Eleanor Roth Rainbow Dust

Rainbow Dust

Eleanor Roth

Treble Heart, 2005, $12.95

ISBN: 193269515X

In New Maidstone, New England bank president Roger Spaudling proposes to college professor Margaret Knowles. Already a bit stunned by his asking her, before she can reply, a voice in her head shots at her to refuse him. Margaret informs her suitor that she is surprised and needs to think about it.

Later using a pen to tell his story and ultimately mental communication, Zeke explains who he is and how he fell in love with Ellen. Though she can speak with Zeke and not his wife, Margaret "sees" events as Ellen had lived them. She wonders why this is happening to her, but she notices that since Zeke literally entered her life she is not depressed, a feeling that has been part of her all her life.

Margaret tells Zeke's oldest son Howard, a Boston doctor, who believes her because she knows too much detail. He, his wife, his siblings, his close friend Bruce, and Margaret ponder why Zeke selected her. She needs to know the reason Margaret fears losing the connection if she pursues the past. As she blossoms under Zeke's tutelage; the ghost, indirectly Ellen, and their living descendants encourage Margaret to seek the answer to why a phantom she never met in life chose to speak with a mouse like her.

This is a strange but fascinating tale as the audience along with the cast want to know why Zeke picked the introvert; the reason will make sense, but is quite a shocker. The relationship between Zeke and Margaret hold the delightful character driven story line together as he is a sort of spectral mentor to her. Though everyone seems too easily to accept communication from beyond, readers who appreciate a deep charming but odd tale will want to read Eleanor Roth's wonderful novel.