Charlaine Harris is a prolific writer. The following is a review of book 2 of the Harper Connelly series.
Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris
Berkley Prime Crime, 2006
The past has not always been kind to Harper Connelly. Both parents had drug addiction problems, and her mother eventually died of AIDS. But one disaster, a direct lightning strike, uncovered an unusual, long hidden talent. As Harper explains to a doubtful police detective, "I find corpses. People call me in, and I find the bodies of those who've passed on. If the location of the corpse is already known, I can tell you the cause of death." Traveling with her stepbrother and business partner, Tolliver Lang, she arrives in Nashville, Tennessee at the invitation of anthropologist, Clyde Nunely, who would like her to demonstrate her particular talent to his class. He is skeptical of course, and Harper realizes this, but she is used to such an attitude. The students, Harper, Tolliver and Nunely meet at the old St Margaret's churchyard where Nunely has Harper stand on various graves, tell who is buried there and how each person died. Harper has no problem with this until reaching the grave of Josiah Poundstone. She is startled when she senses two bodies, one of which has been recently buried. Then Harper realizes that the second body belongs to a young girl, Tabitha Morgenstern only 11 years-old when she disappeared a year ago.
From here the story takes very bizarre twists and turns. A month after Tabitha disappearance the Morgensterns had asked Harper to help locate their daughter. She was never able to do so until now. The police are called and Harper is immediately under suspicion. She and Tolliver know that the discovery of Tabitha’s body by Harper cannot be a coincidence. They have no idea who could be behind this, but they need to find out ASAP.
The vividly drawn characters are as interesting as the the mystery that surrounds them. At the heart of Grave Surprise is a neat puzzle with a Perry Mason finale.
Private consultant Harper Connelly has an unusual talent. As she explains, "I find corpses. People call me in, and I find the bodies of those who've passed on. If the location of the corpse is already known, I can tell you the cause of death."
Jul 31, 2008
Winner - July Contest !
The winner of this months prize, Small Favor by Jim Butcher, is DRANDORF!
Congratulations!
DRANDORF please send me your snailmail address so that I can send your book.
Contact me at paltner@verizon.net
Congratulations!
DRANDORF please send me your snailmail address so that I can send your book.
Contact me at paltner@verizon.net
Jul 29, 2008
Internet Sites of Paranormal Interest -Twilight edition
Breaking Dawn Quote of the Day:
Carlisle: "I've seen vampire venom work miracles, but there are conditions that even venom cannot overcome."
(from Stephenie Meyer.com )
Close to midnight on August 1, 2008 bookstores, libraries, even private homes will celebrate the August 2nd release of Breaking Dawn the fourth and final book in Stephenie Meyer's over-the-top popular Twilight series.
Here are the books in order of publication Twilight ; New Moon ; Eclipse ; Breaking Dawn
In order to best enjoy Meyer's story it is best to read the books as published.
If you are wondering what to serve at your own Breaking Dawn party consider making Vampire Cupcakes. They look absolutely delicious!
Stephenie Meyer: Inside the 'Twilight' Saga (EW.com)
Five years ago, she was a 29-year-old Mormon housewife. Now, she's about to publish the breathlessly awaited finale to her best-selling series. An intimate chat with the woman who just might be the next J.K. Rowling... Read more
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - Book 1 of a Vampire Series
Read my review of Twilight posted April 26, 2008:I have heard so much about the vampire series Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, but like too many adults I turned my nose up at this because after all it is for the YA crowd and I'm far beyond this age group. But finally I caved and picked up book 1, also named Twilight (Little, Brown 2006), and was mesmerized from the first word. Below is my review. Read more...
Preteen girls -- and their grown-up moms -- are sinking their teeth into Stephenie Meyer's gothic "Twilight" books by the millions. Move over, J.K. Rowling.
By Laura Miller in Salon.com July 30, 2008A minute past midnight on Aug. 2, bookstores across the country will for the first time repeat a ritual once reserved for a single author: J.K. Rowling. Read more...
Twilight Guy
On the set of Twilight the movie.
Jul 28, 2008
Internet Sites of Paranormal Interest
Readers, if you know of any Internet Sites of Paranormal Interest please leave a comment or send an email to paltner@verizon.net
Good news! Vampire Genre, Vicky London's news and review site about the undead, is back after a brief hiatus. "Vampire Genre reviews vampire novels from contemporary paranormal authors. We focus primarily on romance but also love vampire stories that could be categorized as dark fantasy, urban fantasy, and sci-fi."
ARTICLES
The following, hilarious article, Mob Not Angry At Monster, Just Disappointed, is from The Onion - America's Finest News Source.
"CEAMURLIA, ROMANIA—Clearly frustrated by the third disheartening rampage on their town this week, a band of perturbed, torch-wielding villagers gathered at the gates of Dr. Benedikte Cojocaru's castle Monday to confront the monster that had left a trail of inappropriate destruction and chaos, in hopes of communicating how let down they all felt by his murderous actions, sources said.... Read more
Thanks to alert reader Derek T. for finding this!
Writer David Chen's article - Comic Con: True Blood, and Alan Ball’s Unique Take on Vampires appeared on /Film, July 25,2008. Chen based his account on a True Blood panel discussion featuring producer Ball. For anyone not paying attention to upcoming TV events, the HBO True Blood series is based on Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mysteries.
More News about the Twilight Film:
The Seattle Times reports that "Forks has been dealing with a rise in tourists, mainly young girls, as a result of Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series. The Olympic Peninsula city, desperately seeking something to replace its fallen timber industry, expects things to only get better with the imminent release of Meyer's fourth book and a film version of "Twilight" later this year." Read more...
Read an interview with author Lynda Hilburn on Literary Escapism
"For the first time at Literary Escapism, I’m really excited to announce our very first interview and contest. We begin with Lynda Hilburn, author of the Kismet Knight series - The Vampire Shrink and Dark Harvest, which is due out in October.
First off, I would like to thank Lynda for taking the time out of her busy schedule to talk with Literary Escapism. Make sure you stick around for the end of the interview as there is a contest for a signed copy of The Vampire Shrink and Dark Harvest. So make sure you stay tuned. Read more...
BOOK TRAILERS
View the steamy trailer for Lynda Nightingale's forthcoming vampire romance Black Swan (Wild Rose Press).
Watch the trailer for Marta Acosta's The Bride of Castle Dracula (September, 2008).
The Society of S
The Society of S by Susan Hubbard
Simon & Schuster, 2007
"My mother disappeared after my birth and had not been seen by us since." Haunting words from a thirteen year-old girl who will soon come to a very transforming time in her life. Mariella Montero lives with her father Raphael in a large Victorian house in Saratoga Springs, NY. The morning hours are spent alone or with the housekeeper, the sweet natured Ms McGarritt. The afternoons are devoted to lessons taught by Raphael that entail wide ranging subjects of literature (Poe is a favorite), mathematics, physics, philosophy. Ari, as her father calls her, receives strong intellectual stimulation from her scholar/ scientist father. Most mornings he spends with his assistants in a basement laboratory. Nothing terribly sinister going on here, but it is mysterious. Ari knows instinctively not to invade that space.
After so many years of deep curiosity Ari finally finds out some answers about her mother and the nature of her father. Ari is aware that she is the daughter of a vampire father and a mortal mother. Such a disturbing revelation raises other questions many of which her father cannot answer. What caused her mother's disappearance? Will Ari be human or vampire? In this regard Raphael believes she is more like him than her mother, but it is not yet clear. At some future time Ari herself must choose. And while trying to absorb this new found knowledge Ari suffers the loss of her only friend. Kathleen, the daughter of Mrs McGarritt, is murdered. There is severe blood loss and mutilation. The police and FBI investigate thoroughly but identify no suspects. Ari cannot help wondering if her father or either of his assistants might be involved. The thought horrifies her. Still it persists.
Eventually she decides she must leave Raphael's house to find out things for herself. Her first task is to find out what happened to her mother. Ari sets out alone and without telling anyone.
This is a brilliant novel, so poetically written. I hung on every word.
In May, 2008 a sequel, The Year of Disappearances, was published. I haven't read it yet, but I will.
Simon & Schuster, 2007
"My mother disappeared after my birth and had not been seen by us since." Haunting words from a thirteen year-old girl who will soon come to a very transforming time in her life. Mariella Montero lives with her father Raphael in a large Victorian house in Saratoga Springs, NY. The morning hours are spent alone or with the housekeeper, the sweet natured Ms McGarritt. The afternoons are devoted to lessons taught by Raphael that entail wide ranging subjects of literature (Poe is a favorite), mathematics, physics, philosophy. Ari, as her father calls her, receives strong intellectual stimulation from her scholar/ scientist father. Most mornings he spends with his assistants in a basement laboratory. Nothing terribly sinister going on here, but it is mysterious. Ari knows instinctively not to invade that space.
After so many years of deep curiosity Ari finally finds out some answers about her mother and the nature of her father. Ari is aware that she is the daughter of a vampire father and a mortal mother. Such a disturbing revelation raises other questions many of which her father cannot answer. What caused her mother's disappearance? Will Ari be human or vampire? In this regard Raphael believes she is more like him than her mother, but it is not yet clear. At some future time Ari herself must choose. And while trying to absorb this new found knowledge Ari suffers the loss of her only friend. Kathleen, the daughter of Mrs McGarritt, is murdered. There is severe blood loss and mutilation. The police and FBI investigate thoroughly but identify no suspects. Ari cannot help wondering if her father or either of his assistants might be involved. The thought horrifies her. Still it persists.
Eventually she decides she must leave Raphael's house to find out things for herself. Her first task is to find out what happened to her mother. Ari sets out alone and without telling anyone.
This is a brilliant novel, so poetically written. I hung on every word.
In May, 2008 a sequel, The Year of Disappearances, was published. I haven't read it yet, but I will.
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