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Gen Delacourt Mystery #1
Mark of the Loon
What happens when a workaholic serial remodeler falls in love with an old stone cottage built by an ornithologist and his eccentric Irish wife? If you’re Madison Boone, you kick your budding romance with handsome Psych Professor Coleman Welles to the curb and lose yourself in a new project.
Madison is a skilled property “flipper” who renovates distressed homes in addition to her busy real estate sales career. She struggles with the inability to put down roots years after the sudden death of her beloved parents. Madison and her three wise, hilarious friends all wonder if she uses her busy, work-centric lifestyle as an excuse to avoid connection with anyone but them.
When Madison checks out a probate sale outside Healdsburg, California, she falls in love with the European-style house on a private tract of land overlooking Lake Sonoma. In fact, she likes the place so much she climbs in the window for a private tour. With help from lawyer and friend Genevieve Delacourt, Madison soon learns that the estate’s corrupt attorney has manipulated the sale and is attempting to steer the purchase to an anonymous client in a deceitful plan for personal gain.
Good fortune enables her to purchase the Blackburne’s property, but far more than a new home and lush gardens await discovery during this renovation. As Madison works on the remodel, she’s drawn into an old love story with dangerous consequences. In the process, she discovers herself as she unearths buried secrets. The series of events both endanger Madison and lead her to love – and a permanent home. Mark of the Loon is the skillful combination of history, mystery, and romance in a novel that explores deep friendship, choices, and how individuals cope with loss.
Madison is a skilled property “flipper” who renovates distressed homes in addition to her busy real estate sales career. She struggles with the inability to put down roots years after the sudden death of her beloved parents. Madison and her three wise, hilarious friends all wonder if she uses her busy, work-centric lifestyle as an excuse to avoid connection with anyone but them.
When Madison checks out a probate sale outside Healdsburg, California, she falls in love with the European-style house on a private tract of land overlooking Lake Sonoma. In fact, she likes the place so much she climbs in the window for a private tour. With help from lawyer and friend Genevieve Delacourt, Madison soon learns that the estate’s corrupt attorney has manipulated the sale and is attempting to steer the purchase to an anonymous client in a deceitful plan for personal gain.
Good fortune enables her to purchase the Blackburne’s property, but far more than a new home and lush gardens await discovery during this renovation. As Madison works on the remodel, she’s drawn into an old love story with dangerous consequences. In the process, she discovers herself as she unearths buried secrets. The series of events both endanger Madison and lead her to love – and a permanent home. Mark of the Loon is the skillful combination of history, mystery, and romance in a novel that explores deep friendship, choices, and how individuals cope with loss.
282 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2012
1052 people are currently reading
1571 people want to read
About the author
Molly Greene
15 books180 followersHello readers! I am the author of the Gen Delacourt Mystery Series, which includes Mark of the Loon, The Last Fairytale, Paint Me Gone, A Thousand Tombs, Swindle Town, Lock the Cellar Door, Midnight at Half Moon Bay, and The India Archives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
December 15, 2016
I bought Mark of the Loon after it was recommended by a friend. I write mysteries myself and I've been following Molly Greene's blog for some time so I was keen to get started on her mystery series.
The book is a surprise. It begins with elements with the lively quality of chick-lit as we become immersed in the interwoven lives of the three Delacourt sisters, Gen, Annie and Gaby, and their orphaned friend, Madison Boone. The mystery involves a house built in the 1940s which Madison falls in love with and manages to buy with the help of her friends in spite of some suspicious legal circumstances. When she moves in there's more than one person with an interest in the place as she discovers a series of clues to the past inhabitants, clues that become increasingly suspenseful and hint at dark forces and motives.
Molly Greene is a confident writer and she's tackled a very complex mystery. She also juggles a lot of characters and it takes a while to get to know the four young women and their particular voices. Then there are the men in their lives who add an extra layer to the journeys each woman is on. The past events revealed by the mystery are unexpected and momentous, reaching back to World War 11. Suddenly what started apparently as a light read digs deep into history and past emotions that resonate with the present. There's even a whisp of a supernatural connection between Madison and the former resident -- a relationship which brings insights to Madison's emotional issues.
As other reviewers have said, I would have liked to see less of the sisters' side stories, particularly that of Gaby whose issues weren't relevant to the plot, but Greene is setting up a series and showing the support base of characters we'll see again. I was also a little frustrated that clues discovered were at times dismissed by Madison and so not fully explored for the reader along the way. Although all is revealed in the very dramatic climax and final wrap up, I struggled to understand how all the complex pieces of the puzzle fit together -- but it's meant that I'm returning to the mystery in my mind long after the book is finished and the power of the story has stayed with me because of this.
The book is a surprise. It begins with elements with the lively quality of chick-lit as we become immersed in the interwoven lives of the three Delacourt sisters, Gen, Annie and Gaby, and their orphaned friend, Madison Boone. The mystery involves a house built in the 1940s which Madison falls in love with and manages to buy with the help of her friends in spite of some suspicious legal circumstances. When she moves in there's more than one person with an interest in the place as she discovers a series of clues to the past inhabitants, clues that become increasingly suspenseful and hint at dark forces and motives.
Molly Greene is a confident writer and she's tackled a very complex mystery. She also juggles a lot of characters and it takes a while to get to know the four young women and their particular voices. Then there are the men in their lives who add an extra layer to the journeys each woman is on. The past events revealed by the mystery are unexpected and momentous, reaching back to World War 11. Suddenly what started apparently as a light read digs deep into history and past emotions that resonate with the present. There's even a whisp of a supernatural connection between Madison and the former resident -- a relationship which brings insights to Madison's emotional issues.
As other reviewers have said, I would have liked to see less of the sisters' side stories, particularly that of Gaby whose issues weren't relevant to the plot, but Greene is setting up a series and showing the support base of characters we'll see again. I was also a little frustrated that clues discovered were at times dismissed by Madison and so not fully explored for the reader along the way. Although all is revealed in the very dramatic climax and final wrap up, I struggled to understand how all the complex pieces of the puzzle fit together -- but it's meant that I'm returning to the mystery in my mind long after the book is finished and the power of the story has stayed with me because of this.
June 28, 2012
The backdrop for this thriller is the California real estate market, a drama in itself! When heroine Madison Boone outfoxes an unscrupulous buyer, and herself snags the old house that's been lying dormant ever since its owners died a few years ago, she stirs up a real hornet's nest.
I enjoyed hearing the lingo of real estate brokers and house renovators. Madison is herself a broker, and her best friends are a lawyer and a television actress. These women spend a lot of time together and we become privy to their banter and their innermost secrets in this book. The dialogue moves along crisply, and the writing in this book overall is clean and elegant.
You know from the reaction of the jilted buyer that there's something special about that house. While Madison and her friends start the renovation work, and at the same time search for clues that would reveal the hidden value of the house, Madison has a series of troubling and dangerous encounters on the property. I found myself trying to sort out whether each new character was going to turn out to be friend or foe in the end. And still everything was a surprise, which shows how lousy I am at following clues.
I also greatly enjoyed the bird motif in Mark of the Loon. I do not want to spoil anything for anyone, so maybe I should just mention that there is much more to this book than meets the eye.
I enjoyed hearing the lingo of real estate brokers and house renovators. Madison is herself a broker, and her best friends are a lawyer and a television actress. These women spend a lot of time together and we become privy to their banter and their innermost secrets in this book. The dialogue moves along crisply, and the writing in this book overall is clean and elegant.
You know from the reaction of the jilted buyer that there's something special about that house. While Madison and her friends start the renovation work, and at the same time search for clues that would reveal the hidden value of the house, Madison has a series of troubling and dangerous encounters on the property. I found myself trying to sort out whether each new character was going to turn out to be friend or foe in the end. And still everything was a surprise, which shows how lousy I am at following clues.
I also greatly enjoyed the bird motif in Mark of the Loon. I do not want to spoil anything for anyone, so maybe I should just mention that there is much more to this book than meets the eye.
July 4, 2012
A delightful blend of romance, mystery; a celebration of friendship.
If you enjoy romance, mystery and stories that celebrate the deep ties among friends, don't miss out on Mark of the Loon. The dialogue between Madison and her women friends is simply irresistible. Add in Madison's new romance and the mystery surrounding the Blackburne's former house and you get a richly layered novel sure to delight and entertain. A wonderful debut by a rising star.
If you enjoy romance, mystery and stories that celebrate the deep ties among friends, don't miss out on Mark of the Loon. The dialogue between Madison and her women friends is simply irresistible. Add in Madison's new romance and the mystery surrounding the Blackburne's former house and you get a richly layered novel sure to delight and entertain. A wonderful debut by a rising star.
May 25, 2012
I did not know what to expect when I picked up this indie novel on Kindle. I knew the writing would be good because I read Molly's blog. But I wasn't sure if it was mystery, fantasy, women's fiction, literary fiction, or what. After spending yesterday glued to my Kindle, and finishing the final chapter at 10 pm, I gotta say, it's all of that. And it works beautifully on every level.
The story starts with an intriguing snippet from the past, then moves into the present day life of California Realtor Madison and her friends Genny, Gabi, and Anna. Madison's story structures the novel, but I love the way Greene devotes lots of time to Maddie's relationships with her friends. They support each other through marriage and cheating and divorce and moving house. They share meals and drinks and secret dreams. I love writers who give their characters strong friendships, and this group is deeply, emotionally, resonant.
Madison's home base is Sonoma County, where the real estate market is still ticking along quite well. Not as crazy busy as she was before the financial meltdown, Madison fills her free time with buying rundown properties and burnishing them to beautiful jewels. Then she flips them for a tidy profit. She's never stayed in one place very long, never felt the need to put down roots in one space, until she sees a cozy English cottage on Sonoma Lake and buys it for a song, incurring the wrath of another would-be buyer.
Once Madison moves into her charming bungalow, she starts finding keys. Actual beautiful old keys that don't seem to open anything. Then, as her remodeling progresses, she unearths secret cubbys and even rooms. She bought the place "as is" with all the furnishings and artifacts of another life and as she begins to uncover the story of the previous owners, her heart starts telling her she needs to find new dreams. And professor of "happiness psychology" Cole is just one of them. Or is he?
Because the more clues she finds, the murkier, and more dangerous, things get. Madison can only be sure of her best friends. Everyone else around her is suspect at best and maybe dangerous as well. It will take all Madison's faith and trust, plus an angel from the other side, to solve the mystery of the former owners and in the process discover new parts of herself.
Molly Greene's debut novel is a stunning gem of a book, both beautifully written and compellingly told. The psychological insights are bright lights in a book about grief and healing and so much more. Greene handles a complex plot with deft skill and fully immerses the reader into the mystical world she creates. Madison and her friends will stick with me for a long time.
The story starts with an intriguing snippet from the past, then moves into the present day life of California Realtor Madison and her friends Genny, Gabi, and Anna. Madison's story structures the novel, but I love the way Greene devotes lots of time to Maddie's relationships with her friends. They support each other through marriage and cheating and divorce and moving house. They share meals and drinks and secret dreams. I love writers who give their characters strong friendships, and this group is deeply, emotionally, resonant.
Madison's home base is Sonoma County, where the real estate market is still ticking along quite well. Not as crazy busy as she was before the financial meltdown, Madison fills her free time with buying rundown properties and burnishing them to beautiful jewels. Then she flips them for a tidy profit. She's never stayed in one place very long, never felt the need to put down roots in one space, until she sees a cozy English cottage on Sonoma Lake and buys it for a song, incurring the wrath of another would-be buyer.
Once Madison moves into her charming bungalow, she starts finding keys. Actual beautiful old keys that don't seem to open anything. Then, as her remodeling progresses, she unearths secret cubbys and even rooms. She bought the place "as is" with all the furnishings and artifacts of another life and as she begins to uncover the story of the previous owners, her heart starts telling her she needs to find new dreams. And professor of "happiness psychology" Cole is just one of them. Or is he?
Because the more clues she finds, the murkier, and more dangerous, things get. Madison can only be sure of her best friends. Everyone else around her is suspect at best and maybe dangerous as well. It will take all Madison's faith and trust, plus an angel from the other side, to solve the mystery of the former owners and in the process discover new parts of herself.
Molly Greene's debut novel is a stunning gem of a book, both beautifully written and compellingly told. The psychological insights are bright lights in a book about grief and healing and so much more. Greene handles a complex plot with deft skill and fully immerses the reader into the mystical world she creates. Madison and her friends will stick with me for a long time.
August 10, 2012
In her debut novel Molly Greene introduces us to Madison Boone, real estate agent extraordinaire who also “flips” houses in her free time. Madison falls in love with a cottage that is being sold in unusual circumstances, and she is able to buy it with the assistance of her no-nonsense lawyer friend Gen. But as Madison embarks on yet another remodeling project, the past of the house begins to unfold piquing her curiosity. However she is not alone. A motley crew of characters in the neighborhood and beyond is also interested in what Madison finds and their interest grows as she unravels the mysteries behind her dwelling and its former owners. These mysteries are of course eventually resolved, but perhaps the most important mystery that Madison figures out is that about her own self.
The book sports a superb cover by Jan Marshall. It is very well written and formatted, and all the characters are believable-from the sleazy Levi Velasco to the flamboyant Genevieve Delacourt. I liked how the author weaves the symbolism of the ever present Loon into the story, and connects it to the past owners of the house and to Madison. I also liked her vivid descriptions of the cottage with its lush gardens set in California’s Sonoma County. For example: “An English cottage right out of the Shire was set back in the midst of a clearing. Built of native stone, it looked as if it had been picked up by a tornado in the Cotswolds Judy Garland-style and plopped down here among the rainbow hues of the wild abandoned garden.” Reading passages like these makes images appear in your mind as though you had taken a picture, and there are many more where this one came from.
Mark of the Loon has intrigue, romance, friendship, mystery, danger, and even a little touch of the supernatural thrown in for a very pleasing read, and I recommend you treat yourself to the experience!
The book sports a superb cover by Jan Marshall. It is very well written and formatted, and all the characters are believable-from the sleazy Levi Velasco to the flamboyant Genevieve Delacourt. I liked how the author weaves the symbolism of the ever present Loon into the story, and connects it to the past owners of the house and to Madison. I also liked her vivid descriptions of the cottage with its lush gardens set in California’s Sonoma County. For example: “An English cottage right out of the Shire was set back in the midst of a clearing. Built of native stone, it looked as if it had been picked up by a tornado in the Cotswolds Judy Garland-style and plopped down here among the rainbow hues of the wild abandoned garden.” Reading passages like these makes images appear in your mind as though you had taken a picture, and there are many more where this one came from.
Mark of the Loon has intrigue, romance, friendship, mystery, danger, and even a little touch of the supernatural thrown in for a very pleasing read, and I recommend you treat yourself to the experience!
March 24, 2014
Madison Boone is a successful real estate agent and house flipper in California. She's in the process of selling her current home when her friend, Genevive Delacourt, tips her off about a property for sale. The property is charming and, even though it will take a lot of work, Madison is captivated and drawn to the place. Trouble begins almost at the outset. Shady dealings, strangers showing up where they shouldn't be, and a series of odd discoveries in and around the house all add up to a puzzling mystery.
I really enjoyed this story. Mark of the Loon is as much a book about friendship and the families we chose for ourselves as it is a mystery. Madison and Gen are fresh faces in lit. I truly appreciate an author who creates strong and vivacious female characters who feel like real women. Curvy and self-fulfilled, independent and smart. As a plus-sized woman myself, it's refreshing to come across a character like Genevive. My only regret is that she isn't real and I can't somehow introduce myself and befriend her! The story is a mix of romance, suspense, and mystery, even weaving in elements of the supernatural and history. I love the girlfriendships, and watching the evolving relationship between Madison and Cole.
Mark of the Loon is author Molly Greene's first Genevive Delacourt story, but the second that I have read. It is, thus far, my favorite of the series, though the third has just recently come out and I'm eager to read it and get into more trouble with Gen!
I really enjoyed this story. Mark of the Loon is as much a book about friendship and the families we chose for ourselves as it is a mystery. Madison and Gen are fresh faces in lit. I truly appreciate an author who creates strong and vivacious female characters who feel like real women. Curvy and self-fulfilled, independent and smart. As a plus-sized woman myself, it's refreshing to come across a character like Genevive. My only regret is that she isn't real and I can't somehow introduce myself and befriend her! The story is a mix of romance, suspense, and mystery, even weaving in elements of the supernatural and history. I love the girlfriendships, and watching the evolving relationship between Madison and Cole.
Mark of the Loon is author Molly Greene's first Genevive Delacourt story, but the second that I have read. It is, thus far, my favorite of the series, though the third has just recently come out and I'm eager to read it and get into more trouble with Gen!
May 31, 2012
Madison Boone is a real estate agent and she flips houses. After losing her parents while she was in college, Madison never really put down roots anywhere. Then one of her three best friends sent her an ad for a parcel of land out in the country. Once Madison saw it, she had to have it. The perfect English cottage and the bountiful gardens drew her in and made her feel like she was home. During this same time Madison was introduced to Cole. She liked him immediately but held back. Once she bought the house, strange things started to happen. She found keys but wasn't sure what locks they fit. Strange people started showing up and asking questions. Madison's curiosity lead her ask questions at the college. Each answer gave her more questions. With the help of her friend, they begin to dig into all of the books, journals and papers left behind by Mallory Blackburne, the original owner. Slowly answers start to fit into place. Now, were they really ready to get the whole story?
This book is a very slow read. It's filled with details and descriptions that sometimes slow the story considerably. The story is solid, just covered in so many layers you really have to pay attention to catch it all. Intrigue, laughter and love make this book one many will enjoy. I thought the mystery behind it all was wonderful it just took too long to get to the point. I think if you like mysteries this will be one you'll really enjoy.
The issues are listed above.
I gave this one 3 out of 5 books because it seemed to have so many layers to tie together it slowed the reading way down.
This book is a very slow read. It's filled with details and descriptions that sometimes slow the story considerably. The story is solid, just covered in so many layers you really have to pay attention to catch it all. Intrigue, laughter and love make this book one many will enjoy. I thought the mystery behind it all was wonderful it just took too long to get to the point. I think if you like mysteries this will be one you'll really enjoy.
The issues are listed above.
I gave this one 3 out of 5 books because it seemed to have so many layers to tie together it slowed the reading way down.
July 23, 2012
There were so many things I enjoyed about this book, but it has to be the characters that take top spot. Molly Greene does a fabulous job at creating three-dimensional, fun and realistic characters, and I love the warmth of the friendship between the protagonist Madison Boone and her girls, and also their growth and evolution as people. The dialogue in Mark of the Loon is crisp, and the descriptions of the settings are rich and vivid. I was surprised by how the mystery turned out, which was great as I tend to guess things like that quite early on. Mark of the Loon kept me in the dark for an unusually long time, but was able to tie all the ends up in a nice quick pace at the end.
This is a fantastic debut by Molly Greene and I am looking forward to reading more!
This is a fantastic debut by Molly Greene and I am looking forward to reading more!
October 12, 2015
I can't believe all of the 4 and 5 star ratings this book received. At it's best it was just okay. I found the group of girlfriends annoying. Every chapter they had to profess how much they loved and supported each other (Give me a break). The plot moved along slowly and without any really page turning incidents, then in the last few pages they just wrap everything up. I found it to be boring and will not read any other books in this series or by this author.
February 26, 2013
I enjoyed this multi-layered mystery with it's rich feminine gold mine of relationships. I often wished I could walk myself in the lush overgrown enchanted garden of the lovely house that is the heart of Molly Greene's tapestry of a mystery...but with her vivid description I felt like I was there and never wanted to leave.
Want to read
February 29, 2012Love the cover... and yes, I do judge my books by 'em. ;)
Looking forward to finding out more about this title.
Looking forward to finding out more about this title.
January 10, 2016
I obtained a mobi.file copy of this book from the author in connection to a RaffleCopter giveaway on FaceBook and the following is my honest opinion of it.
Reading this book I couldn’t help but wonder how much of the author, Molly Greene, is actually in the protagonist, Madison Boone. Both are involved in the real estate industry and both are house flippers. While both do it for the fun, self-gratification and additional income; when it came to Madison and the Blackburne house, she bought it because she finally found a home she could call her own, especially since she rarely stayed in any one place long enough to put down roots ever since her parents had died.
Little did Madison know when she and her three friends would start renovating this house which had remained empty since the owners had died several years before that things would begin to happen. No sooner did the renovation begin than the walls of the house began to slowly reveal its secrets, like hidden rooms, old keys which didn’t open anything around; it also revealed secrets belonging to a mystery which intrigues Madison enough into wanting to solve it. But unfortunately by doing so, it would put her life and those of her friends in serious danger.
I found the writing captivating, but there appears to be an abundance of friends who I felt didn’t really do anything until the end of the story when the solution to the mystery was at hand. Giving us the back story concerning the previous owners of the house I feel has added value to the understanding of the present day mystery which is confronting the protagonist.
For writing a story from a realtor’s/author’s mind fantasizing about an old house she’s just sold and the unknown secrets it might have contained, I’m giving Ms. Greene 5 STARS.
Reading this book I couldn’t help but wonder how much of the author, Molly Greene, is actually in the protagonist, Madison Boone. Both are involved in the real estate industry and both are house flippers. While both do it for the fun, self-gratification and additional income; when it came to Madison and the Blackburne house, she bought it because she finally found a home she could call her own, especially since she rarely stayed in any one place long enough to put down roots ever since her parents had died.
Little did Madison know when she and her three friends would start renovating this house which had remained empty since the owners had died several years before that things would begin to happen. No sooner did the renovation begin than the walls of the house began to slowly reveal its secrets, like hidden rooms, old keys which didn’t open anything around; it also revealed secrets belonging to a mystery which intrigues Madison enough into wanting to solve it. But unfortunately by doing so, it would put her life and those of her friends in serious danger.
I found the writing captivating, but there appears to be an abundance of friends who I felt didn’t really do anything until the end of the story when the solution to the mystery was at hand. Giving us the back story concerning the previous owners of the house I feel has added value to the understanding of the present day mystery which is confronting the protagonist.
For writing a story from a realtor’s/author’s mind fantasizing about an old house she’s just sold and the unknown secrets it might have contained, I’m giving Ms. Greene 5 STARS.
September 14, 2018
I really liked the characters in this story. The close knit, deep friendships of the girls and the warm descriptions of the cottage were great. I appreciated that there was very little vulgar language and no sex scenes. I couldn't put the book down but the ending left me disappointed and confused. A mystery should unravel little by little, not all at once with a vast number of details. It was like reading a totally different book. It felt to me like the ending was convoluted after the book was finished so it could tie it all together. Not my kind of mystery.
August 11, 2012
In addition to writing, author Molly Green is a realtor. Her knowledge is useful in MARK OF THE LOON, making the story genuine.
Always on the move, main character realtor Madison Boone rejuvenates old homes while living in them. Through a friend, Madison buys a country cottage with furnishings on Sonoma Lake. After buying it, she meets Cole, a psychologist, and likes so much about him yet holds back on deep love. Sharing with close friends, Madison knows much about cheating relationships.
Finding keys makes Madison want to try locks around the cottage. She finds secret cubbyholes and rooms. When she’s not expecting anyone, strangers show up asking questions. With one of her friends, Madison reads through the original owner’s journals and books. After uncovering lives of the previous owners, Madison receives help from an angel to find her own dreams.
MARK OF THE LOON is a cozy mystery about a faltering woman as she slowly discovers what she wants.
Always on the move, main character realtor Madison Boone rejuvenates old homes while living in them. Through a friend, Madison buys a country cottage with furnishings on Sonoma Lake. After buying it, she meets Cole, a psychologist, and likes so much about him yet holds back on deep love. Sharing with close friends, Madison knows much about cheating relationships.
Finding keys makes Madison want to try locks around the cottage. She finds secret cubbyholes and rooms. When she’s not expecting anyone, strangers show up asking questions. With one of her friends, Madison reads through the original owner’s journals and books. After uncovering lives of the previous owners, Madison receives help from an angel to find her own dreams.
MARK OF THE LOON is a cozy mystery about a faltering woman as she slowly discovers what she wants.
March 7, 2016
I wasn't sure that I would be able to wrap my mind around an English style 'stone' cottage being in the earthquake state of California,and the descriptions of it throughout the book would cause me to again suspend disbelief.
I really loved the original plot of the story and feature of a house-flipping realtor.
The development of the characters was exquisite,especially the friendship between Madison and Genevieve.
Loose keys found,old journals,hidden passages discovered and mysterious strangers cause lots of mystery,and the adorable dog Jack,and Finnegan the cat ,also add much to the story.
Sweetly developed romance with Cole, is a bonus.
My only complaint and I deducted one star because of it,is how a major character and villain's part is so not given a plausible explanation,so inadequate that it took a lot away from the ending for me.
Otherwise, beautifully written and highly recommended
I really loved the original plot of the story and feature of a house-flipping realtor.
The development of the characters was exquisite,especially the friendship between Madison and Genevieve.
Loose keys found,old journals,hidden passages discovered and mysterious strangers cause lots of mystery,and the adorable dog Jack,and Finnegan the cat ,also add much to the story.
Sweetly developed romance with Cole, is a bonus.
My only complaint and I deducted one star because of it,is how a major character and villain's part is so not given a plausible explanation,so inadequate that it took a lot away from the ending for me.
Otherwise, beautifully written and highly recommended
May 25, 2015
The Gen Delacourt Mystery Series includes Mark of the Loon, The Last Fairytale, Paint Me Gone, A Thousand Tombs, and Swindle Town... with more to come in the future. I've just sped through and thoroughly enjoyed these first five books, and will write a bit about each of them...
Mark of the Loon was one of two favorites I have among the five books to date, and the characters, plot, and descriptions hooked me in enough that I knew I was going to keep reading the others. Although Gen (the series' main character) is definitely a part of this story, Madison Boone (a real estate agent who flips properties) and several of Gen's other friends are introduced here and, in fact, Madison is featured. Really great start to the series!
Mark of the Loon was one of two favorites I have among the five books to date, and the characters, plot, and descriptions hooked me in enough that I knew I was going to keep reading the others. Although Gen (the series' main character) is definitely a part of this story, Madison Boone (a real estate agent who flips properties) and several of Gen's other friends are introduced here and, in fact, Madison is featured. Really great start to the series!
May 21, 2012
Mark of the Loon presents a story rife with intrigue from the very first, and it glides along easily on author Molly Greene’s confident prose. History, mystery and romance are skillfully intertwined to create a canvas that quickly draws the reader in and as the story unfolds its layers reveal yet more depth. This was the sort of reading experience that I was sorry to part from; every day when my thoughts turned to reading, Mark of the Loon caused me to smile as it beckoned me into the story once more.
Read the full review on Literary Inklings
Read the full review on Literary Inklings
July 7, 2012
Molly Greene is a gifted writer and storyteller. In Mark of the Loon she succeeds in putting all the right ingredients for a heartwarming and suspenseful romance.
What I loved the most about Mark of the Loon was the friendship between the main character and her best friends. Also the background of real estate and house decorating is interesting without being overwhelming.
There's a historical (with a dash of paranormal)romantic suspense element that complements nicely this contemporary tale of love, trust and friendship.
Loved this book and hope to read more of Molly Greene's stories.
What I loved the most about Mark of the Loon was the friendship between the main character and her best friends. Also the background of real estate and house decorating is interesting without being overwhelming.
There's a historical (with a dash of paranormal)romantic suspense element that complements nicely this contemporary tale of love, trust and friendship.
Loved this book and hope to read more of Molly Greene's stories.
May 26, 2016
Such a fun read!
I enjoyed this book immensely. The main female characters were relatable, strong and funny. The plot kept me interested all the way through. I enjoyed the romance--just enough to be fun without making me uncomfortable (I'm not a sex scene fan, so this clean romance plot was great). And the ending was great! I cheered out loud at the fun twists and reveals. I will be buying the next book in the series ASAP! I can't wait to see Gen and her friends encounter next.
I enjoyed this book immensely. The main female characters were relatable, strong and funny. The plot kept me interested all the way through. I enjoyed the romance--just enough to be fun without making me uncomfortable (I'm not a sex scene fan, so this clean romance plot was great). And the ending was great! I cheered out loud at the fun twists and reveals. I will be buying the next book in the series ASAP! I can't wait to see Gen and her friends encounter next.
October 23, 2014
Wonderful surprise
I picked this book up with low expectations because it was a first novel and it was free. What a wonderful surprise! Interesting, intriguing characters and a great plotline with real suspense, lots of red herrings and a very satisfying ending gave me some very pleasurable hours of reading. I am going to buy the next book in the series as soon as I finish this review. Kudos to the author and thanks from a grateful reader!
I picked this book up with low expectations because it was a first novel and it was free. What a wonderful surprise! Interesting, intriguing characters and a great plotline with real suspense, lots of red herrings and a very satisfying ending gave me some very pleasurable hours of reading. I am going to buy the next book in the series as soon as I finish this review. Kudos to the author and thanks from a grateful reader!
January 26, 2015
I'm in denial about liking chick lit books. And romance books. Are those the same thing? I don't think so. Maybe. Anyway, when I opened this book and started reading, I felt like I had snuggled down into a comfy chair in my favorite sweater. I loved the main characters - I wanted them to be my friends. They were smart, beautiful, funny and successful. I loved the plot. I loved the journey. This book inspired me to garden and decorate my house!
February 1, 2015
Treasure hunt thriller.
Wish I was sitting in a room over looking Sonoma Lake and reading, but it was the perfect book for this cold day. Incredibly strong three female characters, their love and care for each other. Did read the second book first and then this one, they both are good reading. In beautiful places in northern California and in old house, long after WWII, IRA and Ireland, secret places to hunt for the secrets.
Wish I was sitting in a room over looking Sonoma Lake and reading, but it was the perfect book for this cold day. Incredibly strong three female characters, their love and care for each other. Did read the second book first and then this one, they both are good reading. In beautiful places in northern California and in old house, long after WWII, IRA and Ireland, secret places to hunt for the secrets.
November 3, 2012
The Lake Sonoma location. just north west of Healdsburg, CA is approximately a mile from my home in the Dry Creek Valley. This setting and Molly Greene's terrific talent earns Mark of the Loon 5 stars on my book list.
I hope that Molly is busy producing a follow on story again set in this beautiful Sonoma County location and featuring this novel's interesting and talented group of friends.
I hope that Molly is busy producing a follow on story again set in this beautiful Sonoma County location and featuring this novel's interesting and talented group of friends.
August 3, 2014
Finally...
Finally...
...a mystery that doesn't devolve around murder, peopled by smart women who are figuring out things for themselves, who have personal issues that don't center on whether they're overweight or pretty or...whatever. The mainn characters are all fleshed out and real, with real people problems. And well edited to boot!
Finally...
...a mystery that doesn't devolve around murder, peopled by smart women who are figuring out things for themselves, who have personal issues that don't center on whether they're overweight or pretty or...whatever. The mainn characters are all fleshed out and real, with real people problems. And well edited to boot!
August 30, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed Molly Greene's 'Mark of the Loon.' The book is well-written, has characters you really care about and a story-line that keeps you reading. I'm hoping this is the first in a series, as I'd like to read more about these wonderful best friends.
August 19, 2019
Best mystery I've read in years!
Brava!! I have been reading mystery stories since I was introduced to Nancy Drew when most girls were still playing with dolls. About the time other girls discovered her, I had graduated from the Hardy Boys to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. Through that magazine and my parents, I became a devotee of Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Agatha Christie, Josephine Tey, Nero Wolfe, etc. Not for me the hard-boiled detective of Spillane and Marlowe, I desired the thinkers. This book would not have been out of place on the same shelf with those venerable writers on whom I cut my mystery reading eyeteeth. I have been searching for a stellar book such as Mark of the Loon for a long time. So many of the mysteries found today are either trite, riddled with graphic descriptions of violence and sex, contain language fit only for the toilet, or are so depressing that there is no satisfaction in the ending. Many are so poorly written, filled with grammatical and rhetorical errors , that I couldn't even finish them. Many modern mystery writers seem to use the books more for a platform for them to ram home their personal prejudices; those books never make it past the first couple chapters; those authors are not given a second chance with me. This book riveted me from the first; had none, or very very little of the afore-mentioned negative ingredients; had some humor, romance; introspection, intelligent conversation . The bonus was the bits of information about loons, Rossitten, etc. I was so intrigued about these things (my father was an amateur expert about birds and had a life list) that I would stop reading and look them up on Google. The characters are not stereo -typical. Nothing seems contrived as is not always the case in many stories, that I had solved very early in the reading. Mark of the Loon made the reader's predictions swing back and forth among the characters; then when you thought you knew it all, there were still surprises. Can you tell that I thoroughly enjoyed this book?
Brava!! I have been reading mystery stories since I was introduced to Nancy Drew when most girls were still playing with dolls. About the time other girls discovered her, I had graduated from the Hardy Boys to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. Through that magazine and my parents, I became a devotee of Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Agatha Christie, Josephine Tey, Nero Wolfe, etc. Not for me the hard-boiled detective of Spillane and Marlowe, I desired the thinkers. This book would not have been out of place on the same shelf with those venerable writers on whom I cut my mystery reading eyeteeth. I have been searching for a stellar book such as Mark of the Loon for a long time. So many of the mysteries found today are either trite, riddled with graphic descriptions of violence and sex, contain language fit only for the toilet, or are so depressing that there is no satisfaction in the ending. Many are so poorly written, filled with grammatical and rhetorical errors , that I couldn't even finish them. Many modern mystery writers seem to use the books more for a platform for them to ram home their personal prejudices; those books never make it past the first couple chapters; those authors are not given a second chance with me. This book riveted me from the first; had none, or very very little of the afore-mentioned negative ingredients; had some humor, romance; introspection, intelligent conversation . The bonus was the bits of information about loons, Rossitten, etc. I was so intrigued about these things (my father was an amateur expert about birds and had a life list) that I would stop reading and look them up on Google. The characters are not stereo -typical. Nothing seems contrived as is not always the case in many stories, that I had solved very early in the reading. Mark of the Loon made the reader's predictions swing back and forth among the characters; then when you thought you knew it all, there were still surprises. Can you tell that I thoroughly enjoyed this book?
July 22, 2017
When real estate agent Madison Boone moves into a fully furnished old cottage and begins sorting through the previous owners’ belongings, she finds clues to an intriguing past. Equally mysterious is the reverend who seems highly suspicious of her, the quirky next door neighbor who is a little too interested in the house, and the young man who keeps appearing on the property. A new potential love interest throws Madison’s world into a further tailspin that promises either great things or grave danger.
Mark of the Loon is a poignant story of love and redemption. Madison’s past is integral to the story and creates a well-rounded character with strengths, weaknesses, and personal challenges. Her friends are nicely portrayed, as is the love interest. The pacing works and the mix of light and tense scenes kept me anticipating what would happen next.
Although the book is billed as the first Gen Delacourt mystery, Madison is clearly the protagonist. We get to know Gen, but not enough for the reader to realize that she’s about to become the main character in future novels. I wouldn’t have known at all if it wasn’t for the subtitle. Still, the story’s nicely written and I’m sure the author has already gained many fans.
Mark of the Loon is a poignant story of love and redemption. Madison’s past is integral to the story and creates a well-rounded character with strengths, weaknesses, and personal challenges. Her friends are nicely portrayed, as is the love interest. The pacing works and the mix of light and tense scenes kept me anticipating what would happen next.
Although the book is billed as the first Gen Delacourt mystery, Madison is clearly the protagonist. We get to know Gen, but not enough for the reader to realize that she’s about to become the main character in future novels. I wouldn’t have known at all if it wasn’t for the subtitle. Still, the story’s nicely written and I’m sure the author has already gained many fans.
December 24, 2017
When Madison Boone buys an old cottage in Sonoma that belonged to a reclusive ornithologist and his wife, her plans are just to fix it up and flip it for profit. The property has a secret, though, and some people are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to uncover it—unfortunately, they have to get Madison off the property first. With the help of her friend, lawyer, Gen Delacourt, Madison begins to peel away the layers of the mystery of the Blackburne family’s estate, and what she learns could be deadly.
Mark of the Loon by Molly Greene is a delightful cozy mystery with a wacky, but loveable cast of characters—a group of witty, independent women who operate according to their own rules, and a colorful locale that is lovingly described, without becoming boring. I loved the pacing; slow and measured until you feel comfortable, and then a burst of frenetic action to get your blood pounding, and just enough budding romance to make it all interesting.
A great start to what I predict will be an even greater series. Don’t miss it. I give it five stars.
Mark of the Loon by Molly Greene is a delightful cozy mystery with a wacky, but loveable cast of characters—a group of witty, independent women who operate according to their own rules, and a colorful locale that is lovingly described, without becoming boring. I loved the pacing; slow and measured until you feel comfortable, and then a burst of frenetic action to get your blood pounding, and just enough budding romance to make it all interesting.
A great start to what I predict will be an even greater series. Don’t miss it. I give it five stars.
June 15, 2017
I was disappointed with this story for two main reasons: First, there was no mystery, no murder, no missing persons, no suspense, for the first 90% of the book, then all the plot elements came pouring out at the end of the book - shootings, false identities, villains out of the woodwork. Then the good guys quickly tied everything up in a bow, which I found entirely too neat and tidy. My second reason is more personal, and may not apply to you at all: This was really a 'cozy' mystery featuring a group of middle-aged female friends who talk about their feelings over a glass of (probably white) wine. I got it as part of a ten-book set for a dollar (so I really can't complain.) The previous four books in the box set that I have read so far were either police procedurals or thrillers, which are genres I much prefer. I felt that the inclusion of this type of book in the set was misguided and inappropriate. I won't personally be looking to read any more books by Molly Greene.
November 26, 2019
Solid puzzle and 4 fun friends
Although the mystery in the story is secondary to the women and their friendship, it is a solid puzzle that slowly unwinds. Even the "Gen Delacourt Mystery" is a little misleading. Madison is the primary woman and her friends Gen, Gabi, and Anna are there to a lesser extent for the early part of the story. But, as things progress, Gen takes a bigger role in Madison's story, and life.
The way the friends interact and speak with each other is natural and fun. But, there is a little weakness in their interactions with others. An early antagonist is mostly missing from the last third of the story with only a very brief mention near the end. Otherwise, the story and writing are very well done. Give the book a try, you just might end up caring about these women and wanting to read more of their adventures.
Although the mystery in the story is secondary to the women and their friendship, it is a solid puzzle that slowly unwinds. Even the "Gen Delacourt Mystery" is a little misleading. Madison is the primary woman and her friends Gen, Gabi, and Anna are there to a lesser extent for the early part of the story. But, as things progress, Gen takes a bigger role in Madison's story, and life.
The way the friends interact and speak with each other is natural and fun. But, there is a little weakness in their interactions with others. An early antagonist is mostly missing from the last third of the story with only a very brief mention near the end. Otherwise, the story and writing are very well done. Give the book a try, you just might end up caring about these women and wanting to read more of their adventures.
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