The Wedding Gift by Kathleen McKenna
It is a spine-electrifying supernatural tale where a huge Southern States mansion contains one of the most terrifying, violent and indeed psychopathic ghosts to haunt any town. It is also a murder mystery – why did Robina Willets apparently kill all five of her young children, and her husband, before stabbing herself to death? And, if you are in the camp of believing that ‘justice …. just is not’, then this will have you frothing at the mouth with righteous social fury. Add to that the vision of two exceptionally beautiful girls lying on a landing stage in the middle of a secluded lake, sleeping naked in the sun …. …. and then see if you can find any consecutive ten minutes in this book when you don’t at least snicker at the heroine Leeann’s sly, caustic, sometimes-knowing sometimes ‘too stupid to live’ commentary.
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My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The main character is Leeann, whose self-absorption, selfishness and lack of morals were tempered by her genuine good heart and unexpected flashes of insight – and her courage and compassion. Her friend Jessie is the practical, more worldly-wise of the two 17 year-olds and it is Jessie who for most of the book, keeps or digs Leeann out of most of her troubles. The rest of the supporting cast, including George, Leeann’s husband, are less well drawn. This fits entirely with the premise that the book is Leeann’s journal and therefore knowledge, and insight, of the characters is that of Leeann.
This is ghost story with a difference. It is unpredictable and suitable twisty.
Well written, well plotted. A gem of a find.
I downloaded this eBook from Amazon for free.
I’m claiming this book as No. 11/150 in the Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge and No. 2 in the Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge.
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