Published: 2022
Series: Tales From The Reluctant Psychic
Author: Virginia Watson
Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Paranormal
Audience (Grade Levels): High School / Mature Teen; Grades 9–12+
Number of Stars: 5-Stars
Goodreads Link: Sometimes These Things Happen
Triggers: Implication of rape, murder, torture, psychic powers
Review By: Gretchen Fronk
Publisher’s Summary:
Tess MacGregor is a reluctant psychic. She really wants nothing to do with it. It’s an annoyance, and people think you are weird at best; sometimes scary. She’d much rather just be left alone in her small professor’s office in the Archaeology Department at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville; but things have a way of getting complicated. When the head of the FBI’s daughter gets kidnapped and their agents have no leads, it’s time to call in their last hope. Tess quickly gets sucked down the rabbit hole in a whirlwind of FBI high-tech wizardry, a much-too-close call with evil, and a twisted psychopath who is all too good at covering his tracks…unless you are a psychic—who finds herself in the middle of jurisdictional warfare, dizzying plot twists, and a charming Southern town reluctant to give up its secrets.
Review:
Sometimes These Things Happen: Tales From The Reluctant Psychic by Virginia Watson is an incredibly gripping mystery novel targeted at mature teen and adult readers. The story introduces us to Tess MacGregor, a reluctant psychic who wants nothing to do with her paranormal gifts. Tess prefers the quiet life of an archaeology professor in Charlottesville, Virginia, but she is abruptly dragged into a terrifying investigation when the daughter of the head of the FBI is kidnapped. With local law enforcement completely out of leads, Tess must step up as their last hope, navigating high-tech FBI investigations, complex jurisdictional battles, and a twisted, highly elusive psychopath.
For a debut novel, this book is a spectacular achievement. Watson is a brilliant writer who expertly structures a dense, creative, and riveting plot that grabs your attention from the first page and refuses to let go. The author excels at balancing cozy, relatable everyday details—such as sibling dynamics and visiting the local farmers market—with highly intense procedural plot points like child abduction and the threat of torture. This stark contrast keeps the pacing wonderfully active and the setting fully realized. While some readers might initially find psychic elements difficult to accept, the inclusion of supernatural abilities across multiple characters is handled masterfully and serves as a highly functional, intriguing driver for the plot. Tess’s relatable reluctance to embrace her powers makes her an incredibly grounded and memorable protagonist.
This book is highly recommended for high school libraries, public libraries, and mature young adult readers who love complex procedural thrillers with a supernatural twist. Due to mature elements including implications of rape, murder, and torture, it is best suited for older readers who can handle darker themes. Ultimately, this outstanding debut serves as a strong, high-value addition to library collections and promises an exciting, highly anticipated series ahead.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- ELA / Literature: Excellent for studying suspense building, pacing, dual-genre integration (mystery and paranormal), and the construction of high-stakes plot twists.
- SEL (Social-Emotional Learning): Strong connections for discussing the burden of unwanted responsibility, dealing with societal skepticism, and developing personal resilience under extreme stress.
Diversity & Representation:
The book explores diverse human experiences by presenting characters who possess alternative sensory and psychic perceptions, showing how individuals with “different” abilities learn to navigate a highly skeptical, rigid, and traditional world.
Readalikes:
- The Reluctant Messenger by Candice M. Sanderson
- Take Back the Magic by Perdita Finn
- Exhibit by R. O. Kwon
