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A Thousand Yesteryears

(Point Pleasant #1)

Mae Clair (Goodreads Author)

3.96 · Rating details · 197 ratings · 65 reviews

“Masterful, bone-chilling fiction…one intense thriller. A Thousand Yesteryears will keep you guessing, gasping and turning the pages for more.” —New York Times bestselling author Kevin O’Brien

Behind a legend lies the truth…

As a child, Eve Parrish lost her father and her best friend, Maggie Flynn, in a tragic bridge collapse. Fifteen years later, she returns to Point Pleasa ...more

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Paperback, 222 pages

Published April 26th 2016 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

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Feb 12, 2016 Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2016

Eva Parrish lost her father and her best friend when the bridge in the town of Point Pleasant collapsed. Her mother couldn't stand staying in the town anymore and packed up all their belongings and moved away from the town. Now fifteen years later is Eva back after her aunt has died. Must have changed in Point Pleasant, it's not as prosperous as it was before and the tragedy of the bridge collapse still weighs heavily on the town. Eva isn't sure if she should keep the family hotel that her aunt Eva Parrish lost her father and her best friend when the bridge in the town of Point Pleasant collapsed. Her mother couldn't stand staying in the town anymore and packed up all their belongings and moved away from the town. Now fifteen years later is Eva back after her aunt has died. Must have changed in Point Pleasant, it's not as prosperous as it was before and the tragedy of the bridge collapse still weighs heavily on the town. Eva isn't sure if she should keep the family hotel that her aunt has been managing since her father died and that she now inherited. And, there seem to be some dark secrets in the town and then there are the rumors and sightings of the Mothman...

I was instantly captivated by the cover and the blurb, especially the mention about the Mothman a creature that I find intriguing. I was quite thrilled when I was approved for the book on NetGalley and couldn't wait to start reading the book.

And, the book was OK. And, to be honest, is not what I had hoped for. I did like the book. I just didn't love the book or, to be honest, I didn't find the book to be as suspenseful as I had hoped for. And, there are two reasons why: First, it felt like a bit too much drama going on with Eva going back and finding out that her child crush Caden Flynn is still in the town and they meeting up and sparks flying between them. I have nothing against romance, hell, I even find the thought of them together quite OK towards the end, But, the book started off with young Eva thinking about how dreamy Caden was and then a jump in time and there he is all grown up and so is she. And, it just went too fast and felt to predictably.

Then we have the mysterious killer in the town. It didn't take much time for me to figure out who the person was and that ruined the story a bit for me. I like to be more puzzled over the identity, not figuring it out right away. Although to be fair, the mystery story was not bad and I like the paranormal aspects of it especially the Mothman part. Actually, it's the Mothman that really makes me like this book. Without the Mothman would this just a been a mediocre mystery book. But, the legend of the Mothman just add the special thing I needed to find this book interesting to read.

So, in the end, was this book not as fabulous as I wanted it to be, still, it was enjoyable and I would without a doubt, read more from Mae Clair.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review! ...more

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Feb 27, 2016 Dianne rated it it was amazing

The great tragedy happened years ago and the small town of Point Pleasant never quite recovered. Eve Parrish left as a child, leaving behind the horror of losing both her father and her best friend, but she is back to settle her aunt’s estate, only to discover that the town she once loved still bears the pall of death and the rumors of an long time legend. Some things should never be re-visited, some things are hiding evil and must be exposed, and Eve is determined to do just that.

A survivor of ...more

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Feb 26, 2016 Carrie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

After finding out that her aunt had passed away from cancer, Eve Parrish finds that she has inherited the family home and business back in Point Pleasant. Eve's mother had packed up her daughter and left the town behind years ago after a bridge collapse that claimed Eve's father's life along with the life of her best friend Maggie.

When Eve arrives in Point Pleasant she finds some things have changed about the town but others are still the same from her childhood. Rumors of sightings of a supern ...more

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Apr 26, 2016 Sue Coletta rated it it was amazing

Eclipse Lake was the first book I read by Mae Clair, and I absolutely loved. So when I was offered an ARC in exchange for an unbiased, honest review, I jumped at the chance. A Thousand Yesteryears is the perfect mix of mystery, paranormal, and romantic suspense. The characters are full and real. The whip-smart dialogue thoroughly convincing. And the legend of the Mothman is intense. I was riveted to the page, waiting for the Mothman to reappear and to find out who was behind the "strange" phone ...more

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Mar 10, 2016 Petra rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, netgalley, paranormal

Eve returns to her hometown of Point Pleasant to settle her aunt's estate. The town and its inhabitants are still affected by the collapse of a bridge 15 years ago, which killed Eve's father and Eve's best friend, Maggie. At the time, the then thriving town was gripped by sightings of The Mothman, a mythical figure. After the bridge disaster which affected so many lives, the town went into a decline, but rumors and folklore still abound, and Eve becomes entangled in a mystery that merges past an ...more

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Mar 06, 2016 Elisa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: first-reads

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Kensington Books!
I apologize to my dog, for feeding him late; to my husband, for ignoring him for two days and to my coworkers, for pretending I couldn't hear them making conversation in the break room. A Thousand Yesteryears was so utterly engrossing, that I had no choice. I just had to know how this story ended. Was the Mothman real? Did he cause the collapse of the Silver Bridge? Was he killing people? Or was t ...more

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Jan 04, 2016 C.S. Boyack rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I've read several books by this author, and A Thousand Yesteryears sealed my fate on reading more. I think this is the best thing she's ever written.

A thriving town experiences a disaster that sets it on the path to becoming a ghost town. There is nobody in Point Pleasant who wasn't touched by the disaster in some way.

Point Pleasant is an interesting place, aside from the disaster it is the site of an old WWII ammo dump. This area, known as the TNT, is also home to a cryptid known as the Mothman ...more

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Feb 19, 2016 Debbie Peterson rated it it was amazing

I received an ARC of A Thousand Yesteryears and…

What a fun and amazing book! I love immersing myself in the fascinating worlds created by author Mae Clair! Her rich imagery and depth of character inside each story is never a disappointment. A Thousand Yesteryears is no exception. In the setting of Point Pleasant, a small town deep in decline, Ms. Clair skillfully entwines a long ago tragedy with legend, mystery, suspense, and romance. From the first enthralling page to the last, we follow Eve Pa ...more

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Apr 21, 2016 Betty rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, e-books

A new author for me and one I will read again. I found a mystery filled with suspense with paranormal aspects. Eve Parrish has returned to her child home to settle her Aunt Rose estate. She plans to sell the house and the Family Hotel and return to Harrisburg. Fifteen years ago,the main bridge collapses killing a large number of people. Including Eve's Father and her best friend. Aunt Rose home is vandalized and the hotel brings back positive memories. She meets Caden who blames himself for his ...more

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Feb 03, 2016 Sherry Fundin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: horror, mystery, paranormal, romance, thriller, supernatural, myths-and-legends, science-fiction, suspense, creature-feature

WOW OMG, I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

A Thousand Yesteryears by Mae Clair is a story about tragedy in a small town. Murder, UFO’s, myths and legends kept me spellbound. Unputdownable!

After reading A Thousand Yesteryears, I see why the title is so very appropriate. I love when it fits so perfectly.

There is so much I want to share about A Thousand Yesteryears, so I must be careful not to “spoil” you. If you are a fan of myths and legends, creature features, tragedy that leaves the residents stuck in place, ...more

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Apr 07, 2016 Carmen rated it it was amazing

A Thousand Yesteryears is a gripping dark mystery that kept me sitting on the edge of my seat, guessing what would happen next as Eve and Caden are drawn into the investigation of the disappearance/death of girls in Point Pleasant, while dealing with their personal relationship.

I have just finished this book and, to be honest, I wish there was more and I can't wait to tell you why. Where should I start... let's start with the characters. The author had me hooked from the very beginning. With he ...more

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Sep 05, 2016 S.K. Nicholls rated it it was amazing

Shelves: murder-mystery

Really glad this book is the first in a series as I had a hard time letting go at the end. Eva Parrish returns to her hometown to settle her Aunt Rosie’s estate. A tragedy occurred there when she was a pre-teen and her father and best friend perished, but there is so much more to this story. This town holds secrets galore. What is Mothman? Is he evil, or is he good? Is he even real? This is not a one murder story, and unraveling the connections was loads of fun.

I came from a small town where ev ...more

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Oct 01, 2015 Teresa Kander rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, mystery-thriller

I've been looking forward to this book since I heard that it was being published. I was born and raised in Gallipolis, Ohio, and was just over 6 yrs. old when the Silver Bridge collapsed, taking with it my best friend's mother and brother (whose bodies were never found). That tragedy and the Mothman legend were a big part of my childhood.

Unfortunately, the book didn't live up to my expectations. It seemed to be more about the romance growing between Eva and Caden than anything else. Even the m ...more

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Mar 08, 2016 Shelby rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The writing is very good and flows nicely. Make this an easy and good read. The characters were well done and seemed quite realistic. The setting was interesting with the mothman lore. The plot was a pretty good murder mystery even if it was predictable. But even with knowing who the killer was it was still very compelling. Over all this novel was very well done and I'd recommend it to anyone who is interested.
(Mothman isn't the f ...more

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May 02, 2016 Judith Post rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

When the villain walked into this story, he shocked me with his violence. He cranked up the tension and kept it building through the entire book. The "monster," the Mothman, actually made me care about him. This book had suspense, mystery, romance, and paranormal, and they all balanced together to keep the plot moving. There were some nice, unexpected touches--like when Katie and Eve first met. But Maggie stole my heart, flitting in and out of Eve and Mrs. Flynn's dreams. A strong first book for ...more

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Jul 03, 2017 Linda Mims rated it it was amazing

In author Mae Clair's tale, A Thousand Yesteryears, the Mothman, the TNT, murder, and suspense come alive in the readers' hands. Rarely do I finish a book in one day, but this one was a page-turner. Eve Parish returns to her childhood home of Point Pleasant where she is met with death threats if she doesn't leave town. All she wants is to sell her family's old hotel and do just that. In her effort to sort out her aunt's affairs, Eve encounters everything from strange dreams and ghostly phone cal ...more

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Jun 23, 2017 Jessica Bakkers rated it it was amazing

Eve Parrish returns to her home town of Point Pleasant, years after a devastating accident, to finalise her aunt's estate. But her return brings back more than memories of her past; mystery and murder soon plague Eve as she tries to uncover the truth about the strange events that have haunted Point Pleasant for years...

***
 
I want to preface this review with this statement; I am a writer, not a book reviewer so bear with me!
 
A Thousand Yesteryears by Mae Clair

5 stars
 
I absolutely loved 'Yesterye ...more

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Mar 20, 2017 Gail Mchugh rated it really liked it

I really liked all the characters with the exception of Roger. I felt for the Mothman. See how Ms. Clair can make us feel sympathy for a creature. Hmmmmm! That must be a sign of a good writer, huh. The story flowed well for me and was believable. I was impressed with the way Ms. Clair described Katie's reputation. Many young people are labeled unjustly because of the actions of their family. I want more of Caden and Eve, Ryan and Katie, and of course the Mothman. ...more

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Jun 20, 2016 Jennifer rated it it was amazing

Looking for something totally different that is fabulously suspenseful? “A Thousand Yesteryears” by Mae Clair should be next on your to-read list. This book is fascinating, intriguing and absolutely a page turner. First, let me try to explain the setting and inspiration for this novel without giving away too much of the plot. This book is fiction but inspired by real events that occurred in Point Pleasant, WV in 1966-67. From 1966 until 1967, people in the Point Pleasant area began reporting sig Looking for something totally different that is fabulously suspenseful? “A Thousand Yesteryears” by Mae Clair should be next on your to-read list. This book is fascinating, intriguing and absolutely a page turner. First, let me try to explain the setting and inspiration for this novel without giving away too much of the plot. This book is fiction but inspired by real events that occurred in Point Pleasant, WV in 1966-67. From 1966 until 1967, people in the Point Pleasant area began reporting sightings of a large flying creature, referred to as The Mothman. I have no clue if Mothman is real, but there were reports of Mothman sightings up until the Silver Bridge collapsed. The Silver Bridge was also real and unfortunately collapsed into the Ohio River on December 15, 1967, killing 46 people. Again, there were reports of Mothman sightings right before the bridge collapsed. Having addressed those little tidbits, the story begins with a young girl Eve walking down the street in Point Pleasant with her friend Sarah, just as the Silver Bridge collapses. At the time of the collapse, Eve’s father is on the bridge, as well as, Eve’s best friend Maggie and her brother Caden. Caden is one of the few survivors of the collapse (and Eve had a huge crush on him).

Fast forward 15 years and Eve is returning to Point Pleasant for the first time due to the passing of her Aunt Rosie, who willed her home and historic hotel to Eve. Initially, she is returning just to prepare her aunt’s house so that it can be sold, and most likely to also sell the family hotel in downtown Point Pleasant, but as soon as she gets there, odd things start happening. Eve reunites with old friends Caden and Ryan (Maggie’s older brothers), and Eve quickly learns that Caden continues to blame himself for his sister’s death. She also builds a friendship with an acquaintance from her childhood, Katie, who had become very close to her aunt over the years prior to her death. As things get more and more spooky and peculiar, the characters in this novel have to rely on gut instinct and blind faith to try to figure out what secrets have been kept in Point Pleasant all of these years.

“A Thousand Yesteryears” was a perfect mix of suspense, mystery, paranormal legends, and justice. There are people in this world that believe legends and folklore, such as the story of Mothman. Then there are also those people who would never believe such things, the people who need concrete, indisputable evidence. Clair’s characters in this novel are no different – some believe and some do not. Whether the characters believe in Mothman (or some of the other paranormal, spooky stuff in the novel, they have to cast aside their doubts and follow their instincts, even when it makes no sense. This is not a book that you easily solve the riddle or figure out who did what. I was stumped quite a few times, suspecting that one person was a bad guy/girl, when really they were not. I was immediately drawn into this story and it’s characters, flying through this novel to find out the ending. Mae Clair’s writing keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end and blends the perfect amount of fantasy and realism to appeal to a wide audience. Even if you are not typically a huge fan of this type of novel, I still highly recommend it for an exciting read! I can’t wait for more to come in Mae Clair’s Point Pleasant Series.

*I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jun 07, 2017 Carlene Cayenne rated it it was amazing

I got this as a free book or a dollar purchase off kobo I can't really remember the price. What I do know is that I loved this book it was really interesting. I haven't heard any of the mothman legends but I really thought the author wrote a good story around that legend. I enjoyed the setting 1980s at first 1960s. The whole scene with the bridge collapsing was heartbreaking.

Of course this book is also a love story and that put me in the mysteries of the murders and the supernatural aspect of t ...more

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Apr 08, 2016 Kristi rated it really liked it

This book starts right before the collapse of Silver Bridge so you are hooked right from the start. It then moves forward 15 years in time after Eve's Aunt Rosie dies. She has inherited Aunt Rosie's house and the family hotel, so she has to make some decisions as to what to do with the properties. Her mother had moved them after the tragedy as Eve lost her father in the bridge collapse and she had not been back since.

She arrives in Point Pleasant to discover that her Aunt's house has been vanda This book starts right before the collapse of Silver Bridge so you are hooked right from the start. It then moves forward 15 years in time after Eve's Aunt Rosie dies. She has inherited Aunt Rosie's house and the family hotel, so she has to make some decisions as to what to do with the properties. Her mother had moved them after the tragedy as Eve lost her father in the bridge collapse and she had not been back since.

She arrives in Point Pleasant to discover that her Aunt's house has been vandalized - but the damage is specific to her Aunt Rose's bedroom and dark room. The rest of the house is virtually untouched. Suspicious about the break-in, other things begin to happen to only fuel the fire. Notes are left on Eve's car warning her to leave; she gets weird phone calls that are just static and clicks. Eve's best friend Maggie, who was killed in the bridge collapse, had lived right next door and her mother and brother, Ryan, still lived there.

Ryan just happens to work for the sheriff's department and is involved with investigating the break-in at Eve's house. He recommends his brother Caden for the repairs to the backdoor as well as the inside of the house. Caden was Eve's preteen crush, even though he was 6 years older - those 6 years don't seem that big of a difference anymore. Sparks fly and Eve is beginning to wonder whether or not she should stay in Point Pleasant on a more permanent basis.

Tied up in everything from the bridge collapse to new sightings is the legendary Mothman and the general spookiness of the TNT. Nobody knows whether the Mothman is real or just a legend, but many claim to have seen him - including Caden - though he has told no one of his encounters. A lot of people believe that the Mothman is responsible for all the bad things that have happened in Point Pleasant.

As Eve and her friends - both old and new - start to piece together the mystery that her Aunt Rose was a part of - superstitions and mysteries from the past begin to shed light on happenings in the present - and Eve and Caden find themselves in a dangerous situation.

I really enjoyed reading this book - it was a quick read and I had a hard time putting it down! ...more

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Nov 06, 2016 John W. Howell rated it it was amazing

A Thousand Yesteryears by Mae Clair is a story about a small town and the tragic circumstances of a pivotal event that effected everyone. Point Pleasant West Virginia experienced the collapse of the Silver Bridge in 1967, and this story takes that real tragic event as a backdrop to a chilling fictitious tale. The author's work is the kind of book where the descriptors in the blurb and comments by reviewers under described the potential enjoyment. It is a very well written suspense story that wea ...more

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Nov 27, 2016 Jan Sikes rated it it was amazing

Eve Parrish has no idea what she will find when she returns to Point Pleasant to settle her deceased aunt’s estate. Fifteen years earlier, as a young child, she’d experienced a tragedy that changed everyone’s lives forever. A bridge that connected Point Pleasant to the rest of the world collapsed, killing many of the town’s residents, including Eve’s father and her best friend, Maggie Flynn. To escape the nightmare of the tragedy, Eve’s mother moved the family away. Upon her return to Point Plea ...more

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Apr 28, 2016 Staci Troilo rated it it was amazing

Shelves: thriller-suspense, pnr, fantasy-sci-fi

Absolutely Riveting

I’m fascinated by cryptozoology and grew up not too far from West Virginia, where the legend of the Mothman and this story occur. So when I heard this book, written by an author whose other work I’ve enjoyed, was available for preorder, I immediately placed mine. I was so sad that I was too busy to read it the day it was released. But the second I had a chance, I sat down to read it. And I read it in one sitting. I was captivated. I couldn’t put it down until I’d read every la ...more

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Apr 27, 2016 Sharon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, mystery-thriller, paranormal

Kensington Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of A Thousand Yesteryears, in exchange for an honest review.

15 years after the tragic bridge collapse that claimed the lives of her father and her best friend, Eve Parrish returns to Point Pleasant, West Virginia to settle her deceased aunt's estate. The legend of the Mothman has always been a topic of conversation in the town, especially since many believe that the monster served as a warning regarding the collapse. While back i ...more

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May 21, 2016 Niki Driscoll rated it it was amazing

Shelves: finished

What an amazing read. There is so much going on this story it will captivate you right from the beginning. The storyline is filled with mystery, tragedy, legend and greed. Eve is an interesting Character, she shows growth on a personal level in the storyline as she reviews her past actions and thoughts. Having an open mind helps her help herself as she and others try to unravel the mystery that seems to keep haunting them from the past. Caleb is troubled, feeling guilt for something he could not ...more

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Apr 21, 2016 Natalie Ducey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

After reading "Eclipse Lake" by Mae Clair, I became an instant fan of her work and brilliant writing style.
Mrs. Clair’s writing is flawless as she weaves elements of paranormal, mystery, suspense, and romance, taking readers on an impressive journey. "A Thousand Yesteryears" is a brilliant piece of work, worthy of best-seller status.
Eve Parrish was just a child when she lost her father and her best friend, Maggie Flynn, in the Sliver Bridge collapse. When she returns to Point Pleasant, fifteen y ...more

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Apr 23, 2016 D.S. Nelson rated it really liked it

I was intrigued by Mae Clair's writing when I discover she had an interest in cryptozoology. Myth and legend are themes that inspire my own writing and so I downloaded a short story of Clair's. I could see straight away that her books were fluid, easy and well written.

When she published the first of the Point Pleasant series, 'A Thousand Yesteryears', I had no hesitation in putting it on my TBR list and I was not disappointed.

Well paced and appealing to lovers of psychological thrillers, romance ...more

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May 24, 2016 Julianne Redmon rated it it was amazing

This book immediately sucked me in. By the end of the first section I was so engrossed in the book that I didn't even hear my oven timer go off and I burned my cookies! LOL

The characters were so very well-written that what happens in the story is not hard to believe. The tragedy at the Silver Bridge had changed so many lives. Eve had run away from it all, but it didn't seem to ever sit comfortably that her mother had uprooted their lives. In coming back to Point Pleasant she saw everything from ...more

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Apr 23, 2016 Jackie Roche rated it it was amazing

I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest and open review.
This is the first book I've read by Mae Clair but it certainly won't be the last.
This is a book that once I started reading I was loathe to put down.
It has everything that a lover of psychological thrillers, which I am, wants. It pulls you along at a cracking pace with great dialogue and a plot with plenty of twists and turns.
The characters are totally believa ...more

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About Mae Clair

Mae Clair

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A member of the Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers, Mae Clair is also a founding member and contributor to the award-winning writing blog, Story Empire. She has achieved bestseller status on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble, with several of her novels chosen as book club selections.

Mae writes primarily in the mystery/suspense genre, flavoring her plots with elements of ur ...more