“It isn’t only that sometimes I can’t remember what I’ve been doing. Now I’m beginning to be afraid—afraid that I might find out.” [loc. 2218]
Annette has recently moved to a small town near the coast. She's experienced three major life events in recent months: the death of her father, a substantial windfall, and an unpleasant bout of 'pneumonia complicated by jaundice', which has left her prone to fits of amnesia.
Her job as a magazine editor is being looked after by her colleague Joanna, who also suggested that she move house, and has introduced her to a family connection, famous artist Crispin James. Annette leaps at the opportunity to study with James, though her new friend Noel -- an archaeologist from New Zealand who's excavating a nearby Roman villa -- has reservations about the man.
And then there's the mysterious neighbour, and the children's toys that keep appearing in the garden, and Annette's sense that she has forgotten something very important.
Not the best of Aiken's romantic thrillers, but an enjoyable read. The romance is slight, and very much in second place to the mystery plot. Annette's amnesia is depicted with unsettling authenticity, and her vulnerability on that front contrasts nicely with her determination to retain her independence. An old-school Gothic feel, an adorable dog, and an outre plot that could have done with slightly more foreshadowing.
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