The Haunting: The Curse of the Midnight Star (Triskelion Series Book 3)

A spirit wants possession of her body and a vampire has stolen her heart, but at what price to her sanity?

Garner Reboulet had taken a break from his honeymoon to interview a vampire in Paris. Maggie, his new wife and co-partner of a paranormal detection agency, The Phoenix Group, remained in America to look into suspected spiritual energies at the Scarlet Oak Manor. The plantation homestead was being converted into a hotel by Garner’s cousin, Remy Terreau. It had been the site of a young family’s murder, and the place where the “Midnight Star”, a legendary cursed sapphire necklace, was last seen.

Maggie was in shock when she received divorce papers from Garner in the mail. She was almost sure that it was a ruse to cover up his murder, until Garner arrived at the Scarlet Oak Manor. The woman that Maggie now suspected was his new lover, Simone, had arrived a day earlier. She had been keen to help Maggie investigate the rumoured haunting and was interested in the missing sapphire.

A mixture of ignorance and arrogance had played a strong part in Garner’s downfall. He never saw the vampire’s attack coming. As soon as realised the truth of his new circumstances, Garner knew that he had to let Maggie go. As a vampire, he could no longer live as the man that she needed; a husband and a father to any future children. Simone had taught him how to survive as a vampire. Yet, she wanted to be more than a lover and was jealous that his heart remained devoted to his mortal wife, Maggie. When Simone left Paris for the States, supposedly in search of the legendary sapphire, Garner feared for Maggie’s safety. His love for Maggie had not dimmed even though they were apart.

A cursed jewel, the story of an insane woman who murdered her own children, vampires, ghostly possession and voodoo are elements blended together in the perfect setting of a Southern slave plantation. It is a backdrop where the paranormal is accepted; voodoo practitioners both good and bad seem as natural as the bayou. Maggie had always considered that her abilities to sense other world vibrations made her unique, but now finds that ghostly presences can turn this gift against her. The love of her life has returned flaunting his new girlfriend. Garner is twice as charismatic but is out of her reach forever it seems. After failing to convince her that their marriage was over, he unbelievably confesses to being a vampire.

Lynne Connolly has a knack of drawing readers into a story right from the outset. The characters are realistic and well-developed; small nuances and accents make them easy to visualise. The plot of The Haunting is tightly woven and unpredictable, the tension and emotional pull being maintained until right up to the last few pages. There are many sweetly erotic moments which are used to increase the depth of devotion and highlight the vampire’s assets. This is a book that you will want to keep reading past bedtime, and is sure to find a position on your keeper shelf. Lynne Connolly has been a favourite author of mine for her Regency books; I am now just as addicted to her paranormal world and cannot wait to see where this author’s next release will take us.

Note: Lynne Connolly’s The Haunting is the 3rd book in Triskelion’s Curse of the Midnight Star series. (Book 1 – The Discovery – Lynne Warren, Book 2 – Intrigue – Esther Mitchell) Each is able to be read as a stand alone novel, but for maximum enjoyment it is recommended to read the whole series.

Reviewed by: Naomi