I’m a late comer to the Pandora English series by Tara Moss, and since I’m a stickler for reading a series in order and getting the back catalogue read before hitting my review copy, it’s taken me a while to get to The Skeleton Key.

As with the other 2 novels, the cover art is striking and evocative. Each element becoming a little more relevant while reading the book. I’m not usually a huge fan of the colour green, however the use of it on The Skeleton Key is quite pleasing to the eye and not just a little bit creepy. Considering the foe Pandora has to thwart this time around it is incredibly apt.

Pandora is an orphaned 19 year old country bumpkin trying to make her way in the big smoke of New York. Now don’t take this young lady as a simple-minded lass, ’cause she keeps company with some very odd folks, and has taken down some pretty horrendous evil beings in previous books.

This time around Pandora is trying to kibosh the efforts of a strong presence in the mansion she calls home, from sending the world into rack and ruin, starting with Lieutenant Luke.

I enjoyed the positive demeanour of the good people in this series. It was a funk breaker and didn’t fail to put a smile on my face. I’m still tossing up who I like more, great-aunt Celia or Morticia.

Tara is a master of suspenseful writing and there was plenty of breath holding going on in the second half of the book. We find out things about Pandora that make perfect sense, but are still surprises and Jay is back on the scene to add to the budding love triangle.

I hope the series continues to grow and challenge the reader. I want Pandora English to hold her own in saving the world from paranormal events.

However it goes in future, I loved the first 3 books. They’re fun and easy to get through. Perfect for the holidays and those weekends when you just want to unwind.

http://taramoss.com/

Paperback, 286 pages

Published December 1st 2012 by Pan Macmillan Australia

ISBN13: 9781742611631

The Skeleton Key is Tara Moss’s ninth novel and the third instalment in her Pandora English series. This is the first time I’ve read Tara Moss, and the reason for her widespread appeal was apparent to me from the opening scene. The Skeleton Key is an easy read: the sort of book you can fall through in a couple of sittings.

One of Moss’s greatest strengths is her ability to bring you up close to her distinctive, original characters. Funny, sassy, and yet also vulnerable, 19-year-old Pandora is a sharply drawn, believable character – one with whom you’ll feel an immediate connection.

All kinds of funky stuff are going down in her Great-Aunt Celia’s haunted digs in spooky Spektor, but Pandora makes the most of her otherwise very comfortable accommodation. The fact that she is staying rent-free and has access to Vlad, the silent but reliable undead chauffeur, also offsets the things that frequently go bump in the night at Number One Addams Avenue.

By day, Pandora works at Pandora mag in SoHo, alongside her goth pal, Morticia (yep – Vlad, Addams, Morticia – Moss has a lot of fun with monikers in this book and so will you.) Their boss, the mysterious Skye DeVille, keeps odd hours and refers managerial duties to her cool and officious deputy editor, Pepper.

As a foreboding Crow Moon looms over Manhattan, Pandora heads out for a night on the town with Lieutenant Luke, her dapper, otherworldly beau. When Luke smoke bombs in the middle of their enchanting evening, Pandora suspects foul play and returns to Spektor in search of clues.

Pandora is surrounded by an array of creepy and often deadly types (you’ll love the bitchy, savage supermodels, Blonde and Redhead, and the bleak widow Barrett, who endlessly roams the halls in her mourning dress when she’s not – um – hanging around).

Celia’s haunted mansion is a character in itself, with its trap doors, spectral inhabitants, and dark secrets. Fabulously fiendish Deus inhabits a casket in one of the mansion’s antechambers and speaks in strange riddles. One of the Sanguine (please don’t use the ‘V’ word), Deus is an unlikely ally upon whom Pandora is forced to depend.

Seventh in the Lucasta matrilineal line, Pandora in fact possesses arcane powers of her own. Handy, really, and she’s going to need all the help she can get when things turn super freaky. Throughout The Skeleton Key, Moss incorporates Gothic archetypes, myth, legend, and history, in an enormously enjoyable, escapist tale. It really is a lot of fun and I suspect that Moss had a great time weaving the various supernatural elements together.

At no point does the plot sag in this page-turning mystery. You don’t need to read the other Pandora English novels to enjoy The Skeleton Key, though it will whet readers’ appetites and you’ll likely want to track down the first two. Its December release date sees the latest Pandora English tale hitting shelves just as we’re looking for stocking fillers and it’s a great gift choice for fans of paranormal mysteries and fast, entertaining reads. With its vibrant characters, intriguing plot line, and healthy dose of wry humour, The Skeleton Key showcases Tara Moss’s command of her genre and apparently effortless ability to keep her readers on the hook until the very last word. Recommended.

Published by Pan Macmillan Australia, 1 Dec, 2012.

ISBN: 9781742611631

Paperback, 290 pages.

Time to look at another extraordinary woman doing incredible things to make the world a better place; today Tara Moss is in our cross hairs spotlight.

Tara was born in British Columbia October 2 1973, and holds dual residency between Australia and Canada. We love her as one of our own and the fact that she has written at least 7 riveting books; hosts a plethora of intriguing TV shows and has spent time as a super model (not to mention researches for her books in such a way it makes news headlines, oh, and she’s a Mother on top of all that), hasn’t stopped her from making a difference.

She was a Cadet in the Admiral Rayner Cadet Corp during the 1980’s and was awarded Most Outstanding Cadet in 1986. By 1988 Tara was tall enough and pretty enough to start a modelling career. This lead to amazing opportunities to travel around Europe, the Americas, and goodness knows where else, until she took a step in the direction of becoming an author; walking away from being a model at age 25.

Tara’s researching has given her some extraordinary insight into her characters and into the lives of some unbelievably awesome people. From FBI agents, race car drivers, stunt guys, and ultimate fighters, Tara goes to extreme lengths to get the story straight from the horse’s mouth. She enjoys horse power but riding motorcycles and dealing with the g-forces with the Royal Australian Air-force Roulettes also makes her smile.

Her lifetime achievements have been complemented beautifully by a seemingly ‘normal’ life at home with husband and daughter… and the pet snakes, Thing and Gomez. What else could anyone have left to do? Advocacy and volunteer work, that’s what!

In 2000 she became an ambassador for the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children http://www.ridbc.org.au/ which was founded in 1860. In 2007 Tara was inducted into the ranks of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors, and was given the title of Australia Patron for Breastfeeding in 2011 within the UNICEF advocacy umbrella.

Tara was also spotted back on the catwalk for the opening of the Sydney Fashion Festival with and Alex Perry/ Target Breast Cancer Charity Parade in 2011.

While beauty and appearances play a small role in Tara’s career, her life is hinged on her achievements off the runway and the lengths she will go to, to help others while living life to the max.

In my opinion she is a true example of a real life, kick ass woman.

Sources

http://www.taramoss.com/gallery/behindscenes.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_Moss

http://www.taramoss.com/press/bio.php

Tara Moss has long been one of my favourite adult crime authors, so when I heard she was moving into Paranormal fiction I let out a little (okay–a big) fan girl squeal. And Pandora English certainly doesn’t disappoint; she is such a delight.

Pandora has always been labelled the weird kid, seeing things and knowing things she really shouldn’t; and, in a small town like Gretchenville, doing stuff that gets you noticed for all the wrong reasons. Pandora sets off to follow her dream of working as a writer at a fashion magazine in fabulous New York, thanks to a generous offer from her Great Aunt Celia to come and stay. The only thing is that there’s something weird going on: for an elderly lady, Celia sure does seem young and spritely– and what’s with the veil she constantly wears? Also, the suburb they live in doesn’t appear on maps and no one has heard of it. Unfortunately, no one has explained the family history to Pandora, let alone the fact that out of a line of gifted women, she’s extra special.

The Blood Countess has a little bit of everything to get your heart pumping: crushes on century old ghosts, vampires with an obsessive need to count, villains guarded by zombies, and the unconfirmed goblin neighbourhood grocer. This is all backdropped by Pandora trying to make it in New York, and the conspiracy surrounding the latest greatest skincare product to hit the market.

I had trouble picking a favourite character from the two mains: both are well developed and very believable. The plot line flows along at just the right speed, leaving you holding your breath from chapter to chapter as the action and mystery unfold. Quite honestly, The Blood Countess has made it into my top 5 across all genres for the year; it’s fun, fresh and gripping, dark without any over-the-top morbidity. It’s a great good-versus-evil tale, and the fact that we are finding out the truth that hides in the darkness of night at the same time as Pandora made it all the more enjoyable.

The next book following Pandora’s adventures, The Spider Countess, is out 2011. All I can say is write fast Tara!

The very mysterious trailer

Tara’s website.

The Blood Countess – Tara Moss

1 November, 2010 by Pan Macmillan

Paperback, 394 Pages

ISBN:
9781405040143