The following reviews have been publically submitted via Amazon, Goodreads and Facebook:
A Great Read for lovers of Intriguing Mysteries and Florida History – As a long-time reader of great mystery novels and Florida history, I recently read a perfect blend of my two favorite categories. The CRYSTAL BALL CHRONICLES by Ginger L. Pedersen and Janet M. Naughton, fulfills both of these reading genres and is highly recommended.
All the carefully researched historical stuff is so interesting to me. I’ve read lots of Palm Beach County and West Palm Beach history, and so much of this was brand new and intriguing. A world of eccentrics! What a place it must have been to grow up during those 1920s! I especially like the railroad travel details because I took the train from New York to WPB about a dozen times in the early 1950s. Both Seaboard and the Atlantic Coast Line.
I also love the descriptions of old, downtown WPB. Great stuff, easily recognizable for even today’s readers. I’ve even seen the photo of Carrie Nation on Clematis that was referenced. Lots of “interesting” things were going on down there on Clematis during that era. I am the perfect reader audience for your historical plot line. -Frank H. Eberling, Jr., Emmy Award-winning film producer and director
Impressive First Novel – “The Crystal Ball Chronicles” is a mighty impressive first novel. The new research material unearthed by G. L. Pedersen and J. M. Naughton is amazing. They have filled this book with suspense, wit, and compassion for Lena Clarke, the troubled postmistress. She emerges as a quirky, strong woman tangled up with all-too-human traits.
The blending of fact and fiction works really well for this novel set in 1920’s West Palm Beach. It is one of the best books I have read in a long time. – Ann
Chilling Page Turner – The Crystal Ball Chronicles by GL Pedersen and JM Naughton is a very captivating true crime thriller. The story is told from the perspective of a young, clever, and remarkable reporter named Kate Brennan who befriends the bizarre and delusional Lena Clarke, postmistress of West Palm Beach, Florida.
The characters are vividly described and, since I am familiar with the geographic area, the places mentioned were very real to me. The characters’ distinct personality traits and idiosyncrasies were readily apparent and easily understood. The book was a chilling page-turner for me as the suspense gained momentum with each chapter. I especially enjoyed the ending, which I won’t give away here. I would give the book 5 stars for its overall quality and authenticity. I recommend that you read it and see if you can follow the clues to solve the murder. – Patty
Enjoyed this Story – I’ve known of this story for some time, but the details in this book are incredible. There is a lot of small details of things happening around this time such as the presidents visit to Palm Beach and while im a history buff myself and knew Seminoles were common in the area, it’s an interesting reminder that they mixed and mingled with city residents at this time and was rather common sight. The character development reaching to the climax of the story made it difficult to put down at times. Glad this story was able to be shared in the form of a book finally. – Graham S. Brunk
A Fascinating True Crime Story! – I enjoyed this fictionalized account of strange events that took place in 1920’s West Palm Beach, Florida. If the authors had not done the painstaking research involved in uncovering the truth behind Lena Clarke’s crimes, this story would probably have been lost forever. It was especially interesting to read the book after visiting the graves of Lena and Paul Clarke in Woodlawn Cemetery, and hearing about their lives during a cemetery tour hosted by the authors. The story leaves several key questions unanswered, but it may be impossible to ever know the whole truth behind Lena and Paul’s actions. I recommend this book to readers who love historical fiction, true crime, and mystery novels. Anyone interested in the history of West Palm Beach would also be fascinated by this tale. – Brigitta McTigue
The Reader Truly Feels the Experience of Living in this Time and Place! – A book wonderfully describing a true crime event that affected the lives of the community of West Palm Beach in the 1920s kept me guessing the outcome until the end! I felt as if I were walking on the streets of WPB with the young reporter as she attained intimate details of the family involved and befriended the mysterious chief suspect. A fascinating read! – Painted Lady
Mixture of Suspense, History and Relationships – The Crystal Ball Chronicles is a great read and I highly recommend. It is based on a true story and the way the authors weave that in with a story of friendships and suspense in the early ‘20’s in West Palm Beach keeps you engaged and wanting more. Love the character of Kate Brennan! – Sue
Book is Excellent – This book I thought was very interesting and kept me reading it on my Kindle well into the night. it is very well written and kept me on the edge of my seat. I like to read about murder, mysteries and also I love westerns. I hope to see future books by the authors and maybe another book with Kate in it. – Lisa N.
Unveiling the Dark Tapestry – The Crystal Ball Chronicles” takes readers on a riveting journey through the intricate web of love, deception, and crime in Lena Clarke’s twisted tale. This murder book seamlessly blends suspense, mystery, and a touch of the paranormal to create a captivating narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. In terms of style, the author’s prose is polished and evocative. The dialogue is natural, and the descriptive language paints a vivid picture of the settings and characters. The author’s attention to detail and atmospheric descriptions create a compelling backdrop for the unfolding drama. While “The Crystal Ball Chronicles” is undeniably a page-turner, it also offers thought-provoking themes about the complexities of human relationships, the consequences of deception, and the blurred boundaries between good and evil. – Ken Libutti
Great Read! – If you want to be jettisoned back to 1920s Palm Beach and feel like you are participating in a murder mystery, this is the book for you! Pedersen and Naughton capture Florida’s craziness. There were fun historical facts such as, only men were on juries and psychiatrists were called alienists! I literally could not wait to get home and read this novel and plunge into a different era! – Elizabeth Bewley
Easy Read – I am a mystery fanatic. Being this was based on the truth made it so interesting. Also being from Florida, and knowing the area that this happened, made it more relatable! – Deb
Terrific Mystery based on True Events in Palm Beach, Florida – I was given this book as a gift and I really enjoyed it. The fact that it is based on true events in Palm Beach, FL in the 1920’s was amazing. The authors did a wonderful job of transporting you to that time and place. It actually left me wanting to learn more about the real life Lena Clarke. – Amanda Arkebauer
Page Turner – For fans of historical fiction and real life mysteries, The Crystal Ball Chronicles is a must read. Just the right amount of details bring you back to 1920s Florida. It’s hard to tell fiction characters from the real players in the drama. The story proceeds at a perfect pace and you will find it hard to put down. Well researched and well written. Brava to the authors. – Downerssue
Fascinating and Fun Read – I am delighted by the research that went into creating this true crime story, especially since I am familiar with the West Palm Beach area . I found the story compelling…..a binge read….but I’m left hungering for photos of the family members and a diagnosis of Lena’s mental condition! – Judith Garrity
A Good read! – Such an interesting tale. A really fun book to read that moves right along. Especially fun, as I live in the area. – Dulce A. MacAndrew
Phenomenal Reading Material! – Couldn’t set the book aside. If you enjoy intricate tales of love, deception, and crime, this book is a must-read. – Jack
Historical Story – I loved the detailed research that the authors wrote about in this book. They took you into that time period immediately. This book would make a great movie! – Steven Levine
Awesome book! – Highly Recommend – Erin McColskey
True Crime told as a Novel ; A wild ride through West Palm Beach – West Palm Beach in 1921 sounds wild. I feel like you can come up with a ton of conspiracy theories as to how and why any of these events unfolded. There are so many engaging threads throughout the novel, and some of the mysteries will never be solved. The book is based on a true story, but I don’t think I would have understood that if I didn’t know the backstory from knowing the author. The description says “true crime,” but since it’s told as a novel/fictionalized account, I think that basis was really easy to miss. It could benefit from a Foreword or something to say “The events here are true but has been fictionalized to tell in this form. A lot of dialogue is straight from letters these real-life people wrote.” Once you have that context, Lena Clarke and everything that happened in WPB in 1921 seems even more bonkers. The story really picks up once the trial begins. As a former journalist myself, I loved the details at the end of the book about how the authors went about researching the history of this story and these characters. I also loved the point of view of the “lady reporter” journalist telling the story. A real career woman! It made me think of the stereotypical newsmen in old movies, and I could really envision everything in the story coming to life. – Sara J.
Excellent Read! – I love historical fiction, especially when based in Florida. Not only did this book hit both of those marks, it was based where I grew up. The story was fascinating. I enjoyed reading about places, streets, etc that I know well. The writing was so well done that I was transported back in time to West Palm Beach in the 1920s. I have heard stories relating to the real people (and family names) who are featured in the book all my life. When reading the book it is apparent that so much research went into writing this to tell the story of a West Palm Beach mystery. Well done and well written account of real life events. – Amazon Customer
The Crystal Ball Chronicles – Add to your list! – Written by two well published Florida historians, through the eyes of a tenacious young reporter, The Crystal Ball Chronicles tells a mysterious story of crime, friendship, delusion and loyalty. Intriguing twists and secrets revealed about these Palm Beach Floridians in the 1920’s is an entertaining novel you will enjoy. – Kate Naughton
A Sad tale told brilliantly – Did she or didn’t she? That is the question. It is a sensitive depiction of a tale of theft, murder, and possible madness. The basic story in this book is based on true crimes in West Palm Beach and Orlando, Florida, in the early 1920s. The authors did an excellent job of researching the all-too-real people at the heart of this story and then by using a fictional character as the narrator, it was possible to depict Lena Clarke sympathetically while laying out the crimes she was supposed to have committed. Infused with incredible detail, one can almost smell the salty air and feel the cool ocean breezes. Take the trip to Orlando by train or drive along the long dirt roads–you can feel the grit in the air. I do hope Kate Brennan, the narrator, will appear in future books. This could be the start of a new series…a woman reporter taking on the big cases of the 20th century. – DM
Fascinating story based on true facts – “The Crystal Ball Chronicles” is a historical fiction book set in West Palm Beach and Orlando, Florida post WWI. My favorite genre of books is historical fiction and this one did not disappoint.
The story of Lena Clarke is so fascinating; it’s almost hard to believe that it is true. I could not wait to see what was going to happen next.
I normally read a few books a month, but I have not read anything in the past year. Each chapter of this book is written like a little vignette, and this format was the perfect way to get back into reading. I also loved the way actual poetry written by Lena Clarke was carefully placed throughout the story.
I can’t wait to start reading my next book now! – Goodman
Captivating Read – This was a captivating read – I finished it in just over a day. The first 15% was a tad slow and the dialogue seemed slightly stilted (I assume because it was primary source materials, like diaries, repurposed as conversation), but once you hit 15%, the action picks up to a rocket’s pace. I liked the convergence of mystery, mysticism, and a rather enlightened view of mental health (for the 1920s). The book is clearly based on a large amount of direct source material. The afterward said the book had been researched over 12 years and I believe it! – Heidi DeVries