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Like the sole other review so far wrote: I am enjoying this very much and unexpectedly well! Further than that, I definitely did not expect the fantastic "exploring a castle with a sweet man" turn that we are just starting to take. Photo of the book cover courtesy of me. It wasn't anywhere else on the internet so I thought a scan from me would be a boon despite a discount-originated clipped corner.

This is certainly unique and in many ways, more interesting and enjoyable than the Amanda Stevens horror novel I finished, "The Dollmaker". For me, there is nothing like good 1970s gothic mysteries for suspense that is very taut without culminating in such revolting horror. Eerie scares with a brave, intelligent heroine who determines to figure them out and get out of the situations from her underestimating crooks!

Lots of angles and advancement without Claire consulting Dave yet. Her second ex, Alex was surely involved in the cop crime, if not her daughter's. My impression, without the overheard answering machine. The female cop too. Alex's willingness to sleep with Claire's sister is devious enough and he deters her from answering Ruby's mystery. Correction of Stephen King's 1982 essay cited previously: "Danse Macabre".

This is creepy and horrific rather than magical but my psyche and emotions need to prove they can handle big girl stories occasionally. Stephen King in his "On Writing" essay said something about fictional horror purging the negativity or darkness that is in all of us. Letting it out to exercise and purge and see that we don't explode from it or fear it unnaturally, using the safest outlet possible: entertianment.

Something I found at a charity, one of Amanda Stevens's individual novels to tide me over until I obtain the next of her wonderful adult paranormal mystery series... and the next! This one might not be ghostly and is certainly horror. A few pages in, we have quite a gross part. Too bad my cats & I were ready to fall asleep, instead of reading much farther, leaving that horror scene stuck in my head at the moment!

I see that what seemed a decorative deviation from the key plot is going to tie in. This adult musician songwriter is appreciated by Jane, the new lady minister's daughter. Taking a sidetrip to acquaint him won't be for naught. What helps is that Phil Rickman's narration is succinct so it doesn't mire us even if he detours. It has taken about 180 pages to enter their house but the eeriness seems to be commencing!

I wondered if Phil was carving too much external territory. His narration style isn't overdone. I can't bear "gentle", "softly", "lightly" for loathing them and also because they describe an obvious nature of things with those traits that would be redundant. I question extra scenes and storylines circling outside the topics I anticipate: ghosts and a mystery. Perhaps Phil is building up something that will work!

I can see that I like Phil Rickman's writing, premise, and lead character. I also like a panorama of villagers without delving too deeply into many of them. I suppose authors do know we don't want a Kate Morton sort of essay on outskirting information and that we prefer sticking with the leading lady. This début is a juggernaut 600 pages I did not expect! However it seems to distribute the right things onto them.

I believe I like this! There is the usual mix of villagers' personalities so it is important to stand out. Indeed! Our leading lady, Merrily is a reverand covertly considering this perish; at a bizarre, disorganized new tradition fraught with arguing. Someone is killed right there, so she will plausibly and immeidately become a sleuth. The writing is fine, the wit is funny, and there are supposed to be spirits!

Barbara wrote very compelling reading even, without spooky things slowly starting to go on. Her dialogue is natural, free of the "she said" I find needless. I enjoy her descriptions of sea, trees, and houses beause they are interesting rather than overly-wordy. Visual details are briefer than superfluous authors' and saved for what matters. Her characters are funny and think like real people: "An MD who smokes"?

It is time to partake of a now rare youth mystery by Phyllis A. Whitney! Published in 1949, among her first books, we acquaint another real place; the feature Phyllis wrote so well. She researched settings authentically and very thoroughly by being there, I believe, in all places among her 100 books but one. This is Mackinac, an island where no motor cars are allowed! I heard of such a one in a Wendy Webb novel.

Well, what do I make of Martha Grime's famous and longstanding series, having bought oodles of it for ten years and finally finding this début? Without Aunt Ardry, although she is thankfully more silly than irritating, I would enjoy the mystery better and Martha would get on with the plot far faster and more fluidly. Perhaps she pipes that character down. There is something I like and I sense I might become a fan.