Amethyst Dreams

Written by Phyllis A. Whitney

Narrated by Anna Fields

For several years, time and circumstance have managed to separate Hallie Knight and her old friend Susan Trench. But when Susan disappears from her grandfather's seaside home on historic Topsail Island, it is Hallie whom Nicholas Trench calls for help. Wealthy, ill, and irascible, he refuses to believe that his beloved granddaughter and the heir to his fortune has been lost to him. He is certain that if anyone can find Susan, it will be her closest friend, the woman who knows her better than anyone else. When Hallie arrives from California, she find the old man surrounded by an odd collection of friends and relatives, all of whom seem to know a little more than they're willing to tell about Susan Trench and her last days on Topsail. As the threads intertwine, Hallie must confront painful questions that build toward what may be a fearful answer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blackstone Audio
• Release date: Sep 28, 2009
• ISBN: 9780786111701

Phyllis A. Whitney

Born in Yokohama, Japan, on September 9, 1903, Phyllis A. Whitney was a prolific author of award-winning adult and children’s fiction. Her sixty-year writing career and the publication of seventy-six books, which together sold over fifty million copies worldwide, established her as one of the most successful mystery and romantic suspense writers of the twentieth century and earned her the title “The Queen of the American Gothics.” Whitney resided in several places, including New Jersey. She traveled to every location mentioned in her books in order to better depict the settings of her stories. She earned the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master award in 1988, the Agatha in 1990, and the lifetime achievement award from the Society of Midland Authors in 1995. Whitney was working on her autobiography at the time of her passing at the age of 104.  

Reviews for Amethyst Dreams

[ricaustria · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Once again, Michael Connelly delivers. This one, he takes right down to the end with twist upon twist. The thread takes the lead character, Harry Bosch, all to the way back to his pre-teen years, and provides more insight into his motivations. Bosch reminds me of Dashiell Hammett and Dirty Harry at various times during the book, and his outbursts are sometimes surprising. Listened to audiobook for the last few chapters on a long boring 22-hour flight, and the book was certainly the highlight of the trip. This is a book, perhaps, best consumed in one long read/listen.

[auntieknickers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorites of the Harry Bosch series so far. NOT about a serial killer, a lot of introspection, and a great picture of Los Angeles after the earthquake. Surprises keep coming right up until the end. Highly recommended. (I've read or listened to several of the series out of order so I'm going back and reading the ones I've missed. This is the fourth in the series.)

[powertriangle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another good entry in this series. Harry is at one of his lower points, having been placed on indefinite stress leave after attacking his superior. He uses the time to search into an old murder case that is very personal because the victim was his mother. Good plot and pacing, though some of the likely suspects are clearly too obvious. Could have done without the love interest aspect; again, having read the series previously, I know it is not going to work out. Also, the visits with the psychiatrist, while integral to the plot, could have been better. All said, though, a good read even the second time through.

[mahallett · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

i like michael connelly but harry bosch is not my favourite character. he's so contrary he wears me out. i listened to this one. there were too many(nasty) male characters to keep track of. it seemed anti-female to me that with all these nasty males, not one of them was harry's mom's killer. harry was hit on the head so many times he should be a vegetable--a cranky one though- unlikeable, broccoli say.dick hill was good but i missed len cariou.

[she_climber · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Bosch tracks down the killer of his mother years after the fact with only vague childhood memories and limited resources. Bosch is on leave from the Department for threatening Lt. Pounds, and is required to meet with a psychologist before he can be deemed fit to return to duty. The Dr. helps him through his feelings that come up through this rouge investigative effort, losing his house that was condemned after the last quake, and numerous other stressors in his life. A good entertaining addition to the series. As I read along and get to know the character I begin to like him a little more each time.

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

If my research is correct, this is the last book published by Phyllis A Whitney. Published in 1997, the Gothic Romance style of writing was long dead. This one could be placed in the romantic suspense genre, but the Gothic romance style is undeniable.This book gets mixed reviews by those not accustomed to this style of book. I have to agree that this not the best book ever written by Phyllis Whitney, but it wasn't all that bad either. Hallie's friend, Susan, diappeared two years ago. Now Susan's grandfather is dying of cancer and is deperate to find out what happened to his granddaughter. So, he asked Hallie to come to Topsail Island. He wants to remember Hallie in his will, which makes other family members nervous. He also wants to see if Hallie can try to find out what happened to Susan. Since Hallie had discovered, only days before, that her husband, Paul, had been having an affair, she feels like this trip would do her a lot of good. But, she isn't welcomed all that warmly once she arrives. She does make friends though and gradually she discovers old family secrets. Susan's grandfather and one of his friends and neighbors once loved the same woman. This affair destroyed one marriage and put a dark cloud over the other couple. Susan's grandfather, Nick, was controlling and refused to admit his failings and continues to try and control his family. Then there is the Nurse/housekeeper, Mrs. Orion and her son Corey. Corey was set to marry Susan before she disappeared. The only little supernatural aspect of the novel involved some Amethyst stones. These stones were supposed to cause vivid dreams if you placed the stone by your bed. You could also gaze into the stone and see visions. This was more than a little far fetched, but the supernatural aspect played a really small role in the story. But the stones though held a big clue.Hallie ends up getting to the bottom of Susan's disappearance, she makes life long friends, and finds the strength to face her marital situation. She and the other characters find their own versions of HEA and closure they needed to move forward with their lives. Over all a C

[kathy89_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is an angry, volatile Harry Boesch who is on suspension and forced to see the LAPD psychiatrist. He decides to solve a cold case, the murder of his mother, who was a prostitute 30 yrs ago. Harry uses people, bullies and steamrolls over everyone to get answers and manages to inadvertently get a couple of people murdered while trying to make the pieces fit into what he wants.

[daftboy1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is an ok book. Harry Bosch the main character has been suspended from the LAPD. He uses his free time to investigate his Mothers murder 25 years earlier. Harry uncovers a few old home truths. He finds love along the way ruffles some feathers in his own department. This is the first Harry Bosch wook I read it wont be the last.

[emigre_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Poignant and intense story featuring loner detective Harry Bosch whose suspension from the LAPD gave him time to investigate his own mother's murder from 33 years ago. Connelly used very haunting imagery throughout, he wrote whole chapters where the case doesn't really move forward but Bosch broods and reflects. Coupled with Bosch's house in post-earthquake disarray, and his budding relationship with a woman hiding a secret of her own, this book marks a turning point in Bosch's life.

[afarrington_6 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

good as all Harry Bosch novels are - this time he's seeking his mother's killer - who turns out to be her good friend. He was suspended from the force and his house was just destroyed so he's bummed to say the least. - but always appealing.

[edwardsgt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another excellent Harry Bosch. Harry has been suspended for assaulting his boss and is undergoing compulsive therapy. During his enforced absence his mind turns to the question of his mother's murder over 30 years previously and who was responsible. Thus begins a crusade to find those responsible, irrespective of who gets caught in the cross-fire and the fact that he might not welcome the truth.

[pier50 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best Harry Bosch stories. Great plot, well written and plenty of surprises. Michael Connelly's eye for detail really adds to a good story

[bbuchan_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Last Coyote is one of the best of Connelly's Harry Bosch series. A great mystery story with great characters. Harry Bosch is on involuntary stress leave after putting his supervisor through a glass window. His career in doubt and his house has been red-tagged after an earthquake and is slated for destruction. We learn more of Harry's early past as he digs into the 30 year old case of his mother Marjorie's murder. Good read. Highly recommended.

[debavp · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I do think this by far the best in the series to date. Connelly plays Bosch close to the vest and is almost reluctant to reveal Harry's character, much like Harry himself.

[markatread · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Secondary title - Harry Has to Go to Therapy to Keep His Job. Therapy doesn't help him very much; neither does getting a new girlfriend. In fact, he starts the book miserable and he ends the book in almost the exact same place. Solving the mystery of who killed his mother 25+ years ago doesn't help Harry much either. He still ends up pretty much where he started out - morose, drinking to much, and pissing everybody else off. But in some ways that is what Harry does almost as well as solve mysteries, he collects rage and misery. Two people who don't need to be dead, end up dead anyway because of Harry and the choices he makes. He solves one homocide case and his actions lead to 2 other homocides. It's his life story in some ways, he is absolutely committed to working relentlessly to bringing the bad guys to justice, yet he breaks rules and circumvents the law every 15 pages. He is not just a walking contradiction, he is a miserable walking contradiction.Late one night Harry sees a scrawny, scraggly coyote come up out of a canyon. He used to see them quite often and fears that one day he will stop seeing them. He talks to the therapist he is forced to go and see. He realizes he is like the coyote, able to adapt to mankind and it's relentless development of what is wild and natural, but unable to thrive any longer in the face of all the encroachments he sees around him. In the end he leaves and goes to see his new girlfriend in Florida. Florida is probably not any better, but at least it isn't California.

[amacmillen_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Harry Bosch is recovering from problems within at his work. He decides to find out who killed his mother in the early 1960s. The chase leads him through political intrigue and ends up with the murderer being a jealous girl friend. His search causes others to die and leads him to question his life goals.

[miked_181283 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another good detective novel from Connelly. A very good character study of Harry Bosch, the detective. He deals with his own demons as he solves the murder of his mother many years before.

[djupstrom · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Pretty standard fare. Connelly can do much better than this.

[joycepa_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Yet another outburst of violence has LA Homicide Detective Harry Bosch in trouble again—only this time, he shoved his superior, Lt. Pounds, and he is suspended from the force pending a psychiatric evaluation from the Department psychologist, Dr. Carmen Hinojos. Other aspects of Bosch’s life are just as bleak; an earthquake has rendered his home officially unlivable (although of course Bosch continues to live there), and Sylvia Moore, with whom he has had a year-long serious relationship, has left him. While struggling to come to terms with his life, Bosch becomes convinced that he can only understand what drives him if he is able to solve the 30+ year old murder case of his mother. Using his suspension, he tries to pick up the dropped threads of an old, cold investigation.Before long, oddities crop up: unusual police procedures, missing pages from the murder book, hints of undue interference from political figures. By the very nature of the case, Harry talks with people from his past, especially his mother’s best friend, and former police officers who are unduly wary of inquiries from Los Angeles.The trail heats up, and leads Harry to several confrontations, one of which costs Pounds his life. Chagrined but determined to find out who killed his mother, Harry pushes on despite the danger to himself and others.Another excellent installment in this series. Connelly’s novels always start out the way I imagine police investigations do—wandering a bit, especially in this instance with such an old case. There is no clear trail, nothing definite to put one’s finger on, just the sense of needing to push on. The writing is excellent and the plotting is superb. The climax is unexpected, and extremely well done. As usual, I’m left with the desire to read more.Highly recommended.

[darrol_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Back story about killing of mother.

[jmcclain19 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Connelly used a tired formula with this novel - cop suspended from force due to lashing out, and has to spend time hashing over his past. All the while he's using his connections to hunt for his mother's killer. I'll give Connelly some credit, he still managed to keep my interest thru the entire book and put a nice twist at the end, just when you think you know who killed Bosch's mother, he flips it on you. The ending redeemed the book overall, but the build-up just seemed to drag for a while. Considering how good Concrete Blonde was (the Bosch book immediately preceding Lost Coyote) from beginning to end, I thought this was an overall disappointment. 3 stars as a book that had a solid ending but a fat, saggy middle.

[mrtall_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As much as I love murder mysteries, I usually dread the ones in which the doughty detective/spry private eye/intuitive amateur sleuth gets embroiled in a case that’s personal, e.g. getting threatened by a criminal who’s now devoted his/her total existence to taking revenge upon the crimesolver, or trying to unravel a past crime that’s had the clichéd ‘profound effect’ on who or what our hero has grown into.Well, the latter case is just exactly what you get in The Last Coyote, Michael Connelly’s 1997 installment in the Harry Bosch series. I love the Bosch novels, but I’d avoided this one due to my phobia. But I shouldn’t have. Connelly makes this tired setup hum, as Bosch, who’s been suspended for being Bosch, gets all sweaty and wobbly thinking about his mom’s murder decades ago. Brilliant stuff, and highly recommended.

[bccjillster · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Bosch's mother's murder; he's been suspended for fighting with Pounds (superior); post SF earthquake; in mandatory therapy