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The Tower Room
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 9, 2024
This is a very short book with a simple plot. A young woman named Terry engineers a visit to distant members of her family because she wants to find out why they have always hated her and her parents. She soon uncovers secrets and exposes lies about the past.
The problem with these written-to-order gothics is how much they recycle the same ideas, but worse than this is how unconvincingly the plot mechanics are implemented. Case in point: Terry is given a personal diary which is vital to the plot, so she decides to keep it hidden at all times and tell nobody about it. Then, at a dinner with the family, one of her earrings "slips off" so she bends to pick it up and as a result the diary slides out of her pocket and lands on the floor in full view of everybody. What are the chances, eh? This leads to someone picking it up, and realising it's significance. Then later on it is stolen from right under Terry's nose in a ridiculous scene, from which point it has to be searched for and found before the story can start moving again. All of this is groan-inducingly slow and predictable. Despite being written in a tone of breathless excitement and drama and using lots of exclamation marks, the actual events of the book (particularly this whole diary saga) are a chore to get through. It does have a lovely cover, though (Avon edition)
The problem with these written-to-order gothics is how much they recycle the same ideas, but worse than this is how unconvincingly the plot mechanics are implemented. Case in point: Terry is given a personal diary which is vital to the plot, so she decides to keep it hidden at all times and tell nobody about it. Then, at a dinner with the family, one of her earrings "slips off" so she bends to pick it up and as a result the diary slides out of her pocket and lands on the floor in full view of everybody. What are the chances, eh? This leads to someone picking it up, and realising it's significance. Then later on it is stolen from right under Terry's nose in a ridiculous scene, from which point it has to be searched for and found before the story can start moving again. All of this is groan-inducingly slow and predictable. Despite being written in a tone of breathless excitement and drama and using lots of exclamation marks, the actual events of the book (particularly this whole diary saga) are a chore to get through. It does have a lovely cover, though (Avon edition)
September 22, 2023
This is an odd little Gothic set in modern day San Francisco. There is a mishmash of supernatural elements including astral projection, auras, psychic readings, covens, etc., as well as a massive mansion loosely based on the Winchester mystery house. The whole thing has a slight Nancy Drew feel. I will always give bonus points for identical twins but it also a little weird to have a book set in present day that includes a cousin as a love interest.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews