A clever whodunit with plenty of loveable and quirky characters, all set within a cozy and close-knit community.

"Hypnosis Is for Hacks" by Tamara Berry is a delightful addition to a charmingly quirky series that effortlessly blends magic, romance, and mystery. Set in a quaint English village, the novel follows Eleanor Wilde, a former sham medium with latent supernatural gifts, as she navigates her new life filled with herbal remedies, elixirs, and unexpected intrigue.

The author's writing is smart, witty, and unpredictable, keeping readers engaged from the very beginning. Berry masterfully weaves a narrative that combines the allure of a cozy mystery with elements of magic and romance, creating a unique and captivating reading experience. The decision to place Eleanor in an English village adds an extra layer of charm to the story, and the introduction of her brother, Liam, brings familial dynamics into play.

The seaside setting in Brighton adds a refreshing twist to the plot, as Ellie's past resurfaces along with a killer. The reappearance of her former partner-in-crime, Armand Lamont, adds an intriguing layer of mystery and suspense. The sudden change in weather and the discovery of a body lead to a series of events that keep the reader guessing until the very end.

The character development is noteworthy, especially the evolving relationship between Ellie and her boyfriend, Nicholas. The complexity of their relationship adds depth to the narrative, making it more than just a typical cozy mystery. Ellie's genuine supernatural abilities, which are developing in surprising ways, add an extra layer of intrigue to the storyline.

The author's ability to balance the supernatural elements with a compelling mystery is commendable. The inclusion of a fake identity and the string of thefts in the luxury hotel contribute to the complexity of the case. The suspenseful moments and unexpected twists keep the reader eagerly turning the pages.

"Hypnosis Is for Hacks" is a highly enjoyable read that successfully combines humor, romance, and mystery. Tamara Berry's skillful storytelling and well-crafted characters make this novel a standout in the cozy mystery genre. With its clever plot and engaging writing style, "Hypnosis Is for Hacks" earns a solid four stars, providing readers with a thoroughly entertaining and immersive experience.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found the subject matter really interesting. The book was well written and easy to understand. I highly recommend this book.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars, I loved it!

Book 4 in the series.

I love this series. Former fake psychic Eleanor Wilde amuses the heck out of me. This time she has to confront her past, when an old partner shows up while Eleanor is entertaining her visiting brother.

The plot is as usual, fast paced, funny, and well written. Eleanor is a strong character who doesn't suffer fools (though she might take advantage of them). I enjoyed this book so much that I read it in one sitting. I love that Eleanor went from bogus psychic to village witch, complete with two cats and real psychic talents.

I can't wait for more in the series.

Eleanor Wilde used to con people out of their money by pretending to be a medium. Now that her sister has passed away, she really can get help from the other side. She broke away from her former partner, Armand, and now lives a fairly quiet life in a small English village. Of course, there’s the occasional dead body, but she can hardly be blamed for that. In addition, Eleanor has a wealthy boyfriend whose zany mother is enough to keep anyone entertained, distracted, and distraught. Nick more than makes up for his mother’s behavior.

Eleanor, her visiting brother, Liam, and Nick’s mother all go to the seaside a few hours away. What could be nicer than sun, surf, and relaxation? If only that happened. Storms roll through, a man is thrown from a boat but it’s called a suicide, wealthy hotel guests are robbed by invisible thieves, and worst of all, Armand is there.

Eleanor assumes Armand means to blackmail her—help him scam Nick for millions or he’ll tell about her shady past. Nick comes to the rescue but in disguise, and the usual chaos, multiplied by tens, ensues. Seeing shadowy figures go poof, whether they are killing a man or stealing gems, is disconcerting to say the least. There has to be an explanation, but how to find it? Armand suggests hypnosis, never a good idea, more so in this case. So, of course, Eleanor agrees.

If you start with the premise, nothing is what it seems, and follow your intuition, even when furniture flies and creepy dolls follow you, then it all begins to make sense. Eleanor is a reformed schemer but often caught up in events beyond her control. Liam quite steals the show, but Nick’s mother runs a close second. There’s a bossy policewoman, her hapless second in command, helpful hotel staff, and Eleanor’s two cats. What more could readers ask for?

This is book four in the series. The romance between Eleanor and Nick is heating up even when she can’t believe it’s true. For a not-so-relaxing trip to a posh English hotel, this tale is perfect. Just don’t bring your good jewelry and keep your hand on your wallet.

Hypnosis is for Hacks is probably the best book in the Eleanor Wilde mystery series. It was funny and the mystery literally had me guessing until the killer was revealed. I thought I had it figured out several times, but I was wrong. I love the way the book ends, but it's bittersweet as the author has stated this is the last book in the series. I had hoped to read many more books about Madame Eleanor and her adventures. I feel like so much more could be done with these characters and their stories. Hopefully the author will be able to revisit them sometime in the future.

Loved reading this book and author if you haven't read it yet I highly recommend her and her books. Happy reading

This is by far my favorite installment of the Eleanor Wilde series! I have reviewed every book of this series and I have to say, I am in love with this series. Eleanor starts off this series as a bit of a con artist who has some selfish readons for doing what she does… but still ends up helping people. Was she always one of the “good guys”? Absolutely not, and this time her past is coming back to haunt her! Armand, her old partner in crime happens to find her on vacation with her brother and her rich boyfriends mother, and of course he wants a cut of whatever the con is. But this time there is no con but he refuses to believe it. Add to that a murdered guest, a ghostly maid, an ominous doll, and ghostly shadow figures stealing from guests and you have the perfect storm for a ghosty story. Can Eleanor make it out of this story alive before the shadow figures get her?

One of my favorite characters in this volume was Eleanor’s brother! He really added a light hearted and there were so many parts of the story where he made me laugh out loud. And his fear of a doll?! Well, that was just magical. We also were able to see a side of Nicholas that we haven’t seen before. We usually get a stuffy Nicholas but this time he was really just having a bit of fun…controlled fun, but fun none the less.

Then there was Eleanor. I was so excited to see how her powers started to manifest! I don’t want to give anything away but let me say this… Hypnosis does not do Eleanor well. Overall, the story was a page turner. I did not think Eleanor was going to solve this one before it was too late. Especially since the people investigating the crimes seemed to be acting like Eleanor was a suspect. If you love a good paranormal mystery I really recommend this series!

This book is super fun to read. It kept me entertained all afternoon. The cast of characters are just delightful. The plot is cleverly written and it just draws you in . You definitely cannot put this one down. It's brilliant.

Eleanor Wilde is a sham medium, a fraud who’s used her dramatic talents and the trust of her clients to bilk them. But lately things have changed; she has received intelligence from the great beyond, specifically from her deceased sister. As a businesswoman that now resides in a small town in the UK and doesn’t want her neighbors to hate her, she’s shifted most of her business to herbal cures and such. As it happens, this doesn’t keep all hell from busting loose.

My thanks go to Kensington Books and Net Galley for the review copy. This book is for sale now.

Eleanor--you may call her Ellie—is the protagonist in a satirical cozy mystery series, and this is the fourth. I read and reviewed the first two, but somehow missed out on the third. The first two took place in a tiny village where the ruling family lives in an honest-to-goodness castle. She went there, in the first in the series, to conduct a bogus séance, but instead fell in love with Nicholas, heir to the estate. Now the castle is in need of serious repairs. It’s summer, and the castle is hot enough to be uninhabitable, and so Ellie accompanies the elderly Vivian, matriarch of the castle, to the seaside. Her brother Liam, who is visiting, joins them. And once there, all sorts of things go wrong. We have a menacing, possessed doll that reappears in or near Ellie’s room, no matter what she does to destroy it, and a sinister figure from Ellie’s checkered past shows up as well. And of course, of course, of course, Ellie witnesses a murder shortly after arriving, but nobody will believe her.

I came away of two minds about this particular installment. The thing I’ve appreciated most about this series is that Berry’s writing is hilarious, and whenever an obvious plot device is utilized, it’s done in such an over-the-top manner that we can imagine the author winking and guffawing. Nothing here is to be taken seriously. In the past there’s been very little character development, and I was okay with that, because I wasn’t looking for great literature; I was looking for a laugh.

Here I find some changes. There’s less humor, although two particular bits, one involving lobsters and another involving, per the title, hypnosis, made me snicker. But I also find more character development. Realistically speaking, a series can’t last long if there’s no character development, and so I’m pleased to see Berry adding a bit of depth, but at the same time, what I really want is to laugh out loud. We live in tense times, and there’s a growing body of evidence that we live longer if we laugh. A silly, escapist novel that lets us forget current events entirely for a brief while, forget our own troubles, whatever they may be, and sit back and howl at what our clever author has cooked up, is worth more than many can imagine.

Nonetheless, this story is better by far than most of what’s out there within the humor genre, and I recommend it to you. Now…where’s that cat?

This series is very different from anything else I've read. The relationships between Eleanor, Nicholas and Nicholas's mother constantly keep me guessing. That being said, I really enjoy these books. They keep me on my toes and I never know what to expect with Eleanor. I read this book in a day. It was that much fun and had so much going on. Very entertaining!

Princess Fuzzypants here: Former fake psychic and now real ghost communicator Ellie, gets talked into joining her boyfriend’s mother, Vivian, at a luxury Brighton hotel. Ellie’s brother tags along but the creep factor jumps up when a scary doll refuses to be dispatched. No matter how many times or in what way Ellie tries to get rid of it, it seems to return to haunt her. It is a minor irritant compared to what else shows up to haunt her. It is her former mentor and partner, Armand, and she is convinced he is part of the very spooky thefts and murder that have occurred.

Ellie is nervous because she knows all his tricks and how very good he is. He also holds all the deepest darkest secrets of her nefarious past for which she is trying to compensate. She allows Vivian and Liam to convince her to let Armand hypnotize her. . No one is quite prepared for the events that follow, most of all Ellie. Things are going to get even weirder and more robberies and one further murder, Ellie is uncertain who to trust. But it is clear someone is trying to tell her something. Can she figure it out before it turns deadly?

I have enjoyed the previous books of the series but I have not loved them. This one, I loved. I enjoyed the setting and the sleight of hand and all the pieces that fit together but then didn’t. It was a fun read that kept me guessing. Five purrs and two paws up.

This was part 4 in Eleanor Wilde Mystery series but could be read as stand alone. While I haven't read the previous books, I found this one to be enjoyable enough.

It was a cozy mystery with likable characters. I loved the setting and I think the narration did the story justice

This is book 4 in the Eleanor Wilde Mystery series and can be read as a stand alone. Ellie can see ghosts and her brother isn't happy about it. She's American but lives in a small English village where she sells the locals remedies and makes a living as a medium. She and her brother accompany her boyfriends mother to Brighton where a series of robberies is making the local hotel unsafe. Someone from El's past isn't happy to see her and now they can add murder to the local police problems. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Hypnosis is for Hacks by Tamara Berry is the fourth book in this series that follows former fake medium Ellie Wilde. Ellie used to pretend to remove ghosts and deal with the dead to trick people out of their money with her hypnotist partner Armand. After her sister dies and she moves to England she starts to be able to communicate with her sister's spirit and see visions of events. She ends up becoming a valued member of the village, falling in love and helping solve crimes.
In this installment Ellie travels with her brother Liam and her boyfriend's mother Vivian to the Brighton for some summer fun. Shortly after arriving she runs into her former partner Armand, witnesses a jewel robbery and a potential murder and gets stalked by a creepy doll. She must use her street smarts and her evolving supernatural abilities to get to the bottom of what's going on in this historic hotel.
There's zanniness, romance, secret identities and more, that keeps you on your toes and turning the pages. A very fun and interesting cozy!

Eleanor Wilde has gone on vacation with her beloved but nothing goes as planned. Her paranormal senses pick up ghosts, someone is killed, and an old ally from her shady past turns up. What could go wrong? Hypnosis is for Hacks is a quirky cozy for readers who like a little supernatural with their mystery.

Hypnosis Is for Hacks by Tamara Berry is the 4th book in Eleanor Wilde Mystery series, and another unique book that I really enjoyed. I loved this series, sometimes I forget how much, until I start reading a new book. Eleanor, Ellie, Wilde is excited to have her brother Liam visit her in England. Nicholas has arranged for his mother, to stay on the beach while the castle is getting work done, and she invites Ellie and Liam along. Nicholas is Eleanor's boyfriend who is away on business. When Ellie's fellow con man turns up, she knows he's up to something. Plus there are a lot of thief's going on at the hotel. Wow, this book was so good, and I found it to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. There are a lot of twists and turns that kept me reading. There is a wonderful mixture of mystery, humor, and romance for a well-balanced unique story. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. This book can be read as a standalone, but I strongly encourage you to read them in order. If you love cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book/series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Hypnosis Is for Hacks by Tamara Berry is the fourth book in Eleanor Wilde Mystery series.

This has become one of my favorite series from book one and her books always put a smile on my face.

They are so charmingly quirky, full of mischief, fun and laughter, interspersed with unconventional characters and situations with a bit of romance.

Ellie is one of the sweetest, funniest, kindest and most likable heroine that I have come across in a long time.
I simply adore how she reveals tricks of trade and simplifies everything while downplaying her powers.

I liked the setting, it gave it a proper spooky vibe even in summer, and a grand old hotel was a perfect place for all the action.
There were just enough possible suspects to make things interesting but not confusing, with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep readers engrossed.
Highly recommended. I can't wait for the next book.

Eleanor Wilde is such an unusual heroine in the world of cozy mysteries as she's a (sort of) reformed con woman and she's a woman with a past.
Her dry humour, her strength make her one of my fav character in the cozy world as she's able to use her past experiences to investigate and trying to keep on living as she choose.
This is another excellent addition to this beloved series, I had to remind me to sleep because I wanted to know what was going to happen.
People from the past, events that could be related to paranormal or not, a lot of humour.
I think this is the best instalment so far and I hope there's going to be a lot of other novels as I want to know what will happen in the future.
The mystery is solid and I was surprised by the twists and the solution.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is the fourth book in this series, and I’m still enjoying the heck out of them. Ellie’s brother Liam is visiting, and they must take a holiday to Brighton with Nicholas’ mother. There, Ellie’s past comes back to haunt (heh) her, and she has a murder to solve. I don’t know why, but these books continue to tickle me. I just love Ellie, and I’d just love it if her brother stuck around. He’s a hoot, too. Even though this isn’t perfect, I enjoyed every page. I didn’t see the end coming at all, and I have to mention that Nicholas’ disguise (you’ll see) was a highlight of the book. Keep them coming, and if you love cozy paranormals, you have to read this series. Highly recommend.