The Disappearance of Darcie Malone

The Emily Menotti Mysteries #1

by Maryellen Winkler

On a warm September night in 1969, a young couple embarks on a romantic picnic on the grounds of a reputedly haunted house. By morning, the young girl has disappeared, and her boyfriend is found mentally confused and unable to speak. The girl is never found, and the mystery is never resolved. Thirty years later, a woman stands in the dark and hears an old man singing, “Darcie Malone, Darcie Malone, Darcie, why don’t you come home?” She turns to see who is singing, but no one is there. Darcie Malone is the young woman who went missing in 1969. Emily Menotti, intrigued by the old man’s plaintive song, begins to investigate what happened on that long-ago night. Along the way, she’ll meet Darcie’s elderly mother and strange brother, an ambitious reporter, local ghost hunters, and the original detective assigned to the case in 1969.

123 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Maryellen Winkler is an American writer who specializes in ghostly mysteries. She is a native of Wilmington, Delaware where she has lived in and around her entire life. Her home-away-from-home is the New England landscape where she finds joy and solace in its rocky seashores and unspoiled forests.

A graduate of Ursuline Academy and the University of Delaware, she has had various careers in banking, real estate, and retail. Her true loves are reading, writing, and puzzles.

Her characters are based on her experiences as working woman, a divorcee, a stumbler at dating in her 50's and 60's, a second marriage, and later widowhood. Yet she remains fiercely optimistic and believes in the restorative powers of good friends and good food.

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

From page one this story draws you into the character's lives. I don't always care for a first person POV, but this is one that I enjoyed. The author held true to that POV and it feels like we are seeing the story unravel with the main character Emily. I liked that I was kept guessing about different character's motives, thinking this one might be involved or what this character is hiding. I do wish that some of the relationships would have been fleshed out more. Bill kind of just disappears himself and we don't see what the revelation at the end does to Bill and Walter's other relatives. The ending felt like it was wrapped up too quickly, but it was wrapped up well. There is a satisfying ending to the story. Would definitely consider reading more of this series as it is one I stayed up reading a little too late on more than one night!

[Kelly Ewing · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect short mystery! It’s only 110 pages!

It’s so sweet. Emily is very inquisitive and optimistic. She is definitely a character who’s story you want to follow. Some of the supporting characters weren’t as well thought out as Emily, but again they’re just supporting characters.

More of a grown up version of Nancy Drew with a twist. Emily is more of a lady who didn’t set out to solve a crime, more like stumbled into the answers. Or the answers seemed her out.

[Barbara J Auman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I started reading the Emily Menotti series it’s the fourth book because my daughter recommended Murder on the Brandywine. Both of us worked in banking in Delaware for years and the description of the banking crisis was spot on. Also as a Delaware resident the local scenes rang so true, I just had to go back to this first volume. I can’t wait to read a A Killing in Kennett Square since we lived there awhile.

[Pat Muccigrosso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Ghost Story/Murder Mystery

This book is an easy read with likable characters, a death, ghosts and a dash of romance, all in one place. Nice storyline and an interesting heroine.

[Melissa La · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too choppy. Very hard to follow. Too many events for the time period.

[Spousey · Rating 5 out of 5]

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