How to Read the Psychic Eye Mysteries: Recommended Reading Order
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Psychic Eye Mysteries in chronological order. Because the characters grow, form long-term romantic relationships, experience career changes, and deal with major life developments, reading the books out of sequence will spoil major plot points and relationship milestones. Fortunately, the chronological path mirrors the publication order closely, with only one minor adjustment for a bridging novella.
Here is the recommended reading path for Abby Cooper's adventures:
- Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye (2004) – The debut novel where we meet Abby, her best friend Candice, and FBI Agent Dutch Rivers.
- Blind Sighted (2005) – A bridging novella (Book 1.5) originally published in the anthology Drop-Dead Blonde.
- Better Read Than Dead (2005) – Abby finds herself caught between a local mob boss and the police.
- A Vision of Murder (2005) – Abby tries to flip a house in Royal Oak, only to find a cold case waiting in the floorboards.
- Killer Insight (2006) – Abby travels to Denver for a wedding, only for bridesmaids to begin vanishing.
- Crime Seen (2007) – Abby is hired by the police to locate a missing investigator, but ends up as a prime suspect.
- Death Perception (2008) – Abby assists the FBI with a case involving a sinister medical examiner.
- Doom with a View (2009) – A spooky case involving a haunted house and a double homicide.
- A Glimpse of Evil (2010) – Abby works with the FBI to track down a ruthless serial killer.
- Vision Impossible (2011) – Abby joins a high-stakes, secret government psychic task force.
- Lethal Outlook (2012) – Abby is called in to help search for a wealthy executive’s missing son.
- Deadly Forecast (2013) – While planning her wedding, Abby is plagued by bad omens and a murder charge.
- Fatal Fortune (2014) – Newly married, Abby has to clear the name of her friend Candice.
- Sense of Deception (2015) – Abby helps investigate a series of mysterious deaths in a luxury retirement community.
- A Grave Prediction (2016) – Abby is hired to cleanse a historic property, leading to a decades-old mystery.
- A Panicked Premonition (2017) – Abby must solve a mystery at a local amusement park before disaster strikes.
- Fated for Felony (2019) – Abby tries to prove the innocence of a man already convicted of murder.
- See No Evil (2023) – Abby deals with her most personal case yet, balancing motherhood and a dangerous criminal network.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
As noted, the publication order matches the chronological timeline perfectly except for the novella Blind Sighted. It was published in the 2005 anthology Drop-Dead Blonde alongside stories by Nancy Martin, Denise Swanson, and Elaine Viets. While the anthology was officially released in early 2005, some databases list its publication year as 2004 due to pre-release catalogs. Chronologically, the events of Blind Sighted occur right after the first book, Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye, making it the perfect bridge before diving into Better Read Than Dead.
If you choose to skip the novella, you will still be able to follow the main plot of the novels easily, but reading it adds wonderful context to the early days of Abby's sleuthing career and her evolving relationship with Dutch.
The Sister Spin-Off: Cat Cooper & The Life Coach Mysteries
A delightful bonus for fans of the Psychic Eye series is the Cat & Gilley Life Coach Mysteries. Catherine "Cat" Cooper, Abby's fiercely protective and highly organized sister, first appears as a supporting character in the Psychic Eye series. In 2019, Victoria Laurie spun Cat off into her own cozy mystery series starting with Coached to Death.
In this spin-off, Cat moves to the Hamptons after a messy divorce, re-inventing herself as a life coach alongside her vibrant best friend, Gilley. The series maintains the same witty banter, cozy atmosphere, and fast-paced mystery style as the Psychic Eye books, though it trades the paranormal elements for the high-society drama of the Hamptons. If you want to follow Cat's timeline, it is best to start her series after reading A Panicked Premonition (2017).
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Victoria Laurie’s cozy universe, here are a few practical tips to keep in mind:
- A Realistic Spin on the Paranormal: Victoria Laurie is a professional psychic intuitive in real life. She drew directly from her own professional experiences to model Abby's abilities, giving the series a grounded, authentic feel that avoids common Hollywood psychic clichés.
- Cozy but Thrilling: While the series has plenty of cozy elements—like Abby's beloved dachshunds, Eggy and Tuttle, and her quirky family members—the plots often feature genuine suspense, FBI investigations, and high stakes that border on romantic suspense.
- Start at the Beginning: The ongoing romantic arc between Abby and FBI Agent Dutch Rivers is a major highlight of the series. To fully appreciate their chemistry, their personal growth, and their ultimate progression, starting with book one is essential.