A Field Of Darkness, What A Read!

About the only good thing to come out of this past weekend was that I finished reading Cornelia’s book. I think it was a fabulous first offering and I cannot wait until she publishes something else. Her style is sharp and smart, witty and driven. She cuts no corners in developing either her characters or the plot. I do admire the way she paces her storyline. Giving just enough to show the things that need to be seen and yet not shorting us on the more intimate moments as the intricacy of story development and character interaction build to a truly unexpected climax. The protagonist, Madeline Dare, is gritty and vulnerable, courageous and terrified. She never lets her self-doubt prevent her pursuit of the truth and justice.

Madeline Dare comes from old money so old in fact, there is none left. Her hunky, farmer come-inventor husband is often gone for weeks on end, leaving Madeline to her own devices and her job as the local fluff piece writer on their Syracuse, NY newspaper. Madeline feels stifled and disconnected; she wants desperately to get out of Syracuse as quickly and completely as humanely possible. Discouraged and dreading her next stint alone she is surprised when her father-in-law shows her a pair of dog tags he dug up years ago in a field. The tags were right next to the place where two young girls were murdered. Inexplicably, the name on the dog tags is the same name as her favorite cousin from Oyster Bay. Desperately determined to prove her cousin had nothing to do with the murders, Maddie sets out on a quest to prove his innocence and discover, if she can, who the guilty party is.

It does not take long for Maddie to be reminded just how vindictive and ruthless the money side of her family can be. Soon, bodies are piling up and Madeline feels she is responsible for the death of one of her dearest friends. Ever determined to see justice done for the brutal murders, even if the guilty person is her beloved cousin, Madeline soon finds herself in her own fight for life against a diabolical killer. Will our blue-blooded DAR find the strength to survive, or will she flounder in self-doubt and second-guessing?

I think you need to read the book and find out. It is definitely worth the investment of both time and money. Three cheers for Cornelia Read! I really hope she brings Maddie and Ellis (Maddie’s best friend) back for another book or two. I think they make a great pair because they do not realize just how capable they really are.

There is always hope.

Betty