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KALEIDOSCOPE
by Dorothy Gilman
Ballantine Books, January 2002
256 pages
$21.00
ISBN: 0345448200


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

The Countess Madam Marina Elena Provotchnichet Gaylord Von Domm Karitska lives in a shabby brownstone on Eighth Street in Trafton. The neighborhood is poor and Madam Karitska doesnžt make a whole lot of money in her psychometry business. Her home has been visited by many different people all hoping that Madam Karitska can help them with their problems. She does this by holding a personal object that they have worn, and then, with the help of her psychometry talents, is able to figure out and help solve the problem. Madam Karitska has a huge following including her friend, Detective Lieutenant Pruden of the Trafton Police Department.

While riding on the train one day, Madam Karitska sees a frightened man holding an attachČ case. She also notices that another man seems to be following him. As she looks closer she recognizes the man with the case as an old friend, Georges Verglag. Madam Karitska, and her now deceased husband, knew Georges years ago in Antwerp. As Georges runs out of the train he throws his attachČ case at Madam Karitska. She suspects that it is filled with diamonds since her late husband and Mr. Verglag were diamond dealers in Europe. Madam Karitska calls Detective Lieutenant Pruden and tells him of the incident.

So begins Dorothy Gilmanžs second Madam Karitska book. The character first appeared in THE CLAIRVOYANT COUNTESS some twenty-five years ago.

KALEIDOSCOPE is an episodic novel about a psychic who helps the people in her poor community. The wait for this second book might have been a long but was well worth it.

In this book, Madam Karitska helps a young woman get over the fact that her husband left her for a cult, finds and helps the police arrest a drug dealer, helps a young boy who doesnžt speak, helps a young deaf girl prove that she isnžt a murderer, and helps a Government Agent find a man who wants to shut down all the electricity in the United States as a terrorist attack. Of course she also eventually discovers what happened to her old friend, Georges Verlag. Believe it or not, Madam Karitska has many other adventures in this book as well.

Everyone who loves Dorothy Gilmanžs popular MRS. POLLIFAX novels will enjoy KALEIDOSCOPE. Madam Karitska is a warm, wonderful character who invites her clients and the readers into her home to offer us all some hot Turkish coffee, some friendly advice, and lots of comfort. The other people who inhabit this book might be written with a light touch, but all of them are fascinating.

KALEIDOSCOPE is a fun book, just made for a day when you want something easy to read. It has loads of warmth that will make you feel terrific when you finish it.

I hope Madam Karitska wonžt wait another 25 years to invite us back into her life.

Reviewed by Sharon Katz, February 2002

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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