Category Archives: Ghosts

Review: The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon

Title: The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon
Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Supernatural, Thriller
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Invited and The Winter People comes a chilling new novel about a woman who returns to the old family home after her sister mysteriously drowns in its swimming pool…but she’s not the pool’s only victim.

Be careful what you wish for.

When social worker Jax receives nine missed calls from her older sister, Lexie, she assumes that it’s just another one of her sister’s episodes. Manic and increasingly out of touch with reality, Lexie has pushed Jax away for over a year. But the next day, Lexie is dead: drowned in the pool at their grandmother’s estate. When Jax arrives at the house to go through her sister’s things, she learns that Lexie was researching the history of their family and the property. And as she dives deeper into the research herself, she discovers that the land holds a far darker past than she could have ever imagined.

In 1929, thirty-seven-year-old newlywed Ethel Monroe hopes desperately for a baby. In an effort to distract her, her husband whisks her away on a trip to Vermont, where a natural spring is showcased by the newest and most modern hotel in the Northeast. Once there, Ethel learns that the water is rumored to grant wishes, never suspecting that the spring takes in equal measure to what it gives.

A haunting, twisty, and compulsively readable thrill ride from the author who Chris Bohjalian has dubbed the “literary descendant of Shirley Jackson,” The Drowning Kind is a modern-day ghost story that illuminates how the past, though sometimes forgotten, is never really far behind us.

Review:

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon is an atmospheric supernatural thriller.

Growing up, Jax Metcalf and her sister Lexi spend their summers at their grandmother’s house Sparrow Crest. The girls are mostly unsupervised as they roam around the grounds and go to town. But the best part of their days is when they are swimming in the natural spring pool. Breaking their grandmother’s rules, Lexi and Jax swim after dark and alone.

The girls are close until Lexi’s bipolar disorder leads to Jax distancing herself from her sister in adulthood. Jax is now a social worker whose resentment over Lexi inheriting Sparrow Crest causes her to ignore her sister. After not answering or returning Lexi’s frantic calls one night, Jax is shocked when her Aunt Diane discovers her sister has drowned. Returning to Sparrow Crest for Lexi’s funeral, Jax tries to figure out why her sister was apparently studying their family history, Sparrow Crest and the pool. Will Jax continue her Lexi’s research?

In 1929, Ethel Monroe and her husband, Will are newly married and trying for a baby. Ethel is so desperate to get pregnant she is willing to try anything. After one of her friends tells her of magic springs that grant wishes, she and Will spend a few nights at the new, luxurious hotel built by the magical water. Ethel ignores her friend’s warning that once the wish is granted, there will be a price to pay. She and Will are delighted when she soon becomes pregnant. But Ethel and Will go to great lengths to keep their baby healthy after her birth.

The Drowning Kind is a riveting supernatural thriller with a clever storyline. Jax’s remorse over not talking to Lexi takes her down a dangerous path. Sparrow Crest and the swimming pool have a dark history that is very intriguing. The story is well-written and features an interesting cast of characters. With unexpected twists and turns, Jennifer McMahon brings this eerie thriller to a shocking conclusion.

I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this deliciously spooky novel.

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Filed under Contemporary, Gallery/Scout Press, Ghosts, Historical, Historical (20s), Jennifer McMahon, Rated B+, Review, Supernatural Elements, The Drowning Kind, Thriller

Review: Storm of Secrets by Loretta Marion

Title: Storm of Secrets by Loretta Marion
A Haunted Bluffs Mystery Series Book Two
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Contemporary, Supernatural (Ghosts), Mystery
Length: 312 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A deadly storm, a missing three-year-old child, a grisly murder, and the eerie presence of the spirits of the dead set the stage for the second mesmerizing installment of Loretta Marion’s paranormal suspense series.

A powerful storm descends upon Cape Cod’s Whale Rock at the peak of tourist season–and the weekend Cassandra Mitchell’s and Daniel Benjamin’s wedding is set to take place at The Bluffs, the magnificent Victorian mansion Cassie inherited from her family. In the wake of the storm’s destruction, three-year-old Lucas Kleister goes missing–and the body of small-time drug dealer Lee Chambers is found in a restaurant dumpster. Now, the WRPD are faced with a murder to solve, a missing child to find, and the aftermath of one of the worst storms in recent memory.

While aiding with the clean-up and helping the displaced, Cassie has been receiving cryptic messages from the spirits of her great-grandparents, Percy and Celeste Mitchell, the original residents of The Bluffs. At first, the messages are benign, but soon, they begin to point to something more sinister. As Cassie works to decipher their meaning, the specter of a mysterious local legend surfaces. The tale of Barnacle Boy–and what happened to him during another destructive storm decades earlier–will weave through the desperate search to find Lucas and the identity of the killer.

Review:

Storm of Secrets by Loretta Marion is a delightfully charming cozy mystery with a slight supernatural element. Although this newest release is the second installment in A Haunted Bluffs Mystery series, it can be read as a standalone. But I highly recommend book one, House of Ashes, as well.

With a storm bearing down on the coastal town of Whale Rock, Cassandra “Cassie” Mitchell  and Daniel Benjamin decide to postpone their upcoming wedding. Just before the storm makes landfall, Cassie stumbles onto the body of Lee Chambers. After the storm, everyone’s attention is focused on finding missing three year old Lucas Kleister. Police Chief Brooks Kincaid believes visitor Christopher Savage might be involved the young boy’s disappearance but Cassie is not convinced.

Cassie is a bit of an amateur sleuth but both Daniel and Brooks would rather she not become involved in the cases. But between the information she uncovers on her own and details from her reporter friend, Laura Prince, her curiosity gets the best of her. Cassie genuinely likes Christopher and her instincts are telling her he is not involved. However, as the police investigation continues, the evidence is stacking up against him.  But Cassie is a shrewd woman and she finally begins to piece together the disparate bits of information. Will she figure out what exactly happened to Lucas and who killed Wes?

Interspersed with events in the present are chapters that flash back to the past. Three siblings immigrate together from Italy at a young age following their parents’ deaths. As their lives go in different directions, they eventually become estranged. How do these long ago events figure into what is occurring in Whale Rock?

The various story arcs are quite intriguing but the sheer number of characters is initially quite confusing.  However, as the story continues, it becomes easier to keep up with who’s who. The investigation into Lee’s death simmers in the background as most everyone’s attention is on locating young Lucas.  The search for Lucas is heartbreaking and everyone remains hopeful he will be found unharmed. The story arc which takes place in the past is interesting but it does take a while to understand how those long ago events fit in with what is happening in the present day.

Despite a bit of a slow start, Storm of Secrets is a captivating mystery with a unique storyline and likable characters.  In the aftermath of the storm, secrets are exposed which leads to unexpected discoveries and heartwarming healing. Cassie’s great-grandparents continue sending her hints that guide her to some startling revelations.  Loretta Marion brings the novel to a rather low-key yet completely satisfying conclusion. A wonderful addition to A Haunted Bluffs Mystery series that old and new fans are sure to enjoy.

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Filed under A Haunted Bluffs Mystery, Contemporary, Crooked Lane Books, Ghosts, Loretta Marion, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Storm of Secrets, Supernatural Elements

Review: Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly

Title: Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly
Publisher: Dutton
Genre: Contemporary, Horror, Suspense, Supernatural Elements (Ghosts)
Length: 396 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

An utterly propulsive and unpredictable psychological thriller from stunning new talent T. Marie Vandelly.

She didn’t run from her dark past. She moved in. 

For the lucky among us, life is what you make of it; but for Dixie Wheeler, the theme music for her story was chosen by another long ago, on the day her father butchered her mother and brothers and then slashed a knife across his own throat. Only one-year-old Dixie was spared, becoming infamously known as Baby Blue for the song left playing in the aftermath of the slaughter.

Twenty-five years later, Dixie is still desperate for a connection to the family she can’t remember. So when her childhood home goes up for sale, Dixie sets aside all reason and moves in. But as the ghosts of her family seemingly begin to take up residence in the house that was once theirs, Dixie starts to question her own sanity and wonders if the evil force menacing her is that of her father or a demon of her own making.

In order to make sense of her present, Dixie becomes determined to unravel the truth of her past and seeks out the detective who originally investigated the murders. But the more she learns, the more she opens up the uncomfortable possibility that the sins of her father may belong to another. As bodies begin to pile up around her, Dixie must find a way to expose the lunacy behind her family’s massacre to save her few loved ones that are still alive—and whatever scrap of sanity she has left.

Review:

Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly is an intriguing mystery with horror and supernatural elements.

Twenty-five years ago, Dixie Wheeler is the sole survivor of her father Bill’s killing spree in which he killed her mother and three brothers before taking his own life. Raised by her Aunt Celia and her Uncle Ford, Dixie has finally gotten her life together.  She and her longtime boyfriend Garrett are ready to purchase a house and settle down. When Dixie discovers her old family home is on the market, she cannot resist taking a tour. Although she is ready to buy the house, Garrett is not at all on board with her plan. Dixie instead rents the house on her own and moves in with her family’s old furnishings.  After discovering the police file about her family’s murders, she contacts the detective in charge of the investigation. Now retired, Stanley Cullins agrees to take a second look at the old case after Dixie notices some troubling inconsistencies which leads her to believe Bill did not murder her family.  Will she and Cullins unmask the real killer? Or will they find definitive proof her father is, in fact, responsible for her mother’s and brothers’ deaths?

Right from the start, Dixie is a shockingly unreliable narrator. She suffers from horrible nightmares and she has trouble telling what is real and what is not. Dixie has also exhibited obsessive behavior in the past as she stalked and acted inappropriately with one of her brother’s friends, Rory Sellers. Rory is also connected to the her family’s murders since he stumbled onto the grisly scene not long after their murders.  Dixie has not seen Rory in years so she is somewhat surprised when he unexpectedly shows up not long after she moves in her family home. His recollections of the day of the murder are the impetuous for doubts about her father’s guilt.

Theme Music is an interesting mystery with a unique premise. While evenly paced for about the first half, the story soon becomes repetitious as Dixie’s life goes into a downward spiral.  Bouts of insomnia skew her perception and she becomes an increasingly unreliable narrator as she makes one mistake after another.  With quite a few startling twists and slightly unbelievable turns, T. Marie Vandelly brings this macabre mystery to a dramatic conclusion.  All in all an enjoyable novel, but readers will definitely have to suspend disbelief for some aspects of the storyline.

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Filed under Contemporary, Dutton, Ghosts, Horror, Review, Supernatural Elements, Suspense, T Marie Vandelly, Theme Music

Review: The Hiding Place by C. J. Tudor

Title: The Hiding Place by C. J. Tudor
Publisher: Crown
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense, Supernatural (Ghosts)
Length: 288 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The thrilling second novel from the author of The Chalk Man, about a teacher with a hidden agenda who returns to settle scores at a school he once attended, only to uncover a darker secret than he could have imagined.

Joe never wanted to come back to Arnhill. After the way things ended with his old gang–the betrayal, the suicide, the murder–and after what happened when his sister went missing, the last thing he wanted to do was return to his hometown. But Joe doesn’t have a choice. Because judging by what was done to that poor Morton kid, what happened all those years ago to Joe’s sister is happening again. And only Joe knows who is really at fault.

Lying his way into a teaching job at his former high school is the easy part. Facing off with former friends who are none too happy to have him back in town–while avoiding the enemies he’s made in the years since–is tougher. But the hardest part of all will be returning to that abandoned mine where it all went wrong and his life changed forever, and finally confronting the shocking, horrifying truth about Arnhill, his sister, and himself. Because for Joe, the worst moment of his life wasn’t the day his sister went missing.

It was the day she came back.

With the same virtuosic command of character and pacing she displayed in The Chalk Man, C. J. Tudor has once again crafted an extraordinary novel that brilliantly blends harrowing psychological suspense, a devilishly puzzling mystery, and enough shocks and thrills to satisfy even the most seasoned reader.

Review:

The Hiding Place by C. J. Tudor is a suspense-laden mystery with supernatural and horror elements.

Joe Thorne’s return to his hometown of Arnhill is not exactly altruistic. He is going back to hopefully get a job teaching at his alma mater Arnhill Academy. And yes, he has received an eerie message that what happened to his sister, Annie, is happening again. However, the impetus for his decision is to escape a loan shark’s increasingly threatening efforts to force Joe to repay his debts.  Upon his return, a sense of dread overcomes him as he settles in at the cottage whose occupants met a horrific end. Joe is also quickly target by his former friends, Stephen Hurst and Nick Fletcher, who resort to violence as they attempt to convince him to leave town.  Despite his increasing discomfort and unease, Joe must revisit the worst time in his past in order to hopefully put an end to the malevolent force threatening the town’s children.

Joe does not make much effort to overcome the demons that he brings with him to Arnhill.  He drinks too much, sleeps too little and often goes to work with vicious hangovers. He has long avoided facing the tragedies that occurred during his teen years, but it does not take long for him to realize he will have to confront the events that forever altered his life. Joe harbors many regrets about what happened to Annie and his friend, Chris Manning. Once he realizes that history is repeating itself, Joe reluctantly returns to the place that was essentially the beginning and the end of the horrific events that have forever changed him.

At one time, Arnhill was a prosperous town with the local coal mine providing jobs for the community.  The town barely survived the mine’s closure and years later, the abandoned mine still looms in the distance. It is also a source of fascination for the teenagers due to the unsubstantiated rumors that swirl around it. In 1992, Joe and his friends were unable to resist exploring an entrance to the mine. Their explorations lead them to a terrifying discovery that sets them on a path of unending heartache and pain. After the heartbreaking events that occur in the aftermath, Joe is certain he has made it impossible for anyone to enter the mine. Or has he?

The Hiding Place is a very atmospheric and increasingly spooky novel. Joe is a surprisingly reliable narrator whose growing unease forces him to revisit his heartrending past. He also manages to elicit readers’ sympathy in spite of his all too human flaws. With otherworldly elements and an gradual sense of overwhelming dread, C. J. Tudor brings the novel to a twist-filled conclusion. Fans of horror novels will enjoy this spine-tingling novel.

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Filed under CJ Tudor, Contemporary, Crown, Ghosts, Rated B, Review, Supernatural Elements, Suspense, The Hiding Place

Review: Ghost of a Promise by Kelly Moran

ghost promiseTitle: Ghost of a Promise by Kelly Moran
Phantoms Trilogy Book One
Publisher: Entangled: Covet
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal/Supernatural, Romance
Length: 300
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

It might be love…but will they survive the night?

The ghosts of her family’s estate on the coast of Maine never troubled Ava Trumble. When she finally inherits the historic mansion, however, there’s a small string attached: Ava has exactly one year to solve a 200-year-old mystery of a missing girl, or lose her family’s home…

The lead investigator for paranormal TV show Phantoms, Jackson Granger, is prepared for any metaphysical encounter—until now. It’s not just the uncanny sense of “coming home” or even his reaction to the fiery redhead who seems to consume his every waking thought. No, it’s that the ghosts are using Jackson and Ava’s attraction to play out a centuries-old tragedy. Heartbreak. Loss. Overwhelming passion. Now Jackson and Ava must determine if they’re sharing something real…or if they’ve been possessed by a love that never died.

The Review:

With an intriguing mystery, an eerie ghostly presence and a sizzling hot romance, Kelly Moran’s Phantoms Trilogy is off to a spooktacular beginning with Ghost of a Promise. If you are a fan of ghost stories (or the TV show Ghost Hunters), you absolutely do not want to miss this riveting first installment in what promises to be a very spooky series about a group of paranormal investigators.

Ava Trumble is dismayed to discover that in order to inherit her great-aunt’s mansion she has to solve the mysterious disappearance of Sarah Kerrick. Sarah vanished without a trace over 200 years earlier and the family estate has been plagued with ghostly appearances and unexplained deaths ever since. While the hauntings do not bother her, Ava is genuinely interested in learning the fate of Sarah and calling in the Phantoms team is her best chance for solving the mystery.

Jackson Granger is the lead investigator for the paranormal show and he is immediately charmed by both Ava and her home. He is a bit unsettled by his unexpected feelings of familiarity upon his arrival, but he pushes his unease away as they begin their investigation. For the first time in his career, Jackson’s experiences at the estate have a personal effect on him and his surprising attraction to Ava seems to be a trigger for some of the supernatural phenomena. Pairing up to get to the bottom of the mystery, Jackson and Ava eventually give in to their desire, but will Jackson’s commitment issues and Ava’s fears prevent them from staying together once the investigation has ended?

The paranormal/supernatural element of Ghost of a Promise is absolutely outstanding. The ghostly occurrences are very spooky and rather chilling. The history of the house is quite fascinating and the mystery surrounding Sarah’s disappearance is equally spellbinding. The paranormal investigation is very well researched and fans of ghost stories will be thrilled by this aspect of the storyline.

Ghost of a Promise is a captivating start to Phantom’s Trilogy. The cast of characters is superbly developed and the plot is quite engrossing. Kelly Moran expertly weaves mystery, romance and the supernatural into a compelling story that is sure to delight readers and leave them impatiently awaiting the next novel of this marvelous series.

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Filed under Contemporary, Entangled Covet, Ghost of a Promise, Ghosts, Kelly Moran, Paranormal, Phantoms Trilogy, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Supernatural Elements

Review: Love, Suburban Style by Wendy Markham

Title: Love, Suburban Style by Wendy Markham
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Imprint: Grand Central Publishing/Forever
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Paranormal/Ghosts
Length: 385 pages
Book Rating: B+

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Fed up with her moody teenage daughter, Meg Addams decides what they both need is a good dose of suburban wholesomeness. But when they leave Manhattan behind for Meg’s humble blue-collar hometown, they find it crowded with wealthy strangers and upscale boutiques. Settling into a creaky fixer-upper, Meg finally spots a familiar face right next door–and it belongs to none other than Sam Rooney. The would-be love of Meg’s high school life is now a single dad, her daughter’s new soccer coach–and a neighborly ghost-buster whenever things go bump in the night. With three kids and an undeniable attraction between them, Meg and Sam are in for some heart-racing, wee-hour encounters that have nothing to do with spirits…but everything to do with hearts.

The Review:

Wendy Markham’s Love, Suburban Style is a fun, light-hearted romance with just a little bit of a paranormal element. On the downside of her Broadway career and with her daughter expelled from school, Meg Addams decides to move back to Glenhaven, the town where she grew up. Her new next door neighbor? Sexy single dad Sam Rooney who just happens to be the object of Meg’s unrequited high school crush. Meg soon discovers that while much of Glenhaven has changed, her feelings for Sam have remained the same.

Meg Addams is a down to earth level headed single mom. When roles begin going to younger actresses, she realizes it is time to leave her once successful career behind and forge a new path. With her unenthusiastic daughter, Cosette, by her side, she relocates to Glenhaven, where she quickly discovers that the small town she left behind has changed dramatically. Meg’s self-esteem falters occasionally as she adjusts to the wealthier, upscale town, but with her terrific sense of humor and pragmatic attitude, she soon carves out a niche for herself.

Sam Rooney is widower who is a wonderful, but somewhat overprotective father of two teenagers, Ben and Katie. Devastated by his late wife’s death four years prior, he is devoted to his kids and has yet to begin dating again. Although instantly attracted to Meg, he is reluctant to risk getting hurt again.

Meg and Sam’s kids are realistic and delightfully developed. Cosette’s adjustment to small town living does not happen overnight nor does she lose her distinctive individuality. Ben is smart and athletic with perhaps a little more sensitivity than teenage boys usually exhibit. But it is Katie who completely stole my heart. Feeling the lack of a mother, Katie eagerly forms an attachment to Meg. Katie’s devotion to Meg soon becomes a source of conflict between Meg and Sam.

The romance between Sam and Meg is slow growing and quite entertaining. Since the story is told from both Meg and Sam’s perspectives, the reader always knows what each of the characters is thinking and what motivates them. I enjoyed the push/pull between them and I like how they each gave careful consideration to the possible ramifications that a failed romance could have on their lives and their children.

The paranormal aspect of the storyline is absolutely fabulous. The ghostly apparitions, things going bump in the night and otherworldly occurrences kept me guessing exactly what this part of the plot was going to eventually lead to. And boy was I surprised when everything, including the ghost’s identity, was finally revealed!

Love, Suburban Style is a marvelous novel with a unique plot. Wendy Markham has an engaging writing style but it is her extraordinary character development and witty dialogue that keeps the story moving at a brisk pace. An easy, enjoyable read that I highly recommend.

4 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Ghosts, Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Book Group, Love Suburban Style, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Wendy Markham