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McGuire Women #1
Haunting Refrain
Suspense, a little romance, a touch of paranormal . . .Photographer Kate McGuire hopes for a little fun in her life when she joins a parapsychology experiment--visions of murder aren't part of the plan. Then her eccentric friend Venice, a complication all by herself, leaks the story to a reporter, and Kate's life turns upside down. The police don't take her seriously, but the murderer does.Kate's distrust of the press causes her to clash with the one person who can help her—the skeptical reporter who got her into trouble in the first place. Now it's up to Kate to find the killer before anyone else dies.Haunting Refrain is the first book in the McGuire Women psychic series; each book features a different member of the family.Author's This is a reprint of the book published by Silver Dagger Mysteries. Same book, new cover. About the authorEllis Vidler and her husband live in the green and beautiful South Carolina Piedmont, where assorted creatures wander by for a meal. They are devoted servants of two sweet rescue dogs, often featured on Facebook. She's always been a sucker for fur and feathers. From early childhood she's told stories (not quite how her mother put it) and collected strays. Ellis started as a graphics artist, moved into editing, and then writing. She also taught fiction writing. Contact her through or ellis.vidler.authorPage
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2002
68 people are currently reading
724 people want to read
About the author
Ellis Vidler
12 books61 followersSouth Carolina author: PRIME TARGET, suspense with a love story; TIME OF DEATH, suspense with a hint of romance; COLD COMFORT, romantic suspense; HAUNTING REFRAIN, suspense with a little romance; THE PEEPER, with Jim Christopher, suspense. Ellis's novels contain adult language and situations.
3 short stories, TEA IN THE AFTERNOON, Southern fiction.
Some favorites: To Kill a Mockingbird, Prince of Tides, Tarzan of the Apes, Anne of Green Gables, The Lord of the Rings, Beach Music--those are on my shelf of favorites. So many books, so little time!
3 short stories, TEA IN THE AFTERNOON, Southern fiction.
Some favorites: To Kill a Mockingbird, Prince of Tides, Tarzan of the Apes, Anne of Green Gables, The Lord of the Rings, Beach Music--those are on my shelf of favorites. So many books, so little time!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
September 17, 2011
Kate McGuire divorced her wealthy politician husband and set up a photography studio, slowly gaining business over the past year. Deciding to try something fun, she joins a parapsychology group at a local college. It’s entertaining, until she gets a vision of an angry man strangling a young woman – a vision that is so vivid that she feels as though she is the one being strangled. After the professor running the group – Martin Carver – checks the registration on the item Kate was holding, it is discovered that it had belonged to a young woman named Kelly Landrum, who has gone missing several days before. Venice Ashburton, a professional psychic, receives a similar vision. When Kate refuses to go to the police, Venice decides to take matters into her own hands and contacts John Gerrad, a reporter, who meets with Venice and Kate and then mentions them in an article about the missing girl. While Kate is upset about people finding out she is involved with a psychic research group because she is afraid it will negatively impact her business, what she should have been concerned about was what the killer would think when reading the article – because now the killer thinks that Kate and Venice know more than they do – and plans to do something about it …
Ellis Vidler has created a very well-crafted mystery/suspense in “Haunting Refrain.” Several good suspects are kept in the mix through the book and while I did figure out whodunit, I wasn’t absolutely sure I was correct until the denouement. I was also impressed by the fact that, up until the end, the heroine was shown to be pretty sensible, taking the advice from the police and from Gerrard for her own protection. Of course, then she did go and do something stupid … but it was a necessary part of the plot to move things forward properly so I’ll let it go. It was just refreshing to have a heroine that was willing to listen to reason and behave in a somewhat logical manner as far as protecting herself went, once she realized she was in danger. I also liked the fact that Ms. Vidler did such a good job at giving each of her characters such an individual voice – having recently read a book in which all the characters sounded the same, it was nice to see this done so well. Overall I was highly impressed with this book and fans of mystery, suspense and/or thrillers should love this book. Definitely check it out.
Ellis Vidler has created a very well-crafted mystery/suspense in “Haunting Refrain.” Several good suspects are kept in the mix through the book and while I did figure out whodunit, I wasn’t absolutely sure I was correct until the denouement. I was also impressed by the fact that, up until the end, the heroine was shown to be pretty sensible, taking the advice from the police and from Gerrard for her own protection. Of course, then she did go and do something stupid … but it was a necessary part of the plot to move things forward properly so I’ll let it go. It was just refreshing to have a heroine that was willing to listen to reason and behave in a somewhat logical manner as far as protecting herself went, once she realized she was in danger. I also liked the fact that Ms. Vidler did such a good job at giving each of her characters such an individual voice – having recently read a book in which all the characters sounded the same, it was nice to see this done so well. Overall I was highly impressed with this book and fans of mystery, suspense and/or thrillers should love this book. Definitely check it out.
February 26, 2018
I liked this romantic, psychic suspense / mystery with psychic elements. I have read several other books by Ellis Vidler, and was surprised I hadn't gotten to this one yet. I like the author's style and evocative descriptions to set the scenes. I did feel that the suspense really grabbed me and propelled me to the end, and I liked the gentle romance in the story. The story seemed dated to me, as there didn't seem to be cell phones or digital photography. I also didn't like the abrupt introduction to the characters, and thought some plot elements were off. For example, that details of the crime investigation were disclosed in print , which led to endangering the main characters.
January 23, 2013
I just love the cover art for this book. The choice of blue is perfect and the scene evokes the same feelings I got from reading the story.
She doesn’t want to touch it again. But she has to. Kate can’t ignore what she’s seen.
"Hands, cold and hard, tightened around her throat, choking her. Long fingers encircled her neck, and fingernails cut into her flesh. Strong thumbs pressed into her windpipe, forced her head back. She clawed at them, tried to free herself. Blinded by the rain and the curtain of hair that covered her eyes, she couldn’t see the face above her. She fought, desperate for air. Those powerful fingers squeezed harder. The world around her dimmed. She was dying."
Kate’s always been good at finding things, seeing glimpses of where something was. She never dreamed she’d see a murder.
At the urging of her friend, Venice, she joins a parapsychology study. She needs to learn more about her gift anyway. She picks up an item and the vision takes hold.
Now she’s a witness to murder. She refuses to go to the police. They wouldn’t take her seriously. When Venice suggests they tell a friend, she reluctantly agrees, never dreaming he was a reporter.
John Gerrard smells a good story. He meets with the two women and subsequently prints his story, including Kate’s name in the article.
When the killer reads the paper, he’s stunned. After the panic subsides, he begin’s to make his plans.
"He began thinking of ways to get to the women. First he would watch them, learn their habits. He wouldn’t mind watching Kate. She had a tight, sexy little body that had always appealed to him. And that hair – he bet she was a tiger."
Having no way of knowing how much Kate’s seen, he sets his plan in motion.
I really like Kate. She’s not wishy-washy and has a good head on her shoulders. She’s not like the femme fatale in the movies who ignore the warnings and go blithely on their merry way. She heeds the warnings and takes precautions. She’d better if she wants to keep that pretty head,
Her friend Venice is a riot. She’s clutzy and forgetful but she’s also caring and quirky. Though they are years apart, her and Kate are good together. It’s like they fill each others gaps. The author made Venice authentic for me. I’d like to meet her.
The suspense builds, you know it’s going to get worse, and you brace for the final confrontation. Ellis is a master at this. I found myself leaning forward towards my Kindle, like I could see ahead. I kept checking the battery to make sure there was enough juice left to finish the story.
Haunting Refrain is suspenseful, fraught with danger, and races to the finale.
She doesn’t want to touch it again. But she has to. Kate can’t ignore what she’s seen.
"Hands, cold and hard, tightened around her throat, choking her. Long fingers encircled her neck, and fingernails cut into her flesh. Strong thumbs pressed into her windpipe, forced her head back. She clawed at them, tried to free herself. Blinded by the rain and the curtain of hair that covered her eyes, she couldn’t see the face above her. She fought, desperate for air. Those powerful fingers squeezed harder. The world around her dimmed. She was dying."
Kate’s always been good at finding things, seeing glimpses of where something was. She never dreamed she’d see a murder.
At the urging of her friend, Venice, she joins a parapsychology study. She needs to learn more about her gift anyway. She picks up an item and the vision takes hold.
Now she’s a witness to murder. She refuses to go to the police. They wouldn’t take her seriously. When Venice suggests they tell a friend, she reluctantly agrees, never dreaming he was a reporter.
John Gerrard smells a good story. He meets with the two women and subsequently prints his story, including Kate’s name in the article.
When the killer reads the paper, he’s stunned. After the panic subsides, he begin’s to make his plans.
"He began thinking of ways to get to the women. First he would watch them, learn their habits. He wouldn’t mind watching Kate. She had a tight, sexy little body that had always appealed to him. And that hair – he bet she was a tiger."
Having no way of knowing how much Kate’s seen, he sets his plan in motion.
I really like Kate. She’s not wishy-washy and has a good head on her shoulders. She’s not like the femme fatale in the movies who ignore the warnings and go blithely on their merry way. She heeds the warnings and takes precautions. She’d better if she wants to keep that pretty head,
Her friend Venice is a riot. She’s clutzy and forgetful but she’s also caring and quirky. Though they are years apart, her and Kate are good together. It’s like they fill each others gaps. The author made Venice authentic for me. I’d like to meet her.
The suspense builds, you know it’s going to get worse, and you brace for the final confrontation. Ellis is a master at this. I found myself leaning forward towards my Kindle, like I could see ahead. I kept checking the battery to make sure there was enough juice left to finish the story.
Haunting Refrain is suspenseful, fraught with danger, and races to the finale.
July 9, 2012
Book: Haunting Refrain
Author: Ellis Vidler
Genre: Paranormal (psychic abilities), Suspense, Thriller, Romance
Length: Novel
Excellent read!
Kate McGuire has a gift. She can find things that are lost, keys, purses and such. She joins a parapsychology group with her good friend, Venice, to explore her talent. She gets a little more than she bargains for when she's handed an unidentified woman's headband. Touching this object sends Kate into a full blown psychic encounter that has her experiencing the final moments of a woman's life as she is being brutally murdered. The police do not take Kate seriously, but the murderer does.
HAUNTING REFRAIN by ELLIS VIDLER has something for everyone in it, suspense, romance and a touch of the paranormal. This was an all around enjoyable read. The character of Venice was such a pleasant surprise. She's an eccentric, quirky older woman that loves the flair of being dramatic. She gave me many laugh out loud moments.
I really enjoyed getting to meet and know the character of Kate. She's a strong woman that's been held back by a domineering mother and older husband until she decided to take her life back, leave them in the dust and do what she loves, photography. I also enjoyed learning about Kate's psychic gifts right along with her. They are so new to her, she's not sure what's real and what isn't. It's a really fun and frightening adventure.
I must say that I had a very difficult time putting this book down and when it was over, I was actually sad because I enjoyed the characters so much. I hope that Ms. Vidler writes a sequel to HAUNTING REFRAIN so I can continue the adventures of the budding romance with John, Kate's learning experience with her psychic abilities and her interactions with her wonderful friendships. I highly recommend this book to everyone that enjoys a well written suspense, thriller, romance with some very believable paranormal twists.
Author: Ellis Vidler
Genre: Paranormal (psychic abilities), Suspense, Thriller, Romance
Length: Novel
Excellent read!
Kate McGuire has a gift. She can find things that are lost, keys, purses and such. She joins a parapsychology group with her good friend, Venice, to explore her talent. She gets a little more than she bargains for when she's handed an unidentified woman's headband. Touching this object sends Kate into a full blown psychic encounter that has her experiencing the final moments of a woman's life as she is being brutally murdered. The police do not take Kate seriously, but the murderer does.
HAUNTING REFRAIN by ELLIS VIDLER has something for everyone in it, suspense, romance and a touch of the paranormal. This was an all around enjoyable read. The character of Venice was such a pleasant surprise. She's an eccentric, quirky older woman that loves the flair of being dramatic. She gave me many laugh out loud moments.
I really enjoyed getting to meet and know the character of Kate. She's a strong woman that's been held back by a domineering mother and older husband until she decided to take her life back, leave them in the dust and do what she loves, photography. I also enjoyed learning about Kate's psychic gifts right along with her. They are so new to her, she's not sure what's real and what isn't. It's a really fun and frightening adventure.
I must say that I had a very difficult time putting this book down and when it was over, I was actually sad because I enjoyed the characters so much. I hope that Ms. Vidler writes a sequel to HAUNTING REFRAIN so I can continue the adventures of the budding romance with John, Kate's learning experience with her psychic abilities and her interactions with her wonderful friendships. I highly recommend this book to everyone that enjoys a well written suspense, thriller, romance with some very believable paranormal twists.
August 12, 2011
In Haunting Refrain, Kate McGuire and her elderly friend, Venice, take part in a parapsychology study. Kate picks up a headband which, unknown to her, was last worn by a missing college student. Kate "sees" things, and from there the story takes off in directions that will entertain you until the last page.
From the police to a reporter named John Gerrard, everyone is reluctant to pay attention to Kate's visions, and Kate is the most reluctant of all. Unfortunately, the reporter writes a story for the newspaper about this situation and he includes her name. The killer decides that Kate's visions need to come to an abrupt end, and after all, he's already killed. What's one more death? Yes, the college student's body is recovered, under the circumstances that Kate described.
The interaction between Kate and her friend, Venice, is priceless. Kate and Venice are both characters you'll remember after you put the book down. I enjoyed Ellis Vidler's portrayal of the players in this story and I'll definitely be looking for her next book. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good story and characters.
From the police to a reporter named John Gerrard, everyone is reluctant to pay attention to Kate's visions, and Kate is the most reluctant of all. Unfortunately, the reporter writes a story for the newspaper about this situation and he includes her name. The killer decides that Kate's visions need to come to an abrupt end, and after all, he's already killed. What's one more death? Yes, the college student's body is recovered, under the circumstances that Kate described.
The interaction between Kate and her friend, Venice, is priceless. Kate and Venice are both characters you'll remember after you put the book down. I enjoyed Ellis Vidler's portrayal of the players in this story and I'll definitely be looking for her next book. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good story and characters.
July 19, 2015
Kate Maguire had joined a parapsychology group after being talked into it by a friend; a flamboyant psychic. One of the experiments done by the group is to hold an item to see if they get anything from it. Kate is both shocked and horrified to experience the strangulation of a young woman who has recently gone missing, while holding her hair band. So begins a tale involving multiple murders, a number of red herrings and Kate’s life in danger.
I really enjoyed this story but there were a few things that drove me nuts. How could Kate pick up impressions from an item that hadn’t been on the victim when she was killed? The court case happened years faster than reality and we were missing out on a follow-up opportunity with JB, Kate’s ex-husband.
But the intrigue, the characters, the tension, situations, actions and story telling more than make up for it. And wow, you’ve got to really like John, a reporter who is interested in Kate for more than just a story, and what he puts up with as Kate assumes the worst when it comes to his articles.
I really enjoyed this story but there were a few things that drove me nuts. How could Kate pick up impressions from an item that hadn’t been on the victim when she was killed? The court case happened years faster than reality and we were missing out on a follow-up opportunity with JB, Kate’s ex-husband.
But the intrigue, the characters, the tension, situations, actions and story telling more than make up for it. And wow, you’ve got to really like John, a reporter who is interested in Kate for more than just a story, and what he puts up with as Kate assumes the worst when it comes to his articles.
August 2, 2015
Kate loves her new life. It's refreshing not to live with the rules and expectations of her ex-husband. What she doesn't want is any more publicity. When she's taking part in an experimental research project she shatters the peace of her life. The innocent headband takes her into the body of a young woman just as the killer is strangling her.
The attention she gets is all due to the reporter she wants to avoid. He's too damn smart and too good looking for her peace of mind.
I recommend this to anyone looking for a good mystery with a great romance and a lot of paranormal interference.
The attention she gets is all due to the reporter she wants to avoid. He's too damn smart and too good looking for her peace of mind.
I recommend this to anyone looking for a good mystery with a great romance and a lot of paranormal interference.
December 3, 2012
This book contains everything a person can love in a book! Thriller, romance, mystery, and even a little - very tiny amount - of paranormal. The book is a great page turner, and the characters are well thought out. Definitely a book worth picking up!
July 6, 2011
This book combines all the elements that make it a page-turner: mystery, suspense, romance, and a little bit of the paranormal. And Ms. Vidler can write.
October 17, 2018
loved the story...first time reader of this author. some proof reading would have been helpful in reading book. would recommend this book and author. story line was good and creative.
January 20, 2012
While I DID like this book there were a few things that I had issues with. It starts out good with Kate having a vision of a young woman being murdered. This is while Kate is holding the young woman's head band. She doesn't just have a vision, she actually feels what the girl felt during the murder.
Okay, that was good. It started out quick..... no long, drawn out stuff leading up to the story. I liked that. Then there is Kate's eccentric psychic friend, Venice. Venice is an older woman who does not hide the fact that she is psychic. She wears loud clothes and jewelry and constantly does the opposite of what Kate asks her to do. I had a problem with Venice early on. While her character is endearing at times, she also comes across as very annoying. She knows Kate's issue with the media yet she goes behind her back and contacts a reporter, John. John writes the story of Kate's vision of the murdered girl..... including Kate's name and then everything really gets started. The killer sees this in the newspaper and then Kate and Venice are targets.
Kate was way too forgiving with Venice and way too forgiving and understanding with John. While John never makes any promises of what he will or will not put in his articles, he deliberately adds names and details (not necessary, in my opinion)that not only upsets Kate but puts her in more danger. I did like the love story between John and Kate, though it took me awhile to get to that point.
The killer......... there really is not much about him in the book at all. One "accidental" meeting with Kate in a coffee shop and a few instances after that. In other words, no character development with Thomas at all. Only a footnote at the end in regards to why he is the way he is and why he is suddenly a murderer. Normally when I read this type of book there is more in regards to what makes the killer the way he/she is, why he targets who he targets, his life, etc. I didn't see much of that in this book.
The ending.......... Kate breaks into Thomas' house to get evidence. He comes home and almost catches her. She goes back to her studio, he kicks her door in and attacks her. But yet all he was charged with was assault on the old man downstairs? He kicked her door in and attacked her. No charges for THAT? And in no world that I'm aware of would anyone be released from jail under those circumstances in under an hour. Regardless of how good his attorney is.
Maybe I read too much. Maybe I expect too much. But when a book goes through all of what this one did and then the guy is released in an hour? No charges? No attempted murder on Kate? Or (again) the fact that he kicked her door in and attacked her?
I did enjoy the story very much. But what I mentioned above is simply too unrealistic as far as I am concerned. This is my first by this author. I did like it enough to want to read more.
Okay, that was good. It started out quick..... no long, drawn out stuff leading up to the story. I liked that. Then there is Kate's eccentric psychic friend, Venice. Venice is an older woman who does not hide the fact that she is psychic. She wears loud clothes and jewelry and constantly does the opposite of what Kate asks her to do. I had a problem with Venice early on. While her character is endearing at times, she also comes across as very annoying. She knows Kate's issue with the media yet she goes behind her back and contacts a reporter, John. John writes the story of Kate's vision of the murdered girl..... including Kate's name and then everything really gets started. The killer sees this in the newspaper and then Kate and Venice are targets.
Kate was way too forgiving with Venice and way too forgiving and understanding with John. While John never makes any promises of what he will or will not put in his articles, he deliberately adds names and details (not necessary, in my opinion)that not only upsets Kate but puts her in more danger. I did like the love story between John and Kate, though it took me awhile to get to that point.
The killer......... there really is not much about him in the book at all. One "accidental" meeting with Kate in a coffee shop and a few instances after that. In other words, no character development with Thomas at all. Only a footnote at the end in regards to why he is the way he is and why he is suddenly a murderer. Normally when I read this type of book there is more in regards to what makes the killer the way he/she is, why he targets who he targets, his life, etc. I didn't see much of that in this book.
The ending.......... Kate breaks into Thomas' house to get evidence. He comes home and almost catches her. She goes back to her studio, he kicks her door in and attacks her. But yet all he was charged with was assault on the old man downstairs? He kicked her door in and attacked her. No charges for THAT? And in no world that I'm aware of would anyone be released from jail under those circumstances in under an hour. Regardless of how good his attorney is.
Maybe I read too much. Maybe I expect too much. But when a book goes through all of what this one did and then the guy is released in an hour? No charges? No attempted murder on Kate? Or (again) the fact that he kicked her door in and attacked her?
I did enjoy the story very much. But what I mentioned above is simply too unrealistic as far as I am concerned. This is my first by this author. I did like it enough to want to read more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2015
"Murder, Suspense, and Psychic Gifts"
This is a wonderful suspense story with a touch of paranormal along with some romance. Kate McGuire once had an ordinary life until her older friend Venice Ashburton convinces her to join a parapsychology study group conducted by 69-year old Professor Martin Carver. He has given her a hairband which she concentrated upon as she holds it in her hand. She is suddenly slammed with a vision of a hand tightly grasping her throat, fingernails cutting into her flesh. A voice calling her names. Then the professor takes the headband and tosses it back on the table, and she comes back to reality. Kate is exhausted and pale. Martin reads the card that came with the headband. Kate's gift, as all the McGuire females seem to have, is psychometric visions from touching items such as the headband. Her gift will suddenly turn her life upside down. Venice, without Kate's awareness, contacts a local newspaper reporter, skeptic John Gerrard, about what she believes is the murder of a missing student, Kelly Landrum. This puts media attention onto Kate. After their names are mentioned in one of John's articles, Kate and Venice are now in danger. The killer knows these two women, and knows where the live. I really enjoyed this fast paced mystery and I found it impossible to put down. The author's writing style is easy to read and the characters are compelling. This story hooked in so fast that now I'm reading Book 2 of the McGuire Women.
This is a wonderful suspense story with a touch of paranormal along with some romance. Kate McGuire once had an ordinary life until her older friend Venice Ashburton convinces her to join a parapsychology study group conducted by 69-year old Professor Martin Carver. He has given her a hairband which she concentrated upon as she holds it in her hand. She is suddenly slammed with a vision of a hand tightly grasping her throat, fingernails cutting into her flesh. A voice calling her names. Then the professor takes the headband and tosses it back on the table, and she comes back to reality. Kate is exhausted and pale. Martin reads the card that came with the headband. Kate's gift, as all the McGuire females seem to have, is psychometric visions from touching items such as the headband. Her gift will suddenly turn her life upside down. Venice, without Kate's awareness, contacts a local newspaper reporter, skeptic John Gerrard, about what she believes is the murder of a missing student, Kelly Landrum. This puts media attention onto Kate. After their names are mentioned in one of John's articles, Kate and Venice are now in danger. The killer knows these two women, and knows where the live. I really enjoyed this fast paced mystery and I found it impossible to put down. The author's writing style is easy to read and the characters are compelling. This story hooked in so fast that now I'm reading Book 2 of the McGuire Women.
July 14, 2011
This is an entertaining romantic suspense with a slight supernatural bent (if you consider psychic visions supernatural). The book has interesting and likeable characters and an engaging storyline. Even though I found it relatively easy to predict who the murderer was, I did not find that it detracted from the overall story. I was still sucked into it and read it quickly.
There were a couple of things that I thought could have had more follow-through. The main thing is Kate's visions. They played a large part in getting the story going but then the whole concept sort of petered out. Why did she connect so easily with Kelly's memories but not with Charlene's? The small pseudo-explanation given felt lacking. I felt like there could have been more closure (for lack of a better word) with her whole psychic connection to the story. However, this wasn't a huge deal for me and even with it I still very much enjoyed this book. I definitely recommend it.
**Please note that I did receive a free copy of this book offered by the author through a public group on Goodreads. However, this did not in any way affect my review or opinion of the book.**
There were a couple of things that I thought could have had more follow-through. The main thing is Kate's visions. They played a large part in getting the story going but then the whole concept sort of petered out. Why did she connect so easily with Kelly's memories but not with Charlene's? The small pseudo-explanation given felt lacking. I felt like there could have been more closure (for lack of a better word) with her whole psychic connection to the story. However, this wasn't a huge deal for me and even with it I still very much enjoyed this book. I definitely recommend it.
**Please note that I did receive a free copy of this book offered by the author through a public group on Goodreads. However, this did not in any way affect my review or opinion of the book.**
March 8, 2015
I found the beginning of this novel a little abrupt (if a beginning can be abrupt!) as it starts from the very first scene with Kate's discovery of her psychic ability. This makes it rather harder to fill in a clear picture of what Kate was like before her life changes - a pity, as that's what she wants to get back to, and what we want for her. Once it gets going, though, it improves a lot. It's a tense read with a sweet romantic subplot that develops very smoothly. The paranormal element, while central to the plot, is incidental to the character development; if there are to be more books in this series, I'd love to see further development of how Kate's 'gift' affects her personal relationships, since it must be very strange to have sudden insights into, for instance, a partner or friend.
July 30, 2013
The story gets off to an interesting start. Kate McGuire envisions the details of a murder when she handles an item that belonged to the victim. She is frightened by the experience and reluctant to experiment further with an ability she did not know she had. Her flamboyant and rather eccentric friend, Venice, is a psychic and much more enthusiastic about using her 'powers.' Given this scenario, Kate's turnabout, as she goes full steam ahead to try to discover the identity of the murderer, took me by surprise.
For me this was a hiccup but as the story progressed I found myself engrossed and entertained. This is an easy, fun read with a little mystery, a likeable heroine and a love story that brings everything together.
For me this was a hiccup but as the story progressed I found myself engrossed and entertained. This is an easy, fun read with a little mystery, a likeable heroine and a love story that brings everything together.
November 16, 2014
Kate has some psychic abilities. She didn't realize how strong they were until she was given a headband. While holding the headband she saw a vision of the owner and what happened. This one vision leads Kate on a roller coaster ride she couldn't have imagined in a million years.
I like this. I wasn't sure I would. The characters were well developed and I loved the overly dramatic character of Venice. The romantic element wasn't okay. I get a kick out of how quickly these things start in these kind of stories. At least it didn't overwhelm the story and take away from the focus on the mystery.
I like this. I wasn't sure I would. The characters were well developed and I loved the overly dramatic character of Venice. The romantic element wasn't okay. I get a kick out of how quickly these things start in these kind of stories. At least it didn't overwhelm the story and take away from the focus on the mystery.
January 6, 2013
Portrait photographer Kate McGuire touched a headband and slammed into another place, a place where she was being choked to death. An experiment gone awry in a parapsychology class puts Kate in a killer’s crosshairs. Kate hadn’t paid much attention to her psychometry ability before, but she’s suddenly thrust to center stage of a murder investigation. Reporter John Gerrard and the police become very interested in her visions as they provide leads to the missing coed’s killer.
A page turner.
A page turner.
October 29, 2014
Great plot - a mix of mystery, romance and paranormal highly seasoned with suspense. Wonderful characters - authentic and interesting. Kate, a divorcée turned photographer who just happens to also be psychic. John, a reporter who meets her while covering a murder she zones in on while in a psychic trance. And then there's Venice. Let's just say she's one of a kind. There's never a dull moment in this well written, entertaining novel. I look forward to reading more by Ellis Vidler.
February 25, 2012
Ellis Vidler tells a good story in Haunting Refrain. The amount of backstory is delicately balanced with dialogue to allow the plot to move a a steady pace, keeping the reader engaged. Her lean character list is nice and each character has a distinct voice. I enjoyed Haunting Refrain and am looking forward to Cold Comfort, it's waiting on the kindle.
Una Tiers
Una Tiers
November 5, 2012
I liked the paranormal aspect of this mystery, which isn't surprising since my own novel Dream or Destiny has a similar theme, though my heroine has a dream while the heroine of Haunting Refrain uses psychokinesis. The characters were well-developed and distinctive.
September 6, 2011
Haunting Refrain is a good, solid mystery. I especially enjoyed the paranormal (ESP) element. The characters were well-drawn and interesting. I did guess who the villain was pretty early on, but it was a fun read, nonetheless! I'll definitely be looking out for more from Ms. Vidler!
September 7, 2012
I liked it. I have to say the story grabbed me from the first page. It has some mystery and some romance and it kept me reading until the end. She did a fair job of keeping you guessing about who the murderer was.
August 6, 2012
Very good book. I took two fiction classes that Ellis taught and not only is she a good writer, but she is a great teacher as well. Her advice helped me ace my creative writing class.
November 28, 2012
This was a great quick read. The story never stopped me, I didn't want to put it down!
January 27, 2013
Not as good as Cold Comfort, but still entertaing. I like this author.
June 18, 2013
I enjoyed this book and I think you will too.
July 1, 2015
Haunting Refrain
It is a book that kept you glued to the book. Page after page kept you wondering what's going on. I would highly recommend this to all my friends.
It is a book that kept you glued to the book. Page after page kept you wondering what's going on. I would highly recommend this to all my friends.
July 5, 2015
Enjoyed the story
Very good from the beginning to the end liked the idea of the psychic abilities and how it solved murders
Very good from the beginning to the end liked the idea of the psychic abilities and how it solved murders
July 6, 2015
Awesome
This book is very well written and a fast read. I loved the characters they catch you from the very beginning. I can't wait to start the next one!!!!
This book is very well written and a fast read. I loved the characters they catch you from the very beginning. I can't wait to start the next one!!!!
July 15, 2015
Good read
Very good story line, well written and Flows smoothly. If you like a little romance with your mystery this one is for you.
Very good story line, well written and Flows smoothly. If you like a little romance with your mystery this one is for you.
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