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PRA, Psi Research Associates, located in Seattle, specializes in researching reported ghost sightings. Joyce Wu manages the business and does the historical and forensic work. Edgar Mayfield takes care of the technical side using machines to reinterpret the laws of nature to explain the ghostly phenomena. Cree (Lucretia) Black does the psychological analysis, sometimes using empathic techniques. Ronald Beauforte travels to Seattle on business and decides to hire PRA. His sister, Lila Beauforte Warren, has reported seeing ghosts in the family home in New Orleans. No other family member has seen the ghost and they are afraid that Lila is headed for a break down. Even though they are skeptical, they will do anything to humor Lila and want PRA to do whatever it is they do to get rid of the ghost. Because Edgar is in Massachusetts on a case, Cree finds herself on her way to New Orleans to begin the groundwork. The Beauforte home was built in 1851 in what is now the Garden District of New Orleans. During the Civil War Union troops used the house. The home was sold in 1897 and went through a series of owners and almost a decade of abandonment. Richard Beauforte bought the home in 1948 and brought it back to its former glory. Richard died in the house in 1972. The house was rented for a short time to Templeton Chase, a television anchorman in New Orleans. Chase was murdered in the kitchen of the home and his murder has never been solved. After Ronald Beauforte had the kitchen remodeled, Lila decided she would like to move into the house and return the Beaufortes to their rightful place. Lila soon found herself traumatized by a ghostly presence and moved out of the house. Fortunately, her previous home had not yet been sold. It will be Cree's job to discover why Lila is so susceptible to the haunting. Cree must also identify the ghost or ghosts and release them before someone gets hurt. Daniel Hecht combines ghost-hunting and murder-solving in CITY OF MASKS. New Orleans is a city aware of its past. History is important in this city and makes an excellent setting for a ghost story. Hecht takes the reader on a trip through the French Quarter, the Garden District, the cities of the dead, voodoo and hoodoo. When he describes stagnant water, heat and humidity the reader can smell the water and feel the heat and humidity dripping off the skin. New Orleans is a city of masks, especially during Mardi Gras. Everybody wears a mask and the masks give people license to do out of the ordinary things. Hecht gets an extra point for the good title. CITY OF MASKS is populated with excellent characters. Cree Black is a likable character whose empathic abilities allow her to enter the world of Lila Beauforte Warren and feel her terror. Joyce Wu is a wonderful friend to Cree and a lively, fun, straight-shooting character. Charmian Beauforte is everything a dowager from a socially elite family should be and more. She's a tough old bird. There is even a love interest for Cree. Hecht's clear and concise writing paints word pictures of the people and places in the novel. The mysteries surrounding the Beaufortes kept this reader's interest piqued. Even though I felt like I knew where Hecht was headed, he kept things moving at such a brisk and satisfying pace that I didn't care. It was a most enjoyable ride with a satisfying end. Readers who enjoy ghost stories and what I would call light horror should give this novel a look. CITY OF MASKS is Hecht's debut novel in a new series featuring Cree Black.
Reviewed by Lane Wright, July 2004
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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