It started off well and I became easily absorbed by the characters and plot line, but after a third of the way in it all began to become somewhat ridiculous; it almost felt like a daytime soap opera to me... ( )

DNF at chapter 8, page 63. Just not clicking with this one.

From Fantastic Fiction:

Sometimes the past comes looking for you. . . . Two years ago, in idyllic Carystown, Kentucky, nine-year-old Isabella Moon disappeared on her way home from school. Is it just coincidence that Kate Russell, a young woman with no discernible past, arrived in town just months before Isabella's disappearance? When Kate walks into Sheriff Bill Delaney's office to tell him that Isabella's ghost has led her to the child's hidden grave, he immediately views her as a suspect. Mystery follows mystery as a local athlete drops dead, inexplicably, on the basketball court, and someone close to Kate is viciously murdered.



My Thoughts:

Laura Benedict's debut novel is a blend of romance, the paranormal, and crime. Unfortunately, for Kate and the sheriff Isabella is only the first to call on Kate for help and the discovery of the girl's body leads to even darker secrets long kept hidden in the hearts and psyches of Carystown's citizenry. As is often true things aren't as they seem nor are people. is a story for those who like their mysteries laced with romance and the supernatural. While for this reader the tale seemed to be rather loosely conceived so that it meandered to a conclusion rather than building to it, Isabella Moon is still a first novel worth noting.
( )

A little girl disappears without a trace. A newcomer to town begins to have visions (visitations?) which lead to the discovery of her body. Unlike LULLABY this book had characters that I wanted to know more about. Not necessarily because they were likable, but because they were interesting. Each new chapter brought on another aspect to the characters keeping my interest peaked. The ending was a surprise too. It did not really take me to where I expected ... in this case ... a good thing! ( )

Sometimes the past comes looking for you. . . .

Two years ago, in idyllic Carystown, Kentucky, nine-year-old Isabella Moon disappeared on her way home from school. Is it just coincidence that Kate Russell, a young woman with no discernible past, arrived in town just months before Isabella's disappearance? When Kate walks into Sheriff Bill Delaney's office to tell him that Isabella's ghost has led her to the child's hidden grave, he immediately views her as a suspect. Mystery follows mystery as a local athlete drops dead, inexplicably, on the basketball court, and someone close to Kate is viciously murdered.

My Thoughts:

I found this book on a shelf in Hay on Wye and I was intrigued by the cover of a ghostly girl, Isabella Moon. I had to buy this book as it seemed right up my street. I wasn’t disappointed either.

The story does sound if it has a ghostly theme but I wouldn’t say it was a ghost story but more of a crime. The smallt own of Carystown has all the regular characters that you would expect, a new girl with a past, a playboy, a queen bitch, a good cop and bad cop.

I couldn’t put this book down and really enjoyed it. My only small negative is that the reveal was a little early but I had sort of guessed anyway and it did seem a little rushed. What I did enjoy is that the ending may not have been as happy as what is the norm in a book.

I would highly recommend this book as it is a really good read. ( )