JMcIntyre
Posted August 14, 2012
INTO THE LIGHT by Darcia Helle tackles some new ground. If you can believe it, there are ghosts in this one. Oooh. And a trip into a deep dark place called The Abyss. She doesn’t wander from her trademark of believable characters doing things you and I would do in the same circumstances. But the otherworldliness is a welcome tilt on the murder, mayhem and intrigue you’ve come to expect.
I don’t offer plot recaps in my reviews because I despise ruining even one small bit of a story for any reader. But I’ll tell you that Joe and Max in INTO THE LIGHT are like The Odd Couple with a paranormal twist. Their interplay is the heart of the novel and, while moving towards the satisfying conclusion, their banter is the funny, light centerpiece in a book that is actually talking about some very big things. Who are we? What have we done with our lives? Was there meaning in how we lived? In who we loved?
I spent time between reading sessions pondering this for myself. And anytime a book makes me think about my own mortality – or any larger-than-life concept – I must give due credit to its author.
Darcia Helle takes readers on a path that is never straight and narrow. It’s wide and rich, with colour and intensity. You can’t help but fall for her characters along the way and despise others as you witness their true likeness. Her books tread this wondrous path, taking you on their journey. Ms. Helle’s books are always satisfying glimpses into this very human condition of ours. And INTO THE LIGHT is no exception.
bookloverSJ
Posted August 24, 2011
Since I'm a fan of the TV show Ghost Whisperer and a longtime reader of mystery and suspense novels, this book was a delight to discover. Max is stunned to find himself a murder victim, floating somewhere between earth and the hereafter. The only one who can hear him is an investigator he convinces to look into the case. When he's not helping with the investigation, Max is facing his own ghosts from his past as he adjusts to life in spirit limbo. In death, he learns a great deal about his own life. Darcia Helle mixes elements of suspense, the paranormal, humor and introspection into a delightful book that will have readers rooting for Max to come to grips with his murder and go into the light. I've read several of Darcia Helle's books, and she writes intriguing suspense novels on a variety of topics. Don't miss this talented author.
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Posted November 3, 2012
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