"Maria Grazia
Swan has got it down cold in her debut novel LOVE THY SISTER:
Clean prose and a well-oiled plot make for a compelling read. Couple
that with a striking mix of locale and believable personalities, and
you have a book you'll be telling your friends about pronto."
--
Noreen Ayres
Reviewed by Jude Morris, co-moderator EPPRO (Electronically
Published Professionals)
In Love Thy Sister, Maria Swan's fascinating characters, and the fast
pace of this absorbing novel will keep you reading nonstop to the end.
Mina, Swan's intriguing heroine, is a charming mix of child and woman,
and the complex relationship that exists between Mina, and Paola her
elegantly beautiful elder sister is both captivating and puzzling. To
complicate matters, Paola's husband Michael has taken a mistress, and
Mina's love affair with a poetic wanderer is challenged by an
attractive young man whom Paola has hired to get to the bottom of some
thefts at her software manufacturing plant. Cheating, lying, stealing
and murder -- Love Thy Sister is a fast paced, challenging mystery that
will keep you turning those pages right up to the startling denouement.
Reviewed by Ted Wilkinson
What would it be like to leave the mythical world of small town Italy,
and take up with an estranged sister who has been mysteriously absent
in the States, pursuing the "good life" of entrepreneurship and romance
since before you took your first steps across your parents floor?
Readers of Maria Grazia Swan's maiden voyage through the artistic form
of full length novel, will be left with little doubt until
Mina
Calvi, protagonist in question, begins to doubt it herself. But just
what is it that this sensuous Italian woman, with a flair for black
leather jackets, and old worn out sweat shirts, is led to call into
question? With a woman's intuition that with each twist of
the plot, seems to re-generate the story with even greater depth and
proportion, Mina Calvi prophecies and protagonizes like a
present day
Joan of Arc. And like the Patroness of France, she relentlessly pursues
justice in the face of the maddening crowd with the feminine and
lion like presence of a gypsy fortune teller come
sweeping across
the seas to foretell the fall of the house of Davies to the
degenerate Californian marketing lords of software and soft spines in a
jungle of deceit and betrayal stretching all the way from the
Mediterranean to Paola and Michael Davies home in [Orange County]. But
what is it that seems to be slipping away through Mina's fingers?
Anything and everything.
Michael Davies, gold digger, and husband to co-protagonist Paula
Davies, (the sister of Mina Calvi,) is disabled by a "bad heart". (The
symbolism here, as elsewhere, is direct, unambiguous, yet subtle enough
to draw the reader in without that lingering bad aftertaste of another
trek through all night diners, bloody floor tiling, and mysteriously
vanishing story line.).
This is not to say that Ms. Swan's story doesn't have all of these
elements common to almost every detective novel, and more. It is to say
that these recurrent elements only augment a truly perennial and
universal story, spoken in an unmistakable language, for it is the
language of two sisters, facing the absurdity of their situation, and
trying to piece together out of the broken fragments of their past,
some kind of meaning to their existence. Sometimes in English, and
sometimes with a refreshing departure into Italian. But we all speak
the same language when we arrive at the core of our innermost self. It
is a self that is lost in a search for meaning. That is what Ms. Swan's
style is shot through and through with. Meaning in a meaningless jungle
of corporate brutality, violence masquerading as true love, and
underworld pimps, dressed up as warehouse workers. What is she trying
to tell you? Another way of putting this is "why is Mina Calvi, with
each passing phase, becoming less and less grounded in herself? Why are
her surroundings becoming consistently less and less familiar to her?
Why has plot and purpose seemingly vanished from the story of her life?"
Ms. Swan achieves true greatness in her work, in that, through the
disintegration of everything around her protagonist, we are left with a
question and an answer. What happens when all of the things
that we
thought really mattered are violently torn away from us? The answer?
Well, I won't spoil it for you.
Reviewed by Kathryn Lively
Of all things American, the work ethic is most lost on young Mina, a
transplant from Italy sent to live with her older sister, Paola, in
California. Why Paola continues to pour her heart into a software
business that lately seems to yield only frustration is baffling to
Mina. Paola's philandering husband and work partner is not shy about
his womanizing, employees are hardly loyal, and inventory is
disappearing. It is no wonder Mina prefers a sedentary life, free to
dream of a handsome, far-away Frenchman who writes words of love on
lavender stationery.
The mysterious death of an employee at Paola's business does little to
diffuse tempers at home and at work, and Mina is less than amused when
talk of poison, intent, and murder implies Paola as a prime suspect.
Though no accusations are made directly, Mina is sparred into action to
aid Detective Di Fiore and Paola's personal investigator, Brian Starrs,
in confirming Paola's innocence in any wrongdoing.
Then Paola is found dead, presumably by her own hand. A devastated Mina
is soon forced to shed all immaturity to prove otherwise, that Paola
was murdered and that somebody at the software company is responsible.
This task uncovers more than Mina expects, as a history of deceit is
unraveled to the point that her questions are answered only with more
questions. Only her love for her sister can sustain Mina through these
trials.
With Love Thy Sister, author Swan gives mystery lovers a story that
will not disappoint. Injected with a touch a romance and moments of
levity that do not dampen the tension of the mystery, Sister is well
written, dramatic, and a treat to read. Swan creates in Mina a somewhat
spoiled but likeable heroine, a well-rounded gem in a cast of amusing
stock characters (the sleaze ball husband, the man-hungry receptionist,
etc.) Swan is one author for mystery fans to watch in the future.
MEDLEY OF MURDER
"A sparkling collection of mystery gems. Sure to please discriminating
readers."
-- Carolyn Hart, author of the Death on Demand and Henrie O
mystery series
"Wow. From rotting bodies in fuel barrels to postcards from the edge,
plus worried mothers, murder noir, romantic suspense and classic police
mysteries, MEDLEY OF MURDER has something for everyone. A perfect
bedtime read."
-- Connie Flynn, author of SHADOW ON THE MOON and SHADOW OF
THE WOLF
"Looking for a soft ride or a fast thrill? You'll find it in MEDLEY OF
MURDER. From exotic locales to the pure, clean west, this is an
exceptionally fine collection of mysteries with something for everyone.
It's a terrific gift book, or a fine friend to keep on your bedside
table."
-- Meredith Blevins, author of the best-selling Annie Szabo
mystery series
"Arizona at its worst! Deception, murder and characters who stay with
you long after the book is done. A great way to visit the Grand Canyon
State without ever leaving home."
-- Sinclair Browning, author of the Trade Ellis mystery
series.
BOOMER BABES
"You'll never look at Sun City the same after you read "Boomer Babes,
True Tales of Love and Lust in the Later Years" (Maria Grazia Swan,
2008, Dorchester Publishing). You'll never again be fooled by the quiet
streets and apparent chaste serenity atmosphere of your local
retirement community. The setting for the book is Phoenix, where Swan
is a writer, relationship advice columnist, matchmaker -- and Realtor.
Retired is not the word for the people -- according to Swan, real
people -- who inhabit the world of "Boomer Babes." They might not be
working, but they're not sitting at home, waiting to meet the Grim
Reaper. As one woman says about a friend of hers, if she did encounter
him, she'd probably proposition him. Here are tales of love in
unexpected places, of women with secret pasts and men who don't know
what they want -- or what's not good for them... ...Age is a state of
mind, Swan writes. The baby boomers were the generation who embraced
women's lib. They're determined to stay younger longer, in many cases,
whatever it takes. Time always wins, but they're putting up a heck of a
fight, and loving every minute of it.
Contents of this site ©2005 and beyond by Maria Grazia Swan.
All graphics, text and other contents are protected by copyright. No
text, graphics or other contents may be sold, reproduced or used
without the written permission of the copyright holder.
Looking for some outrageous
inspiration to kick start your love life? Or some sizzlingly salacious
gossip about the woman who could be your next-door neighbor?
"Medley of Murder" is an
anthology of fifteen original and diverse short stories of mystery and
suspense. It's a quick read with memorable characters and plots that
grab your interest.
Mina and Paola, Rachel and
Sarah. Two sets of sisters, from opposite ends of the world. They came
to California with the same sense of survival, the same yearning for
love. But life isn't perfect, not even in sunny Orange County and Mina,
the child-woman, gets caught in a web of deception. At first she fights
for her sister, then for her sister's business, soon she is fighting
for her life. Deceit, adultery, betrayal and murder. All neatly wrapped
in layers of love, lust, passion and greed. Open this book and take the
twisting road that will bring Mina and her blue-eyed lover to unveil
the secret of her family's past.
