Book Review: Mary McShane: Psychic Detective
The clue is in the title: psychic. You either believe or you don’t believe in the spirit world – but you can suspend your disbelief in Tony Watt’s newly published novel Mary McShane: Psychic Detective. Afterall there’s a whole genre of paranormal detective fiction of which this is the latest addition. The fantasy whodunnit centres on the protagonist Mary McShane who decides on a whim to attend a séance and finds she has the gift of connecting with ‘the other side’ which is very useful when normal detective work ends in a blank.
Mary McShane: Psychic Detective is two short novels, the first being an introduction to Mary, her friend Jenny Summers, her family and the redoubtable Mrs Fudge. It then sets up the first mystery to be solved in what is essentially a court room drama in which accountant Robin Smith is charged with the murder of his parents. Mary’s detective instincts are helped by her relationship with the long dead 19th century Inspector from Scotland Yard who via the smell of pipe tobacco can nudge her in the right direction in solving the crime.
Both stories are dialogue driven with the conversations helping to flesh out the characters and push the narrative along – rather like a script for a play in some ways – which makes the story easy to follow. No long asides, lengthy descriptions or history lessons – there is a lot to be said for brevity in a novel – no padding here.
In the second of the stories the spiritual powers of psychic Mary in being able to summon up emotions and feelings from the past are put to the test. She is ably assisted by the redoubtable Mrs Fudge as well as her husband, an ex-copper and the friend of the murdered girl – all powered by cups of tea and slices of cake.
The gripping final interrogation scene could have come straight out of a TV drama as the two police officers slowly pick away at the suspect’s story – with a little help from psychic Mary of course – and the haunting lyrics of the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons which have their own significance. The author has thoroughly researched the world of psychics, seances and those with the ability to connect to another world – I’m tempted to go to a séance myself after reading the novel.
They are clearly written stories with a narrative that keeps the pages turning as Mary follows her instincts and slowly in a very British and very modest way rights the wrongs of the past. She appears to have less success in dealing with her two unruly children at home which keeps the story grounded in the real world. Mary McShane: Psychic Detective is a highly recommended whodunnit – or rather whodunnits – a brilliant page turner and a very enjoyable read. It also adds to the genre of crime novels where the protagonist uses psychic powers and paranormal abilities to solve mysteries through visions, intuition and communicating with the dead. And tea and slices of cake of course.
Harry Mottram
The novel is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mary-McShane-Detective-Tony-Watts/dp/B0DR64MV5J?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE
Tony writes a blog at https://www.hartleywatts.co.uk/mary-mcshane/
About the author
Tony has been making his living from words for some 50 years now – as a journalist, editor, copywriter and (spookily enough) a ghost writer. And while he has had many short stories published and has written extensively for the amateur stage, this is his first (long-delayed) novel.
He has combined his paid work with campaigning on behalf of older people for many years, for which he received an OBE in 2014. He lives in Somerset with a wife and three feral pets.
Harry Mottram
Harry Mottram is a writer, performer and journalist and lives in Axbridge in Somerset. Follow him on social media at FaceBook, X, Instagram, You Tube, LinkedIn, TikTok and God knows where else!
Website: harrymottram.co.uk