MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW TAKES A LOOK AT “RETURN TO MATEGUAS ISLAND”

 

I received notice on Monday, February 2, 2015, that a review of my novel, RETURN TO MATEGUAS ISLAND, had posted in MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW and I would like to share that review with you all here.

Image 1Published in MBR BOOKWATCH, Volume 14, #2, February 2015

Return To Mateguas Island, A Tale of Supernatural Suspense
Linda Watkins
Argon Press
9780991055487 ASIN: B00PQZH8Y0 $2.99
www.mateguasisland.com www.lindawatkins.biz

Ordering link: http://www.amazon.com/RETURN-MATEGUAS-ISLAND-Supernatural-Suspense-ebook/dp/B00PQZH8Y0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1417542480&sr=8-3&keywords=mateguas+island

Return To Mateguas Island, A Tale of Supernatural Suspense offers a satisfying sequel to Mateguas Island and delves more deeply into events, using the perspectives of different characters from young adults to a mother and her boyfriend, to probe actions of the past that hold dire implications for all involved.

At the heart of a maelstrom of horror that encircles this close-knit family is the unsolved disappearance of a father, an island’s mysterious secret, and a mother’s connections with supernatural forces which can keep danger at bay for only as long as her inquisitive eighteen-year-old twins can keep their curiosity in check.

All this is about to change with their return to the island, which offers re-connections with some unusual forces and exposes relationships that have kept long-held resentments at bay for years.

Lonely girl sitting on a rockOn the face of it, Return To Mateguas Island is about a missing father; but it evolves to be so much more. Misplaced legacies, hidden entanglements, simmering resentments, and strange powers all come to light against the backdrop of an island which holds the power to suck everyone back into a maelstrom of deadly forces.

Now, readers expecting a story replete with ghosts may be disappointed. The real power in Return To Mateguas Island lies not so much in its inclusion of supernatural rituals as in its exploration of simmering emotions that lay just under the surface of lives recovering from disaster. Thus, its power and strength are most evident in its explorations of interpersonal relationships: “Surprised by his gesture, Karen gazed into his eyes. They had both revealed secrets kept hidden for so long and it seemed as if in this moment they had taken a journey back in time – back to when they had once been so good together.”

Image 4It’s the reason why chapters are titled not by paranormal encounters, but by the events which transpire between selected protagonists (“Terri and Shawn”, “Bill”, “Karen and Dex”). It’s the reason why the supernatural force described serves as a catalyst for events; not the end-all of these explorations. And it’s the centrifuge of a whirlwind of emotional forces that swirl around all involved in the backdrop that is Mateguas Island and its mystical heritage.

While newcomers can access and enjoy this sequel, it’s especially recommended for prior fans of Mateguas Island who became involved with the protagonists and the mystery, and who want more. This audience will find the characters are flushed out and embellished, their motivations and lives are laced with more depth, and the compelling draw of the island and its mysteries create suitable devices for a novel that excels in emotional interconnections with a dash of supernatural suspense added in for good measure. ~ D. Donovan, eBook Review, MBR

Link to Review:  MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

Link to RETURN TO MATEGUAS ISLAND on Amazon:  Return to Mateguas