Return to Mateguas Island

A Tale of Supernatural Suspense

Fiction - Supernatural
408 Pages
Reviewed on 12/03/2014
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Born in Norwich, Connecticut, Linda Watkins moved to Michigan when she was four years old. After graduation from college (Carnegie-Mellon University '70), Ms. Watkins relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area where she lived most of her adult life. A Senior Clinical Financial Analyst at Stanford University School of Medicine, Linda was always writing. At work, she created 'long forms' and business plans; at home, she wrote whimsical stories, poems and songs for the delight of her friends and family. In 2006, retired, she moved to Chebeague Island, Maine where she wrote her first novel, the award-winning, MATEGUAS ISLAND.

Today, she resides in Western Michigan with her three rescue dogs (Splatter, Spudley and Jasper) and has just completed the sequel to MATEGUAS which will be published on December 15, 2014.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

When Karen Pierce returns to the island, the sleeping spirits reawaken and strange things begin to happen again in Return to Mateguas Island: A Tale of Supernatural Suspense by Linda Watkins. Reluctantly accompanying her twin daughters and her husband to the Island where there are hidden memories, Karen is quickly caught up in the swirl of supernatural events that threaten to affect everyone around her. Terri and Sophie want to investigate the circumstances of their father’s disappearance 10 years earlier, but stir up forces that would have been better left alone. Unfortunately, one of the twins has inherited her mother’s connection to the spirits and is pulled into a mystery that nearly scares her to death. Secrets build up, tearing some relationships apart, but some new connections are created that provide Terri with the strength she needs to complete a mission and preserve the natural balance of things. Will the tragedies of the past be repeated or can the demands of the ancient god of the dead be satisfied and the chain of loss broken?

Linda Watkins brings readers back to a picturesque Maine island in Return to Mateguas Island: A Tale of Supernatural Suspense. This is a quick-paced story portraying a wide range of human emotions, deadly supernatural forces and ancient Native American beliefs that may help the characters survive the ordeal in store. It explores the depths of love and loss, dedication and defiance, innocence and desire - all in spite of the threat of losing everything. This is supernatural fiction at its best with a hint of coming-of-age enlightenment to appeal to younger readers as well as readers of all ages.

Jack Magnus

Return to Mateguas Island: A Tale of Supernatural Suspense is a contemporary supernatural fantasy written by Linda Watkins. Karen and her twin daughters have been living in Monterey, California, for ten years now. Dexter Pierce, a family friend who helped Karen cope with her husband's disappearance in the swamp on Mateguas Island, had moved out there with them, and two years later the couple married. Sophie and Terri are starting school in the fall and have hatched a plan to spend the summer on Mateguas Island. They've rented Dex's old house and will be trying to get some closure on the loss of their father. When they spring the news on Dex and Karen, Dex jumps at the idea as he's missed the island where he grew up. Karen reluctantly agrees to accompany her husband and daughters. She dreads the trip, however, as she knows all too well the dangers awaiting them.

Linda Watkins' contemporary dark fantasy, Return to Mateguas Island: A Tale of Supernatural Suspense, is well-written and fast-paced. While this is the second book in Watkins' Mateguas Trilogy, the author gives enough background to enable it to stand on its own, but the first book, Mateguas Island, is as marvelous, dark and brooding as this one is, and I'd recommend starting from there. I loved the descriptions of Mateguas Island and kept fantasizing about a summer rental on a remote Maine island as I read, though preferably not one with a spooky swamp behind it. The Indian folklore that serves as the basis for this trilogy is so compelling, and Terri's interactions with Charlie, the elder Indian at the museum were powerful and intriguing. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series and seeing just what happens next. Return to Mateguas Island: A Tale of Supernatural Suspense is absorbing dark fantasy, and it's most highly recommended.

Anne-Marie Reynolds

Return to Mateguas Island by Linda Watkins is a tale of supernatural terror. Ten years after the events on Mateguas, Karen is shocked to find that her husband Dex and daughters Sophie and Terri want to return. The girls want to find out what really happened to their father all those years ago when he went out in a storm and never returned. Reluctantly she agrees, knowing that this can only bring trouble. When they arrive on the island they are shocked at what they discover.

Return to Mateguas Island by Linda Watkins was a gripping read. Although I never read the first one, I didn’t need to as enough detail was given to explain what went on. I would like to read it though and, judging by the ending, I do wonder if there is a third book in this – if there is, I want to read it too! Excellent storyline, excellent characters in all-round thrilling read. Linda’s attention to detail is second to none and the book is very professionally written. Loved it!