Psychic Mafia by Lamar Keene

by M. Lamar Keene as told to Allen Spraggett
(a book in collaboration with William V. Rauscher)

The discovery of the story Lamar Keene and his remarkable story began when Wm. V. Rauscher contacted Keene and conducted 75 hours of interviews not including visits to investigate Spiritualist Camps, preparing written reports, contacting publishers, writing the foreword and the extensive bibliography assembled from his own research library. The selection of a publisher and their desire to have researcher, writer, Allen Spraggett prepare the final manuscript resulted in one of the great classic books of psychical research. In addition to his research Rauscher's pastoral help to Keene averted the mediums plan to commit suicide. Keene was later successful in several business ventures and never returned to mediumship.

Although originally published by St. Martin's Press, the book was later obtained by Prometheus Co. for a small sum from the literary agency without the knowledge of either Spraggett, Rauscher or any attempt to contact the estate of M. Lamar Keene following his death. The rights of M. Lamar Keene now belong to Rauscher as per the estate of Keene but have not been recognized by Prometheus Books. The book is a testament to the underworld of fake mediumship and the intriguing life of a man known as the "Prince of Spiritualism."

Here, in testimony that is as incredible as it is true, M. Lamar Keene, nationally-known psychic medium confesses all: how he became a medium, how he conned hundreds of people into believing in his powers and why he decided to say goodbye to the world of the spirits.

With both candor and cunning, Keen reveals the tricks of his trade: secrets of billet reading, ectoplasm, levitation, apports, healing, spirit precipitation, prediction and even "spirit sex." Shocking as well as fascinating, Keene's testimony describes the "web of mediumistic espionage" that enables the fraudulent world of spiritualism to operate while it threatens the lives of those who seek to expose it.

How much money can a medium earn? What about sex in the seance room? Are there any genuine mediums? Why do phony mediums flourish despite previous exposes? Keene answers all these questions and more in a book that serves as a warning to the gullible public and a fascinating answer to those who've always wondered if, perhaps and maybe.

Advertised as "a classic" - copyright and film rights held by William V. Rauscher.

Review comments:

"This book will take its place beside classic texts on fraudulent mediumship and must be read by all who are interested in parapsychology in general and mediumship in particular." -Raymond Bayless, Psychic Researcher,Psychic Magazine

"I am concerned ... that Keene's important word to us will go unread instead of becoming the best seller it deserves to be." -J. Gordon Melton in Fate Magazine

"...a much needed bitter pill, an antidote to all of us who are occasionally too trusting, or too easily awed." -George Mavros in Spiritual Frontiers Journal

"...a book well worth reading ... useful in focusing sanity and sense on a major area of deception in American society today...a definite service, a useful tool, a fascinating story..." -Rev. Robert A. Shackles in The Living, Church Magazine

"...a highly unusual and engrossing personal document ... his colorful, vitriolic account is an eye-opener." -Publishers' Weekly