Jennifer Carole Lewis just released her second paranormal romance novel, Metamorphosis, and is hard at work on the third book in the series. Find her on Twitter at @jclewisupdate.
I’ve reviewed Edain Duguay’s young adult Chameleon series (Chameleon and Castrum Lucis) before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from her venture into the grown-up side of life with her novel Witch Bottle. She doesn’t shy away from the darker sides of humanity, so this is definitely not young adult with a sophisticated gloss. Duguay immediately plunges us into the world of 17th century London and the burning of a young woman named Erda before hopping to 21st century Canada to watch Amy begin the difficult task of clearing out her parents’ cottage after their death. Then in the following chapter, detective Inspector Andy Withers is investigating a grisly paranormal-influenced murder.The three interwoven stories take awhile to integrate into a braided whole, but each one is deftly managed within its own narrative. It’s clear that Witch Bottle will be the first in the series, introducing us to a broad cast of characters.
Amy’s brush with darkness is perhaps the most mundane and relatable. Her parents have died and she is responsible for the practical task of ensuring their estate is wrapped up, including their beautiful cottage by the lake. Duguay’s depiction her emotional turmoil is richly done, as Amy sorts through her parents’ belongings, remembering the happy times together. Despite Amy’s life in England, she finds herself drawn to this little corner of Canadian wilderness, to the natural beauty of the cottage and countryside, to the family friends who offer their own version of parental love and to Bryer, the attractive photographer who lives in the nearby town. She’s horrified to discover that those interested in purchasing her cottage will likely tear it down to build their own custom holiday home. She wants to cling to the past and yet at the same time, wants to be free of it. She can’t have both her life in London and the life of a rural writer in Canada, she’ll have to choose. And the ghost haunting her cottage doesn’t make that choice any easier.
Detective Inspector Withers is frustrated as he tries to track down a serial killer capable of both horrific acts and seemingly impossible ones, like leaving body parts attached to ceilings and walls by no visible means or sneaking into locked rooms without a trace. I would have liked to see more of his investigation as he frantically searches to discover what the victims have in common and how they were attacked. He’s not the typical small-town bumpkin cop, instead Duguay gives us a weary but dedicated lifelong solider in the fight for justice.
And finally there is Erda, who may have died centuries before, but is still ready to protect and guide her family. Creating a believable portrait of someone from another age is always a challenge but Duguay does an excellent job of blending Shakespearian-esque dialogue and the odd gaps of awareness and ignorance which make Erda such a fascinating character.
Those who pick up Witch Bottle will find themselves on the beginning of an intriguing path into a world where magic is real, ghosts can teach and death is no barrier to a determined killer.
You can find out more about Edain Duguay, author of Witch Bottle, at her website, on Facebook, or on Twitter.
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