I read and very much enjoyed Barry's The Lace Reader in 2007 and the map of true places in 2011, and I was looking forward to this novel set in the same location.
excerpt from Kirkus Reviews:
...It’s 2014, and Rose Whelan, once a prominent historian specializing in the study of the Salem witch trials, is now an addled bag lady who wanders the streets of Salem, accosting passers-by with dire predictions and obsessing about oak trees, Celtic goddesses, and an avenging spirit called a banshee. When a bad-seed teenager who threatens Rose is killed, seemingly by an unearthly shriek, the townsfolk pressure Salem Police Chief John Rafferty, a recovering alcoholic, to reopen a 25-year-old cold case, the 1989 slayings of three wannabe witches in which Rose was implicated but never charged.
Unfortunately, this one did not work at all for me. Kirkus also calls the book, "A flawed but entertaining occult murder mystery." I am afraid that I did not find it very entertaining. As much as I enjoyed The Lace Reader, I found myself plowing through this one. Reviews on Goodreads run the gamut from 2 to 5 stars--so there is a lot of room to disregard my opinion.
Read in Oct.; blog review scheduled for Jan. 7, 2017.
NetGalley/Crown Publishing
Mystery/Supernatural? Jan. 24, 2017. Print length: 448 pages.
Hmmm...I did read THE LACE READER and liked it very much, as I recall. It was a long time ago. I'm not very excited about this one, so will likely give it a pass. Though I do like the setting - Salem is always appealing.
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd liked this one better, but it was a disappointment. Salem is a great setting, isn't it?
DeleteI haven't read anything by her and do have this one on my stacks. I think I'm interested mainly for the setting. I was in Salem years ago and thought it was so charming. Will have to keep my expectations in check on this one!
ReplyDeleteThe Lace Reader was so good, and I had hoped for something as promising. But, as we know, each reader is different, and you may like it better than I did!
DeleteI loved The Lace Reader; it has such a great twist at the end! It's too bad this latest book of hers is so disappointing. But then, I didn't think her second book was as good as her first. Maybe she peaked with The Lace Reader. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've not read anything by this author, but I thought the setting is interesting. Perhaps I'll try The Lace Reader first should I want to read this author.
ReplyDelete