Black Rabbit Hall

Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase


The rugged, windswept Cornish coastline sets the stage for this alluring, romantic mystery. At the center of it all, is the once majestic, sprawling countryside estate known as Black Rabbit Hall, an ancestral home belonging to the Alton family. Ominous secrets lurk behind walls now crumbling in disrepair.

In the late 1960's, Hugo and Nancy Alton escape from hectic London to spend mellow and magical vacations at Black Rabbit Hall with their four spirited children. It's here where time seems to stand still, where the stars shine brighter than anywhere else on Earth, and endless, carefree days of relaxation melt into cool, enticing nights.

In an instant, life changes for Hugo and his children when his beloved Nancy ventures out on a stormy night, riding her faithful horse, Knight. The resulting tragedy changes the very core of this close-knit family. Twins Amber and Toby struggle to cling to fond memories of their copper-haired, vivacious Momma while guiding and consoling little brother, Barney, and sister, Kitty. Nothing will ever be the same; even more apparent when Hugo brings home the cold, elusive, Caroline, and her dark, strikingly handsome son, Lucian. Responsibilities weigh heavily on Amber's shoulders, while Toby becomes distant and calculating. Their lives become increasingly intertwined with devastating outcomes. And somewhere in the dense forest that the children once gleefully explored, lies the truth behind what really happened to their mother.

Thirty year later, Lorna Dunaway is convinced that Pencraw Hall (known to the locals as Black Rabbit) is the perfect venue for her upcoming wedding reception.  Fiancee Jon heartily disagrees. There's a menacing, sinister ambiance to the place. But Lorna can't be dissuaded. The estate draws her into a trance that she finds impossible to escape. The current matriarch, Caroline Alton, extends an invitation to Lorna to stay for a few nights, much to Jon's chagrin. With her mind in a fog, Lorna uncovers morbid clues from the past that unlock repressed memories. Lorna realizes that she's in the middle of the lies and chaotic madness of events that happened years ago. Her struggle to understand the connection to Black Rabbit Hall, becomes an obsession, resulting in inconceivable truths.

Any comparison to author Daphne du Maurier is certainly justified. This ethereal, dreamy mystery combines suspense with forbidden love, adding enough twists and turns to keep the reader thoroughly engaged until the riveting end.

Cleverly written and positively entertaining, author Eve Chase's debut novel is a must read for romance suspense enthusiasts. 

Secret Sisters

Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz

It's a place she never wanted to see again. But as the heir of her grandmother's small hotel chain, Madeline Chase had no choice but to return. It was somehow reassuring to think that  the horrific, painful memories from eighteen years ago were safely hidden in the farthest corner of her mind. But now as she looks at the charred ruins of  the abandoned hotel, she realizes that was wishful thinking. It was here that Tom, the hotel's caretaker, attacked her when she was just twelve-years-old. Madeline and best friend, Daphne, her "secret sister' vowed never to reveal what they knew about the assault. The authorities had their man..He could never hurt her again....

Now Tom lays dying from an apparent fall, and his last words make it quite clear that someone knows all about those secrets the two young girls thought were hidden forever. After all these years, could they have accused the wrong man? An eerie unknown presence begins to follow Madeline making her believe that Tom was not the victim of an accident after all; he was murdered, and she may be the next target.

As panic sets in, Madeline contacts Jack Rayner, the head of security for the small hotel chain she's inherited from her grandmother. Along with reunited friend, Daphne, and Jack's friend, Abe, the four set out to find out the truth about the man who was the true attacker. The deeper they get into the mystery, the more dangerous their determination to unveil the facts becomes. Add in the mutual attraction between Madeline and Jack, and the plot becomes one of intrigue and smoldering passion, A winning combination.

Rich in character development, Krentz combines spine-tingling suspense with enough romantic sparks to satisfy the reader who is looking for both . If you haven't read this author before, her other novels may interest you.  Often writing under a pen name (Amanda Quick, being one) she is a talented writer who has the ability to cover different genres with ease.

Start the New Year with a sizzling mystery sure to please.
    

Mean Streak

Mean Streak by Sandra Brown

The last thing marathon runner Dr. Emory Charbonneau remembers is forging ahead, praying that the end is near. Step by step, refusing to succumb to the frigid air, she is determined to finish what she started. Ice crystals cover her eyelashes making it hard to see the deserted road ahead. Why wasn't she better prepared ? She reminds herself it's simply mind over matter. Nothing can deter her from accomplishing her goal; nothing except the sudden, seething pain exploding inside her head.

Emory now finds herself in a stark one-room cabin. Nothing looks familiar, especially the imposing man who towers over her. Even as the pain rages in her skull, she feels panic and fear, knowing that her life may be in danger. The argument she had with husband, Jeff, hours earlier before embarking on her journey, means he won't be looking for her anytime soon. They both needed time to cool off, to take a break from the angry, accusatory words that they'd surely regret later. She's alone and afraid as the walls close in on her. It's only a matter of time before she dies.

As days pass, Emory realizes nothing is as it first appeared. This imposing stranger is not going to hurt her. Even though he refuses to reveal his identity, Emory begins to feel trust building with her captor. Her unwavering resolve to escape begins to gradually fade as she realizes her abductor may have a hidden agenda. When he finally releases her, the story doesn't end, it actually begins anew with startling revelations. Everything and everyone she thought she knew becomes a maze of lies and deception. Someone is determined she never knows the truth.

Sondra Brown once again writes a gripping thriller that challenges the reader to ultimately uncover the story within a story. The characters aren't particularly deep; there's the tall rugged  mystery man who Emory can't resist, with Brown's characteristic steamy passages, the shallow selfish husband with a mistress and secrets of his own, and the FBI agent who vows to never stop until he finds what he's been looking for, elusive as that may be.

 Full of surprises, this book is fun and entertaining, a romantic suspense novel that will keep you guessing with a startling conclusion.