Deja New

November 13, 2017
Davidson intriguingly intermingles past lives and modern-day family drama in the amusing second Insighters paranormal (after Deja Who). Leah Nazir thought things were bad enough when her mother was killed, but now Leah’s pregnant with her reincarnation. Davidson wrings plenty of laughs out of Leah’s peculiar predicament before turning to the task at hand: Leah is a top Insighter, charged with helping others sort out and deal with their past lives. She killed her mother’s murderer in the preceding novel, and now she and her fiancé, Archer Drake, head to Chicago to help Archer’s family solve a similar puzzle: why Archer’s father killed his brother years ago. Or did he? Davidson keeps readers guessing as she spins tales of characters’ former lives and their effects on their present-day incarnations, and charms with an able lineup of supporting characters, particularly Archer’s cousins Angela, a no-nonsense Insighter who butts heads with Leah, and Jack, a talented amateur chef. The constant asides distract, as do multiple choppy chapters, but Davidson’s trademark humor saves the day. Agent: Evan Gregory, Ethan Ellenberg Literary.

November 1, 2017
The second in Davidson's new Insighter series, following Deja Who (2016), finds Archer Drake accompanying Leah Nazir, his pregnant and powerful Insighter fiancee, to his family home to solve his uncle's murder. Insighters can see past lives and help police understand how present crimes are related. Archer's cousin Angela, a less powerful Insighter, has been holding her family together while her mother pitched into depression and does not believe that her father killed her uncle. A new detective has been assigned to the case, and Angela's attraction to him doesn't sway her from wanting to know the truth, while her youngest brother, Jack, is a scene-stealer. Humorous yet heartfelt, with realistic paranormal elements, this is Davidson at her best. Fans of Victoria Laurie will enjoy this series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)