Midnight Island Sanctuary

Having been out of the loop concerning trends in the romance publishing industry, I found myself highly pleased with the publisher's ability to give its readers what they want. It's a lot edgier than the stories I cut my teeth on 20 years ago when I first picked one up. One of not only Harlequin's Intrigue line, which offers stories of intense romantic suspense, but also part of Intrigue's "Eclipse" subline, this book fits neatly into the "gaslight" genre Harlequin intended. Like the movie Gaslight, this book stars a somewhat frail heroine undergoing a series of strange nighttime happenstances that call her sanity into question. I never got impatient with the heroine, however, whose delicacy is related to a violent attack and being on the run from a psychotic killer, and she handles herself well under the circumstances. The setting for this book could not have been more perfect for a pre-Halloween read. Our heroine seeks refuge on a secluded island in the frigid Northeast, in a huge castle peopled with odd characters caught up in their own hidden agendas. The castle boasts a network of secret passageways and a pair of vigilant Rottweillers, and when it isn't raining and sleeting, a chill wind blows dry leaves in corners. Though the outcome was highly predictable, getting there was page-turning, evocative fun.

I loved this book and stayed up all night reading it. This is in the tone of the old gothics a la Mary Stewart that I've always loved. I can't say enough positive things about this book or this author's other books, but MIDNIGHT ISLAND SANCTUARY is her best yet!

Midnight Isle Sanctuary by Susan Peterson is a nifty little "Gothic" tale from Harlequin Intrigue. Peterson, shows great imagery in her writing, and a talent to evoke emotions. I did have a small problem from the start. With the very limited size of Harlequin Intrigues, they generally keep their prologues to just a couple pages. Peterson has a 15-page prologue that really detracted just a bit from the book. It's a set up¯why Cora is basically going to Midnight Island to hide out. However, she could have jumped straight into page one of the story and used the prologue as back-story with in the chapter. It's just jarring. It's starts out with a killer attacking Cora, and it's plays more like a slasher suspense. Then the book moves into a really great gothic. The two just really did not gel together. Also, it seemed a little gratuitous in this sort of novel. The book would have played much better to start with the reader go to the island with Cora and learn about her as the story unfolded. The 15-pages of the killer attacking Cora, was too long, and really not needed, since any details could have been folded into the story. You can jump into Chapter One and enjoy the book without it, so it said it was not needed. The 15-pages could have been used in the story itself, since Intriques are only 250 pages long. Cora Shelly's friend was killed and she attacked, and she is waiting to testify Eric Dubane. The man swears he will come for Cora in court. (That is a bit of stereotypical overkill. How many times do people really declare this in court for real?) Cora decides to accept employment as a cook on a remote island in the St. Lawrence Seaway, at a castle owned by the Mackenzies. (I give Peterson an extra star for getting the small k in the name correct!) The island is own by William Mackenzie, an ailing man who rarely leaves his room. He is married to the well-preserved second wife, Amanda. She was the one who hired Cora as cook for the large household. Jake Mackenzie is the sole heir to his father's shipping firm, and now runs it. In typical Gothic fashion, Jake's wife vanished two years before, and the police have given up looking for her. Maggie Mackenzie is the emotionally fragile stepsister to Jake. She is hiding dark secrets she's itching to tell. Dr. Sheffield and his wife are frequent visitors to the castle, and it's under his care that Cora begins to have strange nightmares. Naturally, Jake at first is gruff with Cora, but attraction flairs. It's a dark and stormy night tale, done with a strong flair. Despite the small flaws, Peterson gives the reader an enjoyable story that is reminiscent of old Dark House movies of the 40s and 50s. I look forward to more stories from this writer.