Bernard F. Conners

On June 4, 1982 the body of a young woman surfaced from the depths of Lake Placid, New York. Because of the depth and the intense cold of the water, the body, which was determined by medical examiners to have been submerged in 300 feet of water for over twenty years, was remarkably well-preserved. Authorities concluded that her death had been violent.

In July of 1962, Ann Conway came from Yonkers, New York and now she found herself at a diner in Lake Placid interviewing for a waitress job. When a chance encounter with a busboy causes her to be fired from that job after only several hours, Ann mysteriously disappears and is never seen again.

Now two decades later, someone must pay. For Dave Powell, his loving wife Sue, and their little girl Dana, and all those close to them, the ordeal is about to begin.

I really enjoyed this book. I was drawn into the story almost from the first page. I thought that it was just a very good, well-written mystery. I give this book an A+! and have put it on my keeper shelf to read again later.

Apparently, this story is very loosely based on the death of Mabel Smith Douglass, who in 1918, became the first dean of the New Jersey College for Women (later renamed Douglass College in her honor in 1955). On September 21, 1933 she was last seen rowing alone on Lake Placid. When her boat was discovered capsized near the deepest point of Lake Placid, the police dragged the lake but never found her body. Scuba divers located Mabel Smith Douglass's body 30 years later, however medical examiners couldn't agree whether her death was a suicide or murder.

I actually read A Lady in the Lake: A True Account of Death and Discovery on Lake Placid by George Christian Ortloff in March of 2010 which is a Non-Fiction book about Mabel Smith Douglass's disappearance and the subsequent discovery of her body 30 years later.… (altro)

An old Hampton address borders the mysterious Sanctuary; but who exactly lives at number 12 Forsythia Lane? Lydia is blonde and beautiful, however she also secretive and reclusive. The birds that she loves and writes about are drawn to the sylvan delights of the Sanctuary, but is Lydia safe from the dark forces that lurk in its depths? Emily is dark, glamorous and unpredictable. She mingles freely with New York's elite - a member of the most exclusive country club in the Hamptons. She knows all the secrets of the wealthy and powerful...and is about to reveal them to the world. But does she understand the unspeakable truth of the Sanctuary?

Two beautiful sisters; as different as night and day. One loving and giving, the other dazzling and seductive. Does anyone know the truth about the Hampton Sisters?

I did enjoy this book although there wasn't as much horror to the storyline as I had expected. I give this book an A! I was surprised to learn that Bernard F. Conners actually lives in the same town that I do. I don't actually know him personally, but I found it interesting that he lives in Albany, New York! :)… (altro)