Lucifer Cove, Book 6 - From Satan, With Love (Virginia Coffman's Thrilling Occult Gothic Series)

"Maeva Wells entered the Cove seeking help ... and found that the price was her soul!" (cover blurb)

 

And so we come to the sixth and final entry into the Lucifer Cove series, written by Virginia Coffman.  It is somewhat bittersweet, as I really hate it when a series that I enjoy reading comes to an end and I know I will no longer read about the characters I have grown to enjoy; but, at the same time, I believe it is better for a series to end while the stories are still well-written and fresh, rather than continue on and start telling stories that are stale and no longer readable.  The only drawback to this final visit to Lucifer Cove is that we do not get a final resolution as to Marc Meridon and Christine Deeth...

 

From Satan, With Love is clearly a title taken from the James Bond film of similar name (with "Satan" taking the place of "Russia"), and perhaps, in a way, it is used as a way to signify this book is a send-off to readers, an opportunity to say goodbye to the Cove forever.  While the previous books have provided a build up to the true nature of Marc Meridon, this book provides readers with definite confirmation as to Marc's evil nature and introduces an unexpected antithesis within the Cove that readers will not likely see coming (I certainly wasn't expecting it!).  It all stems from the arrival of Maeva Wells and her niece, Jenniver, who happen to be hiking up the Coast Range, when they stumble upon a break that reveals a hidden valley - the very valley where Lucifer Cover has made its home, hidden from the road and not appearing on any map.  Jenniver is only too excited to explore the quaint spa, but Maeva has her concerns.  The choice is taken out of her hands, though, when Jenniver slides down the inside slope, injuring her leg and ankle.  Fortunately, Marc Meridon is there to help!

 

With her typical flare for dramatics and building suspense, Coffman brings Maeva Wells into the world of temptation and desire, and while the Irish woman believes she is immune to such temptation, the sudden attraction she feels for Marc cannot be denied.  She soon finds herself doing things she would never imagine possible, such as attending a black mass in the Greek temple, overseen by Nadine Janos, self-proclaimed priestess of the devil himself.  She unwittingly makes a wish and signs a simple form to confirm that wish - not realizing that she has not only signed her life away, but her very soul as well!  The death of a young woman by apparent suicide (but which Maeva knows was not suicide) and a late night warning from one Christine Deeth (the woman who shares her niece's room at the Cove's medical facility) start to open Maeva's eyes as to what is really going on in the Cove.  But, as Marc so politely informs her as he leads her beneath the basement floors of the infirmary, to an area filled with intense heat and the horrific smell of sulfur (not to mention all of the cries and moans of those who sound like they are suffering beyond belief!), she did sign a contract, and once signed, there is no way to break it.  Or is there...

 

Those who have been reading all of the books in the series may recall Dr. Rossiter from prior books.  He is not the most cordial of men, nor is he very likable.  But, from the moment Maeve and Jenniver arrived in Lucifer Cove, he has tried to impress upon her the fact that she does not belong there, and that she and her niece must leave as soon as possible.  Well, appearances can be deceiving, and sometimes the truth we need is presented in the most unexpected ways.  It seems Dr. Rossiter is another character in Lucifer Cove who is much more than he seems, and his attempts to help Maeva escape the clutches of Marc Meridon goes beyond that of any other client at the posh spa - so far, in fact, as to jeopardize the life of the one woman Marc truly loves in exchange for Maeva's own freedom!  The book has quite the climatic confrontation in it, and it's thrilling to see the part that O'Flannery has to play in it all!   It's a race against time, and against the forces of the devil himself to escape this hidden den of vice and iniquity, and the question is - will all of them make it out alive?

 

While Coffman never comes out and says in uncertain terms that Marc Meridon is the personification of the devil, this book makes it unequivocally clear that he and his Cove are there to draw people into sign, sign their souls always, and ultimately make their way into the fiery depths of hell (the whole scene of Marc leading Maeva into the basement, with the description of the heat, the sulfer, and the cries of pain leave no doubt as to where he is leading her!).  He even admits to Maeva that her execution of that contract in Nadine's temple sealed her fate.  I rather liked the fact that Dr. Rossiter is revealed to be at the Cove to work against Marc's efforts to gain more soles; I just wish the series had had more books in which to develop his character, and perhaps even end with a battle between the two (the climax of this book certainly seemed to set up a potential battle between them).

 

Once again, this book offers three different cover choices.  My favorite version (top left) inverts the images from prior covers, with the water and mysterious fog-covered rock island on the right side rather than the left.  The woman on the cover, preparing to escape the Cove, is blond, while Maeva is described inside as having dark colored hair (which is properly represented on the other two covers).  It seems very few of the covers by this particular artist depicted the main character accurately on the cover.  Meanwhile, the Pinnacl Books edition (above right) is closer to how the author describes her.  This artist also offers up the wildcat heard, and ultimately seen, by Maeva in the book, as well as a man (assumed to be Marc Meridon) watching her from above/behind.   The third cover art, for the Lancer Gothic edition, is somewhat pain, compared to the others, with the dark-haried woman's face in the foreground, her hair windswept, and the tudor-style building from the Cove in the background, atop a not-so high cliff.  Again, these images of the Cove being near the water is inaccurate, as the book clearly describes the spa being located withing a mountainous region, completely surrounded by mountainside and no visible ocean anywhere (as that would obviously provide a means for the guests to escape!).  The only cover to feature a character that shows any fear whatsoever is the one I like best (top left).

 

With the series over, sadly, there are some answers that will forever remain unanswered.  What ultimately happened to Christine Deeth?  How much longer can Nadine Janos keep up the pretense of being an emissary of the devil, while unknowingly performing her cons on his very playground?  Exactly who is Dr. Rossiter, and what is his ultimately purpose / goal in Lucifer Cove?  Why did he really try and assist Maeva and Jenniver?  And will anyone every truly succeed in defeating Marc Meridon, or, if he truly is the devil himself, is Lucifer Cove simply an allegory for how the devil tempts us every day into giving in to our baser desires, while, at the same time, giving up our souls for eternity?  Alas, that is a question we each have to ask ourselves, and only we know the real answer...

 

RATING:  10 panels of old-fashioned wallpaper filled with green tendrils of ivy out of 10 for a suspenseful and nearly terrifying tale of what can happen if we allow our lustful desires get the better of us and how high the cost can be! 

Lucifer Cove, Book 5 - Chalet Diabolique (Virginia Coffman's Thrilling Occult Gothic Series)

"Kay Aronson sought a murderer at the Cove ... and was trapped in a terror greater than death!" (cover blurb)

 

This is the penultimate book in author Virginia Coffman's occult Gothic series, Lucifer Cove.  Published in 1971 (with my copy being a second edition, published in August 1973), this book continues the mystery of what is really going on in this posh, hidden California spa run by the enigmatic and devilishly handsome Marc Meridon.  As with each of the prior books, this fifth entry into the series introduces readers to another new main character; however, this book reveals more of the dark secrets surrounding the spa and Meridon himself, and sees more of the supporting cast meet their ultimate doom (which they have brought on themselves by the choices they made...).

 

Chalet Diabolique centers around the cottage in which Edna Schallert had been staying (those who have been reading this series might remember that dear Edna is the one who brought Christine Deeth to Lucifer's Cove in the first book, basically setting in motion all of the event that have led us to this point).  It turns out the chalet was actually owned by one Leo Aronson, a rather successful businessman who managed to leave Lucifer Cove some time ago.  But, as with everything connected to the place, evil manages to reach out beyond the borders of the spa, and Leo winds up dead after having made an unscheduled and unexpected visit to the Cover.  Now, his wife, Kay Aronson, and his secretary, Arthur Dugald, have come to Lucifer Cove to uncover the truth behind Leo's death.

 

As this series has progressed, Coffman has inserted Christine Deeth less and less into the stories. In this fifth installment, Christine shows up only twice - both times, to save Kay's life (quite convenient, plot-wise).  Nadine Janos, that conniving devil priestess, makes a brief appearance, as does her Irish boyfriend - who also manages to give aid to Kay by giving her directions on how to escape the Cove.  Caro Teague, who was on the fast-track to being eliminated, gets a new lease on life (literally!) when she is assigned to be Kay's personal maid and assistant during her stay at Lucifer Cove.  And Marc Meridon, as well as Kinkajou, make a number of appearances (although they are not quite as many as in previous books).

 

Coffman's focus for this story is Kay's investigation into her husband's death.  She at first suspects Meridon has something to do with it, but after meeting him, she finds herself uncontrollably attracted to the man (as does every woman he ever comes in contact with!).  She also has suspicions about Arthur, her husband's secretary and right-hand man, who seems to know quite a bit about the Cove and continually warns her not to confide in anyone who lives at the spa.  She even becomes concerned about Caro, wondering if she was placed in the chalet as a means for someone to keep tabs on Kay and her movements.

 

For those who have been reading the series, it is not much of a mystery, really.  It is obvious Leo Aronson made a deal at the Cove at some point in the past, and the time had come for him to pay the piper.  What is engaging about the tale is Kay's suspicions and investigations, and her growing fear as she begins to realize some of the truths about what is really going on at the aptly named Lucifer Cove.  When poor Edna Schallert's body is found in the tunnels under the chalet, and Kay is lied to about the woman's funeral and the disposal of her body, Kay begins to realize she could be in danger as well and must get out.  When Arthur disappears, Kay is left with the quandary - does she trust Arthur and try to rescue him, or is he a part of the plot and someone from whom she must escape?  The one thing I especially like about Kay is that despite the attraction she has for Meridon, she does not give in to those feelings, and she is smart enough to have brought a gun with her, which she keeps with her each time she goes off to investigate on her own (p. 121, for example).  This is probably one of the strongest female characters Coffman has offered up in the series to date,

 

Coffman provides some revelations and confirmations in this book that readers have likely begun to suspect by this point.  The major one, of course, is the direct connection between Marc Meridon and the cat, Kinkajou.  There is also confirmation about those strange index cards introduced in the previous book and the consequences to those whose names appear on those cards, as well as the "leases" (a/k/a "contracts") that the people who live at the spa have signed and how it affects their lives - quite literally!

 

This book, as with all the others, sports three different covers.  The cover to the edition I own (above, top) is by far my favorite - and FINALLY, it has a proper portrayal of the main character from the story.  Kay is described as having long, blond hair, as the woman painted on the cover has, although she never went outside in her nightgown as the cover artist has depicted her.  The cover to the Pinnacle Books edition (above, right) comes much closer to an accurate scene from the book, with Kay (blonde) being surprised by a man we can assume is Marc Meridon - which does happen once or twice in the story. The third cover art, on the later Lancer editions, seems to follow the tend of the Lancer cover for the fourth book, with the young woman out in front of the spa, the ocean off to the left with what appears to be an island in the water, and the ghostly image of Marc Meridon looking down over the building in the background.  Only, on this cover, Meridon looks closer to a vampire than just a devilish, evil man, what with the cloak and the slanted eyes.  (NOTE - I do not have a copy of this particular cover, and finding one online was not easy - thus, the copy you see to the left is somewhat off-center.)

 

Honestly, of all the books in the series thus far, I think this one is my favorite.  Not only do we get a strong, determined lead character that does not back down, but Coffman finally stops hinting around at what is really happening at the Cove and  let's readers see Meridon for who he truly is.  With these kind of revelations, I am hoping that the next book, which is also the last in the series, will tie up all the loose ends and give readers a very satisfying conclusion to the series!

 

RATING:  9 avocado-green enamel tea kettles out of 10 for giving faithful readers a bit of payoff for the building subplots in this series and introducing a character who could give the devil a run for his money! 

Lucifer Cove, Book 4 - Masque of Satan (Virginia Coffman's Thrilling Occult Gothic Series)

"Jean Benedict came to the Cove to save a soul ... but the lure of its evil threatened her own." (cover blurb)

 

We are now past the half-way point of Virginia Coffman's occult Gothic series, with the fourth entry into the ongoing saga of the posh California spa that is way more than what it first seems.  Originally published in 1971, this later edition was published in 1973 with the stylish logo and similar covers to entice new readers to the series.  In true soap opera style, the series features a number of characters in every book, yet, at the same time, gives us a new protagonist to follow, which provides us with a fresh look at the Cove and unlocks more and more secrets as to what is actually going on in this den of iniquity!

 

Masque of Satan introduces Jean Benedict, a missionary of sorts who has come to Lucifer Cove at the request of Edna Schallert, one of the long-term residents at the spa.   (Oddly enough, the description on the back cover of the book asks the question "But what was Lucy Schallert's plight?" - yet, from the beginning of the series, the character has been named Edna, so not sure whose error this was - the publisher, the editor, or who, but clearly they goofed!)  Good ol' Edna Schallert has been around since the first book, more or less just a supporting character who, when we first meet her, admits to having stolen the man with whom Christina Deeth had an affair while she was married; then later, poor Edna falls for another man at the spa who is little more than a money-hungry swindler.  Now, in this book, Edna's problems come a bit more to the forefront, as the young Jean Benedict arrives, having been asked by Edna to come and help her and Buddy "fight an almost inconceivable menace" (p. 17).  While Jean does not understand what Edna is talking about, by now, readers most certainly know to what ... or rather, to whom ... Edna is referring!

 

Coffman takes a different turn with this book, as she turns the focus not just on a good person being enticed by the attractive temptations within Lucifer Cove, but she addresses how the lure of simple things, such as make up, clothing, and beauty could be a temptation for a woman who has lived her life in a way she believes is in service to God.  Let's face it, by now (the fourth book!), every reader knows that Lucifer Cove is a hotbed of sin and debauchery, with Satan himself personally present in the form of Marc Meridon (and if he turns out to be anyone else, I would be surprised).  Thus, to have a young woman in the form of Jean Benedict arrive, and to have her faith in God, her devotion to serving others and not allowing the ways of the world to detract her from her work, be tested in this way actually made for a very good read.  

 

I honestly did not expect Coffman to bring God into the equation in this series, other than in passing.  And although Jean Benedict is what I would call a borderline God-fearing person (she even admits at one point in the story that she battles her own pride in the work she does, questioning whether she is truly doing it for God or doing it for her own glory so people see what she has done), I thought Coffman did a great job showing how easy it is to be enticed by temptation - it starts off with something small (seeing how well-dressed everyone around you is), then it builds (back-sided compliments of what one could look like), and then an offer to make you look better than you imagined - and then ultimately seeing the difference those superficial changes make and allowing them to lure you into other temptations.  Jean, used to her look being simple and unadorned, never allowing frills or excess to enter her mind; but, from the moment she arrives in Lucifer Cove, she is surrounded by beauty and perfection, and it begins to make her question whether adorning one's self and paying attention to how one looks is truly prideful.  The longer she is kept from seeing Edna (which should have raised questions in her mind right away!), the easier it becomes for her to start questioning her beliefs.

 

The horrors of Lucifer Cove continue, as Jean is confronted with a dead man hanging from the ceiling in her room right after she arrives, and is confused to learn the man is Edna wrote to her about, asking for her help.  Already feeling like she has failed her friend (which failure makes her easy prey for the temptations offered by the oh-so-handsome Marc Meridon), she struggles to not only find a way to convince Edna to leave the place, but also to face the devil-worshippers of Nadine Janos up at the temple on the mountainside.  It seems like no matter what she does, there is no winning, and as she begins to lose hope, she begins to fall away from her faith and right into the hands of evil itself.  And when she is tricked into getting a make-over, even unwittingly signing a simple employment contract to work off her payment for the room and board while she is there (after all, as a disciple of God, she does not have the money to afford to stay at such a posh resort and spa), Jean discovers there is more evil within the confines of Lucifer Cove than she imagined - and her name on that contract could very well prevent her from ever leaving, even if she wants to!

 

And like with the last book, that gave us a quick glimpse at Jean's arrival in Lucifer Cove, so does this book give us a hint of who is to come in the next book:  "Kay Forest-de Landreau-Aronsen," described as "Only the richest female in the world ... Three, maybe four husbands" (p. 185).  Other that those few lines, we do not get any more information about this woman, or why she is coming to the spa. Like a well-written soap opera, Lucifer Cove has ongoing sub-plots, continuing stories involving certain characters that build slowly, and central stories that feature heavily on one or two characters, while giving us quick mentions now and again of what is to come.  This series could easily transition into a television show, and considering the craze for supernatural in today's media, it would likely do pretty well!

 

This book, just like the previous three, sports three different covers, depending on the edition.  I still like the blue-sky, stylized logo cover (first above), which features what I feel to be the best art of the three.  The look of the tudor-style building in the background, the beauty of the women on the covers.  This one, though, appears to set the house on the water's edge, which does not fit the location of the story inside.  I do like the bits of fog/mist that can be seen rising from the ground.   The Pinnacle Books edition (above center) does give readers the hint of evil that rests within Marc Meridon, as Jean appears to be fearful of him (despite her intense attraction to him within the story itself).  The Lancer Books edition (above to the right) features the same tudor style house, only bigger, at the water's edge as my copy (even having a mountain of sorts coming out of the water on the left side of the cover!); however, this edition finally acknowledges on the cover the fact that Marc Meridon is actually that lovable little cat, Kinkajou, with an image of Marc superimposed over the face of a cat.  The rendition of Jean is probably the most accurate, as this version is very unattractive and plain, which would correspond to the description of her in the book.

 

One of the better books in the series, for sure.  Now I'm well beyond the half-way point in this series, with only two more left to read.  I'm getting anxious to see how things are going to play out and whether Coffman will fully resolve all of the stories before the final book!

 

RATING:  8 cards flagged for the black box out of 10 for upping the ante in the battle of good vs evil, and showing that even the most desirable lure of temptation can be overcome with the right amount of faith and determination! 

Lucifer Cove, Book 3 - The Devil's Virgin (Virginia Coffman's Thrilling Occult Gothic Series)

"Diane Deeth visited the Cove in innocence ... and was trapped in eternal evil." (cover blurb)

 

The occult Gothic series authored by Virginia Coffman continues in this third installment of the series.  The book was originally published in 1971, with this second edition printed in 1973.  I can't help but repeat how much I love these stylized covers, with the unique logo and the consistent cover art, each depicting a young woman standing in front of the tudor-style spa building. The occult aspects are definitely there in this book, but thankfully they are toned back a bit from the previous story.  Instead, we are treated to more of the continuing saga of the Deeth family - and although Christine Deeth, the protagonist from the first book, is not the continuing main character in the series, she does appear in each book (thus far), and her presence definitely has an impact on the characters involved in the stories.

 

The Devil's Virgin brings Christine Deeth's first born - her daughter, Diane - to Lucifer Cove. Diane is definitely a child of the '70s - a rebel, whose mindset is that the system must be bucked, and the new up-and-coming generation of young adults are the ones to do it.  That being said, she comes to the Cove to see her mother, concerned that her mother has not left and wondering if she really is happy there.  But what she finds is nothing at all what she expects!  It begins on a dark night, as she waits for a bus to take her to the Cove.  A mysterious stranger is watching her, and when she boards the bus, he boards right behind her.  The bus does not stop at the Cove itself, but it does have a stop on the lonely canyon road, not far from the hidden lane that leads to the Cove.  When she gets off, so does the stranger. She lets him head off first, and she is shocked to discover he is heading in the same direction she is.  Luckily, a gorgeously handsome man with dark hair and dark eyes pulls up in his fancy car and offers her a ride.  Once again, Marc Meridon is in the right place at the right time to save a damsel in distress...

 

Coffman gives readers a deeper feel for Lucifer Cove in this book, as Diane makes the keen observation that the Cove is set up to tempt even the most innocent of souls, as everything in sight is a temptation - from the gold plated silverware to the aphrodisiac being pumped in through the air vents.  While Diane is by no means the "innocent" girl that the cover says she is, she does manage to keep herself from giving into the temptations that surround her.  And the mysterious stranger, who turns out to be Bill Janocek, the brother of Nadine (you remember her, don't you?  the devil priestess who presides over the satanic rituals that take place in the Greek cathedral just up the side of the mountain that borders Lucifer Cove...), seems pretty much immune to any of the temptations.  In fact, he has an ulterior motive for coming to Lucifer Cove, other than just to see his sister, and that focus is what helps him see people and things for what they truly are.  That ulterior motive, of course, is something that does not sit well at all with Marc Meridon.

 

And speaking of Marc (should we call him by his real name yet?  Coffman hasn't revealed it at this point, but let's face it - by now, every reader knows exactly who he is!), Diane become instantly infatuated with the man, and she cannot figure out why her mother tries so hard to keep her from associating with the man.  As Diane develops a friendship with Bill Janocek and learns his true purpose for being there (after he rescues her from almost becoming the next victim of a group of murderers who are staying at the Cove to avoid going to jail), she finds herself becoming more and more curious about what is really going on at the Cove.  If her mother is so unhappy, as she seems to by, why does she stay?  Why does the Cove allow known murderers to stay at the spa, instead of turning them over to the police?  Do people really believe in the satanic nonsense spouted by Bill's sister?  And what is up with that annoying cat that seems to pop up at the most inopportune times - Kinkajou?  

 

It all comes to a head when Nadine is injured (conveniently after Diane tells Marc that Nadine was plotting with Christine to keep Diane and Marc apart!) and Diane agrees to take over as "priestess" for that night's ceremony, so that Bill can fulfill his purpose in coming to Lucifer Cove and Diane can see some real justice done.  But their secret plot is revealed, and Diane ends up in very real danger as a killer takes her off, ready to end her life for nearly betraying him and his friends!  (An interesting side note here - as Diane and Bill are finalizing their plans, a woman named only as "Miss Benedict" arrives with her suitcases to check in to the spa; it is only a very brief mention, where she has a short encounter with Nadine's Irish boyfriend, O'Flannery [p. 203] - but it is clearly a set up for the next book, where Miss Benedict is the main character.) 

 

Once again, this book was published in three different editions, each with their own cover art.  My copy of the book, with the light blue sky and the blond woman glancing back over her shoulder at the tudor-style spa that is the centerpiece of Lucifer Cove. The artist for this edition is not identified (as with the first and second books in this format), and once again, the main character is incorrectly portrayed.  In the book, Diane is described as having dark hair, yet the cover shows Diane with flowing blonde hair.  Not sure if all the covers were painted at the same time, and the publisher simply did not bother to properly match them with the books, or if the artist was not given any details about the actual characters in the book to know how to properly represent them on the cover.  The art is gorgeous, there is no denying that; I just wish they had gotten the details right!  The cover art for the Pinnacle Books edition (shown above) correctly shows Diane with her dark hair - just not sure if the man behind her is supposed to represent Marc Maridon or Bill Janocek.  Either way, this cover is a slight bit creepier, with the midnight black sky and the spa further back in the scene.

 

The third edition of the book, published by Lancer, is somewhat similar to the later Lancer "Easy Eye" edition that I have.  The light blue sky, the blond haired beauty (rather than dark-haired), and the tudor-style building; however, in this instance, the spa is depicted as desolate and somewhat dilapidated, with a thin fog rolling in front of it.  And the ghostly image of Marc Meridon looking down over the spa building seems to intimate the control he has over his "domain" at Lucifer Cove, that he is always watching, and you cannot escape him.  I would be hesitant to say which of the three book covers offers the most "Gothic" version - the edition I own is obviously my favorite, but the Pinnacle Books cover is definitely darker, even if Diane does not really seem frightened at all.  This original Lancer edition comes across too stilted to me, although this rendition of Marc is probably the most powerful and frightening to date.

 

It is definitely clear with this book that the Lucifer Cove saga is the ongoing story of Marc Meridon and Christine Deeth - all of the other women who take center stage in the books that have come after that first story are mere supporting characters that give the reader a greater insight into Lucifer Cove itself and more hints at just who Marc Meridon is ... although I am still waiting to find out what his endgame with Christine Deeth really is.  I hope Coffman resolves that by the end of the sixth book and does not leave the reader hanging!  These books are not strong in the Gothic elements, but definitely fall more into the occult category.  It was the 1970s, though, so every publisher wanted to cash in on the Gothic craze, and thus, Lucifer Cove became Virginia Coffman's "Thrilling Occult Gothic Series" (at least they had the decency to put occult before Gothic!).

 

RATING:  8 miniature spy cameras out of 10 for proving that some people are above even the strongest of temptations - no matter how enticing and beautiful that temptation may be! 

Lucifer Cove, Book 2 - Priestess of the Damned (Virginia Coffman's Thrilling Occult Gothic Series)

"Nadine Janos became queen of the Cove's 'devil-cult' ... and reigned in satanic terror!" (cover blurb) 

 

Gothic-queen author Virginia Coffman's series set in Lucifer Cove continues in this second book.  First published in 1970, my edition of the book came out in 1973 with the stylized logo and gorgeous cover art.  While the first book dabbled somewhat into the occult aspect of the series (i.e. the devil, a Satan-cult, those eyes in the mirror, etc.), this second book walks into the occult / supernatural aspect in full force.The reader is no longer left with any questions as to whether demonic forces are at work in Lucifer Cove, and as such, the impact that has on the characters in the story (and the reader's expectations and hopes for those characters) is increased ten-fold!

 

Priestess of the Damned switches the focus from Christine Deeth (who was the main character from the first book, and who did not have so happy an ending) to Nadine Janos, who leads the cult in Lucifer's Cove that allegedly worships Satan himself ... but is nothing more than a fraudulent means by which Janos takes in quite the income through so-called donations to the devil himself, while the cult members and attendees simply satisfy their basest desires.  While readers of the first book wondered if the devil worshipers were sincere in their beliefs, or if it was all a front, readers of this book quickly learn that it is all fake, with Janos and her cohort, Sean O'Flannery, using special effects and theatrics to make it all seem dark and supernatural within the classic Greek temple located on the side of the mountain in Lucifer Cover.  After all, she was not really hurting anyone - if wealthy people wanted to pay her money under the guise of donations in order to indulge in animal-like lust, what crime was she committing?

 

But, as readers of the first book know, something is not right at Lucifer Cove.  O'Flannery suspects there is something wrong, and while Nadine has refused to see it up until now, even she is beginning to realize there is more to the owner, Marc Meridon, than meets the eye.  Why else would she have had O'Flannery do digging into the man's past - digging that led to no new information whatsoever.  Meridon's past is a complete blank, and his present hints at something more than just an investor in a secluded spa.  The more Nadine's curiosity gets the best of her, the more she starts to suspect, and the more she learns, the more she realizes just how much danger she (and everyone else) at Lucifer Cover could be in!  A supporting character seen only in brief snippets in The Devil's Mistress, Nadine takes the full spotlight, and while she is far from an innocent, I thoroughly enjoyed her snooping around and sneaky attempts to try and uncover what is really going on at the spa.  In a lot of ways, she could be considered a Nancy Drew-type character in this book (albeit a very flawed and selfish version!).

 

A number of subplots that began in the first book are continued here.  Nadine discovers, along with the reader, some of the secrets regarding all of those tudor-style houses that line the main street of Lucifer's Cove, which, of course, only opens up more questions.  Why are the houses simply facades, to give the effect they are more than just empty shells, not even completed in the back?  And what in the world is up with the urn of ashes Nadine finds in one of the houses - ashes of a famous actress who is known to have died years prior?  Christine Deeth is back in some small part, as she is coerced by Meridon to bring her sickly young son to the spa, under the guise that the springs might help him recover (although Christine begs Nadine to help her keep her son away, unaware Nadine has already promised Meridon to convince her to bring him there).  Christine's love for Meridone is obvious, yet Nadine picks up on an undercurrent, hinting that Christine has other motives and plans. of which Meridon is completely unaware.  In addition to that, Nadine uncovers the source of that black smoke that comes up from the sulfur springs on occasion, a discovery that turns out to be very deadly and nearly costs Nadine and a young boy their lives!  Thankfully, a certain black cat by the name of Kinkajou (affectionately referred to as "Kinky" in this book) leads them to safety.  And speaking of that darn cat, the reader gets more hints as to the true nature of the cat, and something I suspected to be true in the first book is pretty much confirmed (although not outright) in this book. Nadine certainly suspects it, and I have no doubt it is going to be revealed in a later book.  Last, but not least, by the end of the story, Nadine finds herself seeing visions - not only of a man dying (who later does die), but also of a sinister pair of eyes looking out from behind that upside down cross in her temple.  What will come of that, only time will tell...

 

While Nadine nearly meets her maker by the end of the story, her timely rescue leaves her in the arms of O'Flannery, wondering as Meridon tells her with a grin that she is one of his greatest allies. Nadine can't help but be concerned - is that a good thing, or a bad thing?

 

As with the first book, this second entry into the series went through three different printings with three different covers.  I love the one edition that I have, even if the depiction of Nadine Janos is inaccurate (since the story makes it clear she has dark hair, and the cover shows her with blond hair); yet, it has the same tudor building in the background, with the same light on in the second story window.  In fact, comparing the cover art, it appears the house IS the exact same image, with simply a different female lead painted in the foregoing over the house.  An earlier cover (of which I do not have an image) gives a more accurate picture of Nadine, with the dark hair and not-so-pretty face, with a background scene depicting a black-robed figure standing over  man kneeling before her on the ground.  A third cover art (from Pinnacle Books, which I also do not have an image) again shows Nadine in the foreground with dark hair (and a much sexier red dress) with a man who could be Meridon standing behind her and a different version of the tudor-style spa behind them, a second story window lit.  This cover is not bad at all, and probably the most Gothic-looking of the three, spouting a tagline that reads, "Would she enter the gates of heaven - or the portals of hell?"  These other two images can be found online, but are definitely not in the best of condition.

 

I will admit, I was uncomfortable reading this book, because of the heavy emphasis on the devil worshiping and constant references to "My lord Satan."  Although I know this is fiction, and even though the character in the story admits she is a fraud and merely leading the cult for the money, it still did not sit well with my Christian beliefs, and I was glad to finish it.  I'm hoping the next four books in the series will be similar to the first and rely more on the mystery aspect, and less on the occult and Satanic references.

 

RATING:  7 ghostly apparitions of Adolf Hitler out of 10 for an ever-increasing suspense-filled story that builds upon the mythos of Lucifer's Cove and its growing cast of characters.

Lucifer Cove, Book 1 - The Devil's Mistress (Virginia Coffman's Thrilling Occult Gothic Series)

"Christie Deeth found a paradise at the cover ... or was it the domain of Satan himself?" (cover blurb)

 

With the Harlequin Gothic Romance series now read, it is time to move on to another series, and this is one that took me quite a while to complete - and surprisingly, it was the first book in the series that was the most difficult to find (in the particular format I wanted), rather than the last, which is usually the case.  But I absolutely fell in love with the cover art and design of the Lancer Easy-Eye editions with the stylized logo and the blue sky over the Tudor style black and white house with the girl in the foreground.  Like with the consistency of cover style for the Harlequin Gothic line, I wanted to complete this series with the same cover format - and I was finally able to get this final book I needed at the end of last year at a price I was willing to pay (I mean, seriously, the prices I have seen copies of this book selling for is outrageous!).  Virginia Coffman (1914 - 2005) was one of the leading Gothic novelists, with more than 100 books to her name, most of which were Gothic romances.  It was her first novel, Moura, published in 1959, that is said to have started the "Gothic Wave" of the 1960s and '70s.  If you are going to read Gothics, then sooner or later, you will likely read one or more of Coffman's books.  More can be found about this author in the University of Nevada, Reno Virginia Coffman Papers.

 

The Devil's Mistress is the first of a six-book series set in Lucifer Cove, a small town nestled in a secluded valley of California.  First published in 1969, the book has gone through a number of printings and has had three different covers.  While the Lancer Easy-Eye editions tout the books as "Virginia Coffman's Thrilling Occult Gothic Series," I found the book to be more mystery than Gothic. That's not to say the book was not a great read; I just did not see that many Gothic elements in the story itself.  The "occult" label is probably a more accurate description of the story.  Lucifer Cove is basically a resort, centered around a hot springs spa that offers its guests their heart's desires.  But, as the saying goes, too much of a good thing ... the resort is place where people go to get away from it all ... to open themselves up to new experiences, where the only rules are that you must enjoy yourself to your heart's content.  Any pleasure imaginable can be found here.  For some, Lucifer Cove truly is a paradise, a dream come true.  For the soon-to-be divorced Christine ("Christie") Deeth, however, the Cove is a place of mystery, unexplained deaths, and temptation that could lead to destruction.

 

Coffman's main character is an auburn-haired beauty who receives an invitation to Lucifer Cove from an unexpected source.  An old heiress had visited her at the clinic in San Francisco, where Christie had been recovering from a mental breakdown.  She had left her husband and two children for a love affair with a younger man who quickly dumped her for the next young beauty to come his way. Her actions, though, had consequences, and she not only faced divorce from her husband, but she lost custody of her two children, and her husband refused to let her see them (gee, sounds like a somewhat current storyline on General Hospital!).  Christie would do anything to see her children again, and when the spinster tells her that spending a few weeks at Lucifer Cove could result in her getting her children, as well as her husband, back, Christie decides to take the chance.  After all, what did she have to lose?

 

The story opens with a slow build, as Christie is trying to locate the entrance to Lucifer Cover, some two hours south of San Franciso.  She happens across a lone man who is heading there, and he shows her the way through the cloudy entrance.  After following a maze of roads, she arrives in the small community, which contains not only the spa and the hot springs, but also some cottages, some shops, and a rather out-of-place temple that would likely fit in back in ancient Rome.  The man knows her name, even though she never told him, and as she gets checked in, she gets the odd feeling that she was expected here for weeks, even though she just made her reservations the day before.  There are plenty of warning signals that something is very wrong in Lucifer Cove, but like any good Gothic heroine, Christie ignores those signs, thinking she can face any problems that come her way.  Besides, Marc Meridon, the man she picked up on the road, and who appears to have an ownership interest in the spa, seems to have taken an interest in her, and she cannot deny the strange attraction she feels for him.

 

Then the woman in the room next to her turns up dead from an apparent suicide.  The guests and employees of Lucifer Cove seem to have more than a healthy respect for Meridon - from everything Christie can tell, they actually fear him.  What kind of power does he have over these people?  And what is up with those strange, glowing eyes that she, and others, can just barely make out in the mirrors that are everywhere in every room of the place?  And are those devil worshipers who attend nightly ceremonies in the temple for real, or is it all just for show, so the woman running it (Nadine Janos) can make some easy money?  And what is up with that cat, Kinkajou, who just seems to appear and disappear, just like Marc Meridon himself?  Strange things are afoot, and the longer Christie stays at the spa, the more she realizes there is a dark power that takes a hold of those who give in to their base desires.  When Christie's almost ex-husband shows up with the family's housekeeper, Christie realizes she must do whatever it takes to get them away from Lucifer Cove before they are sucked into whatever is really going on there!

 

Coffman truly surprised me with this book.  The story was engaging, and I found myself rooting for Christie to get to the bottom of everything, reveal the truth behind Lucifer Cove, and leave (whether with her former husband or a new love interest), never to look back.  But that did not happen.  Coffman presents her characters with choices, and each choice made has consequences, some of which are heavy and others of which are deadly.  In the end, Christie must make a choice between her own freedom and her love of her children, and let's just say the story does not end at all the way I had expected or hoped.  While one may think at first that the events transpiring in this spa are all simply manipulations of some mastermind behind the scenes, Coffman leaves it very much open to interpretation as to whether there is black magic, or even Satanic powers, at work, or whether everything is simply coincidence and the over-active imaginations of already troubled people.  I have my suspicions, particularly about Meridon and Klinkajou - but I'm guessing I will have to wait for future books to reveal those truths (if they ever do at all!).

 

As I said above, the book lacks a lot of the standard tropes that one usually finds in these Gothic novels.  There are no secret passages, no young woman trying to uncover some mystery in the dark house where she finds herself.  There are no two men, both vying for the heroine's affections, with one turning out to be the villain after all.  No ghosts, no haunting sounds, no long-hid secrets to be revealed.  Instead, we get a small community that seems to be controlled by one man, who may or may not be using occult or demonic powers to do so.  There is a scene near the end of the book where the reader is given a rather frightening description of what Christie sees (and which, I believe, gives a very strong hint as to who and what Meridon really is!), but whether that is meant to be what she really saw, or what she only imagined she saw in her heightened state of fear ... well, that remains to be seen in later books (I hope!).

 

Not sure who provided the cover art for the edition I have (the cover depicted first above), but I find that cover to be the most attractive and alluring - even if the artist incorrectly portrayed Christie with dark hair rather than the reddish hair she is described as having in the book.  The spa building in the background, however, is a perfect capture of how it, all the other buildings in Lucifer Cove, are described in the story.  There is even a light on in the second story window, keeping with the tradition of Gothic covers from this era. Another printing of the book (see above, middle) is a bit more Gothic in nature, with the dark, brooding house in the background, the mist rolling in, the night sky; however, I do not like how Christie appears to be standing in grass up to her neck, and honestly, that woman on the cover is not attractive at all!  The third cover (the cover to the right, here) accurately shows Christie with her auburn hair, and it has the spa more accurately painted.  Not sure about the red sky thing going on, unless that color was chosen to match the lettering of the title, or to give readers the color of blood on the cover as an enticement to see what the story inside holds.  I do think the tagline for this edition is appropriate:  "Was he the man of her dreams - or the prince of darkness?"  That question makes one think this is more of a nocturnal romance rather than an "occult Gothic."

 

While not at all the type of story I was expecting, and definitely not a happy ending I'm used to with these Gothics, I did enjoy the book for what it was.  And looking ahead at the description of the next book, it seems the characters do carry over from one book to the next - book two contains a story that centers around Nadine Janos, the devil worshiping priestess who appears a few times in this first book.  With that in mind, I'm hoping Coffman builds upon an over-arching story with each book, so that by the sixth and final book, we will see a satisfying resolution, with all questions answered and the villain either redeemed or vanquished.  Looking forward to see what the next five books have waiting for me when I read them!

 

RATING:  9 black gowns and pointed hoods out of 10 for a completely different kind of Gothic tale hinting at a dark power that could come from the one named in the title of both the series and this first book!