Spider Light

This is an author I've just recently discovered, and I'm so glad I did. Sarah Rayne is a pseudonym, I know, so I'm not sure what the author's real name is, although she apparently writes under other names, as well, in different genres. Rayne's novels seem to fall into a crossover area somewhere between mystery, suspense and a touch of horror. In Spider Light, Dr. Antonia Weston has just been released from prison after serving several years for allegedly killing a patient. Trying to put her life back together and keep a low profile, she moves to the small, quiet town of Amberwood only to find herself immersed in the bizarre and morbid history of the town. That history centers around two very different but oddly intertwined places: Twygrist, an old, abandoned watermill, and Latchkill, an asylum long since torn down but still very much a part of Amberwood and its tragic past. Despite her desire to avoid any further drama, Antonia finds herself drawn to that past, and after soon realizing that someone with dangerous and malicious intent has followed her to Amberwood, has no choice but to try and solve several old mysteries. As much as I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the one flaw is that I thought it introduced too many similar characters and elements. It could have even been separate novels - one about Twygrist, the other about Latchkill, or at least tied together more cleanly without leaning so much on coincidence. Other than that, though, I just relished this book and read it as slowly as possible. Antonia is a good character with no fluff and nonsense, her stalker is a fascinating study we get to know rather well, and side characters such as Godfrey Toy are engaging. Rayne does a very admirable job of fleshing these characters out. I've now ordered Rayne's entire backlist (is that the word?).

Antonia Weston's life was shattered years ago by a personal tragedy made all-too-public. She moves to the sleepy town of Amberwood, hoping to start afresh. But someone knows exactly who she is and they are determined not to let Antonia forget the past. A trained psychiatrist, Antonia becomes intrigued by Latchkill, a former asylum and Twygrist, an abandoned mill. Both buildings have macabre histories, and as a series of disturbing incidents occur, it would seem the past is very much alive. . . As usual, Rayne does an excellent job of evoking an atmosphere of edgy suspense. She handles multiple narratives with ease and manages to leave no loose ends. Well worth a read.