Posts Tagged 'play'

Secrets So Deep by Ginny Myers Sain

Published March 1, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery

Avril makes the bold decision to return to a summer theater camp that her mother drowned at 12 years prior. After her mother’s death, her father changed her name from April to Avril so no one initially knew who she was when she applied. It’s a very exclusive camp that only a small number of applicants get to go to. After arriving she makes some friends pretty quickly, but she also learns about the legends that the camp is haunted and calls people to the water. The story goes that at night a deep fog surrounds the camp and makes it difficult to navigate around and sometimes people lose hours where they don’t remember where they were. There’s also a rumor that in the fog you can hear voices calling to you that can lead you astray if you’re not careful. Avril doesn’t believe in ghosts, but does want to learn the truth about what happened to her mother that fateful night. The owner of the theater camp is famous for a play she wrote many years ago and that is the play they will be performing at the end of camp. Avril is thrilled when she gets the lead part and desperately wants to do it justice. She’s playing opposite the owner’s son, who seems to be keeping her at a distance. Those who knew her mother want to try and help her remember, but each story and artifact only brings up more questions in Avril’s mind about what she was like and what happened to her. Is this theater camp really haunted? Will she ever learn the truth about what happened to her mother? Who can she trust around her?

This slightly creepy mystery story was truly unique and the ending in particular will excite mystery fans who feel they have seen it all. The characters are well developed and there are enough suspicious happenings and characters that it is difficult to figure out the truth of what happened 12 years ago. The play is an interesting backdrop as it helps to piece together the mystery as well as to bring out a lot of emotions from the characters. Recommended for anyone looking for a good suspenseful mystery.

The Last Beautiful Girl by Nina Laurin

Published February 25, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy/Suspense

When Isabella Brixton is forced to move away from her home, friends, and starring role in her school play she is sure her life is ruined. Her parents have been offered jobs they simply cannot turn down, but the university they work for is going to allow them to stay in a gorgeous mansion that used to be owned by a famous artistic muse who died many years ago. When Isa starts at her new school she meets Alexa, a talented photographer who wants to photograph Isa inside the famous mansion wearing the clothes the former occupant left behind. At first, they have a lot of fun with this because the pictures turn out absolutely stunning every single time. They create an Instagram account to share with the world and they soon go viral. Eventually, Isa and everyone who comes in contact with this house begins to change, however, and not for the better. Isa begins acting strangely and even sleepwalks where she finds hidden things in the mansion she shouldn’t know about. She’s also pretty sure there’s an unnatural spirit in the house that has startled her on occasion. Her mother starts to become obsessed with cleaning and often acts out of character, such as forgetting to pick up Isa from school and then claiming she did. Things that used to matter to Isa no longer do as her hunger for power and fame grows. Can Isa get out of this house before it’s too late? Will others get hurt along the way? What is causing the bizarre phenomena in this house?

This story definitely has some suspenseful and frightening scenes as people try to help Isa escape this house, so it is not for those looking for a light-hearted read. The transition that occurs as more people enter the house and interact within it is gradual and very believable as the overall atmosphere begins to change. The characters themselves are affected in believable ways, but it is unclear why some are changed more than others. Overall, a very unique story that will hook readers from early on as it becomes clear that there is something amiss with this house. It also offers an interesting commentary on the dangers of social media and fame. Recommended for those who enjoy suspense mixed with fantasy.

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