Sands of Time - Barbara Erskine

It was good to find out what happened to the characters from Whispers in the Sand but I have to agree with Julie on preferring to have those two short stories added to the main book to round that story off better.

It's a good "by the bed" book for when you're tired - one story is easily read before you nod off - but I much prefer her full-length novels to really get into a story. Just as a side note: I found that one thing that is very noticeable through the stories is the recurring theme of damaged and/or broken relationships...... which made me realise it also recurs in some of her main books too. Just makes me wonder.....

Book is registered with Book Crossing and will be going to a new home shortly. :0)

Whispers in the Sand - Barbara Erskine

Recently divorced, Anna Fox decides to cheer herself up by retracing a journey her great grandmother, Louisa, made in the mid-nineteenth century - a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan. Anna carries with her two of Louisa's possessions - an ancient Egyptian scent bottle and an illustrated diary of the original cruise that has lain unread for over a hundred years.

As she follows in Louisa's footsteps, Anna discovers in the diary a wonderful love story from the Victorian past - and the chilling, more distant secret of the little glass bottle. Meanwhile two men from the tour party are developing an unfriendly rivalry for her attention. And why are they showing such a disturbing interest in Louisa's mementoes? Most frightening of all, Anna finds herself the victim of a spectral presence that grows in strength and threat as the dramatic stories from three different eras intertwine in a terrifying climax...

It's mostly based in Egypt so it's a given that I would love this book for the mental imagery of the ancient sites it conjures up alone. :0) It was also good to see how the three separate stories were interwoven through the book in such a way that I didn't once lose any of the plots (makes a nice change, as I often feel I lost the plot a long time ago! LOL)

There were a couple of things in the book that made me think of Lady of Hay - anyone else pick up any similarities with certain character traits in both books? (Such as: a bullying guy, inconsistent heroine who takes her time to stand up to him, alcohol regularly consumed - though there was a little more fruit juice and water thrown in this time LOL). The twist for one of the characters was unexpected (I even felt sorry for him, even though he was a right royal pain in the derriere for much of the book), as was the somewhat open ending which has me hoping for a sequel........ but that's me, always wanting every lose end tied up.

All told, it was a good read that kept my interest throughout the book, containing all the spooky elements I've come to expect from the author. Although, for me, for a real spooky/scarey story none of her other books I've read (so far) have yet beaten Midnight is a Lonely Place! :0)

Now registered with Book Crossing and released. :0)

Hiding from the Light - Barbara Erskine

Across the peninsula the mist rolled in, its icy fingers curling up the cliffs. Inside their houses people stirred in their sleep and children cried in the dark.

The parish of Manningtree and Mistley has a dark history. In 1644 Cromwell's Witchfinder General tortured scores of women there, including Liza, the herbalist, whose cottage still stands, and Sarah, daughter of the manor. And the spirits of his victims still haunt the old shop in the High Street, they say.

Emma Dickson gave up her high-flying career to live in Liza's cottage but now, as Helloween approaches, she is being driven half-mad by visions of the terrible past. In despair, Emma turns to the young rector for help but he, too, is in the grip of something inexplicable and dangerous.....

Unfortunately, as a Pagan, I took exception to her presentation of Wicca and making the local witch the baddie as it buys into all the old stereotypical clap-trap about linking Paganism and Wicca with Satanism and Black Magic. Yes it's only a story but this kind of thing continually reinforces all the negative imagery that was perpetuated by the church to stamp out the old religion and which, unfortunately, still persists today in some quarters and is spouted whenever modern Paganism and Wicca are referred to.

What the author seems to have completely ignored is that we (Pagans and Wiccans - and other earth-based belief systems) don't believe in Satan - he's a Christian concept - and that no decent self-respecting Pagan or Wiccan would ever violate the Rede, as was persistently done by the Wiccan in the book. I guess sticking to the real facts would have got in the way of the story *sigh*.

Apart from that exception it was another gripping read from the author, keeping me turning the pages into the early hours and picking it up during the day to find out how it ended.

Book will be registered with Book Crossing and is now available to anyone who would like it. :0)