Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
The Return
Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Dinah McCall
Class/Genre: Mystery Romantic Suspense Historical
Mira, May 2000, $6.50, 384 pp.
The Kentucky hills run red with the flow of blood from the victims of the deadly Blair-Joslin feud. A witch stands aloof as the savagery of the clan warfare leaves devastating results in its wake. Herbalist Annie Fane’s life dramatically changes when a dying Fancy Joslin pleads with her to take her infant daughter Catherine away from the violence. Annie agrees to Fancy’s deathbed wish. The Blairs set their dogs on Fancy, finally killing her. Her now insane husband, Tanner Blair murders his brothers and severely injures his father for what they did to his wife. Annie and Catherine leave town. They do not return until Catherine comes back to bury her grandmother Annie at Pulpit Rock where most of the massacre occurred years ago.
Though she knows that her ties to Annie are by love not blood, Catherine refuses to allow anyone to denigrate her “grandmother”. Her return stirs up the fears of the townsfolk who believe that Catherine is a witch who has come to town to take revenge on the townsfolk who reviled Annie. As someone stalks Catherine, Sheriff Luke DePriest is determined that no one will get hurt, especially the woman he now loves.
THE RETURN is a poignant work of romantic suspense that tugs on the heartstrings of the reader. The lyrical prose gives the audience a feel of a ballad rather than just another suspenseful plot. The lead protagonist is a delightful combination of strong independence and charming vulnerability. Catherine fights for what she believes in even if it seems to her that Don Quixote had better odds of winning. This steamy tale will have fans returning to the bookstores seeking other works by Dinah McCall.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
If you enjoy this website, a link would be appreciated. |