
First in the Psychic Eye Mystery Series: Where to Start and What Comes Next
This is absolutely the place to start with the Psychic Eye Mystery series, and in fact it's the only place to start. Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye is Book #1, and it does all the foundational work a good series opener should: it establishes the rules of Abby's psychic abilities, introduces her core circle of friends and family, and delivers that all-important first meeting with Dutch in a way that makes you immediately invested in where their relationship is headed. Readers who try to jump in mid-series will miss the context that makes later entries so rewarding.
The series continued with Better Read Than Dead as Book #2, and Victoria Laurie went on to build the Psychic Eye Mystery run into a substantial multi-book series that kept fans coming back for years. For readers who fall in love with Abby's sister Cat, there's even more good news: Cat Cooper eventually stars in her own spin-off series, the Cat & Gilley Life Coach Mysteries, beginning with Coached to Death. Laurie has also written the Ghost Hunter Mysteries and the newer Magical Trinket Mysteries, so once you're hooked on her voice, you'll have plenty of reading ahead of you.
Ranked #8 on Goodreads' Best Cozy Mystery Series list, the Psychic Eye Mystery series has clearly earned its place among the genre's most recommended reads. That kind of sustained reader enthusiasm — built over years and dozens of installments — speaks to the strength of the foundation Laurie laid with this first book. If you're looking for a cozy paranormal series with staying power, you've found your starting point.
Laughs, Love, and a Little Clairvoyance: The Cozy Paranormal Blend That Sets This Series Apart
One of the most frequently cited pleasures of this book is its humor, and it's the kind that feels organic rather than forced. Abby has a wonderfully self-aware voice — she's simultaneously awkward and confident, which sounds like a contradiction until you meet her and realize it's just accurate. Laurie has spoken about drawing inspiration from Janet Evanovich's approach to blending comedy and mystery, and that influence is evident in the book's breezy pacing and snappy dialogue. Abby's interactions with everyone from her moody clients to her skeptical date Dutch crackle with wit, and the book earns its laugh-out-loud moments without sacrificing the story's forward momentum.
The paranormal element is handled with a refreshing specificity that cozy fans will appreciate. Because Laurie draws from her own professional experience, the book offers a genuinely fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how a psychic business actually operates: how sessions are scheduled, how readings are recorded, and how the emotional demands of the work take a real toll. This isn't window dressing — it's world-building that makes Abby's life feel fully realized rather than merely convenient to the plot. Readers who've always been curious about the mechanics of psychic intuition will find this aspect of the book unexpectedly absorbing.
For readers wondering how this stacks up against comparable titles, think of it as sitting somewhere between the comedic hijinks of a Stephanie Plum novel and the rule-bound paranormal mystery of Charlaine Harris's Harper Connelly series. It's lighter than Harris and cozier than Evanovich, with a romantic subplot that gives it a warm, hopeful undertone throughout. The clash between Abby's intuitive worldview and Dutch's hard-nosed skepticism gives the book a thematic spine that elevates it above pure fluff — it's genuinely interested in the question of what it means to believe in something you can't prove.
Who Should Read Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye — and What Nearly 15,000 Readers Think
With a Goodreads rating of 3.95/5 based on nearly 15,000 ratings, Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye has found a devoted and vocal readership over the past two decades. The praise that comes up most consistently in reviews centers on Abby's likability, the witty banter, and the romantic tension with Dutch — readers love watching two people who are clearly meant for each other refuse to admit it. Many fans also highlight the authentic portrayal of psychic work as a genuine highlight, noting that Laurie's real-world experience gives the book an educational quality that similar paranormal cozies simply can't replicate.
The criticism, where it exists, is worth knowing about so you can set your expectations appropriately. A number of readers note that the first hundred or so pages are heavy on slice-of-life detail — Abby's breakfast routines, her dog, her social circle — before the murder plot fully takes hold. If you're the kind of reader who needs the body to drop on page one, you may find the opening act a little leisurely. But if you're the kind of reader who loves getting to know a protagonist before the chaos begins, those early pages will feel like settling comfortably into a favorite armchair.
This book is ideal for readers who enjoy paranormal cozies with a strong romantic subplot, fans of the Stephanie Plum series looking for something with a supernatural twist, or anyone who's ever been curious about what a real psychic's working life actually looks like. It's also a great pick for cozy readers who want a series they can commit to — with a long run of books and a spin-off series waiting, you won't be saying goodbye to Abby Cooper anytime soon. Victoria Laurie has built something genuinely special here, and this first book is a thoroughly enjoyable invitation to join in.
Quick Facts
- Series: Psychic Eye Mystery (Book #1)
- Author: Victoria Laurie
- Subgenre: Paranormal cozy mystery with romantic elements
- Setting: Royal Oak, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan
- Main Character: Abby Cooper, a professional psychic intuitive and amateur sleuth
- Goodreads Rating: 3.95/5 (14,899 ratings)
- Top 100 Rank: #8
- Best For: Fans of paranormal cozies, slow-burn romance, and humor-forward mysteries
- Content Warnings: Mild violence (off-page murder); otherwise a clean cozy read
- Bonus Content: N/A — but offers an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at real psychic practice drawn from the author's own career
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye about?
Abby Cooper is a professional psychic intuitive living in Royal Oak, Michigan, whose life is upended when one of her clients, Allison Pierce, is murdered. The lead detective on the case turns out to be Dutch Rivers — the handsome, skeptical man she just met on a blind date — and as the police begin to view Abby with suspicion, she launches her own investigation using her psychic gifts to uncover the truth before the killer can silence her.
Is Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye the first book in the Psychic Eye Mystery series?
Yes, Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye is Book #1 in the Psychic Eye Mystery series and is the recommended starting point. It introduces all the core characters and establishes the rules of Abby's psychic abilities, making it essential reading before diving into the rest of the series.
How many books are in the Psychic Eye Mystery series?
The series currently includes multiple installments — check Goodreads for the full reading order. The second book is Better Read Than Dead, and the series also spawned a spin-off, the Cat & Gilley Life Coach Mysteries, starring Abby's sister Cat.
Is Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye worth reading?
For fans of lighthearted paranormal cozies, absolutely. With a solid 3.95/5 rating from nearly 15,000 Goodreads readers and a spot at #8 on the Best Cozy Mystery Series list, it has proven its appeal over two decades. Just go in knowing it's a character-first, atmosphere-rich read rather than a tightly plotted thriller, and you'll have a wonderful time.