by Judith McVety (Author)
Are lost or impaired memories better left untouched and forgotten? Will the presumed gift of rediscovery balance sacrifices and changed perspectives? And who has the right to decide?
The suspense novel "Dark Garden Days" begins in November of 1995, as Gabrielle, a gifted artist, sits at an easel painting, in the darkening garden of the home she shares. Jonathan, one of her roommates, recognizes the bleak, disturbing colors on her canvas and knows they signal a going off on one of her mysterious trips. Before driving away, she runs to him and whispers a strange request and startling revelation beginning with "If...if ever I don't return...," then rushes off before he can respond. When she fails to return or communicate with anyone for more than a month, Jonathan and their mutual friends realize Gabrielle has cleverly diverted attention away from herself and they have no idea who she really is. Jonathan begins a quest to bring her home, following a trail of strange clues and frightening events. Meanwhile, Gabrielle, fearful of leading her "demon and terrors" to the one place she feels safe, is on a similar journey, searching for missing pieces of her broken life. Their paths, nearly intersecting at times, guide them toward a deadly shared destiny, as deception, murder and betrayal leave shards of distrust scattered along every pathway.