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The Color of Fear
Murder. Unexplained events. Mysterious symbols. One woman risks her life and challenges her belief in good and evil to uncover the truth... A spree of unexplained serial killings rocks the quiet, God-fearing town of Eastwood, shattering nearly 350 years of peace and harmony since the witch trials in neighboring Salem. Rachel, a successful interior decorator, finds her own past is inexplicably entwined with the happenings. Rachel’s focus on growing her clientele leads to redecorating the family homes of some of the oldest, wealthiest and most powerful women in Eastwood. With no family of her own, Rachel welcomes becoming a trusted confidant and is taken into their social circle. She learns that her own past is tied not only to this society of women but also to the town itself, and that history is darker and more sinister the deeper she dives. As she tries to learn all she can from her new friends, she finds herself in a race against time as the genteel women are being targeted and murdered before they can divulge their secrets. Each new murder leads Rachel further into their murky past to try to unearth the truth behind one cryptic symbol, and what it means to the future of the town. Pitted against the killer, will Rachel succeed in unlocking the mysteries of supernatural phenomena, save her new friends and prevent a rebirth of Wiccan hysteria?
430 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2017
20 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Wanner
2 books9 followersWENDY WANNER writes supernatural mystery novels based on folklore, cultural idiosyncrasies and that little touch of the occult. With a BA in Cultural Anthropology from U.C.L.A, Wendy’s interest in cultures and religions drives her to travel the world and soak up different beliefs and traditions which surface in her novels.
Beyond being a passionate reader and traveler, Wendy is an avid dancer, yogi, and SCUBA diver and surfs and paddle boards every chance she gets. An Arizona desert girl at heart, Wendy is the mother of two boys and now lives in Dubai with her Scottish husband.
Beyond being a passionate reader and traveler, Wendy is an avid dancer, yogi, and SCUBA diver and surfs and paddle boards every chance she gets. An Arizona desert girl at heart, Wendy is the mother of two boys and now lives in Dubai with her Scottish husband.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 28, 2018
Wow! I absolutely loved reading this fabulously written book "The Color of Fear" by debut author Wendy Wanner.
Blurb - Murder. Unexplained events, mysterious symbols. One woman risks her life and challenges her belief in good and evil to uncover the truth.
A spree of unexplained serial killings rocks the quiet, God-fearing town of Eastwood, shattering nearly 350 years of peace and harmony since the witch trials in neighboring Salem. Rachel, a successful interior decorator, finds her own past is inexplicably entwined with the happenings. Pitted against the killer, will she succeed in unlocking the mysteries of supernatural phenomena, save her new friends and prevent a rebirth of Wiccan hysteria?
From the very first page I felt totally immersed in the story and could visualise every scene with clarity, so generous the author was with her descriptions. Written with such passion and intensity it was impossible not to form a connection with this book and I found I didn't want to put it down. The attention to detail was second to none, with aromas, food, flowers and interior decorations etc jumping out of the pages alerting my senses there and then.
The characters were portrayed just perfectly and I had a particular soft spot for Captain John Smith. I found myself really caring for Rachel too, the developing relationship between her and Douglas was pleasantly intriguing and I was rooting for them both from when we were first introduced to the budding romance early on.
This story had so many genres contained within it - crime, thriller, suspense, romance, women's fiction, paranormal and many more to keep every style of reader entertained. I loved how it had a supernatural element that was completely on the right side of believable and a twist that kept me thoroughly entertained. I personally have a hidden interest in Wicca and witches (and a fear of deep water) that gave this story an extra enticement.
Horrific murders, a delusional serial killer, suspicions, ancient witch trials and creepy sensations gave this book so much more than the average run of the mill paranormal mystery.
A tense and nail biting conclusion had me holding my breath but when Rachel finally put the pieces of the puzzle together the final ending had me happily smiling and I would truly love to see a follow up on the developments with Daphne and as to whether Rachel does more with her new found status.
The cover of this book is beautiful too - I love the colour green and walking through forests - so for me this was the perfect advertisement for an intriguing mystery.
Wendy Wanner deserves so much credit and publicity for this her first novel and I for one will certainly be following her for any future books, she's talented, imaginative, and is blatantly passionate about her writing and I wish her every success with this brilliant book "The Color of Fear"!
Strongly recommend!
5 stars
(Paperback Copy Read)
Blurb - Murder. Unexplained events, mysterious symbols. One woman risks her life and challenges her belief in good and evil to uncover the truth.
A spree of unexplained serial killings rocks the quiet, God-fearing town of Eastwood, shattering nearly 350 years of peace and harmony since the witch trials in neighboring Salem. Rachel, a successful interior decorator, finds her own past is inexplicably entwined with the happenings. Pitted against the killer, will she succeed in unlocking the mysteries of supernatural phenomena, save her new friends and prevent a rebirth of Wiccan hysteria?
From the very first page I felt totally immersed in the story and could visualise every scene with clarity, so generous the author was with her descriptions. Written with such passion and intensity it was impossible not to form a connection with this book and I found I didn't want to put it down. The attention to detail was second to none, with aromas, food, flowers and interior decorations etc jumping out of the pages alerting my senses there and then.
The characters were portrayed just perfectly and I had a particular soft spot for Captain John Smith. I found myself really caring for Rachel too, the developing relationship between her and Douglas was pleasantly intriguing and I was rooting for them both from when we were first introduced to the budding romance early on.
This story had so many genres contained within it - crime, thriller, suspense, romance, women's fiction, paranormal and many more to keep every style of reader entertained. I loved how it had a supernatural element that was completely on the right side of believable and a twist that kept me thoroughly entertained. I personally have a hidden interest in Wicca and witches (and a fear of deep water) that gave this story an extra enticement.
Horrific murders, a delusional serial killer, suspicions, ancient witch trials and creepy sensations gave this book so much more than the average run of the mill paranormal mystery.
A tense and nail biting conclusion had me holding my breath but when Rachel finally put the pieces of the puzzle together the final ending had me happily smiling and I would truly love to see a follow up on the developments with Daphne and as to whether Rachel does more with her new found status.
The cover of this book is beautiful too - I love the colour green and walking through forests - so for me this was the perfect advertisement for an intriguing mystery.
Wendy Wanner deserves so much credit and publicity for this her first novel and I for one will certainly be following her for any future books, she's talented, imaginative, and is blatantly passionate about her writing and I wish her every success with this brilliant book "The Color of Fear"!
Strongly recommend!
5 stars
(Paperback Copy Read)
May 21, 2019
Review of The Color of Fear
By Wendy Wanner
5 Stars
Agatha Christie, move over
The Color of Fear is author Wendy Wanner’s debut novel. Ms. Wanner is a talented writer and an exceptional storyteller. The novel is a fast-paced page-turner in the most enjoyable sense. Although I finished this book this past weekend, the story, the plot, and most of all the characters are still with me. The story is, among other things, a whodunit that pays tribute to the genre for which Agatha Christie is famous. But like a Venn diagram, The Color of Fear also falls within other genres: literary and occult fiction.
Likable characters and an interesting story are, of course, important, a good reason to read a book. But that is not enough in my view for a book to merit a five-star review. There must be more, and in the case of The Color of Fear, there is much more: an intricate multilayered plot and psychologically rich characters with believable and satisfying arcs. In The Color of Fear both the characters and the stories continue to surprise as the narrative unfolds.
Regarding characterization, by way of example, we meet the protagonist, Rachel Steerley of Eastwood, Massachusetts at the outset at the funeral of her older brother Stephen in Scotland. Stephen was a suicide by self-defenestration. After the funeral, shortly before her flight back to Massachusetts, Rachel stops by to see her sister-in-law. In a surprising first turn, the sister-in-law screams at Rachel, telling her to take her demons, depart, and never return. That was creepy, and as I continued reading, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. When I was a little more than halfway through, and nothing had occurred to suggest that Rachel was a bearer of demons, I concluded that the sister-in-law scene was a MacGuffin. Rachel is this sweet woman, goodhearted, nothing remotely sinister about her. The demon allegation, I concluded, was a chink in an otherwise superbly developing novel. But Wanner, an elegant storyteller, returned to this incredibly important clue, in a surprising twist at the very end.
So yes, Rachel is developed as a fine, loving, talented artistic woman, but that alone doesn’t relate to the complexity of her character or her character arc. Rachel, we discover, has a huge emptiness like a void obscuring her essence. She is an orphan, her parents having drowned when she was six. Afterward, she was raised by her grandparents while Stephen doted over her, protected her. When we meet Rachel in media res, she is a talented interior designer who has no close friends, no romantic interests, and aside from her work, no hobbies, social or intellectual interests. She is a contented, successful, two-dimensional (you might say) workaholic moving through life, doing what she loves, building a thriving business. She has no self-awareness of the cornucopia of pleasures and satisfactions life has to offer.
Then the murders begin. Four elderly ladies of Eastwood, each a new client and potential friend of Rachel’s, dies shortly after Rachel begins work for them. Rachel is the last person to see each of these women alive, except that is, for the killer. Unless Rachel is the killer. Is Rachel the killer? Does she have a dual personality? An interesting theory but one that proved false to me by the time of the second murder.
It is then that we begin to see the development of Rachel as the she flowers and grieves as her new clients are killed one after another, hollowness at the center of her being fills with new senses of purpose. The murders allow or cause Rachel to lower her defenses. She makes new good friends with good people (well mostly good people), she becomes romantically involved with the fine young man next door, a solo practicing lawyer. She develops newfound intellectual interests—especially about the history of Eastwood—and extracurricular pursuits: horseback riding and plans to restore her childhood home. She has moved back to Eastwood into her ancestral family home before the book begins. And as the novel progresses, Rachel learns more and more about and becomes ever more interested in the town’s citizens, its history, and her family’s history. This is rich character development and deeply satisfying character arc.
Meaningful character development in The Color of Fear, isn’t confined to Rachel. All the characters make important choices and undergo significant and satisfying change. I’ll dwell briefly on two bachelors, brothers Brian—a seller of rare books—and Frederick Richardson—the pastor in Eastwood’s oldest chruch. Each of these men though eccentric are filled with energy and purpose when we readers are introduced to them. When we first meet Frederick his sermons are vibrant, his counseling of parishioners wise and sincere. But at the end events have left him a defeated hollow man, leaving Eastwood, abandoning his church and congregation, turning his back on God as though for him life had lost all of its meaning.
The other reason I so highly recommend this book is for the elegant intricacy of the intertwining plots as they unfold. There is the overriding question of whodunit. And how. And why. Even these plotlines are bifurcated, even trifurcated. There is the police investigation and Rachel’s. Along the way we are treated to the budding of not one but two romances, a psychologically abused wife coming of age, women forming new friendships with one another, the relationship of the Richardson brothers, and the deep secrets of a legacy of witchcraft. Eastwood we learn isn't far from Salem and witchcraft mania is never far from the psyche of the town folks, descendants of Puritan pilgrims. And as I said, the surprising, satisfying twist at the end.
The book I’ve reviewed was purchased myself.
By Wendy Wanner
5 Stars
Agatha Christie, move over
The Color of Fear is author Wendy Wanner’s debut novel. Ms. Wanner is a talented writer and an exceptional storyteller. The novel is a fast-paced page-turner in the most enjoyable sense. Although I finished this book this past weekend, the story, the plot, and most of all the characters are still with me. The story is, among other things, a whodunit that pays tribute to the genre for which Agatha Christie is famous. But like a Venn diagram, The Color of Fear also falls within other genres: literary and occult fiction.
Likable characters and an interesting story are, of course, important, a good reason to read a book. But that is not enough in my view for a book to merit a five-star review. There must be more, and in the case of The Color of Fear, there is much more: an intricate multilayered plot and psychologically rich characters with believable and satisfying arcs. In The Color of Fear both the characters and the stories continue to surprise as the narrative unfolds.
Regarding characterization, by way of example, we meet the protagonist, Rachel Steerley of Eastwood, Massachusetts at the outset at the funeral of her older brother Stephen in Scotland. Stephen was a suicide by self-defenestration. After the funeral, shortly before her flight back to Massachusetts, Rachel stops by to see her sister-in-law. In a surprising first turn, the sister-in-law screams at Rachel, telling her to take her demons, depart, and never return. That was creepy, and as I continued reading, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. When I was a little more than halfway through, and nothing had occurred to suggest that Rachel was a bearer of demons, I concluded that the sister-in-law scene was a MacGuffin. Rachel is this sweet woman, goodhearted, nothing remotely sinister about her. The demon allegation, I concluded, was a chink in an otherwise superbly developing novel. But Wanner, an elegant storyteller, returned to this incredibly important clue, in a surprising twist at the very end.
So yes, Rachel is developed as a fine, loving, talented artistic woman, but that alone doesn’t relate to the complexity of her character or her character arc. Rachel, we discover, has a huge emptiness like a void obscuring her essence. She is an orphan, her parents having drowned when she was six. Afterward, she was raised by her grandparents while Stephen doted over her, protected her. When we meet Rachel in media res, she is a talented interior designer who has no close friends, no romantic interests, and aside from her work, no hobbies, social or intellectual interests. She is a contented, successful, two-dimensional (you might say) workaholic moving through life, doing what she loves, building a thriving business. She has no self-awareness of the cornucopia of pleasures and satisfactions life has to offer.
Then the murders begin. Four elderly ladies of Eastwood, each a new client and potential friend of Rachel’s, dies shortly after Rachel begins work for them. Rachel is the last person to see each of these women alive, except that is, for the killer. Unless Rachel is the killer. Is Rachel the killer? Does she have a dual personality? An interesting theory but one that proved false to me by the time of the second murder.
It is then that we begin to see the development of Rachel as the she flowers and grieves as her new clients are killed one after another, hollowness at the center of her being fills with new senses of purpose. The murders allow or cause Rachel to lower her defenses. She makes new good friends with good people (well mostly good people), she becomes romantically involved with the fine young man next door, a solo practicing lawyer. She develops newfound intellectual interests—especially about the history of Eastwood—and extracurricular pursuits: horseback riding and plans to restore her childhood home. She has moved back to Eastwood into her ancestral family home before the book begins. And as the novel progresses, Rachel learns more and more about and becomes ever more interested in the town’s citizens, its history, and her family’s history. This is rich character development and deeply satisfying character arc.
Meaningful character development in The Color of Fear, isn’t confined to Rachel. All the characters make important choices and undergo significant and satisfying change. I’ll dwell briefly on two bachelors, brothers Brian—a seller of rare books—and Frederick Richardson—the pastor in Eastwood’s oldest chruch. Each of these men though eccentric are filled with energy and purpose when we readers are introduced to them. When we first meet Frederick his sermons are vibrant, his counseling of parishioners wise and sincere. But at the end events have left him a defeated hollow man, leaving Eastwood, abandoning his church and congregation, turning his back on God as though for him life had lost all of its meaning.
The other reason I so highly recommend this book is for the elegant intricacy of the intertwining plots as they unfold. There is the overriding question of whodunit. And how. And why. Even these plotlines are bifurcated, even trifurcated. There is the police investigation and Rachel’s. Along the way we are treated to the budding of not one but two romances, a psychologically abused wife coming of age, women forming new friendships with one another, the relationship of the Richardson brothers, and the deep secrets of a legacy of witchcraft. Eastwood we learn isn't far from Salem and witchcraft mania is never far from the psyche of the town folks, descendants of Puritan pilgrims. And as I said, the surprising, satisfying twist at the end.
The book I’ve reviewed was purchased myself.
May 29, 2018
First off, I absolutely judge this book by the cover. The cover is unassuming, but boy did I love this book. There was mystery, murder, intrigue, paranormal, occult, romance, passion, and lots of drama. Damn, it had it all!
Rachel is devastated when her brother commits suicide. Why becomes a constant question and forces a dilemma of truth and reality. Although separated for eight years, she doesn't grasp the reason behind why he died. This starts a spiral of mystery that begins with her brother's death and travels through time.
Two years pass, and Rachel is a renown interior decorator of the town of Eastwood. Greta, an old widow, who owns a historical mansion, hires Rachel to decorate her home; the calm before the storm. Just as Rachel begins working tragedy strikes again. Rachel is the only one who suspects foul play. Another job comes forth, and tragedy strikes again. The sleepy town of Eastwood is engulfed in a cloud of whodunit. Rachel seeks answers without knowing where to begin. Only Rachel suspects a deeper meaning to the tragedies. While the clues are evident, to her, the local police are of little assistance.
Why is Rachel the only one aware of the sinister twists that are happening, because in her mind everyone is a suspect. Could it be the new developer? Maybe her love interest was a part of the foul play? Lastly, her new friend is under her suspicion too. The real question – How is she to know for sure?
A new twist develops with Rachel's past repeating itself. How does she stop the time loop? Wendy Wanner has you travel back to in time to find the answers to those questions. She weaves a tale of intrigue that it will keep you guessing who the culprit throughout the book is.
Her characters breathe life into the written words as the book transports you into a world so vivid it could be an exquisite painting. I loved the detail-oriented facts, twists and turns, and mind conundrums that made me dizzy. I have nothing but high praise for Ms. Wanner on her debut Novel. Outstanding read!
Rachel is devastated when her brother commits suicide. Why becomes a constant question and forces a dilemma of truth and reality. Although separated for eight years, she doesn't grasp the reason behind why he died. This starts a spiral of mystery that begins with her brother's death and travels through time.
Two years pass, and Rachel is a renown interior decorator of the town of Eastwood. Greta, an old widow, who owns a historical mansion, hires Rachel to decorate her home; the calm before the storm. Just as Rachel begins working tragedy strikes again. Rachel is the only one who suspects foul play. Another job comes forth, and tragedy strikes again. The sleepy town of Eastwood is engulfed in a cloud of whodunit. Rachel seeks answers without knowing where to begin. Only Rachel suspects a deeper meaning to the tragedies. While the clues are evident, to her, the local police are of little assistance.
Why is Rachel the only one aware of the sinister twists that are happening, because in her mind everyone is a suspect. Could it be the new developer? Maybe her love interest was a part of the foul play? Lastly, her new friend is under her suspicion too. The real question – How is she to know for sure?
A new twist develops with Rachel's past repeating itself. How does she stop the time loop? Wendy Wanner has you travel back to in time to find the answers to those questions. She weaves a tale of intrigue that it will keep you guessing who the culprit throughout the book is.
Her characters breathe life into the written words as the book transports you into a world so vivid it could be an exquisite painting. I loved the detail-oriented facts, twists and turns, and mind conundrums that made me dizzy. I have nothing but high praise for Ms. Wanner on her debut Novel. Outstanding read!
May 21, 2019
Una historia de asesinatos que se suceden en serie en una población, con toques de misticismo e historia; encontré que las descripciones en ocasiones eran muy extensas, muy apresurada la relación de Daphne y Marty y que de magia tenía poco. Al final se vuelve más interesante.
A story of serial murders in a little town, with touches of mysticism and history; I found that the descriptions were sometimes very extensive, very hasty the relationship of Daphne and Marty and that magic had little. In the end it becomes more interesting.
A story of serial murders in a little town, with touches of mysticism and history; I found that the descriptions were sometimes very extensive, very hasty the relationship of Daphne and Marty and that magic had little. In the end it becomes more interesting.
January 28, 2019
So Much More Than A Small Town Romance/Mystery. 4.5 Stars
Let me start by saying I love the cover for The Color of Fear. I just knew it would be an intriguing read once I saw that cover.
This is a lengthy book with quite a few characters, but don't despair, the author does a brilliant, patient job of giving every character their space. While it might take some time to get everyone straight, soon you'll be immersed in Rachel's story and the citizens of this small town (each with their own quirks) before you know it.
Rachel attends her brother's funeral in Scotland after his suicide. She feels guilty and remorseful for not keeping in touch with him during the 8 years he lived abroad. After the funeral, she returns to her hometown of "Eastwood" in New England and continues her job as an interior decorator, but not without a niggling feeling that something is amiss. Either she's being watched or stalked, and strains of dark undertones contribute to a pervasive spooky atmosphere. Due to her decorating skills, Rachel is soon indoctrinated into a group the rich socialites (women) of Eastwood, all of them eager to have her redecorate their massive homes.
After the first woman dies by drowning in the bathtub, no one suspects foul play, except Rachel. As the deaths continue, suspicions rise and what I thought was a cozy mystery turns into a thriller filled with a refreshing but unusual twist. I don't want to give too much away but there are otherworldly forces at play here.
The Color of Fear (great title) is an ambitious undertaking for a debut novel, not only because of the large cast, but the book is quite lengthy. The author does a stellar job in fleshing out the residents of Eastwood and also at peeling back the layers of the onion on the mystery part.
There are many tropes going on in this book--mystery,suspense, romance, small town, paranormal--all which contribute to making this a very enjoyable read.
Kudos Ms. Wanner for your persistence and your creative imagination in bringing the plot and the characters to life.
Well done.
Let me start by saying I love the cover for The Color of Fear. I just knew it would be an intriguing read once I saw that cover.
This is a lengthy book with quite a few characters, but don't despair, the author does a brilliant, patient job of giving every character their space. While it might take some time to get everyone straight, soon you'll be immersed in Rachel's story and the citizens of this small town (each with their own quirks) before you know it.
Rachel attends her brother's funeral in Scotland after his suicide. She feels guilty and remorseful for not keeping in touch with him during the 8 years he lived abroad. After the funeral, she returns to her hometown of "Eastwood" in New England and continues her job as an interior decorator, but not without a niggling feeling that something is amiss. Either she's being watched or stalked, and strains of dark undertones contribute to a pervasive spooky atmosphere. Due to her decorating skills, Rachel is soon indoctrinated into a group the rich socialites (women) of Eastwood, all of them eager to have her redecorate their massive homes.
After the first woman dies by drowning in the bathtub, no one suspects foul play, except Rachel. As the deaths continue, suspicions rise and what I thought was a cozy mystery turns into a thriller filled with a refreshing but unusual twist. I don't want to give too much away but there are otherworldly forces at play here.
The Color of Fear (great title) is an ambitious undertaking for a debut novel, not only because of the large cast, but the book is quite lengthy. The author does a stellar job in fleshing out the residents of Eastwood and also at peeling back the layers of the onion on the mystery part.
There are many tropes going on in this book--mystery,suspense, romance, small town, paranormal--all which contribute to making this a very enjoyable read.
Kudos Ms. Wanner for your persistence and your creative imagination in bringing the plot and the characters to life.
Well done.
February 23, 2018
The verdict: A genre-bending tale delivering strong characters, suspense, and just the right amount of occult.
I love thrillers with supernatural twists, and so The Color of Fear piqued my curiosity from the back cover alone. For Wendy Wanner’s debut novel, the book contains an impressive amount of research and thought. The story starts off as a cozy mystery, with Rachel as the uncharacteristic amateur sleuth and nothing especially grisly about the crime. At first, motives feel predictable and dramatic irony comes a bit heavy. Yet Wanner brings new layers as the story progresses, and the supernatural threads mix well with the everyday events, leading to a strange if not thought-provoking metaphysical conclusion.
Following her brother’s suicide in Scotland, Rachel Steerley returns to her Massachusetts home and successful career as an interior decorator. Two years later, the ghosts of her past return to her idyllic small-town life. When long-standing socialite Greta Wallace drowns in her bathtub, only Rachel sees the death as suspicious. Eerie sensations follow Rachel’s every move, and when the body count rises, she determines to discover the truth on her own. Everyone’s a suspect—from antique bookseller Brian and his vicar brother, to ruthless real estate tycoon Gavin and his secretary Daphne, to Rachel’s childhood neighbor and newfound love interest, Douglass. At the center of the mystery lies Rachel’s own fear of drowning, stemming from a horrible accident that claimed her parents’ lives. For answers, Rachel must dive into the past—both the town’s history and her own.
While the dialogue feels oddly literary in an otherwise modern setting—more than once is a character “debonair”—perhaps I just don’t spend enough time with old-money New England elite to relate. The page count is a bit high; the first few chapters have a pretty heavy information dump and a large cast of characters. Rachel’s personal history takes a backseat after an emotional opening, and at times I wanted more skin in the game for her. Wanner evens out the pacing as things go along, however, and each character receives enough attention to justify his or her presence by the end. Considering the length, Wanner does a great job extending the suspense without leaving the reader bored. Critical readers might find some of the character head-hopping distracting, while others may enjoy seeing the thoughts and feelings of each member of the suspect pool. As a slight trigger warning, the novel contains a literal sermon against abortion. Full of old mansions and modern decor, Wanner’s The Color of Fear explores what it means to “live in our pasts,” both healing from personal trauma and embracing our family heritage. It’s hard to classify this genre-bending tale. Recommended for anyone who loves Victorian-style drama or country romance, especially those in the mood for a mystery.
I love thrillers with supernatural twists, and so The Color of Fear piqued my curiosity from the back cover alone. For Wendy Wanner’s debut novel, the book contains an impressive amount of research and thought. The story starts off as a cozy mystery, with Rachel as the uncharacteristic amateur sleuth and nothing especially grisly about the crime. At first, motives feel predictable and dramatic irony comes a bit heavy. Yet Wanner brings new layers as the story progresses, and the supernatural threads mix well with the everyday events, leading to a strange if not thought-provoking metaphysical conclusion.
Following her brother’s suicide in Scotland, Rachel Steerley returns to her Massachusetts home and successful career as an interior decorator. Two years later, the ghosts of her past return to her idyllic small-town life. When long-standing socialite Greta Wallace drowns in her bathtub, only Rachel sees the death as suspicious. Eerie sensations follow Rachel’s every move, and when the body count rises, she determines to discover the truth on her own. Everyone’s a suspect—from antique bookseller Brian and his vicar brother, to ruthless real estate tycoon Gavin and his secretary Daphne, to Rachel’s childhood neighbor and newfound love interest, Douglass. At the center of the mystery lies Rachel’s own fear of drowning, stemming from a horrible accident that claimed her parents’ lives. For answers, Rachel must dive into the past—both the town’s history and her own.
While the dialogue feels oddly literary in an otherwise modern setting—more than once is a character “debonair”—perhaps I just don’t spend enough time with old-money New England elite to relate. The page count is a bit high; the first few chapters have a pretty heavy information dump and a large cast of characters. Rachel’s personal history takes a backseat after an emotional opening, and at times I wanted more skin in the game for her. Wanner evens out the pacing as things go along, however, and each character receives enough attention to justify his or her presence by the end. Considering the length, Wanner does a great job extending the suspense without leaving the reader bored. Critical readers might find some of the character head-hopping distracting, while others may enjoy seeing the thoughts and feelings of each member of the suspect pool. As a slight trigger warning, the novel contains a literal sermon against abortion. Full of old mansions and modern decor, Wanner’s The Color of Fear explores what it means to “live in our pasts,” both healing from personal trauma and embracing our family heritage. It’s hard to classify this genre-bending tale. Recommended for anyone who loves Victorian-style drama or country romance, especially those in the mood for a mystery.
May 9, 2018
Great and exciting read
I loved this book, it was so exciting. I sure hope you can make it into a series. Thank you so very much.
I loved this book, it was so exciting. I sure hope you can make it into a series. Thank you so very much.
September 30, 2021
Take out cauldron. Toss in: Jan Karon’s small town characters plus occult, murder, and mystery. Add a dash of: Romance with the boy next door, a spooky bookkeeper, an opinionated priest, and some waspy old ladies. Sprinkle: A pinch of corrupt government officials and secret family histories. Stir In: Strong, hell-bent women, affairs, suicides, murders, water phobias, and unplanned pregnancies. Let simmer. Stir precariously as everything is in jeopardy of exploding.
November 10, 2017
Murder has come to Eastwood, and Rachel find herself connected to events in a way she could never imagine. Her only hope is to discover the truth and stop the killings, or the very future of the town itself is in danger. Intrigue, mystery, suspense, and drama, what more could you ask for?
I read this on KU
I read this on KU
June 21, 2018
This debut novel took me by surprise. I expected a supernatural mystery, and I got that, but it's so much more than that. The Color of Fear is a bit of a mixed bag of genres and tropes. It starts out with our main character at her brother's funeral and had an overall dark feel to it, which makes sense given the nature of his death. From there, the story moves forward and we start to learn about Rachel and the town she lives in. We do get quite a bit of information in the beginning and there are some info dump type passages. There is also a number of characters introduced rather quickly, and with so much information included, it did take a bit to figure out the who's who of this tale. Nevertheless, each character is given enough space throughout the story that I began to get a feel for them and where they stood in the pecking order. These introductory chapters have a cozy mystery vibe to them, as well as an almost soap opera type feel with the who's cheating who rundown - both in and out of the bedroom. The setting is modern day, but the dialogue seems more old world, which I assume is due to the lifestyle and elite nature of the characters. As the story progresses, things slowly start to take on a darker tone and for our main character, everyone is a suspect. At times during the story, it felt like the mystery took a backseat to the everyday lives of the community, but little by little, it all comes together and makes sense. I was impressed with how the author managed so much going on and still kept that niggling air of suspense throughout. The book is lengthy and while there were things I liked and things I didn't, the writing style and attention to detail kept the pages turning. In the end, I suppose you could say that this is a murder mystery mixed in with some romance, a bit of the supernatural, small town life, and old world society. Whatever the genre, if this is any indication of what this debut author is capable of, I'm intrigued to see what she does next.
August 21, 2018
The past is always with us in Wendy Wanner’s The Color of Fear. This is an ambitious debut novel that readers won’t be able to put down. After the suicide of her brother, Rachel returns to her ancestral home of Eastwood, Massachusetts, to continue her career as an interior designer, finding new clients in the town’s wealthy estate owners. When one of her socialite clients drowns in her bathtub, Rachel is skeptical that it was an accident and begins investigating. Then the stakes rise as more murders occur.
The author builds a rich, complex portrait of the town and its many interesting residents, giving us a rare glimpse into the lives of the New England aristocracy tracing back to the Puritan era. There’s romance, religion, intrigue, detective work, and a touch of the supernatural forming a powerful saga of the town and an intriguing mystery. I can’t wait to see what Wanner comes out with next!
The author builds a rich, complex portrait of the town and its many interesting residents, giving us a rare glimpse into the lives of the New England aristocracy tracing back to the Puritan era. There’s romance, religion, intrigue, detective work, and a touch of the supernatural forming a powerful saga of the town and an intriguing mystery. I can’t wait to see what Wanner comes out with next!
June 23, 2018
I found The Color of Fear to be quite an interesting read. It was mysterious and entertaining with some great characters that felt real. It has mystery, intrigue and suspense without giving too much away and making it predictable.
As a supernatural thriller I would have liked to have read more about the supernatural side and witches, as they were only really hinted at.
I felt some bits could have been shortened while other parts expanded, but all in all it was an enjoyable read.
As a supernatural thriller I would have liked to have read more about the supernatural side and witches, as they were only really hinted at.
I felt some bits could have been shortened while other parts expanded, but all in all it was an enjoyable read.
November 6, 2019
It had potential
Spelling mistakes everywhere. The story dragged that much I actually flicked past pages and still kept up with the thread of the story. Didn’t like the comment the mayor made about the abortion clinic “young women” not women of any ages or their partners. I suppose that could have been his characters attitude, although it was hard to work out as the characters weren’t fleshed out enough.
Spelling mistakes everywhere. The story dragged that much I actually flicked past pages and still kept up with the thread of the story. Didn’t like the comment the mayor made about the abortion clinic “young women” not women of any ages or their partners. I suppose that could have been his characters attitude, although it was hard to work out as the characters weren’t fleshed out enough.
October 19, 2020
An amazing read just couldn't wait to get to bed to read updates just wished it didn't finish as it did Would love to have read Rachel's &Daphne's happy endings looking forward to her next book
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