A Stranger in My Grave

Tight, clean and unmarked-" The times of terror began not in the middle of the night, but on a bright and noisy morning in February when a feeling of death loomed in the air.-The mystery is built on the theme of a married woman who dreams she visits her gravestone which shows her deathday four years earlier.-This novel, written at the start of the 1960s, reflects the social mores of its time. For example, the lead character, an adult woman, is treated as if she were a child who needs guidance from adult males, racially demeaning attitudes are expressed toward those of Mexican descent, mothers try to control and mettle significantly more in their adult daughters lives then occurs in today's stories, etc.-Although the number of characters in this novel is relatively small, the protagonist is a woman, and the story deals primarily with family matters, this is a psychological noir rather than a cozy mystery. The story starts, gently and interestingly, and holds your attention throughout. The mystery unfolds in a satisfactory straight line manner with few "red herrings". However, those who enjoy happy endings may be somewhat disappointed.-The physical structure of the story makes this a particularly enjoyable read. The book is divided into three main sections: 'The Graveyard', 'The City', and 'The Stranger'. Within these sections chapters are short, providing a sense of rapid progress through the story and making it easy to pause at a close breakpoint at almost anytime."-One-Reader