Let's talk about Dark Shadows

Do you remember the original t.v. show, Dark Shadows? Did you watch it?

I did. Confession. I own the complete series box set. I am on episode 807 of 1245 episodes. I don't "binge watch" it. I don't even watch episodes every week or every month. Just whenever I am in the mood.

Why talk about it? Well, guess what? The CW network is working on a pilot for Dark Shadows: Reincarnation. Yay! I found this out on Face Book. Of course. There is a Dark Shadows FB page called The CHS Drawing Room - The Collinsport Historical Society Drawing Room. Seems like a good Halloween topic too.

So let's back up.

The show ran from 1966 - 1971. It was in a soap opera slot I think about 3:30 on ABC. If you read anything about it, you will often see that kids "ran home from school" to watch it. That was true for me. I don't think I saw it in the beginning but when I was in 8th grade, my best friend and I would get off the bus and run to her house to watch it. She says now that "she doesn't really remember it", but I think she doesn't want to admit it. Her older sister would make "oooo oooo" ghost noises from other parts of the house. Now we weren't scared by it. In fact a lot of times we laughed and laughed. There were plenty of bloopers, missed lines and really cheap special effects. Very campy. That is what has created the cult following it has.

About: "The story of Dark Shadows begins with newly hired governess Victoria Winters arriving at Collinwood, the Collins' estate in Collinsport, Maine in search of her mysterious origins. She soon is caught up in the strange events and mysteries that seem to surround the Collins family. Eventually, the Collins' "cousin from England", Barnabas Collins, arrives and takes the show in a new direction; his vampire curse introduces a new history of the Collins family. Part of this revised history is the popular character of the witch Angelique whose jealously led to the tragic death of Barnabas' great love Josette and who placed the curse upon Barnabas."

What was so great about this series, is there were so many famous stories that were played out. When the series first started, it was more of a dark soap opera; Victoria Winters comes to the house to be a governess. The man of the house, Roger, is an alchoholic. I think he even killed someone while drunk driving. This didn't go over very big, and the series went gothic and supernatural.

Some of the story lines were Dracula, Frankenstein, Frankenstein's Bride, The Werewolf, Dorian Gray, the Salem witch trials, a Phoenix and plenty of ghost stories.

There were some well known actors in the series also.  

• Joan Bennet played Elizabeth Collins, the matriarch of Collinwood. You know Joan Bennet.
• Jonathan Frid played Barnabas Collins, the reluctant vampire. He was a theatre trained actor and played on Broadway.
• Luis Edmond was Roger Collins, Elizabeth's brother and the "man of the house".  He also was in numerous plays but if you also were an All My Children fan, you remember him as Langley Wallingford.
• Grayson Hall played Julia Hoffman, the doctor that is always trying to cure the vampire and has a crush on him. She was nominated for an Acadamy Award for her performance in Night of the Iguana in 1964.
• David Selby was Quentin Collins. He plays the werewolf at times. He was on Falcon Crest. He was the heart throb of the show.
• Nancy Barret was Carolyn Stoddard the daughter of Elizabeth. (Elizabeth buried Carolyn's father in the basement). She was also on The Doctors and Ryans Hope
• Denise Nickerson was Amy, one of the children that comes and goes. I think the kids were on more in the summer. She is famous for the girl on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that turns blue and blows up like a blueberry.
• Thayer David: Several roles. He was in Journey to the Center of the Earth and Rocky.
• Kate Jackson: You know her from Charlie's Angels and various movies
• Kathryn Leigh Scott, Lara Parker, Jerry Lacey, David Henesy....the list goes on.

No one ever went to work, no one ever ate (expect in the vary beginning of the series, lol), they were always up in the middle of the night, and it was always thundering. So fun.

There were a couple of movies based on the series in the 70's that were o.k. There was a Dark Shadows: Revival in the 80's but I didn't like it. Maybe the original series was too fresh in my memory. The SciFi channel used to run the series at that time. Then there was the Dark Shadows movie by Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. I actually kind of liked it. Many didn't. Three of the original case had a cameo. 

The director was Dan Curtis. Two of his daughters are on the Dark Shadows: Resurrection project. 

I can't wait!

A spooky book and a spooky challenge

Trying to get in the Fall spirit, even though it is still 100 degrees. The end of next week looks promising but I don't want to jinx it.

A few weeks ago I listened to The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware. I had read her book, In a Dark, Dark Wood and loved it. So when this popped up in Audible last month, I chose it.

About: "When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder.

 Writing to her lawyer from prison, she struggles to explain the unravelling events that led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the cameras installed around the house, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at the worst possible time. It wasn’t just the girls, who turned out to be a far cry from the immaculately behaved model children she met at her interview. It wasn’t even the way she was left alone for weeks at a time, with no adults around apart from the enigmatic handyman, Jack Grant.

It was everything.

She knows she’s made mistakes. She admits that she lied to obtain the post, and that her behavior toward the children wasn’t always ideal. She’s not innocent, by any means. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty—at least not of murder. Which means someone else is."

This is a psychological thriller and downright spooky, especially as an audio book. Imogen Church is the narrator. She is really, really good at different voices and sound effects. 

One of the girls she is in charge of, sets this up as a ghost story right away, warning Rowan not to accept the post, that "the ghosts won't like it". Rowan is left with the girls, alone, for a week on her second day. What kind of parents would do this? And then there is an older girl away at boarding school, due home any day. Don't worry. Everything will be fine. There is a maid who pops in for a couple of hours. She doesn't like Rowan. The handyman lives in what was a stable across the way. He seems nice. There are lots of ominous notes, signs and noises. 

There are many of twists and turns. I know that sounds cliché, but as the story progresses and you think you are coming to the end of the mystery, something is divulged that is a complete surprise. Now we are at the end. Or are we?

I really liked this book. I like Ruth Ware. But I had a couple of questions that weren't answered to my satisfaction. Maybe that is part of the mystique. I may have to listen to it again. It seems like one of those that is good enough to read or listen to again and you may catch some things you missed.

How about this? RIP 14. 

It is a book challenge for all things, mystery, suspense, gothic, thriller etc. for the Halloween season. I saw this on my book friend Kay's blog. (Kay has a really good blog with lots and lots of mysteries of all kinds.)

Here is a link to her blog and more about the RIP challenge.

https://kaysreadinglife.blogspot.com/2019/09/rip-xiv-reading-challenge-lets-get.html

Some book challenges seem daunting and I don't typically do them. Read 50 books in one month and write and essay on each. Well, maybe not that bad but some seem that way. This book challenge looks doable and fun. There are levels of "peril" from reading one book that fits the category to four books, or something on screen, or short stories and more. Looks fun.

Here's the link.

https://readersimbibingperil.com/

The Escape Artist - Brad Meltzer

Our Mystery Book Club read The Escape Artist for our September book.



About: "Two hours outside of Washington, DC is the mortuary for the U.S. government's most top-secret and high profile cases. America's most important funeral home. To work there, mortician Jim "Zig" Zigarowski has one rule: never let a case get personal. But when a new body arrives--of young female sergeant Nola Brown, who was a childhood friend of Zig's daughter--Zig can't help himself. Looking closely at Nola's body, he realizes immediately: this isn't Nola. Indeed, his daughter's friend is still alive. And on the run. Zig's discovery reveals a sleight of hand being played at the highest levels of power--and traces back through history to a man named Harry Houdini. "Nola, you were right. Keep running."

The story takes place mostly in Dover, Delaware. This is where all fallen soldiers and others from  events such as 911, come. There is a lot of interesting, factual information woven into the story about the base in Dover. I know that this is where the remains of recently returned POW's were sent. A relative of a relative is working on that DNA project to identify the remains.

Once Zig realizes Nola is still alive, and that there is something big is going on, a cover up perhaps, he decides to find Nola. Following her tracks, he gets into some serious perdicaments. We also follow Nola who seems to be on a mission.

Nola reminded me in some ways of Lizbeth Salander in the Dragon Tatoo series. She is a person who is a survivor and has depended on herself her whole life. She has developed incredible skills as a result. 

All in all, I really liked the book. The writing is straight forward. It is a thriller, it moves fast, lots of action and suspense. Many of the characters are not who they seem.

Most of the group liked it. Some felt there were a few questions unanswered that they wanted answered. I believe a sequel is in the works. I would read it.

I was familiar with Brad Meltzer through his T.V. show, Decoded. We watched it regularly. It was about possible conspiracies and getting to the bottom of them. I don't remember if any were solved, but it was an entertaining show. I had never read any of his books. I guess I didn't realize he wrote fiction. I was pleasantly surprised.

You can learn more about Brad here: http://bradmeltzer.com

My 4 August reads

Well apparently, summer is not over for us here. Still 100+ (F) and not sure how much more I can take. But at least it is an excuse to read. Instead of going out for a walk in the evening, I hit the books.

Here is what I read in August.

Faking Game by Janet Pywell



About: A Gripping International Crime Thriller from author Janet Pywell's Culture Crime Series.
She is rebellious. She is talented. She is vulnerable.
Mikky dos Santos finally has what she always wanted and her past life as a thief and forger is firmly over. But when she's invited to a celebration in Barcelona her world explodes, shattering her life and her dreams. She makes a promise - one that she will never break.
Mikky's time is running out and she will do whatever it takes. Nothing will stand in her way. When you make a promise nothing else matters."

Me: I thoroughly enjoyed this exciting and fast paced book with Mikky De Santos, Josephine, Eduardo and some new likeable characters. The action begins immediately and escalates through the story. The author is not afraid to tug at the readers emotions. Lots of twists and turns. When you think you have it figured out, you are taken off in another direction. Satisfying ending with a good opening for the next book.

The prequel to The Culture Crime Series: GOLDEN ICON is currently free to download for a short period of time:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F45GQE0

The first book in the series, MASTERPIECE is free if you join Janet's mailing list. You can do that here:
https://www.subscribepage.com/janetpywell

I have read both and liked them a lot. 

The Fourth Door by Virginia King is the 4th book in the Selkie Moon series.



About: "When Selkie Moon travels to Hong Kong to discover his fate, she has high hopes of using her psychic twinges to find him and reunite him with his father. Until the tea leaves on her flight make a chilling prediction.
Then in a Kowloon night-market she witnesses a child abduction – and the echoes with her quest suddenly raise the stakes.
As the strange events escalate and reach back into Chinese folklore, Selkie is compelled to confront the powerful force that’s hell bent on stopping her. The omens are unmistakable. Someone is going to die.
Someone closest to her?
Or Selkie herself?"

Me: Each book takes place in a different country and highlights folklore and superstitions of that country. Selkie travels with Alistair to Hong Kong to continue the search for his son who disappeared as a baby, with the baby's grandparents, after his wife died. He has been searching for 30 years and finally has some hope. He has found a cousin to his son, Su Yin, who says she has information that the baby was taken to Hong Kong, but seems more interested in the reward. Selkie finds some notes in the in flight magazine that seem to speak to her. When she sees a child abducted at the market in Kowloon, she is sure this is what happened to the baby many years ago. Selkie pulls in her psychic abilities, using the notes in the magazine, and hooks up with a medium for help. Su Yin appears, the medium disappears and things go from bad to worse. The grandparents are in the area but where are they? Are they helping or hindering the search? Something happens to Alistair. Is this the work of his deceased wife, Fleur, haunting Alistair? Clearly this is more that Selkie can handle on her own. She calls in the help of her friends, Derek and Nigel, and a medical doctor who specializes in Chinese medicine and folklore.

It is very fast paced and lots of suspense, with danger at every turn of the page. The story is immersed in Chinese and Japanese folklore but takes place in modern times. It is a very interesting how this tales are woven into the story. 

I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

Jealousy Filled Donuts by Ginger Bolton


About:  "It is a truth universally acknowledged--cops and donuts go together. Exhibit A: Deputy Donut Cafe, owned and operated by detective's widow Emily Westhill and her father-in-law, the retired police chief of Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. Named after Emily's adored and adorable tabby, the donut shop is a favorite among cops, firemen, and EMTs, as well as tourists and townspeople. So when Fallingbrook needs donuts for their Fourth of July picnic, Emily's shop gets deputized.
But a twisted killer has found another use for Emily's treats. At the picnic, a firecracker is hidden in a stack of raspberry-filled donuts and aimed at the unwitting queen of the festivities. When it explodes, she is killed. Having her jelly donuts involved puts Emily in a sticky situation, and when a shady shutterbug tries to frame her with incriminating photos, she finds herself in quite a jam. To preserve her freedom and her shop's reputation, Emily needs to solve this case--before the fuse-lighting felon goes off again …"

Me: This is a cozy. Any book with a cat and takes place in Wisconsin (especially in the summer) is good for me. 
4th of July in the seemingly quiet small town of Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. The scene is set as the annual 4th of July proceeds, with Emily driving the king and queen of the festivities in the Deputy Donut car. The queen has a bit of an attitude...Later that evening during the fireworks, someone is killed. The death is suspicious and Emily proceeds to help piece together what really happened. At the same time as the investigation, there is a photographer that appears to be stalking Emily's new employee, Jocelyn. Jocelyn practically runs and hides whenever he shows up at the donut shop. He also seems to be taking pictures or Emily. Emily becomes a suspect and needs to find out who committed the murder. There is a lot of suspense toward the end as Emily is targeted out at the campgrounds. Exciting description of Emily trying to move through the woods and around the river to find Jocelyn, who has disappeared, while being followed. Then there is a possible romance interest for Emily. This book really was a page turner and I really liked the possible romance story. And don't forget Dep, the cat, who watches over the Donut shop. (I wish I could get my cats to walk on a leash.) Lots of likeable characters and donut recipes at the back.

I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

The Witch of Senduwar: Bhrigu Mahesh PhD, #1 by Nisha Singh



About: "In the idyllic village of Senduwar, fortune seems to smile on its poor residents when they discover precious pieces of a lost treasure accumulating on an abandoned floodplain purportedly haunted by the spirit of an angry witch. The gold pursuit that follows benefits the lives of many but destroys that of a mother when her son, Malthu, dies in a freak accident a few feet from the treasure site. The superstitious villagers believe that the witch, Jiyashree, has risen from her sleep to punish Malthu-the first person to invade her resting place. Fearful, they abandon the hunt and return to their homes. When detective Bhrigu Mahesh arrives on the scene, the mother asks for his help to clear the mystery behind Malthu's mysterious death. As Mahesh begins investigating with his unique style, he soon finds himself on the trail of a murderer that leads him to unveil astonishing secrets, beguiling lies, and a tragic tale of a selfless young girl. In this compelling thriller, a great detective on a quest to solve a complex mystery must separate truth from legend in order to find a killer and restore order in an Indian village. Nisha Singh is a crime fiction enthusiast who has written short stories for National Print Magazine and has contributed to a variety of online publications.
Nisha resides in Uttar Pradesh, India, where she enjoys reading, watching movies, and gossiping."

Me: I love the sentence about Nisha. lol 

I enjoyed reading The Witch of Senduwar. It is set in a small village in India. We spend the days with Bhrigu and his associate, Sutte attempting to unravel the mystery of the death of Malthu. I found the setting very interesting, getting a look into a small village in India. The village has blamed Malthu's death on the Witch of Senduwar, but is that just a convenient tale to brush it away? Bhrigu must tweeze away folklore and village secrets, deceit and cover ups. His process is very methodical. While some may say the characters are like Sherlock and Watson, Bhrigu also reminds me of Poirot. He has some odd habits and routines such as Poirot. Bhrigu has to interview many people in the village to get to the bottom of this mystery. I found some of these exchanges funny and enjoyed the interjection of humor. I did have a little trouble with the Indian words.

I received an ARC and voluntarily provided this review.

Curses and Cauldrons: A Collection of Paranormal Cozy Shorts



About: "Looking for fun, spooky Halloween mysteries? Then you'll be spellbound by this paranormal cozy collection crafted by more than a dozen of your favorite witchy authors.
We've brewed up this Halloween anthology packed with brand new mysteries featuring your favorite magical characters. Conjure up a copy, and see if you can figure out what's going bump in the night!"

Me: This is a collection of short stories written by 14 different authors. I read one of the stories so far, Time to Jump, as part of an online book group.

I read this in early August and liked it. I love the concept of time jumping. Going to another time for maybe a few days, but in your own time, it is only a few minutes. The story starts in current time. But then Felicity "time jumps" to work on a case. She fends very well for herself, fitting into 1947, making friends with suspects and getting to the truth of the cold case of Ann's "suicide". Mona does a great job of engaging the reader right away, telling an interesting story, and not giving away the ending. 

I will share more about the other stories as I read them in the next couple of months for Halloween reading.

I received an ARC and provided this review.

Coming up next: The Turn of the Key and The Escape Artist.