Setting
This is the first in a series, of full-length cozy paranormal mystery novels set in historic locations throughout Southern California. The story includes author’s notes of historical importance to the setting and story. Also, actual sleight-of-hand magic tricks are used, of which, one is revealed in the author’s notes. The author’s notes add a unique perspective to the story in that they engage the reader into the inside track of how the story came to be. Told from the heroine’s POV in present time, late winter-early spring San Diego. Heroine, SHANNON DELANEY is the main character in this series. Authentic vintage sleight-of-hand magic is a theme throughout this series.
Characters
Of the present and from out of the past, a lively set of characters lend voice and action to the storied details surrounding the mystery of Blackthorne House mansion:
SHANNON DELANEY, the lovely and talented twenty-something writer leaves Chicago for a dream assignment in San Diego. While staying at the fabled Blackthorne House, Shannon’s uncanny ability to sniff out a murder mystery pays off when she digs up the past to solve a cold case file from San Diego’s decadent Victorian era of the late 1800s. Mystery solved, Shannon finds herself in yet another fix… what to do about her own romantic dilemma?
ERIC BLACKTHORNE, the handsome and charming master magician died over a century ago. But his ghost lives on in the magnificent mansion he built in San Diego of the late 1800s. A tormented spirit, Blackthorne will not be laid to rest until the truth about his life is revealed.
ALEX BLACKTHORNE, descendant of the master magician who built Blackthorne House, Alex inherited the identical good looks and charming personality of his famous ancestor—which he puts into play (along with a few magic tricks of his own) in order to capture Shannon’s affection.
SISTER ROSARIO SANTIAGO is a middle-aged nun with more check-writing authority than most CEOs. As the administrator in charge of converting Blackthorne House into a moneymaking bed-and-breakfast inn, Rosario hires award-winning writer Shannon Delaney to chronicle the mansion’s intriguing history for a publicity brochure.
FRANCISCO ZAVALA, a retired detective whose work earned him many accolades, can’t resist a good mystery and will go to the ends of the Earth, or in this case, to the emerald mines of Manizales, Colombia, to get to the truth of the matter and to ease Shannon’s misgivings.
ZACH ZAVALA, Francisco Zavala’s handsome twenty-something grandson is an acclaimed restoration architect who lost the bid for renovating Blackthorne House. But he won the respect of Sister Rosario, and more importantly, he has Shannon’s trust and attention.
OLIVIA ZAVALA, young and beautiful socialite from a prominent San Diego family was beloved by all in San Diego’s Victorian society, especially the master magician, Eric Blackthorne. Olivia disappeared without a trace—Or did she?
CAPTAIN MIGUEL PICO was one of San Diego’s most successful merchant sea traders of the 1880s. And he was husband to Olivia Zavala…she was the perfect match for his social climbing ambitions… that is, until the magician Eric Blackthorne interfered. Did Pico and his partner Captain Raul Santillo trade with the Devil to get what they wanted?
Storyline
Shannon Delaney thought her dream assignment in San Diego would open new doors for her writing career. She could not have guessed that her new home, the very-Victorian Blackthorne House mansion, would be a portal to a century-old mystery.
Shannon settles into her assignment to chronicle the mansion’s fascinating history for a publicity brochure advertising it as an authentic Victorian B&B. But, before Shannon can put pen to paper, a ghostly encounter leaves her wondering if her dream assignment isn’t a nightmare. Caught up in the spectral mission of the mansion’s original owner—
Eric Blackthorne, master magician—Shannon endures ghastly discoveries to solve a long-ago crime.
Complicating her life is the involvement with the handsome, and very real, Alex Blackthorne, descendant of the ghostly Eric Blackthorne. Shannon can’t make up her mind if Alex is a hindrance or a help to her. Certainly, he is just as enchanting as his ancestor is… but can she trust him? And when she is with Alex, can she trust her own heart?
Then, too, there is Zach Zavala… Zach seems to be what Alex is not: Straightforward and easy to read…no tricks up his sleeve. And Zach has the guy-next-door good looks that Shannon has always given a second glance to. Plus, Zach’s Grandfather Francisco is a kindred spirit, of sorts. He senses Shannon’s apprehension about her paranormal experiences and he knows how to calm her uneasiness.
Night after night, clues haunt Shannon’s sleep through a series of things-that-go-bump-in-the-night experiences. In daylight, eerily odd occurrences stack up together, making it crystal clear what path Shannon must take to reveal the truths that will give final peace to the tortured soul of Eric Blackthorne. In the end, with the mystery of Blackthorne House behind her, Shannon is left with the biggest question of all… What about Alex and Zach; must she choose between them?
Note: One of the main characters in this story, Sister Rosario, is a nun ... though the story never says to which denomination Sister Rosario belongs. San Diego, as well as all of So.
California is represented by Roman Catholic, Old Holy Catholic and Anglican/Episcopal orders of nuns. Sister Rosario could be identified with any of these denominations.
The magic elements are real sleight-of-hand tricks, well researched from actual performances that took place in the 1800s. No hocus-pocus TV illusions. In the story notes, at the end, the author reveals how one of the 'tricks' was done.
Throughout the story the romance element is light, yet consistent. This story is suitable for the typical ‘cozy mystery’ G-rated readership, including teens.