Reserved for Mystery/ThrillerVBB #20.

Mail for Mystery/ThrillerVBB #20.

Thanks for sending on - hope you are okay after all the excitement last week with Dorian.

This novel holds up pretty well. Although written in the early 90s, the themes are still relevant today - notably cults. There are a few items that seem dated. For instance, a supporting character gets lost because she's taken a wrong turn and whips out a map.. But most of it still rings true.

Clare, a NY sculptor, has returned to her hometown in rural Maryland because of recurring nightmares. Cam, the current sheriff for the town of Emmitsboro, is dealing with issues of his own, including a stepfather who is still making his life miserable and a mother who defends him. (Even later in the face of overwhelming evidence of his secret life, it takes shoving it in her face for her to understand the depth of his depravity.) Cam and Clare come together and the romance is good. He's the bad boy turned good. However, much of the story concerns murders, Satanic cults/rituals, and other dark topics. There are graphic descriptions of some of the rites that include violence and may be disturbing to some readers. (Since I read a bunch of mystery and suspense, I was okay with it - I understand not everyone is. But it did not seem gratuitous and moved the story forward.). To me, the main problems were that there were some storylines / themes that were thrown in but never went anywhere or at least the reader is left to wonder how it was resolved; and the HUGE twist at the end which to me at least hinted that the story would continue but apparently it has not. Overall a good suspense novel with romantic elements to relieve the darkness.

Gave to a friend for releasing at women's shelter - unsure if the book will be journaled, so happy trails.