CYNTHIA LEA CLARK, PSY.D. - MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEWS
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Former Miss Chicago (Miss USA), Cynthia Lea Clark continued school, graduating from Northwestern University (multiple degreed), attended nursing school, and became a Firefighter Paramedic. After working as an actress in Chicago, she moved to Los Angeles where she worked on many television shows, such as DAYS OF OUR LIVES and STAT, while continuing her education with a Masters in Psychology and then a Doctorate of Psychology. While working on STAT, she was stalked which led her to work in Forensic Psychopathology. She has over 70 interviews with serial killers, mass murderers, etc. Today she mixes Forensics with writing and acting. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, Kiss of Death Chapter of RWA, International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, and the American College of Forensic Examiners International. |
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July 2006
LAKE
OF SORROWS
Erin Hart
Pocket Star Books 2004 $7.99 490 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7434-7101-5
Nora Gavin, a pathologist, travels to the Irish midlands to examine a
body found in a bog. The bog has preserved the body in excellent condition
so it should be easy thinks Nora. She stays with her long distance lover,
archeologist Cormac Maguire.
Before Nora can begin her investigation of the bog body another body is
found. But this one is no where near as old and it's wearing a wrist watch.
After some investigation the new body turns out to be that of Danny Brazil,
who supposedly left the country many years earlier.
Danny and the mysterious bog man share the same mode of killing, same
wound pattern, and the same cord tied in three knots. Is Danny's death
tied to some sort of mysterious cult? Before any answers can be obtained,
Ursula, another archeologist is found dead in her bathtub, in the same
ritualistic way.
Cormac's boots are missing. Eventually he comes clean to Nora that he
did go see Ursula that night, but swears, she was alive when he left.
Then Rachel, another team member is missing.
What does it all mean? And s it possible someone has been withholding
artifacts?
Nora is not content with waiting for the local sheriff to do his job.
She investigates. She researches the area and the site, known as Lake
of Sorrows and begins to put together the puzzle. But can she before the
killer, gets to her?
Ms. Hart has crafted a well written, exciting novel. Not only are we learning
history, we also journey through mystery and suspense as we search for
who is killing all those people. Excellently done. However, all the killings,
made them forget about the bog man. Still all in all, a superb read.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I'd give a 5!
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D.
PSYCHO
PSYCHIC
Betsy Gallup
PublishAmerica Baltimore 2006 194 pages
ISBN: 1-4137-8761-4
Kate Lisbon agrees to go with her friend Lily to see the renowned Psychic
Eva, Princess of the Unknown. After hours of standing in line, finally
it's Lily's turn. Eva whispers something in her ear. Kate watches her
friend blanche, and then faint. She rushes to her as the Princess of the
Unknown's guards whisk them off the stage. When Lily comes to, she tells
Kate that Eva, told her to make her peace, her time has come. Kate is
furious, but as Lily revives, Eva invites them as her guest to another
psychic party. There Eva predicts the birth of a baby boy and that the
father to be will slow down permanently. He does by murder. Lily becomes
more intrigued with Eva and invites her and her manager Montana to her
mother's home for a weekend.
Detective Matt Prescott investigates the murder and after a second of
Eva's dire predictions ends in death, becomes convinced Eva or someone
in her party has something to do with it. While investigating, he sees
his childhood crush Kate Lisbon and worms an invitation to Lily's Psychic
weekend.
Kate is convinced Lily is being used by the Psychic group and wants to
protect her friend. Then one of Lily's guests is found dead. Matt is sure
it's murder but can't convince the local sheriff. Then a horrific car
crash all but kills the two occupants, and the sheriff begins to wonder.
When the brake line is found to have been clearly cute, he seeks Matt
to work together.
Romance is blooming between Montana and Lily. Lily will hear nothing negative
and demands that Kate and Matt leave.
Can they solve the case and save Lily in time? Who is the puppet master?
PSYCHO PSYCHIC is a fast, easy read. I read it one sitting and enjoyed
it immensely. Although it is somewhat predictable, it was a fun, enjoyable
read. For a quick escape, venture to PSYCHO PSYCHIC for a fun time!
On a scale of 1 to 5, I'd give a 5!
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D.
TAKEN
Barbara Freethy
A Signet Book June 2006 $6.99 395 pages
ISBN: 0-451-21873-6
Ever want to do something spontaneous? Kayla Sheridan does. She marries
Nick Granville, a man she barely knows. On their wedding night he goes
for ice and does not come back.
Who is this Nick Kayla married? Why does he disappear? Does he run away?
Is he hurt? Is someone after him? Kayla is left with many questions and
no answers. All that is found of Nick was his dinner jacket and wedding
ring.
Kayla returns home feeling foolish yet concerned. The what ifs are bothering
her so she goes to Nick's apartment and is surprised to find a man claiming
to be Nick Granville. This is not her Nick. Yet he is the real Nick Granville's
and his identity has been stolen and used to marry Kayla.
The real Nick and Kayla join forces to track down the impostor which leads
them into a journey of years gone by and family secrets not to mention
danger.
Kayla gives the fake Nick, her grandfather's watch as a wedding present.
Why is this so important? What does this have to do with a 30 year old
robbery, strip clubs, an escape from Alcatraz, and Kayla and Nick?
You'll have to read the book to find out, but it's well worth the read.
Ms. Freethy weaves a tight, exciting tale through the streets of San Francisco.
She takes us on a journey of an exciting old crime and weaves a plausible
solution. A page turner till the end. I highly recommend it.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I'd give a 5!
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D.
SAVAGE
GARDEN
Denise Hamilton
Pocket Star Books March 2006 $7.99 349 pages
ISBN: 0-7434-9271-4
Los Angeles Times reporter Eve Diamond awaits a sexy evening, with the
opening of a new play by a former gang banger, and then a romantic evening
with her lover Silvio. But nothing goes right. The leading lady is nowhere
to be found. Although she is known for her diva attitude, the playwright,
and Silvio's friend asks him to check on her. So, off Eve and Silvio go
to her home hoping to find her. Instead, they find no one home, what looks
like blood drops, and Eve with more questions than answers. How did Silvio
get into her apartment?
Silvio knows the leading lady a little better than he is letting on, Eve
is sure of that. Why won't he tell her what the relationship is?
In the mean time Eve is ordered to allow a new newspaper hire shadow her.
Eve is irritated at having to baby sit Felice Morgan a new rising star.
Eve would rather work on the missing actress story, but the powers that
be say she is to close to it. However, that does not stop Eve from her
own investigating.
Then the diva, Catarina Velosi's body is found washed up on the shore
and Silvio becomes their main suspect.
To make matters worse, Silvio won't tell the truth to Eve. Even so, she
is bound to set him free and find the real murderer. With Felice by her
side, she discovers Felice steals one of her stories.
Who attacks Eve and threatens her? And is Felice who she says she is?
Is Felice out to do Eve in? Who killed Catarina and why? Was Silvio sleeping
with Catarina?
Denise Hamilton weaves a winding tale of lies and deception through the
streets of Los Angeles. She strikes a balance between suspense, lust,
and stand by your man. SAVAGE GARDEN is a fast paced, page turning read
and although it is a little predictable in spots it is an enjoyable read.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I'd give a 4.5!
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D.
WAKING
LAZARUS
T.L. Hines
Bethany House July 2006 $18.99 352 pages
ISBN: 0-7642-0204-9
The first time Jude Allman died he was 8 years old. He had been ice fishing
with his dad when on the way to the truck he fell through the ice. He
died. Not just beep beep tone gone and then restart dead. No, he was declared
dead and moved to the morgue dead.
The second time, Jude and his friend took a short cut and lighting struck
Jude and once again he died. Fully pronounced dead to open his eyes much
later.
The third time Jude died was when he was caught in a blizzard. Three and
a half days before he was found. Again, he woke up after being declared
dead.
Through all of these miracle rebirths Jude was hounded by people to faith
heal to the extent that me moved and changed his name to Ron Gress and
he became a janitor. He even had a son. His relationship with his son
was great but with the mother of his child, a bit strained.
And then Kristina came to visit. She told him that he was meant to fulfill
certain duties. He asked what? She said, he would know. In the mean time
children were disappearing and in an unrelated events he would taste copper
as someone would come to die. First, in the restaurant, the waitress that
served him evoked copper. He ignored it. Then later another patron evoked
copper and was later hit by a semi truck and killed. Ron (AKA Jude) went
to him , and in the man's final moment's saw his life and needs.
The next night the waitress was not at the restaurant, and he remembered
the copper taste and the vision evoked from the man from the night before.
He convinced another waitress to get over to her house. They did get there
in time to save her from suicide. He pulled her aside and told her that
her family would accept her baby and all would be okay.
Gift or nightmare? Someone has been taking and murdering children and
Ron/Jude is on the brink of interacting with him. And then his son is
kidnapped and the game is in full swing.
WAKING LAZARUS is a cross between the TV show the DEAD ZONE and MEDIUM,
and a delight. Jude grows into the man he should have been. We watch a
wonderful evolution. There are some predictable moments in it, but aside
from those, it is a good can't wait to turn the page read.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I'd give a 4.8!
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D.
Cynthia's Archived Reviews
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