BLURB:

Kellie, a young college grad laid off from her first teaching job and besieged by creditors, receives a letter requesting her appearance at the reading of Frederick Malone’s will. What could she have in common with the town’s richest man? Curiosity draws her to the will reading where she learns she has inherited a vast sum. The conditions of her inheritance require she change her name and reside in the Malone mansion. Long considered haunted by the residents of Malone Springs, Kellie, her fiancé and four friends move in ignoring the rumors. Strange and frightening events begin to plague Kellie before she moves and grow more frightening once she and her friends settle in. Adopted at birth, her adoptive parents killed in an auto accident leave Kellie to investigate her ancestors on her own. What she discovers leads her into more danger and mystery as she learns the true nature of her biological grandfather. Could his evil deeds hurt her from beyond the grave? Who’s responsible for the strange occurrences? What happened to her biological parents? As one solved mystery leads Kellie into another, she and her friends try to solve them all before tragedy strikes.
This book also contains the supernatural/mystery short story “MEGAN’S FEAR.”

AMAZON AUTHOR WEBSITE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I was born in Milwaukee, and lived there until I was eighteen. Then I spent eight years in Washington state and California before returning to Wisconsin. I love eerie places and books. I began with a love of Nancy Drew books and as I grew I found H.P Lovecraft, Agatha Christie, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle among others. When I am not writing, I am reading or watching sunsets. I have been writing short stories since I was in grade school. Most were in the form of essays relating real life events. Many were purely imaginary trips to magical places and times. I enjoy making up stories about people I meet or see on the street. I can see a story in a picture, especially if the picture is eerie. My imagination runs wild and free. I have self-published a book of essays and a book of children’s stories for my granddaughter, Brittney. Gypsy Spirits is my debut novel and the first in the series of three “spirit” books. I have self-published the second “spirit” book, Annamarie and Magdalena. I also self-published a supernatural mystery, THE LETTER. I plan to have the sequel to THE LETTER out this year and the third “spirit” book available winter 2013/14. From there I am sure my muse will guide me into another story plot.

MY REVIEW:

It’s been a while since I’ve read a good mystery and The Letter does not disappoint. If you love books with many plot twists and turns that keeps you on the edge of your seat and an ending you won’t be able to predict then this is the story for you!

I loved the connection the main characters had with each other, specifically Kellie and Drew and their college friends, Cole, Hunter, Taylor, and Megan. Marianne gives us good background information on Kellie so that we can fully understand how she became the smart, strong willed young woman that she has blossomed into. As I read further I Kellie’s story really captivated me; the connection I had with her left me daydreaming what I might do with nice chunk of inheritance if it ever fell into my lap.

There are no graphic sex scenes and while the scare factor is definitely there, there is no gore factor in The Letter. In my opinion the story is suitable for anyone age 13 and up.

FAVORITE SCENE/QUOTE:

They fell asleep quickly. Neither heard the large grandfather clock in the foyer announce midnight, but they did hear Emma’s scream.

Her scream was loud and clear, exactly like the other night. Something had terrified her again. Her five friends ran into her room as quickly as they could. They were so concerned, they didn’t see the eyes watching them through the partly open door in the empty third bedroom. The eyes disappeared quickly.

“What the hell happened now?” asked a half-asleep Cole.
“A ghost, I saw her. Her glowing white dress was right in my doorway. Her hair was glowing, too. It was horrible. She was walking toward me, but I screamed and hid my face. When I looked again, she was gone.”

I was given an advanced copy of this book for free for an honest review.