Media Reviews
October 28, 2011 (The KW Record)
Book Reviews
(5.0 out of 5 stars) This review is from: Cheat the Hangman (Kindle Edition) I completely immersed myself in this well-written book enjoying every minute. It was definitely deserving of being short-listed for the Crime Writers of Canada "Unhanged Arthur". Gloria Ferris' writing reminded me somewhat of one of my favourite authors, Donna Andrews, especially with the very large quirky extended family interaction and antics. She brings "skeletons in the closet" to a whole new level. Take a decades-old cold case of a missing child, a sudden unexpected inheritance of a huge fabulous and museum-like home to divorced grand-niece Lyris Pembroke, who must then quickly plan and host the annual Pembroke family reunion comprised of about 400 extended family members all too soon after moving into her new home. Throw in a good helping of the paranormal and hidden secrets, a headstone with no name, a fire, attacks on Lyris and you have a pretty good perception of what fun this book is going to be. Lyris definitely has her work cut out for her. Fortunately she has also inherited Conklin the butler, and is able to hire Caroline, an excellent cook and housekeeper. For the reunion, Lyris shows admirable organizational ability as she works her way through what must be done prior to the reunion.
Not all is fun and games, though. There are also some dangerous intruders lurking about, not all of them necessarily human. Or perhaps otherworldly would be a better way to put it. Toss in a small dog with sharp teeth, soon joined by an oversized black cat, and the house begins to fill with more rooms occupied than the residents realize. Spanning so many decades, it would be strange if there were not romances, both current and decades old. Reignited passions, and reawakened love and trust with those who have suffered at the hands of their exes in the past and discover there is still a chance for happiness, even if it comes almost too late. The book is loaded with many different types of chaos and stress and yet it doesn't confuse the reader, it is just all a part of the whole. I loved the balance of the book, I laughed at the shenanigans, shed a few tears as the cold case is dealt with, worried with our heroine, relived the past with the few remaining WWII veterans even enjoying the singing of Vera Lynn in my mind, went through terror, thrills and chills, and loved the ending. This book certainly ran through a gamut of emotions, old and new. I am really looking forward to the further adventures to come.
—Betty Gelean "nightreader" (Smithers, BC) Oct. 25/11
Gloria Ferris is a storyteller of the highest caliber. Sometimes witty, sometimes dark, Ferris hits all the right buttons in Cheat the Hangman, a refreshing and chilling paranormal mystery you won't want to miss. Ten out of ten.
—Jeff Bennington, author of Reunion
Some families really do have skeletons in the closet. In Cheat the Hangman, Gloria Ferris offers Southern Ontario Gothic at its spine-chilling, provocative, hilarious best. An old family mansion on the shores of Lake Huron, haunted with romantic secrets, brimming with macabre mysteries, inherits a new owner, a feisty thirty-eight year old divorcee by the name of Lyris Pembrooke, whose exuberant wit is matched by reckless curiosity as she struggles to right the wrongs of the dead. In a dazzling blend of the bizarre and the domestic, horror and humour, nostalgia and intrigue, Ferris enthrals her readers in the most frightening and delightful ways.
—John Moss, author of Reluctant Dead and other mysteries
Lyris Pembrooke has an ironic, hilarious way of looking at life, even in the direst circumstances. Her witty personality instantly captivates and endears the reader. Juxtaposed with the traditional butler, Conklin, her modern outlook (e.g. she can't cook) creates many very funny situations. Conklin's staid response of "Madam" is comical, while the antics of Jacqueline the dog and Rasputin the cat are uproarious. Lyris's many complicated relationships – her ex-husband, relatives such as the psychic auntie, her son and his girlfriend, her own yummy boyfriend, not to mention her spirit guide, Leander – add layers to the story. The main plot is an historical tragedy, one that provokes Lyris into examining her own problems, but the way that Lyris handles the many twists and revelations is delightful. The ending is satisfying and romantic. Cheat the Hangman is an excellent, enjoyable read! I would love to see Lyris and Leander come back to tackle more problems in the future.
—Catherine Astolfo, author of the Emily Taylor Mysteries
Sometimes you just want to sink into a really good mystery. Ferris has managed to blend the past with the present in this Ontario-grown who-dun-it, heading her cast of characters with heroine Lyris Pembrooke, amateur sleuth, armed with latent psychic abilities and a twisted sense of humour. Entertaining and well written, Cheat the Hangman is a great first book. No wonder it was shortlisted for Canada's Unhanged Arthur Ellis Award.
—N.A.T. Grant, author of Race without Rules
Women's intuition, spirit guides, our ancestors crying out to us – call it what you will, Cheat the Hangman says so much about both what we owe our ancestors and the burdens they pass down to us. A mysterious family death long ago sends Lyris on a search for the truth about those who came before her. A powerful, layered story told with clarity, pizzazz and humour.
—Eileen Schuh, author of Schrodingers's Cat
Ferris weaves an exciting story demonstrating her work is worth keeping an eye on. Cheat the Hangman is a non-stop guessing game. An intriguing and immensely entertaining read that blends paranormal with mystery and a touch of romance.
—Midwest Book Review
Clipped Reviews
A refreshing and chilling paranormal mystery you won't want to miss.
—Jeff Bennington, author of Reunion
Southern Ontario Gothic at its spine-chilling, provocative, hilarious best.
—John Moss, author of Reluctant Dead
A dazzling blend of the bizarre and the domestic, horror and humour, nostalgia and intrigue.
—John Moss, author of Reluctant Dead
Satisfying and romantic. An excellent, enjoyable read!
—Catherine Astolfo, author of the Emily Taylor Mysteries
Entertaining and well written. No wonder it was shortlisted for Canada's Unhanged Arthur Ellis Award.
—N.A.T. Grant, author of Race without Rules