December's Thorn: A Fever Devilin Novel

Five days before Christmas, Fever Devilin receives an unexpected nighttime visitor in DePoy's rich, allusive seventh mystery featuring the Georgia folklorist (after 2011's A Corpse's Nightmare): an unknown, sorrowful-looking woman, who introduces herself as his wife, Issie. Fever calls his real fianc%C3%A9e, Lucinda Foxe, seeking help in dealing with the woman who he believes is mad. Lucinda and Sheriff Skidmore Needle arrive in short order, but not before Issie has fled. Both are concerned that the woman may not be real, but an aftereffect of Fever's recent coma. Psychiatrist Ceridwen Nelson is on hand the next morning to help the mysterious woman if she is real or Fever if she is not. The ancient Cornish tale of Tristan and Isolde intertwines with the ongoing discoveries, many of them uncomfortable, as Fever and Ceri seek to solve the riddle that is Issie. Fans of fiction with a hint of the supernatural will be pleased. Agent: Janet Reid, FinePrint Literary Management. (Jan.)