Plot

The police department in Santa Barbara hires someone they think is a psychic detective.

Shawn Spencer was ruthlessly trained in observation as a boy by his father Henry, a strict cop, who moved away years ago, to his relief. Shawn never was able to keep a job. Now a TV news item on a high-profile kidnapping in the wealthy McCallum family makes him attempt a longstanding dream, solving crime for a living. So he recruits his shy youth friend Burton 'Gus' Guster to set up an agency. To get access to the police, he poses as a medium, which bully detective Carlton Lassiter finds frustratingly hard to unmask. the case is harder then expected, but cocky Shawn's perseverance pays off.—KGF Vissers

Raised by his policeman father to be especially observant of his surroundings, Shawn develops a talent to deduce the solution to crimes by simply watching TV reports. Usually just 'phoning in tips to the police, after seeing a report on a kidnapping, he visits the police, who suspect he is involved in the crime. Convincing them he has psychic abilities, the police hire him to help them on this high-profile case. Shawn thinks the kidnapping is a set-up, but when he tracks down the place he thinks the "crimimals" are hiding he, and the police, are in for a nasty surprise.—Ron Kerrigan <mvg@whidbey.com>