The Winters: A Novel. Lisa Gabriele. Penguin Publishing
Group. October 16, 2018. 320 pp. ISBN#: 978052559702.
A
young woman living and working in the Cayman Island at a boatyard works very
hard until she meets an older man. They
boat, eat, drink and eventually fall in love. He offers to take her to his home
in America on Long Island, the fancy place he calls home, called Asherley. He’s a Senator who’s thinking of running for
a higher place in government. In fact,
he’s very, very busy and out of the home more than he’s there. So, this woman meets his daughter, Dani who
greatly resents Max’s fiancé because Dani is taking her mother, Rebekah’s
place.
Dani
is one nasty piece of work. Sweet one minute, Dani can manipulate her father,
her Aunt Louise, and even the new gal who is engaged to her father Max. Dani runs around with the family
chauffeur/helper, takes off when she pleases, runs away as she did to Paris
before Max came home. The fiancée almost
leaves once when she can’t stand what is happening. But then things seem to be on the mend after
they are planning a wedding.
The
young woman is trying to learn the ropes about a home where the ghost of
Rebekah lurks in every corner. Now
begins the mystery. No spoilers here! This is indeed a take on Daphne Du Maurier’s
earlier novel, Rebecca.
Secrets
abound about Dani’s background, Rebekah’s death, another woman and money, the
latter being the root of what eventually results in disaster. Still Max marries our young heroine, but she
also reveals she’s made of tough stuff and is smart enough to figure out when
all these clues are slowly revealed in layers.
The
first half of the novel is one the reader thinks he or she knows; but one can’t
possibly figure out what is to follow.
The rest of the plot proceeds at a ripping, tense and furious pace until
a very pleasing end.
This
is a highly enjoyable romance/thriller novel that is sure to rivet the
attention of every reader. The
background ghosts are within each character, not external. Mistakes made in the
past accelerate to a point where they cannot be undone so enthralled is each
player with trying to make things better.
Enjoy the romp in contemporary Gothic horror!
