A Mind For Murder by Noreen Renier and Naomi Lucks: 2 editions, both with serious problems

Epilogue: Crime Psychic Detective Noreen Renier scores a foul ball

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Author Naomi Lucks and police psychic Noreen Renier co-wrote A Mind for Murder --- first published in May 2005 and then banished in early 2006 by the original publisher Berkley Books (Penguin Group) amid a federal lawsuit.

The publication of the book was held to be a legal breach in a Florida State settlement contract by a Washington federal court in a ruling against Noreen Renier.

A revised edition was issued in mid April 2008 but the book and its royalty payments are considered assets by a U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee to pay creditors who have filed against Renier, including critic John Merrell who won a federal judgment against Renier in 2006 and was awarded nearly $40,000 in 2007.

Neither the original 2005 edition nor the 2008 was originally declared as an asset by Renier but as her principal and largest creditor --- skeptic writer John Merrell --- requested that such assets be held to pay off Renier's debts.

The second edition of the book released in 2008 removed two entire chapters referencing Merrell and more than 50 references to him throughout the book following Renier's federal court loss.

However Merrell has repeatedly questioned the credibility and accuracy of other segments in both editions referring to portions of A Mind For Murder as "wholesale exaggerations and fantasies posing as the truth."

As noted elsewhere on this web site Merrell already won a federal court ruling against psychic detective Noreen Renier, and Renier's estimated costs and losses extend beyond $141,000.

Noreen Renier once drew circles on paper that were of no assistance in solving a murder. Later someone linked her circles to the driver of a cement truck that went "round and round." Skeptic John Merrell notes, "I might suggest that various brands of crackers are round as well and perhaps she was hungry at the time and really drawing crackers. There are billions of circular objects in this world and billions in the galaxies above. If someone throws out thousands of claims a few are just naturally going to match reality --- even if you actually attempted to lie 100% of the time. The odds are that occasionally something by chance will be close enough that a matching link will be found."

Is psychic forecasting just the luck of the odds? Many within the paranormal community bet on those odds and highlight just enough of the matching hits to make themselves appear unusual. The best never claim perfection --- indeed they cite some errors to further establish credibility --- but they then provide their most unusual matches for all to see.

Merrell notes "Add exaggeration and claims they think others will not "track" --- and presto --- another psychic can be born. Some, like truTV's professional psychic Carla Baron (click here) are always popping up with similar claims.

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