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

No Stone Unturned (Lucy Lawrence Mystery #1) by Pam Lecky: A Book Review

No Stone Unturned (Lucy Lawrence Mystery #1) Author: Pam Lecky Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense Publisher: Storm Publishing Book Release Date: 2024 Pages: 356 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Lucy Lawrence stared down at her husband, his once handsome face now a twisted mask of death. She shivered and pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders. His life had held so many secrets, and now his sins were hers to bear… England, 1886. In the flickering gaslights of Victorian London, 28-year-old Lucy Lawrence's future hangs in the balance. Her husband's murder has left her reputation in tatters, and the theft of her mother's priceless heirloom pearls has only added to her woes. But when the handsome investigator Phineas Stone enters her life, Lucy finds herself drawn into a web of deceit that leads right back to her marriage and a deadly conspiracy that could undo them all. ...

Interview With Carolyn Marie Wilkins

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing, Ms. Carolyn Marie Wilkins. She is the author of the Psychics and Soul Food Mystery series. Her first novel, The Murder at the Wham Bam Club , features a psychic named Nola Jackson as an amateur sleuth. Her sequel, Let the Murderer Say Amen , has just recently been released. In this interview, we discussed her inspiration that led her to writing Let the Murderer Say Amen . We also discussed why she decided for Nola to have psychic abilities as well as her love for the mystery genre. Thank you, Ms. Wilkins! (Photo Credit: Sally Cooper) What inspired you to write the Psychics and Soul Food Mystery series? I am a practicing psychic medium. I talk to the dead, read Tarot cards and attend seances, so this book was a natural for me. I also love reading and writing about African American history. And of course, I love Soul Food. Writing this series gives me the chance to combine several of my ...

Guest Post by Aleksey Linetskiy: The Women Behind the Klondike Story

Today's guest writer is Aleksey Linetskiy. He is the co-author of Finch and Hawk: The Klondike Letters , which is a unique yearly subscription in which the reader reads a story by mail. In this guest post, he introduces us to a few historical women of the Klondike era. Some of these women are Alice Freeman, Flora Shaw, and Helen Dare. Thank you, Mr. Linetskiy! The Women Behind the Klondike Story Before we began writing Finch and Hawk: The Klondike Letters , my partner, Alona Umansky, and I spent a great deal of time researching the Klondike Gold Rush. We were interested in finding the stories of people who maybe didn’t become rich and famous but still went through the experience of a great stampede. As we were reading the newspapers of the time and firsthand accounts, it became very clear to us that we wanted to tell at least part of the story through the women’s eyes. There were so many incredible women who underto...

History from a Woman's Perspective- A Book Blog

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