Rating:

Reviewed by Becky for:

darkangelreviews.com

Vanessa Ward is about to find herself in the middle of the most mysterious disappearance imaginable. Hattie Gwyn vanished over a month ago, without a trace. Vanessa takes her place at Colette’s to help run the store, but things are about to get crazy. It seems that Vanessa can’t help but wonder what happened to Hattie, on that cold, dark night. She enlists the help of her best friend Deb, along with two new men she meets, James and Ben. As the mystery unfolds, Vanessa starts to suspect the people she thought she knew.

Once again, Karen Lewis has created a twisted thriller you can really sink your teeth into. GOTH is an intriguing read from start to finish. We learn, at the beginning, that Vanessa Ward will be filling in at Colette’s, until they can find a permanent replacement for a suddenly missing, Hattie Gwyn. Vanessa can’t help but wonder what provoked it. Was Hattie dragged away and killed somewhere? Was she running from something and needed to hide? All sorts of questions plagued Vanessa, until she decides she needs to figure out what has happened to Hattie. It won’t be an easy feat, though. In this book, we see Vanessa come across some pretty scary characters. The atmosphere in this book is great, just when something is about to happen, it’s dark and foggy. And of course, you can’t see through the fog. In your mind, you hear a song that cues up the danger. That’s what I love about Ms. Lewis’s books. The spooky elements are just the icing on the cake. Now back to the story. It seems that Vanessa is attracted to trouble and she pretty much goes looking for it. Some of the questions she has for her boss, and some of the other business owners, are raising red flags, and someone isn’t happy. But, she does have allies. Ben is the security guard who patrols Old Ferry Road and warns her about the dangers. He’s even volunteered to drive her home at night. Vanessa and Ben really start to get close. Also, she’s friends with James, the manager at Burger Plus. Teamed with these two men and her best friend, Deb, Vanessa is determined to solve the mystery surrounding Hattie’s disappearances. However, the person responsible for Hattie disappearance is not happy with Vanessa and is hot on her trail.

Stick around and read until the end, you won’t believe the conclusion to GOTH.




Rating: 4 Cups



Vanessa Ward has worked at Colette's, a budget-priced chain accessory store, for almost a year. As she temporarily transfers to a strip mall area, she is uneasy since it is where Hattie, a sales assistant, has gone missing.

Ben Harrison is part of the security that patrols the strip mall area. He keeps a watchful eye on Vanessa. She is a very likeable young lady and they connect quite well. He plans to be a cop one day, and will do everything to make sure no danger comes to her.

Even though the strip mall has security patrolling in the area since Hattie's disappearance, Vanessa is still a bit shaken about transferring to the temporary store. She can only hope she can screen enough assistants to accept the job. Each time a potential employee comes in for the job, after hearing it is the location of the missing girl, they chicken out. Thoughts of Hattie consume Vanessa, and with Ben's help, they start their own investigation, after Ben hears from his friend at the police department the case is dragging. Soon, Vanessa gets the impression she is being stalked. Will she be able to locate Hattie, or will Vanessa become the next missing girl?

Goth is a wonderful read that houses some twists and turns bringing a chill to this reader. There were moments by the bus stop, or during Vanessa's little encounters, that sent shudders through me. I love the atmosphere when she saw the mist, and heard the wailing foghorns of the harbor. This book keeps the reader on their toes. Karen Lewis carries the reader into an ominous story that I found powerful, sinister, and at times a bit scary. The addition of secondary characters blends well making this an eerie story that at times sends shivers down the spine.

Cherokee
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance