The best books for helping you step outside the box

Fun paranormal: If you’re new to paranormal books, the first book in the Bloomin’ Psychic series is a great place to start. It’s a fun series. New Yorker Mia Thorne is a hot mess when it comes to relationships and self-esteem after proposing to her boyfriend and being turned down in a viral flash mob and losing her job. Desperate, she discovers her eccentric Aunt Hazel has left her house to her, but she has to live in Newberry at least a year. Here is where her weird experiences become normal and her journey as a psychic begins. As you move through the series with her newfound friends, you get to experience her journey of self-discovery. I love a good ensemble of characters!

Scary Paranormal: I read this novel in 1990. It was my first experience reading a paranormal novel with such a plethora of abilities. My husband and I listened to the audiobook while on a trip in 2004. It was even scarier than reading the book! Koontz presents a feast of mental abilities beyond the normal, e.g., teleportation, telekinesis, psychometry, channeling, telepathy, not to mention the hive mind of the twin sisters. Frank Pollard’s race to stay ahead of his evil brother Candy through teleporting as far as other worlds kept me on the edge of my seat.

The delicious metaphors, incredible descriptions, well-developed characters, and nerve-wracking suspense are all vintage Koontz. If you’ve never read The Bad Place, you should consider it. It’s on my “To Read Again” list.

Horror Paranormal: In 1974 when I was 25, Carrie was published as an epistolary novel [presented through a series of newspaper articles, letters, or book excerpts]. I was hooked. Most have probably seen the film adaptations, but there is nothing like reading the book. 

Carrie possesses the powers of telekinesis and telepathy, which she uses to exact revenge on her tormentors (which is the horror part). King quickly draws you into the emotional character of Carrie White. You can feel the girl’s desires, her pain from the bullying, and almost want to cheer when her powers enable her to strike back. Even though you probably wouldn’t go as far as she did, I’m sure you’ve felt a few “take no prisoners” reactions in the past. I know I have.

Detective Paranormal: I love reading Indie books like Book 1 in the Psychic Detective Ellen Owens series because they offer such diverse styles. Mitchell takes care to develop her characters beyond their career roles, which I like.

Detective Owens struggles to accept her gifts, which can be a blessing and a curse for her. Visions aren’t readily accepted as evidence in police work; however she quickly learns they can offer leads. When Ellen spies a woman at a cemetery several times wearing the same clothes, she’s drawn into a 1978 cold case where an editor named Regina Mitchell disappears, leaving her young son behind. Although a psychic newbie, Ellen’s family isn’t, so she has her mother for support as she winds her way through this complex old and cold case. 

Paranormal Women’s Fiction: This is a relatively new genre that “celebrates either a midlife or older woman who navigates her life while discovering or developing her own magical powers. Being an older woman, I leapt on this one! Magic realism is present here as is often the case with the paranormal. Interweaving individual paranormal abilities within the town of Myrtlewood, which is itself a city of quirks, with a mystery and a murder demanding to be solved. 

The personalities of the two main characters seem to ruffle the feathers of some readers. However, I viewed the interactions of the mother and daughter as evolutionary journeys, individually and in their relationships with each other. Did it present frustrating moments? Of course, but this is what makes it good.