A 5 Star Book Review of The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater by Jaime Jo Wright, A Haunting 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.
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About This Book:
It promises beauty but steals life instead. Will the ghosts of Barlowe Theater entomb them all?
Barlowe Theater stole the life of Greta Mercy's eldest brother during its construction. Now in 1915, the completed theater appears every bit as deadly. When Greta's younger brother goes missing after breaking into the building, Greta engages the assistance of a local police officer to help her unveil the already ghostly secrets of the theater. But when help comes from an unlikely source, Greta decides that to save her family she must uncover the evil that haunts the theater and put its threat to rest.
Decades later, Kit Boyd's best friend vanishes during a ghost walk at the Barlowe Theater, and old stories of mysterious disappearances and ghoulish happenings are revived. Then television ghost-hunting host and skeptic Evan Fisher joins Kit in the quest to identify the truth behind the theater's history. Kit reluctantly agrees to work with him in hopes of finding her missing friend. As the theater's curse unravels Kit's life, she is determined to put an end to the evil that has marked the theater and their hometown for the last century.
MY REVIEW: ★★★★★/5
The perfect read for spooky season! With mystery, ghost stories, rumored hauntings and a hefty dose of historic nostalgia, this brand new release was dramatic and thrilling!
From the first chapter, I was instantaneously enraptured in this sensational story. I thoroughly enjoyed the dual timeline, switching between Greta’s story set in Kipper’s Grove in 1915 and Kit’s story in Kipper’s Grove of present day. Wright, as always, expertly delivers an interwoven tale of dark secrets, mystery, danger and intrigue. Reading this story was like trying to solve a riddle. I devoured the book in a matter of days (would have been hours if I’d had the free time!). I could hardly put it down.
As a long-time fan of Wright’s stories, I enjoyed the spine-tingling sensations of the spooky, dark moments and the rich, multi-layered characters she delivered in this latest release. Her characters are easily seen as real people who face real-life problems while finding themselves in the most suspenseful, creepiest situations! I love every moment of feeling on edge, feeling the heart palpitating fear, the breathless surprise, the eye-widening wonder of moments that are designed to frighten, to intrigue and to draw a reader deeper into the heart of the story.
Of course, these dark moments are expertly interwoven into a story that allows for some lighthearted sarcasm, beautiful friendships, a hint (or two!) of romance and the beauty of hope love and family. This balance offers an opening that displays a strong thread of faith and the light of goodness over evil. In addition, Wright always offers a simple explanation for the unexplained that leaves readers with a sense of satisfaction and knowing that darkness will not prevail.
Overall, I couldn’t have loved this story more for the main characters, Greta and Kit. Greta’s character is strong in her perseverance, her grit and her determination to protect her brothers at all costs. I loved seeing her find restitution and deliverance, as well as love. Kit’s story, all together different, offered a look into an adoptee’s heart and the deep sense of grief and loss, a sense of abandonment that many adoptee’s struggle with and I found her story to be so heartwarming and authentic. Both Oscar and Evan, as Greta and Kit’s counterparts, won me over too for all together different reasons - but for sure for their protective nature!
Summary:
A definite 5 star read for all things suspenseful and ghostly with the expert delivery of multi-layered characters and that unique hint of romance and faith among it all!
Content and Trigger Warnings: Adoption, Abandonment
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Image Courtesy of Baker Publishing Group.
Jaime Jo Wright (JaimeWrightBooks.com) is the author of ten novels, including Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She's also a two-time Christy Award finalist, as well as the ECPA bestselling author of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau and two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her family and felines.
More Books by Jaime Jo Wright:
A Dual timeline THRILLER
Spooky, Thrilling and Intriguing! Jaime Jo Wright is a master storyteller… I absolutely loved The Souls of Lost Lake!
Jaime Jo Wright did not merely tell a story with her words… She created an atmosphere that surrounded me, captivated me and completely immersed me in the mysterious legend of campfire-story-favorite, Ava Coons. In addition, her fantastic characters and their stories evicted a deep and raw emotion that made this story one to be highly recommended.