Falise

The read itself was unexpected, but then I don’t like to read reviews or the back of the book before I read it myself. While I enjoy books that touch on magical themes, books like Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman and The Three Keys by Nora Roberts come to mind this was something completely different.

There was an underlying storyline about the Whitney women and their gifts but it was much more. It is a twisted complicated tale of family, tragic events, altered memories, flashbacks, losing grip with reality and love as well as lost love.

It is not a light read but I did need to know how it was going to continue page after page. Initially I was disappointed with the tone of the book but I quickly realized this was a deep and complex novel that seemed amazing to have come from a first time author. If Hollywood is listening this has the making for a stunning big screen or amazing cable event, there is so much meat to work with. I have been casting in my head since I started to read and even after I was finished.

I am still not sure if my thoughts on the ending are infact what Brunonia had in mind. It is definitely one of those reads you would like to have the author on the other end of the phone for a conversation to clear up those questions in your head. Originally self published and later became sought after in a bidding war among the top New York publishers, see what the buzz is all about.

JoAnne

Fall is the perfect time to read this thriller. This is where the stage directions would be cluing in the pumpkin spice and fog at this time. Witches, Salem, and secret family histories that covers three generations of the Whitney family women are just the opening gambits. We actually start the story with Towner Whitney coming back home reluctantly, after living in California, when she finds out that her great Aunt Eva is missing. Eva, owns the tearoom in a historical Salem House, and is famous for her gift of reading your past, present and future though lace that is held in front of your face. This is the gothic subplot of the novel. But, there are numerous other plots that easily could be separate books: tales of sexual abuse, a sustainable community of women living on an isolated island, a travelogue of Salem, and of course, modern day witches are added to this brew.

You are never bored with all the different, though, at times confusing stories that evolve. You could easily fall into the trap, thinking that you are easily second guessing the events, but, there are surprising twists and turns. The writing is solid, and most characters are intricate enough to keep the suspense going, along with our interest.

Brunonia Barry has very cleverly interspersed the novel with gimmicks that work. Each chapter is headed with a quote from the Lace Readers Guide, written by Aunt Eva. The quotes and the concept of lace reading seemed so believable that of course I had to go to Wikipedia to double check the veracity of the concept. Towner’s personal journal is also interjected to move the storyline along. Like the lace making, which I expect to see a resurgence, all the ends are and clues are tied together in the end.