Comparing this with the "book" signature asset, Molly Maxwell, it's hard to say which one is better, since they do such different things. This is a nice example of a card tailored toward its investigator. It's cheap and adds a valuable boost to what Dexter wants to do -- put Assets into play, use them and then discard them. He can drop a Flashlight at the very start of his turn, assuming he has another Asset to discard, investigate 3 times with an effective 4 and -2 shroud, then start the next turn playing a .41 Derringer to blast away with 7 against an enemy who popped up during the Mythos Phase. It's not flashy, but it's better than it looks at first glance (which is pretty thematic for a magician).

Since it really has no competition with the "book" signature, Dexter is pretty well placed to take both.

I like Molly. Her cost of 3 is about average for a Ally, she has some decent soak, and can get you 3-4 named card draws if you are careful about the Assets you use. It's worth making a list of their unique traits, so you know if you want combat, you say "firearm," if you want your Shining Trapezohedron, you say "relic," and so on. The only drawback is that most of the spells have only the trait "spell," so Molly is just going to hand you the first one she finds, which isn't great if you wanted Sixth Sense and you get Spectral Razor instead. However, if you are judicious in your selection of Assets, keeping an eye on traits, you can get pretty close to making Molly a four use No Stone Unturned (5), which is not bad. She also does not get in the way of the "box" signature Showmanship, which puts Dexter in a pretty good place to take both sets of signatures, if you dont't mind a thicker deck.

the only dual trait spells available to Dexter are: Blood Pact (pact), Eye of Chaos (cursed), Seal of the Seventh Sign (ritual), and Song of the Dead (song), none of which particularly scream "Dexter!"

[edited at oct 16, applying errata]

This card's effect is quick strong; Amanda cannot use a skill card during one round, and her net stat is reduced by 1 (from errata, commiting card is not optional but mandatory Forced one).

However, this weakness does not have any terrible panelty like other weakness skill such as returning if failed or commiting only your test. Thus, to avoid significant penalty, you just commit this card at ANY test before start of investigate phase. -1 skill value for one test is neglectable effect.

Here are several ideas:

• Search your deck and/or draw many cards: If you draw this card during your turn, it's ok you just commit this. Mr. "Rook" is suitable for this. You can search 9 cards, and draw this for free. (But 4xp with taboo)
• Commit during mythos phase: If you draw this card during upkeep phase, only chance is mythos phase. It may be a better choice that you commit this at encounter test. If a encounter doesn't have any test, you may want to find a test for this. Some cards make you initiate a test at any window: Cipher's ability, or Expose Weakness (if a enemy in your location). You have a window just before the end of mythos phase.
• Keep her signature and replace: Obscure Studies can be an emergency button. If this weakness exists beneath Amanda, play her signature and commit (returned) this weakness.

Taboo version of Scroll of Secrets can be another solution. You may trigger that ablitiy during upkeep phase window, and you can place 2 of those card on top of your deck and those card is drawn at upkeep phase & beginning of investigation phase.

"Fire in the hole.”

Rita was awed by the psychologist’s flat affect. It has been kind of upsetting, that Peter would hang out with her instead of a fellow Squid, but she could understand it now.

Joe Diamond, no stranger to these types of cases, ducked behind the couch. Sure, it all started as “stick to the plan”…But he saw those red sticks peeking out of Carolyn’s purse.

“You know Di is in there, right?”

The explosion was a hell of an answer. Whatever ghoul the circle had dreamt up was now decorating the parlor.

As Diana emerged, her robe slightly singed, Dr. Fern lectured the group on witchcraft and its role in protofeminist gatherings.

Everyone felt better that they weren’t her.

There was a lot of confusion when they previewed an investigator in the guardian class with a 5/9 split. That’s worse than Carolyn, who was explicitly a healer and a big money support. But Guardian Angel is better than I imagined. It lets you protect multiple people on your team, from a distance, while you’re doing other things. Or maybe you just want to soak a hit or two.

The big brain move is having someone else take Solemn Vow. They protect you, the Angel protects them, and you can feed the bag. Pay them back by using rite of sanctification to give them a discount on their buys. Perfect!