A Crime Novel that Transcends the Genre

A PRIVATE CATHEDRAL
Dave Robicheaux #23
James Lee Burke
Simon and Schuster 
August 11, 2020


Dave Robicheaux and his best friend and sidekick, Clete Purcel, find themselves in the middle of a war between two vicious crime families, the Balangies and Shondells. Teenager Isolde Balangie approaches Dave, telling him that she is being sold as a sex slave to Mark Shondell, and she needs rescuing. She is in love with Johnny Shondell, the youngest of the Shondell clan. Dave, knight-errant that he is, takes up the cause of this mobbed-up Romeo and Juliet. 
Dave's penchant for getting involved with the wrong woman, in this case, women, results in making deadly enemies of both crime bosses. Enter a time-traveling assassin with the ability to induce terrifying hallucinations and other enemies bringing more mundane threats. 

Only a writer of James Lee Burke's power and craftsmanship could make the plot of A Private Cathedral work. I have had a long off and on relationship with Dave Robicheaux and Clete; one that I had stepped away from because of the extreme violence of the series. As soon as I started reading I knew I was in for the long haul. Burke can bring the unknown territory of South Louisiana to steamy life. I know Dave and Clete's demons well. There is an entire gallery of secondary characters who are brought to vivid life, in all their frailty and in some cases, evil. The book is set not in the present day, but several years in the past, foreshadowing the times we live in today. Burke's prose is something to be savored and I highlighted many passages to revisit.

Many, many thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

RATING- 5 stars

An Epic first day on the job

A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE
Sunshine Vicram # 1
Darynda Jones
St. Martin's Books
April 7, 2020


Sunshine Vicram never thought she would return to her hometown of Del Sol, New Mexico, after leaving with her infant daughter 14 years earlier. Sunshine was abducted at the age of 17 and barely survived. She had since built a stellar career in law enforcement in Albuquerque and was content with her life. However, after winning the election to be the new sheriff of Del Sol, one that she was not aware of entering and never campaigned for, she decided to return with her daughter, Aurora. No doubt, her loving parents engineered the election somehow. Sunshine wants to find out how they did it, and more importantly, find her abductor and bring him to justice.

Del Sol is usually a tranquil place, and Sunshine only expects to have to arrest the occasional flasher and manage an ongoing feud between two senior citizens over a rooster. She also anticipates having to deal with the Ravinder clan of transplanted Southern Mafia types. The head of the family, Levi Ravinder, has dragged them into respectability (somewhat) with his successful and legal moonshine distillery. Levi is also the only man that Sunshine has ever loved since they were children. Expectations change when a 14-year-old girl is abducted on Sunshine's first day, announced by the girl's distraught mother crashing her Mercedes through the front wall of the police station. This abduction has disturbing echoes of Sunshine's own experience.

A Bad Day for Sunshine is a mix of family drama, crime drama, a touch of paranormal, frequent laugh-out-loud moments, suspense and simmering romance. To say that the village of Del Sol is inhabited by quirky and eccentric characters is a gross understatement. But after all, New Mexico is the home of Roswell. There are more twists and turns in the story than one can count and I was sucked in from the first page. Told from the viewpoints of Sunshine and her scarily smart daughter, Auri, this novel is a true page-turner. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

RATING-4.5 rounded up to 5 stars

Old Sins and Secrets Never Die

THE HUSH
John Hart
St. Martin's Minotaur
February 27, 2018


In John Hart's newest novel he revisits two characters from The Last Child, Johnny Merrimon, and Jack Cross. Ten years on, their lives have diverged widely, but the two are still the closest of friends. Jack is beginning his career as a bankruptcy lawyer, and Johnny has inherited a six thousand acre tract of swampland called "The Hush."Johnny built a cabin on the land and has essentially become a hermit, seldom going into town and living off the land. The notoriety from the events of The Last Child still clings to both, and they would prefer to stay out of the public eye as much as possible. But other people want the land; a billionaire game hunter, and the family of Isaac Fremantle. The property formerly belonged to the Merrimons but was deeded to the Fremantle family, along with manumission in 1853.The death of the last Fremantle male triggered the reversion of the property to Johnny. But there are very odd things happening both on the property and to Johnny himself, things that Jack finds frightening and dangerous.Old sins and secrets are coming to a head in The Hush.

John Hart has taken a significant risk with this novel with its jump from traditional thriller into magical realism. If you have difficulty with the suspension of disbelief, this may be a disappointment. Thinking back to The Last Child, the roots are there for this new story. I am, as always, dazzled by Hart's storytelling. It's not often that I read a book cover to cover in one day, but I couldn't put this one down. It is not necessary to read The Last Child to thoroughly enjoy The Hush, but I recommend it. 

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

RATING- 5 Stars

Paranormal Investigations by Jesperson and Lane

THE CURIOUS AFFAIR OF THE WITCH AT
WAYSIDE CROSS (Jesperson and Lane # 2)
Lisa Tuttle
Hydra Books
November 28, 2017

The Curious Affair of the Witch at Wayside Cross starts with an early hours summons to the door of the residence, and business premises of Jesperson and Lane Investigations. The young man is plainly distressed and babbling about being pursued by witches. He then points  at Miss Aphrodite Lane, calls her a witch, collapses and dies in the hallway. The coroner pronounces it a heart attack, despite the young man, Charles Manning, being in perfect health. Jasper Jesperson is of course intrigued and visits Manning's brother. The brother tells him that the two were estranged over a property dispute and Charles was living in Aylmerton. Charles had become involved with Felix Ott, who is a folklorist who wants to bring back the pagan wisdom of ancient Britain. Jesperson and Lane set off for Norfolk to investigate. When they arrive they find a community immersed in superstition with three sisters rumored to be witches and tales of the "little folk". 

I waffled quite a bit over the rating of The Witch at Wayside Cross. While I enjoyed the primary mystery of Charles Manning's murder, the secondary story of a missing baby was a distraction for me. This series is centered around paranormal events, but the resolution of the missing baby puzzle severely strained my credulity. Jesperson and Lane are still a bit two-dimensional with little more revealed in this second book. I also missed Mrs. Jesperson, Jasper's mother. Now she is an interesting character! Hopefully, she will return for a third outing and there will be more background provided for the main characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hydra Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

RATING- 3 Stars

Riveting Dual Timeline Story with a Touch of the Paranormal

IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT WE SEE
Sarah Painter
Lake Union Publishing
April 1, 2016


It is 1938 in Brighton and Grace Kemp is entering nurse's training at the Royal Sussex Hospital. It's clear that nursing is not her choice, but that of her family. Grace has been exiled by her family in disgrace. Eighty years later, Mina Morgan is recovering from a catastrophic automobile accident; one that left her in a coma for several days. Mina is on staff at the Royal Sussex and has been having an affair with her boss, Mark. She has few friends and is estranged from her family but at least Mark is supportive, or is he? Mina is suffering from a head injury that has left her with memory loss and she does not understand why she can't reach her twin brother, Geraint, the only member of her family she wants to speak to. Poor Grace Kemp doesn't even have a minimal support system except the one she builds for herself. Mina has seen portents in the form of "ghost birds", signaling bad things to come all her life. She has never seen the ghost of a young nurse in antiquated uniform before the accident, though. As the two stories told In the Light of What We See unfold and Mina's memories come back slowly, we can see the parallels between the two women's lives. Both Grace and Mina are under threat from those who should have their best interests at heart.

I applaud Sarah Painter's ability to portray a character as essentially unlikeable as Mina and make her sympathetic. Mina is closed up to emotion and doesn't seem to need human connections. Grace, on the other hand, is a character one cares about from the beginning. The various strands of the dual timeline are woven seamlessly into a riveting narrative of love, loss, and redemption for both women. I highly recommend In the Light of What We See, as well as Painter's earlier novels, The Secrets of Ghosts and The Language of Spells.

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union for a digital copy in return for an honest review.

RATING- 4 Stars

The Visitor, Number 4 in The Graveyard Queen

THE VISITOR ( Graveyard Queen, # 4)
Amanda Stevens
Harlequin MIRA
March 29, 2016


Amelia Gray is a cemetery restorer living in Charleston, SC and restores old graveyards all over the South. Amelia essentially grew up in a graveyard, since her father was a custodian for a large one. Father and daughter have a very strong bond because both can see ghosts. From an early age, her father gave her four rules to avoid being taken over by parasitic ghosts: never acknowledge the dead, never stray far from hallowed ground, never associate with those who are haunted, and never, ever tempt fate. Her meeting police detective John Devlin, however, causes her to break all the rules. Devlin is being haunted by the ghosts of his dead wife and small daughter. Amelia and Devlin have an immediate bond and Amelia must try to free him from his ghosts. He is unaware of them but Amelia knows that they will eventually kill him by siphoning off his life force. All ghosts want is to be alive again. The arc of first three books, The Restorer, The Prophet and The Kingdom  tell the story of her effort to free him and her own very disturbing family background. She is successful but the door to more supernatural beings is thrown wide open.

Amanda Stevens has a real gift for escalating "creep factor". The atmosphere of The Visitor becomes more heavy and cloying as the novel progresses. There are some very frightening beings haunting the graveyard Amelia is asked to renovate. All the members of a cult were either murdered or suicides and were buried together. It becomes plain that someone, maybe human, maybe not, does not want its' secrets uncovered. Devlin, too, has become secretive and distant with Amelia. Evidently he, as well, has some family secrets to hide. 

I am afraid that the long gap in publication between The Kingdom and The Visitor was detrimental to the series. Even though she does a good job mentioning prior events without any information dumps, I have completely forgotten many of them and how they tie in. I also found Amelia lacking in caution and walking into situations that she very well knows she should avoid. The Visitor doesn't even begin to resolve the relationship problems with Devlin and leaves us with a huge cliffhanger. The next book, The Sinner, comes along in September so there will not be such a long wait. I will be reading the next book but I do have reservations about The Visitor.  It is well written, but ultimately unsatisfying.

Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for an advance digital copy in return for an honest review.

RATING- 3 Stars

Thrilling Debut Gas-Lit Thriller- Read in one sitting.

THE QUICK
Lauren Owen
Random House
June 17, 2014

The Quick by Lauren Owen was named one of the top ten fiction books of the season by Publisher's Weekly and to me, it more than fulfilled that promise. I was enthralled by the story and the characters from the start despite an admittedly somewhat slow pace. I was going to try to write a review without revealing the secret but it's out now. There are vampires in this story but not your sexy, sparkly ones. The vampires of London in 1892 are terrifying in every way.

Charlotte and James Norbury grew up isolated in a moldering manor in York. Orphaned at an early age with only an aunt to raise them, the two formed a strong bond. Charlotte as the elder becomes both mother and sister to the shy James but James, as a man, has the opportunity to go off to school while Charlotte is left on the estate to care for the now ailing aunt. James goes to live in London where he hopes to fulfill his literary aspirations. When the aunt dies and James disappears there is nothing for it but that Charlotte find him. When she does his condition shocks and horrifies her but she is determined to rescue him.

The Quick is filled with indelible characters; shy James, stalwart Charlotte, brash but heroic American Arthur Howland, and the sinister "Dr. Knife", who despite being "quick" (still living) is one of the more chilling characters I have ever encountered. I found myself emotionally invested in the characters in a way I am usually not with stories in this genre. I grieved over some of their fates and rejoiced at others. There is some happiness to be found but at a horrific cost. Let me not forget the whopper of a twist at the end.

Thanks to netgalley.com and Random House for an advance digital copy of The Quick which is without doubt, one of the best novels I have read this year.

RATING- 4.5 Stars

Thrills and Chills in the best Gothic Style

SILENCE FOR THE DEAD
Simone St. James
NAL/Penguin
April 1, 2014

Silence for the Dead opens in 1919 England and Kitty Weekes is headed to Portis House, a remote mansion in which men shell-shocked by their wartime experiences are treated, hopefully to recover and be able to resume a normal life. Kitty has been hired as a nurse, which she is not, and under an assumed name. She is on the run from an unknown menace and Portis House seems her best chance of refuge. When Kitty arrives at Portis House she finds that nothing is quite as it seems. There doesn't appear to be much real therapy for the men, the work is grueling and what about the mysterious "Patient Sixteen"; an inmate who is not seen by the other residents and only by staff with "clearance". And how about the things that go bump in the night and the nightmares that plague the men?

Simone St. James breathed new life into the Gothic genre with her first book, The Haunting of Maddy Clare, and An Inquiry into Love and Death, her second. Silence for the Dead is a worthy third novel exploring the period following WWI and I enjoy the historical accuracy of the books. Shell-shocked veterans suffered greatly from their malady and were also burdened by social stigma. Kitty is a brave and resourceful heroine and she is surrounded by a well-rounded cast of characters. Besides the chills, a very satisfactory romance develops.


I did not find Silence for the Dead quite as frightening as her two previous novels and the end seemed somewhat rushed to me. Therefore I am giving the book a 4.5 rather than 5 stars. I would recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction especially those who enjoy gothic thrills along with the history. This edition includes an excerpt from her next book, The Other Side of Midnight. I am counting the days already!

RATING- 4.5 Stars

The Midnight Side is a Welcome Surprise

THE MIDNIGHT SIDE
Natasha Mostert
Portable Magic Books
December 2013

Isabelle "Isa" de Witt is awakened early one morning in her Durban, South Africa apartment by a call from her cousin, Alette, who is now living in London. Isabelle is not surprised as the two girls grew up together on a homestead in the Transvaal and were always very close. Imagine what she feels when she learns that her cousin was already dead, killed in an accident, at the time of the call. Isabelle is already in a very fragile state, grieving for the loss of her married lover of thirteen years. She is Alette's only heir. Alette requested that she come to London for at least a month to claim the legacy. When Isabelle arrives in London and meets with Alette's attorney she finds that Alette has a task for her to accomplish, one all about revenge, obsession and murder.

The Midnight Side is a complex psychological thriller with elements of lucid dreaming, African folklore and the possibility of a vengeful woman manipulating events from the grave. It is the kind of book that I kept wanting to flip to the end in order to find out if my suppositions were correct. Instead, I just stayed up late reading. Natasha Mostert writes wonderfully descriptive prose that evokes both South Africa and wintertime London. Filled with mystery, suspense and characters one does not necessarily like, but are completely credible in their obsessions The Midnight Side is a great read. I had not heard of Natasha Mostert, but this debut novel that has evidently been updated and re-issued will not be my last from this gifted writer.

Thanks to netgalley.com and Portable Magic for an advance digital copy.

RATING- 4 Stars

News from Alaska from the Very Funny Molly Harper

HOW TO RUN WITH A NAKED WEREWOLF
Molly Harper
Pocket Books
December 31, 2013

Molly Harper has been one of my favorite authors since reading Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs. Seldom has a book made me laugh out loud even on a second reading. Whenever a new book by Molly Harper is published I know that I will be thoroughly entertained and finish the book with a smile. How to Run With a Naked Werewolf is no exception even though it dips into some pretty serious issues.

Anna Moder, "Doc", has been in the background of the the two previous Werewolf novels. Physician to the quirky werewolf and human community of Grundy, Alaska, it's been clear that Anna has a story to tell. Anna has fled Grundy when How to Run With a Naked Werewolf opens. She has been running for several years from her abusive, obsessed stalker husband and has very good reason to be afraid. She does not hesitate to assist someone in trouble, however. The consequence are dire for Anna as she loses all the possessions she was able to bring on her headlong flight. Caleb Graham is a bounty hunter, part of the Graham werewolf pack. He seldom needs any help (werewolf strength and all that) but a hunt goes very wrong and he is badly injured. To repay Anna for her help, Caleb replaces her lost possessions and promises to get her to Fairbanks where a new identity is waiting. He just has a few stops on the way for bounty hunter business. Anna has major trust issues and Caleb appears to be pretty ethically challenged so it's a rocky road for both of them.

How to Run with a Naked Werewolf is filled with Molly Harper's trademark snarky humor even though the stakes for Anna are very high. She knows that a confrontation is coming with her stalker; one that she might not survive. The question is whether she can depend on Caleb or does he have underlying motives of his own? Highly recommended for paranormal romance fans who like a dose of laughter along with the romance. I would also recommend the audible audio editions read by the excellent Amanda Ronconi. Thanks to Pocket Books and netgalley.com for an advance digital copy.

RATING- 4 Stars

'Tis the Season for the SCARY!

HALLOWEEN: Magic, Mystery and the Macabre
Paula Guran, Editor
Prime Books
September 2013

'Tis the season for the scary and Halloween: Magic, Mystery and the Macabre delivers. Prime Books and Paula Guran have put together a great collection of stories built around the legends of Halloween. The anthology features traditional tales and some very non-traditional ones from a wide range of authors, some well known to me and some not. As I was reading I was amazed by the different interpretations and flights of imagination that inspired these stories.

All of the stories are excellent but Maria V. Snyder's "The Halloween Men" and Carrie Vaughan's "Unternehmen Werwolf" particularly struck a chord for me. I also enjoyed A. C. Wise's "For the Removal of Unwanted Guests" and Jonathan Maberry's "Long Way Home: A Pine Deep Story". One of the joys of an anthology is the opportunity to discover new authors so I will be looking into the work of many of these authors in the future. Halloween: Magic, Mystery and the Macabre, with it's 18 stories is a great way to get into the spirit of the season.

Thanks to Prime Books and netgalley.com for an advance digital copy in exchange for a free and fair review.

RATING- 4 Jack O'Lanterns

Kelley Armstrong's New Cainsville Series Delivers...as Always

OMENS (Cainsville # 1)
Kelley Armstrong
Dutton
August 2013

Imagine this- you are the only daughter of one of Chicago's wealthiest families; Ivy League educated, pursuing volunteerism and philanthropy, and engaged to a handsome tech firm CEO (and Senate hopeful). In one day you discover that you are adopted and are really the daughter of notorious serial killers, Todd and Pamela Larsen. Your already distant adoptive mother distances herself even further and your fiance thinks you should "postpone the wedding". On the run from the papparazzi and refusing any financial help from "mother" you go on a voyage of self-discovery and a search to find out if there is anything of your real parents in you. And could they be innocent? I was immediately riveted by Olivia's sudden reversal of fortune and Omens kept me turning the page throughout nearly 500 pages.

Olivia lands in Cainsville, a small town on the outskirts of Chicago. Cainsville is a very strange place indeed, filled with even stranger inhabitants with unusual abilities. They all seem to have been expecting Olivia. With the help of Pamela Larsen's most recent lawyer, Gabriel Walsh, Olivia meets Pamela and agrees to investigate the last killing the couple was charged with. Pamela thinks that if they can be proven innocent in that murder, the evidence for the others will fall apart. Along the way, Olivia finds her own strange abilities and a strong streak of pragmatism she never suspected in herself. 

Olivia and Gabriel are two of the more complex characters I have encountered.  Gabriel is " a riddle wrapped up in a mystery, inside an enigma". For much of the book he seems to be somewhat of a sociopath, but there are definitely layers underneath. I am anxiously awaiting the second of the series! Omens is highly recommended for paranormal and mystery fans.

RATING: 5 Stars

A Short Visit to Deadwood SD with the hilarious Ann Charles

BOOT POINTS (Deadwood Mystery Series Novella)
Ann Charles
Ann Charles pub. Kindle
June 2013

I'm a big fan of Ann Charles' two series, the Deadwood series and the Jackrabbit Junction series. I am always happy when she gives us a taste of her worlds between major full length releases. Boot Points is a short story from the Deadwood Series, somewhere between #3 and#4. Violet's Deadwood SD is a fun mixture of mystery, romance and the paranormal written with Ann's great sense of humor. Violet Parker is the single mother of twins, Layne and Addie, and has had her share of bad luck. Her sister, "the daughter of Satan" and her cheating ex, father of her twins, being just a part. Now that she has settled in Deadwood she is being plagued by trouble of the supernatural variety. Boot Points explained the importance of Violet's purple boots in her life and the loyal back-up of quirky characters she has acquired. Just about all of her back-up makes an appearance, not least "Doc" Nyce, Violet's current (and maybe forever)love interest. 

There are also three short stories,"Dancing with Dialogue","Rainstorms" and "Metro Madness"; also a deleted scene from Nearly Departed in Deadwood. The stories are a good example of Ann's evolution as a writer. Now that she is writing full-time I am hoping to see much, much more!

RATING- 5 Purple Boots

The Firebird is Another Winner from Susanna Kearsley

THE FIREBIRD
Susanna Kearsley
Sourcebooks
June 2013

Susanna Kearsley is one of my favorite authors. I have read almost all her books and while I like some more than others I have never been disappointed. In The Firebird she brings back two favorite characters; a grown-up Robbie MacMorran from The Shadowy Horses and Anna Moray, daughter of John and Sophia Moray from The Winter Sea.

Nicola Marter works for an art dealer in London and has an unusual psychic gift. She can touch an object and see visions about it's origins. She is very uncomfortable about her gift as she was raised by her Russian grandfather who also has the gift and suffered torture in the former Soviet regime. Naturally he cautions Nicola to keep her gift a secret. The only time she ever deviated was by participating in a parapsychology study while doing graduate work in Edinburgh. It was during the study that she met the extraordinarily gifted "seer" Robbie. Nicola breaks with the study and Robbie two years before The Firebird begins. A woman comes to the gallery with a small wooden statue of a firebird; one that she says belonged to the Empress Catherine I of Russia and was given to an ancestor named Anna.  When Nicola handles the statue she knows this is true but has no way of proving it without exposing her gift and being considered a freak. She is touched however by the woman, who is desperate to sell for her own reasons and calls on Robbie for help. Robbie has the ability to see into both the past and the future and can include Nicola in his visions when she is in physical contact with him.

The story takes us from present day St. Petersburg to the St. Petersburg of Peter the Great in the early 18th century. Robbie and Nicola follow Anna though St. Petersburg, where she is now the ward of a Vice-Admiral in the Tsar's service. Russia has a highly placed group of Jacobite ex-pats, of whom Anna is an active member. She, like the others is a loyal advocate for "the king across the water" and plots are afoot to get Russia more actively involved in the Jacobite cause. Susanna Kearsley's research allows her to blend the stories of both actual historical figures and fictional ones into a seamless whole. I particularly enjoyed the glimpses of St. Petersburg since I have visited the city twice and could clearly visualize many of the places Rob and Nicola visit.

The Firebird is a lush, romantic read; one that is very hard to put down. It has to be one of Susanna Kearsley's best novels. The only reason that I don't give it a full five star rating is that it didn't quite pack the same emotional wallop as The Winter Sea, at least not for me. It does however bring that story full circle in a very satisfactory manner. I highly recommend it to any lover of historical fiction. 

RATING- 4.5 Stars

Witty Debut Mystery Mash-Up

BACK TO THE GARDEN
Erica Obey
Five Star Books
February 2013


Laura Converse is a romance writer living in New York City, suffering through a massive case of writer's block and post-divorce blues. She is offered a gig ghost-writing the memoirs of Bliss Falco, self-proclaimed lover of everyone from Casanova to Hubert Humphrey in her various remembered reincarnations. Laura takes the job because she needs the cash. Laura is sure that Bliss is certifiable and when she finds out her sleazy ex, Rimes, arranged the job she knows she is in for big trouble. Rimes is a globe trotting tabloid reporter who, despite his genius IQ has no ethics and actually believes that he is pursuing serious journalism.

Laura is to meet Bliss in New Age mecca Woodstock NY, and settle into writing the memoirs. Thrown into the mix are a cast of very quirky characters including various aging hippie denizens of Woodstock, a drink and drug- addled music promoter and a very attractive gardener who just might be a warlock. The central mystery revolves around the disappearance of Patti Moran, up and coming rock star who disappeared fifteen years earlier in Woodstock, to whom Laura bears a strong resemblance. Back to the Garden is a very entertaining and witty mix of mystery, romance and the paranormal, liberally studded with pop culture references and a dash of Celtic Mythology. It could have been a mess, but Erica Obey manages to pull all the disparate elements together into a fun, fast read.

I picked up Back to the Garden at Book Expo and had no real idea what the book was about, but Ms. Obey graciously autographed a copy for me. I'm glad that I was able to read this debut novel and found it very engaging.

RATING- 3.5-4 Stars

SEDUCTION

SEDUCTION ( The Reincarnationist # 5)
M. J. Rose
Atria Books
May 2013

Seduction is a follow-up to last year's The Book of Lost Fragrances and continues the story of Jaq L'etoile, heir along with her brother to one of the most famous fragrance houses in Europe. Jaq has long ago given up any involvement with the day-to-day operations of the fragrance house and making fragrances of her own. She has become a mythologist and in fact has a TV show in which she explores and often debunks myths. Plagued by hallucinations and visions her entire life, visions that seem to be triggered by fragrances, she has finally decided to try to get to the bottom of her problems.  Could reincarnation be the answer? Jaq refuses to entertain the idea but a long-time mentor, therapist and reincarnationist thinks she can prove all his theories.

Seduction weaves four story lines; that of Jaq, Theo Gaspard, with whom Jaq formed a bond  when they were both institutionalized briefly as teenagers, Victor Hugo during his exile on the Isle of Jersey, and Owain, an ancient Druid Priest.  History tells us that Hugo was exiled for his political views and formed an interest in spiritualism during that time. He was grieving the loss of his much loved daughter, Didine, in a boating accident and was trying to communicate with her. From this historical truth comes a story of obsession and danger for Hugo. Theo Gaspard is looking for the secret journals of Hugo, believed to be hidden somewhere on Jersey. Owain was a Druid priest called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice for his people.

All the parallel storylines in Seduction require a delicate balancing act, one in which Rose is partly successful. The most successful story for me was that of Hugo, blending fact and pure fiction, and the most emotionally involving that of Owain, riveting in it's pure tragedy. But as in The Book of Lost Fragrances, Jaq's story was the least interesting, at least for me. I can't seem to form any sort of emotional bond with her or drum up any empathy for her dilemmas, which  invalidates any suspense, a problem with a novel billed as "a novel of suspense".

Lushly written and more intriguing than not, Seduction will be a hit for M.J. Rose's legions of fans. Thanks to Atria Books and netgalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

RATING-3 Stars

The Prophet (Graveyard Queen #3)

                                                                             

  

THE PROPHET (Graveyard Queen #3)

Amanda Stevens

Mira

April 2012

The Prophet, 3rd in the Graveyard Queen Series by Amanda Stevens continues as Amelia Gray returns to her home base in Charleston,SC. Amelia's devastating experiences in Asher Falls and the discovery of her true heritage have left her wondering if her ability to see ghosts might have a higher purpose than she has always thought. She knows that by breaking her father's rules about never interacting with ghosts and never becoming involved with a "haunted" man she has opened a door to the other side that she has no idea how to close. But John Devlin has texted her that he needs her.

The Prophet brings back a character from The Restorer, Robert Fremont, the ghost of Devlin's former partner. Fremont is unlike any ghost Amelia has seen before. Not only can he appear in the daylight, he is corporeal and can actually speak to her. He wants her to help him find out who murdered him so that he can pass over. Not only is Fremont making demands, Shani, the ghost of Devlin's daughter becomes more and more able to invade Amelia's space, even her home. And Mariama, Devlin's dead wife becomes even more threatening. A new threat has come back to Charleston as well. Darius Goodwine, cousin to Mariama, is following Amelia and seems to have strange power over her. All these demands and threats are sapping her energy and will. All of these people, Mariama, Shani, Fremont, Darius and John Devlin are intertwined. Amelia is the only person who can stop the destruction, if only she knew how. By the time she solves the murder of Fremont both she and Devlin are placed in mortal danger.

There are multiple twists and turns in The Prophet, questions answered and new questions posed. The eerie atmosphere evoked in the previous two novels is even more oppressive in this newest novel. I am impressed by Amanda Stevens' ability to keep us guessing and wondering what will happen next! I also enjoy the look at Gullah culture and root-lore that is so important in The Prophet. I am looking forward to # 4 in this gripping series and as I have said before-I'm not a fan of spooky books in general.

Rating 4 Stars

                                                                        

The Graveyard Queen Returns

THE KINGDOM (Graveyard Queen Series #2)
Amanda Stevens
March 27, 2012
MIRA Books




Amanda Stevens has quickly hit one of the top spots on my "Must Read" list. The second book in her Graveyard Queen series, The Kingdom, is available after what seems like a very long wait. Amelia Gray, graveyard restoration expert, has been hired to restore another graveyard, this one in Asher Falls SC. After the harrowing events in her last job in her Charleston hometown, she sees it as a chance to regroup. Not only did she almost lose her life, she opened herself to all sorts of problems by falling in love with Detective John Devlin of the Charleston Police. Amelia can see ghosts and one thing she can't do is allow herself to be influenced by them. John Devlin is haunted and pursued by the spirits of his dead wife and daughter. Amelia must not, at any cost, allow herself to become more deeply involved with Devlin or she risks losing all control of her life. Control has always been Amelia's most cultivated characteristic.


Upon arriving in Asher Falls, Amelia finds that it is far from the quiet respite she was hoping for. Not only are there more ghosts around than she has ever seen in one place, the living population is pretty strange and unwelcoming. In fact, the atmosphere in Asher Falls is steeped in malice. Add in three "weird sisters", a flooded abandoned cemetery from which the bells toll, the absolute control of the town by one family and an abandoned grave in the hills that draws Amelia and you have quite a supernatural stew. Not to mention a son of the first family who takes a lot of interest in Amelia, but whose motives she questions. By the time she leaves Asher Falls Amelia's life is once again in upheaval and she questions whether her abilities have a larger purpose that she has been ignoring.


I can't say that I have ever been a big fan of spooky, scary books but The Graveyard Queen series is so well-written that I was sucked in from the first page. I read The Kingdom in one sitting, racing to see what happens next. The Kingdom is highly recommended- with a real twist at the end. Thankfully, the third installment, The Prophet, is out in June.


Rating- 5 Tolling Bells

Another Winner from Susanna Kearsley

         




MARIANA
Susanna Kearsley
Sourcebooks
April 2012

Susanna Kearsley quickly became a favorite author after I read The Winter Sea. In fact it was one of the first books I blogged about back in May 2011. I immediately started a search for her backlist titles and found that they are not so easy to get! Thanks to Sourcebooks, Mariana is now available (4/1/12). I have to thank Sourcebooks and netgalley.com for an advance reading copy of Mariana. The book will be available in both trade paperback and eBook format.

Julia Beckett first saw the house called Greywethers as a child and was drawn back to it several more times. She had a feeling that it was “her house”. After receiving a substantial legacy, she runs across the house again and buys it on an impulse. Very quickly she finds friends and becomes part of village life. Her vicar brother lives nearby and there are two very attractive men who are her neighbors. From her very first day of residence she finds herself moving back and forth between Restoration England and the present, becoming Mariana, a young woman of the time. Once again, Kearsley has woven a magical story with elements of time travel and reincarnation. The characters are as always, well drawn and fleshed out. I particularly like they way they are all supportive of Julia, open-minded and not inclined to think she has gone mad. Kearsley's writing is very reminiscent of Daphne DuMaurier and Victoria Holt, both favorites from my teenage years.

Mariana's story is not a happy one and Julia soon realizes that she must "live" through Mariana's life to bring peace to Mariana's spirit and her own. This is a very romantic story with a satisfying ending, one that I recommend to those who love historical fiction.

Rating- 5 Stars

The Graveyard Queen

 THE RESTORER

Amanda Stevens

MIRA

April 2011

I can't quite remember how I ran across The Restorer, as scary books aren't usually my cup of tea. I was glad to have found it however and recently re-read it in preparation for the next two books in the series coming out March-April. Even though I don't like getting scared much I am always ready for a good ghost story.

Amelia Gray, a young woman in her twenties, has been able to see ghosts since she was a child. The ability was passed down to her from her father and he has passed on some unbreakable rules. Never let a ghost know she can see them, never stray far from hallowed ground and never form a relationship with a "haunted man". The reason for this is: if they know she can see them, they will latch on and drain her energy and her very life. Draining a living person is how ghosts maintain a hold on the living world. Despite this Amelia has become a cemetery restorer known as The Graveyard Queen after the blog that she writes. Her father's rules have produced a secretive, repressed woman who has few friends and no confidants. By the end of The Restorer, Amelia has violated all the rules and life will never be the same.

Set in Charleston SC, Amelia is restoring a long neglected historic cemetery on the campus of fictional Emerson College. When the body of a brutalized co-ed is found in the cemetery she is called in by John Devlin, a detective on the Charleston Police Force. The attraction between the two is immediate. One problem though, Devlin is trailed by the ghost of his dead wife and daughter. Amelia knows she needs to stay away but more bodies are turning up, some of which are years old. A serial killer is using the cemetery as his playing field.

Amanda Stevens has wonderful descriptive powers. One can almost feel the heat and humidity of Charleston. She builds a claustrophobic atmosphere throughout the book and adds in lore from the "gullah" low country culture. There are all sorts of references to burial iconography and tradition that I found fascinating. I had figured out the perpetrator, but not how or why. That's the real corker!! In fact, after this second reading I will raise my rating from 4 to 5. Highly recommended!!!

Rating- 5 Tombstones