Left at an orphanage as a child, Thea Reed vowed to find her mother someday. Now grown, her search takes her to Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, in 1908. When clues lead her to a mental asylum, Thea uses her experience as a post-mortem photographer to gain access and assist groundskeeper Simeon Coyle in photographing the patients and uncovering the secrets within. However, she never expected her personal quest would reawaken the legend of Misty Wayfair, a murdered woman who allegedly haunts the area and whose appearance portends death.
A century later, Heidi Lane receives a troubling letter from her mother--who is battling dementia--compelling her to travel to Pleasant Valley for answers to her own questions of identity. When she catches sight of a ghostly woman who haunts the asylum ruins in the woods, the long-standing story of Misty Wayfair returns--and with it, Heidi's fear for her own life.
As two women across time seek answers about their identities and heritage, can they overcome the threat of the mysterious curse that has them inextricably intertwined?
My Thoughts
What a creepy good book! There's no way I can ever come up with the right words to describe just how awesome it was.
Seriously, this book is fantastic! Captivating, atmospheric, deliciously creepy, so hard to put down. It had a gothic-vibe that I absolutely loved. There were many chilling, goosebump-inducing moments. I was completely consumed by the story. Holding my full attention, nothing could distract me from it.
I enjoyed both timelines equally. Heidi and Thea were really great characters, relatable and likable. All the characters, no matter how small or big their role in the story, were fully fleshed out and three-dimensional. So real. My favorites were Emma, an autistic young woman, and her service dog Ducie, and Mr. Amos, the curmudgeon town photographer.
I really can't say enough good things about this book. If I could give it more than five stars, I would. It's my new favorite from author Jaime Jo Wright and will definitely be on my list of best books for the year.
Five Stars
Every fall I find myself on the prowl for 'deliciously creepy' reads; this sounds like the perfect October read. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a great read for October. I'd thought about saving it until then, but I couldn't wait that long, lol. :D
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