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Pale Immortal #2

Garden of Darkness

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RITA Finalist for paranormal suspense Return to the haunted town of Tuonela, Wisconsin, with the USA Today bestselling author of Pale Immortal. And find out if the rumors are true. Rachel Burton tried to leave, but the killing brought her back. The skinned body was found in the woods, just as Rachel—the town medical examiner—was driving out of Tuonela for good, or so she thought. Now her baby will be born here, and the betrayal of Evan Stroud—the man she’s always loved, the man who can never see the light of day—will continue to haunt her waking and sleeping hours… Others are coming to Tuonela, drawn to the legend of the Pale Immortal, the so-called vampire whose exhumed body is now on display. And others will die. As Evan succumbs to madness, those around him will suspect the worst of him. But everything he is rumored to be will pale in comparison to the one who has been awakened… Garden of Darkness was originally released by Penguin Putnam and was a RITA finalist. Anne Frasier (a.k.a. Theresa Weir) is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of twenty-one books and numerous short stories that have spanned the genres of suspense, mystery, thriller, romantic suspense, paranormal, and memoir. Her titles have been printed in both hardcover and paperback and translated into twenty languages. Her memoir, The Orchard, was a 2011 Oprah Magazine Fall Pick, Number Two on the Indie Next list, a featured B+ review in Entertainment Weekly, and a Librarians’ Best Books of 2011. Going back to 1988, Weir’s debut title was the cult phenomenon AMAZON LILY, initially published by Pocket Books and later reissued by Bantam Books. Writing as Theresa Weir she won a RITA for romantic suspense (COOL SHADE), and a year later the Daphne du Maurier for paranormal romance (BAD KARMA). In her more recent Anne Frasier career, her thriller and suspense titles hit the USA Today list (HUSH, SLEEP TIGHT, PLAY DEAD) and were featured in Mystery Guild, Literary Guild, and Book of the Month Club. HUSH was both a RITA and Daphne du Maurier finalist. Her short stories and poetry can be found in DISCOUNT NOIR, ONCE UPON A CRIME, and THE LINEUP, POEMS ON CRIME. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers.

235 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 4, 2007

550 people are currently reading
638 people want to read

About the author

Anne Frasier

37 books2,274 followers
Anne Frasier is the New York Times, #1 Amazon Charts, and USA Today bestselling author of the Detective Jude Fontaine Mysteries, the Elise Sandburg series, and the Inland Empire novels. With more than a million copies sold, her award-winning books span the genres of suspense, mystery, thriller, romantic suspense, paranormal, and memoir. The Body Reader received the 2017 Thriller Award for Best Original Paperback Novel from International Thriller Writers. Other honors include a RITA for Romantic Suspense and a Daphne du Maurier Award for Paranormal Romantic Mystery/Suspense. Her thrillers have hit the USA Today bestseller list and have been featured in Mystery Guild, the Literary Guild, and Book of the Month. Her memoir, The Orchard, was an O, The Oprah Magazine Fall Pick; a One Book, One Community read; and one of the Librarians’ Best Books of 2011. Visit her website at www.annefrasier.com.

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5 stars
631 (35%)
4 stars
572 (31%)
3 stars
438 (24%)
2 stars
120 (6%)
1 star
40 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Profile Image for CD {Boulder Blvd}.
963 reviews95 followers
January 23, 2019
Although I found book#1 intriguing (in a creepy way), I was not pulled into the sequel. I didn't care about the main characters this time around and found the plot slow and boring. There was some nice points and paranormal elements but not enough for me to enjoy the read.
Profile Image for Kellie.
1,338 reviews30 followers
June 17, 2012
An easy read, but that's about all I can say for it. Not a good sequel at all. Pale Immortal was a good mystery, not supernatural at all. This was way into the supernatural and just didn't fit.

What's with not clarifying who (or what) committed the two murders? And what was with having the chapters with Kristin's character told in first-person, when the rest of the book was told in third-person? I just didn't understand the need for that.

It's definitely left open in the end for another sequel; I'll more than likely read that if one is written, however, I'd love to see this author get back to what she did so right in Hush.

I looked over Amazon reviews, and they pretty much echo what I felt about the book. I didn't have any problems with line breaks and scene changes, though.
187 reviews7 followers
September 26, 2017
For fans of Stephen King

Good can evil, sane vs insane, this just got crazier and crazier in that eerie Stephen King kind of way, with undead and blood and other unexplained things thrown in with the ghoulish need of humanity to document and hide at the same time, and laugh at the weirdness in others but not in ourselves. Worth a read of you're up for a bit of ghoulishness. I loved how the author wrapped up everything in the denouement. That was excellently done! Nice little montage of scenes that were sufficient and efficient, with humor thrown in. Maybe the best I've ever read.
Profile Image for lusty22.
420 reviews3 followers
October 24, 2020
I liked this book but not as much as the first. Its a bit erratic and restless. I know the author had a better grasp of the story in her first book. This story seems to get away from her and there are a lot of ideas, some seem disjointed. The basics from the first book hold together, and I want more of those. The other stuff wasn't my favorite, and I don't see those going anywhere. There's ghosts, vampires, disgruntled spirits, mental illness, and a town's tragic history at play. Its too much and it's too messy. The author actually had trouble linking it all, the reader will as well. The love story and the characters are good. That's what kept this reader reading. Three stars.
3 reviews
April 24, 2022
Needs closure

I'm not happy how the book ended. The baby doesn't have name and he has his father's disorder. One more book. Open with naming the baby. Graham and his girlfriend off to College. Few years later Evan has founded a new town for people the sun allergies and with their family. They are still haunted by the past, sh was still having visions of dead and Evan still battles his demons. Then there's the baby with his issues. Maybe throw a marriage or two.
Profile Image for Diane.
465 reviews2 followers
November 24, 2017
A little too weird for me.

Although I like vampire and supernatural thrillers, this one didn’t seem to follow any of the “rules” I’ve come to expect. The story is unique, but I didn’t really understand all that happened or what the “rules” of this world is. I read the first book and liked it better. I probably won’t read more of this series.
Profile Image for Alison.
185 reviews
June 3, 2019
Another fantastic, well written book, although I would say you need to read the first, to fully understand the story.
Really enjoyed this, it kept me guessing and hooked until the end.

The author does an amazing job of keeping the reader hooked in all of her books.

Would recommend this for a read.
Profile Image for Chloe Cuthbert.
Author 2 books5 followers
August 23, 2020
Excellent finale

This is the second book in the Pale Immortal duo. We find Rachel attempting to leave town again, only to be drawn right back in by a strange murder. And she’s pregnant.
Although this book wraps up the story, I would love more!
Well written and executed, fans of horror and mystery will enjoy this two book series.
Profile Image for LeAnn.
320 reviews1 follower
May 4, 2022
Carried by writing

I'm not a fan of horror books but Anne Frasier's excellent writing carried me through this book. The character of Evan was way out of sync with the man from book 1. I found that difficult to reconcile. The genre doesn't work for me. I hope her next release is a return to suspense. Because this woman can write!
14 reviews
December 19, 2016
If I were a dog, this would be a tail banger.

A multifaceted parapsychological story taking place in a Twilight Zone town that's hard to leave, even when just reading about it. I am addicted to this author's work.
67 reviews1 follower
June 22, 2017
Garden of Darkness

This was weirdest book I've ever read. It was boring and twisted crazy good. I don't like this type storyline but I had to read till the end and find out how it ended
Profile Image for Wanda Burquest.
172 reviews
July 3, 2020
Garden of Darkness is certainly a dark story and one that I find different from Anne Frasier's other books. There were some technical issues with formatting on my Kindle version that made it hard to follow the story easily. What a relief to get to the end! Will there be a sequel?
Profile Image for Leigh .
60 reviews
July 24, 2020
Vampire? Maybe

I liked this book, the story was good and the characters almost believable. It was difficult to really get into, not quite a vampire/witchcraft story, but not realistic. It’s a fun read, but not compelling.
347 reviews
September 4, 2020
Vampires

Lord but this woman can spin a tale. I've met a lot of old people in my life that could spin some yarns but I don't think any of them were this creepy, and I grew up in a town that claimed to have ghost too.
25 reviews
October 24, 2020
Dark and twisty

Excellent writing, strong characters and I had a strange longing to go visit Old Tuenela myself. Loved the blending of psychological thriller and vampire fantasy together!
155 reviews1 follower
November 22, 2020
Can you change the past?

Old Tuonela has been thru some horrible history. They say you always return.
Hopefully the past will change but there are a lot of pitfalls to overcome first!
26 reviews
May 19, 2017
Different Book

This book was quite different from what I usually read. It was quite captivating once I got into it though!
Profile Image for Jamie Sides.
19 reviews
June 6, 2017
Not good

Not what I expected. The first book was so good and this one was disappointing. Maybe the next one will be better
Profile Image for Billiejo.
202 reviews26 followers
December 22, 2018
This was a good paranormal series that had alot of mystery. It kept me reading but left alot of unanswered questions.
Profile Image for Shayna .
125 reviews3 followers
July 12, 2019
Great series!!!

I can't seem to keep this book down. I keep wanting to stay in Tuonela. This is a must read series.
10 reviews
September 8, 2019
Good and evil

Fast paced, good characters, nice ending , leaving a opening for a series.
Only negative far as I was concerned , the Story did not last longer.


96 reviews1 follower
August 17, 2020
Great

Loved the book. Kept me reading right to the end. Could not put it down very exciting and full of surprises.
Profile Image for Michelle.
315 reviews
December 24, 2020
Great ending

Great ending g that kept me guessing and turning pages as rapidly as possible so that I could get to the ending
316 reviews
September 6, 2021
I loved the first book but this sequel was not up to the same standard as far as I am concerned . Where as the first book was definitely creepy and had a good storyline this one just seemed weird .
12 reviews
December 24, 2021
Better than the first

I loved this more than the first very exciting non stop action . The author really made all the characters believable.
3 reviews
April 4, 2023
Good VS Evil, is there a middle ground?

Some really good stuff in there.
Also, some really, really nasty stuff.
Do not read just before going to bed!
97 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2023
Garden of Darkness

This is the second book of the Pale Immortal and just as good as the first one! I really enjoy Anne Frasiers books and look forward to the next one.
13 reviews1 follower
August 31, 2023
Happy Endings?

A little hard to comprehend so much death. More than a little scary, a good story if you stick with it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews

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