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Back to Salem by Alex Marcoux
A gender-bending thriller guaranteed to please!

Ever since I have discovered the incredible writing of author, Alex Marcoux, I have to admit—many hours have been lost in her books. Her debut novel, Facades, was an absolute jewel and I quickly crowned it an all-time favorite. Now it's time to dust off the "favorite" shelf and make room for Marcoux's latest offering, Back to Salem. Ladies, this book is nothing short of fantastic! It should come with a disclaimer: "Warning—reading this book may cause you to become lost for hours in the world of Alex Marcoux." It's just that good.

As she skillfully did in Facades, Marcoux has created another cast of characters you won't soon forget. Her strength in characterization is again evident in Back to Salem—these people are full-bodied and real. As the characters lived and breathed their emotions on the page, so did I, feeling their pain, their anguish, their anger, and passion. Marcoux's writing is a real feast for the reader who enjoys rich, full-flavored characters. You won't be disappointed!

The paranormal plot is definitely different than your standard-fare lesbian novel. This is a book to be enjoyed by all people—not just the lesbian audience. I sent a copy home to my Mom, who is straight, and she simply loved it. If you're looking for a book typical of past lesbian novels, where the protagonist has sex every 15 pages and a new love each chapter, forget this book, it's not for you. But if you're looking for rich characters, intriguing storylines, and provocative situations, you'll fall in love with Back to Salem just like I did. In fact, if you want to see how good the novel is, click on our "Excerpts" link below and judge for yourself. Alex was kind enough to provide excerpts of Back to Salem for our readers, as well as other laudatory quotes from others who loved the book as well. Now, on with the review…

Ever experience a moment of déjà vu? That fleeting caress of familiarity that brushes against your mind, but dismissed as nothing or simply coincidence? After reading Back to Salem, you'll think twice before dismissing those feelings. Or, as the little voice in the book says, you'll soon learn, "There's no such thing as coincidence." This gender-bending thriller is chock full of such moments as it spans centuries, from the witch trials in Salem to present-day Hollywood. Packed with unexpected twists and turns, lies and deceptions, and a love gone awry, there's not a dull moment here!

Jessie Mercer is a best-selling author who has it all—fame, fortune, and a best-selling murder mystery currently being made into a movie starring the alluring Taylor Andrews. Inexplicably, Jessie finds herself drawn to Taylor, although she has never met the singer, and is soon immersed in a mystical world she doesn't believe in. Steadfastly dismissing the events as coincidence, Jessie continues experiencing connections, finally breaking down to the point of consulting with a psychic. In a moment of clarity, Jessie learns some truths about the disturbing events she has experienced, yet feels she must put the past behind her and continue with her life. Or so she thinks.

A few years quietly pass, and suddenly Jessie is thrust in the middle of what she tried so desperately to put behind her—Taylor Andrews and that confounding connection. Passions rise as Jessie and Taylor find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another in a cosmic web of passion, treachery, and deception that began centuries ago. With her past standing right in front of her, Jessie finds herself torn between a love she felt so long ago and the present day reality of this cosmic connection: someone is stalking Taylor, vowing they will be together again. Allowing doubt and uncertainty to cloud her mind, Jessie desperately fights for the truth: Who is vowing to repay a karmic debt to Taylor? Or is Jessie the one who poses the real danger? Has the cycle of violence followed Jessie into this lifetime, threatening destruction, as it has so many times before?

As real-life events begin to mimic the movie Taylor is starring in, this is where the plot of Back to Salem really takes off. Murder, rekindled love, and a harrowing white-water rafting trip in the Grand Canyon are all part of the exciting journey Jessie takes to find out the truth. As the terror mounts, Jessie finally realizes she must go back—all the way back to Salem—where answers to the mystery unfold, before the evil from the past destroys her!

Ready for the journey?

Click Here to Read an Excerpt of Back to Salem

Rating: (on a scale of 1-5, with one being poor and five as excellent)
Back to Salem

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Alex Marcoux was born and raised in Leominster, MA. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1981. She presently resides in the foothills of Colorado with her partner and son. Visit Alex's website at www.alexmarcoux.com Other titles by Alex Marcoux Facades

Back to Salem Author: Alex Marcoux Category: Paranormal, mystery Paperback: 323 pages Published: September 2001 ISBN: 1560232250 Retail: $12.56 Publisher: Alice Street Editions Click here to buy BACK TO SALEM

Other Reviews for "BACK TO SALEM"
"Alex Marcoux has created A METAPHYSICAL MYSTERY THAT INFORMS, ENTERTAINS, and makes me want to go have a past-life regression. Her work is well crafted, interweaving past and present with flawless detail. You'll find yourself in Salem during the horrific witch hunts of the 1690s, as well as in the present-day, cutthroat film industry. This GENDER-BENDING THRILLER is reminiscent of Kenneth Branagh's Dead Again, but with more highly developed characters. Marcoux is AN EXCEPTIONAL NEW TALENT that definitely should be read in this lifetime!"

—Paul J. Willis, Executive Director, Lambda Literary Foundation

"A WINNER! Alex Marcoux has outdone herself as she weaves a tale within a tale of cruel injustices done to two destined lovers. CAPTIVATING . . . the insight into the souls of the lost lovers tore at my heart."

—Agatha Tutko, handwriting analyst, author of Instant Insights

"REFRESHING, FULL OF UNEXPECTED TWISTS . . . FILLED WITH INTRIGUE AND SECRET PASSIONS. Alex Marcoux's exciting new novel, "Back to Salem," explores hair-raising moments, weaving a captivating tale of mystery, romance, and the paranormal. Marcoux peers into the complexities of the human psyche, probing the hidden recesses of the mind, showing how our lives are interwoven in ways we may not be consciously aware, and how love can last throughout the ages. The richly crafted characters are a delight, filled with intrigue and secret passions. Marcoux tantalizes the reader with morsels here and there, not giving away everything all at once; a technique she developed well in "Facades." Working the mystery angle, she deftly disarms the most tenacious sleuth with subtle diversions time and again. "Back to Salem" is refreshing, full of unexpected twists, and is one "whodunit" GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU GUESSING TILL THE VERY END!"

—Editor, OutLook Press

Don't miss our review of Alex's first novel, Facades, another
must-read or our in-depth interview with her!

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