Strong Spirits

by Elisa DeCarlo

After dying and leaving only a paltry sum to his good-for-nothing son, Aubrey, Farquhar Arbuthnot sticks around, keeping a close, ghostly eye on his son, and sending Aubrey searching for an... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380774054
• ISBN13: 9780380774050
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 151 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Humorous Paranormal Fantasy

Set in London, England, during 1928, "Strong Spirits" begins with the reading of Aubrey Arbuthnot's father's will. In it, Aubrey is left with only 200 pounds and a final farewell from his father--that Aubrey "make something of his useless life". Needless to say, Aubrey and his father never got along prior to his death--and, by the looks of things, even after his death.In an attempt to communicate with his father's angry ghost, Aubrey attends a seance hosted by Ronald Cockcroft, an upper-class psychic who later becomes Aubrey's mortal enemy near the end of the book. After this meeting, Aubrey makes a special acquaintance with his friend's manservant (Michael Hornchurch) and a well-known clairvoyant (Binnie Griswold, aka Madame La Zonga), who both help reawaken Aubrey's dormant psychic abilities. Soon Aubrey finds himself talking with the dead (including one irksome soul who doesn't believe he's dead), traveling outside of his physical body (to watch the chorus girls undress, among other devious things), and levitating carpets, etc. Eventually, all these new skills will be put to the test when Aubrey challenges Cockcroft to a psychic duel to exorcise a troublesome ghost. This "Duel of the Mediums" could either make Aubrey the "Prince of Psychics"--or it could make him go crazy and die in the process."Strong Spirits" is the second book in the Aubrey series, the first being "The Devil You Say". (I'm not sure if this is a continuing series or just books loosely-based on certain characters since this is the first book I've read by Elisa DeCarlo.) Aubrey was definitely a likable character, even though he's a bit dimwitted, spoiled, and headstrong. Still his mischievous behavior made the story very fun. The writing was great as well, filled with authentic 1920s English slang. So, if you're looking for a lighthearted, paranormal fantasy set in the late 1920s (I doubt there are many of these), then you should definitely read "Strong Spirits". It'll definitely appeal to people who don't like to read very much either--it's only 151 pages.