From Booklist
Mind games play a quintessential role in Mortman's latest thriller. New York newspaper correspondent Callie Jamieson is haunted by the same dreams as her mother, who committed suicide after being institutionalized for schizophrenia. Her dreams become more intense after she begins regression therapy and after the death of her ex-boyfriend, Wilty Hale, the heir to a billion-dollar fortune that includes the paper she works for. Her psychiatrist believes that the dreams may actually be memories that are passed down through the generations, and Wilty's death does trigger an intense reaction as she writes a series of articles about him. Looking into the family history, Callie discovers that the family does seem to be cursed: all the heirs have died prematurely from unnatural causes. As the past and present converge with disastrous results for Callie, NYPD detective Ezra Chapin enters her life, and the two join forces. Mortman's well-crafted exploration into the human psyche is suspense at its best. Patty Engelmann
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Review
Advance Praise for Doris Mortman's Before and Again
"Quintessentially Mortman ... a haunting story, rich in detail."
-Barbara Delinsky, author of An Accidental Woman
"This taut suspenseful tale of love, lust, greed and betrayal offers a tantalizing peek at the startling ancient skeletons in the closets of the rich, powerful, and powerfully flawed. Compellingly readable."
-Judith Kelman, author of Summer of Storms
"Doris Mortman has done it before, now she's done it again-written a book that delves artfully into the mysteries of the mind and the heart (and explores them with insight and passion) in a page-turning story. Before and Again will make readers new to Mortman happy to join the many fans of her past best-sellers."
-Robert Rosenblum, author of Afterlove
"Terrifically suspenseful"--Booklist
"Intricate and compelling"--Publishers Weekly
"Great fun"--The New York Times Book Review
Review
Advance Praise for Doris Mortman's Before and Again
"Quintessentially Mortman ... a haunting story, rich in detail."
-Barbara Delinsky, author of An Accidental Woman
"This taut suspenseful tale of love, lust, greed and betrayal offers a tantalizing peek at the startling ancient skeletons in the closets of the rich, powerful, and powerfully flawed. Compellingly readable."
-Judith Kelman, author of Summer of Storms
"Doris Mortman has done it before, now she's done it again-written a book that delves artfully into the mysteries of the mind and the heart (and explores them with insight and passion) in a page-turning story. Before and Again will make readers new to Mortman happy to join the many fans of her past best-sellers."
-Robert Rosenblum, author of Afterlove
"Terrifically suspenseful"--Booklist
"Intricate and compelling"--Publishers Weekly
"Great fun"--The New York Times Book Review
Before and Again FROM THE PUBLISHER
Now she explores some of the most compelling ideas in dream research, combined with a page-turning plot that will keep you guessing until the last page.
Callie Jamieson has a mysterious link to the past-she has the same disturbing dreams her mother had, ones that drove her mother eventually to suicide. But Callie is determined not to let them destroy her life, too. They're under control until the death of her ex-lover sends Callie on a quest to find out the truth. Her search intensifies her dreams, and leads her to an old-money New York family with a revered and respected name, to secrets that someone will kill to protect, and to a passionate love she never expected. Before and Again explores the fascinating issues of memory's long reach...and the hold the past can have on the present.
FROM THE CRITICS
Kirkus Reviews
Scary dreams. Family secrets. Is Callie just nuts—or is she channeling the thoughts of the dead? Traumatic memories abound: her mother was wrapped up in a straitjacket, taken away by two burly guys in white coats, and dumped in a mental institution. Callie hopes she isnﾽt schizophrenic, but, gee whiz, those awful nightmares just wonﾽt go away. And she has enough problems getting to sleep, what with being an investigative reporter for the City Courier. But the mysterious death of her ex-boyfriend, Wilty Hale, society man-about-town, unsettles her even more. Sheﾽs going to get to the bottom of things. Just who are the gray people who come and go in her troubled mind? And what are they trying to tell her? Could it have something to do with the Hales, who seem to be jinxed? The family holdings include the paper Callie works for, and though the editor-in-chief doesnﾽt want to sensationalize the weird way the Hales keep dropping dead, it could be a great story. Says he, in pontifical Perry Mason style, "Itﾽs about time somebody confronted that blasted curse head-on!" Callie gulps and takes the assignment. Then a TV appearance by Dr. Guy Hoffman to explain his Mnemonic Project gets everyone thinking. The distinguished scientist says, first, that if generational memory is encoded in genetic material, the public will be immediately informed. Why, even simple scenes of domestic life become vital to our understanding of the human continuum, he adds. How about scenes of . . . murder? Turns out that Callie is channeling the thoughts of the dead—in this case, of her hitherto unknown Hale ancestors, some of whom werenﾽt very nice at all. So, is Carolyne Hale, Wiltyﾽs ice-queen mother, incahoots with Hoffmanﾽs colleague, the evil Dr. Merrick? Who stole the serum from the cookie jar? Will Callie be forced to commit suicide—or forget everything she ever knew? Wooden prose, no thrills. Author tour. Agent: Peter Lampack/Peter Lampack Agency
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