Pelletier, Cathie

This vividly told tale should attract history buffs and anyone who loves a good story.

Pelletier's setup has much potential, but unfortunately the narrative is choppy and disjointed, the insights trite. A side plot in which Evie confronts a coworker's abusive boyfriend is nearly ridiculous—a wish-fulfilled fantasy perhaps but completely unrealistic. Evie's talent—sketching portraits of ghosts—is silly, and the constant mentions of her "smoking a joint" are tedious. Readers who enjoyed Pelletier's novels set in Mattagash may be willing to overlook these shortcomings; others may not be impressed.