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ashlimcdaniel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
paperbacks_and_ponytails's review against another edition
4.0
I couldn't wait to get my hands on Jaime Jo Wright's new release.
I have mixed feelings about it, but still enjoyed the book overall. I loved the mystery, the very creepy atmosphere and the writing was great.
The things I was not a great fan of were the mentions of spiritualism and mediums. This is a Christian book, so I do want to say that Jaime did a great job in showing that we shouldn't delve into the works of the devil and to seek out the dead. But to seek the Lord with all of your heart and not search for help in those dark places.
A dual timeline book filled with mystery and intrigue. An unsolved murder from the early 1900s is somehow connected to a recent murder. Strange noises that go bump in the night and being chased by unseen voices. If you want a faith filled book, with a very suspense filled feel then this is it.
Thank you to @bakerpublishing and #netgalley for a copy of the book to read and review.
*TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Mental health issues, depression, and mentions of miscarriages.
I have mixed feelings about it, but still enjoyed the book overall. I loved the mystery, the very creepy atmosphere and the writing was great.
The things I was not a great fan of were the mentions of spiritualism and mediums. This is a Christian book, so I do want to say that Jaime did a great job in showing that we shouldn't delve into the works of the devil and to seek out the dead. But to seek the Lord with all of your heart and not search for help in those dark places.
A dual timeline book filled with mystery and intrigue. An unsolved murder from the early 1900s is somehow connected to a recent murder. Strange noises that go bump in the night and being chased by unseen voices. If you want a faith filled book, with a very suspense filled feel then this is it.
Thank you to @bakerpublishing and #netgalley for a copy of the book to read and review.
*TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Mental health issues, depression, and mentions of miscarriages.
scottishpixie26's review against another edition
5.0
A can't put down book. It was a creepily good book; it was absolutely amazing. This story will have you suspicious of basically everyone.
maeclair's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for my ARC.
Wow, W-O-W, WOW!!!! I was totally unfamiliar with author, Jamie Jo Wright, but I am now an avid fan. I requested an ARC of this title because I’m addicted to dual timeline mysteries, and I loved the idea of the early twentieth century setting (for the past timeline) and the hint of spiritualism woven into the plot. Although the start (in the present timeline) was a little bleak, it didn’t take long for plot and characters (in both timelines) to grab me. It got to the point, I couldn’t flip pages fast enough and was annoyed when interruptions drew me from the book.
In the present, Molly Wasziak and her husband buy an old property known as Withers Farm. Neither are in a good place, going through the motions of marriage but behaving more like strangers. Molly has experienced several miscarriages leaving her haunted by children who might have been, her husband unsure how to combat her lingering depression. Both hope moving to the farmhouse will be a new start for them.
But when a distant relation, who was investigating members of the Wasziak family tree, is murdered near their property, Molly dives into the past—specifically 1910, when a killer known as the Cornfield Ripper claimed the lives of two young women with connections to Withers Farm.
With alternating timelines, building past and present mysteries, the story held me spellbound. It’s hard to say which timeline I enjoyed better. In the past, Perilett Van Hilton, is a rural healer whose mother is an in-demand spiritualist. Perilett is a strong, determined woman though not without doubts about her mother’s vocation. She’s engaged in a test of wills with the local doctor, George Wasziak, who accuses her of quackery. He and another (mysterious) gentleman, had me waffling back and forth as to their motives. All the characterizations are exquisite, though I was particularly enamored of those in the past.
Goosebumps abound! From the descriptions of carriage rides and nighttime walks on country roads lined by towering corn stalks, to the eerie use of the nursery rhyme Cock Robin, my skin prickled. In the present, every time Molly ventured into the basement—built with gravestones, no less—I held my breath. When the tension grew too strong, I could always count on the diversion of Molly’s chicks and chickens to warm my heart. I fell in love with those birds!
This is a superb book, among my top reads of the year, if not, my favorite to date. After finishing, I immediately looked up the author, signed up for her newsletter, and ordered more of her previous books. I can’t recommend The Premonition at Withers Farm highly enough. Thank you again to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for my ARC. I couldn’t put this one down!
Wow, W-O-W, WOW!!!! I was totally unfamiliar with author, Jamie Jo Wright, but I am now an avid fan. I requested an ARC of this title because I’m addicted to dual timeline mysteries, and I loved the idea of the early twentieth century setting (for the past timeline) and the hint of spiritualism woven into the plot. Although the start (in the present timeline) was a little bleak, it didn’t take long for plot and characters (in both timelines) to grab me. It got to the point, I couldn’t flip pages fast enough and was annoyed when interruptions drew me from the book.
In the present, Molly Wasziak and her husband buy an old property known as Withers Farm. Neither are in a good place, going through the motions of marriage but behaving more like strangers. Molly has experienced several miscarriages leaving her haunted by children who might have been, her husband unsure how to combat her lingering depression. Both hope moving to the farmhouse will be a new start for them.
But when a distant relation, who was investigating members of the Wasziak family tree, is murdered near their property, Molly dives into the past—specifically 1910, when a killer known as the Cornfield Ripper claimed the lives of two young women with connections to Withers Farm.
With alternating timelines, building past and present mysteries, the story held me spellbound. It’s hard to say which timeline I enjoyed better. In the past, Perilett Van Hilton, is a rural healer whose mother is an in-demand spiritualist. Perilett is a strong, determined woman though not without doubts about her mother’s vocation. She’s engaged in a test of wills with the local doctor, George Wasziak, who accuses her of quackery. He and another (mysterious) gentleman, had me waffling back and forth as to their motives. All the characterizations are exquisite, though I was particularly enamored of those in the past.
Goosebumps abound! From the descriptions of carriage rides and nighttime walks on country roads lined by towering corn stalks, to the eerie use of the nursery rhyme Cock Robin, my skin prickled. In the present, every time Molly ventured into the basement—built with gravestones, no less—I held my breath. When the tension grew too strong, I could always count on the diversion of Molly’s chicks and chickens to warm my heart. I fell in love with those birds!
This is a superb book, among my top reads of the year, if not, my favorite to date. After finishing, I immediately looked up the author, signed up for her newsletter, and ordered more of her previous books. I can’t recommend The Premonition at Withers Farm highly enough. Thank you again to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for my ARC. I couldn’t put this one down!
melmo2610's review against another edition
4.0
Another compelling and creepy read from Jaime Jo. There is no one who can pen a story the way she does! This one is a doozy, from murders in 1910 and how they connect to current events in the story made for a read that was hard to put down. Molly is a fantastic character-broken and dealing with tragedies in her past only added to the vibe of the story. Good read!
readwithrosemary's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for my copy in exchange for a review.
“But I can tell you this. I think the line between life and the spiritual world is thin. I think it’s also something that engages our curiosity and could be extremely dangerous if we’re not cautious.”
Jaime Jo Wright always manages to blend mystery, dual timelines, Faith, and horror
into a unique cocktail that just works. While I haven’t read all of her work, this book was definitely the scariest of the ones I have read.
I really liked how the mystery in 1910 and the present day mystery intertwined. Both female main characters, who are grieving different ways, were so well written. I also liked how Wright highlighted the spiritualist movement in the early 1900s and the relatable human desire to communicate with our beloved deceased. I really loved her Author’s Note in which she describes how she puts her faith in God but also acknowledges how God can often use signs to “comfort in grief in various ways,”
Read if you love:
-spooky farmhouses
-cold cases
-creepy cornfields
-mysterious seances
-disturbing nursery rhymes
CW: miscarriage, postpartum depression, murder, violence against women
“But I can tell you this. I think the line between life and the spiritual world is thin. I think it’s also something that engages our curiosity and could be extremely dangerous if we’re not cautious.”
Jaime Jo Wright always manages to blend mystery, dual timelines, Faith, and horror
into a unique cocktail that just works. While I haven’t read all of her work, this book was definitely the scariest of the ones I have read.
I really liked how the mystery in 1910 and the present day mystery intertwined. Both female main characters, who are grieving different ways, were so well written. I also liked how Wright highlighted the spiritualist movement in the early 1900s and the relatable human desire to communicate with our beloved deceased. I really loved her Author’s Note in which she describes how she puts her faith in God but also acknowledges how God can often use signs to “comfort in grief in various ways,”
Read if you love:
-spooky farmhouses
-cold cases
-creepy cornfields
-mysterious seances
-disturbing nursery rhymes
CW: miscarriage, postpartum depression, murder, violence against women
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Violence and Miscarriage
wherewisteriagrows's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lifeisstory's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Jaime Jo Wright just continues to get better. The Premonition at Withers Farm is the latest on Wright’s climb up the echelon of Christian fiction, showcasing her now-characteristic dual timelines, eerie atmosphere, and well-written characters. The effect of the past on the present is such a powerful concept, whether one looks at it within families, communities, or even nations. In The Premonition at Withers Farm, Wright ties together a story from 1910 about a rash of murders in a rural town with similarly unfortunate circumstances happening just over a hundred years later.
In 1910, self-proclaimed folk healer Perliett Van Hilton does her best with what she has, yet continually finds herself at odds with the trained doctor in town. It doesn’t help that Perliett’s mother is a spiritualist who claims to be able to connect with the dead. It sets up a conflict—both within the novel and in the reader’s mind—between the natural and supernatural…and how the supernatural should be approached. When a young woman is murdered, Perliett finds herself caught up in all the drama and perhaps even a target herself.
Meanwhile, in the present day, Molly Wasziak and her husband have just moved into their new lives on the farm, seeking escape from the harshness of life. A series of miscarriages has strained their relationship with Molly becoming reclusive and distant. When a distant family member is found murdered near the farm—and Molly learns she had been researching their family history—Molly is drawn deep into a generational mystery that goes back to Perliett. A mystery that is still getting people killed.
If I had to describe a Jaime Jo Wright book in one word, that word would be atmospheric. For Wright, the novel’s place is more than just a location. It is itself a character, often the one constant linking the two (or more) storylines. Every one of her books, except The Curse of Misty Wayfair, is titled to draw out that emphasis:
The House on Foster Hill
The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond
Echoes Among the Stones
The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus
On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor
The Souls of Lost Lake
The Premonition at Withers Farm
With such an emphasis, it becomes important that Wright offers readers a fully-immersive and believable setting. It can’t be bland. It can’t be generic. The story that she’s writing must only be able to happen in this place. Place is crucial to the story, but a novel’s setting is about more than just its location—it’s also about atmosphere. A Jaime Jo Wright novel is characterized by an unsettling eeriness tinged with the supernatural, hung low and heavy over her novel’s location like a dense fog. It permeates people, places, and pages, pulling you into the story. Even when you break from the page and the story leaves your mind, reality around you still feel like you’re inside the world she’s created. As Jaime Jo Wright’s career has developed, her ability to make the setting come alive in that way has only gotten better and better. The Premonition at Withers Farm is an enchantingly engaging journey that keeps your heart rate just a bit elevated and the pages turning at a fast-but-not-too-fast clip. Wright’s engaging settings make you want to slow down and feel the story out, but the mystery and suspense will keep you wanting to turn pages. It's a book that’ll haunt you even after you’ve finished reading it and those are really the best books you can find.
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
4 1/2 stars! Cornfields, creepy basements, old nursery rhymes, & possibly ghosts! Jaime Jo Wright has done it again, creating a romantic, edge of your seat, suspenseful, spooky read that’s unputdownable! Interwoven with the gothic mystery & suspense are second chance and enemies to lovers romances along with messages of healing & faith. Set in the small farming community of Kilbourn, Michigan, residents are terrorized in two different time periods by a vicious killer.
1910 - Perliett Van Hilton has always wanted to be a doctor. She’s studied all the homemade remedies she can, yet the local doctor, George Wasziac doesn’t appreciate her meddling. When two women are brutally murdered, the town turns to Perliett’s mother for answers. She claims to be able to contact the dead, but is it real? When the creepy Cornfield Ripper targets Perliett, will she escape?
Molly & Trent Wasziac are looking for a second chance in their marriage. When they bought their small town farmhouse, they had no idea it was known as a murder house. Suffering from depression and grief after several miscarriages, Molly begins seeing and hearing things, but is what she’s seeing real? When her husband discovers a murdered woman near their property, she digs into the past to try to find a modern day killer.
This book is definitely one to read with the lights on! I’ve always found nursery rhymes creepy, and the way this one is used in this story is particularly morbid. There are definitely scenes that play on our worst fears. However, Jaime Jo Wright knows how to balance the terror with two heartfelt romances and messages of faith. I loved the way she used George and his rival as symbols for faith and superstition. It was a brilliant way to showcase the real choice between putting one’s trust in God and truth versus the occult. I also loved the way she handled the painful reality of miscarriage and depression. The second chance romance was beautifully written.
Highly recommend this amazing book especially to Christian suspense & romance readers! And if you’re worried about it being too spooky, don’t be. The romance and inspirational message far outweigh the fear factor. I received advanced complimentary copies from the author and publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
1910 - Perliett Van Hilton has always wanted to be a doctor. She’s studied all the homemade remedies she can, yet the local doctor, George Wasziac doesn’t appreciate her meddling. When two women are brutally murdered, the town turns to Perliett’s mother for answers. She claims to be able to contact the dead, but is it real? When the creepy Cornfield Ripper targets Perliett, will she escape?
Molly & Trent Wasziac are looking for a second chance in their marriage. When they bought their small town farmhouse, they had no idea it was known as a murder house. Suffering from depression and grief after several miscarriages, Molly begins seeing and hearing things, but is what she’s seeing real? When her husband discovers a murdered woman near their property, she digs into the past to try to find a modern day killer.
This book is definitely one to read with the lights on! I’ve always found nursery rhymes creepy, and the way this one is used in this story is particularly morbid. There are definitely scenes that play on our worst fears. However, Jaime Jo Wright knows how to balance the terror with two heartfelt romances and messages of faith. I loved the way she used George and his rival as symbols for faith and superstition. It was a brilliant way to showcase the real choice between putting one’s trust in God and truth versus the occult. I also loved the way she handled the painful reality of miscarriage and depression. The second chance romance was beautifully written.
Highly recommend this amazing book especially to Christian suspense & romance readers! And if you’re worried about it being too spooky, don’t be. The romance and inspirational message far outweigh the fear factor. I received advanced complimentary copies from the author and publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.