CASSANDRA KING, who has been called "the Queen of Southern storytelling," is the author of four novels, Making Waves, The Sunday Wife, The Same Sweet Girls and Queen of Broken Hearts, as well as numerous short stories, essays and articles. Moonrise, her fifth novel, is set in Highlands, North Carolina. A native of Alabama, Cassandra resides in Beaufort, South Carolina, with her husband, writer Pat Conroy.
"Cassandra King's Moonrise is an homage to du Maurier's novel,
using the same atmospheric tension, presences that may or may not
be there and characters whose motivations are not what they seem.
But King has also modernized the tale, adding characters both
complex and intense.... Since this is a Southern gothic novel, of
course there is the suggestion of Moonrise being haunted. It is
haunted, in a very real sense, by the mysterious death of Rosalyn
in an automobile accident on the mountain road. Why did she travel
to Moonrise alone and why did she leave the same night? That
enigmatic behavior forms the crux of the story. In the end, her
motivation is unearthed and all prior relationships will be forever
changed. A rousing good story with no apologies to du
Maurier."--Valerie Ryan, Shelf Awareness "Cassandra King is the
Queen of Southern Storytelling."--The Post and Courier (Charleston)
""...King's latest novel takes inspiration from Daphne du Maurier's
Rebecca, keeping the best of the latter's atmospheric tension
without falling into melodramatic clich�...A suspenseful Gothic
that gives a nod to its predecessors while still being
fresh.""--Publishers Weekly on Moonrise "Cassandra King writes with
clarity and insight about the age-old and contentious subject of
friends and lovers, and with love and lyricism about a beautiful
slice of southern mountains. Moonrise is a fantastic,
not-to-be-missed novel.""-- Anne River Siddons, author of The House
Next Door ""I read Moonrise in a single greedy gulp. Cassandra King
uses three delightfully distinct voices to deliver an evocative
setting--"Moonrise", a house named after its moon gardens--a
fabulous cast of characters, and a satisfying ghost story that is
also a thoughtful examination of obsession, love, and the space
where the two meet.""-- Meg Waite Clayton, author of The Wednesday
Sisters and The Wednesday Daughters Cassandra King's characters are
fully drawn, richly imagined human beings, whose lives will
continue to resonate long after you've turned the last page. "--
Mark Childress, author of One Mississippi on Queen of Broken Hearts
"Cassandra King writes with clarity and insight about the age-old
and contentious subject of friends and lovers, and with love and
lyricism about a beautiful slice of southern mountains. Moonrise is
a fantastic, not-to-be-missed novel.""--Anne River Siddons, author
of The House Next Door "A beautifully written, Gothic tale of
friendship and betrayal. A truly enthralling novel from start to
finish."--Kimberly McCrieght, the best-selling author of
Reconstructing Amelia "Set in the Blue Ridge mountains in a
mysterious mansion with eerie gardens where night flowers bloom.
Moonrise is a mystery, a romance, a story of friendships,
betrayals, and ultimately love and forgiveness. I've loved
Cassandra King's other novels, but this one is definitely her best.
I'd give it six stars if that were possible."" --Bev Marshall,
author of Walking Through Shadows and Right as Rain "Moonrise is a
beautiful novel, brimming with mystery, the southern setting and
culture, and captivating characters. Cassandra took inspiration
from Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and I could feel the same haunting
tension in King's story. I loved the book and highly recommend
it!""--Mary Alice Monroe, author of The Summer Girls and The Beach
House "What a fine book! King entranced me with her writing-
allowing a story to emerge through the first person voices of three
women who have different values and personalities. She wove a
complex story of the south, but, most of all, she created
characters who jumped off the page. The book balanced mystery with
the struggle between lovers and class structures, providing in each
chapter the intimacy of those distinct and recognizable
voices.""--Elizabeth Cox, author of The Slow Moon "I loved this
book... Excellent writing and a compelling story. What a great book
club selection!"--Robert Alexander, author of The Kitchen Boy
"MOONRISE by Cassandra King is a triumph and her finest work to
date. This is fiction writing at its very best! Buy this
book!"--Dorothea Benton Frank, author of The Last Original Wife and
Porch Lights "Though darker than King's other novels, Moonrise
succeeds at what she does best: masterfully weaving a story with
threads that bind some characters together while pulling other
strands loose. Moonrise dives into the waters of women's
friendships with the same level of honesty readers admire in
Margaret Atwood's "Cat's Eye" and "The Robber Bride." Moonrise
further cements King's high standing as a writer of contemporary
women's fiction."--Charlotte Observer "King happily acknowledges
Daphne de Maurier's modern gothic masterpiece Rebecca, but Moonrise
is fully her own, not a retelling or an adaptation...the sinister
atmospherics are captured beautifully. As if the house were not
creepy enough, Rosalyn's moon garden is neglected and overgrows.
The eerie light of the full moon best appreciates the moonflower
vines, night-blooming cereus and even the poisonous Lady of the
Night. It is clear that there are secrets at Moonrise. All is not
what it seems."--Don Noble, Tuscaloosa News "Moonrise is both
something familiar, like a well-loved leather recliner, and a
writer's mind game, which challenges the reader to keep up with
sentences, plot and characters. An old-fashioned novel that twists
on the best plot themes of all: obsession, jealousy and
greed."--The Post and Courier Whether or not you have read Du
Maurier's novel, King's story stands strong on its own, as she
entwines mystery, drama and suspense into a beautiful Southern
narrative. It is perfect for those who enjoy a good gothic-style
mystery without being heavy-handed on the paranormal."--Gainesville
Times "MOONRISE touches all the night notes to make it a
suspenseful story and also a romantic one. Kudos to Ms King for
getting it right...this is a story that impacts the reader, and its
mixture of emotions will linger long after you have closed the
book.""--Huffington Post Books "In Moonrise, Cassandra King weaves
the mystery of place and event into the truths of heart and
heartlessness that shape human relationships. She achieves an
inclusive perspective of the friendships through interchanging
points of view among the three characters."--Spartanburg Herald
Journal "Cassandra King's Moonrise is a fond homage to du Maurier's
tale, with just enough plot parallels to remind readers of Rebecca
and enough differences to make it a good stand alone. Some mystery
surrounds Rosalyn's death and some oddities suggest Moonrise may be
haunted, but King is more interested in the complexities of long
friendships and second marriages tested by jealousy, obsession and
betrayal."--On a Clear Day I Can Read Forever Blog "If you have not
been a fan of Cassandra King before then I suggest you pick up this
book and become a fan. It is her best book yet."--Home and
Lifestyle Design "Moonrise, just like the house the book is named
for, has a magnetically ominous pull. It's a pleasant surprise from
a best-selling author who's not typically focused on the
shadow.""--Charleston City Paper "Rebecca is a gothic novel, a mix
of horror and romance. The horror is rooted in the building of
suspense and a general sense of foreboding. Moonrise is done in the
same vein. King infuses elements of horror without overtly turning
it into a ghost story."--Slate "I gave Moonrise 4.5/5 stars. Lovers
of Rebecca will enjoy this and also like how different Moonrise's
mystery is at the end."--Book Dilettante "When a book is inspired
by Daphne du Maurier's classic Rebecca, you know it is going to be
darkly romantic and full of perplexing secrets. In Cassandra King's
hands, the bones of the story remain, but the setting is new and
the characters are differently motivated, making Moonrise feel both
fresh and familiar. Fans of Southern Gothic novels will be happy
with King's blend of romance and suspense...a nice companion for
brisk fall evenings or stormy nights."--Book Reporter
"Cassandra King's Moonrise is an homage to du Maurier's novel, using the same atmospheric tension, presences that may or may not be there and characters whose motivations are not what they seem. But King has also modernized the tale, adding characters both complex and intense....
Since this is a Southern gothic novel, of course there is the
suggestion of Moonrise being haunted. It is haunted, in a very real
sense, by the mysterious death of Rosalyn in an automobile accident
on the mountain road. Why did she travel to Moonrise alone and why
did she leave the same night? That enigmatic behavior forms the
crux of the story. In the end, her motivation is unearthed and all
prior relationships will be forever changed. A rousing good story
with no apologies to du Maurier."--Valerie Ryan, Shelf
Awareness "Cassandra King is the Queen of Southern
Storytelling."--The Post and Courier (Charleston) ""...King's
latest novel takes inspiration from Daphne du Maurier's
Rebecca, keeping the best of the latter's atmospheric
tension without falling into melodramatic cliche...A suspenseful
Gothic that gives a nod to its predecessors while still being
fresh.""--Publishers Weekly on Moonrise "Cassandra King
writes with clarity and insight about the age-old and contentious
subject of friends and lovers, and with love and lyricism about a
beautiful slice of southern mountains. Moonrise is a fantastic,
not-to-be-missed novel.""-- Anne River Siddons, author of
The House Next Door ""I read Moonrise in a single greedy gulp.
Cassandra King uses three delightfully distinct voices to deliver
an evocative setting--"Moonrise", a house named after its moon
gardens--a fabulous cast of characters, and a satisfying ghost
story that is also a thoughtful examination of obsession, love, and
the space where the two meet.""-- Meg Waite Clayton, author
of The Wednesday Sisters and The Wednesday Daughters Cassandra
King's characters are fully drawn, richly imagined human beings,
whose lives will continue to resonate long after you've turned the
last page. "-- Mark Childress, author of One Mississippi on
Queen of Broken Hearts "Cassandra King writes with clarity and
insight about the age-old and contentious subject of friends and
lovers, and with love and lyricism about a beautiful slice of
southern mountains. Moonrise is a fantastic, not-to-be-missed
novel.""--Anne River Siddons, author of The House Next Door "A
beautifully written, Gothic tale of friendship and betrayal. A
truly enthralling novel from start to finish."--Kimberly
McCrieght, the best-selling author of Reconstructing Amelia "Set
in the Blue Ridge mountains in a mysterious mansion with eerie
gardens where night flowers bloom. Moonrise is a mystery, a
romance, a story of friendships, betrayals, and ultimately love and
forgiveness. I've loved Cassandra King's other novels, but this one
is definitely her best. I'd give it six stars if that were
possible."" --Bev Marshall, author of Walking Through
Shadows and Right as Rain "Moonrise is a beautiful novel,
brimming with mystery, the southern setting and culture, and
captivating characters. Cassandra took inspiration from Daphne du
Maurier's Rebecca and I could feel the same haunting tension in
King's story. I loved the book and highly recommend it!""--Mary
Alice Monroe, author of The Summer Girls and The Beach
House "What a fine book! King entranced me with her writing-
allowing a story to emerge through the first person voices of three
women who have different values and personalities. She wove a
complex story of the south, but, most of all, she created
characters who jumped off the page. The book balanced mystery with
the struggle between lovers and class structures, providing in each
chapter the intimacy of those distinct and recognizable
voices.""--Elizabeth Cox, author of The Slow Moon "I loved
this book... Excellent writing and a compelling story. What a great
book club selection!"--Robert Alexander, author of The
Kitchen Boy "MOONRISE by Cassandra King is a triumph and her finest
work to date. This is fiction writing at its very best! Buy this
book!"--Dorothea Benton Frank, author of The Last Original
Wife and Porch Lights "Though darker than King's other
novels, Moonrise succeeds at what she does best: masterfully
weaving a story with threads that bind some characters together
while pulling other strands loose. Moonrise dives into the waters
of women's friendships with the same level of honesty readers
admire in Margaret Atwood's "Cat's Eye" and "The Robber Bride."
Moonrise further cements King's high standing as a writer of
contemporary women's fiction."--Charlotte Observer "King
happily acknowledges Daphne de Maurier's modern gothic masterpiece
Rebecca, but Moonrise is fully her own, not a retelling or an
adaptation...the sinister atmospherics are captured beautifully. As
if the house were not creepy enough, Rosalyn's moon garden is
neglected and overgrows. The eerie light of the full moon best
appreciates the moonflower vines, night-blooming cereus and even
the poisonous Lady of the Night. It is clear that there are secrets
at Moonrise. All is not what it seems."--Don Noble,
Tuscaloosa News "Moonrise is both something familiar,
like a well-loved leather recliner, and a writer's mind game, which
challenges the reader to keep up with sentences, plot and
characters. An old-fashioned novel that twists on the best plot
themes of all: obsession, jealousy and greed."--The Post and
Courier Whether or not you have read Du Maurier's novel, King's
story stands strong on its own, as she entwines mystery, drama and
suspense into a beautiful Southern narrative. It is perfect for
those who enjoy a good gothic-style mystery without being
heavy-handed on the paranormal."--Gainesville Times
"MOONRISE touches all the night notes to make it a suspenseful
story and also a romantic one. Kudos to Ms King for getting it
right...this is a story that impacts the reader, and its mixture of
emotions will linger long after you have closed the
book.""--Huffington Post Books "In Moonrise, Cassandra King weaves
the mystery of place and event into the truths of heart and
heartlessness that shape human relationships. She achieves an
inclusive perspective of the friendships through interchanging
points of view among the three characters."--Spartanburg Herald
Journal "Cassandra King's Moonrise is a fond homage to du Maurier's
tale, with just enough plot parallels to remind readers of Rebecca
and enough differences to make it a good stand alone. Some mystery
surrounds Rosalyn's death and some oddities suggest Moonrise may be
haunted, but King is more interested in the complexities of long
friendships and second marriages tested by jealousy, obsession and
betrayal."--On a Clear Day I Can Read Forever Blog "If you have not
been a fan of Cassandra King before then I suggest you pick up this
book and become a fan. It is her best book yet."--Home and
Lifestyle Design "Moonrise, just like the house the book is named
for, has a magnetically ominous pull. It's a pleasant surprise from
a best-selling author who's not typically focused on the
shadow.""--Charleston City Paper "Rebecca is a gothic novel, a mix
of horror and romance. The horror is rooted in the building of
suspense and a general sense of foreboding. Moonrise is done in the
same vein. King infuses elements of horror without overtly turning
it into a ghost story."--Slate "I gave Moonrise 4.5/5 stars. Lovers
of Rebecca will enjoy this and also like how different Moonrise's
mystery is at the end."--Book Dilettante "When a book is inspired
by Daphne du Maurier's classic Rebecca, you know it is going to be
darkly romantic and full of perplexing secrets. In Cassandra King's
hands, the bones of the story remain, but the setting is new and
the characters are differently motivated, making Moonrise feel both
fresh and familiar. Fans of Southern Gothic novels will be happy
with King's blend of romance and suspense...a nice companion for
brisk fall evenings or stormy nights."--Book
Reporter
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