A GHOST OF A CHANCE
Short Synopsis:
Setting
This is the first in a series, of full length (55,000 + wds) mystery-paranormal "ghost" novels set in historic locations throughout Southern California.
The story includes end notes of background importance to the setting and story. Also, actual sleight-of-hand magic tricks are used, of which, one is revealed in the end notes. The end notes add a unique perspective to the story in that they engage the reader into the inside track of how the story came to be.
Told from the heroine's POV in present time, late winter-early spring San Diego.
Heroine, SHANNON DELANEY is the main character in this series.
Authentic vintage sleight-of-hand magic is a theme throughout this series.
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Characters
Of the present and from out of the past, a lively set of characters lend voice and action to the storied details surrounding the mystery of Blackthorne House mansion:
SHANNON DELANEY, the lovely and talented twenty-something writer leaves Chicago for a dream assignment in San Diego. While staying at the fabled Blackthorne House, Shannon's uncanny ability to sniff out a murder mystery pays off when she digs up the past to solve a cold case file from San Diego's decadent Victorian era of the late 1800s. Mystery solved, Shannon finds herself in yet another fix… what to do about her own romantic dilemma?
ERIC BLACKTHORNE, the handsome and charming master magician died over a century ago. But his ghost lives on in the magnificent mansion he built in San Diego of the late 1800s. A tormented spirit, Blackthorne will not be laid to rest until the truth about his life is revealed.
ALEX BLACKTHORNE, descendant of the master magician who built Blackthorne House, Alex inherited the identical good looks and charming personality of his famous ancestor—which he puts into play (along with a few magic tricks of his own) in order to capture Shannon's affection.
SISTER ROSARIO SANTIAGO
is a middle-aged nun with more check-writing authority than most CEOs. As the administrator in charge of converting Blackthorne House into a moneymaking bed-and-breakfast inn, Rosario hires award-winning writer Shannon Delaney to chronicle the mansion's intriguing history for a publicity brochure.
FRANCISCO ZAVALA, a retired detective whose work earned him many accolades, can't resist a good mystery and will go to the ends of the Earth, or in this case, to the emerald mines of Manizales, Colombia, to get to the truth of the matter and to ease Shannon's misgivings.
ZACH ZAVALA, Francisco Zavala's handsome twenty-something grandson is an acclaimed restoration architect who lost the bid for renovating Blackthorne House. But he won the respect of Sister Rosario, and more importantly, he has Shannon's trust and attention.
OLIVIA ZAVALA, young and beautiful socialite from a prominent San Diego family was beloved by all in San Diego's Victorian society, especially the master magician, Eric Blackthorne. Olivia disappeared without a trace—Or did she?
CAPTAIN MIGUEL PICO was one of San Diego's most successful merchant sea traders of the 1880s. And he was husband to Olivia Zavala…she was the perfect match for his social climbing ambitions… that is, until the magician Eric Blackthorne interfered. Did Pico and his partner Captain Raul Santillo trade with the Devil to get what they wanted?