Monday, October 29, 2012

Teaser Tuesday 150: The Turquoise Mask

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


Back to the cozy mysteries for a bit, before tackling any more classics or group reads. This week I am finishing Phyllis A. Whitney's 1974 mystery, The Turquoise Mask. Here is the opening paragraph:


I had set my "arguments" out carefully on my drawing table. Every item was significant and to be considered soberly if I was to make a right decision. To act meant stepping into something completely unknown and facing what I had been warned against, while not to act meant continued loneliness and the frustration of never knowing the truth.
 



ABOUT THE BOOK:
Phyllis A. Whitney is the winner of the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award for Lifetime Achievement. The Turquoise Mask was originally published in 1974.


"From the time I was very young, I had sensed some horror about my mother’s death—some devastating truth no one wanted me to know."

Something hidden deep in her memory was the key to Amanda Austin’s past. She did not know it was also the key to her future.

Amanda’s father would never speak of her mother—or of her family in New Mexico. He had kept her far away.

But now she was alone. Now she had a chance to find out the truth.

From the moment Amanda arrived at her grandfather’s home, she was met with suspicion. And hate. They were her family. But they were strangers.

And one of them was a murderer. . . .




22 comments:

Sandra Nachlinger said...

Ooooh, I think I'd like this one! Great opener--great teaser.
My teaser is from REMEMBER ME?

Unknown said...

The unknown is scary!

Here's mine:
http://mrscaptkirk51.blogspot.com/2012/10/teaser-tuesday-oct-30.html

Kara said...

Oh boy, quite a beginning! Wonder what their trying to accomplish? Thanks for stopping by!

Kimberly said...

I always love a good mystery. Thanks for sharing!

Here's my teaser: http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2012/10/teaser-tuesday-dearly-beloved.html

Kat
Wit and Sin

Heather said...

Sandy: I think you would like this one, too. You should search out a copy!

Allison: Yes, it is. At some times more than others.

Kara: The narrator's intent is discovered on the following pages. Whether she is successful in her undertaking is yet to be determined. ;-)

Heather said...

Kat: I always love a good mystery or romantic suspense myself. *g* Thanks for visiting!

Unknown said...

Nice tease.

CarolynBrown-Books

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

This one does sound good! There is nothing better, IMO, than a good book with secrets...and "devastating truths."

Here's MY TUESDAY MEMES POST

Unknown said...

Great teaser, and good idea to post about the book as well!

Here’s my Tuesday Teaser!

Elizabeth said...

Good teaser. I haven't read anything by this author.

THANKS.

My teaser link is below.

Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
http://silversolara.blogspot.com/2012/10/teaser-tuesday-10302012.html

Heather said...

Carolyn: Thank you!

Laurel-Rain: Yes, secrets -- and the unraveling of them -- can make for a great mystery.

Heather said...

Damyanti: Thank you, I always try to post a synopsis of the book, as a short teaser isn't always enough to tell about a book.

Elizabeth: I imagine a great many have not read or heard of this author. Most of her books are now out of print, and can only be found at used book sales and libraries.

Anonymous said...

Love mysteries, nice teaser!

http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/10/teaser-tuesday_30.html

Jana said...

I read a lot of Phyllis Whitney back in the day. Even did a couple of book reports on her books. Always a sure bet to a good read. Can't recall if I read this one, though. I'll have to go back through my old stash.

Alice Audrey said...

Sounds like a troubling choice.

Heather said...

Trib: Thank you. :)

Jana: Wow, yet another author we've both read. You'll have to let me kno if you've read this one. *G*

Alice: Troubling indeed! There are a lot of undercurrents in this dysfuntional family.

Ruby said...

What a great teaser. I love Phyllis Whitney's Gothics. I'd never heard of this one, but I'll have to look it up. Here's my teaser:
http://sweetrocket.wordpress.com/2012/10/30/teaser-tuesdays-ritual-sins-by-anne-stuart/

Kathy Martin said...

Great teaser. I remember reading lots of Whitney years ago. I don't remember if I read this one though. Thanks for visiting my teaser.

Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger said...

To act or not to act, that is the question...
Here's my teaser: I love Dan Brown

Beth said...

Definitely catches my attention! Thanks for stopping by.

Heather said...

Thanks, Ruby! This is my first Whitney book, and it has been pretty good. I did not know she also wrote gothics.

Kathy M: Ah, another Whitney fan. Would be interesting to know if you read this one, and what you thought of it!

Heather said...

Duncan: It is indeed! Of course, if she did not act, we probably wouldn't have a book. *g*

Beth: Glad it caught your attention! *VBG*