From an Edgar and Agatha Award winner: A mystery writer must solve the puzzle of her past when she meets the South Carolina family she never knew existed. Popular mystery novelist Molly Hunt knows all about the twists and turns of fiction, but real life has thrown her for a loop. Raised by adoptive parents on Long Island, Molly has just made a stunning discovery: She’s the daughter of South … daughter of South Carolina blue bloods and was kidnapped as an infant from their ancestral home in Charleston. Now, she’s heading south to solve the puzzle of her beginnings—totally unprepared for where it will end.
At Mountfort Hall, her birth family’s imposing plantation, Molly comes face to face with her past: her neglected twin sister; her reclusive and mentally imbalanced mother; a calculating cousin, now the Mountfort patriarch who has no tolerance for this lovely new intruder; and a resident psychic who sees into a deadly world all her own. It’s only when Molly discovers a letter from her late father that she comes to realize how much danger she’s in—and what it’ll take to escape the shadows of Mountfort Hall alive.
“In one of her smoothest suspense novels . . . Whitney combines a dynamic, likable heroine with eccentric characters, romantic entanglements, family ghosts and a charming setting” (Publishers Weekly). It’s everything readers expect from the “Queen of American gothics” (The New York Times).
This ebook features an illustrated biography of Phyllis A. Whitney including rare images from the author’s estate.
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As an avid fan of Phyllis A. Whitney, I thoroughly enjoyed this book set in Charleston. It had a twist I didn’t expect with a satisfying ending that answered the many questions these complex characters created.
this was an excellent read.
It was a pleasant mystery that flowed easily, but had some great twists.
Hadn’t read Phyllis Whitney in decades. Enjoyed the story…
I have enjoyed Phyllis Whitney book for many years. This kept me guessing and did not disappoint,
This story had many attractive features…a kidnapping, a family interested in solving the mystery of where the child was, a substantial inheritance, and a twin! The characters were attractive yet strange. The story lost me when the main character didn’t go back home when complications presented. All the loose strings from the mystery that developed seemed too much like a standard mystery. I felt like the formula for a mystery was checked off step by step in complicated formula. I kept thinking, I wouldn’t do that if I were in that situation. The story was OK, but that was it.
A good read! Interesting story and characters; lots of twists and turns. Fun to be in old Charleston. I can usually figure the ending half-way through but was near the end before I began to have correct suspicions.
It was the best mystery I have read in a long time have recommended it to others
Very different and a really good mystery!!!!
Always an unexpected twist. I can never predict the outcome. Had a hard time engaging in this particular story. Usually I eagerly consume this author’s books but this time it fell flat for me.
For Phyllis Whitney I was disappointed as her books are usually better than this. but I guess it was an ok book.
Whitney never disappoints
Phyllis Whitney was one of the very best mystery writers for many, many years.
A marvelous mystery exposing dark secrets inside a family with old, old money! An author by trade, Molly Hunt writes mysteries. One morning, as she waited for her publisher, she meets a man awhile convinces her to lunch with him. Over lunch he reveals that he is engaged to her identical twin. And, he is sure Molly is her stolen twin sister. Charles persuades Molly to meet the family in Charleston, SC. There she can find out for herself. When she decided to investigate for herself, going to South Carolina on invitation
… And, that’s when the mysteries begin begin to unfurl. I could hardly put this book down. The narration is excellent it will be a book I will reread and later read it again. Recommended!
Too much twists to really get into
It is a nice little read. Must suspend belief with some of the characters behavior!
This book had me staying up late because I couldn’t put it down. Charleston, the city and its people are lovingly described. The storyline had me guessing until the end. The only downside was my inability to understand why the leading character so easily lost her sense of self.
Woman Without a Past has been one of my favorite books since the 90’s. I’ve reread it countless times and probably need to invest in a new paperback! I love the story of a woman who doesn’t realize what she doesn’t know about her past, the way it suddenly collides with her life, and the slightly spooky things that happen as she’s drawn back into a world she didn’t know she’d left. If you like Phyllis A. Whitney books and are looking for something more current, check out Verity !
The plot was interesting, but it didn’t grab my interest like other books she has written.
Phyllis Whitney is a fantastic author. I think I have read everything she has ever written.