Gothic stories reviews

 cj Sez:  Having just read ‘The Forgotten Garden” by Kate Morton for a Gothic Reads Facebook group, I’m reminded of other gothic stories I’ve read. 

  (If you'd like learn more about the Gothic Reads group, open your Facebook page, then find this link: POSSESSED: Timeless Gothic Reads | Facebook )

  Here is a refresher of a few of my reviews of gothic tales, and if these books are not on your To-Be-Read list, I think they should be.

    Buy DARKLING

THE DARKLING 

  A Gothic/horror novel from USA Today Bestselling author Carolyn Haines.

  When Berta and Bob Henderson open their home to foster Annie, a young amnesiac found wandering the streets of a nearby city, bad things begin to happen.  

  As tragedy strikes the family one by one, it becomes clear something is stalking the Henderson family.

A 5-star read!

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Buy MURMURS

MURMURS OF EVIL (The Possession Chronicles Book 2) by Carrie Dalby

  

  Protagonist Magdalene Jones is hired as a companion to a wealthy woman who is despondent over the death of her daughter.

 Magdalene soon finds herself immersed in an economic class she knows nothing about and is immediately tempted and challenged by the heir-apparent of her employer, his father, who, himself, is tempted by her. 

  Intrigue abounds in this recommended read. 

  I gave this book 5 stars.

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THE RECKONING by John Grisham 

 

Buy RECKONING

  I thought this book would be a legal thriller—it is anything but. To repeat the Amazon description, “The Reckoning is Grisham's argument that he's not just a boilerplate thriller writer.”

  If Southern Gothic is one of your favorite reads, THE RECKONING by John Grisham is for you. If you don’t know what Southern Gothic literature is, it includes dark humor, violence, destitute characters, discrimination, angst, and a strong sense of place—THE RECKONING hits the high notes and then some of all of these characteristics.

  Grisham has told a suspenseful tale of betrayal and lies that drive a town’s favorite son (a World War II hero whose Bataan Death March experience is detailed) to commit a horrific crime. The negatives were the sometimes too-long paragraphs that seemed to ramble and didn't add a lot to the narrative. 

  I gave this angst-driven story 3 stars.

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  And this on Jane Friedman’s blog:  "When mystery, thriller, and suspense authors plot their stories, one of the biggest consistent hurdles is designing twists that work."  Author and book coach Samantha Skal asks (and answers) the question: "How do we ideate twists that work?"

Designing Thriller and Mystery Twists That Work | Jane Friedman

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  Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you and yours.

cj

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