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There are currently 22 member reviews
for The Fifth Petal
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Nan G.
Engaging Read
I loved The Lace Reader, was disappointed in Barry's follow ups, so was a little apprehensive about The Fifth Petal. I was pleasantly surprised! Barry has written a mystery steeped in atmosphere and detail that does not disappoint. Her use of sound and physical detail add richness and depth to what could have been a run of the mill "Salem mystery". I would definitely recommend it!
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Jennifer C. (Auburn Hills, MI)
The Fifth Petal
Without summarizing the plot of Brunonia Barry's novel The Fifth Petal, it does delve into some real tragedies; the violent murders of beautiful, young women descended from Salem's accused witches, a notable historian's descent into madness, and the tragic history of the novel's main character, Callie Cahill. These plots weave the story that ultimately comes to an ending that leaves the story open to some continued mystery.
While I enjoyed the characterization of the town's eccentric characters, I wanted more feel for the setting. Another highlight is the fascinating description of Callie's professional work as a sound therapist; something that is described in robust language. Overall, the story felt a bit slow for me, but I would recommend!
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Barbara E. (Rockville, MD)
The power of the past
This mystery, set in present-day Salem, is a spellbinding take on the ways the past affects and influences the present. The contemporary murder reaches back 25 years and then all the way back to the Salem witch trials of 1692. All the characters are richly drawn and there are many twists and turns to the plot. Barry weaves in well-researched history, some magic, and a great deal of atmosphere into this novel. My only objection to the story was that at times I felt at a disadvantage not having read her previous novel, The Lace Reader. References to past events in Towner and Rafferty's marriage were alluded to but not fully explained. I would highly recommend The Fifth Petal.
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Diane D. (Mt Pleasant, SC)
Bewitching!
I loved the Lace Reader and was very happy to read this latest book from Brunonia Barry, returning to Salem and the history of witches. The characters and storyline were fascinating with some twists and turns. I'll happily read anything else this author writes!
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Vicki M. (Boise, ID)
Good but not Great
Not being a student of the Salem Witch Trails I found the book packed with fascinating information that will have me reading more about that time period. That being said I wanted to give the book a five star rating but couldn't because some areas of it were not as tight as they could have been. In particular:
- The ending was anti-climatic as I had figured out who the villain was about half way through
- Areas of the book were redundant--explanation of The Goddesses and their seductive powers
- No explanation of Ann's reaction to Paul's relationship with Callie
- Why did Callie change her mind about Paul?
- Unclear if Emily's death was by natural causes or not--did I miss something?
My final thoughts are that this could be turned into a very good movie if the book rights were purchased by the right production team. How about Reese Witherspoon?
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dj
Witchcraft at its best!
This is not a genre I usually read but it was well done and keep me reading when I should have been sleeping. The setting is Salem, Massachusetts, and we revisit the Salem witch trials of 1692 and follow them to modern day descendants. Many twists and turns weave a good mystery and sets us up for book three.
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Judy G. (Carmel, IN)
Still a Little "Mystified"
The book definitely kept me reading. I have always enjoyed similar reads and I loved the author's first book called the Lace Reader. However, here are a few of the things I think could have been improved in this book:
1. Stronger character development so that readers could hold x,y,z facts in mind about each character.
2. Stronger historical development of the women who died that were on the 5 petals of the rose.
3. What changed Callie's mind at the end of the book?
4. Relationship between Paul and Ann -- just goes "poof"?
Does anyone else have questions or thoughts like this when they finished the book or did I just miss some things? Good read--just wasn't as good as The Lace Reader in my opinion.
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