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katyanaish's review against another edition
4.0
A complex, intricate story told with such skill that it was a quick, engaging read. The prose was, at times, utterly beautiful. As a mystery, there wasn't ever really doubt as to who the bad guy was... but I think the bigger story (and the more poignant mystery) was what happened in Cassandra's past. I really enjoyed watching it all unfold.
kleonard's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully-written murder mystery and psychological thriller.
suebee135's review against another edition
4.0
Cassandra Brooks wants an interesting but ordinary life, but her gifts of divining and fore-vision are getting in the way. As a child, Cassandra was taught the art of diving by her father Nep, who was taught by his father, who was taught by his father and so on. She was soon able to divine the future as well, being able to predict future events even as a small child. The power of these visions was tragically demonstrated when her older brother, Christopher, failed to heed her warning and was killed in an accident.
As an adult, Cassandra is a part time teacher and lives a simple life with her twin boys, Morgan and Jonah. While dowsing for water for a new development, Cass discovers a young girl hanged from a tree. She must leave the area in order to call the police, who then scour the area but cannot find any trace of the girl. Cassandra’s integrity is questioned until the police find a young girl, Laura Bryant, very much alive but dazed and disheveled and living in a makeshift hovel. Credited with leading authorities to Laura, Cass regains her reputation, shaky as it was, but continues to be plagued by visions of the young girl she saw hanging in the woods. When Cassandra begins to receive threatening letters and confusing visions, she is forced to revisit an event from her childhood that she has kept hidden for years.
A different kind of ghost story, “The Diviner’s Tale” begins at a leisurely pace, allowing you to really get to know Cassandra and her family. The story gradually picks up speed until you find yourself flying through the pages to find out exactly who is haunting Cassandra. Fun read, not scary but definitely creepy.
As an adult, Cassandra is a part time teacher and lives a simple life with her twin boys, Morgan and Jonah. While dowsing for water for a new development, Cass discovers a young girl hanged from a tree. She must leave the area in order to call the police, who then scour the area but cannot find any trace of the girl. Cassandra’s integrity is questioned until the police find a young girl, Laura Bryant, very much alive but dazed and disheveled and living in a makeshift hovel. Credited with leading authorities to Laura, Cass regains her reputation, shaky as it was, but continues to be plagued by visions of the young girl she saw hanging in the woods. When Cassandra begins to receive threatening letters and confusing visions, she is forced to revisit an event from her childhood that she has kept hidden for years.
A different kind of ghost story, “The Diviner’s Tale” begins at a leisurely pace, allowing you to really get to know Cassandra and her family. The story gradually picks up speed until you find yourself flying through the pages to find out exactly who is haunting Cassandra. Fun read, not scary but definitely creepy.
mwgerard's review against another edition
5.0
Creepy and well-written. My review here: http://cineastesbookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/02/review-diviners-tale-by-bradford-morrow.html
sfujii's review against another edition
3.0
Meh - definitely intriguing, but not what I was hoping for. A good quick read, but as I said before - tried a bit too hard...
mari_escapeinabook's review against another edition
4.0
My summary:
Cassandra is a single mom in her thirties. She has an unusual gift, she is a diviner; the kind that can track down water sources on your property if there is any. While Cassandra is out on a mission she finds a dead girl, when she is back on the scene of the crime with the police the girl is gone. A monster from Cassandra's past is back to haunt her.
My thoughts:
The reader understands at once that Cassandra has a special gift as the story begins in her childhood when she has a premonition of her brothers death. That being said The Diviner's Tale had me confused almost throughout the book and I'm not saying that is a bad thing. I was never really sure if the main character Cassandra was sane or if she suffered of some kind of mental disease. Was the mystery with the girl in the woods real or was it all just in Cassandras head?
Morrow has written some scenes that made me feel cold and scared. I'm sure you know the kind of feeling I'm talking about, the kind of feeling that makes you want to sit with your back against the corner so that no one can sneak up on you from behind while you're reading and give you a really good fright.
The story isn't just a murder mystery, it is also about family. I loved the relationship that Cassandra had with her father and her twin boys. Cassandra's father, Ned, reminded me a lot of my late grandmother who had Alzheimer. It made me think that perhaps the author might have experienced the illness on a personal level, Ned's character felt so real. It was both heart warming and sad.
The cover:
Eerie, which is quite fitting.
Cassandra is a single mom in her thirties. She has an unusual gift, she is a diviner; the kind that can track down water sources on your property if there is any. While Cassandra is out on a mission she finds a dead girl, when she is back on the scene of the crime with the police the girl is gone. A monster from Cassandra's past is back to haunt her.
My thoughts:
The reader understands at once that Cassandra has a special gift as the story begins in her childhood when she has a premonition of her brothers death. That being said The Diviner's Tale had me confused almost throughout the book and I'm not saying that is a bad thing. I was never really sure if the main character Cassandra was sane or if she suffered of some kind of mental disease. Was the mystery with the girl in the woods real or was it all just in Cassandras head?
Morrow has written some scenes that made me feel cold and scared. I'm sure you know the kind of feeling I'm talking about, the kind of feeling that makes you want to sit with your back against the corner so that no one can sneak up on you from behind while you're reading and give you a really good fright.
The story isn't just a murder mystery, it is also about family. I loved the relationship that Cassandra had with her father and her twin boys. Cassandra's father, Ned, reminded me a lot of my late grandmother who had Alzheimer. It made me think that perhaps the author might have experienced the illness on a personal level, Ned's character felt so real. It was both heart warming and sad.
The cover:
Eerie, which is quite fitting.
skybalon's review against another edition
3.0
Very well written but not completely successful thriller. The way the story is revealed somewhat lessens the 'creepiness' that this book could have achieved.
mbro's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0