Reviews
Our State Magazine (NC) – June 1, 2014
“In Moonrise, a ghost story in the style of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, the titular mountain home houses suspense, intrigue, and richly drawn characters, as well as a nocturnal garden, described in luscious detail…”
Star Tribune (MN) – November 24, 2013
“King channels Daphne du Maurier skillfully, weaving a haunting story rich with plot twists, dubious characters and lovely writing…”
Southern Literary Review – November 6, 2013
“The joy of reading her novels lies in learning which relationships will survive and which will not. Moonrise dives into the treacherous waters of women’s friendships with the same level of honesty readers have admired in Margaret Atwood’s Cat’s Eye and The Robber Bride. Moonrise further cements King’s standing as one of the finest writers of serious contemporary women’s fiction.”
Gainesville Times – September 24, 2013
“Moonrise is a wonderful read for those who enjoy a good gothic style novel without being heavy handed on the paranormal… it shows us how similar themes transcend over time and remain universal no matter what era in which they are written…”
Charleston City Paper – September 23, 2013
“Moonrise, just like the house the book is named for, has a magnetically ominous pull. It’s a pleasant surprise from a best-selling author who’s not typically focused on the shadows…”
Post and Courier (SC) – September 22, 2013
“Moonrise” is both something familiar, like a well-loved leather recliner, and a writer’s mind game, which challenges the reader to keep up with sentences, plot and characters. King… draws on the Southern gothic in her nod to Daphne du Maurier’s thriller, “Rebecca.” ….an old-fashioned novel that twists on the best plot themes of all: obsession, jealousy and greed.
News and Observer (NC) – September 14, 2013
“…Though darker than King’s other novels, “Moonrise” succeeds at what she does best: masterfully weaving a story with threads that bind some characters together while pulling other strands loose. “Moonrise” dives into the waters of women’s friendships with the same level of honesty readers admire in Margaret Atwood’s “Cat’s Eye” and “The Robber Bride.” “Moonrise” further cements King’s high standing as a writer of contemporary women’s fiction.”
Romantic Times – 4 star review, August 5, 2013
“…a truly unique reading experience… …a suspenseful read.”
ShelfAwarness – July 30, 2013
“Cassandra King’s Moonrise is an homage to du Maurier’s novel, using the same atmospheric tension, presences that may or may not be there and characters whose motivations are not what they seem. But King has also modernized the tale, adding characters both complex and intense… …Since this is a Southern gothic novel, of course there is the suggestion of Moonrise being haunted. It is haunted, in a very real sense, by the mysterious death of Rosalyn in an automobile accident on the mountain road. Why did she travel to Moonrise alone and why did she leave the same night? That enigmatic behavior forms the crux of the story. In the end, her motivation is unearthed and all prior relationships will be forever changed. A rousing good story with no apologies to du Maurier.”
Booklist – June 1, 2013
“…Best-selling King presents an animated tale laced with ample intrigue as secrets surrounding Moonrise are slowly revealed.”
Publishers Weekly – May 3, 2013
“…King’s latest novel takes inspiration from Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, keeping the best of the latter’s atmospheric tension without falling into melodramatic cliché… A suspenseful Gothic that gives a nod to its predecessors while still being fresh.”
