The Secret in the Bird

Plot

"Rena Spiros has lost control of her life. Casey Grant, close friend and one-time lover, watches in despair as Rena's bizarre, compulsive behavior finally brings her to a private psychiatric hospital. After a sympathetic psychologist attempts without success to unravel the reasons for Rena's behavior, Casey takes Rena on a visit to De Nova, a women's farming community. Again Casey despairs as Rena falls under the charismatic, powerful Lou Bonnig, who deliberately exerts her power to break Rena's will, to reduce Rena to emotional and sexual subjection. There is a firm purpose behind Lou's behavior:she is determined to force Rena to face secrets in her past that will expalin her grotesque behavior and put an end to her agony. But as Lou forces open the shackles locking away the darkest of memories, she draws ever closer to a secret so terrible in its implications that it threatens lethal consequences for her -- and for anyone venturing too close to Rena Spiros." -- Publisher's description.