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The winning cover in this year’s contest is Abandon by Carla Neggers. Readers have come to expect excellent covers on this author’s books, since they have made the finals in this category for the last three years. Voters were drawn to the unique color scheme of this cover and were intrigued by the lonely house in the distance. Amanda was one of this cover’s fans. “While there were several in this category that I really liked, this was the only one for me that really struck the balance between romantic and dark at the same time. The house on the lake looks so serene, but the purple sky and clouds are an omen of bad things.” Caroline agreed. “The color scheme is very unusual and interesting, while the light shining from one window of the lonely house promises warmth right in the middle of a creepy, exciting tale – just what a romantic suspense novel should have!” Karyn also loved this cover. “The color is creepy as well as utterly beautiful. The river king of reminds me of the Styx, the river of the Greek underworld, and that light coming from the house on the cover might be your salvation, or your way to hell. I simply love the doom and gloominess and the sublime landscape. The cover embodies the title to a T. Perfect.” |
The second place cover was Here I Stay by Barbara Michaels, just a few votes behind. Over the last couple of years, several of Barbara Michaels’ classic gothic novels have been reprinted with new covers, and these covers have made the romantic suspense finals for the last two years. (When a book is reprinted with a new cover, it’s eligible for the contest in the year it was reissued.) Readers loved the classic, gothic feeling of this atmospheric cover. Lauren was one of those gothic fans. “Nothing says gothic like a foreboding house on a stormy night.” Leah agreed. “This spooky house screams “gothic”, and helps differentiate it from so many landscape or woman-in-jeopardy covers.” Malvina loved the house. “A fabulously gothic house, all pointy gables and spires and creepy looking bits. Of course something suspenseful is going to happen there! And check out the little walk at the top – perfect place to chuck someone off the roof and impale them on a spire. Or do some foul play… Dark menacing clouds and the dark concealing tree foliage add to the whole atmosphere. Creepsville.” |
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The Survivors by Dinah McCall was in the third spot. Readers were drawn to the unique perspective of this cover, and felt that it gave a sense of the storyline better than some of the other covers. Nicci agreed. “It does an excellent job of setting up the story before I’ve read a word.” Other voters were drawn to this cover for artistic reasons, like Denise. “The viewer’s perspective on this cover is unique and lends a sinister, eerie quality to the book. That, combined with the one sentence blurb is very effective in catching the potential buyer’s eye.” Marian agreed. “The unusual perspective does it for me, and while most of the other scenes seemed still, the one is in motion.” Elizabeth also chose this cover. “This one was the most interesting to me. It really made me want to pick up the book and find out what happened. Artistically, too, it’s an achievement – the colors, the light, the angle of the trees.” |
Two covers tied for fourth place – Hide and Ice Blue.
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Hide by Lisa Gardner appealed to voters who were looking for something different. Stephen was one of them. “Most of these covers look like they’re illustrations for travel guides. Hide does give an idea of suspense, and the eyes in the title mesh nicely with the title itself.” Jaq agreed. “It stands out amongst the crowd because of its bold, clean graphic design. Love the eyes peering out of the dark, you can’t tell if it’s the villain or the heroine.”
Other voters were drawn to the cover’s artistry, including Kathleen. “I love the clean design and daring use of negative space. The clever and subtle use of the eye image catches my attention, and the juxtaposition of seeing eyes and the word HIDE are a terrific combination.” This was my favorite cover in the contest. I look at a lot of covers while I’m collecting nominations for the contest, and often the covers start to blend together in my mind. But this cover stood out on the bookstore shelf – the stark white cover drew my attention immediately, while the eyes peering out from the title made me remember it even after I’d walked away. I felt compelled to pick it up and give it a closer look. |
Anne Stuart’s Ice books all have a distinctive look that has put them in the romantic suspense finals for the past three years. This year, there are two of them in the contest, but Ice Blue edged out Ice Storm in the final voting. Readers loved the icicles above the title (a theme in all of the Ice covers), as well as the Japanese setting. Lauren particularly liked this cover. “It’s a fabulous melding of the elements of the title, the series and the story setting.”
Kelsi agreed. “I like the effect of integrating the icicle into the title, and the palate has an appealingly even tone without being monochromatic. Carol also loved the colors. “Blue is a common color for romantic suspense covers, but I loved the way this cover used so many different shades of blue – from the icy blue of the icicles, to the light blues of the sky and mountains, to the darker blues and greens of the forest below. The color combination draws your eye to the building, which is just off center and leaves you wondering what’s to come.” |
The next cover, Don’t Say A Word by Rita Herron, attracted voters who were looking for more romance in their suspense. It was the only cover in the final slate that featured a couple. This was what drew Sandra to this cover: “There’s a couple on the cover. Sometimes the romantic suspense covers leave out the “romantic” part.” Karen. “You just glance at this cover and it says romantic suspense. The color is gorgeous, too.” Other readers were drawn by the cover’s mysterious atmosphere. Courtney is a Rita Herron fan, and she loved this cover. “The tattered edges of the black border surrounding the main image successfully symbolize the tattered state of both the hero’s and heroine’s lives as the story unfolds. Maybe it’s a southern thing, but the swamp image drums up feelings of dread… just what secrets does the swamp hold? Will the lovers make it out alive? Very intriguing to say the least.” |
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In another tie, A Wrongful Death and Ice Storm tied for seventh place.
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Voters loved the strong color scheme and mysterious atmosphere of A Wrongful Death by Kate Wilhelm. Ann was one of its fans. “There’s something creepy about a gorgeous forest hideaway shrouded in fog. The single light shining out of the window hints at mysteries we know nothing about…”
Cover Café’s Mary Alice agreed. “The fog seems to envelop the cabin, hiding the evil behind its doors, yet a light in the window reveals there is someone waiting behind them, waiting for the perfect time to venture forth to do more evil.” Nana was particularly fond of the colors used on this cover. “The red cover makes A Wrongful Death stand out in such a dark field, plus it also evokes fire, blood, emergency. Now that I think about it, why aren’t more of these covers red?” |
Voters were drawn to Ice Storm by Anne Stuart for the same reasons they were drawn to Ice Blue – they loved the icicles glittering above the title, and the evocative colors that made the cover stand out. Cora was particularly drawn to this cover. “Both Ice covers are lovely, but this one gets my vote, because of the combination of the London skyline and the dramatic color scheme. Using one of the icicles as the letter I in the title is a great touch.” Lala agreed. “The purple sky and the ice creeping across the cover is what did this for me. Ice Blue is also striking, but this one strikes more of a suspenseful tone.”
Kate loved the design of this cover. “This cover design is so strong and so evocative that even just looking at it, I feel chills in my stomach. The icicles are menacing, and the deep purples suggest a storm rolling in. The cover illustrator has done such a good job of evoking fear and placing the story. I don’t need text – I know exactly what and where this story is, just from the images. That’s brilliant cover design.” |
St. Martins Press |
Readers who prefer people on their covers were also drawn to Behind Closed Doors by Natalie R. Collins. Lauren found it compelling: “This cover sent shivers down my spine immediately! It’s dark, mysterious, intense and haunting. The lone woman in comparison to the huge house, and the use of shadow are all very clever and effective.” Suzannah agreed. “I’m afraid I have to have people on my covers. Houses and landscapes are all very well, but this reminds me of The Secret Garden and all the other books I’ve read about a girl exploring a big, closed-up, secretive house. It’s mysterious and suspenseful, but it also has an edge of romance, in the old-fashioned sense.” |
Although The Arrangement by Suzanne Forster finished in the last spot, it drew many readers who voted for other covers. Several voters mentioned that this would have been their second place choice. Deanna also enjoyed its old-fashioned appeal. “For a romantic suspense, the house overlooking the crashing surf puts me in mind of a more gothic setting. There is a slight feeling of dread in this cover.” Ray was reminded of another master of suspense: “I love this cover. Besides compelling me to look every time I see it, the scene is almost the same as the beginning of the Hitchcock movie that inspired the story.” |
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