The Whisper of Shadows by J.L.H. Whitney

The cover of this book promises "Gothic terror and romantic suspense in the Victoria Holt-Mary Stewart genre--the compelling story of a desperate girl caught in an unholy web of evil."

Ooooh. Sounds promising, doesn't it?

I have a few questions for you, dear reader: When was the last time you found a moody, violent, surly man irresistible? Could you allow yourself to fall in love with a man you suspected of murder or would you (sensibly) run like crazy in the opposite direction? Do you find pain from the man you love just as acceptable as pleasure? When you are warned to stay away from a psychotic killer, do you go to his house when you are pretty darn sure he's not home or do you (sensibly) stay far, far away? When a string of murders take place in the neighborhood you are staying in, do you stay safely in the house or do you go for long walk alone in the surrounding woods?

If you are sympathetic towards a heroine who chooses the risky behaviors optioned in the above questions, then you will identify with our main character in this novel, librarian (unconsciously beautiful librarian, doncha know) Ruth Carson. So dive in and enjoy this book.

As for me, I'm a cautious soul. I found Ruth Carson a bit exasperating. Our author, J.L.H. Whitney, is compared to Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart. Of course, you know that I LOVE Mary Stewart and consider her to be the queen of this genre. I don't think J.L.H. Whitney measures up. I spent a few hours entertained by this story, but I probably won't read J.L.H. Whitney again. 

Bad language: nope
Sex: nope