AFTERWARD

Rae's cozy tales of buried scandals and genteel survival tactics, set in the (usually comfortably well-off) Manhattan of several decades ago (Sarah Cobb, 1990; Julia's Story, 1989, etc.), are becoming tighter, livelier, and, in short, better and better. This story involving the disappearance of a lovely woman, two murders, and a bang-up surprise ending—quietly, warmly narrated— is one of the author's best. In 1904, narrator Maud Evans's adored mother and brothers died in an excursion-boat explosion, leaving behind Maud, her beautiful, volatile sister Angie, two tiny other sisters, and Papa—who, wild with grief and deep into drink, had terrible spells of rage. (Later, Maud chose not to think that his death from a fall was caused by Angie.) With poverty threatening, Angie sets out to marry a rich man—and succeeds. Her husband is wealthy Derek Blauvelt, who pays for Maud's Manhattan household of tots and maid. But Angie will abruptly leave Derek and simply disappear. Derek, surprisingly, becomes a doting avuncular friend, and the little sisters visit his country estate—by this time free, fortunately, of Derek's terrifying housekeeper, a black-clad Mrs. Danvers sort. Meanwhile, although there are disquieting unseen invasions of the Manhattan house, Maud is happy in a bookstore job and finds love. Angie remains absent—until there's a note to Maud that summons her to a night of terror. Before the final revelations, there'll be two grisly murders and Angie's reappearance. A congenial narration, pleasant ambiance, and a satisfying mystery.