“Every book tells two stories”
- Book: Murder In Devil’s Cove
- Location: North Carolina, Outer Banks
- Author: Melissa Bourbon
Ah! A truly satisfying read, which although it works more than well as a stand alone story, has an ending which has been cleverly crafted to make it definitive, yet with just enough unspoken intrigue, to make this the first episode in what promises to be an excellent series.
I am not usually engaged by stories which have aspects of fantasy woven into them. However I am really pleased that I decided to give this one a try, as the blending of genres between fantasy, cozy mystery and murder, was very subtle and seamless, leaving me only needing to suspend belief by a smidgen and making this a lovely family saga to escape into. Although I have to admit that the thought of needing to cross the road to avoid passing a library or book shop, and the notion of banning all books from the house apart from those which are hidden from sight, gives me the shivers to even contemplate!
The chapters were deliberately neat and concise, which kept the pace of the story moving forward fluidly, with each opening paragraph featuring a well-placed and relevant quote from a selection of Melissa’s fellow authors and other notable communicators.
Who would have thought that two murders, more than twenty years apart, fuelled by greed, jealous revenge and unrequited love, would have been so connected? The ripping apart of a family, as forewarned by its young and vulnerable wife and mother, is the catalyst which sets this unstoppable train of events in motion, as descendants are now trying to make sense of a longstanding curse, which only seems to afflict the female members of the family.
Whilst twins, Pippin and Grey realise that their family heritage does have something of a unique history, being brought up away from Devil’s Cove means they have been shielded from much of the detail. Now the reality that much of what they had assumed about historical events, hadn’t quite been as black and white as they had thought, or been led to believe, has opened the floodgates of emotion when fiercely guarded secrets are brought to bear as they seek to uncover the truth. Pippin has to not only turn amateur sleuth to unmask a murderer, but must overcome her own personal fears and taboos, to unlock the secrets of the past.
This well structured, slightly unconventional, multi-layered storyline, is highly textured, rich in detail and atmosphere and as an accomplished storyteller, author Melissa Bourbon skilfully, confidently and effortlessly led the direction she wanted me to take on this journey, almost without me noticing. There is a compelling blend of assured, observational and descriptive narrative, mixed with some excellent conversational dialogue, which allows all of the characters a voice and which offers a real sense of time and place that is almost tangible. I could imagine myself sat on the veranda of the Lane Hawthorne family home, in my comfy Adirondack chair, gazing out to sea – with a cup of tea and a book by my side, of course!
Melissa has developed an authentic cast of well drawn, defined and developed characters, most of whom are open books to be explored and to connect with, although our suspects have more than adequately inveigled themselves into the community as trusted and stalwart members, with nary a thought or care, which did totally catch me and seemingly everyone else, unawares, even the most curious of neighbours! I became completely invested in Pippin for her genuine and believable forthright honesty, and the fact that she isn’t afraid to let her vulnerabilities define her as a person, although I suspect that it is going to take a while for her to find her new place amongst old friends. The past is also always going to play quite a large part in Pippin’s future, as she seeks to unravel and unlock, the mysterious folklore driven roots of her Irish ancestry.
Whilst as twins, Pippin and Grey will always be inseparable and there for one another no matter what, with the knowledge that the challenge of the curse has to be Pippin’s alone to learn to live with, Grey has taken this opportunity to relax those bonds and gently guide them down their separate pathways of self-actualization, individual challenges and personal relationship development, although he is never going to be too far from her side.
I rather suspect that, once she is over the initial shock and surprise of this mini separation, Pippin will soon find her feet as a member of the community, especially with one certain gentleman, who will no doubt be encouraging her new found love of the written word. I suspect that a new partner of the four-legged variety is also set to take centre stage in the future and Pippin will have her work cut out in being her new friend’s ears on the world!
I read for four many reasons: enjoyment, entertainment, escapism and emotion and this book definitely ticked all those ‘e’ boxes, and then some.
Please wait...
