The Premonition at Withers Farm by Jaime Jo Wright, A Clean Atmospheric Suspense Novel
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review. Also, this blog post includes affiliate links. You can view my affiliate disclaimer here.
Historical Fiction & Contemporary Romance
A hauntingly, beautiful masterpiece! Immersive and fantastically frightening! The perfect October read!
Jaime Jo Wright never ceases to amaze me, taking readers on a chilling, atmospheric experience of spirits, serial killers and murders balanced with faith, hope and love... Mysterious and irresistible, Wright kept me on the edge of my seat, fully immersed in her story, devouring the pages as quickly as possible in a way that both entertained and entranced me!
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"It's rare when a book carries me so deep inside its world that I forget I'm reading. Buy this book. Now. You'll absolutely love it."--JAMES L. RUBART, Christy Hall of Fame author
The voices of the past cannot stay silent forever.
In 1910 Michigan, Perliett Van Hilton is a self-proclaimed rural healer, leaving the local doctor convinced she practices quackery. It doesn't help that her mother is a spiritualist who regularly offers her services to connect the living with their dearly departed. But when Perliett is targeted by a superstitious killer, she must rely on both the local doctor and an intriguing newcomer for assistance.
In the present day, Molly Wasziak's life has not gone the way she dreamed. Facing depression after several miscarriages, Molly is adapting to her husband's purchase of a peculiar old farm. A search for a family tree pulls Molly deep into a century-old murder case and a web of deception, all made more mysterious by the disturbing shadows and sounds inside the farmhouse.
Perliett fights for her life, and Molly seeks renewed purpose for hers as she uncovers the records of the dead. Will their voices be heard, or will time forever silence their truths?
MY REVIEW: ★★★★★/5
A hauntingly, beautiful masterpiece! Jaime Jo Wright never ceases to amaze me, taking readers on a chilling, atmospheric experience in every new novel she releases. The Premonition at Withers Farm is a fantastically frightening mystery involving a serial killer hiding among the Michigan cornfields of 1910 which simultaneously unfolds alongside a modern day murder in the same farming community. Wright kept me on the edge of my seat, fully immersed in her story, devouring the pages as quickly as possible in a way that both entertained and entranced me!
HIGHLIGHTS:
Murder, Mystery and an Eerie Overture · Grief and Depression · A Protective, Serious Hero · A Heroine Wrestling With the Truth · An Old Farmhouse · Haunted Cornfields · A Flock of Chickens · The Power of Love · Faith and Healing After Loss
What I liked:
Absolutely Everything. From the first line in this novel, Wright captivated my attention which is why I keep returning to her novels time and time again - they’re simply irresistible! She masterfully creates an enchanting story world that is haunting and terrifying without feeling “too real” by wooing me with her multi-layered main characters who grapple with problems and experiences that are all too relatable. In this novel, she maintained a high level of suspense, dabbling with a provocative glimpse into the spirit world, grief, depression and the afterlife.
Wright carefully addresses seances and the summoning of the spirit world, something I do not condone and was even skeptical reading about in this novel. My intrigue and natural curiosity demanded a practical answer for these matters and Wright delivered.
Related Post: Looking for another hauntingly good tale? Try The Lady in Residence by Allison Pittman
I thoroughly enjoyed both the historical aspect of this story and the modern day story with the way they intertwined in mystery and perplexity. Wright maintained a certain level of intensity throughout the novel that held my attention captive, wanting to know the truth (and person, or being) behind it all. Her characters wrestle with questions that are relevant today and there were some deep elements of faith interwoven throughout, making this a novel that offered hope and eye-opening insights that align with Scripture. I identified closely with Molly’s character and my heart broke for her struggle. The full circle aspect of her story and the rebuilding of the relationship between her and her sweet husband, Trent, was both rewarding and uplifting.
This novel is well-balanced, well-paced and well-written. The story unfolds in a way that begins dark and mysterious yet is easy to follow, offering moments of lighthearted humor, peace and connection before delightfully returning to a deliciously eerie, heart-pounding suspense that is truly like none other in the Christian fiction world. Indeed Wright has found her niche and she is a master at it. If you’ve read one Wright novel, you’ll understand (and want to read them all!).
Summary:
Overall, another fantastic, hauntingly eerie tale. If you are a reader who enjoys provocative suspense, dark stories that dabble in delicate subjects and offer strong truths with faith, light and hope then you’ll love this novel! This is a definite recommendation from me, with a small note to consider this novel’s content and triggers. One of the topics I struggled with, having walked the path of miscarriage and loss in my own personal life. Being in a good place now meant I easily enjoyed this novel but I would caution that it might be heavy for someone who’s grief or depression might be fresh. Regardless, I felt that Wright delicately and wholeheartedly brought light and hope to her novel that readers will find uplifting.
Content and Trigger Warnings: Miscarriage, Serious Postpartum Depression, Grief and Loss, Seances, Ghosts and Apparitions, Murder of Young Women, Serial Killer
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Image Courtesy of Baker Publishing Group.
