
Books / Psychic
Downend’s ‘psychic detective’ publishes book about his life
“I didn’t become a psychic by choice, I promise!” says Mike Baker, who, for the majority of his career, has been communicating with the spirit world.
Mike, who is now 78 and lives in Downend, has spent his professional life being a “psychic detective” and helping the police to solves crimes.
“I was living in London, working as a carpenter and doing some mediumship in local spiritualist churches,” says Mike, who is publishing a book about his life.
is needed now More than ever
“One day my guide told me that I had to go to the police to help them with the case of a ten-year-old girl who had disappeared. I was really reluctant to begin with as I didn’t think they’d believe me – and I was right!
“Luckily, I was soon able to demonstrate that I was genuine by providing information that tallied with their own investigations.”
From then onwards, he helped the police provide “clues” that may have otherwise remained uncovered.

“My guide, Sukata (right), has also been telling me to do so as he believes the world needs to know – now more than ever – that there is a life after this one,” says Mike (left). Image: Tony Watts
“I know that lots of people are cynical about this sort of topic, but equally there are many who have open minds on the subject or who have had experiences that make them think there is something to it,” he says. “I have included lots of testimonies from newspapers and other media who have tested me out.
“There is a strong connection between this life and the next and the spirit world was keen to help me track down murderers – both to bring them to justice and give the victims’ families some sort of justice and closure.”
Mike hopes the book will be “entertaining and though-provoking”, as he and his ghost-writer Tony Watts document a career in preforming psychic acts.
While working with the London police in the 1970s and 80s, Mike, who grew up in Southville and Southmead, would “pick up” on information that the forensic team would later prove, or listen in on suspect interview and suggest questions that could “rattle” them, saying: “It would make them think the police knew precisely what they had done.”
Later in his life, Mike would go on to perform other psychic acts, such as channelling Elvis Presley, giving readings to celebrities such as Annie Lennox and making predications live on national radio. He documents all of these experiences in Mike Baker: Psychic Detective, and hopes to publish a second with extra stories.

Mike says he has channelled Elvis. Image: Tony Watts
“One of the key things I would like to do next is prove there really is life after death and that we are connected to the spirit world,” says Mike, who is willing to be tested on his abilities.
“These are cynical and anxious times, and together we believe we could give hope to the world by demonstrating that life doesn’t end, that there are forces for good in the world, and that there is a connection between this world and the next.”
Main photo: Tony Watts
Read more: 74-year-old sets debut novel in Hotwells and Clifton