Customer Reviews

In the Blink of an Eye

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the fourth book I have read by Wendy Corsi Staub, and as usual, I was not disappointed! This book took place in Lily Dale, a small town in Western New York known for it's spiritualists (less than an hour from my home town, so I am familiar with some of the things she discussed in the book, which made it even more interesting)!. Staub's excellent use of details truly brings the story to life. Characters are very believable. I couldn't put it down once I started it! Truly a great read, turn the night light on after reading this one!!

In upstate New York lies the gated hamlet of Lily Dale, a quiet summer resort that is inhabited mostly by spiritualists communicating with the spirits of the dead. Fourteen years old Julia and Kristin are enjoying going trick-or-treating until they reach the Biddle home at 10 Summer Street. While there Kristin sees something there so frightening that she withdraws into herself and when her family moves away, she ends all ties to Lily Dale and Julie.

Years later, an adult Kristin returns to Lily Dale to help her mother move into 10 Summer Street. Kristin is later found drowned in the nearby lake even though she was always afraid of water. When Kristen's mother dies, Kristen's daughter Dulcie and the child's father Paine move in to 10 Summer Street so they can prepare the house for sale. Julia, who is now a spiritualist of considerable power, vows to find out the secrets of 10 Summer Street so what happened to Kristen won't happen to her daughter.

Fans of Peter Straub and Stephen King will definitely enjoy reading IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, a work that is equal parts horror and suspense. Wendy Corsi Staub is a superb writer who creates characters that the audience cares about and places them in a tale that starts out at supersonic speed and only gains momentum with each page turned. The finale is shocking and suspenseful leaving the reader feeling that they got their money's worth and more.

Harriet Klausner

The very real hamlet of Lily Dale, New York, known as a center of spiritualism is the setting for this story.

Two young girls, Kristin and Julia are not immune to the spiritual energy that is radiated throughout their community. One Halloween, the girls, then in their teens make a stop at their neighbors', the Biddles, home on 10 Summer Street. Kristin apparently witnesses an apparition that terrified her to the point of silence. She would never disclose the sight that terrified her in that home.

Years later, Kristin has died under mysterious conditions, leaving behind a boyfriend and 6-year-old daughter, Dulcinea (Dulcie). Themes of vision are rampant throughout the book; Dulcie is blinded after a bout with meningitis at age 3. She can "see" Kristin and other spirits who have passed; once she and her father, Paine, return to Lily Dale from California Dulcie is the receipient of many strange visions indeed.

Even Dulcie's name reinforces the visual theme. Dulcinea is the vision of the ideal woman in literature; her very spiritual sensitivity and heightened awareness suggests that her name is very a propos indeed. Lovable, bright and verbally precocious, Dulcie manages to find a permanent place in the hearts of most people who encounter her. Yet...

Was Kristin killed? If so, by whom? And who killed Iris, the former owner of 10 Summer Street? What REALLY brought Paine and Dulcie to Lily Dale from California? Who can they trust?

This masterfully written book is very compelling indeed and the characters will remain in the memories of all who read this book. The series of mysteries are interlocked; each one segues into the next. The writing is brilliant and one is always left several steps behind in trying to figure out just what will take place.

In the Blink Of an eye Wendy Corbi Staub
(pg. 446 Thriller New York)

Three years ago Kristin dies in a freak drowning accident in a lake. Today Paul receives a call to come home her mother has died. They never married so he isn't her son n law but their daughter is the last relation in this family. Upon arriving in town spooky things begin happening in the house, Dulcie who has a
degenerative disease that took her eyesight can see images that seeing people can't see and has conversations with them. Julia befriends the father and child during this difficult time. She is the childhood friend of Kristin and many years ago this house frighten her and she had bitter arguments with her mother
over purchasing the house. The Town Lily dale also is a character in this book. It is a town that does exist for the paranormal community. These are physics who can reach the other side and people flock to this town to connect with lost loved ones. Staub brings the town to life but doesn't force the readers to believe in ghosts. She gives you the story and lets you make your own decisions. The mystery is able to stand on its own merits without needing any supporting plots. Not only did Kristin die under mysterious circumstances, another girl of similar age was shipped off to boarding school never to be seen again. Staub weaves these
stories together and it becomes a read you can't put down as you read just one more chapter. The only thing I found wrong with this plot was the introduction of a character that could have a link to the missing girl (don't want to give anything away here) and two people who roam the county looking for ghosts. Whether
you believe in ghosts or not the mystery and surprising onclusion will keep you spellbound. Rating 9

This was an outstanding Corsi Staub! The heroin was someone you could sink your teeth into and she wasn't a helpless female. All the characters were likeable and the story kept you guessing right until the end! Excellent read!

I'm curious to know though if the author has experienced the death of someone close to her from a horrible disease, as the account she gave of one minor characters battle with the disease was so chillingly like the death of my mom, I had trouble at parts reading through the accounts.

Highly recommended read!

I truly enjoyed this book. It was suspenseful thru and thru (although a little slow at times). The story was like a spider's web in that it brought together all these little pieces to make a great big picture.

My favorite character was little Dulcie, the daughter of the deceased Kristin. She was a great character full of life, vitality, and wisdom.

I also loved that the author didn't force Julia and Paine's mutual attraction down our throat. The book was surprisingly free of the usual romantic cliches (they really annoy me!) that you find in other suspense books.

I am sure that anyone who reads it will enjoy it!

"In the Blink of an Eye" gives you a double whammy. The book's heroine, Julia, is anything but a helpless, dimwitted female who goes for solo walks with a killer about, or some other such nonsense that you find in some books. Julia is a strong willed, intelligent, capable single woman. "Eye" also delves into the supernatural, which makes for some fascinating reading from Ms. Corsi-Staub. Maybe the ending seems a bit too pat, but the journey itself is so enjoyable, with twists and turns, that you really won't care.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this great little read.

This is another fast-paced mystery from Corsi-Staub. As in her other books, there are numerous characters, some necessary to the plot line, others there to throw the reader off track with no real use to the story. Her short sections of text keep the reader's interest and the action moving. When the reader thinks they have guessed the murderer's identity, a fact will be thrown into the mix to cause the reader rethink their conclusion. The story is a fun read, and only receives a 4 ranking for "facts" that any average reader, from the Midwest at least, would know are false, for example, she has Iowa located on Lake Erie.

One night I was at a book store and came across the shelf with wendy Corsi Staub's books on it. I have'nt read a good book since my son was born last year, so I thought I would give this Author a try. I thumbed through all the books the store had of Wendy's and found " In the blink of an eye". I was hooked from the very first page. I love any book that starts off with twists and turns! It was so hard to have to put this book down lol, I took it every where! I was sad to finish it last night :(, If you run across this review, I really think you should give this book and Author a try. I am now purchasing "All the way home" and "The last to know".
I DO wish there was a little more written romance between Julia ( who when I pictured her, Ashley Judd came to mind)and Paine. Great job Wendy!!! :)

I like this author a lot and was excited to read her latest.

I don't really care for the paranormal, so I was a bit disappointed to find it being the main plotline of the story. But the author is so good that I was able to overlook that, as I'm always able to overlook the present-tense writing style.

The only disappointment was that I felt this book was totally predictable. One of the things I like best is that this author is always able to surprise me...and I was stunned when I finished to find that I had guessed everything correctly throughout the story and there was nothing surprising at all about the way it ended.

Definitely worth picking up.