Gayle Wilson, Bogeyman

Bogeyman

Gayle Wilson

Mira, December 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 0778323617

After her spouse John died, writer Blythe Wyndham, accompanied by her four year old daughter Maddie, returns to her hometown of Crenshaw, Alabama to be near her family, especially her grandma Miz Ruth. However, rather than impose on her beloved grandmother, Blythe rents a somewhat isolated small house.

Soon Blythe begins hearing noises at night that frighten her, while Maddie suffers from apparent nightmares, something that never happened to her before the move. Blythe begins to wonder if this home could be haunted by Rachel who was murdered there twenty-five years ago. Desperate to know the truth, Blythe asks Sheriff Cade Jackson to investigate, while elderly Miz Ruth's long time companion psychic Delores Simmons insists she sees something from the beyond calling to her daughter. Cade agrees, though he assumes both ladies are on edge because of the death of the paternal member of the household, as much as from the homicide history of their rental. However, before he can dig deep, the house burns down. Though no one is hurt, Cade believes a mortal person wanted the past left dead.

BOGEYMAN is an excellent one sitting paranormal romantic suspense thriller in which readers will jump at every noise they hear during the night (and several subsequent evenings afterward). The gripping storyline is fast-paced, as the audience will agree with Cade that the two female Wyndhams are suffering from grief, but like the sheriff, they will, soon change their mind wondering if Delores is right or someone living wants the past buried. Gayle Wilson is at her best with this superior tale that should have cross genre appeal to suspense fans too.