Dark Over Acadia

Dark Over Acadia by Anne Talmage

published by Magnum Books
Copyright 1971

House of

False Love...

Diana Latham came more than a thousand miles to
Davereau House...to find her friend Lucy Devereau
struck down by a terrible accident, imprisioned in her bed
by paralysis that denied her movement, or even speech.
But was it an accident? Or was it a horrible plot? Lucy's
family seemed to accept the first, and when Diana
questioned other possibilities, they refused to listen. But
the Devereau family carried a dark curse, one that they
could not keep hidden; someone...or something...
seemed determined to strike them down. Soon Diana was
drawn into the maelstrom of building terror... and it
seemed as though her only escape would be through death!

I was SO excited when I ran across this book at a used bookstore this weekend. For me this is absolutely a first. The most bizarre things about this book is not that our cover damsel is in a wheelchair, but that she totally looks likes a dude. (click on the image to get a better look) Very Jack Lemon in Some Like It Hot but he made a more attractive women. The art is signed by Charles Lilly. I am still trying to find out if it is actually the Charles Lilly.

Bride of Pendorric

Bride of Pendorric by Victoria Holt

published by Crest Books
Copyright 1963

"A FAST-PACED THRILLER"
- DETROIT FREE PRESS

Favel Farington knew very little about
her new husband. They met in Capri and
the dashing young heir to Pendorric had
swept the lovely English girl into mar-
riage with the fierceness of a summer storm.

It was all wonderfully exciting-until
Favel discovered that someone was plan-
ning a very special place for her in the
family-in the vault with the other legend-
ary "brides of Pendorric" who had all died
so mysteriously, so tragically and so young.

Suddenly the words "till death us do
part" took on a new and ominous meaning.

"A ROMANTIC CHILLER
FULL OF BEAUTY AND
MENACE...
A BIZARRE CLIMAX"
-INDIANAPOLIS STAR

It seems to me that far too many woman get married knowing very little about their husbands in these books. Of course, I can easily see being swept away by anyone who owned a castles teetering on the edge of a cliff. I mean, how cool is that. I think I would entertain marrying the Count from Sesame Street for a house like that.

The Deadly Travellers

The Deadly Travellers by Dorothy Eden

published by Ace Books
Copyright 1959

The Deadly Travellers

Pretty, vivacious, and alone in the
world, Kate Tempest always enjoyed an
unexpected adventure. When she was
hired to escort a small Italian girl from
Rome to London, she was delighted. But
little Francesca, speaking not a word
of English, mysteriously vanished into
thin air (what exactly were here child escorting credentials?)
on the Paris Express, and
no one would admit to seeing her board
the train...

Treated as a victim of hallucination,
Kate tried to find the child on her own.
Her probing led her to two attractive
men, both of whom offer their help
and their love.

By the time Kate discovered that one
of them meant to kill her, she was
caught in a terrifying web of deception
and betrayal, unable to tell which was
the friend (i'd say the one who didn't want to kill her)
and which was the enemy (the one that wanted to
kill her would be a good start)...

"No one can suggest an eerie atmosphere and the
sinister trifle better than
Dorothy Eden." - MANCHESTER GUARDIAN

I really think this a great cover. Once again, I can't help but wonder why there is so rarely information on cover artists. This book also has one inside illustration. Something I have not run into very often but which I wish there were more of.

Millijoy, The Determined

Millijoy, the Determined by Katheryn Kimbrough

published by Popular Library
Copyright 1977

MILLIJOY,
THE DETERMINED

is one of the spellbinding novels in the greatest
series of gothic romances ever conceived.
You won't want to miss the others,
all exclusively in Popular Library editions.

From the moment beautiful young Millijoy Gray came
in contact with the proud Phenwick clan, she knew she
would do anything to become a Phenwick woman.
What matter if her birth was clouded in mystery? What
matter if her childhood had been spend in torment? (really?)
What matter if now her sensual attractiveness and fiery
temper caused whispers of scandal wherever she went, (yes, had nothing what-so-ever to do with her widely know promiscuity) and led her into dangers no proper young woman
should have to defy?

Millijoy's first step was to become a Phenwick servant.
Her next was to gain intimate knowledge of the Phen-
wich secrets and the Phenwick shames. (haha!) So far she was
on the path to personal triumph-until she moved into
the power of a Phenwick man whose lust matched her
ambition, and whose evil was far beyond her expe-
rience and control...

Good lord - that is just hysterical! I promise to read this one. Check back for my review.

Death Is a Red Rose

Death is a Red Rose by Dorothy Eden
cover art by Walter Popp

published by Ace Books
copyright 1956

MISTAKEN IDENTITY
AND EVIL DESIRES

When Cressida Barclay rented the vacant flat in the de-
credpid mansion, she unwittingly become more than just a
tenant of the ecentric Arabia Bolton. The strange old
widow believed her new roomer to be her long-dead
daughter, also named Cressida.

Too soon, it became apparent that someone else was con-
fusing the new girl with her dead namesake. The first
Cressida had died under mysterious circumstances-was
the killer in the house now, anxious to kill again in fear
that the phoenix had risen from her own ashes?

Weakened by terror and by her growing feelings for
Jeremy Winter-a boarder who could be foe as easily as
friend-Cressida lets herself get trapped in a corner cre-
ated by another girl; a corner from which there is no
escape except death...

I was pretty excited when I realized that the cover art on this book actually held a signature. I was ever more excited when I realized the artist was Walter Popp. Born in 1920, Popp spent the 1940 doing comic book art and moved on to book cover and pulp magazines in the 1950's and 60's. Often racy in nature, his art can be seen on covers of Amazing Tales, Fantastic Adventures and True Detective just to name a few.