Fiction Review: Out of the Past by Glenda Poulter

My apologies! I had every intention of doing my usual Friday movie review and of doing a Kindle fiction update over the weekend. Time got so far away from me, I didn’t even get to my usual “Fiction Monday” review, even though I had a great new book to share with you. I’m back and – better late than never – I’d like to present my latest read, Out of the Past, by author Glenda Poulter.

Out of the Past is Poulter’s second book. The first was the well received book, Welcome Home which was published by P.D. publishing in 2009. I didn’t have the pleasure of reading Welcome Home. I hope to work that into my schedule soon as, I have to say, I enjoyed this latest book!

This is a book that has a little bit of everything; a lesbian relationship that’s struggling to stay fresh after many years together, an interesting antique business and business partnership, travel, a historical locale (Charleston, South Carolina as part of said travel), southern hospitality, unexplained events and intrigue, ghosts, romance and a bit of a mystery to be solved surrounding it all. What’s not to like there?

Now I admit, Poulter’s tale of the adventures of Emma (one half of the antique store ownership team with business partner Sharon) started off a little slow for me. The pacing for the first 20 pages or so while Emma and her partner Mandy interact (in a very stilted way) and then as Emma and Sharon begin their buying trip to Charleston had me squirming some. I’m ever so glad that I hung in there and kept reading. You see, I learned that the first part was supposed to seem stiff…that’s the point!

I caution you, don’t give up on this book too soon. You’ll be very happy you stuck with it. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning pages well past bedtime after you get through the first few short chapters and get to where the story truly begins in chapter 4. The back story is important and you’ll need it to piece things together as you go.

I admit, I’m not big on historical fiction but the period piece of this was done very well. There’s a great weave of past and present that’s almost seamless. I’m also not a huge fan of ghost stories (I don’t like “scary” fiction) but this one offers an intriguing little mystery that  made this far more entertaining than it will ever be scary. Again, well done!

Finally, this book wraps both endings up nicely. Yes I said both. You’ll just have to read it to see what I mean about that.

As stated in my opening; I intend to read Glenda Poulter’s first book. I’m hoping to see more from her in the future too.

Out of the Past