quietjenn's review
3.0
Oh, for the late sixties/early seventies when (spoiler alert) any random crime could be blamed on roving, drug-crazed hippies! 'Twas a simpler time ... I love that this book ends with our heroine taking the advice that I'd been mentally screaming at her practically the entire time, i.e. "Your husband is a douchebag! Leave him." That said, I liked the Gaslight air he added to the novel and the next-door-neighbor/love-interest-once-the-divorce-is-final was charming.
booksuperpower's review against another edition
2.0
As a huge fan of these old Gothic mystery novels and a collector, I have several Dorothy Eden novels. Dorothy was one of the more recognizable names in this genre .
I like to work these books into my reading schedule from time to time. I was really jonesing to read one the other day. So, this one was the one I chose.
I noticed the reviews on this one were mixed. Some even tagged it as YA . I wouldn't go that far. A trademark of this genre is the lack of sexual content and no strong language. However, this was adult fiction.
Ella and her daughter discover an abandoned house one afternoon and make up stories about the former occupants.
But, since that afternoon Ella has been greatly troubled. Her husband treats her like a feeble child, insisting she is. scatter brained and absent minded. She has also begun receiving threatening and scary phone calls. Max, her husband, insist she is imagining everything.
At the same time a woman is kidnapped and Ella begins to think her problems are somehow connected.
This book, published in 1971, might have worked well considering the era. Today, not so much.
Without giving too much away, Ella is being manipulated. When she starts to wise up, she still has doubts, but eventually gets to the heart of what is tearing her marriage apart.
There is an element of mystery and suspense, but it's a little too predictable for our current day mystery readers.
The motive was ridiculous and the result unavoidable. Not the best effort by Dorothy Eden. But, the cover art is cool. Overall a C -
I like to work these books into my reading schedule from time to time. I was really jonesing to read one the other day. So, this one was the one I chose.
I noticed the reviews on this one were mixed. Some even tagged it as YA . I wouldn't go that far. A trademark of this genre is the lack of sexual content and no strong language. However, this was adult fiction.
Ella and her daughter discover an abandoned house one afternoon and make up stories about the former occupants.
But, since that afternoon Ella has been greatly troubled. Her husband treats her like a feeble child, insisting she is. scatter brained and absent minded. She has also begun receiving threatening and scary phone calls. Max, her husband, insist she is imagining everything.
At the same time a woman is kidnapped and Ella begins to think her problems are somehow connected.
This book, published in 1971, might have worked well considering the era. Today, not so much.
Without giving too much away, Ella is being manipulated. When she starts to wise up, she still has doubts, but eventually gets to the heart of what is tearing her marriage apart.
There is an element of mystery and suspense, but it's a little too predictable for our current day mystery readers.
The motive was ridiculous and the result unavoidable. Not the best effort by Dorothy Eden. But, the cover art is cool. Overall a C -
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