Book Review: Hang My Head and Cry

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Hang My Head and Cry     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Elena Santangelo
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Occult   Amateur Sleuth
St. Martin's, Apr 2001, $24.95, 322 pp.

One day Pat Montella, the ghost detective, will inherit Miss Maggie's Bell Run, Virginia estate as the last known descendent of the Bell family. Pat begins to "dream of a young Black male living in the mid 1870s. Apparently he was named Emancipation in homage to Lincoln's freedom speech at Gettysburg a week before he was born.

At about the same time, an unknown gravesite is found. Considering the history of the estate where many Civil War skirmishes occurred that would not be a shocking scenario. However, not long afterward, the police come to believe that a friend's assistant committed murder. Somehow the three events: the vision from the past, the newly found gravesite, and the murder are linked with Pat's abilities to see ghosts as the only chance of finding out the truth.

The second Montella paranormal mystery retains the freshness and uniqueness within a strong amateur sleuth story line that highlights the debut tale (see BY BLOOD POSSESSED). The plot is fun and never loses steam as Pat struggles with her century plus old visions and tries to find the connection to present these events. The characters (mortal and spiritual) add depth that propel the story line forward in such a way that paranormal mystery readers will appreciate the effort. After HANG MY HEAD AND CRY Elena Santangelo can hold her head up high with pride.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner