Review: A fascinating historical mystery in a paranormal setting. FANTASTIC
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 18, 2014
I've always been fascinated by the story of the lost colony of Roanoke.  It's one of those mysteries that sneaks in and lives somewhere in the back of your brain, popping up from time to time to tease and confound you.  It must have been like that for Denise Grover Swank, too.  What she's made of that story in her Curse Keepers series is a really fun ride.  The back story in This Place is Death adds to and clarifies the overall storyline, while being entertaining and intriguing all on its own.I try not to give away a lot of information about the story when I review a book.  One of the joys of reading is discovering the story all on your own without anyone else's perceptions or ideas interfering. Suffice it to say that, as we have come to expect from her, Swank peoples her story with interesting characters and this one is no different.  Just because these are gods or spirits or other supernatural beings doesn't mean Swank can't make them interesting, compelling, and interesting.Ms. Swank also has an eye for detail, and a talent for description.  Both of these are apparent in this story that not only illuminates the Curse Keepers series, but explains A LOT!!!  The imagination and story telling here are, as usually, impressive and engrossing, as well.  You can always count on Swank to create a world that's not only real, but inviting. Or utterly forbidding, as the case may be.Another thing Ms. Swank seems to excel at is research. The story here is very well and firmly grounded in the facts of the Lost Colony's history, too.  It's fascinating reading the history here and the way she brings real historical characters to life is amazing, to say the least.  The tribes, the lore, the myths... it's all here, woven together to create a wonderful sense of time and place, as well as of history.Read this book if you've read the Curse Keepers, or even as a prologue to the Curse Keepers.  Read it if you're a Denise Grover Swank fan looking for another of her series to enjoy.  Read it if you are just looking for something different.  Because it's definitely different.  Read this book because it's GOOD.Don't forget that the next installment of the Curse Keepers comes out soon, too!  Enjoy.