4.14 AVERAGE

afranklin's review

4.0
emotional fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
tapdancingsheep's profile picture

tapdancingsheep's review

5.0

WHEW!! This book was a great read- murder, small town, Bible college, controlling husband, meek housewife, psychic abilities, and a cast of outstanding characters.

A harsh reminder to those of us in modern society, the 1950s were not that long ago … do not romanticize the 1950s. Women were very often trapped in horrible marriages, marital r*pe was an accepted thing, women couldn’t have their own bank accounts/credit cards, and no fault divorce wasn’t allowed.
emmess530's profile picture

emmess530's review

3.0

“Sometimes, if a spirit doesn’t feel heard by the medium, they begin acting out in other ways. Poltergeist activity, scary manifestations. A bit like a child throwing a tantrum.”

This book was so addictive from the get go, I mean, what’s not to love? A tale of gothic paranormal activity set in the mid 1950s, with a weak-willed housewife who obeys her overly religious yet abusive husband’s every command? I was hooked, however, the last third of the story left me disappointed. The ending felt rushed, leaving a lot of questions unanswered.

The story centers on Loretta Davenport, a housewife who, after a bout of sickness, begins to experience supernatural visions of the deceased. These frightening experiences drive her to go behind her controlling husband’s back to see Dr. Curtis Hansen, a psychoanalyst who encourages her to explore and develop her newfound abilities.

On a high note, the author does an amazing job portraying the oppressive norms of the times, highlighting the lack of rights for women. I really enjoyed Loretta’s transformation from a submissive wife to a strong woman claiming her independence.

If you love suspense thrillers with a touch of paranormal activity, this is a decent read.
roarkuncorked's profile picture

roarkuncorked's review

3.0

3.5... I devoured this book in less than 24 hours. I really liked the writing style and the premise. However, the really poignant points were crammed in and the ending was forced. I would definitely read this author again though because I really liked the writing.
fiction_mama's profile picture

fiction_mama's review

4.0
dark emotional tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

youngremlin's review

4.25
dark emotional medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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emmafinnemore's profile picture

emmafinnemore's review

5.0
challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ellabourgon's review

3.25
challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
battyadi's profile picture

battyadi's review

3.0
challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced