—Jerry L. Wheeler, Out in Print
“A very compelling suspense novel, rife with stunning imagery and shocking plot beats. An eerie, glittering world.”
—Jennica Dotson, author of “A Reaper’s Folly”
“The plot becomes…dizzying in its twists and turns. Not only does this book offer a riveting story, but her sentences have a cadence that will carry you along. Once I had reached the half-way point in the book, I found it impossible to put it down.”
At the masked ball:
“Confused by her sexual reaction to the woman in pink and now this male Jester, Jenny wanted to respond. But to which person?
Suddenly, the Jester turned. Behind him stood a slender figure wearing a bauta mask, which was white except for grinning purple lips, crimson circles on the cheeks, and black brows edged in lavender. The person wore a pale blue satin waistcoat, britches trimmed with silver, a lavender sash across the breast, white hose and gloves, a silver cockade hat, and diamonds on the shoe buckles.
The strings and flutes signaled the beginning of the barcarolle from The Tales of Hoffmann, and with that, Jenny’s hand was grasped. The person in blue dipped his or her head, asking permission for the dance. Jenny nodded and was gathered up in the arms of her new partner and whisked across the room with dazzling speed. Whether it was the wine, the smoothness of the figure in blue, or Jenny’s own skill, she seemed to be flying, her black cape flowing off her shoulders in the wind created by their movement. As the salon blurred into sizzling burgundy and gold, Jenny’s exhilaration rose to a crescendo. She thought about the opera, how Giulietta steals Hoffmann’s soul, runs away in a gondola, and laughs at his foolishness. Was she a Giulietta or perhaps a pirate like her forebears? Jenny Kidd, thief of hearts? She wished she had chosen the Comedy mask so everyone could see her smile. Happy and willing to take any partner—male or female. The new Jenny. Rigid ideas of sexuality melted in the golden light.”
Laury A. Egan is the author of fifteen books of fiction: Jenny Kidd (revised edition); Fair Haven; Jack & I; The Black Leopard’s Kiss & The Writer Remembers; The Psychologist’s Shadow; The Firefly; Once, Upon an Island; Wave in D Minor; Doublecrossed; Turnabout; The Swimmer; The Ungodly Hour; A Bittersweet Tale; Fabulous! An Opera Buffa; and The Outcast Oracle. Two collections have been published; Contrary: Stories and a Play and Fog and Other Stories. Her short fiction and poems have appeared in 90 literary journals and in multiple anthologies. Two full-length poetry volumes, Snow, Shadow, a Stranger and Beneath the Lion's Paw, were issued in limited editions, as were two chapbooks, Presence & Absence and The Sea & Beyond. Laury is also a fine arts photographer, instructor, and former book designer. She lives on the northern coast of New Jersey.Click Here for the list!


















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This sounds like a really good book.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jodi--the novel is full of intrigue and slowly growing danger. Let me know if you read it! Would love to hear what you think.
DeleteHow did you come up with character of Jenny?
ReplyDeleteHi, Tracie--My mother was an artist so I grew up around painting. My inspiration was from Patricia Highsmith, who loved to create an innocent character who becomes entangled with someone far less innocent.
DeleteNice book cover art. The story seems interesting.
ReplyDeleteMikhail--one of my photo students took the photo of St. Mark's Square while I was teaching a location workshop in Venice. Thought it was perfect. Thank you. And, yes, this is quite an entangled story much in the tradition of Patricia Highsmith. Hope you'll give it a whirl!
DeleteThe synopsis and excerpt are interesting and I like the cover!
ReplyDeleteDear Jeanna--thank you! The cover photo was taken by one of my students during a location workshop in Venice. Thought it was perfect for the novel. The story is much in the tradition of Patricia Highsmith, when an innocent meets a far less innocent person and becomes entangled.
DeleteThe book sounds very intriguing. Love the cover.
ReplyDeleteThank you! The cover photo was taken by one of my students during a workshop in Venice. The plot unfolds like a spider web...give it a whirl!
Deletelove the art and intrigue!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jennifer! Yes, the book slowly wraps a web around Jenny Kidd...a book in the tradition of Patricia Highsmith.
DeleteThanks for sharing. Sounds really interesting.
ReplyDelete