This is the 4rd book in the SIPS Team book series. I’ve previously reviewed the 2nd story, Secret of the Big Easy. As you can see, I’ve missed books one and three, but they can be read as standalones.

I’ve always been fascinated with the paranormal since I’ve had my own encounters, and working with a research team would be awesome, though scary. This time, Marie has a vision of headless bodies, while she’s preparing for her wedding. Then, Cory gets a call about a headless body found on their own island of Folly. Normally, Marie gets visited from the other side by the victims, but this time a young girl named Isabella gets involved as she’s seeing a headless ghost. And her mother and brother think there’s something mentally wrong with her.

As more headless bodies show up, the pressure is on to find out who they are, their connection to each other , and who is killing them. Marie also has to train Isabella in her newfound psychic abilities, and then they find themselves on the hunt for Captain Kidd’s buried treasure.

As in the 2nd book I read, I was really hoping to enjoy the story. The plot has a lot going for it, but it’s the writing that throws me off. Robin has improved, but she still hasn’t learned to get into the people and their emotions. The characters are still so one dimensional. If I were facing a headless ghost, my heart would be racing, and fear would be making sweat trickle down my spine. But no, we don’t see any of that.

And the person that ended up being the villain? The only reason I didn’t guess that person, is I didn’t really see him/her in the story. They were such a bland character, I totally overlooked him/her. As with the 2nd book, it’s entertaining, but average. I give it 3 skulls. ( )

Book 4 opens on a eerie vision and then gives way to Marie and Cory’s wedding day. It seems like business as usual for the intrepid SIPS team. Once again the team is facing a serial killer on their island and it should have been loads of fun. Once again though I am confused as to the role of the SIPS in team in the arc of the story. Much like in book three the main story centers around other characters, not the team or even Marie, who is ostensibly the main character. Rather this story is about a young psychic named Isabelle. Though she fits in quite nicely with the team as she learns to use her talents, I see the great potential for a middle grade or YA series of books spun off with her character and the other girls, maybe a cyber group. Would a cyber seance be effective? The team seems relegated to a support role in this book, not even being involved in the solving of the mystery as this is done by the girls, away from the action. Another concern I have is that the psychic dialogue is becoming cliche. This series started with an average working woman who has a gift that she was exploring and sharing. Paranormal terminology was used only when necessary and explained when needed, that was refreshing. This latest installment reads like an episode of New Jersey Medium or any number of similarly exploitive shows and for me it just changes the whole feel of the story.

It was nice to get Sullivan Island and the surrounding areas a bit more fleshed out and the slice of beach living described in the story makes for a beautiful setting. The invocation of Edgar Allen Poe, the father of the modern suspense thriller, was a nice touch and made me want to re-read The Gold Bug, as I haven’t since my high school detective fiction class. Over-all this was a nice afternoon read.

A True SIPS fan will enjoy this book, I would dearly love to see some other stories from this author, she has some terrific ideas.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ( )