Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Tale Of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb


"I just want to be sure. If you think you know who the ghosts are, it helps. Whenever possible, it's best to try to contact specific people on the other side."
~Page 277

Author: Wendy Webb
ISBN: 978-0-8050-9140-3
Publisher: Holt/2010
Pages: 326

It is modern a Gothic story which has all the right elements to sustain the interest of the reader. When Hallie James discovers that her mother was very much alive after three decades, she doesn't know what to believe. He dad is lost to her as he has Alzheimer's. Now both her parents die within a few weeks of each other. So she has no answers for all her questions.

She travels to an island in the Great Lakes to seek answers for her questions. However, the islanders are antagonistic towards her for what her father had seemingly done 30 years ago. Hallie doesn't believe that her father could do anythibng wrong. And she knows that she has to unravel the truth. And only the islanders can help her in that. She moves into her mother's house, which she has inherited and finds herself seeing small girls calling her to play, her mother's hug engulfing her and certain visions she can't understand.

When an old housekeeper Iris offers to tell her family's story, she is only too eager to learn it. And then in the midst of her narration, finds herself having clear visions of what happened.

Now she has an inkling of her father's reason for taking her away from the island and also knows that it is her home and she has come to stay. And only she can help the ghosts to leave the house.

With a setting in a island in Great Lakes, amongst old house, graves, ghosts and witches, the reader is completely enthralled by the narration. And is as eager to know about what propelled Hallie's father to leave the island along with Hallie, that too, by meticulously planning their own demise, and then getting a new identity for both of them. . Especially when we see him being a loving father, who doesn't ever remarry, as he still loves his wife, Madlyn Crane.

We are as pleased as Hallie when she is finally accepted by the islanders and also finds a love, which she had not expected. The best part is, suspense is maintained throughout. Once I started it, I simply couldn't put it down.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My telephone lines were down for two days, due to which my internet wasn't working. Hence, I couldn't visit anyone in the last two days. Will try to remedy that soon. My Google reader is overflowing!

28 comments:

Anachronist said...

Lovely teaser, thanks! Here's mine, something special for all the book bloggers!

Carl V. Anderson said...

It is a tantalizing teaser! If you haven't done so, please put this link on the Book Review Site as well. The link is on my sidebar.

Belinda said...

SOunds like and interesting read. Hope you're enjoying the book and thanks for the teaser :)

Here's my teaser

Lisa said...

oohhh this sounds good!

Here's mine

Deepali said...

Sounds interesting!
Here is my teaser:
e-Volving Books

I also have an entirely new style for the blog - including a brand new, self-designed Header!
And a new name!! Come check it out :)

Alayne said...

I really want to read this book! Great teaser. Mine is at The Crowded Leaf.

Nise' said...

An Island in the Great Lakes I live on one of them) is intriguing.

Novroz said...

It's so my kind of teaser!! I'll put it in my to search list

Jo-Jo said...

Great teaser...I suppose it is a good idea to know the dead people one is coversing with!

Book Bird Dog said...

Sounds like a great story!

Clare said...

I hope you enjoy this!

Anonymous said...

Love the teaser, and the book sounds intriguing!

fredamans said...

Sounds creepy! I like creepy!

http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2010/08/teaser_30.html

pussreboots said...

Sounds good! Enjoy your book. Mine's from How to Crash a Killer Bash by Penny Warner.

Chrissie said...

Nice teaser. I havent heard of this book before.

Anonymous said...

Love that teaser!

Unknown said...

Love this teser! Good gothis stories are the best, especially on chilly dark nights! I'm not sure I'd be up for contacting them but I bet Hallie will!
This book is being listed on my TBR!

~ Amy

Melody said...

I've this book in my pile! Looking forward to reading it!

jenclair said...

This one sounds good! Thanks for a good title suggestion!

Anonymous said...

This looks great and a perfect start to RIP V! I've got this on my wishlist but alas, have had no time to look for it. I just had a look at your list for the challenge which reminded me that I also need to read The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest! Thank you for reminding me.

Anonymous said...

I have this in my line-up for potential RIP V reads, and now, thanks to your teaser, it's moved up in the list. Can't wait to read it! Thanks for the great review.

Terri B. said...

The setting sounds wonderful. And I love gothic!

Jodie Robson said...

I'm impressed that you've read so much for RIPV already! This one sounds nicely creepy.

Kailana said...

Never heard of this book before, but it does sound interesting!

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed this one too! It has definitely stayed with me long after I turned the last page. You can check out my review of it here.

Tiina said...

Sounds intriguing!

Greetings,
Tiina

Anonymous said...

This one's on my wish list!

Anonymous said...

This is already on my wishlist but now I'm itching to read it! It looks nicely gothic!