Another one of my finds from my Friends of the Library book sale trail I did while on holiday back home; this one I had to pay a bit more for, as it was at a retail used book store, but I'm determined to collect Whitney's work, and it was still priced cheaper than a new mass market paperback.

Vermilion is set contemporary to the time Whitney wrote it - the 80's - and at first glance of the book jacket I was left with the impression that the cane was going to be central to the story in some slightly paranormal way. This would make it perfect for the bingo square Relics and Curiosities. Unfortunately, while it is central to the plot, it's not an object of superstition or paranormal power. BUT, the setting in Sedona, with the red rock formations, and Vermilion herself - who turns out to be an imaginary friend the MC created as a child that has rather more personality than your standard issue imaginary friend - offer enough superstition, object fear, and possible paranormal activity to more than qualify this book for the square. (Otherwise, it's dripping with romantic suspense, and it's a murder mystery that takes place amongst a closed set.)

The one thing about Whitney's female characters that bugs me is that she portrays them as strong, intelligent and independent (at least in the contemporary books), but then allows them to get rolled over by events or other characters. Lindsay agrees to things, or rushes into things that are the cliche'd equivalent of don't go into the basement!

Readers of Whitney's Window on the Square will find familiar ground here with the character setup, but it's not re-tread ground. The dynamics are similar, but Whitney isn't repeating herself; I get the sense that she was taking the opportunity to take that dynamic down different paths.

The mystery plotting was excellent - not quite as shocking as Window on the Square but still better than average, and Whitney uses the Native American history and culture, woven with plain old anglo evilness to really ratchet up the suspense and create a tense atmosphere where the reader really doesn't know who's doing what to whom.

The romance was ... absolutely unsurprising, but I continue to admire Whitney for daring to trod on morally shaky ground. Yes, the hero and heroine always get an easy out, but she was writing her heroines into morally shaky situations back in the 50's and 60's that few authors have the courage to put their heroines in today.

Vermilion is not amongst her best, but I'd definitely put it above her average and definitely better than Woman Without a Past. ( )

Vermilion
by Phyllis A. Whitney
1981
Doubleday
3.5 / 5.0

A Gothic romance with sibling rivalry, secret pasts and murder.
When Lindsay receives an anonymous note about her father's sudden death, she decides to visit his home in Sedona, Arizona, and learns the truth of her past. A past her father has tried to hide from her.
She must also face her hatred for her sister and her renewed interest in her husband, Rick.
Suspenseful.
Beautifully written description of Sedona and Tlaquepaque, Arizona and desert landscape. ( )

The book begins with Lindsay Phillips learning of the sudden death of her father, Jed Phillips. Her half-sister's husband, Rick Adams, brings the body back to Connecticut to bury him. At one time, Rick and Lindsay had feelings for each other but Rick married Sybil and they moved to Arizona. Lindsay's half-sister, Sybil, and Lindsay have never had a good relationship. The mother who raised Lindsay dies a few months after the death of her father. Lindsay continues her career as a fashion designed in New York.
About a year later, Lindsay receives an anonymous letter telling her she should go the Sedona to find the truth about the death of her father and her half-sister's connection to it. She goes to Arizona and stays in the guest house of Sybil and Rick.
The book is filled with many characters and the reader is trying to make the connections with all the facts that are given. There is death, mystery, love, hate, malice and uncertainly in the book.
Descriptions of Arizona, the sunsets and landscape is visual and vivid. History of the Hopi and their beliefs make the book interesting. The men did the weaving at one time as an example and there were clans of the tribe. The word Silvercloud has more than one meaning for Lindsay. Rick is interested in Lindsay continuing her fashion design in Arizona and the book is full of details on design. For readers who like to sew, Lindsay uses a red tomato pin cushion; those are the little details that help make the book.
I liked this book as a quick read and not so detailed to make it a hard read.
Leona ( )