SECRETS OF THE MONARCH What the Dead Can Teach Us About Living a Better Life

Allison DuBois's unique work as a medium--someone who can communicate with the dead--has been popularized by the hit TV show "Medium." Yes, there's a real woman behind the show, and DuBois's third book focuses on examining death so we can better understand life. While DuBois's "ghost stories" are interesting, especially when she describes collaborating with police to catch two Arizona serial killers, the attempt to turn them into a personal growth narrative comes off as forced. Narrator Renée Raudman is believable as DuBois, and her sweet, feminine voice matches DuBois's sense of optimism. But the timbre of Raudman's voice coupled with DuBois's cliché-ridden advice makes this work sound more like a Hallmark card than a meaningful guidebook. J.T. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2008]