Into the Mist-Elizabeth Sinclair

Into the Mist
Elizabeth Sinclair
Medallion, Mar 2008, $7.95
ISBN: 9781933836423

The blizzard is crippling as the woman struggles to survive it while she wanders aimlessly the streets of Tarrytown, New York until some strangers tell her that her name is Carrie and she needs to come with them. With no place to go and a chance to get out of cold, she accompanies them to the misty village of Renaissance where they insist her memory will return.

Weaver Clara Webb takes in the lost soul, who begins to recall tidbits of the blood all over the library on Christmas Eve. Dr. Frank Donovan, who learned of the village from his friend Dr. Steven Cameron (see MIRACLE IN THE MIST), is attracted to her, but the widower has two ghosts from his past that haunt him so he refuses to act on his feelings out of fear of hurting another human again. However, Carrie has brought him back to the living and Frank does likewise with her.

The obvious link to Brigadoon aside, the second Mists romantic fantasy is a fascinating entry as the lead duet has demons in their respective souls to overcome before they can consider their feelings for one another. Early on the story line sets the table for an exciting strong plot, but the audience needs to give Elizabeth Sinclair’s tale time to tie the seemingly disentangled divergent subplots together; it is worth it as love and hope for the future complete with grief and fear of the past.

Harriet Klausner