CLUTCH OF PHANTOMS

Clutch of Phantoms
by Clare LaytonPoisoned Pen Press
$24.95
hardcover
ISBN 1-59059-027-3
August 2002

Phantoms. Everyone has a few of them hidden in their past that they want no one to know about. This book involved three women, a boy, and a dog. Most of who are avoiding part of their past. The three women are the main characters who lives are intertwined. The story revolves around Livia, who killed her husband and lover of twenty-five years ago. Cass is Livia’s granddaughter that knew nothing of her grandmother’s life for the past twenty-five years. Julia, who is the daughter of the lover and seeks revenge on Cass for the way she behaved as a three-year-old. The supporting men for the women involve a character who is Livia’s former lawyer that might more of a relationship than just a working one, a stranger that bangs on the door of a remote cottage where Livia and Cass are staying and is adopted by them while he is healing from pneumonia and naturally causes the sexual attraction with Cass. Then there’s Bobby, the abused delinquent that Livia is to reform and teach to read.
The book is what I would call a borderline mystery. The main mystery is how Livia adjusts and what actually happened to cause her to kill her husband. Cass is an enjoyable character, but sometimes a little unrealistic which almost turns this book into a romance rather than a mystery. The characters are likable and the hounding press is very believable.

The book is a fast and enjoyable read. Does it change the way anyone thinks or view life? Probably not, but is a nice relaxing read for the summer months.