Ballet Noir

by Caroline Miller

Her first tour in Europe, Tara Bentley, young prima ballerina with a small Seattle dance company, watches her excitement turn to horror when she's haunted by the voice of her deceased dance teacher, Yelena Natilova. She fears she might be going mad until she meets a necromancer who assures her the voice is real. Is he a charlatan? Or, has he the power to guide her through this nightmare as she struggles to hold her career together? Their dash through the great theaters of Europe becomes the performance of a lifetime with death waiting in the wings.

216 pages, Paperback

Published April 14, 2016

About the author

Miller served a term as an original councilor with METRO, Portland's regional government. She later served two consecutive four-year terms (the maximum permitted) as a member of the Multnomah County Commission, leaving office in 1988. During her political tenure in public life, Miller was a strong advocate of the need for government and individuals to cooperate in providing educational and community services. She also headed the Portland Federation of Teachers and won Oregon’s Labor Hall of Fame.
She holds a B.A. and M.A.T. degree from Reed College and an M.A. in Literature from Northern Arizona University where she graduated with honors.
Since leaving the political arena Miller been heavily involved with writing. She has published four novels: Ballet Noir in 2016, Trompe l'Oeil in 2011, Gothic Spring and Heart Land in 2009. Her short stories have been published in Children's Digest and Grit and Tales of the Talisman, and her short story, Under the Bridge and Beneath the Moon, were dramatized for radio in Oregon and Washington.

Reviews

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A ballet tour through Europe, a famous ballerina that has passed, and a former student of the deceased ballerina makes for an exciting read with the beautiful, descriptive writing of Caroline Miller.

Tagging along and traveling through Europe with the tour group was fun and exciting as we the readers learned about each city the ballet group stopped in.

Tara was the main character who kept seeing and hearing ghosts that turned out to be someone she knew.

The paranormal aspect of the book wasn’t a favorite because I usually do not read paranormal, but Ms. Miller's marvelous writing style and story line that included some romance took over, and the paranormal parts even though they were a large part of the storyline, didn't overpower the book.

If you enjoy traveling in Europe, a bit of romance, and paranormal, you will enjoy BALLET NOIR. 4/5

I received this book free of charge and without compensation by the author in return for an honest review.

[Christine Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

If a good book is meant to carry one to places far away, with characters that are well-written, fun, compassionate and even devious, if it's hoped the storyline will be entertaining, intriguing and enlightening, then this 4th and most recent novel by Caroline Miller is a great book and successful in every way. Winter, spring, summer or fall--any season will be a perfect time to travel with this ballet company from the Pacific Northwest as they perform in some of the most beautiful cities and Halls in Europe. What happens along the way will determine the destiny for many. I recommend this book to any reader who enjoys a love story, stretching their imagination, journeying to the unknown, traveling throughout Europe and enjoying what they read. Another wonderfully written novel by Ms. Miller and a worthy addition to one's library...

[Robert]

Written by a very good friend, looking forward to it!