Inspired by the HORROR classic, Rosemary’s Baby, we have “The New Couple in 5B”-55 Park Avenue-a historic NY city building now called the Windemere-buInspired by the HORROR classic, Rosemary’s Baby, we have “The New Couple in 5B”-55 Park Avenue-a historic NY city building now called the Windemere-built on the same soil where “The Church of the Holy Name” once stood until it burnt to the ground.
All that remained of the building was the foundation, some of the stones, and the Gargoyles that stood sentry over the front door.
Moving in, a newlywed couple, Chad and Rosie Lowan, he an actor, she a writer, who inherited the 5 million dollar unit from his Uncle Ivan.
Rosie has plans to write a book about the building’s history-divided into sections for the Violent Murders, the many Accidents, the frequent Suicides, and the natural deaths-which seem to have happened in abundance at this address-one of which occurred in their very own unit-where a writer, Paul, once lived with his beautiful, dancer wife, Willa.
Are there dark forces at work in this haunted building?
At first, the building and its eclectic tenants couldn’t feel more welcoming. But soon, the Lowans begin to wonder why the SAME doorman is always on duty, and why there are cameras everywhere? And, what about the intercom, which summons that doorman without needing to even press a button?
Creepy and claustrophobic, this ENTERTAINING story has a gothic feel which will grip you from the opening pages-but don’t expect it to feel plausible.
A fun buddy read with Susan, Ceecee and Mary Beth, which offered much lively discussion! Be sure to check out their amazing reviews for additional thoughts!
This book is available now!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this title!...more
Olivia Fitzgerald’s most recent novel—a retelling of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca—was poorly received, so, when her agent calls her with a high-paying Olivia Fitzgerald’s most recent novel—a retelling of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca—was poorly received, so, when her agent calls her with a high-paying ghostwriting opportunity, Olivia is all too willing to sign the NDA.
She has bills to pay.
Henry “Ash” Asherwood, twice named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, wants her help in writing a book that reveals a shocking secret about his late grandmother and Daphne du Maurier. He is claiming that “Rebecca” was his grandmother’s life story, and the book was plagiarized.
He has his grandmother’s journals to prove it, but they are written in French and need to be authenticated.
Could it be true? Or, does history just keep on repeating itself?
Whose stories do we have the right to tell?
The most interesting part of this book to me, was learning that Daphne Du Maurier was actually accused of plagiarism-more than once.
But, as the story progressed with Olivia spending most of her time drinking and ignoring the red flags ...more
Those were the words heard from Janet Campbell as she ran from Black Wood House, after her father bludgeoned Don’t Kill Me Don’t Kill Me Don’t Kill Me
Those were the words heard from Janet Campbell as she ran from Black Wood House, after her father bludgeoned her mother to death with a hammer, before taking his own life. She hasn’t been seen since.
Now, social media Influencer, Sarah Slade has just purchased the “Murder House” which has sat empty for 40 years, hoping to renovate it and sell it for a tidy profit. But the house doesn’t seem to want to be renovated. And, the local contractors don’t seem to want to work on the property. Despite posting the progress on her blog, SarahSlays.com, she isn’t getting the sponsors she had hoped for.
She has selected the “murder room” with its blood stained floorboards as her bedroom but her husband Joe, won’t join her. He didn’t want the house, and he hasn’t wanted her in months, so he will take the couch. That is -when he is actually at home.
But her cat, Reaper will keep her company. He’s the rescue she brought home five years ago after reading his tagline which said, “This cat doesn’t like kids, dogs, loud noises, being picked up, and he’s been known to fight with other cats. He is also very possessive of his blanket and food. “ It was love at first sight! (Good thing cats have 9 lives, he will need them-but he does survive!)
Sarah is a therapist who looks like she has her act together but she has her issues too- besides marital problems, she shops too much, and drinks too much-among other things.
And, she is hiding plenty of her own secrets. Secrets the neighbors will use against her to get what they want. And, what they want is for the house to be bulldozed and for Sarah to go away.
This book started out well enough although it had more of a HORROR vibe than I was expecting.
But PART TWO got a little too WEIRD for me. Definitely aiming to surprise and shock, it veered right into ...more
“Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birt“Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthplace of Frankenstein––The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy.…” (Publisher’s blurb)
Two timelines:
Emily is a cozy mystery writer, having penned nine “Petal Bloom” mysteries but she has been in a slump, since her husband Matt, filed for divorce and asked for half of the royalties from the series.
Her best friend, Chess, is also a successful writer, and an internet sensation, with a wildly successful self-help book titled “Things My Mama Never Taught Me”.
So when Chess invites Emily to join her for an all expenses paid Summer in Umbria, Italy, at the Villa Aestas, offering not only a chance to rejuvenate by the pool with Ice Cold Limoncello and Chilled Orvieto white wine- but also a place, to again become inspired to write-she sets aside her concerns that it is a MURDER HOUSE, and books the first flight out.
“Does one murder a murder house make?”
After all, it was just a night of sex, drugs and rock and roll gone wrong, for an aspiring rock star-after a heated argument got out of hand.
But, more importantly, it was also a house which inspired both “Lilith Rising” a famous feminist horror novel, written by Mari Godwick, a British girl barely older than the legal drinking age and the album, “Aestas” an album often called a sadder “Tapestry”-from Lara Larchmont, a singer songwriter who just happened to be Mari’s step sister.
Both girls were muses in the house, known as Villa Rosato, back in 1974, and present during the MURDER. 1974 and their story is the SECOND timeline.
“HOUSES REMEMBER” -the opening words of “Lilith Rising”.
Is it a romantic sentiment or a sinister one? “Do houses hold on to the bad, as well as the good, just as people do?”
Both writers, Mari and Emily will ponder that, but Emily hopes the house’s memories will all be good.
When Emily finds a dusty, old copy of “Lilith Rising” among the bookshelves, she will be compelled to seek out what actually happened that fateful night.
Is “Lilith Rising” hiding the secrets only two sisters know?
Or is the truth hidden in the lyrics of Lara’s songs?
“Stories change depending on who’s telling them…..”
How will digging in the PAST affect what happens in the PRESENT?
I loved the premise of this one, and stylistically it is much more like “The Wife Upstairs” than it is to “Reckless Girls” (a positive for me!).
I enjoy stories about writers, as much as I enjoy stories about books, so I much preferred the chapters set in the current timeline to those of 1974. Reading about Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll is not as interesting to me, but of course it was crucial to the plot in this case.
Did I like the ending?!
I DID!! And, I am not sure what that says about me!
Another buddy read with DeAnn so be sure to check out her amazing review!
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!...more
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