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"A fascinating psychic detective tale"

In New York City, Carlos ekes out a below sustenance living as a psychic detective. Though he knows that present day clients pays the bills, Carlos prefers mysteries of the darkened past. So when he read a strange missive on a blackboard, Carlos decides to use his psychic friends starting with Joe Davidson to make contact with Judge Crater, who vanished in the 1930s.

Carlos and friends make contact, but the Judge is not a friendly ghost and is a bit upset by being disturbed. Crater informs Carlos that he will find out the truth of what happened to him, but will also be punished by what he learns. Though concerned because he understands the strength of the other side, Carols begins investigating the life of Judge Joseph Crater before he disappeared. The judge lived a life filled with violence, suffered dual personality disorder and appears to have been the victim of a psychic murder that might end in the present with a second homicide from the afterlife; the target being Carlos.

DUPLICITY is an entertaining tale starring several delightfully way out characters, especially the hero and his trio of psychic pals. Everyone wants a Joe passing a stock market tip to them (adds realistic sense to ESP). The story line is fun to follow as it blends an otherworldly scenario with an urban legend inside a noir. The use of Judge Crater who ranks with Jimmy Hoffa for vanishing acts adds a sense of reality to the plot. Though Carlos' motive to conduct the inquiries seems weird even for a weirdo like him, fans of paranormal mysteries will enjoy the DUPLICITY of life and afterlife that this tale so delightfully provides its audience.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted December 28, 2003

Duplicity tells the story of Carlos, '60's counterculture refugee, who earns a meager living as a psychic detective in New York City in the '90's. Prompted by a message seen on a blackboard, Carlos embarks on the kind of case he relishes--a mystery from the past. In 1930, New York Supreme Court Judge Joseph Crater vanished, never to be seen again. Aided by psychic friends, Carlos seeks out Crater's spirit. Angry at being called to answer questions, the spirit issues a warning: Carlos will learn Crater's fate, but will suffer for it. The mystery follows Carlos, revealing Crater's past of violence, dual personality and psychic murder. Powerfully intermingling the lives and consciousness of two men--one dead and the other alive-- Duplicity demonstrates the power of the dead over the living. For Carlos, it's a journey into pos-session by an evil spirit and the merging of his personality with Crater's reliving the last days of the missing man's life-- revealing themes of disappearance, dualities of existence, and personal disintegration, ending with Crater's death-- and perhaps Carlos' death as well.