Atmospheric ghosts, dark forces, and wild turkeys

February 19 to 26, 1976, I read:

Solemn High Murder, Barbara Ninde Byfield

The Early Pohl, Frederik Pohl


February 19 to 26, 2006, I read:

Four and Twenty Blackbirds, Cherie Priest
A very well-written, atmospheric, literally haunting book. One problem I had was that the heroine had a major case of don’t-do-up-in-the-attic-itis. For example, with a homicidal maniac stalking her, she heads straight for the cemetery after dark. I realize that that’s where the plot needs her to be, but for me, it got a little predictable. Where’s the most dangerous, isolated possible place? I think I’ll go there—alone—at night!

It held my interest but never really scared me much—which is fine. I should say that I don’t exactly read ghost stories to be frightened, as I know some people do. Well, maybe to be frightened just a little tiny bit…

The author has an interesting web site at--
http://cherie.twilightuniverse.com/


Final Intuition, Claire Daniels

More on the whimsical fun than frightening front is the fourth and final book in Claire Daniels' Cally Lazar series. In the interests of disclosure I should say that Claire Daniels is also my dear friend, Jaqueline Girdner, who wrote the Kate Jasper mystery series. I was interested to catch up on the latest adventures of her amateur sleuth, a New Age bio-energy balancing healer. Cally's boyfriend, Roy, is either crazy or really does see dangerous dark forces swirling around her. Aside from the final truth about these dark forces, there are always fun witty things in Jaki/Claire's books. I know of no other author who would bring on wild turkeys wandering through the yard oblivious of both murder and Thanksgiving. The Turkey Sisters are shadowed, although never approached, by a lone male turkey. Very Dashiell Hammett in a cozy mystery kind of way—I mean if Hammett used large, wild turkeys for actors and actresses (which might be kind of fun actually--never mind, Jaki/Claire's work has that effect on me).

More about Claire/Jaki and other unexpected treasures at--
http://www.maadwomen.com/clairedaniels/