Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those
neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything
like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in
your stacks.
Even ‘death do us part’ couldn’t halt her march down the aisle… Cash-strapped Maui wedding planner Pali Moon can’t believe her luck when a prospective bride flashing a five-carat dazzler pops into her shop, “Let’s Get Maui’d,” to request a glitzy beachside wedding. But then Pali learns the lavish wedding must take place on Valentine’s Day—only nine days away. Oh, and one other little hitch—the groom’s been missing at sea for more than a week. But no worries, the bride assures Pali, with or without the groom the wedding will take place. She’s struck a deal with the groom’s best friend to be his proxy, if necessary. Two days before the nuptials, a male corpse floats ashore on a South Maui beach. Looks like the groom’s shown up just in time. But what’s it gonna be—a wedding…or a funeral?
Why did I eagerly pick up this one? It has everything I love in a cozy mystery. A tropical island locale is a location that I love. I even went there once. I had told Mr Wonderful early in our relationship that if I ever got married again (it was the second for both of us), I had to go to Hawaii. Fortunately for us, a friend of his had a paid trip to Hawaii on Waikiki Beach and him and his wife could not go. She was pregnant and the doctor said no. Our lucky day. Now that we have digital cameras, I would love to go back. It used to be photos on a budget, now we can all go click crazy. Added to my TBR on 10.19.12 and got it from Amazon on 10.20.13.
I was introduced to Virginia King and Selkie Moon through a free Amazon copy of Laying Ghosts. I probably found it through a newsletter. Laying Ghosts is still free at the time I created this post, so I hope you take a moment to introduce yourself. Be sure and check to make sure it is still free.
This is the latest cover, and I do love the blue, but I also like the other cover because it sure looks like Hawaii and I love the location. Which does it for you?
I reviewed the Prequel Laying Ghosts, in the Selkie Moon Series by Virginia King, and when the author saw it, she offered me a review copy of The First Lie. I love the cover, the location, Hawaii, and any kind of water…person, so there was no doubt in mind I had to continue on with the series. I was not disappointed.
Living in a difficult situation in Sydney she heard the call of Hawaii.
Selkie heard a voice, “Someone is trying to kill you.”
And so we begin. Is it real or a figment of her imagination? Is it Pele, warning her? Is she psychic? She’s seen the woman twice. Who is she? What does she want?
With the name Selkie Moon, I felt things would happen differently and The First Lie did not play out like I thought. It seemed a slow pace, but I think that is on me, not Virginia King…or Selkie herself. It takes time for her to work through her issues, her psychological introspection, growing and developing as a character to come into her own, becoming more mature, poised, and confident.
We have Hawaiian mysticism, and I love Hawaii, so this was that little bit extra that I look for in a good book. And, a friend, Wanda, who believes in all of it. Who doesn’t like to learn about the country they are visiting? I sure do. Years ago, Hawaii was #2 on my bucket list. I was so fortunate I was able to cross that off, though I would love to visit it again.
Selkie Moon almost drowned as a child and has a fear of water. The ocean calls to her, but she turns her back on it. Makes me wonder what is to come, if she won’t even get near it, let alone step into it.
Looking back, I appreciate the slow build and details of her life even more, walking in her footsteps and looking through her eyes. My anticipation for the next book, The Second Path, grew after reading the first chapter. I wasn’t going to read it, but seeing the next book is already out, I know there is no wait. And I do want to know what comes next…very much.
At first it felt hard to rate this, bouncing between a 3 and a 4, while reading. After writing this review and seeing the notes I made, I had to go with a 4.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The First Lie by Virginia King.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
“A dizzying array of events, mysteries, supernatural intrigue, and action!” – Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Reviews
Selkie Moon is a woman on the run.
In a mad dash for freedom she’s escaped her abusive husband to start over in Hawaii. But her refuge begins to unravel and she’s running from something else entirely. A voice in a dream says: Someone is trying to kill you. Not that Selkie’s psychic, no way. But the visions escalate until the truth hits her – someone, or something, is stalking her. Entangled in Celtic and Hawaiian mythologies, the mystery becomes so bizarre and terrifying that Selkie’s instinct is to keep running. But is she running from her past or her future? And can she piece together the fragmented clues before time runs out?
The First Lie is a psychological thriller with a mythical twist, peppered with a cast of quirky characters. It’s a story about secrets, about the shadows we don’t know are driving us, from our mythical pasts and our present reality, told with a touch of humour.
Join Selkie Moon on the rollercoaster ride of her life. Rollercoasters make her throw up – but that’s the least of her problems.
ABOUT VIRGINIA KING
When a voice wakes you up in the middle of the night and tells you to write a mystery series, what’s a writer to do? That’s how I came to create Selkie Moon, after a massage from a strange woman with gifted hands was followed by this nocturnal message. I sat down at the keyboard until Selkie Moon turned up — a modern woman with a mythical name. Soon I was hooked, exploring far-flung places full of secrets where Selkie delves into psychological clues tangled up in the local mythology.
Before Selkie Moon invaded my life, I’d been a teacher, an unemployed ex-teacher, the author of over 50 children’s books, an audio-book producer, a workshop presenter and a prize-winning publisher. These days I live in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney with my husband, where I disappear each day into Selkie Moon’s latest mystery. Bliss.
