Beyond Midnight

Widow Helen Evett already has a plateful of problems--she has her Salem, Mass., preschool to run, two rebellious teenagers and a dotty aunt to look after--so she certainly doesn't need a ghost in her life. The ghost--as far as Helen can surmise--is Linda, the recently deceased wife of Nat Brynes and mother of adorable three-year-old Katie. After Linda's apparition gets Helen's attention, with the help of vicious headaches, noises in the night and the overpowering scent of perfume, it sends two cryptic messages: Find out why Linda died; keep Katie safe. But safe from what, or who? Certainly not Nat, Katie's devoted, loving father, with whom Helen is falling in love. Full of charm and wit, Stockenberg's latest paranormal romance (following Time After Time) is truly enthralling.(Aug.)