Book Review: Maplecroft

Title - Maplecroft

Author - Cherie Priest

Series - The Borden Dispatches #1

Genre - Horror Fantasy

Published - September 2nd 2014

Publisher - Roc

Format - Kindle

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

Synopsis

Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks; and when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one....

The people of Fall River, Massachusetts, fear me. Perhaps rightfully so. I remain a suspect in the brutal deaths of my father and his second wife despite the verdict of innocence at my trial. With our inheritance, my sister, Emma, and I have taken up residence in Maplecroft, a mansion near the sea and far from gossip and scrutiny.

But it is not far enough from the affliction that possessed my parents. Their characters, their very souls, were consumed from within by something that left malevolent entities in their place. It originates from the ocean’s depths, plaguing the populace with tides of nightmares and madness.

This evil cannot hide from me. No matter what guise it assumes, I will be waiting for it. With an axe.

Opening

No one else is allowed in the cellar.

Emma has a second key, in case I am injured or trapped down there; but Emma also has instructions about how and when to use that key. When she knocks upon the cellar door, I must always reply, “Emma dear, I’m nearly finished.” Even if I’m not working on anything at all. Even if I’m simply down there, writing in my journals. If I say anything else when she knocks, or if I do not respond—my elder sister knows what to do: She must summon Doctor Seabury, and then prevent him from descending into the cellar unarmed.

Review

The people in town think that Lizzie killed her father and step mother but she was never convicted so it’s like she got away with murder. However they don’t really know what happened and she’s never admitted that she was the one who took their lives after all when she did it wasn’t really her parents anymore. With her older sister she moved away from prying eyes to the sea so that they could work on her research and continue to hunt those who have come from the sea. Lizzie and Emma are both living alone in isolation except that the Dr. Seabury has been their sole friend and confident. He knows more than anyone else does what’s really going on at Maplecroft.

When Lizzies lover sneaks down into the cellar and uncovers the magic stones that Lizzie has taken from the sharp toothed creatures she’s had get rid of in the cooker. The stones call to people and Nance is no exception falling into a coma that force them to reach out to Dr. Seabury. When Dr. Seabury is unable to help they fear that Nance will go the same way that their parents did. As if that’s not enough a killer is intent on getting his hands on Emma after having corresponded with her. Will Lizzie be able to save her love and sister? Will she find out what’s really happening to the locals?

I didn’t really have one favorite character in Maplecroft we are given multiple points of view of Lizzie, Emma, Nance, and Dr. Seabury are the main ones. I liked them all getting to see into their stories what they are really thinking I found it revealed more of the story. I like the way the character interacted together they worked well even when they aren’t on the best of terms.

I’ve been interested in Lizzie Boren Borden since I saw the lifetime show last year and when I heard about the new take on the old story of Maplecroft I knew I had to read it. I wish it hadn’t taken me so long because I really enjoyed the story. The characters are well developed I found myself connecting with each one on different levels. I think the author did a great job taking the classic story and putting her own unique spin on it. So many twists and turns throughout the story it kept me on the edge of my seat till the very end. The authors writing style can be a little daunting at time but I think it’s because there is so much going on you feel a little overwhelmed but overall it’s well done. This is my first book by the author but I’m looking forward to the next one since I couldn't put this one down and finished it in just a over a day of reading.