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High Spirits
Reviewed by Tim McCree
May 2007
BOOK: High Spirits
AUTHOR:
Scott Ciencin
NOTE: This review may contain plot spoilers.
Nearly a year ago now, the televised
adventures of the Halliwell sisters came to an end. The cast
moved on to other projects, the sets were dismantled, and
Charmed faded from our television screens (except for the DVD’s
and syndicated reruns, of course). However, in book form, the
Charmed Ones continue their adventures of saving Innocents and
vanquishing Demons. It is another of these adventures that I
now find myself reviewing.
In this book, the sisters travel to Hollywood to attend a
weekend long party given by Kevin Peterson, an old friend (and
former boyfriend) of Paige’s. The party is being held at
Kevin’s new house. This house was once owned by Robert Maxwell,
a famous Hollywood actor who mysteriously vanished in 1926. In
the eight decades since that disappearance, there have been
stories of Maxwell’s ghost haunting the house and playing pranks
on those who stayed there. When the Halliwell sisters arrive at
the party, it seems that Mr. Maxwell is up to his old tricks
again. At first, the Charmed Ones, along with everyone else at
the party, find it funny. However, when guests start vanishing,
and the pranks become more and more deadly, the Charmed Ones
realize that something more sinister is at work. What is
happening here? Has the playful ghost gone bad? What has this
all got to do with a Demon that the Halliwells had vanquished
some days before going to the party? The Charmed Ones must
unravel this mystery, before it is too late.
I must say that this book is an delightful romp. Once again
Piper, Phoebe, and Paige manage to have many good “sister”
moments that the show had been lacking in its final years. I
could almost hear the three actresses saying the lines. The
author of this book got the Charmed Ones down pat.
Also, we get some interesting supporting characters as well.
Besides, Kevin, we get Cassie, the woman he loves. However, she
is in love with another man, Ryan, who is also attending the
party. Unlike the Innocents that appeared on the show, these
characters are treated with respect and, I’m happy to say, all
of them live to the end of the story. These are not the typical
Ensign Deadmeat (referring to the unfortunate unknown characters
who accompanied Kirk, Spock, and McCoy to a dangerous planet on
Classic Star Trek, you knew this poor guy was dead meat, hence
the term) Innocents you saw on the show. Rather, the author,
and the Charmed Ones, actually care about these characters.
The ghost, Robert Maxwell, is also a funny and interesting
character. He gets several very amusing lines throughout the
book.
Some other points:
-Daryl is not in this book. However, since most of the action
takes place in Hollywood, that is to be expected this time.
-Leo and little Wyatt don’t appear much this time. This is more
a Halliwell sisters book, which harkens back to the early years
of the show.
-still no sign of Big Chris.
-once again an author takes the Charmed Ones on the road and
gets them out of San Francisco for a change. So far, the books
having taken the Halliwells to Great Britain, New England, New
Orleans, and Florida. I hope this trend continues.
To sum up, this book is really enjoyable. I give it a 10/10.
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