Thursday, April 1, 2021

Review: The Lady in Residence by Allison Pittman

About the Book
Can a Legacy of Sadness be Broken at the Menger Hotel?

Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.

Young widow Hedda Krause checks into the Menger Hotel in 1915 with a trunk full of dresses, a case full of jewels, and enough cash to pay for a two-month stay, which she hopes will be long enough to meet, charm, and attach herself to a new, rich husband. Her plans are derailed when a ghostly apparition lures her into a long, dark hallway, and Hedda returns to her room to find her precious jewelry has been stolen. She falls immediately under a cloud of suspicion with her haunting tale, but true ghost enthusiasts bring her expensive pieces of jewelry in an attempt to lure the ghost to appear again.

In 2017, Dini Blackstone is a fifth-generation magician, who performs at private parties, but she also gives ghost walk tours, narrating the more tragic historical events of San Antonio with familial affection. Above all, her favorite is the tale of Hedda Krause who, in Dini’s estimation, succeeded in perpetrating the world’s longest con, dying old and wealthy from her ghost story. But then Dini meets Quinn Carmichael, great-great-grandson of the detective who originally investigated Hedda’s case, who’s come to the Alamo City with a box full of clues that might lead to Hedda’s exoneration. Can Dini see another side of the story that is worthy of God’s grace?


MY THOUGHTS

I loved this book so much! It's a dual timeline set in San Antonio in the present day and 1915. It was absolutely riveting. I was completely captivated by it and didn't want it to end. I'd give it more than five stars, if I could.

I can't really say which timeline was my favorite. Usually in this type of book, I gravitate towards one time or the other, but both were great and held my complete and full interest.

Dini was quite the entertaining character. She's a magician who also guides ghost tours and who has a major fascination with the tale of Hedda Krause. It wasn't long before I came to share in that fascination too. I was super curious about the mystery surrounding Hedda, her missing jewels and the ghost of Sallie White. Did Hedda stage it all? Was somebody setting her up? Or was it really a ghost? I had to know!

I don't think I can fully express just how much I truly enjoyed this book. It was fantastic and is definitely going on my favorites shelf. It was my first time reading something by Allison Pittman, but certainly won't be my last. I highly, highly recommend it!

FIVE STARS

2 comments:

  1. Nice to know both timelines were equally good. That doesn't happen very often in dual timeline novels.

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    Replies
    1. It's definitely rare. I'm always so happy to find one like this one. :)

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