City of Masks

A Cree Black Thriller

By: Daniel Hecht

Narrated by: Anna Fields

Length: 15 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Introducing Cree Black, a parapsychologist with a haunted past.

When Lila Beauforte takes up residence in her ancestral home, the 150-year-old Beauforte House in the Garden District of New Orleans, she is terrified by ghostly apparitions. The family reluctantly calls Cree Black for help. Based out of Seattle, Cree, a parapsychologist with a degree from Harvard, is a "ghost buster." But as Cree gets closer to the truth, the proverbial skeletons in the closet of the prestigious Beauforte family come crashing down on her, and she must struggle to keep her own ghosts at bay.

Daniel Hecht has created a plausible, heart-stopping ghost thriller. Relying on the science of parapsychology to spine-tingling effect, he brings to life a remarkably compelling character in Cree Black, as well as the ghosts she confronts.

Listen to more Cree Black thrillers.

©2003 Daniel Hecht (P)2003 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"The authentic, supernatural locale contributes the requisite spooky atmosphere...and the eccentric characters are well drawn and believable." (Booklist)

psychologically thorough

What did you love best about City of Masks?

i was so pleased to finally listen to a book that had some in depth and accurate emotional and psychological content

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

for the sake of tension and dynamic i understand why there were a few teenage style lover spats but was a bit disappointed

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no extreme reactions, just an enjoyable listen

Any additional comments?

hecht did a great job of not getting too wild with the paranormal aspect

Great Listening

This is a great book and well worth the money! The story moves along well and the ghost gives you chills. The narrator is very clear and believable. Could not stop listening. Great chiller, thriller, detective book. Can't wait to hear LAND OF ECHOES. Thank you Daniel Hecht.

Charmed in New Orleans

Part suspense, part romance and all supernatural, this is a charming novel. The protagonist, a "ghost psychologist" with a troubled past involving the paranormal, is surprisingly believable. Her closest associates are also well-drawn, and New Orleans is lovingly and richly detailed. Like others, I found the romance lacking, but thought the suspense in shifting through the layers of history and family relationships to get to the heart of the ghost was well worth the time spent. I'm looking forward to the second book in the series.

Good Story.... Bland Narrator....

This is a good story... But Anna Field's voice isn't the best I've heard. Her southern accents (especially the men) are pretty awful. Her voice also has a certain annoying emotionless quality. Its a great book... But the narrator does nothing for me.

Depth of characters and top notch reader

A new basis for a mystery/thriller. The characters and their interaction keep you thinking. The reader makes the characters live for the listener. This could not happen without excellent writing and Daniel Hecht provides this ... and more.

The research into New Orleans, parapsychology and the history give deeper interest for the listener. I kept guessing as to the outcome and kept being suprised.

I look forward to more from these characters from this writer.

Interesting read

I needed a new book, a new author, something different. This was a good book, it did pull me in but not enough to actually look into the series.

Different Kind of Mystery

More detailed (and a bit repetitive) than I normally care for, but it did immerse me in the story and add a feeling of authenticity. Imaginative, Powerful. Great mystery with loads of twists, excellent characterization and setting development—which accounts for the slower pace (can’t have it both ways). The narrator is phenomenal with voices and accents, but her narration took some getting used to (worth it); her voice is clear and easy to understand. Romantic element provided tension and plot, and gave background for main character (but this is most definitely NOT a romance (check my reviews on Amazon, I'm a romance reader, but not a romance listener). The next one is already on my list.

Good Story!

If you could sum up City of Masks in three words, what would they be?

Interesting
Exciting
Thought-provoking (I cheated...4 words, lol)

Any additional comments?

This is very different from what I usually read or listen to, but it was very good. I'm not a ghost story person, so it surprised me that I liked it so much. It is very different with the

Good story, good reading

I previously listened to Land of Echos, also very good, and found City of Masks to be just as good and engaging. In fact, it’s because I like Land of Echos so much that I picked up City of Masks. The characters are well-developed and believable. I liked the setting, having visited New Orleans a few times. Hecht captures the nuances of the culture, human interactions, the weather, the sights, sounds and smells of the city. It took me right back to a night walking down Bourbon St. and a day driving around looking for a restaurant. It’s magical and prosaic and sinister all at the same time.

A promising start to a new series

Engaging characters, and an interesting plot. I look forward to more Cree Black. I did find it frustrating that there seems to be a lot going on "behind the scenes" so to speak. Ed and Joyce need to be fully developed and the back story better explained. It read more like a middle-of-the-series book rather than first-in-a-series.