The inner jacket says: 

With the first few troubling lacunae in her days, Branwen Ericsson begins a nightmare journey that will draw her to the edge of madness and jeopardize her marriage and life itself. And the deteriorated old mansion, poised high above Lake Michigan, which she and her husband have undertaken to renovate in an attempt to make a new start after the tragic crib death of their son will prove no sanctuary.  

In the lonely nights when Alan is away consulting for his budding civil engineering firm, the wind off the lake moans through the old-fashioned speaking tubes in every room, following Branwen in her restless wanderings and whispering a name that haunts her. Rhiannon. Is Branwen right in believing these voices that mock her, assume her identity, and urge her toward self-destruction are simply imaginary, projections from the subconscious, sparked by a long-repressed guilt for a childhood tragedy- or is there a darker explanation? Is Rhiannon reaching out from the grace to possess her? A chilling novel of the supernatural, Triad evokes an entirely eerie and compelling duel of wills fought from either side of the grave.   

Mary Leader (b. Wisconsin, 19 March 1918; d. Mequon, Wisconsin, 27 April 2004) 
 
Mary E. Bartelt was apparently the only child of Arthur H. Bartelt (1878-1952) and his wife Mabel Hall Duncan (1882-1964).  (The surname “Bartelt” is sometimes given incorrectly as “Bartlet.”) 
 
Little is known of her early life. She married Eric S. Leader (1910-1973), sometime after 1940; they had no children. At the time of her death, she had lived in Mequon, Wisconsin, for many years. As Mary Leader she published two novels, both supernatural in nature, Triad (New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, [February] 1972), and Salem’s Children (New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, [May] 1979).  The author blurb on Triad notes that Leader had had “a varied career as both actress and journalist.” 

It was tough to find material to tell me a lot about Mary Leader. I also know now that she has another book I would love to read. My interest was peaked when I received a request to look up the title to see if the library I work at has it. Sadly we did not, but we offer what’s called inner library loans from other libraries across the United States. I suggested it to the patron and they went on to tell me that they had looked into buying the book and it was selling for a pretty penny. She said she couldn’t commit to buying it for the price without reading it first. She explained how it inspired the song Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac.  

I wish I could tell you I devoured it immediately the day I got it, but it took me a few weeks to even manage to pick it up. However, the universe aligned, and I had the downtime to read. By the end of the first chapter, I was hooked. Within three days I had it finished. It left such an imprint on my brain that it compelled me to write a brief review. Ironically, that is Branwen’s profession. It starts off with her getting a letter back that the review she sent in didn’t match up to what she usually produces, and she would need to submit one for the book they were sending her instead. Unsure of what they were referencing, she looks over it, a mixture of emotions being stirred when she sees it crudely written. Clearly not her work. A prank of some sort to insult her and her reputation. In time, many of more of these pranks occur, only she starts to experience gaps in her memory. She gets told by her husband that she has asked him to call her by a name long forgotten and not belonging to her. It’s owned by a ghost she thought was buried but has been with her whole life.   

I think there is a joy that I’m having here recalling the little Easter eggs in the early chapters. She describes these early occurrences of objects moving or straightening themselves. I love it when a novel takes me through a puzzle almost. Twist, turns, surprises. It’s been lucky lately that I have been able to make time to read for fun. To stumble upon a story that really holds and inspires me is a privilege.  

 
For instance, after others read it, I want to ask them “What do you think of Branwen’s cousin?” I experienced utter shock moving through the pages and seeing the different responses might offer interesting perspectives. I thought it brilliant to take the reader through such a journey. I cannot recommend this book enough.  

I will happily accept any similar reads if you want to suggest them below.