Isobel Blackthorn

Too Bright for Murder

Ruth Finlay Mysteries Book 2

“The storyline kept me guessing until the end.”

“a classic Agatha Christie tale”

About Too Bright for Murder

When Ruth Finlay accompanies her neighbour Doris Cleaver and the Mahjong club on a long weekend in the picturesque town of Bright, she’s hoping for a relaxing time researching the town for a feature article. Instead, the death of one of the tour party catapults her into an investigation she could surely do without.

Who killed Burt Braithwaite and why? Surely not one of the ladies of the Mahjong club? With too many suspects, only one small clue and few leads to follow up on, Ruth grows desperate to find answers. Her desperation grows as she finds herself under suspicion for the murder.

When Ruth discovers that a second death connected to the holiday home took place five years before, she is determined to discover a link. And to make things even more complicated, her neighbour and sidekick Doris disappears at the local farmer’s market.

A delightful Australian cozy mystery filled with quirky characters and unexpected twists, TOO BRIGHT FOR MURDER is the second book in Isobel Blackthorn’s Ruth Finlay Mysteries.

Here’s a universal link that takes you to a variety of bookstores. https://books2read.com/u/baEx6y

You can also find a copy on Amazon

Alice A. Bailey – Vita & Eredità

La biografía di Alice Bailey in italiano, tradotta con grande cura da Stefania Parente

Ho scritto questa biografia dell’occultista sconosciuto e incompreso negli anni 2016-2020. La sua importanza è enorme nel mondo della spiritualità, ma la sua influenza si trova dietro le quinte. Ho scritto il libro con grande cura e affetto, e anche con distacco accademico.

la descrizione del libro

Dalle tragiche origini di orfana aristocratica fino a diventare la madre del movimento spirituale New Age, Alice A. Bailey è una delle figure dell’occulto più incomprese dell’era moderna.

Il viaggio della Bailey è una storia di fede, dalle origini cristiane ortodosse, attraverso una lunga crisi spirituale, fino alla ritrovata fede nella Teosofia. Mistica e ricercatrice, fondatrice di organizzazioni spirituali globali che ha superato una serie di avversità, il passato della Bailey è costellato di ingiustizie, miti e idee sbagliate, tra cui quella di essere un’antisemita e una razzista con un’agenda oscura.

Con scandali e controversie messi a nudo, la vita straordinaria della Bailey si rivela come un’eredità potente e notevole.

Potete trovare varie edizioni qui:

https://books2read.com/u/bzKZa2

Alice A. Bailey Vida e Legado Em Português

Escrevi esta biografia da esoterista Bailey, muitas vezes desconhecida e incompreendida, entre os anos 2016-2020. Sua importância no mundo da espiritualidade contemporânea é enorme, porém sua maior influência se situa por detrás das cenas exteriores. Escrevi esse livro com muito cuidado e carinho, e também com desapego acadêmico. Espero que gostem.

“Uma leitura obrigatória para qualquer estudante Bailey, para qualquer pessoa interessada no movimento da Nova Era, e para aqueles que se perguntam, no meio do nosso mundo confuso e dividido, onde tudo isto vai acabar?” – Steven Chernikeeff, autor de Esoteric Apprentice

Desde os trágicos começos como órfã aristocrática até se tornar a mãe do movimento espiritual da Nova Era, Alice A. Bailey é uma das figuras ocultistas mais mal compreendidas da era moderna.

A jornada de Bailey é uma história de fé, desde seu começo cristão ortodoxo, passando por uma prolongada crise espiritual até uma nova crença na Teosofia. Mística e buscadora, fundadora de organizações espirituais pelo mundo, superou muitas adversidades e o passado de Bailey está cheio de injustiças, mitos e conceitos errados – incluindo que ela era antissemita e racista, com uma agenda sombria.

Com escândalos e controvérsias reveladas, a vida extraordinária de Bailey é mostrada como um legado poderoso e notável.

Esta biografia de Alice Bailey em português, traduzida com muito cuidado por Marcia Brando.

Se podem encontrar várias edições aqui: https://books2read.com/u/4jP5XD

Alice A Bailey – Madre de la nueva era: vida y legado

La biografía de Alice Bailey en español, traducido con mucho cuidado por Celeste Mayorga.

Escribí esta biografía de la ocultista a la vez desconocida y incomprendida en los años 2016-2020. Su importancia es enorme en el mundo de espiritualidad, pero su influencia se sitúa detrás de escena. Escribí el libro con mucho cuidado y cariño, y también con desapego académico.

La propaganda publicitaria

Desde sus trágicos comienzos como huérfana aristocrática hasta convertirse en la madre del movimiento espiritual de la Nueva Era, Alice A. Bailey es una de las figuras ocultistas más incomprendidas de la era moderna.

El viaje de Bailey es una historia de fe, desde los comienzos del cristianismo ortodoxo, a través de una prolongada crisis espiritual, hasta una nueva creencia en la Teosofía. Mística y buscadora, fundadora de organizaciones espirituales globales y superadora de la adversidad, el pasado de Bailey está plagado de injusticias, mitos y conceptos erróneos, incluido que era antisemita y racista con una agenda oscura.

Con escándalos y controversias al descubierto, la extraordinaria vida de Bailey se revela como un legado poderoso y notable.

Se pueden encontrar varias ediciones aquí:

https://books2read.com/u/4jP5XD

Six Reasons Why I Love Gothic Fiction

Firstly, what makes fiction gothic? In a nutshell, gothic fiction contains a mix of romance and fear, a gloomy or bleak atmosphere, death and decay and madness and the supernatural, the story held together by mystery and suspense – all of these elements aiming to heighten emotions in readers. Gothic isn’t horror and often falls under the umbrella of historical fiction, and yet it doesn’t really belong in that genre either. Definitions and categorisations aside, what matters is what’s to love about gothic fiction.

Here’s What I Love About Gothic Fiction

Gothic fiction has a strong tradition and has been enthralling readers for nearly three centuries. Horace Walpole is considered to be the first gothic novelist, making use of the supernatural in The Castle of Otranto in 1764. Ann Radcliffe included the supernatural in her novels in the 1790s, including The Mysteries of Udolpho. Then along came Emily Bronte, Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, Daphne du Maurier, all memorable writers of classic gothic novels in the English language. The bar has been set and it’s quite high.
Gothic fiction tackles challenging themes. The genre is attractive both for writers and readers who wish to explore something confronting in a rich and meaningful way. By venturing into the dark side of human nature, gothic fiction delves into whatever is lurking in the shadows. It’s the ideal genre for exploring dark family secrets. It’s perfect for portraying twisted and tortured minds.
Gothic fiction majors in atmosphere. Gothic novels tend to be moody and the sense of place is immersive, drawing readers into sinister, creepy, and/or strikingly bleak settings. Big old houses with creaky doors, moors and mountains and wild coastlines. Settings that become another character in the novel. It isn’t a gothic novel if it doesn’t have an eerie setting.
Gothic fiction has complexity and depth. There is nothing shallow about a good gothic fiction novel. Often present are themes of: innocence and naivety versus menace and malevolence; antagonists seeking power and control; legacies and strange inheritances; curses and hauntings; tricks and traps; strong occult elements. What a delicious mix of themes and elements to work with, if as a writer, you are prepared for the dark side.
Gothic fiction is not easy to write. Holding together the various tropes of the genre and never letting go of the charged atmosphere takes skill. Every genre has its demands. To write good gothic fiction, an author needs skills in writing mysteries, suspense, and romance, as well as an ability to write historical fiction. Writing in the gothic genre requires a lot of poise and good judgement to carry the reader along, to not lose sight of plot threads and that all-important atmosphere on the one hand, and not overcook things on the other. As an author, I like honing my skills, setting myself a challenge, sweating over my writing. I feel at home writing gothic fiction. But it is hard work.
Readers love gothic fiction! What more is there to say? Other than that I’ve subverted the “six things I love” search engine trope to draw attention to my latest release What Happened at the Abbey (Next Chapter Publishing 2023). I was more nervous than I’ve ever been over the release of a new work. And more than relieved when all of the twenty-one book bloggers who reviewed What Happened at the Abbey praised my book.

Book Tour Highlights

“a masterfully crafted gothic mystery…a standout in the genre” – Review Thick and Thin

“a spine-tingling Gothic chiller perfect for cold winter nights” – Bookish Jottings

“Immediately I was pulled into this book…The language used is fantastic” – For the Love of All Books

“I love a good mystery and this historical fiction book had bags of it!” – Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle

“tense and atmospheric” – Just Book Talk

“With everyone hiding something, it is impossible not to get caught up in the drama.” – Kirsty Reviews

If you are interested in finding a copy, go here: https://books2read.com/u/mvBPjj

What Happened at the Abbey

The Straithbairn Trilogy Book 1

“a masterfully crafted gothic mystery..a standout in the genre” – Review Thick and Thin

“a spine-tingling Gothic chiller perfect for cold winter nights” – Bookish Jottings

“kept me enthralled and entertained to the very last page” – Amazon reviewer

About What Happened at the Abbey

When Ingrid flees a violent husband to become a housekeeper in the Scottish Highlands, she discovers the family she works for has a much darker history than her own.

Who haunts Strathbairn? Why are the adult McCleod children at each other’s throats? And why does the youngest sneak off at night? As Ingrid searches for answers, she grows ever more fearful that her husband will track her down.

Set in late 19th century Scottish Highlands, WHAT HAPPENED AT THE ABBEY is a gothic mystery brimming with intrigue, ghostly drama, and family secrets.

Here is a universal link that will take you to an online bookstore of your choice. https://books2read.com/u/mvBPjj

Six must read books set in the Canary Islands

Transport yourself to the Lanzarote and Fuerteventura with these six delightful novels

Multi-award winning and translated into multiple languages, these Canary Islands novels continue to warm hearts around the world.

Written over a period of ten years, these novels capture the mood of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, each in its own way.

The stories are told mostly from the perspective of tourists and expats. Each novel is written as a standalone and covers a different theme. There is a story world that starts with The Drago Tree and ends with Sing Like a Canary. Characters come and go, take centre stage in one novel then retreat into the background in another. Here they are!

The Drago Tree

Set against a panoramic backdrop of dramatic island landscapes and Spanish colonial history, The Drago Tree is an intriguing tale of betrayal, conquest and love in all its forms.

“I love love loved it and will re-read again and again. Stunning.” – NetGalley reviewer

https://books2read.com/u/49kPA0

A Matter of Latitude

When local Lanzarote anti-corruption activist, Celestino, is t-boned on a lonely stretch of road, he knows the collision was no accident.

“The mystery and intrigue are outstanding.” – Baroness Book Trove

https://books2read.com/u/4DKAp7

Clarissa’s Warning

A lottery jackpot changes Claire Bennett’s life.

She buys an ancient stone ruin on the island of her dreams. Her mystic aunt Clarissa warns her of danger, but Claire pays no heed.

“unquestionably has the wow factor that thrills the reader” – Hasanthi’s Book World

https://books2read.com/u/bpwGeg

A Prison in the Sun

After millennial ghostwriter Trevor Moore unravels the harrowing true story of a little-known concentration camp that incarcerated gay men in the 1950s and 60s.

“an excellent work of mystery fiction” – Readers’ Favorite

https://books2read.com/u/3GrMXQ

The Ghost of Villa Winter

English psychic Clarissa Wilkinson is holidaying in the Canary Islands. Hoping to have an adventure, she boards a tour bus bound for Villa Winter, a secret Nazi base on the idyllic island of Fuerteventura.

“Thoroughly engrossing and entertaining” – It’s Raining Books

https://books2read.com/u/4XDgVv

Sing Like a Canary

Retired police officer Marjorie Pierce is on her way to Lanzarote to track down her old informer, Billy McKenzie. Billy ended Marjorie’s career, and she needs an explanation; an apology.

“Isobel Blackthorn has a huge range as a writer, an it’s used perfectly here” – Amazon reviewer

https://books2read.com/u/4ElPgg

Misterios de las Islas Canarias

Cinco Novelas en las Islas Canarias

Estoy encantada de anunciar que mi serie de novelas situada en las hermosas islas de Lanzarote y Fuerteventura ahora está disponible en español.

Conoces a personajes ingleses muy divertidos y graciosos, junto con algunos personajes majorero o conejero. La historia, la cultura, la geografía, el turismo y el medio ambiente son temas exploradas dentro de las tapas. En el original edición inglés, Una Prisión al Sol ha ganado dos premios internacionales.

Puedes encontrar a las cinco novelas aquí con enlaces para comprar. https://isobelblackthorn.com/libros-en-espanol/

Espero que les gusten

Discovering Fuerteventura 600 years ago

When Fuerteventura was Erbanie…

…there were trees and natural springs and rivers in the valleys. It’s hard to imagine today. So I have uploaded an extract from The Canarian, written by monk Pierre Bontier and priest Jean le Verrier, two members who journeyed with Juan Bethencourt on his conquest of the Canary Islands.

Trees full of fruit? Streams? What a rich description of how things used to be! Viva Erbanie …

How to Approach the Esoteric teachings of Alice A. Bailey

It was twenty years ago when I began researching the Alice Bailey teachings for my PhD. I found myself in the School of Social Ecology at Western Sydney University under the supervision of Dr Lesley Kuhn who steered me in the direction of epistemology, a branch of philosophy concerned with the study of knowledge. I had to consider what kind of knowledge is conveyed in the Bailey books? I needed to explore the metaphysical underpinnings. But my main focus was studying esoteric ways of knowing.

I followed in the footsteps of William James’ The Varieties of Religious Experience and Evelyn Underhill’s Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness. And I went on an experiential journey of my own. I’ll never forget those months of dedication and journalling. As I read and read, I applied the Alice Bailey teachings to myself and my life, noting any insights, reactions, observations as they sprang to mind. I laid myself bare. I wrote 100,000 words of journal material.

Esoteric Ways of Knowing

My engagement with the teachings led me to ponder esotericism as a way of knowing or perceiving ourselves and the world around us. I came across a paper by leading scholar of Western Esotericism Walter Hanegraaff in which he referred to two kinds of gnosis – occultistic and artistic. The former tends to regard esoteric knowledge as concrete truth and the latter adopts a more fluid approach, regarding esoteric knowledge as metaphoric rather than literal. This distinction between two ways of knowing lodged in my mind and I used it as a discriminatory tool in my thesis.

What Hanegraaff was describing I knew all too well. Esoteric knowledge itself is always contestable and the sceptic can easily dismiss such knowledge as bogus or nonsense or fantasy. The spiritual seeker, on the other hand, meeting such knowledge for the first time, may not only decide that the knowledge represents something real, but that it is of itself absolutely literally true. It’s like auto-indoctrination.

Accessing Esoteric Knowledge

Esoteric ways of knowing rely on esoteric knowledge to access metaphysical reality. Access is gained through both imagination and intuition, both relying on esoteric knowledge to provide the map.

Alice Bailey provides us with a map.

It is very easy to mistake the map for the territory. It is very easy to get lost inside or lose your head inside esoteric knowledge. The Bailey teachings are abstruse and authoritative. They present an elaborate metaphysical cosmology in intricate detail, they position humanity, right down to the human unit – you, me, us – as central to the evolution of the entire solar system. It’s exhilarating and awe-inspiring as a whole new reality opens up in the reading. It might be worth using Chögyam Trungpa’s Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism as a companion read to offset the dangers of ego-inflation.

Esotericists talk of veils and hidden truth.

Somewhere on my own journey I realised the teachings, while magnificent in themselves, are, in their entirety, a veil.

Isobel Blackthorn, PhD, is the author of The Unlikely Occultist: a biographical novel of Alice A. Bailey and the biography Alice A. Bailey: Life & Legacy. Her PhD, polished and rendered much more readable, can be found here https://isobelblackthorn.com/2022/05/31/experiencing-the-texts-of-alice-a-bailey/ She is also the author of Spiritual Changemakers, a documentary memoir of the Twelves meditation group as they advance the work of Alice Bailey’s Triangles.