This is a gothic mystery with a flair of romance and a bit of voodoo situated in the South after the Civil War. Location; St. Francisville, Louisiana. Key characters are two sisters, beautiful, but of different temperaments. One happy with what she has and the other wants more. Catherine "Cat" deClaire Reed has lost her son who drowned and a husband who committed suicide. Yet when her younger sister, Elizabeth, asks for help she doesn't hesitate.
"I need you, I am so afraid." The words ringing in her ears, Cat heads for Louisiana where her sister, husband and five-year-old daughter live in a dreary house circled with moss draped woods. Elizabeth married John McMahon seven years ago. When she arrives, Elizabeth is gone, leaving her husband and daughter, Rebecca, behind. Elizabeth is found dead and blame centers on John. Someone seeks to harm Cat, too, and little Rebecca, but is it John? They mystery moves on with Cat falling in love with John but the answers to what happened to Elizabeth long remain hidden.
"I need you, I am so afraid." The words ringing in her ears, Cat heads for Louisiana where her sister, husband and five-year-old daughter live in a dreary house circled with moss draped woods. Elizabeth married John McMahon seven years ago. When she arrives, Elizabeth is gone, leaving her husband and daughter, Rebecca, behind. Elizabeth is found dead and blame centers on John. Someone seeks to harm Cat, too, and little Rebecca, but is it John? They mystery moves on with Cat falling in love with John but the answers to what happened to Elizabeth long remain hidden.
Wonderful story..A traditional Gothic, but different as set in the post civil war South. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and their inability to come to an agreement even in the end...Great mystery and suspense and true passion. It's all there and written quite well.
This is a good page turner, gothic romance, post Civil War era, with the hint of paranormal...this story will keep you guessing til the end.
"I need you, I am so afraid", As soon as she read those words, Catherine set off for Louisiana to help her older sister. Upon entering the moss draped woods surrounding the plantation house, Cat found herself immersed in mystery as murky as the mighty Mississippi River. Her sister Elizabeth had disappeared, and Cat couldn't help but suspect her sister's husband knew more than what he was saying. His dark eyes told her he had great sadness, his arms said he had much warmth, and his lips had a language all their own. But not even a whisper of her sister. Drawn into a web of family secrets and ancient superstitions, Cat hardly knew what to fear most: the deadly cottonmouth snakes, the deceptively peaceful swamps, or the dashingly powerful man who could steal her breath and sear her heart.
"I need you, I am so afraid", As soon as she read those words, Catherine set off for Louisiana to help her older sister. Upon entering the moss draped woods surrounding the plantation house, Cat found herself immersed in mystery as murky as the mighty Mississippi River. Her sister Elizabeth had disappeared, and Cat couldn't help but suspect her sister's husband knew more than what he was saying. His dark eyes told her he had great sadness, his arms said he had much warmth, and his lips had a language all their own. But not even a whisper of her sister. Drawn into a web of family secrets and ancient superstitions, Cat hardly knew what to fear most: the deadly cottonmouth snakes, the deceptively peaceful swamps, or the dashingly powerful man who could steal her breath and sear her heart.
