Dancing with the Shadows
Driven by a disturbing spiritual connection with her deceased grandmother Gwynth, Abby sets out to discover why her grandmother disappeared in 1925 and why no one in the family will talk about her.
Now available on Amazon.
Rural Reading Room, North Huron Publishing, Blyth, ON
Village Bookshop, Bayfield, ON
Take Cover Books, Peterborough, ON
Dancing with the Shadows
Driven by a disturbing spiritual connection with her deceased grandmother Gwynth, Abby sets out to discover why her grandmother disappeared in 1925 and why no one in the family will talk about her.
Now available on Amazon.
Rural Reading Room, North Huron Publishing, Blyth, ON
Village Bookshop, Bayfield, ON
Take Cover Books, Peterborough, ON
Abby was eight when her grandmother’s spirit first appeared on the back lane of the family farm. Although Abby had never met her grandmother Gwynth, she was certain of the woman’s identity. Her spirit began to appear more often, leaving Abby with the conviction that Gwynth wanted something from her.
Both the visits and Abby’s reaction to them were equally disturbing. She developed migraines every time she saw her grandmother, along with another syndrome: the merging of smells and colours, and the intensification of noises. Later in life, Abby identified this condition as synesthesia, but as a young girl, she absorbed the word that others used to describe her—“strange”.
Now in her forties and living in Burlington, Ontario, Abby sets out to find the truth about Gwynth Herriott: why she disappeared and left a young son behind, why no one will talk about her, and what Gwynth was trying to tell Abby so many years ago.
Every second chapter takes us back to Gwynth’s story in Huron County, Ontario. We follow her from 1918 through to 1925. While Abby, in the 1990s, tries to untangle her grandmother’s story, she must also concentrate on her career as a photojournalist, devoted to the plight of endangered animals.
Dancing With The Shadows has two main themes. Gwynth and Abby’s lives clearly show the stigma faced by children and adults who are labeled as different, along with the resulting damage that can affect families for decades. As well, the novel highlights the importance of pursuing the truth to reach closure.
Reviews
A Really Good Book
A sign of a really good book is that when you put it down and go about your business, you wonder how the characters are doing. When you finish the book and put it away, the characters remain with you, and you continue to mull their experiences over in your mind. \"Dancing with the Shadows\" by Sandi Plewis, is one of those books. Set in both a rural Ontario County (Huron) around 1919 and a large metropolis (Toronto) around 1994 the story fluctuates between the two locales, two time periods and two family members, the main characters. The author’s descriptions and attention to detail bring all the characters and their complex natures to life. Not only does Sandi Plewis tell a heartfelt story, but she also introduces the reader to synesthesia, a condition in which people experience a mingling of different sensations. For example, a smell triggers a certain colour. The need for environmental protection is also a major theme throughout the book and a gentle reminder that more needs to be done. If you feel like curling up with a cup of tea and enjoying a good story, this is the book.
— Lezley Prokop Refreshing
What a refreshing book to read. It left me in suspense to the very last page. I so enjoyed it. The best book I have read in a long while.
— Helena (Leny) Wagenaar-DeRuijter Captured my Interest
Dancing with the Shadows captured my interest right from the start. I love a good mystery, especially when it involves long, lost family. The back and forth from present time with the main character, to when the grandmother was in her youth kept me captivated. This story is a great example of how things are not always as they seem to be.
— Janet Harris A Real Page Turner
So enjoyed the book. A real page turner. Intrigued right to the end.
— Grace DePutter Intriguing
Dancing with the Shadows is an intriguing story of a granddaughter's journey to learn more about herself and unspoken family secrets.
— Jackie Long Difficult to Put Down
A great read. Highly recommend.
— Ruth Nabb An Engaging Story
Dancing with the Shadows, the third novel by Sandi Plewis, is an engaging story. The reader’s imagination is captivated as a woman searches for answers about her memories.
— Fran Hook