Frances

A Hodgepodge

Revisado: 07-13-19

Set in a town called "Spookie," the townspeople, including a psychic and an ex-homicide detective, go on a hunt for hidden treasure based on a vision that Glinda, the local psychic, had from a dead sailor's ghost. Supposedly, he discovered a priceless trove of gems and coins that he, upon his death, buried somewhere on his property. Now Glinda owns this house and land, and when the sailor's ghost visits her, he begs her to find it and pass it on to a daughter who may or may not still be alive.

An intriguing premise, this story had potential. The problems arise quickly, however, when it's obvious the author tried to cram a ghost story in with a murder mystery in with . . . something else? The plot is fractured and segmented, seeming almost as though it had originally been two or three stories spliced up and combined into one book. There is way too much repetition of facts, setting details, and . . . well, the reader could probably list every variety of donut in the one character's shop. This caused the pace to lag, and the reader to say, "So get on with the story, already!" The writing itself sparkles in places, however, with poetic turns of phrase. This reader feels that if the author concentrates on ONE main premise--ghost story, psychic story, or murder mystery--her writing has the potential to soar.

The narrator does an admirable job of portraying a wide variety of voices. I received a copy of this audiobook free for an honest review.

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A Masterpiece of Gothic Fiction

Revisado: 06-19-19

Eleanor Harper has been a crime reporter all of her life, and the constant exposure to violence and death has taken its toll. She's not exactly heartbroken when she loses her job, feeling ready for her life to take a different turn. That's when she sees that the director of Cliffside Manor is retiring, and she decides to apply for the job. She knew Penelope Dare from years earlier when Eleanor had been assigned to investigate the mysterious car crash that killed Penelope's father and sister.

Cliffside Manor, Eleanor discovers, had been built in the height of the tuberculosis epidemic in the early 1900s, and served as a sanatorium. Once a cure for the disease was discovered, the Manor's founder turned the rambling mansion into a retreat for writers and artists. Although Eleanor has no experience in that area, she is pleased when she gets the job. It doesn't take long, however, before she realizes there is a darker side to Cliffside Manor than its history as a "waiting room for death."

Wendy Webb is truly a master at creating a creepy, haunting Gothic atmosphere. Intertwined with the paranormal elements, she has also incorporated a murder mystery. With a diverse cast of sharply etched characters, the tale is engrossing. many twists dragging the reader along from page to page. The only weakness lies in Webb's heroine's naivete--a common flaw in this author's heroines. We realize long before Eleanor does that certain characters are actually ghosts. This time, however, the reader has no way to predict how it all turns out. "The End of Temperance Dare" would make a fantastic motion picture.

Xe Sands does an outstanding job of narrating this intriguing tale.

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Classic Gothic Ghost Story

Revisado: 03-19-19

A couple and their dear friend set off for a desolate, abandoned village in Iceland, where they have invested in an old \ house. Their plan is to renovate the structure into a bed-and-breakfast for the warmer seasons' visitors. They soon discover, however, that the "bad reputation" the ferry captain spoke of about the house is all too true.

Meanwhile, in more populated Icelandic town, a psychiatrist sets out to investigate the suicide of a woman who bore strange scars on her back. He's also endlessly searching for his son, who disappeared without a trace several years past.

This story is slow to start and difficult to follow in the opening chapters, partially due to an American's unfamiliarity with the strange character and place names. Basically, two tales are told in parallel, gradually converging with horrifying clarity. Avoiding the gore often in modern horror, this author relies instead on the subtlety of Gothic horror, where what is not exactly seen but heard and vividly imagined is scariest of all. Any reader who enjoys a truly creepy ghost story, written with a definite flair for the literary, will definitely enjoy "I Remember You: A Ghost Story."

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Great story with a Fatal Flaw

Revisado: 12-27-18

Kill Creek is the intriguing tale of four horror authors who are all invited to spend a night - Halloween night, of course - in what is reputed to be a haunted house by an Internet podcast mogul. Each author writes their own flavor of the genre, all from different generations and backgrounds. What they have in common is that they all have "skeletons in their closets," which color their novels. But they have also all reached plateaus in their careers, and this publicity stunt just may be the boost they need.
The author has done a superb job of creating a classic Gothic environment. The house at Kill Creek, with a morbid history of its own, becomes a character in its own right. Deftly plotted with many unexpected twists and turns, the reader experiences the strange occurrences that night through each author's lens of perception. A page-turner until nearly the end, but . . .
The author reveals what determines the ending of the book way too soon, thereby causing the story to fizzle out and land flat. The reader thinks, "Duh, we knew that." No surprise.
Still, as well-written as this novel is, with so many layers of complexity, it deserves four stars. Fans of horror by the late Barbara Michaels will enjoy this book. The narrator of the audiobook does a superb job, with convincing accents and intonations throughout.

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A Treasure Trove for a Mystery Lover

Revisado: 12-20-18

This delightful collection of short stories is reminiscent of Rod Serling's brief but chilling tales of the supernatural. Each unique in its own way, these stories all lure the reader down a dark, mysterious path, all the while setting the stage in pure Gothic fashion. From a fantastical unicorn on a movie set who has a mind of its own to an odd pairing of a priest with a vampire to solve a crime, this collection never ceases to tantalize.The author combined his amazing imagination with eloquent prose and description to take the reader on a truly thrilling ride.
I listened to the audiobook version of this collection, and found the narrator to be exquisitely talented at accents and at setting the mood. I highly recommend this book to anyone who savors a paranormal experience.

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Beautifully written, but...

Revisado: 11-08-18

Raziela Nolan is a beautiful, savvy, modern woman of the late 1920s whose life gets cut short by a slip on the edge of her lover's pool. Andrew, who adores her beyond words, arrives just moments after she drowns. Razi, however, decides not to "cross over" right away. It's seventy years later and she's still around, still trying to find out what happened to her beloved Andrew after her death.

An antique bookcase in an estate sale catches the eye of Amy and Scott, a young couple looking to add to their vintage furniture collection. The bookcase belonged to Andrew. Little do they know, when they take the bookcase home, they are taking an unseen visitor with them.

A ghost.

This compelling story is told from the prospective of a spirit - Razi - who is stuck "in between," as she refers to her state. When she takes up residence in Scott and Amy's home, she becomes witness to their love drama. Amy is haunted by her own past, having lost her true love in a car wreck, then losing their unborn child in the aftermath. She's never gotten over her first love, and Scott knows nothing of any of this.

Twin time periods, twin love stories. Ms. Dominigue has certainly taken on a big challenge. So many characters, though, who appear in more than one time period - often in the same chapter - tend to cause confusion. Is this Razi alive or is she already dead? Is Aunt Tollie young and Razi's best friend, or old and Amy's aging aunt? In the last chapters, the prose takes on an almost hallucinogenic quality. Where are we? When are we? Although the author's word craft is elegant, I'm not sure the delivery provides the most satisfying love story.

But it's told by a ghost. If you loved Anne Sebold's "The Lovely Bones," do give "The Mercy of Thin Air" a go.

I listened to the audiobook version of this title and the narrator, Rebecca Gayheart, provided an outstanding performance.

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A Different Point of View

Revisado: 08-17-18

This fictionalized story of artist Vincent Van Gogh is told by the physician who treated him in the final months of his life. Dr. Gachet was approached by Vincent's brother, Theo, explaining that Vincent had a history of mental illness, and had spent time in an asylum. Gachet is taken with Vincent, inviting him into his home for a time. His children, Paul and Marguerite, become infatuated with the artist. In this telling, the gun with which Vincent purportedly shot himself belonged to Dr. Gachet.

Gachet, it seems, was a widower whose wife died a very painful death from tuberculosis. She begged him to end her suffering, but he refused. The author of "Leaving Van Gogh" extends the theory that Gachet felt guilty for allowing his wife to suffer and die on her own. When Van Gogh tells him he wants to end his life, Gachet leaves his gun for Vincent to find.

This was an eloquently written twist on the life story of the troubled artist. Since it is plainly listed as "fiction," one must wonder just how much of this author's version is based on fact. Not knowing makes the reader/listener then question why the author strayed from the facts to fictionalize--why not just write a biography? Perhaps because no one will ever know the true story. Engrossing tale with outstanding narration.

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Glad I stuck with it . . .

Revisado: 08-10-18

From the title and description of this book, I truly expected a bit more mystery/action/suspense than what it is: a deep psychological study of old guilt, family ties, and emotional insecurities. For anyone looking for a fast-paced read, this book is not for you. The story concept, however, is brilliant.

Recently divorced Sarah is forging forward on a rocky, uncertain path in her life. Originally from the UK, she relocated to California to escape the memory of her losing her younger sister almost twenty years ago. She returns there, though, every year, on the anniversary of her sister's death. On this day she meets Eddie, who is sitting there on this same spot, seemingly waiting for her. They immediately click, spend the day together, and then the next two weeks.

But Sarah's Cinderella story ends when they separate--her to go back to the U.S., and he to go on holiday in Spain. He'll call, he promises. They will make this work. He never does.

The first third of this book reminded me very much of "The Girl on the Train," all the "action" taking place inside the protagonist's head. Sarah agonizes over what went wrong, whether it really was just a fling, or if perhaps something has happened to Eddie. The emotional turmoil, and her obsessive behavior, convince the reader she's gone mad.

This is the point at which I almost gave up. I persisted, however, and I was glad I did.

A deeply emotional study of tragedy, loss, guilt, insecurities, and hope, "Ghosted" was very deep. Unfortunately, there were a lot of loose ends left untied or dropped altogether, and the pacing of the first half of the book was frustratingly slow. Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that the story does have a very satisfying ending, and, if you are a patient and tenacious reader, is definitely worth the ride.

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St. James' Best Yet!

Revisado: 07-25-18

Two eras, two stories, linked by the persistent mourning of one woman for her murdered younger sister.

Idlewild Hall--Vermont,1950: A boarding school for girls who just don't fit. The place is rumored to be haunted. Four roommates share their secrets, their fears, clinging to each other. Until one leaves for a weekend visit and disappears...

Vermont, 2014: Journalist Fiona Sheridan still mourns her sister, whose body was found on the abandoned grounds of Idlewild Hall twenty years ago. When she discovers someone has bought the place and intends to re-open the school, Fiona becomes obsessed with one burning question--why?

This dual-timeline plot zips the reader back and forth, but seamlessly, with the parallel stories gradually converging. Amazing character development, intricate twists and turns, and poetically described scenery. A psychological thriller, murder mystery, and ghost story wrapped into one. The Gothic element is woven through with just the right amount of spooky. This author's best work yet.

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Fantastic but narration needed editing

Revisado: 07-17-18

This was one of those books that when I saw how long it was, I thought, "I wonder if I'll get through this." Well, I did, and it whizzed by.

Cilla McGowan started out life in the spotlight--literally. She came from a family of stars: her famous grandmother, Janet Hardy, then her mother. Cilla was a child-star but decides she is done with Hollywood, as her real love was remodeling and flipping houses. She heads off for the Shenandoah Valley where her grandmother's farm lay abandoned, neglected since the star allegedly took her own life years ago. Although the task seems insurmountable, Cilla feels it might be where she really belongs.

Neighbor Ford Sawyer is a graphic novelist who lives alone with his ugly dog, Spock. He soon takes notice of what's happening across the street, and is captivated by the long, lean woman who yields a hammer better than most men. She ignites within his imagination a new character, a woman with superpowers. But getting her to pose for his sketches isn't the only thing Ford wants from Cilla McGowan.

I found this to be a richly textured tale of redemption, finding one's true purpose in life, and of the complexity of family ties. The development of the relationship between Cilla and Ford is believable, slow, and heart-warming. Beautifully written, breathtakingly paced, I consider this to be one of Ms. Roberts' most complex and engrossing stories. A long ride but an exhilarating one.

My only criticism of the audiobook version of this book is that the volume levels did not appear to be properly modulated. The narrator's voice went from too loud to too soft, forcing a constant see-saw of the volume knob. ACX, you need to re-edit this one.

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