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Showing posts with label Ghosts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ghosts. Show all posts
Friday, January 30, 2026
MG Ghost Novel offers Spooky, Shivery Fun
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
I like a shivery ghost story, but I prefer atmospheric spine-tinglers over the kind of terrifying tales that are bound to give me nightmares. The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly, a horror lite novel written for the middle-grade set, fits that bill quite nicely. It's creepier than your average children's book, but it never gets too dark or graphic for its intended audience. In fact, in spite of its grim subject matter, it's actually a rather upbeat and hopeful read. This is a good place to start for young readers who want to dip their toes into the supernatural/horror genre, or for wimpy adults like me who just want a touch of scary sans night terrors.
The story stars Lila Clement, an 11-year-old Arizona girl who's often accused of being melodramatic, immature, and "too much." And, okay, a lot of the time she is making what turns out to be a big to-do about nothing. Not this time, though. When the eccentric grandfather she never knew dies, she travels with her family to Ohio. After an almost-accident on the road that leaves them all a little shaken, Lila discovers that she can now see ghosts. This is unfortunate considering that she'll be staying in the haunted inn that her Grandpa Clem owned for the forseeable future. When her newly-deceased relation appears to Lila, insisting that he did not die of a heart attack but was, in fact, murdered, she sets out to figure out who killed Grandpa Clem and why. She soon discovers that the Castle Hill Inn isn't just a spooky old hotel, Clem wasn't just an ordinary old man, and she's not just a drama queen who's being left behind by friends who think she's too babyish. In Castle Hill, Lila has an important mission to perform, a new pal to help her accomplish it, and maybe, just maybe, a place where her "too much" is exactly right.
Lila is a fun narrator who will help kids who are labeled "extra" feel seen. She's sympathetic, sensitive, caring, and brave. Her new friend, Teddy, makes an appealing right-hand man with his compassion, curiosity, and reluctant courage. Along with Lila's younger brother, the kids make an unlikely but intrepid team who tackle a murder mystery, a host of ghosts with varying needs, and a malevolent force who doesn't want them to succeed. What unfolds is an exciting story with lots of action, suspense, and ghostly encounters. While it's predictable, it's also a quick, entertaining page-turner that's creepier than you might expect. In spite of that, it teaches some healthy, healing lessons about death that can help kids grappling to understand death or dealing with the loss of a loved one find comfort. The Last Resort may not be the right reading choice for younger middle-graders or those who are particularly sensitive; for the rest of us, though, it's an eerie, enjoyable read that will provide shivers but not nightmares.
The Last Resort is the first installment in a planned series (a trilogy, maybe?). The second book, The Claiming by Jasmine Warga, came out earlier this month. In addition to reading the books, you're supposed to be able to launch an extra "experience" using a phone app that lets readers have their own ghost-hunting fun. By scanning the books' illustrations, you're supposed to be able to "talk' to the ghosts in the stories, solve puzzles within the pictures, and encounter further mysteries. It all sounds super cool. Unfortunately, despite trying multiple times on both my phone and PC, I could not get the "Launch Experience" button to work for me. Maybe it functions better with a paper book than an e-book? I don't know, but I feel like I'm missing out...bummer.
(Readalikes: reminds me of The Inn Between by Marina Cohen)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scary situations
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Last Resort from the generous folks at Scholastic via those at NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Top Ten Tuesday: Ghost Stories On My (Frightfully Long) TBR List
It's been a hot minute since I participated in my favorite weekly blogging activity, and I've missed it. I've missed interacting with all of you, especially. Life has gotten a little crazy for me this month, but it's mostly been good things, so I'll take it! With Halloween on Friday, it's no surprise that this week's TTT prompt is: Top Ten Halloween Freebie. I've said before that I'm not a big fan of this holiday. Dressing up has just never appealed to me. Ditto for being scared out of my wits. No thanks. I used to dig horror movies and books, but these days, I'm too big of a wimp for anything too frightening. Atmospheric and a little spooky? That I can do. So, today, I'm going to list ghost stories on my TBR list that are (hopefully) just the right amount of creepy without being outright terrifying.
As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.
Top Ten Ghost Stories On My (Frightfully Long) TBR List
1. A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James (available January 20, 2026)—St. James is one of my favorite authors for this kind of read. I started an e-ARC of her newest novel last night, and it's already tingling my spine quite thoroughly. It's about three adult siblings, all of whom experience paranormal visions of some kind or another, who are called back to their haunted ancestral home by the spirit of their younger brother, who disappeared when he was a child. Desperate for the answers that might finally allow them all to live in peace, the trio reunite to face the horrors of their shared past.
2. The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller—After causing a scandal on two continents by leaving her abusive husband, Alva Webster is now a widow with the freedom to do as she pleases. What she wants is a fresh start, which includes renovating a neglected Hyde Park mansion. Unfortunately, the old pile is haunted and only one man—an eccentric scandal-maker in his own right—can rid it of its resident ghost. Alva has no choice but to let him into her home, her history, and, perhaps, even into her heart.
3. Murder at Blackwood Inn by Penny Warner—The first installment in a new cozy mystery series, this book features Carissa Blackwood, a ghostwriter whose life is rapidly falling apart. Needing a fresh start, she moves into the haunted home of her deceased grandfather, which her two occult-loving aunts have turned into a B&B. When a guest is poisoned, seemingly by an herb from her aunt's poison garden, Carissa finds herself investigating a murder. With the aid of a handsome reporter and her grandpa's ghost, Carissa is determined to find the killer.
4. The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand—When a deadly fire blazed through it, killing a young chambermaid, the titular hotel, once a glittering Golden Age gem, crumbled into a budget motel, then a ruined eyesore. An English billionaire is pouring massive money into restoring it to its former glory, in spite of staffing drama and the antics of the chambermaid's ghost.
5. Pearls and Poison by Erin Lindsey (available December 2, 2025)—This is the fourth installment in the always entertaining Rose Gallagher mystery series. It's about a housemaid turned paranormal investigator in Gilded Age New York City. In this outing, Rose is on her own to recover stolen jewels and solve a murder. Meanwhile, her closest friends and family members are being threatened. Can she succeed in spite of everything standing in her way?
6. The Last Resort by Erin Estrada Kelly—In this middle-grade novel, 12-year-old Lila gets into a car accident on the way to her grandpa's funeral in Ohio. She's fine, except that now she can see ghosts. Her grandpa uses her new ability to inform her that he was murdered and he wants Lila to find out whodunit. He suspects the killer wanted access to his old Victorian home, which is not just a mansion-turned-inn, but a portal between the lands of the living and the dead.
7. When We Spoke to the Dead: How Ghosts Gave American Women Their Voice by Ilise S. Carter—The Spiritualist movement swept through the Victorian world, capturing everyone from nobodies to noblewomen in its wake. This non-fiction book explores how the movement helped women who lived in a repressed society find their voices and their power. Sounds fascinating!
8. The Devil and Mrs. Davenport by Paulette Kennedy—Pete and Loretta Davenport live a picture perfect, God-fearing life in 1955 Missouri. Then, a girl is murdered in their hometown. When Loretta begins receiving messages from the Beyond, Pete blames them on her overactive imagination. She finds support from a male parapsychologist, even as her husband becomes more incensed, believing she's been possessed by a devil. Torn between a strange new purpose and her husband's demand for conformity, Loretta must decide who she really is and what she really wants.
9. A Grave Gift by Christy Carlyle (available December 23, 2025—In this first book of a new historical mystery series, Electra Poole quietly plies her trade as a psychic in Spiritualist-obsessed London. When she's summoned by a noblewoman, Electra foresees the woman's impending death but chooses to say nothing. Her client's subsequent murder fills the psychic with so much guilt that she seeks the help of a Scotland Yard policeman to help her find the woman's killer. As the pair edge ever closer to the truth, Electra finds her own life in peril.
10. The Spite House by Johnny Compton—This horror novel might be a little too terrifying for me, but the premise is intriguing. Fleeing his past with his two daughters in tow, Eric Ross is desperate to find a safe place to land. Without any references, his job prospects are few. When he sees an ad seeking a caretaker for a supposedly haunted house, he's intrigued. If he can prove to the owner that the home is indeed bespirited (without going crazy in the process), he'll receive a large paycheck and maybe, just maybe, answers to some big questions about the strange power that seems to cling to his family.
There you go, ten ghostly tales that are haunting my TBR list. Have you read any of them? What other spooky (but not super scary) ghost stories would you recommend? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT and Happy Halloween!
Monday, May 17, 2021
Middle Grade Zoo Adventure a Fun Mash-Up of Genres
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Lex has always felt a special connection with Nyah, but when the pachyderm sends her a telepathic message, Lex is puzzled. The elephant seems to be telling her to go outside the zoo, into the woods beyond, to find the answers to the many questions Lex has about her past. Is she crazy to listen to the advice of an animal? As nervous as she is to leave the safety of her precious zoo, Lex feels compelled to follow Nyah's instructions. When Lex makes an otherworldly discovery out there, she embarks on a magical adventure involving a ghost, a treasure hunt, and a mystery, all of which promise to lead her back to her own inexplicable beginning.
Magical realism is common in middle-grade books, but to find it combined with a mystery, a ghost story, and a tale of lost treasure? That's something special. The Elephant's Girl, a debut novel by Celesta Rimington, offers this enticing genre mash-up along with a unique setting, two likable heroines (one human, one pachyderm), and an exciting plot. Not only does the book educate readers about elephants, but it also teaches important lessons about humans' responsibility toward animals, kindness, the true meaning of family, standing up for one's self, and finding courage to do hard things. The story is predictable and I didn't always find the magical realism bits convincing, but overall, I found The Elephant's Girl to be a delightful, entertaining book. Young animal lovers looking for a fun, magical reading adventure won't be disappointed.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling, and books by Kate DiCamillo)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Elephant's Girl from the generous folks at Penguin Random House as part of an awards program I'm helping to judge. Thank you!
Thursday, March 25, 2021
McMahon's Newest Another Shivery, Shuddery Ghost Story
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Jackie "Jax" Metcalf has always lived in the shadow of her older sister's illness. She spent her childhood caught up in Lexie's manic episodes and depressive cycles, so focused on keeping her sister's moods balanced that she hardly had a life of her own. Now a psychologist and a social worker, 28-year-old Jax knows the value of boundaries. Living in Seattle helps her keep her distance—both physically and emotionally—from Lexie's constant drama.
When Jax finds a string of missed calls from Lexie on her phone, she figures her sister's off her meds again. The truth is much worse: Lexie is dead. Although she was an excellent swimmer, Lexie drowned in the spring-fed swimming pool at Sparrow Crest, the remote Vermont estate she inherited from her grandmother. Shocked and grief-stricken, Jax returns to the place where she and Lexie spent every summer, only to find the house littered with research materials about the Metcalfs and Sparrow Crest. Tempted to dismiss the project as another one of Lexie's many flights of fancy, Jax instead starts combing through the information, which reveals strange details about Gram's unique swimming pool. The murky water always held a strange fascination for Lexie; it gives Jax the creeps. As she's increasingly drawn to its eerie edges, the pool begins to reveal its chilling secrets, secrets it's kept for a very, very long time ...
Jennifer McMahon specializes in shuddery, suspenseful stories sure to send chills tingling down your spine. Her newest, The Drowning Kind (available April 6, 2021), is no exception. It offers an atmospheric Gothic setting, complex characters, and a riveting plot. I read it fast and furious, totally sucked in by McMahon's masterful storytelling. The ending surprised me and not necessarily in a good way. I didn't love it. Even though The Drowning Kind isn't my favorite of this author's novels, it's still an engrossing, entertaining read. If you like shivery ghost stories, definitely add this one to your TBR list.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books by Jennifer McMahon as well as those by Carol Goodman and Emily Carpenter)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, and depictions of illegal drug use (marijuana)
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Drowning Kind from the generous folks at Simon & Schuster via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Newest Chiller is Sager at His Creepy-Crawly Best
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"'You want the truth? I'll give it to you. Things have happened in that house. Tragic things...And all those things, well, they...linger'" (130).
When Maggie Holt was five years old, her parents bought their dream home. Built in 1875, Baneberry House was spacious, grand, and surprisingly cheap. Maggie's parents laughed off its sinister reputation and moved in, determined to turn the place into the warm family retreat they both desired. Less than a month later, the family fled Baneberry House in the dead of night, wailing about ghosts and threatening messages from the beyond. They never returned to the old pile, but Ewan Holt—Maggie's father—wrote a lurid tell-all about the family's terrifying experiences there. Like The Amityville Horror, it became a hugely popular bestseller, America's favorite ghost story.
Although Maggie's childhood was financed by the proceeds of Ewan's book, she has always detested living in the spotlight of its success. Especially since she knows the truth—her father made the whole thing up.
When Ewan dies, 30-year-old Maggie is shocked to learn she has inherited Baneberry House, a property she thought was sold long ago. With the keys in hand, she now has the chance to prove to the world—and to herself—that Ewan Holt was a liar, that his famous book is nothing but an imaginative hoax. It's not long after Maggie moves into Baneberry House, intending to spend the summer fixing up the place before she puts it on the market, that strange things start happening inside its walls. If Ewan was lying through his teeth, then what exactly is Maggie experiencing now, 25 years later? Is it possible that she has been wrong about her father? What if everything he wrote was the God's honest truth? What then? Baneberry House haunted Maggie when she was young—what if it's not done with her?
Like Ewan Holt, Riley Sager knows how to spin a deliciously terrifying yarn. Home Before Dark, his newest, is him at his creepy, spooky, scary best. The novel unfolds in alternating chapters told from Ewan's perspective (sections from his book) and Maggie's, 25 years later. It's an effective format, one which heightens tension and suspense throughout the book. Atmospheric and unnerving, the haunted house setting creates the kind of shivery vibe that has readers jumping at every sound and cowering under the covers. The fact that the book's already eerie cover glows in the dark is just icing on the creepy-cake. The best part about Home Before Dark, though, is that the story keeps you constantly off balance, wondering what is real and what is not. While I guessed some of its plot twists, others surprised me, making the book a fun, mess-with-your-head kind of read. I'm pretty wimpy, but I still enjoy a ghostly, hair-raising read now and then and this one definitely fits that bill. If you're up for an unsettling spine-chiller, I definitely recommend Home Before Dark.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Weight of Lies by Emily Carpenter as well as books by Simone St. James, Carol Goodman, and Jennifer McMahon)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Saturday, April 11, 2020
YA Grief Novel Odd, Depressing
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Ever since the death of his wife, Rafe Torres has been disintegrating. Inconsolable, he drinks too much, gambles too much, owes too much and parents too little. His four daughters have had it with picking up the pieces after their dad's many mess-ups. Desperate for escape, they try running away, only to be caught by a despondent Rafe who promises to do better. Not long after the sisters' botched escape, Ana plunges to her death while sneaking out her bedroom window. Her death drives Rafe deeper into despair, leaving Iridian, Jessica, and Rosa to fend for themselves.
A year after Ana dies, the three Torres girls are living a chaotic, feral existence in a house that feels both empty and oppressive with the weight of their grief. Seventeen-year-old Iridian is biding her time working a part-time job and dating Ana's abusive ex-boyfriend. Iridian—a 16-year-old dreamer—reads incessantly and pours her heart out in her journal. An old soul, 13-year-old Rosa roams the city at night, talking to birds and searching for an escaped zoo animal. Their separate orbits collide when each of them notices strange things happening inside their home. They hear Ana's laughter whispering through the halls, see her handwriting appearing on the walls, and smell a familiar scent lingering in the air. Could it be Ana's ghost trying to convey a message to her sisters? What is it she's trying to tell them? As the girls puzzle out the clues together, they finally feel a smidgeon of hope that might just show them the way out of the deep, dark well of their grief.
I'm not sure what to say about Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry except that it's a strange, strange novel. With its odd combination of realistic fiction, magical realism, and horror, it seems a little confused about its own identity. Although Tigers, Not Daughters is a quick read, the story doesn't offer much in the way of plot. Made up of vignettes told from each sister's perspective, it never feels very cohesive. In addition, the vibe of this novel is unrelentingly sad, depressing, angry, and just ... weird. Its depiction of the overwhelming and sometimes destructive nature of grief is on point, but the rest of the story didn't really come together for me. I wasn't sorry to see it end.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't really think of a comparable title. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Tigers, Not Daughters from the generous folks at Algonquin in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, February 20, 2020
The Shining-ish Mystery/Horror Novel a Creepy, Can't-Look-Away Page Turner (with a Giveaway!)
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Something hasn’t been right at the roadside Sun Down Motel for a very long time, and Carly Kirk is about to find out why in this chilling new novel from the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls.
Upstate New York, 1982. Viv Delaney wants to move to New York City, and to help pay for it she takes a job as the night clerk at the Sun Down Motel in Fell, New York. But something isnʼt right at the motel, something haunting and scary.
Upstate New York, 2017. Carly Kirk has never been able to let go of the story of her aunt Viv, who mysteriously disappeared from the Sun Down before she was born. She decides to move to Fell and visit the motel, where she quickly learns that nothing has changed since 1982. And she soon finds herself ensnared in the same mysteries that claimed her aunt.
There's a reason I'm not a professional writer of plot summaries for novels! Rarely can I come up with something as succinct but telling as the one above. It says everything you need to know about The Sun Down Motel, the newest haunting thriller from Simone St. James, without giving anything away. And you do want to go into this one with as few preconceived notions as possible. Suffice it to say, the book offers up lots of The Shining-ish thrills and chills. Riley Sager calls it "deliciously creepy" and I can't think of a more apt description. Although it was freaky enough to make me dive under my covers every time my house creaked even though I was reading it in broad daylight, it's a fun kind of freaky. I enjoyed the colorful characters, the eerie setting, and the pulse-pounding plot, so much so that I read The Sun Down Motel almost in one sitting. If you dig a good scare, don't miss this one.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Shining by Stephen King and The Widow's House by Carol Goodman)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, disturbing subject matter, and blood/gore
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Sun Down Motel from the generous folks at Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
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Are you interested in winning your own copy of The Sun Down Motel? Its publisher is generously offering one hardcover copy of the book for me to give away here at BBB. All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter widget below. Please note that only readers with U.S. addresses are eligible to enter. Good luck!
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Eerie House of Echoes an Enjoyable Gothic Romp
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"Ben had wanted a house with a story, but this one had too many of them" (326).
The Tierney family is in desperate need of a change. Ben's struggling to get his third book written, mercurial Caroline's just been laid off from her New York City banking job, and 8-year-old Charlie is being bullied at school. It seems like the perfect time to make a move. When they find a decaying 200-year-old mansion in the small Adirondack town of Swannhaven, they purchase the home with the aim of renovating it themselves and turning it into an inn. The more they settle in, however, the more strange things begin to happen in the house and the deep, dark forest that surrounds it. As the Tierneys unravel their house's mysterious history, unlocking chilling secrets from its past, they realize their dream home might just become their worst nightmare ...
All a designer really has to do to draw me to a book is put an old, crumbling house on the cover. If the plot summary mentions a creepy forest, the possibility of ghosts, and/or the discovery of juicy secrets, I'm a goner. House of Echoes by Brendan Duffy grabbed my attention with all of the above. It didn't disappoint with its creepy, atmospheric setting; its sympathetic, intriguing characters; and its surprising, twist-filled plot. Even though it's not exactly an edge-of-your-seat, adrenaline-fueled thriller (at times it's unnecessarily wordy), House of Echoes had me burning through its pages to find out what was going to happen next. I have some issues with the ending, mostly because it left a lot of questions unanswered. Goodreads shows that Duffy has an upcoming novel called Louder Echoes. I can't be sure it's a sequel, but I'm seriously hoping it is. I need answers! All in all, though, I enjoyed this one. I'll for sure keep an eye out for more from this talented author.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Shining by Stephen King, The Invited by Jennifer McMahon, and The Widow's House by Carol Goodman)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of House of Echoes with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Halloween Horror Novel a Shivery, Spine-Tingling Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After a traumatic childhood under the chaotic care of his flighty, hippie-dippy mother, Will Conner flees his hometown with no intention of ever returning. When she falls down a flight of stairs, however, he's forced to take a leave of absence from his job as an English professor in New York City to care for her. As soon as Will arrives in Cape Ann—a small village north of Boston—the inherent strangeness of the place overwhelms him, flooding him with memories of the night one of his mother's spirit circle rituals went horribly wrong, leaving one man dead. At five years old, Will didn't understand what was happening. He still doesn't. All he knows is something sinister was released that night almost thirty years ago, a malevolent presence that still has Will in its clutches. If anyone can help him get rid of it, it's the witchy women of Cape Ann.
Despite constant warnings from the townspeople to go back to the city, Will can't leave his childhood home without getting some answers. He's desperate to know what really happened the night the ritual went wrong, frantic to free himself from the presence that haunts him. Answers lie with the original members of his mother's spirit circle, many of whom have died mysterious deaths over the ensuing decades, but no one's willing to talk. With the help of Samantha "Sam" Hall, his odd childhood pal, Will is determined to get the answers he seeks. He's been warned that digging into old secrets could cause even more danger and pain, but he will not stop, no matter what new horrors he unleashes in the tiny, cursed town of Cape Ann, Massachusetts ...
There's nothing super original about Before the Devil Fell by Neil Olson, but it's a solid horror novel that would make for a shivery, spine-tingling Halloween read. The atmospheric setting gives the book an appropriately spooky backdrop. The tale also features interesting characters, a compelling plotline, and capable prose. While I can't think of any real stand-out elements that make Before the Devil Fell unique or really memorable, it definitely kept me turning pages. In the end, I liked it well enough, but I didn't love it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of House of Echoes by Brendan Duffy)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a handful of F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Before the Devil Fell from the generous folks at Hanover Square Press (a division of Harlequin) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
McMahon's Newest a Creepy Ghost Story With a Uniquely Compelling Twist
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Most people buy old homes, inheriting their ghosts without realizing it. Not Nate and Helen Wetherell. They're building a haunted house from scratch ...
Wanting to get out of the rat race in the city, Helen and Nate buy a picturesque property in small-town Vermont with the intention of building their dream house themselves. Despite having to live in a tiny, dilapidated trailer during construction, they're thrilled about taking on the ultimate DIY project. Rumors of their land being haunted gives the prospect a quaint, even humorous glow. But when strange things start happening around the building site, Helen feels more than a little unnerved. Could there be some truth behind the townspeople's whispers? Have the Wetherells unintentionally disturbed haunted land?
A former history teacher, Helen's curiosity prompts her to start researching the land upon which she's building. Turns out, it does have a chilling history, one that seems to be seeping into the present. The more Helen looks into the subject, the more obsessed she becomes. In an effort to communicate with the ghost she's sure is haunting her new home, Helen begins collecting relics to build into its structure. Nate's sure Helen has gone completely mad, but then he's also having strange experiences. Are they both crazy? If the spirits are truly reaching out to Helen and Nate, what do they want? And how far will they go to protect their haunting grounds?
Jennifer McMahon writes creepy books that tend to crawl right under my skin. Her newest, The Invited, is no exception. Its unique premise caught my attention right from the beginning and the plot twists and turns kept me reading, even though I saw a lot of them coming from a mile away. Still, the novel's engrossing, compelling, and creepy—three things I love in a ghost story. The Invited will make a perfect Halloween read, but why wait? Pick it up now for a shivery, can't-put-it-down Spring thrill.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books by Jennifer McMahon as well as those by Carol Goodman)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, disturbing subject matter, and depictions of illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Invited from the generous folks at Penguin Random House via those at NetGalley. Thank you!
Tuesday, April 09, 2019
Shivery Psychological Thriller Boasts Gothic Setting and "I See Dead People" Vibe
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Mattie Lane loves volunteering with Sanctuary, a non-profit group which acts as a sort of Underground Railroad for women and children in need. The 59-year-old retired social worker has been working with the organization long enough to know its rules and protocols. Still, when she's sent to the bus station in the middle of the night to pick up a frightened woman and child, Mattie can't bear to send them on. Instead, Mattie breaks Sanctuary's rules and brings the pair home with her to her big, lonely house in the woods. What she can't quite admit, even to herself, is that the 10-year-old boy, Oren, reminds her of her little brother, who died more than 30 years ago. She can't help feeling protective, especially since something about the woman's story doesn't quite add up.
As a winter storm bears down on upstate New York, the three hunker down in Mattie's dilapidated home. Almost immediately, strange things begin to happen, things that have a still grief-stricken Mattie wondering if she's going crazy. Mattie knows Alice and Oren are hiding secrets, but is it possible something otherworldly is going on? Mattie's got her own secrets to spill—can she and her two visitors learn to trust each other enough to let them out? With the blizzard worsening around them and danger literally banging on the door, they will have to rely on each other to make it through the night alive.
I'm a fan of Carol Goodman's eerie psychological thrillers, especially the ones with Gothic overtones and a splash of the supernatural thrown in for good measure. The Night Visitors certainly fits the bill. The story is compelling, the plot exciting, and the characters sympathetic. Featuring a creepy old house, an isolating blizzard, and an "I see dead people" vibe, it's a shivery tale that kept me slightly off-kilter throughout. Although I saw some of the plot twists coming, I didn't see all of them, which kept the novel interesting. This isn't my favorite Goodman book, but it's a good one from an author who never fails to pull me into her stories and keep me hooked.
(Readalikes: Other books by Carol Goodman)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Night Visitors from the generous folks at HarperCollins via those at Edelweiss. Thank you!
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Warm, Fun Ghosts-of-Christmas-Past Story a Sweet Holiday Treat
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
What would you give to have a few more moments with a loved one who has passed? What would you do for one more hug, one more conversation, one more chance to make things right? At Ruby's Place—a family-friendly bar that was once the most elegant place in Sullivan, Missouri, and is being newly re-opened after being closed for decades—all those things are possible. As crazy as it sounds, Ruby's has become a gathering place for Sullivan's restless spirits. The ghosts are helping Angela, the new owner, bring the old restaurant to life again. They all want the downhearted citizens of the small town to feel the magic of Christmas. All they need to do is draw the right people inside. A push here, a nudge there, and the ghosts of Christmas past will grant the impossible ...
Last year, Holly Schindler—a poet and novelist who pens books for all ages—published a novella called Ruby's Place. It told a warm, sweet story about a special venue where people in small town Missouri used to flock on special occasions. Christmas was an especially magical time there. Over the years, as the economy changed, the restaurant/bar lost money and had to close. Decades later, a woman stumbles upon Ruby's secret magic. Helped by a bar full of ghosts, she determines to reopen the place that holds so many sparkling memories for her. I Remember You picks up where the novella left off, chronicling Angela's journey to successfully bring back the magic of Ruby's Place. Like the previous story, I Remember You is filled with warmth, humor, romance, and the tantalizing idea that the people we love who have died are never that far away—especially at Christmastime. I love the premise as well as Schindler's ability to bring her setting and characters to vivid life. If you're looking for a light, fun holiday read, you'll want to visit Sullivan for yourself. You never know what's in store for you at Ruby's Place!
Ruby's Place and I Remember You are available for purchase at Amazon (e-books are only $1.99 right now) and Barnes & Noble. You can also order signed copies of these titles and some of Schindler's other books at her Etsy store.
(Readalikes: Ruby's Place by Holly Schindler)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language and mild innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of I Remember You from the always generous Holly Schindler in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Monday, October 29, 2018
Newest Kate Morton Saga Not Quite Up to Snuff
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"It occurs to me that this house is like that, too. It remembers, just as I do. It remembers everything."
When London archivist Elodie Winslow discovers an old leather satchel at work, she thinks little of it. Until she finds two remarkable items within. She's intrigued by the old photo of an arresting woman wearing Victorian-era clothes, but she's completely mesmerized by an artist's sketch of a riverside country manor that appears to be straight out of a storybook. Although Elodie's never actually seen such a place, she's intimately familiar with the twin-gabled home nestled in a bend of the river. Somehow, the artist has drawn the exact place where Elodie's mother set all the fanciful bedtime stories with which she enchanted her young daughter.
As Elodie peers into the past in search of answers, she discovers that Birchwood Manor is, indeed, a real place. Built in the 1500s, it's been an artists' retreat, a boarding school for girls, even a refuge for children fleeing London during World War II. Its residents have experienced every emotion—grief, joy, fear, comfort, triumph, and tragedy. The estate houses ghosts and the key to solving at least one mystery. When Elodie learns of the mysterious events of 1862, when one woman was shot to death and another went missing from a summer artists' getaway, she knows she won't be able to rest until she finds out what really happened. She hopes her search for the truth will reveal the answer to the most unsettling question of all—What does Elodie's mother have to do with the many sorrows of Birchwood Manor?
It's no secret that I'm a raving Kate Morton fan. I adore her eloquent, atmospheric dual-timeline novels featuring crumbling mansions, mysterious heirlooms, and juicy family secrets. I've read—and loved—all of her books. Since they only come out every 2-3 years, I wait with bated breath for new sagas from this talented Australian author. So, to say I was excited for the emergence of The Clockmaker's Daughter would be a vast understatement. Did Morton's newest live up to my (admittedly very high) expectations? No, actually. While I liked it overall, it's my least favorite of the author's books. Why? The story had a little different format from Morton's others, which left it feeling overly long, unfocused, and dull in places. I loved learning about Birchwood Manor's long history, but with so many characters over so much time, I got a tad lost. So, while I found the mystery at the novel's center compelling, the plot felt a bit loosey-goosey and a little confusing. On the whole, I still enjoyed The Clockmaker's Daughter—just not nearly as much as I've loved all Morton's others.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of The House Between Tides by Sarah Maine and other books by Kate Morton, including The Lake House; The House at Riverton; The Forgotten Garden; The Distant Hours; and The Secret Keeper)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Clockmaker's Daughter from the generous folks at Simon & Schuster via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
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