Book Review: The Night Visitor by Dianne Emley

This is a strong mystery with good twists.
The Night Visitor
by Dianne Emley

• File Size: 1340 KB
• Print Length: 272 pages
• Publisher: Alibi (September 16, 2014)
• Sold by: Random House LLC
• ASIN: B00IWTTPMK

Genre: Mystery, Paranormal Thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: September 16, 2014
In bestselling author Dianne Emley’s chilling new paranormal thriller, a beautiful woman’s romantic past comes back to haunt her in the form of an otherworldly visitor seeking justice.
Gorgeous and successful, Rory Langtry seemed to have it all. Daughter of a movie star and sister of a supermodel, Rory was engaged to sexy artist, Junior Lara. But her bright future went dark one terrible, bloody night that left her sister dead and the accused murderer—Junior—in an extended coma.
Now, five years later, Rory appears to have put the past behind her. She has a wonderful new fiancé and heads a successful cosmetics company. Yet dark secrets threaten. Across town, Junior lies close to death but before he departs he seeks to clear his name.
It starts with a feeling. It turns into a vision. Soon Rory is having sensations that only Junior could experience—from the horrifying to the erotic. Then she learns details about the awful night that only Junior could know, newfound knowledge with potentially fatal consequences. When another act of violence rocks her family, Rory plunges deeper into the unsolved mystery, led by an inexplicable visitor to a dangerous time and place where all will be revealed at last. But until then, Junior will not let her go.

Review:
Junior was an extraordinary artist and was happily looking forward to his life with his beautiful fiance, Rory. Rory is a beauty in her own right but she feels overshadowed by her movie star mother and supermodel sister, Anya. Junior did a gorgeous painting of Rory and Anya insisted that he paint her too. Junior was reluctant but Rory encouraged him to do it for the exorbitant fee Anya agreed to pay. But the night the painting was finished Anya and Junior are found lying in a pool of blood. Anya is dead, her painting is slashed, another unknown painting is missing, and Junior is severely injured.

Junior spends the next five years diminishing in a coma. His brother, Daniel, develops a strange affinity as he cares for Junior. Junior’s family is bitter and angry not only at Junior’s suffering but because Junior was accused of murdering Anya before attempting suicide.

Rory is devastated by the death of her sister and the rumors that swell around the alleged murder/suicide tragedy. She begins a foundation to help “the other victims,” TOV. Rory is engaged to a new love and preparing for a special foundation fund-raising. But Rory experiences some strange dizziness and visions.

The primary detective thought there were holes in the conclusion that Junior was the killer but the victim’s wealthy family put pressure on closing the case quickly. When Daniel tries to assassinate Rory during her speech the murder investigation is brought alive again and the detective begins to uncover some very strange events.

This story drives a strong punch. It is upfront and crass in some ways. At first I wasn’t sure if I liked the characters and I didn’t like some of the ugly language. However, as the story progressed, I became more engrossed in the mystery, the eeriness and the twists. Bit by bit the author reveals details and family secrets through emotional memories. I actually had another culprit in mind for most of the book so I enjoyed the surprise when the facts were disclosed. Ms. Emley does a great job combining the mystery and paranormal elements in this taunt thriller. I recommend this to readers who don’t mind a bit of paranormal in a strong mystery with good twists.

I received this thriller through NetGalley.