3.5 

The Tale of Halcyon Crane

By Wendy Webb
The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

A young woman travels alone to a remote island to uncover a past she never knew was hers in this thrilling modern ghost story

When a mysterious letter lands in Hallie James's mailbox, her life is upended. Hallie was raised by her loving father, having been told her mother died in a fire decades earlier. But it turns out that her mother, Madlyn, was alive until very recently. Why would Hallie's father have taken her away from Madlyn? What really happened to her family thirty years ago?

In search of answers, Hallie travels to the place where her mother lived, a remote island in the middle of the Great Lakes. The stiff islanders fix her first with icy stares and then unabashed amazement as they recognize why she looks so familiar, and Hallie quickly realizes her family's dark secrets are enmeshed in the history of this strange place. But not everyone greets her with such a chilly reception—a coffee-shop owner and the family's lawyer both warm to Hallie, and the possibility of romance blooms. And then there's the grand Victorian house bequeathed to her—maybe it's the eerie atmosphere or maybe it's the prim, elderly maid who used to work for her mother, but Hallie just can't shake the feeling that strange things are starting to happen . . .

In The Tale of Halcyon Crane, Wendy Webb has created a haunting story full of delicious thrills, vibrant characters, and family secrets.

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The Tale of Halcyon Crane Reviews

3.5
“After the death of her father, and the mother she never knew, Halcyon Crane returns home to claim her inheritance. Once settled into her new home, she begins experiencing ghostly apparitions and strange visions. Along with Will, an old friend who is quickly becoming more, Halcyon must learn about her past in order to secure her future. I am a Wendy Webb fan, so when I found this book lackluster and predictable I was disappointed. The characters were shallow and unlikable. Halcyon was emotionally unpredictable, which does not allow the reader to find her relatable. Things that I feel would be shocking to her were not, whereas things that were predictable were devastating to her. The romance within the story was very quick and lacked substance. I felt Will was somewhat dismissive of Halcyon's feelings and pushed a relationship too much very early on. I found it insensitive when he suggested psychological counseling when he also was experiencing paranormal activity instead of believing Halcyon. Iris probably was the most interesting character. She played the storyteller and was, at times, unreliable because her backstory was unclear, as were her motives. I felt unresolved at the end on multiple fronts. Primarily, understanding Halcyon's gifts. I felt the relationship between Will and Halcyon was surface level and, despite the story indicating otherwise, felt they were better friends than partners.”

About Wendy Webb

Wendy Webb is editor in chief of Duluth-Superior magazine. A journalist with two decades of experience, she lives in Minnesota. She is the author of the novel The Tale of Halcyon Crane.

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