The Mysterious Messenger

The Mysterious Messenger by Gilbert Ford is a highly entertaining story. Maria Russo lives with her supposedly psychic mother. They make a living by scamming widows out of their jewelry, money, etc, by saying it’s what their deceased significant other would have wanted. However, Maria has a secret. She can actually communicate with the dearly departed, at least with a ghost named Edward. Then one day, a widow comes to communicate with her dead husband. Edward sends Maria clues about a treasure that is hidden in the widow’s home, and soon Maria finds herself in a mystery that has everything to do with Beat poets, jazz, and art.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this story and how it progressed. It wasn’t boring, and it didn’t fit into a mold like some other stories. The protagonists were likable, and the antagonists were realistically evil while at the same time exciting. I liked that the mystery was heavily influenced by the Beat poets, art, and music, as it was both informative and entertaining.