The Fifth Petal (The Lace Reader, #2) - Brunonia Barry

So apparently this is book 2.  I didn't know this was book 2 when I requested it.  Don't worry you don't really need to know much of book 1 to follow and enjoy book 2, plus anything referenced from book 1 is explained enough.  This story follows two times, past and present.  Back in Salem in 1989 decedents of the victims of the Salem witch trials try to bless the ground where the atrocity happened. Something goes horribly wrong.   Three women die, one goes insane, and a child is scared for life. 

Flash forward to the present.  The "crazy lady" whom everyone thinks killed her friends back in the day is a suspect in another death.  The child, now an adult, comes home to Salem to help her.  And the Chief of Police tries his hardest to bring the murderer(s) to justice. 

I love the intertwining of the fictional world of "witchcraft" and mystical creatures with the real Salem witch trials.  It is a gripping story that keeps you guessing until the end.  Who did it?!?  Is there really a Banshee?  Is witchcraft real?  Why can't Cassie just have a happy life?  Is Rose really crazy?  Is Rafferty biased?  What's up with Towner?  I don't trust Emily, Anne, or Marta...Paul is sketchy too!  I mean seriously the who done it is strong with this one.

I love the retelling of the 1989 case through memories surfacing in Cassie.  It is an interesting way to see such a horrible day...through the eyes of a child who witnessed it, among other things.  We also see things from other people's POV including the police chief.  It makes you question reality.  Who is capable of murder?  Do things we consider myths have some base in reality?   How else do you explain the mysterious cerebral hemorrhage?  Honestly its a bit of a mind _ _ _ _ but in a good way.

If you are a fan a mysteries with a hint of supernatural and a dash of romance check this one out.   Seriously, give it a look see I really enjoyed it.  

 

I got this book for free from Blogging for Books to read and give my honest review.