Dianne Day

An ancient mansion between river and sea. A world where love could flourish—or die... Charpentier...the graceful plantation house, glowing like molten copper in the storm-washed evening sun, seemed to rise from the river’s black and brooding waters. Home, Rosamund thought. Peace. But Rosamund was far from home and the brightly lit comforts of reason. Here she would care for the once-beautiful mistress of the house, who lived in a twilight realm of madness and delusions. Peace too was a distant, wistful memory. Drawn to Charles, the powerful, brusque master of Charpentier, Rosamund fought a desire that quickened and burned, afraid that their love would spark an uncontrollable fury...

Fremont Jones learns that her father, Leonard, is hospitalized in Boston. He dies shortly thereafter. Her prime suspect is her detested stepmother, Augusta, who is shot to death, which would seem to exonerate her from blame.

Caroline Fremont Jones revels in her return to San Francisco, WHERE a new city rises from the ruins of the 1906 earthquake. Even more rewarding is her business partnership and rekindled love with ex-spymaster Michael Archer Kossoff. But their private investigation agency is barely off the ground when Fremont's new friend, lovely but quirky Frances McFadden, becomes their first client--and it's a most troubling case.The adventurous but skeptical Fremont, lured by Frances to a seance, sees her companion fall into a disturbing trance. Despite the opposition of her powerful, controlling husband, Frances is determined to develop her budding psychic ability. Soon she confides to Fremont that a restless spirit from San Francisco's legendary past has entrusted her with a mission.But when one of the city's female mediums is murdered, and then another, Fremont's reservations turn to dread. Who has killed these women who wield their own power in the metaphysical world, and why? As Fremont's investigation takes her into the murky depths of spiritualism, she places not only herself, but also her dearest friends in mortal danger.From the Paperback edition.

Forced to leave San Francisco after the devastating earthquake of 1906, Fremont (nee Caroline) Jones follows her heart to the bohemian beach community of Carmel-by-the-Sea. She is eager to be reunited with her elusive suitor, retired spymaster Michael Archer, but finds him mysteriously metamorphosed into Misha--otherwise occupied and decidedly unavailable for sleuthing. But the irrepressible Fremont Jones has her pride, and determined to restart her typewriting business part-time, she signs on as temporary keeper of the Point Pinos Lighthouse.She has barely settled in to her watch when a velvet-clad corpse washes in on the tide--and Fremont is off on a new and ultimately life-threatening quest. Starting with the free-spirited artists of Carmel, she searches for clues to the identity of the dead woman and uncovers a community filled with intrigue, violence, and plenty of motives for murder. When Fremont is attacked and robbed, her lighthouse torched, and the artist helping her turns up missing, she realizes she is perilously close to the truth. And that the next body to drift in on the tide might well be her own.From the Paperback edition.

In this unique collection, eighteen of today's best-loved authors have woven together the most riveting elements of mystery and faith into a joyous and haunting tapestry that is as thought-provoking as it is compelling. Series: Reverend Collins' Visit (William Monk, x.5) Volo te habere... (Dame Frevisse??, an early intro to Joliffe?? It is set in 1404.) Amish Butter (Caroline Canfield, x.5) Dunne Deal (Father Dowling, x.5) The Stories Anne Perry- “Reverend Collins'” Visit was an echo of Agatha Christie as Henry Rathbone observed the passage of society outside his sickroom window putting two and two (and two) together to solve the truth about the Reverend Collins' thefts. Rochelle Krich- “Widow's Peak” a look at the upheaval caused by the Holocaust when wives could not find their husbands nor husbands their wives. Nancy Pickard- “Speak No Evil” - Joseph Owen tracks a serial killer by stalking a young woman two years into a five-year vow of silence. She witnessed the murder, but refuses to speak of it. Margaret Frazer- “Volo te habere”- takes place during Bishop Beaufort's early years and a simple case of murder and legitimacy in 1404 when Beaufort has Richard Medford investigate the murder of a young, emotional woman who claims Stephen Hameden is her husband. Dianne Day- “Labyrinthine Way” is a little bit magic and a little bit justice as a woman priest uses hypnosis to snare an evil man within a labyrinth. Rather mysterious. G. Miki Hayden- “Shaman's Song” Coyote Man manages to pull together the money he needed for the dowry for Yellow Flower Girl. Indian Agent Dennis Riordan believes in his power of finding. Thomas Kreitzberg- “Charity of a Saint” reporter Marvin Quinn investigates a St. Alice miracle in which she sends a dream to a farmer, Henry Lance, and he discovers buried Elizabethan treasure. Rhys Bowen- “Seal of the Confessional” John Lutz- “Dilemma” About a crisis in faith, when Police Corporal Alana Martinez needs to choose between the greater good and the law. Joyce Christmas -“Chosen” A young Catholic girl receives a vision for which she is castigated for lying, but it does result in the apprehension of a murderer. George Chesbro- “Model Town” The horrible economy of a shut-down mining town leads to the character’s conclusion that this is a Model Town, relating to his employers forecast of a world collapse due to fear. Jacqueline Fiedler- “Amish Butter” is full of misconceptions when Caroline picks up an Amish hitchhiker on a dark and stormy night with some odd, moving luggage. Kate Charles- “That Old Eternal Triangle” Cressida has come to hate her dull, boring husband. Hugh is a good man but there is nothing left in their married life for Cressida. When Father Jonathan arrived in the parish, he came to spend more and more time with Cressida and Hugh. When Jonathan admitted to his wrongful desires, it set Hugh's fate. Terence Faherty- “God's Instrument” is a roundabout way for a man to find God and yearn for a life that makes a difference through the tragedy of a train explosion which kills a number of people. Mary Monica Pulver- “Father Hugh and the Kettle of St. Frideswide” uses psychology and the help of a saint to catch a medieval chicken thief. Ralph McInerny- “Dunne Deal” is a confusion in stolen goods dropped in the poor box. Carolyn Wheat- “Remembered Zion” A woman who remembers Kristallnacht. Who remembers the Germans taking away her friend Esma. Being told she should hate her. Now, it's starting again. Her own son is a part of it. She cannot be a part of this. She must take a stand. And she does. For a very short time as she sees the hate in her son's eyes. Serita Stevens- “In a Jewish Vein” is of a trip a trio of Jewish women make to Romania to adopt a baby. Only to run into unexpected help and an even more unexpected spouse. [Kathy Davie-Amazon reviews] In 2001, Unholy Orders was nominated for the Anthony Award for Best Anthology.