The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James: A Book Review

The Haunting of Maddy Clare
Author: Simone St. James
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: 2012
Pages: 335
Source: My State Public Library
Synopsis: Sarah Piper's lonely, threadbare existence changes when her temporary agency sends her to assist a ghost hunter. Alistair Gellis-rich, handsome, scarred by World War I, and obsessed with ghosts- has been summoned to investigate the spirit of nineteen-year-old maid Maddy Clare, who is haunting the barn where she committed suicide. Since Maddy hated men in life, it is Sarah's task to confront her in death. Soon Sarah is caught up in a desperate struggle. For Maddy's ghost is real, she's angry, and she has powers that defy all reason. Can Sarah and Alistair's assistant, the rough, unsettling Matthew Ryder, discover who Maddy was, where she came from, and what is driving her desire for vengeance-before she destroys them all?

Winner of two RITA Awards from the Romance Writers of America and the Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada

My Review: Sarah has finally heard back from her temporary agency. However, her job is unusual. She is to assist a ghost hunter, Alistair, in his investigation of a teenage ghost, Maddy Clare, who is haunting the barn. Alistair has hired Sarah because Maddy hates men and he believes a woman will be most helpful in the investigation. When Sarah arrives at the barn, she finds that there is more than she bargained for. The ghost has scared the living daylights out of the investigation team. Can Sarah help the ghost find peace and rest?

Sarah has always been very practical. However, the mission Alistair assigns her has made her question everything she has ever known about the world. Thus, this case changes her perceptions about the world. She is also a very brave woman because she is willing to face the ghost by herself. She is very clever and compassionate. She wants to learn more about Maddy’s past and why Maddy is a vengeful spirit. Thus, Sarah is a very likable heroine.

Overall, this book is about love, vengeance, mystery, and forgiveness. While Sarah is a likable heroine, the character that steals the show is Maddy. She was the most intriguing character in the story, and I wanted to learn about her past. The other two characters, Alistair and Matthew, were also very lovable. The mystery aspect was predictable. However, the paranormal aspect was well-done. After reading this book, I felt like I knew Maddy, and I wanted her to get the peace she deserved. There were some parts of the book where the paranormal aspect was pushed to the side for some romance parts. Other than that, it was an enjoyable read with engaging stories and an atmospheric setting. The Haunting of Maddy Clare will be sure to keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end! Simone St. James has proven that she is an author to look out for!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Blog Tour: Guest Post by Shelley Stratton: Trolley Cars, the Metro, and Bringing Historical Settings to Life

Shelly Stratton is the author of She Wears the Mask . This interesting guest post discusses how she incorporates realistic details and facts about streetcars from the early 20th century, which were common long before her birth. Mrs. Stratton describes her love of these older modes of public transportation as well as how she felt a joy and kinship with those who patronized these iconic symbols of urban transportation throughout the industrial age. Thank you, Mrs. Stratton! Trolley Cars, the Metro, and Bringing Historical Settings to Life By Shelly Stratton Decades ago, whenever I visited my great grandmother and great aunt in NW Washington, D.C., they would always ask me, “Did you drive in or take the trolley car here?” As I removed my coat or stowed away my umbrella, I would politely correct them with “I took the metro.” But after correcting them so many times and both of them persistently referring to the metropolitan transit ...

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki: A Book Review

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post Author: Allison Pataki Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Ballantine Release Date: February 15, 2022 Pages: 381 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Mrs. Post, the President and First Lady are here to see you. . . . So begins another average evening for Marjorie Merriweather Post. Presidents have come and gone, but she has hosted them all. Growing up in the modest farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan, Marjorie was inspired by a few simple rules: always think for yourself, never take success for granted, and work hard—even when deemed American royalty, even while covered in imperial diamonds. Marjorie had an insatiable drive to live and love and to give more than she got. From crawling through Moscow warehouses to rescue the Tsar’s treasures to outrunning the Nazis in London, from serving the homeless of the Great Depression to entertaining Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Hollywood’s biggest stars, Marjorie Merriweath...

Kateryn Parr: Henry VIII's Sixth Queen by Laura Adkins: A Book Review

Kateryn Parr: Henry VIII’s Sixth Queen Author: Laura Adkins Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography Publisher: Pen and Sword History Book Release Date: 2024 Pages: 185 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Kateryn Parr is mainly remembered today as being the sixth wife of King Henry VIII, the one who 'survived'. Kateryn was not only a wife but a queen, mother, reformer, and author. Kateryn would face a number of events in her lifetime including being held to ransom during the Pilgrimage of Grace, being placed as regent while Henry was in France, a role which only one of his five previous wives held, her namesake Katherine of Aragon, and overcame a plot which would have led to her arrest and execution. While Queen she was able to unite the Tudor family and establish some form of happiness for Henry VIII's three children. Raised by her mother Maud Parr, under a humanist education, Kateryn was intelligent enough to understand her role in life...

History from a Woman's Perspective- A Book Blog

Search This Blog