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A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder
The ninth installment of the popular ‘Lesson’ series – featuring therapist, professor, and reluctant sleuth, David Unger.
David’s chakras are stimulated and he takes a skeptical step into the unknown when he’s asked for support at the Santa Monica Whole Life Expo – bad juju is coming, and positive therapeutic auras are required.
Murder soon spoils the cosmic karma, and with the posse on hand to spice up the mystic mix, David’s sleuthing leads him to places he’s never been before, and most likely won’t return to.
But David is distracted – Nova, the Love Doctor, puts the “oo” in his personal woo-woo, and when a psychic foretells of romance in his future, he all but enters a different dimension.
David’s special brand of voodoo-therapy-magic has never been more at home, but can he overcome his super Nova distraction for long enough to unmask the killer before anyone else gets hurt?
David’s chakras are stimulated and he takes a skeptical step into the unknown when he’s asked for support at the Santa Monica Whole Life Expo – bad juju is coming, and positive therapeutic auras are required.
Murder soon spoils the cosmic karma, and with the posse on hand to spice up the mystic mix, David’s sleuthing leads him to places he’s never been before, and most likely won’t return to.
But David is distracted – Nova, the Love Doctor, puts the “oo” in his personal woo-woo, and when a psychic foretells of romance in his future, he all but enters a different dimension.
David’s special brand of voodoo-therapy-magic has never been more at home, but can he overcome his super Nova distraction for long enough to unmask the killer before anyone else gets hurt?
250 pages, Paperback
Published March 23, 2023
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
David Unger
13 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Thank you for wanting to know more about me. I have been a practicing therapist for over 25 years. I have been the Clinical Director of the Hollywood Sunset Community Clinic, the Chair of Antioch University's Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Graduate Psychology Programs. I have also been the Director of Counseling at a private high school in Los Angeles.
I am the author of three non-fiction books centered around improving relationships and a mystery series featuring a California based psychologist/therapist named David Unger. Pure coincidence.
Thank you for wanting to know more about me. I have been a practicing therapist for over 25 years. I have been the Clinical Director of the Hollywood Sunset Community Clinic, the Chair of Antioch University's Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Graduate Psychology Programs. I have also been the Director of Counseling at a private high school in Los Angeles.
I am the author of three non-fiction books centered around improving relationships and a mystery series featuring a California based psychologist/therapist named David Unger. Pure coincidence.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 19, 2023
A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder is then ninth “lesson” book by psychologist, David Unger. Surprisingly, the main protagonist of the book is a psychologist named David Unger. I had read several pages before I said to myself, “Wait, Who is telling this woo-woo story?” I had to start the book all over again. Apparently the main protagonist in all of David Unger’s books is aah…David Unger.
Because this is a tricky book to review, I will refer to the publisher’s synopsis to get started on this review:
“David’s chakras are stimulated and he takes a skeptical step into the unknown when he’s asked for support at the Santa Monica Whole Life Expo – bad juju is coming, and positive therapeutic auras are required. Murder soon spoils the cosmic karma, and with the posse on hand to spice up the mystic mix, David’s sleuthing leads him to places he’s never been before, and most likely won’t return to. But David is distracted – Nova, the Love Doctor, puts the “oo” in his personal woo-woo, and when a psychic foretells of romance in his future, he all but enters a different dimension. David’s special brand of voodoo-therapy-magic has never been more at home, but can he overcome his super Nova distraction for long enough to unmask the killer before anyone else gets hurt?”
Not having read any of the ‘Lesson’ books by David Unger, I had no idea what I was getting into. First, the book takes place in 1985 when a “Whole Life Expo” was a “New Age, spiritual, natural health, conscious living, metaphysical, extraterrestrial, enlightening hodgepodge of vendors, speakers, and snake-oil purveyors.” David, the hero of the story, has never been to a Whole Life Expo, nor have I. After reading the book, I’m not sure I would have gone, because there is a lot of woo-woo going on at the Expo and a lot of very weird characters. Very shortly, three of the vendors are killed, and David’s curiosity gets the best of him.
David has already solved at least eight murders in previous books with a certain amount of his karma, and the karma is very evident in the woo-woo murders as he stumbles along, trying to solve these new murders that he has indeed stumbled into. He can’t help himself, as he pursues Nova, the love doctor, at the same time he is trying to solve the mystery.
The chapters are really short and contain a lot of cringe-worthy humor. Frankly, it was the short chapters and the humor that kept me reading. The plot, in itself, is not really enough. Several times I caught myself reading and thought, “Why am I doing this?” Although not very enlightening, A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder is a lot of fun. It would be a perfect airplane read or a good audio book for a long ride. Fun without taking up too much intellect or concentration other than remembering the names of a lot of strange characters.
As I read, I kept thinking that David Unger must be having a really good time writing these novels, solving these crazy crimes, all the while thinking up silly jokes to include in the chapters. He has another book coming out soon, A Lesson in Dogs and Murder.
A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder is coming out in two weeks. Look for it. You will have a lot of fun.
David Unger PHD’s website. On his website is an audio recording recalling how he got into the humor/mystery writing business in the first place.
Because this is a tricky book to review, I will refer to the publisher’s synopsis to get started on this review:
“David’s chakras are stimulated and he takes a skeptical step into the unknown when he’s asked for support at the Santa Monica Whole Life Expo – bad juju is coming, and positive therapeutic auras are required. Murder soon spoils the cosmic karma, and with the posse on hand to spice up the mystic mix, David’s sleuthing leads him to places he’s never been before, and most likely won’t return to. But David is distracted – Nova, the Love Doctor, puts the “oo” in his personal woo-woo, and when a psychic foretells of romance in his future, he all but enters a different dimension. David’s special brand of voodoo-therapy-magic has never been more at home, but can he overcome his super Nova distraction for long enough to unmask the killer before anyone else gets hurt?”
Not having read any of the ‘Lesson’ books by David Unger, I had no idea what I was getting into. First, the book takes place in 1985 when a “Whole Life Expo” was a “New Age, spiritual, natural health, conscious living, metaphysical, extraterrestrial, enlightening hodgepodge of vendors, speakers, and snake-oil purveyors.” David, the hero of the story, has never been to a Whole Life Expo, nor have I. After reading the book, I’m not sure I would have gone, because there is a lot of woo-woo going on at the Expo and a lot of very weird characters. Very shortly, three of the vendors are killed, and David’s curiosity gets the best of him.
David has already solved at least eight murders in previous books with a certain amount of his karma, and the karma is very evident in the woo-woo murders as he stumbles along, trying to solve these new murders that he has indeed stumbled into. He can’t help himself, as he pursues Nova, the love doctor, at the same time he is trying to solve the mystery.
The chapters are really short and contain a lot of cringe-worthy humor. Frankly, it was the short chapters and the humor that kept me reading. The plot, in itself, is not really enough. Several times I caught myself reading and thought, “Why am I doing this?” Although not very enlightening, A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder is a lot of fun. It would be a perfect airplane read or a good audio book for a long ride. Fun without taking up too much intellect or concentration other than remembering the names of a lot of strange characters.
As I read, I kept thinking that David Unger must be having a really good time writing these novels, solving these crazy crimes, all the while thinking up silly jokes to include in the chapters. He has another book coming out soon, A Lesson in Dogs and Murder.
A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder is coming out in two weeks. Look for it. You will have a lot of fun.
David Unger PHD’s website. On his website is an audio recording recalling how he got into the humor/mystery writing business in the first place.
April 17, 2023
In A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder, author David Unger introduces us to David, an unconventional therapist who accompanies his clients on offbeat adventures. Invited by Eve and Sheridan to attend The Whole Life Expo—a diverse gathering of vendors specializing in the new age, natural health, metaphysical, and even extraterrestrial subjects. While not David's usual interests, he finds himself being drawn into this world and starting to believe. Soon, however, he finds himself embroiled in a mysterious death that may not be an accident.
Unger's writing style is both witty and direct, immediately drawing the reader into the world of the quirky protagonist, David. By telling the story from David's perspective, the reader gains an intimate understanding of his thoughts and outlook on events. Unger masterfully sets up the murder mystery at the New Age convention and builds tension throughout the narrative, keeping readers on their toes with unexpected twists. Unger adds some romance in with a psychic foretelling that romance is in his future, though David is skeptical at best when receiving this news.
The novel's exploration of New Age topics adds a refreshing and engaging dimension to the story, which many readers may find relatable and intriguing. In addition, the diverse cast of characters, such as aura-reading Eve and fortune-telling Madame Vadama, further contribute to the story's mystique. Initially skeptical of their abilities, David begins to question the reality of their supernatural talents, and readers are drawn deeper into the story's enigmatic atmosphere.
A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder is a distinctive and entertaining amateur sleuths mystery. This engaging novel is highly recommended for those seeking a satisfying and open-minded literary experience.
Unger's writing style is both witty and direct, immediately drawing the reader into the world of the quirky protagonist, David. By telling the story from David's perspective, the reader gains an intimate understanding of his thoughts and outlook on events. Unger masterfully sets up the murder mystery at the New Age convention and builds tension throughout the narrative, keeping readers on their toes with unexpected twists. Unger adds some romance in with a psychic foretelling that romance is in his future, though David is skeptical at best when receiving this news.
The novel's exploration of New Age topics adds a refreshing and engaging dimension to the story, which many readers may find relatable and intriguing. In addition, the diverse cast of characters, such as aura-reading Eve and fortune-telling Madame Vadama, further contribute to the story's mystique. Initially skeptical of their abilities, David begins to question the reality of their supernatural talents, and readers are drawn deeper into the story's enigmatic atmosphere.
A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder is a distinctive and entertaining amateur sleuths mystery. This engaging novel is highly recommended for those seeking a satisfying and open-minded literary experience.
October 23, 2025
I’ve followed David Unger’s Lesson series for a while, and I have to say, A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder might just be my favorite yet. There’s something deeply satisfying about how Unger blends psychological insight with humor and mystery. It’s rare to find a series that feels both comforting and intellectually engaging, but this one nails it.
This time around, the story takes us to the Santa Monica Whole Life Expo, a hub of healers, psychics, and seekers, and Unger’s keen observational humor turns it into the perfect playground for chaos. The murder mystery is intriguing, but what really hooked me was how Unger uses the setting to explore belief, skepticism, and the lengths people go to find meaning. It’s both funny and a little profound.
David (the protagonist) continues to evolve as a character. He’s grounded, flawed, and wonderfully relatable, torn between his therapist’s logic and his curiosity about life’s stranger dimensions. His chemistry with Nova is sweet and hilarious, and the moments between them add just the right amount of warmth to balance the dark humor and suspense.
By the end, I was both laughing and reflecting, a rare combination for a mystery novel. It’s witty, thoughtful, and written with the kind of intelligence that makes you feel smarter for reading it. David Unger proves once again that you can have fun, be deeply entertained, and still come away with a few life lessons.
This time around, the story takes us to the Santa Monica Whole Life Expo, a hub of healers, psychics, and seekers, and Unger’s keen observational humor turns it into the perfect playground for chaos. The murder mystery is intriguing, but what really hooked me was how Unger uses the setting to explore belief, skepticism, and the lengths people go to find meaning. It’s both funny and a little profound.
David (the protagonist) continues to evolve as a character. He’s grounded, flawed, and wonderfully relatable, torn between his therapist’s logic and his curiosity about life’s stranger dimensions. His chemistry with Nova is sweet and hilarious, and the moments between them add just the right amount of warmth to balance the dark humor and suspense.
By the end, I was both laughing and reflecting, a rare combination for a mystery novel. It’s witty, thoughtful, and written with the kind of intelligence that makes you feel smarter for reading it. David Unger proves once again that you can have fun, be deeply entertained, and still come away with a few life lessons.
October 23, 2025
If you’re looking for a mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still delivers on both plot and personality, A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder is a must-read. It’s quirky, laugh out loud funny, and full of wonderfully eccentric characters that could only exist in Southern California’s most spiritual corners.
I loved how Unger takes us behind the scenes of the “woo-woo” world, psychics, energy healers, and spiritual gurus, and gives it a murder-mystery twist. It’s both a parody and a love letter to human belief systems. The writing sparkles with wit, and every chapter feels like a new revelation (or misdirection!).
David Unger, our therapist turned sleuth, remains as sharp and lovable as ever. He’s skeptical but open enough to get drawn into the madness, and his running inner dialogue is pure gold. The dynamic between him and Nova, part flirtation, part distraction, adds so much humor and heart that I found myself rooting for them as much as for the case’s resolution.
The pacing is spot on, the clues are cleverly placed, and the ending is both satisfying and unexpected. What really stands out, though, is how Unger manages to make us laugh while still exploring deeper themes about faith, love, and human vulnerability.
In short: it’s smart, funny, and genuinely original. A joy to read from start to finish, and a strong reminder that sometimes the strangest places hide the most profound truths.
I loved how Unger takes us behind the scenes of the “woo-woo” world, psychics, energy healers, and spiritual gurus, and gives it a murder-mystery twist. It’s both a parody and a love letter to human belief systems. The writing sparkles with wit, and every chapter feels like a new revelation (or misdirection!).
David Unger, our therapist turned sleuth, remains as sharp and lovable as ever. He’s skeptical but open enough to get drawn into the madness, and his running inner dialogue is pure gold. The dynamic between him and Nova, part flirtation, part distraction, adds so much humor and heart that I found myself rooting for them as much as for the case’s resolution.
The pacing is spot on, the clues are cleverly placed, and the ending is both satisfying and unexpected. What really stands out, though, is how Unger manages to make us laugh while still exploring deeper themes about faith, love, and human vulnerability.
In short: it’s smart, funny, and genuinely original. A joy to read from start to finish, and a strong reminder that sometimes the strangest places hide the most profound truths.
October 22, 2025
This was such a refreshing read. A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder walks a fine line between cozy crime and character driven drama, and it does so with finesse and heart.
What I loved most was David himself. He’s smart, neurotic, a little jaded, and deeply human. His journey through the woo-woo world, full of chakras, tarot cards, and vibrational frequencies, is both hilarious and enlightening. I appreciated how the story never mocked the spiritual community, but rather let David evolve within it, even as he tried to solve a murder.
The supporting characters are as colorful as you’d expect from a New Age convention, from suspicious psychics to overenthusiastic life coaches. And then there’s Nova. Her energy (pun intended) practically leaps off the page. Their chemistry is sweet, a little awkward, and genuinely charming. It added a lovely layer of emotional depth to the story.
The murder mystery is compelling but doesn’t overshadow the personal growth arc, which I found refreshing. It’s not just about finding the killer; it’s about David opening up to experiences that challenge his worldview, including love.
This is perfect for fans of offbeat mysteries with depth, charm, and a touch of romance. Looking forward to reading more from the series!
What I loved most was David himself. He’s smart, neurotic, a little jaded, and deeply human. His journey through the woo-woo world, full of chakras, tarot cards, and vibrational frequencies, is both hilarious and enlightening. I appreciated how the story never mocked the spiritual community, but rather let David evolve within it, even as he tried to solve a murder.
The supporting characters are as colorful as you’d expect from a New Age convention, from suspicious psychics to overenthusiastic life coaches. And then there’s Nova. Her energy (pun intended) practically leaps off the page. Their chemistry is sweet, a little awkward, and genuinely charming. It added a lovely layer of emotional depth to the story.
The murder mystery is compelling but doesn’t overshadow the personal growth arc, which I found refreshing. It’s not just about finding the killer; it’s about David opening up to experiences that challenge his worldview, including love.
This is perfect for fans of offbeat mysteries with depth, charm, and a touch of romance. Looking forward to reading more from the series!
October 22, 2025
David Unger really knows how to straddle the line between comedy and crime. A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder was like walking into a crystal shop and finding a dead body under the salt lamps, unexpected, hilarious, and oddly illuminating.
What sets this book apart is how Unger uses the world of chakra balancing and aura cleansing as both a setting and a subtle commentary on modern day wellness obsessions. The satire is clever but never mean-spirited, there's affection behind every quip. I especially appreciated that Unger doesn’t ridicule the characters’ beliefs outright; instead, he lets David, the skeptical therapist, explore them with equal parts judgment and empathy.
The mystery itself is solid, enough red herrings and twists to keep you flipping pages, but it’s the characters that shine. The “posse” adds comic relief and depth, and Nova... well, she’s a scene-stealer. Their flirtation gives the book heart, and I found myself rooting for David to open up to something (and someone) outside his comfort zone.
Highly recommend if you enjoy books that make you laugh and think, and occasionally clutch your crystals.
What sets this book apart is how Unger uses the world of chakra balancing and aura cleansing as both a setting and a subtle commentary on modern day wellness obsessions. The satire is clever but never mean-spirited, there's affection behind every quip. I especially appreciated that Unger doesn’t ridicule the characters’ beliefs outright; instead, he lets David, the skeptical therapist, explore them with equal parts judgment and empathy.
The mystery itself is solid, enough red herrings and twists to keep you flipping pages, but it’s the characters that shine. The “posse” adds comic relief and depth, and Nova... well, she’s a scene-stealer. Their flirtation gives the book heart, and I found myself rooting for David to open up to something (and someone) outside his comfort zone.
Highly recommend if you enjoy books that make you laugh and think, and occasionally clutch your crystals.
October 22, 2025
I didn’t know what to expect going into A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder, but I was immediately pulled in by David Unger’s dry humor and wonderfully strange setting. A murder mystery set at a spiritual expo? Yes, please!
David Unger (both the author and the character) brings such a unique voice to this story. His skepticism is hilarious, but it’s balanced with real insight into human nature. As a therapist and professor, he’s used to navigating the tangled inner lives of others, and watching him try to make sense of psychics, healers, and energy readers is just as entertaining as the mystery itself.
The plot has just the right amount of quirk without becoming absurd. Every character, no matter how over the top, felt real enough to imagine bumping into at an actual expo. The pacing is breezy, and even though the tone is light, the mystery doesn’t take a backseat. I genuinely didn’t figure it out until the end.
Fans of Carl Hiaasen or Alexander McCall Smith will love this. It’s intellectual without being pretentious, funny without being slapstick, and heartfelt without being sappy.
David Unger (both the author and the character) brings such a unique voice to this story. His skepticism is hilarious, but it’s balanced with real insight into human nature. As a therapist and professor, he’s used to navigating the tangled inner lives of others, and watching him try to make sense of psychics, healers, and energy readers is just as entertaining as the mystery itself.
The plot has just the right amount of quirk without becoming absurd. Every character, no matter how over the top, felt real enough to imagine bumping into at an actual expo. The pacing is breezy, and even though the tone is light, the mystery doesn’t take a backseat. I genuinely didn’t figure it out until the end.
Fans of Carl Hiaasen or Alexander McCall Smith will love this. It’s intellectual without being pretentious, funny without being slapstick, and heartfelt without being sappy.
July 14, 2023
This is a clever way to present a murder mystery…with a bit of the paranormal, or rather, paranormal practitioners. Dave is a psychologist at an event with booths and people featuring such things as tarot readings, psychics, and tantric sex. While there, someone is murdered and then someone else loses their life.
Dave wants to figure out who the guilty party is. He is friendly with the others at this convention and follows people in order to see what they are up to. As this is going on, there is a romantic subplot, kind of. He’s interested in a woman in this group.
Dave talks to these believers with respect, but he doesn’t really believe himself. This gives the conversations between him and the others a slightly humorous feel. Is he being sarcastic after all? It’s set in the 1980s. Perhaps, it could have used more emphasis on this time because really, it could have been modern day.
It’s a quirky tale that will have readers wondering who did the evil deed. Why not follow along and try to figure out the case for yourself?
Dave wants to figure out who the guilty party is. He is friendly with the others at this convention and follows people in order to see what they are up to. As this is going on, there is a romantic subplot, kind of. He’s interested in a woman in this group.
Dave talks to these believers with respect, but he doesn’t really believe himself. This gives the conversations between him and the others a slightly humorous feel. Is he being sarcastic after all? It’s set in the 1980s. Perhaps, it could have used more emphasis on this time because really, it could have been modern day.
It’s a quirky tale that will have readers wondering who did the evil deed. Why not follow along and try to figure out the case for yourself?
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews