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86th out of 207 books
—
137 voters
Whispers of the Bayou
From the author of the popular Million Dollar Mysteries and Smart Chick Mysteries comes a new stand-alone novel full of hidden staircases, buried secrets, and the promise of hope found in knowing God.
Miranda Miller wasn't looking for the news the day the letter came. But, trying to survive in troubled circumstances, she welcomes the chance to change her location for a peri...more
Miranda Miller wasn't looking for the news the day the letter came. But, trying to survive in troubled circumstances, she welcomes the chance to change her location for a peri...more
Paperback, 337 pages
Published
January 1st 2008
by Harvest House Publishers
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I liked the cover of this book with the cool mansion in the background and the swamp, too...however, that is not what inspired me to read Whispers of the Bayou...actually, a couple of ladies in my neighborhood had read it and passed it along to me with good recommendations. The basic story here was that a woman with a husband and young child up in New York find out she has an extended family down in Louisiana. Also, she has an inheritance...a huge mansion (maybe the one on the cover) and propert...more
Miranda Miller is raised by her aunt. She thinks that her family in Louisiana is not interested in her. Miranda doesn’t have that many memories of her childhood before living with her aunt. The past comes alive for her when she returns to Louisiana at the request of the caretaker of her grandparent’s estate, Willy Pedreaux. Miranda’s career in art restoration works its way nicely into the story. She is able to preserve most of the artwork her grandmother painted on walls in the family home. Mira...more
"Oh the tangled web we weave when we lie to deceive" kept coming to mind as a read this novel. The story of old secrets buried deep, the first 1/3 of Whispers of the Bayou moved a little slow for me, meandering along with Miranda returning "home" to New Orleans at the request of Willie Perdeux, a man she doesn't know (or does she?). Honestly, at first I really didn't like Miranda, finding her stand-offish and cold, but as the story progresses I began to see why she was like this, and the story r...more
WHISPERS OF THE BAYOU follows Miranda Miller as she embarks on what seems like an endless road of personal discovery that will change her life forever. Miranda works as an art restorer in New York far from her Louisiana roots, roots that she’s never had a chance to explore, before now. Raised by her aunt, Miranda has blocked out the memories of a tragic childhood, and in the process become a person who’s put up walls around her emotions, even from her husband and daughter.
When Miranda is summon...more
When Miranda is summon...more
This was my first mystery. I loved it. It wasn't nail bitting or scary. It was well written and had alot of religion in it. The end was very unpredicidable. There were alot of twists in the book that you never saw comming. I always had my thoughts of who it could of been but I was thrown every time. The story line is a simple one. It is about a women who at the age of five her mother died and she moved to New York to live with her Aunt. She dosen't remember anything from the age of six and under...more
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This book caught my eye because I recently went on a vacation that took me through Louisiana, and the mystique of that beautiful state left a deep impression on me. The book does a fair job of catching that mystique.
Overall, the book was okay. Clark has done an excellent job researching her history and culture, and that makes a very impressive component of this book. I will likewise admit that the book keeps you guessing, and it does a good job of escalating genuine suspense. The characters are...more
Overall, the book was okay. Clark has done an excellent job researching her history and culture, and that makes a very impressive component of this book. I will likewise admit that the book keeps you guessing, and it does a good job of escalating genuine suspense. The characters are...more
I so enjoyed Whispers of the Bayou by Mindy Starns Clark. It's a captivating story full of mystery, suspense, a dash of historical fiction, emotion and the ever faithfulness of a loving God who wants to heal all of our pain.
Miranda, has a dark childhood that she has completely erased from her memory. Receiving a letter that takes her back to her childhood home, brings her face to face with all the pain she has spent years trying to block out. Although her memories are forgotten, the effects of...more
Miranda, has a dark childhood that she has completely erased from her memory. Receiving a letter that takes her back to her childhood home, brings her face to face with all the pain she has spent years trying to block out. Although her memories are forgotten, the effects of...more
I just loved Whispers of the Bayou! Mindy Starns Clark has written a brilliant story, complete with suspense, mystery, emotion, plot twists and a dash of historical fiction thrown in. I definitely didn't see some of the twists in the plot coming!
The main character, Miranda, has a dark past. So dark in fact that she herself has erased it from her memory. Although her memories are forgotten, you can see the effect her past has had on her current emotionally detached state. As she faces her past, h...more
The main character, Miranda, has a dark past. So dark in fact that she herself has erased it from her memory. Although her memories are forgotten, you can see the effect her past has had on her current emotionally detached state. As she faces her past, h...more
Having read the Smart Chick mysteries (Christian fiction) by Mindy Starns Clark, I was really looking forward to starting this book. I really enjoyed it, but didn't just love it, if that makes any sense. The plot was good, albeit a bit far fetched, but that doesn't usually bother me. It definitely held my interest, especially with it being mostly based on Louisiana.
The premise is that Miranda Fairmont Miller, an art restorer in Manhattan, has zero memories of her first five years of her life, wh...more
The premise is that Miranda Fairmont Miller, an art restorer in Manhattan, has zero memories of her first five years of her life, wh...more
I gave this book 5 stars because the story was really good, even though I usually don't care for gothic mysteries. And there's so many twists and turns...A mystery on top of a mystery on top of a mystery! Clark amazes me with her ability to write in the different subgenres of mysteries (chick lit mysteries, suspense, gothic). Also, this book was neat to read because it's set in Louisiana and talks about all the things you see and do here (bondin festival, Cajun folklore, Spanish moss, sugar mill...more
This was a suspenseful mystery with lots of unexpected happenings! (I did find events a bit unbelievable at times, though.) Miranda inherits a huge, historic mansion in Lousiana, a place she left at the age of 5 and can't remember. She unearths some deep family secrets that change her life as her memories return. The story involves a lot of Cajun history. I guess this is my month for reading about family secrets and different cultural groups. :0)
I wasn't sure when I picked Whispers of the Bayou up that I would like it. But there was something about it that kept me hooked. It was an awesome read. It had just enough suspense and I totally could not figure out who it was until the end! I also liked how Miranda changed throughout the story. Her beliefs and thoughts were really believable and you felt like you could relate to her. I really enjoyed this book. And I loved the cover. It was so mysterious!
What a great mystery surrounding the dark waters of the Louisiana Bayou? The heroine is a woman without a past. She has a husband and a child of her own and a fulfilling job in a Manhatten museum, but she has questions about the tragedy that cut her off from family as a child and caused her to be sent away with her aunt. The suspense of finding out a long ago secret and learning about her early life keeps me enthalled to the very end.
I was disappointed in this book. U have read several of Clark's books and found I could hardly put them down without finishing them. This one was different. It did not build up to a crescendo as most mysteries do. I was about 85% finished with it last night and had no trouble putting the book down until this morning. She also threw in items which really did not fit with the story and skipped things when she should have not.
This is one of the first suspense novels that I was not able to predict the outcome . I the novel she had some characters who were very religious and quoted bible passages etc which fit the book and their character quite well. The ending with the main character and her spouse did not fit - I wont tell you what it is as a spoiler. Other than that large aspect I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
As "Christian" mysteries go, this is not the worst. I found the Gospel message to be less obnoxious than in most religious literature, and the story was pretty engaging, in spite of some weak writing and too many plot twists. Not very plausible, really, but the main character's voice was appealing, and I kept reading. That, in and of itself, is more than happens with most overtly Christian fiction.
I have no idea how this book came home with me from the library, but I decided to read it anyway. The plot moved you along, however unbelievable some parts are. I am not religious at all but it wasn't too preachy except a bit at the end. The book served its purpose, especially if you're looking for a mystery type idea. Another reviewer put it well when saying it's like Nancy Drew meets Dan Brown.
I put off reading this book for quite a while, wish I hadn't waited so long to read it! I ended up enjoying it; it seemed to be a nice change of pace for me from some other things I read. It's about a young woman with no memory of her childhood who goes home to Louisiana to face her past. There's a little bit of mystery/intrigue involved along with a few twists that kept my attention. A good read!
I enjoyed the Cajun "myth" that this story was woven around. I also appreciated the way the mysterious past of the main character, Miranda, was uncovered. As a story from a Christian writer, everyone was saved and converted at the end and all lived happily ever after, which was somewhat abrupt. Overall it was a fast intriguing mystery with a storyline I was drawn to.
Wow- I read some of the smart chick books so I knew I liked this author, but this book exceeded my expectations. A masterfully written suspense/mystery novel that has the main character uncovering the secrets of her past. Full of rich imagery of the Louisiana bayou and its inhabitants, I read this book straight through and didn't want it to end. Definitely recommended.
A great mystery story with lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The author skillfully wove her Christian faith into the book as well. I loved the setting of the Louisiana bayou, in an old antebellum style mansion, that added to the mystique of the tale. I will look for more of Clark's books in the future. Enjoyable.
a. There is a mark on Miranda’s scalp. What does it signify?
b. Willy, the old caretaker of her grandparents’ estate in Louisiana is about to die and before he finishes telling her a long-held secret, he dies. Foul play is suspected. How does Willie’s nurse play into it? There were unexpected happenings in this. – 3 or 4 STARS
b. Willy, the old caretaker of her grandparents’ estate in Louisiana is about to die and before he finishes telling her a long-held secret, he dies. Foul play is suspected. How does Willie’s nurse play into it? There were unexpected happenings in this. – 3 or 4 STARS
Jul 01, 2012
Janiese Wesley
added it
When I first saw this book, the cover caught my attention. I love the south. Recently, I started reading Mysteries and this book was exciting.
It was sweet, sassy and spicy.
Miranda found out that her family had secrets. With every turn, she learned about her past, ancient myths, forgiveness, and love.
A very good book!
It was sweet, sassy and spicy.
Miranda found out that her family had secrets. With every turn, she learned about her past, ancient myths, forgiveness, and love.
A very good book!
It rather surprised me, but I really enjoyed this book. It was engaging and quite well put together. Probably helped that I read it while I was in Louisiana (the setting for the novel).
It loses a star for some clunky cheesiness in regards to some of the relationships in the story--particularly at the end.
It loses a star for some clunky cheesiness in regards to some of the relationships in the story--particularly at the end.
Absolutely FANTASTIC book!! This was the first book I had read by this author and could not put it down. Yesterday I searched Borders for more books by Mindy Starns Clark, unfortunately to no avail (although I'm certain they must be there). I cannot wait to buy and read her Smart Chick Mystery Series. Had six stars been available, I'd have given this book SIX stars! Great read, intriguing from the word go.
Really a fascinating book of life along the Bayou in Louisiana. I loved the way Mindy Starns Clark tied in the story of the Acadians (from Longfellow's Evangeline) with the Cajuns of modern Louisiana. The story is compelling, moving quickly, and has a most satisfying ending. I recommend this book!
The storyline takes you on a Mystery of a long lost childhood secret. As Miranda seeks the truth of her childhood years in the Cajun Country of Louisiana; she takes you back to a time of the days of old with beautiful details of Southern living, folklore, and Southern plantations.
I love this author's books because they are suspensful, but clean. She writes from a Christian perspective, but I don't find it preachy (as some Christian authors can be). This was fun to read because it was set in Louisiana and mentions Houma, LA, where my niece and her family live.
I loved this. Mindy Starns Clark is a master mystery storyteller. The exotic Bayou setting and the family mystery the plot revolves around is captivating. The plot reminded me somewhat of The DaVinci Code, so if you're looking for something along those lines, only more believable with better writing, then check this book out.
A great "who done it". The story of a girl who was taken away from her Southern home as a very young child. Years later she receives a request for her to come back to the Bayou. One interesting aspect of the story is that the old house gives her clues to her past.
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A former singer and stand-up comedian, Mindy lives with her husband and two teenage daughters near Valley Forge, PA. She enjoys speaking to churches, civic groups, and libraries across the country. Her unique blend of humor and insight make her an audience favorite.
From the author's website.
More about Mindy Starns Clark...
From the author's website.
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