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The Invited
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Horror (2019)A chilling ghost story with a twist: the New York Times bestselling author of The Winter People returns to the woods of Vermont to tell the story of a husband and wife who don't simply move into a haunted house--they build one. . . .
In a quest for a simpler life, Helen and Nate have abandoned the comforts of suburbia to take up residence on forty-four acres of rural land where they will begin the ultimate, aspirational do-it-yourself project: building the house of their dreams. When they discover that this beautiful property has a dark and violent past, Helen, a former history teacher, becomes consumed by the local legend of Hattie Breckenridge, a woman who lived and died there a century ago. With her passion for artifacts, Helen finds special materials to incorporate into the house--a beam from an old schoolroom, bricks from a mill, a mantel from a farmhouse--objects that draw her deeper into the story of Hattie and her descendants, three generations of Breckenridge women, each of whom died suspiciously. As the building project progresses, the house will become a place of menace and unfinished business: a new home, now haunted, that beckons its owners and their neighbors toward unimaginable danger.
In a quest for a simpler life, Helen and Nate have abandoned the comforts of suburbia to take up residence on forty-four acres of rural land where they will begin the ultimate, aspirational do-it-yourself project: building the house of their dreams. When they discover that this beautiful property has a dark and violent past, Helen, a former history teacher, becomes consumed by the local legend of Hattie Breckenridge, a woman who lived and died there a century ago. With her passion for artifacts, Helen finds special materials to incorporate into the house--a beam from an old schoolroom, bricks from a mill, a mantel from a farmhouse--objects that draw her deeper into the story of Hattie and her descendants, three generations of Breckenridge women, each of whom died suspiciously. As the building project progresses, the house will become a place of menace and unfinished business: a new home, now haunted, that beckons its owners and their neighbors toward unimaginable danger.
353 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2019
About the author
Jennifer McMahon
19 books9,941 followers I'm the author of nine suspense novels, including Promise Not to Telll, The Winter People, and my newest, The Drowning Kind. I live in central Vermont with my partner and daughter, in an old Victorian that some neighbors call The Addams Family house.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,342 reviews
May 23, 2023
Five deserved, burning, spooky, creepy, witchy, goosebumps stars!
The reasons I enjoyed so much about this book:
- We meet with Hattie, a real gifted witch, who was just being killed by locals with false accusations. ( She’s still witch but not she is not danger to the community, she just wanted to help for saving children) That prologue gives you creeps, by disturbing your feelings push you turn pages faster!!!
- It starts with the moving of couple, Helen and Nate, recently resigned from teaching jobs to shape a different life by changing their living place, coming to rural Vermont for building their own place! The same land Hattie has died ! Oh yes, you can hear Twilight Zone’s theme music in your ears! Because they’re entering another dimension! A different, quirky place with ghosts! Boooo nananana ( Okay, I’m cutting from here, it gets frustrating!)
- Olive is their 14 year old neighbor who was recently abandoned by her mother, living with her father who loses his marbles each day after his wife’s departure, remodeling house by destroying every part of it to bring his wife back! ( He thinks he can deceive his wife with wider wardrobes and Mountain View!)
Olive hates newcomers, she thinks there is a secret hidden treasure on their land ! If they leave their land, she can make a proper search! So she starts stealing them to confuse their minds, wearing white dress, walking into their land at midnight, acting like Hattie’s ghost! Yes, this girl is strange, weird, crazy, wild, tomboy but still so lovable, well developed, amazing teen character!
So there are too many interesting and also typical horror story instrumentals such as;
A ghost who is searching for her child and grandchildren!
A hidden family treasure
A disappearing hypnotizing white deer which could be the reflection of Hattie
Spirits connect with real people by quija board
A group of weird people’s monthly meetings/ seances to connect with the spirits
Rising questions to differentiate what is real and what is madness
Five generation of women’s unfortunate stories!
It’s a long book which gave me red eye because I felt like my hands were glued to the pages, I couldn’t put down, I couldn’t stop to think about the story , I couldn’t easily give up on Hattie!
The writing was remarkable , well crafted, gripping! I’m so happy to finally find a book about good spirits not the evil but unfortunate ones with unfinished business! Because it is so boring to watch and read about the ghosts and their vengeance stories!
I loved this, I enjoyed it, I’m satisfied with the ending! Last twist was a little expectable but I still liked it!
The reasons I enjoyed so much about this book:
- We meet with Hattie, a real gifted witch, who was just being killed by locals with false accusations. ( She’s still witch but not she is not danger to the community, she just wanted to help for saving children) That prologue gives you creeps, by disturbing your feelings push you turn pages faster!!!
- It starts with the moving of couple, Helen and Nate, recently resigned from teaching jobs to shape a different life by changing their living place, coming to rural Vermont for building their own place! The same land Hattie has died ! Oh yes, you can hear Twilight Zone’s theme music in your ears! Because they’re entering another dimension! A different, quirky place with ghosts! Boooo nananana ( Okay, I’m cutting from here, it gets frustrating!)
- Olive is their 14 year old neighbor who was recently abandoned by her mother, living with her father who loses his marbles each day after his wife’s departure, remodeling house by destroying every part of it to bring his wife back! ( He thinks he can deceive his wife with wider wardrobes and Mountain View!)
Olive hates newcomers, she thinks there is a secret hidden treasure on their land ! If they leave their land, she can make a proper search! So she starts stealing them to confuse their minds, wearing white dress, walking into their land at midnight, acting like Hattie’s ghost! Yes, this girl is strange, weird, crazy, wild, tomboy but still so lovable, well developed, amazing teen character!
So there are too many interesting and also typical horror story instrumentals such as;
A ghost who is searching for her child and grandchildren!
A hidden family treasure
A disappearing hypnotizing white deer which could be the reflection of Hattie
Spirits connect with real people by quija board
A group of weird people’s monthly meetings/ seances to connect with the spirits
Rising questions to differentiate what is real and what is madness
Five generation of women’s unfortunate stories!
It’s a long book which gave me red eye because I felt like my hands were glued to the pages, I couldn’t put down, I couldn’t stop to think about the story , I couldn’t easily give up on Hattie!
The writing was remarkable , well crafted, gripping! I’m so happy to finally find a book about good spirits not the evil but unfortunate ones with unfinished business! Because it is so boring to watch and read about the ghosts and their vengeance stories!
I loved this, I enjoyed it, I’m satisfied with the ending! Last twist was a little expectable but I still liked it!
November 13, 2023
Husband and wife, Nate and Helen, dream of living a more simple life. In order to achieve this, they decide to uproot from urban-CT and move out to the country.
Using money Helen inherited after her father's recent passing, they make a plan to start over and build a home with their own hands.
Ultimately, they decide on a large plot of land in rural Vermont with a rich and eerie history.
Leaving their cushy lives behind, they move into an old trailer on their new property and commence building their dream home.
Olive, a young girl, and new neighbor to Helen and Nate, is missing her Mom, who left home one night and never returned.
Rumor has it that she ran off with a man, but Olive doesn't believe it. Acting out and skipping school, Olive is on a direct path to nowhere if someone doesn't intervene.
As with The Winter People, McMahon perfectly blends past and present together in this story.
In addition to the main story, described above, we also learn about some characters from a historical perspective who have deep connections to Helen and Nate's land.
The way that it is woven together, and ultimately connected, is seamless.
McMahon has such a haunting way of writing. There is an overriding sinister ambiance to her work that make her stories an absolute joy to read.
She adds just the right amount of chilling atmosphere, and occult references, to give the story a genuine feel without being gaudy, or overdone.
Some of the plot elements I found were a little too easy to figure out, which is why I decided on a 4.5-star rating, as opposed to a full 5-stars. That is totally my opinion, however, and you may disagree once you read it.
For me, this ghost story with a twist was highly entertaining!
"Some people move into a haunted house, but you, you want to build a haunted house, Helen. How fucked up is that?"
McMahon has quickly become an auto-buy author for me. I feel like people are definitely going to love this one. Again, she hits the tone out of the park. Just splendid.
A big thank you to the publisher, Doubleday Books, for providing me with a copy to read and are review. I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to reading more from McMahon in the future!
Using money Helen inherited after her father's recent passing, they make a plan to start over and build a home with their own hands.
Ultimately, they decide on a large plot of land in rural Vermont with a rich and eerie history.
Leaving their cushy lives behind, they move into an old trailer on their new property and commence building their dream home.
Olive, a young girl, and new neighbor to Helen and Nate, is missing her Mom, who left home one night and never returned.
Rumor has it that she ran off with a man, but Olive doesn't believe it. Acting out and skipping school, Olive is on a direct path to nowhere if someone doesn't intervene.
As with The Winter People, McMahon perfectly blends past and present together in this story.
In addition to the main story, described above, we also learn about some characters from a historical perspective who have deep connections to Helen and Nate's land.
The way that it is woven together, and ultimately connected, is seamless.
McMahon has such a haunting way of writing. There is an overriding sinister ambiance to her work that make her stories an absolute joy to read.
She adds just the right amount of chilling atmosphere, and occult references, to give the story a genuine feel without being gaudy, or overdone.
Some of the plot elements I found were a little too easy to figure out, which is why I decided on a 4.5-star rating, as opposed to a full 5-stars. That is totally my opinion, however, and you may disagree once you read it.
For me, this ghost story with a twist was highly entertaining!
"Some people move into a haunted house, but you, you want to build a haunted house, Helen. How fucked up is that?"
McMahon has quickly become an auto-buy author for me. I feel like people are definitely going to love this one. Again, she hits the tone out of the park. Just splendid.
A big thank you to the publisher, Doubleday Books, for providing me with a copy to read and are review. I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to reading more from McMahon in the future!
August 14, 2020
In the very beginning of the story, Hattie Breckenridge is hung for being a witch.
Nate and Helen decide that they want to build a house in Vermount. The plot of land that they purchase is haunted. They then learn that Hattie use to live on the land that they purchased a century ago near the Bog. Then things get really interesting. Helen doesn't know it but she ends up building a haunted house from sctatch. Then strange things start happening. It is so eerie.
Helen also finds out about the tragic lives of Hallie's descendants, three generations of Breckenridge women, each of whom died amidst suspicion.
Then Olive, a 14 year old girl, tried to find her mother who disappeared without a trace. She lives with her father and they are both grieving. Before her mother died she told her that there was a hidden treasure somewhere in the woods that borders the bog. Olive then is on a search
to find the treasure.
A very chilling gothic ghost story with a twist which was not scary but very creepy and it did give me goose bumps. It's also a thriller and a mystery.
I was immediately drawn into the story, since I loved the atmosphere and the supernatural eerie world of this book. The book goes back and forth from the past to the present. There are dark secrets that are slowly revealed. The book kept me in suspense to find out what was going to happen next. It also has some surprises.
I thought this was a character driven novel. The characters were very well developed. My favorite character was Olive. I loved the writing style which had short chapters. I found it to be an addicting read.
I recently read The Winter People and loved that book too. I already downloaded The Night Sister, by this author and can't wait to read it. I just want more from this author.
I think you will love this if you like a good ghost story that then changes into a thriller.
This was a Traveling Sister Read and a lot of us enjoyed it a lot. It made a great group read.
I want to thank Netgalley, DoubleDay/Random House and Jennifer McMahon for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Nate and Helen decide that they want to build a house in Vermount. The plot of land that they purchase is haunted. They then learn that Hattie use to live on the land that they purchased a century ago near the Bog. Then things get really interesting. Helen doesn't know it but she ends up building a haunted house from sctatch. Then strange things start happening. It is so eerie.
Helen also finds out about the tragic lives of Hallie's descendants, three generations of Breckenridge women, each of whom died amidst suspicion.
Then Olive, a 14 year old girl, tried to find her mother who disappeared without a trace. She lives with her father and they are both grieving. Before her mother died she told her that there was a hidden treasure somewhere in the woods that borders the bog. Olive then is on a search
to find the treasure.
A very chilling gothic ghost story with a twist which was not scary but very creepy and it did give me goose bumps. It's also a thriller and a mystery.
I was immediately drawn into the story, since I loved the atmosphere and the supernatural eerie world of this book. The book goes back and forth from the past to the present. There are dark secrets that are slowly revealed. The book kept me in suspense to find out what was going to happen next. It also has some surprises.
I thought this was a character driven novel. The characters were very well developed. My favorite character was Olive. I loved the writing style which had short chapters. I found it to be an addicting read.
I recently read The Winter People and loved that book too. I already downloaded The Night Sister, by this author and can't wait to read it. I just want more from this author.
I think you will love this if you like a good ghost story that then changes into a thriller.
This was a Traveling Sister Read and a lot of us enjoyed it a lot. It made a great group read.
I want to thank Netgalley, DoubleDay/Random House and Jennifer McMahon for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2022
Middle school teachers, Helen and Nate, living a comfortable, sane life in the city, decide to ditch their jobs, new condo, and city life, after Helen's father dies and has her rethinking what she wants to do with her life. They buy 44 acres in the Vermont woods, with it's very own bog. In line with their new way of life, they are building their house themselves and Helen goes about finding things that are related in some way to Hattie Breckenridge, a rumored witch who lived on that property a century ago. Helen has trouble finding anyone willing to talk about Hattie and in fact, a lot of the local townsfolk seem to be suspicious of Helen and Nate, for buying and living on Hattie's property.
This is not a horror story but it is a ghost story. The scares are subtle and the story is a slow one, building quietly, as we get to know Helen and Nate, in their new surroundings and also get to know a their 14 year old neighbor, Olive and her dad. Olive's mom disappeared the year before and rumors have it that she ran off with a man, much to her husband's utter grief. Olive's aunt Riley watches over Olive and her brother when she can but mostly Olive is on her own, skipping school to look for clues to her mother's disappearance.
Strange things are happening in the tiny town and on Helen and Nate's property, causing friction between the couple as Helen keeps looking into Hattie's haunted past while Nate seems to be on his own supernatural quest, as he tries to follow a white deer through the woods. Then there are some townsfolk who seem to be up to no good, with their seances and secret meetings.
I enjoyed this slow book, especially spunky Olive and her sad father. This was a group read with the Traveling Sisters group on Goodreads and also my Goodreads friend Julie.
Pub April 30th 2019
Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
This is not a horror story but it is a ghost story. The scares are subtle and the story is a slow one, building quietly, as we get to know Helen and Nate, in their new surroundings and also get to know a their 14 year old neighbor, Olive and her dad. Olive's mom disappeared the year before and rumors have it that she ran off with a man, much to her husband's utter grief. Olive's aunt Riley watches over Olive and her brother when she can but mostly Olive is on her own, skipping school to look for clues to her mother's disappearance.
Strange things are happening in the tiny town and on Helen and Nate's property, causing friction between the couple as Helen keeps looking into Hattie's haunted past while Nate seems to be on his own supernatural quest, as he tries to follow a white deer through the woods. Then there are some townsfolk who seem to be up to no good, with their seances and secret meetings.
I enjoyed this slow book, especially spunky Olive and her sad father. This was a group read with the Traveling Sisters group on Goodreads and also my Goodreads friend Julie.
Pub April 30th 2019
Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
February 27, 2019
3.5 stars
Nate and Helen decided to change their lives. They resigned from their teaching jobs and moved to rural Vermont where they began building the home of their dreams. They purchased the forty-four acres of land from a man who was extremely motivated to sell. So happy to have a good deal, in a beautiful setting, they soon learned that their land was once owned by a suspected witch, Hattie Breckenridge. A woman who the town chased down and hung for being a witch. Rumors about the land are all around town. People also had tales about sightings of Hattie. Undeterred, Helen and Nate continue to build their home. When Helen purchases materials for her home, not only do strange things begin to happen but she begins to have sightings. Intrigued by the history of the land and tales of Hattie Breckenridge, Helen decides to learn all she can about Hattie and her descendants.
Olive, a local teenager, is looking for answers about her Mother's disappearance. She is also obsessed with finding lost items in the bog. To right a wrong she agrees to help Helen and Nate build their house.
As the trio continue to build Helen and Nate's dream home, it becomes evident that the past is not ready to rest, that items can act as conduits, and that Hattie and her descendants need help.
The Invited beings with a thrilling scene which got my attention right away. When the tension of that scene is over, things slow down as the story in the present day is being told. I found the first half of the book to be on the slower side as McMahon built her story, introduced her characters and set up the book for the second half. Speaking of the second half, things picked up and became interesting as there are more sightings and the back stories of Hattie's descendants are told.
I can't say that this was my favorite McMahon book. (My favorite being The Winter People) but this book was atmospheric and the bog was eerie. This book was not spooky, scary or even creepy. So more people may be able to enjoy this book. It wont keep anyone up at night, checking under their beds or looking in their closets, but it was enjoyable. It was also well written, and things came together nicely in the second half of the book. Witches, ghosts, Vermont, bogs, deer, lost items, found items, strange noises and wild life all play a part in this paranormal tale/mystery.
Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Nate and Helen decided to change their lives. They resigned from their teaching jobs and moved to rural Vermont where they began building the home of their dreams. They purchased the forty-four acres of land from a man who was extremely motivated to sell. So happy to have a good deal, in a beautiful setting, they soon learned that their land was once owned by a suspected witch, Hattie Breckenridge. A woman who the town chased down and hung for being a witch. Rumors about the land are all around town. People also had tales about sightings of Hattie. Undeterred, Helen and Nate continue to build their home. When Helen purchases materials for her home, not only do strange things begin to happen but she begins to have sightings. Intrigued by the history of the land and tales of Hattie Breckenridge, Helen decides to learn all she can about Hattie and her descendants.
Olive, a local teenager, is looking for answers about her Mother's disappearance. She is also obsessed with finding lost items in the bog. To right a wrong she agrees to help Helen and Nate build their house.
As the trio continue to build Helen and Nate's dream home, it becomes evident that the past is not ready to rest, that items can act as conduits, and that Hattie and her descendants need help.
The Invited beings with a thrilling scene which got my attention right away. When the tension of that scene is over, things slow down as the story in the present day is being told. I found the first half of the book to be on the slower side as McMahon built her story, introduced her characters and set up the book for the second half. Speaking of the second half, things picked up and became interesting as there are more sightings and the back stories of Hattie's descendants are told.
I can't say that this was my favorite McMahon book. (My favorite being The Winter People) but this book was atmospheric and the bog was eerie. This book was not spooky, scary or even creepy. So more people may be able to enjoy this book. It wont keep anyone up at night, checking under their beds or looking in their closets, but it was enjoyable. It was also well written, and things came together nicely in the second half of the book. Witches, ghosts, Vermont, bogs, deer, lost items, found items, strange noises and wild life all play a part in this paranormal tale/mystery.
Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 26, 2021
I loved this! Jennifer McMahon is iconic and I just really love her writing style. She writes genuinely good creepy horror and I still care about the characters too!
Reading vlog: https://youtu.be/6NaOItAWp7Q
Reading vlog: https://youtu.be/6NaOItAWp7Q
September 25, 2022
Now THAT'S the ghost story I've been waiting for!
Haunting, mysterious, and atmospheric! Helen and Nate are married teachers who are fed up with the normalcy of suburbia and feel a calling for a 'simpler' life. Rather than heading to the nearest patch of open farmland, they feel a pull towards the forest and take up residence near a mysterious bog. This is not just any swamp, however; it is the former home to Hattie Breckenridge, an accused witch who was hung for her crimes. As Helen and Nate begin to craft and refurbish their home, they are met by noises they can't explain and a disturbing figure who keeps Helen up at night: a young woman with bruises on her neck and a voice like broken glass. Helen scrambles to uncover the mysterious lineage and fate of Hattie, she meets a young girl named Olive who is living in the forest too. Olive is being raised by her father and aunt and is on a mission of her own: she is determined to find out what happened to her mother who mysteriously disappeared without a trace. As the two stories intertwine, Helen begins to fear that communing with Hattie's spirit may have been more than she bargained for...but is it too late to stop the fury of the dead?
After a few less-than-optimal forays into ghost stories in the past few months, I was certainly hesitant to try again, especially as this was my first Jennifer McMahon novel. However, I was not only gripped by this author and her wonderful writing, but completely enveloped by the mystery surrounding Hattie and her family! I have always loved stories about witchcraft, and have been enamored with this concept ever since The Burning. Even though this witchcraft did not occur in the 'typical' time period, that made the events even more scintillating to me, and I loved watching Helen work through the clues about Hattie and the powerful women in her family and their gruesome ends. There is a little bit of everything thrown in throughout The Invited, from ghosts to witches and Oujia boards to a strange and elusive white deer! This book was beautifully plotted and kept the tension building from start to finish. Just when I thought it couldn't get any wilder towards the end, McMahon's last sentence made my jaw drop! She certainly left the door open for a continuation of this story, and I would be the first in line to read it!
Grab a cup of hot coffee or tea and make sure your door is shut tight---this would be the perfect book for a spooky October night! 4 ⭐️
Haunting, mysterious, and atmospheric! Helen and Nate are married teachers who are fed up with the normalcy of suburbia and feel a calling for a 'simpler' life. Rather than heading to the nearest patch of open farmland, they feel a pull towards the forest and take up residence near a mysterious bog. This is not just any swamp, however; it is the former home to Hattie Breckenridge, an accused witch who was hung for her crimes. As Helen and Nate begin to craft and refurbish their home, they are met by noises they can't explain and a disturbing figure who keeps Helen up at night: a young woman with bruises on her neck and a voice like broken glass. Helen scrambles to uncover the mysterious lineage and fate of Hattie, she meets a young girl named Olive who is living in the forest too. Olive is being raised by her father and aunt and is on a mission of her own: she is determined to find out what happened to her mother who mysteriously disappeared without a trace. As the two stories intertwine, Helen begins to fear that communing with Hattie's spirit may have been more than she bargained for...but is it too late to stop the fury of the dead?
After a few less-than-optimal forays into ghost stories in the past few months, I was certainly hesitant to try again, especially as this was my first Jennifer McMahon novel. However, I was not only gripped by this author and her wonderful writing, but completely enveloped by the mystery surrounding Hattie and her family! I have always loved stories about witchcraft, and have been enamored with this concept ever since The Burning. Even though this witchcraft did not occur in the 'typical' time period, that made the events even more scintillating to me, and I loved watching Helen work through the clues about Hattie and the powerful women in her family and their gruesome ends. There is a little bit of everything thrown in throughout The Invited, from ghosts to witches and Oujia boards to a strange and elusive white deer! This book was beautifully plotted and kept the tension building from start to finish. Just when I thought it couldn't get any wilder towards the end, McMahon's last sentence made my jaw drop! She certainly left the door open for a continuation of this story, and I would be the first in line to read it!
Grab a cup of hot coffee or tea and make sure your door is shut tight---this would be the perfect book for a spooky October night! 4 ⭐️
May 10, 2019
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Let’s start off by addressing the giant pink elephant which will make this book be a failure for many. As the blurb says, the story here is about a young couple who “abandon the comforts of suburbia and their teaching jobs to take up residence on forty-four acres of rural land where they will begin the ultimate, aspirational do-it-yourself project: building the house of their dreams.” What it doesn’t tell you is these two are literally building the house. Alone. Just the two of them. From watching You Tube videos . . . . . .
Seriously, this may be the most I ever had to suspend disbelief in my entire reading life. Not only is it completely unrealistic that a couple of schoolteachers (neither of whom taught some sort of VoTech subject) would be able to build a house – oh and dare I forget, not just a little shanty either, but . . . . .
FFS. Yeah, a SALTBOX because that's the fucking easiest design plan in the books just adding to the WTFery of this whole plotline . . . .
Grrrrrrr, but I digress. The thing that really irked me was that part of the story wasn’t even necessary. The rest of the plot is about digging into the creepy history surrounding the family tree that sprouted from this plot of land a long, long time ago. But all of the hinkyness of the past? It came in the form of either the goings on at the property itself or via discovered artifacts. Why couldn’t they just have remodeled an existing structure or had enough money to hire builders so I didn’t get my resting bitch face on every time they talked about framing and roofing and other completely unbelievable things that made me feel like stabbing someone??????
The second thing you need to know if you have this on your TBR is that despite this being marketed/shelved as horror . . . . .
This is NOT a horror. Sure, the premise automatically calls to mind other houses with dark pasts from the recesses of one’s mind . . . . .
And there most definitely is a little bit of is everyone going crazy????? If so, how far will it go . . . .
But at the end of it all . . . . .
“First, we’ve got a witch ghost, now there’s a buried treasure? Is this Scooby fucking Doo?”
I assume this will be a mixed mag of reactions. I know I have one friend who was reading it at the same time I was and had to abandon ship because the house building was so absurd. I have no clue how I was able to ignore it, but somehow I did. I also knew right away this would end up being more of a paranormal mystery rather than a horror (which is my personal preference). It probably also helped that it rained for 172 days straight where I live and I read this curled up basking in the gloom of both the weather and the story.
1 Star for the idiocy of the house shit, 4 Stars for the page turnability = 3.5 Stars.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, NetGalley!
Let’s start off by addressing the giant pink elephant which will make this book be a failure for many. As the blurb says, the story here is about a young couple who “abandon the comforts of suburbia and their teaching jobs to take up residence on forty-four acres of rural land where they will begin the ultimate, aspirational do-it-yourself project: building the house of their dreams.” What it doesn’t tell you is these two are literally building the house. Alone. Just the two of them. From watching You Tube videos . . . . . .
Seriously, this may be the most I ever had to suspend disbelief in my entire reading life. Not only is it completely unrealistic that a couple of schoolteachers (neither of whom taught some sort of VoTech subject) would be able to build a house – oh and dare I forget, not just a little shanty either, but . . . . .
FFS. Yeah, a SALTBOX because that's the fucking easiest design plan in the books just adding to the WTFery of this whole plotline . . . .
Grrrrrrr, but I digress. The thing that really irked me was that part of the story wasn’t even necessary. The rest of the plot is about digging into the creepy history surrounding the family tree that sprouted from this plot of land a long, long time ago. But all of the hinkyness of the past? It came in the form of either the goings on at the property itself or via discovered artifacts. Why couldn’t they just have remodeled an existing structure or had enough money to hire builders so I didn’t get my resting bitch face on every time they talked about framing and roofing and other completely unbelievable things that made me feel like stabbing someone??????
The second thing you need to know if you have this on your TBR is that despite this being marketed/shelved as horror . . . . .
This is NOT a horror. Sure, the premise automatically calls to mind other houses with dark pasts from the recesses of one’s mind . . . . .
And there most definitely is a little bit of is everyone going crazy????? If so, how far will it go . . . .
But at the end of it all . . . . .
“First, we’ve got a witch ghost, now there’s a buried treasure? Is this Scooby fucking Doo?”
I assume this will be a mixed mag of reactions. I know I have one friend who was reading it at the same time I was and had to abandon ship because the house building was so absurd. I have no clue how I was able to ignore it, but somehow I did. I also knew right away this would end up being more of a paranormal mystery rather than a horror (which is my personal preference). It probably also helped that it rained for 172 days straight where I live and I read this curled up basking in the gloom of both the weather and the story.
1 Star for the idiocy of the house shit, 4 Stars for the page turnability = 3.5 Stars.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, NetGalley!
October 22, 2022
This is my first Jennifer McMahon book. I choose to listen to this story as part of my seasonal reads 🎃
The story focuses on a couple, Nate and Helen who decide to purchase some rural land in Vermont to build their dream home. As they begin to build their home weird things begin to happen. Helen, later discovers that a witch named Hattie lived on the land and was hung there. Meanwhile their neighbour is a 14 year old girl named Olive. She is searching for answers as her mother has abruptly left the family. All these stories later intertwine.
The story started off with a bang with Hattie's death. From then it was a slow-build. A little too slow for my liking. Towards the end it picked up and I did enjoy the 'ghost' aspect. The narration was good and I would try another Jennifer McMahon book as she has a nice writing style.
The story focuses on a couple, Nate and Helen who decide to purchase some rural land in Vermont to build their dream home. As they begin to build their home weird things begin to happen. Helen, later discovers that a witch named Hattie lived on the land and was hung there. Meanwhile their neighbour is a 14 year old girl named Olive. She is searching for answers as her mother has abruptly left the family. All these stories later intertwine.
The story started off with a bang with Hattie's death. From then it was a slow-build. A little too slow for my liking. Towards the end it picked up and I did enjoy the 'ghost' aspect. The narration was good and I would try another Jennifer McMahon book as she has a nice writing style.
December 27, 2020
I recently had the pleasure of reading Jennifer McMahon’s upcoming supernatural thriller, The Drowning Kind (to be published in 2021), and decided to read one of her earlier ones. The Invited does not disappoint.
Helen and Nate decide to leave their busy lives behind and have a much simpler experience. They buy 40 acres of land in a rural area of Vermont and start working on building their dream house.
Helen is charmed by older houses with history, but since they haven’t found one they loved, she decides to make history a part of the house through decorating. When she finds out that the land she and Nate purchased is supposedly haunted, she is instantly intrigued.
Back in 1929, Hattie Breckenridge lived in a house on the land. She was a woman many believed to be a witch with healing potions and psychic intuitions, who was ultimately killed by the townspeople via public hanging. Not only do some believe that she buried her treasure somewhere on the land, and it’s still there to find, but Hattie has also been known to make an appearance in the deep dead of night. 👻
The Breckenridge land contains a bog, and water supposedly runs quite deep at its center. After Helen has an experience with Hattie, she can’t help but wonder what Hattie wants from beyond the grave, and what might be in the cold, mushy bog.
If atmospheric writing is something you look for, it is in abundance here. I felt like I could picture everything clearly through the eyes of Helen, Hattie, and the other characters...and through different timelines. Not only are there supernatural elements, but there is a strong mystery of what happened to Hattie and the Breckenridge family. I was completely engrossed from beginning to end.
Just like in The Drowning Kind with the terrifying pool, I was creeped out by the bog in this one. I could imagine too easily being out there at night, with fog moving through the trees, shoes squishing on the watered grass, my eyes seeing something haunting.
The history of the Breckenridge family is engrossing, as is the current timeline. There’s even a fun Ouija Board scene to boot! I recommend this to anyone who likes a supernatural mystery that oozes with atmosphere... and a sense of dread.
4.5 stars
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Helen and Nate decide to leave their busy lives behind and have a much simpler experience. They buy 40 acres of land in a rural area of Vermont and start working on building their dream house.
Helen is charmed by older houses with history, but since they haven’t found one they loved, she decides to make history a part of the house through decorating. When she finds out that the land she and Nate purchased is supposedly haunted, she is instantly intrigued.
Back in 1929, Hattie Breckenridge lived in a house on the land. She was a woman many believed to be a witch with healing potions and psychic intuitions, who was ultimately killed by the townspeople via public hanging. Not only do some believe that she buried her treasure somewhere on the land, and it’s still there to find, but Hattie has also been known to make an appearance in the deep dead of night. 👻
The Breckenridge land contains a bog, and water supposedly runs quite deep at its center. After Helen has an experience with Hattie, she can’t help but wonder what Hattie wants from beyond the grave, and what might be in the cold, mushy bog.
If atmospheric writing is something you look for, it is in abundance here. I felt like I could picture everything clearly through the eyes of Helen, Hattie, and the other characters...and through different timelines. Not only are there supernatural elements, but there is a strong mystery of what happened to Hattie and the Breckenridge family. I was completely engrossed from beginning to end.
Just like in The Drowning Kind with the terrifying pool, I was creeped out by the bog in this one. I could imagine too easily being out there at night, with fog moving through the trees, shoes squishing on the watered grass, my eyes seeing something haunting.
The history of the Breckenridge family is engrossing, as is the current timeline. There’s even a fun Ouija Board scene to boot! I recommend this to anyone who likes a supernatural mystery that oozes with atmosphere... and a sense of dread.
4.5 stars
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
June 14, 2022
This is my first book by this author. It was such an enjoyable book. The story is about a married couple starting a new life away from the city. They wanted to restore an old house with history but ended up buying a wooded plot and build a house of their own. Little did they know that the land has a dark past.
The Invited has paranormal aspects but is very mystery driven. There was no scare, which was fine. The scary parts I found were from the living. The writing was good although when characters "think out loud" I felt it was unnatural. So it's 4.5 stars! I had my suspicions which proved to be correct, but the journey to the conclusion was great. Love!
The Invited has paranormal aspects but is very mystery driven. There was no scare, which was fine. The scary parts I found were from the living. The writing was good although when characters "think out loud" I felt it was unnatural. So it's 4.5 stars! I had my suspicions which proved to be correct, but the journey to the conclusion was great. Love!
February 8, 2019
A couple decide to buy some land in Vermont that local legend has deemed "haunted". They get a "discount".
Nate asks his wife, Helen what would make her "happy". She tells him that she dreams of a country life, away from the demands of the city. She wants land, a garden, chickens, goats, reminiscent of her childhood reading of the Little House on the Prairie.
Nate and Helen buy the land and begin building the home of their dreams. They are building it themselves and adding some pieces of local history to their master plans.
As Helen fills the house with local artifacts, she stirs some spirits from the past. Suspicious and unfriendly townspeople, strange noises in the night, paranoid thoughts, and a story from a century ago have Nate and Helen desperate to figure it all out.
A ghost story and a haunted house made this one an intriguing story with some tension and foreboding. Well-written with a unique spin that held my attention until the end. I really enjoyed this one.
* I did not find this one scary. There are themes of generational curses, spirits, witches, and ghosts.
Thanks to NG/ Pub for my review copy!
Nate asks his wife, Helen what would make her "happy". She tells him that she dreams of a country life, away from the demands of the city. She wants land, a garden, chickens, goats, reminiscent of her childhood reading of the Little House on the Prairie.
Nate and Helen buy the land and begin building the home of their dreams. They are building it themselves and adding some pieces of local history to their master plans.
As Helen fills the house with local artifacts, she stirs some spirits from the past. Suspicious and unfriendly townspeople, strange noises in the night, paranoid thoughts, and a story from a century ago have Nate and Helen desperate to figure it all out.
A ghost story and a haunted house made this one an intriguing story with some tension and foreboding. Well-written with a unique spin that held my attention until the end. I really enjoyed this one.
* I did not find this one scary. There are themes of generational curses, spirits, witches, and ghosts.
Thanks to NG/ Pub for my review copy!
November 23, 2020
This book is nothing short of astounding.
If you've been following me for a while (or even for a week or two), then you know that I love horror. I love reading every single word and letting it sink in. I love the heart pounding, fear I get when I read scary books. Of course, if you know me in real life, you know that I am a big scaredy cat. I hate dark places, tight spaces and scary situations. So why, would I like horror books? Mostly because I can control the situation. When I'm reading, I know what I'm reading isn't real and that I can always shut the book.
One thing most horror authors (*cough* Stephen King *cough*), is have a very subtle slow build of horror. As a person who has ADHD and a very short attention span, I need my books to be fast paced. And this book kind of was? I mean it would go a few chapters being super exciting and then for a chapter or two it would get a bit boring. At least, it was able to correct the pacing pretty often.
A common horror trope is no one believes the protagonist. I was a bit disappointed that for a while, no one would believe Helen. Another common trope is when partners slowly become distanced and angry at each other. That happened and it was heartbreaking to read.
On the note of boring-ness, I really enjoyed all of Helen's chapters and the sprinkled-in POV of Jane and Ann but I really did not enjoy Olive's chapters. I found them really boring. Maybe it was because Olive just never clicked. I really didn't find myself caring about her or her story.
Something a couple of horror novels have done is discrediting the paranormal activity. For example, the ghost isn't a ghost, it's an animal. I really loved that none of the paranormal activity was ever discredited by Helen. She was a believer to the end.
Finally, I was a big fan of that plot twist. Obviously, I won't spoil it but trust me. You want to read this book if only for that kind boggling twist.
Thank you to Doubleday Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Bottom Line:
4.5 Stars
Age Recommendation: 14+ (Scary themes, abuse, murder)
TW: Sexual abuse, Murder, Use of the word F*ck & Cr*zy
Plot: 4/5
Cover: 2/5
Characters: 3.5/5
******
Whoa.
*******
This was one of the five ARCs I received today 😂😂
I can't wait to read it!
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If you've been following me for a while (or even for a week or two), then you know that I love horror. I love reading every single word and letting it sink in. I love the heart pounding, fear I get when I read scary books. Of course, if you know me in real life, you know that I am a big scaredy cat. I hate dark places, tight spaces and scary situations. So why, would I like horror books? Mostly because I can control the situation. When I'm reading, I know what I'm reading isn't real and that I can always shut the book.
One thing most horror authors (*cough* Stephen King *cough*), is have a very subtle slow build of horror. As a person who has ADHD and a very short attention span, I need my books to be fast paced. And this book kind of was? I mean it would go a few chapters being super exciting and then for a chapter or two it would get a bit boring. At least, it was able to correct the pacing pretty often.
A common horror trope is no one believes the protagonist. I was a bit disappointed that for a while, no one would believe Helen. Another common trope is when partners slowly become distanced and angry at each other. That happened and it was heartbreaking to read.
On the note of boring-ness, I really enjoyed all of Helen's chapters and the sprinkled-in POV of Jane and Ann but I really did not enjoy Olive's chapters. I found them really boring. Maybe it was because Olive just never clicked. I really didn't find myself caring about her or her story.
Something a couple of horror novels have done is discrediting the paranormal activity. For example, the ghost isn't a ghost, it's an animal. I really loved that none of the paranormal activity was ever discredited by Helen. She was a believer to the end.
Finally, I was a big fan of that plot twist. Obviously, I won't spoil it but trust me. You want to read this book if only for that kind boggling twist.
Thank you to Doubleday Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Bottom Line:
4.5 Stars
Age Recommendation: 14+ (Scary themes, abuse, murder)
TW: Sexual abuse, Murder, Use of the word F*ck & Cr*zy
Plot: 4/5
Cover: 2/5
Characters: 3.5/5
******
Whoa.
*******
This was one of the five ARCs I received today 😂😂
I can't wait to read it!
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April 6, 2019
One doesn't always need to move into a house that is haunted, sometimes even building new the land itself could be taunted. This is what happens in the Vermont woods, when Helen and Nate leave their jobs, taking Helen's inheritance, to build a new house. What they didn't know was that this spot was the place of an horrific injustice, and a lost treasure. It soon become clear that they are not alone, and that someone wants something from the m.
I love how this author puts her stories together, outwordly happenings mixed with human greed. Although some of this was predictable, other parts weren't, and the ghostly vibes kept me reading. The past is never completely past, not in a person's mind and maybe the spirit world can reach out and attach itself to familiar things. At least this author makes it seem possible. She always gives the reader someone to root for, and in this one it is a you g girl who needs some answers to some very serious questions. At the end one can't help but thinking that the humans are scarier than the ghosts. Or at least their motives less than pure. This was just spooky enough for this reader.
I love how this author puts her stories together, outwordly happenings mixed with human greed. Although some of this was predictable, other parts weren't, and the ghostly vibes kept me reading. The past is never completely past, not in a person's mind and maybe the spirit world can reach out and attach itself to familiar things. At least this author makes it seem possible. She always gives the reader someone to root for, and in this one it is a you g girl who needs some answers to some very serious questions. At the end one can't help but thinking that the humans are scarier than the ghosts. Or at least their motives less than pure. This was just spooky enough for this reader.
August 12, 2022
Ghost story about a couple building their dream home away from city life. (Aye, just the two of them, building a whole house, from scratch.) The land they buy is haunted. Mildly creepy in places, more of a mystery. Narrative switches between two interesting main characters, but the back story about the witch and chapters set in the past were the best. The same author wrote The Winter People, which I preferred.
May 13, 2019
I'm a huge fan of a good ghost story, but man, this didn't work for me at all.
The best way I can describe this book is an easy read with a light mystery to it. That's it.
I see that some have categorized this as a horror book, even a thriller, and I can assure you- it is neither of those two.
I think that lack of intensity is what made this read flat line for me. The characters are portrayed as not the sharpest tools in the shed (at least that's my read) and as much as I tried, I just couldn't find anything to hang on to to make me care about how this all ends.
I applaud McMahon for writing outside her norm, but I hope her next book bounces back with some of that great suspense and intrigue that I've come to love.
ARC provided by NetGalley
January 15, 2019
I absolutely loved this multi-layered, multi-generational ghost story and mystery, steeped in tragedy.
Jennifer McMahon is masterful ghost storyteller - she has gone back to her roots with The Invitation with a straight up ghost story that will scare your socks off. I haven’t been this spooked by a book since reading Simone St. James’ The Broken Girls which had a similar gothic, haunting vibe. And I so appreciated the nod to history geeks such as myself here.
I have long been a fan of this author and I think this is one of her strongest books yet! Recommend!
Thank you to Doubleday Books for my advance copy.
Jennifer McMahon is masterful ghost storyteller - she has gone back to her roots with The Invitation with a straight up ghost story that will scare your socks off. I haven’t been this spooked by a book since reading Simone St. James’ The Broken Girls which had a similar gothic, haunting vibe. And I so appreciated the nod to history geeks such as myself here.
I have long been a fan of this author and I think this is one of her strongest books yet! Recommend!
Thank you to Doubleday Books for my advance copy.
January 16, 2020
Going with 3.5 stars rounded up!
The Invited is a ghost story by Jennifer McMahon. This is the first book that I’ve read by McMahon and I plan on reading more! The writing was pretty good along with being atmospheric.
The Invited starts off with Helen and Nate deciding to go off the grid and live a simpler life. They are both teachers and decide to pick up stakes in Connecticut and head towards Vermont. They find a huge piece of land in Vermont that’s perfect for building their dream home.
Turns out though that the land is said to be haunted and cursed. Years before, Hattie Breckenridge who owned the land was hung and murdered for being a witch.
I thought The Invited was a decent ghost story. It didn’t scare me, but the plot kept my interest throughout the book. When the book got to the halfway point, some of the plot directions were starting to come together and made this a better reading experience for me. So, I would give it some time for things to start getting a bit more suspenseful.
I loved the character of Olive who’s the next-door neighbor of Helen and Nate! I thought her characterization was well done for a teenager that misses her Mom and feels like an outcast. I thought Nate and Helen were “okay” characters, but they didn’t necessarily blow me away. They kind of felt like filler compared to Olive, the ghost Hattie and all that was going on with the plot.
I would recommend this book if you like supernatural or ghost stories!
Side note:
If you are into building and construction, this book might drive you nuts. I thought it was unbelievable that ONLY TWO people (Helen and Nate) build a huge house and don't have permits for some of the construction like plumbing and electric. They did get some help from Olive and Riley but it's still too unbelievable for me.
I believed the ghost story more. o.O
But as they say in showbiz, it’s fiction baby!
(Actually, I don’t think anyone has really said that) LOL!!
The Invited is a ghost story by Jennifer McMahon. This is the first book that I’ve read by McMahon and I plan on reading more! The writing was pretty good along with being atmospheric.
The Invited starts off with Helen and Nate deciding to go off the grid and live a simpler life. They are both teachers and decide to pick up stakes in Connecticut and head towards Vermont. They find a huge piece of land in Vermont that’s perfect for building their dream home.
Turns out though that the land is said to be haunted and cursed. Years before, Hattie Breckenridge who owned the land was hung and murdered for being a witch.
I thought The Invited was a decent ghost story. It didn’t scare me, but the plot kept my interest throughout the book. When the book got to the halfway point, some of the plot directions were starting to come together and made this a better reading experience for me. So, I would give it some time for things to start getting a bit more suspenseful.
I loved the character of Olive who’s the next-door neighbor of Helen and Nate! I thought her characterization was well done for a teenager that misses her Mom and feels like an outcast. I thought Nate and Helen were “okay” characters, but they didn’t necessarily blow me away. They kind of felt like filler compared to Olive, the ghost Hattie and all that was going on with the plot.
I would recommend this book if you like supernatural or ghost stories!
Side note:
If you are into building and construction, this book might drive you nuts. I thought it was unbelievable that ONLY TWO people (Helen and Nate) build a huge house and don't have permits for some of the construction like plumbing and electric. They did get some help from Olive and Riley but it's still too unbelievable for me.
I believed the ghost story more. o.O
But as they say in showbiz, it’s fiction baby!
(Actually, I don’t think anyone has really said that) LOL!!
April 30, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Anyone that knows me well at all knows I absolutely A-D-O-R-E Jennifer McMahon. She writes some of the creepiest and most chilling books I have ever read. Unfortunately, while I still really enjoyed The Invited, it was not my absolute favorite from her.
What it's about: Helen and Nate have decided to leave their teaching jobs and move from the suburbs of Connecticut to forty-four acres in Hartsboro, Vermont. Using money she received after her dad died, Helen and Nate decide to build a house on the land and stay there in a trailer while it is being built. But this is not your standard, large piece of land and people in the area say it is haunted. Helen likes things with history though, and Nate doesn't believe in ghosts. Soon Helen finds herself engrossed with the history of the property and the dark things that happened on the land. But when strange things start to happen at the building site during the night, Helen and Nate must decide if staying there is smart, or if it has the potential to be deadly...
The Invited jumps between past occurrences on the land, and POV-wise mostly between Helen and a young girl named Olive in present day. I loved the different timelines and storylines in the book, and they definitely kept me very interested in what was going on. I wasn't a huge fan of all Olive's sections, but most of them were necessary to the story.
And like with most of this author's books, The Invited has a very real ghost aspect to it. So if you don't like books that delve into the supernatural world, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this to you. I happen to love that about McMahon's novels, and that ended up being what disappointed me the most in this one. While the ghost aspect was there, I think she could have gone SO much further with it and made this book even better than it was. Especially considering the fact that this cover is so dang creepy and perfect for the story.
Also, did I mention how atmospheric this book is?? The setting was positively eerie, and it made everything seem even creepier.
Final Thought: The Invited is quick, interesting, and classic McMahon so if you haven't picked up a book by her yet, or are already a huge fan, I definitely recommend picking this up. I loved that the sections of the book were broken into the building of the house, plus the pacing, along with the other things I mentioned. The only things that fell short for me were the ghost aspect, finding myself annoyed at times with Olive's sections, and the fact I figured out a major part of the plot before it happened. This was still a very solid read though and one that I will be recommending!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book!
Anyone that knows me well at all knows I absolutely A-D-O-R-E Jennifer McMahon. She writes some of the creepiest and most chilling books I have ever read. Unfortunately, while I still really enjoyed The Invited, it was not my absolute favorite from her.
What it's about: Helen and Nate have decided to leave their teaching jobs and move from the suburbs of Connecticut to forty-four acres in Hartsboro, Vermont. Using money she received after her dad died, Helen and Nate decide to build a house on the land and stay there in a trailer while it is being built. But this is not your standard, large piece of land and people in the area say it is haunted. Helen likes things with history though, and Nate doesn't believe in ghosts. Soon Helen finds herself engrossed with the history of the property and the dark things that happened on the land. But when strange things start to happen at the building site during the night, Helen and Nate must decide if staying there is smart, or if it has the potential to be deadly...
The Invited jumps between past occurrences on the land, and POV-wise mostly between Helen and a young girl named Olive in present day. I loved the different timelines and storylines in the book, and they definitely kept me very interested in what was going on. I wasn't a huge fan of all Olive's sections, but most of them were necessary to the story.
And like with most of this author's books, The Invited has a very real ghost aspect to it. So if you don't like books that delve into the supernatural world, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this to you. I happen to love that about McMahon's novels, and that ended up being what disappointed me the most in this one. While the ghost aspect was there, I think she could have gone SO much further with it and made this book even better than it was. Especially considering the fact that this cover is so dang creepy and perfect for the story.
Also, did I mention how atmospheric this book is?? The setting was positively eerie, and it made everything seem even creepier.
Final Thought: The Invited is quick, interesting, and classic McMahon so if you haven't picked up a book by her yet, or are already a huge fan, I definitely recommend picking this up. I loved that the sections of the book were broken into the building of the house, plus the pacing, along with the other things I mentioned. The only things that fell short for me were the ghost aspect, finding myself annoyed at times with Olive's sections, and the fact I figured out a major part of the plot before it happened. This was still a very solid read though and one that I will be recommending!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book!
March 25, 2019
Witchcraft, a wicked creepy town history, things that go bump in the night. Yes please! I loved this book! I didn't know what to expect when I agreed to read this book as a group read with some fellow Traveling Sisters. Whew, let me tell you it was fantastic. I was creeped out right down to my toes. I am not a fan of horror and I have never read a witchcraft, or witch themed book, oh gasp...... yes I know. I could not get enough of this book though.
Helen and Nate decided to pursue their dream of building their own little dream house in Vermont in the middle of literally nowhere. Little by little the history of their dream lot started to reveal itself and it was not pretty. Even though it was extremely sad and disturbing I must admit I was drawn in immediately. It was fascinating to hear about the town and it's past. Quite frankly it just kept getting more interesting as the book went on.
Things began to happen that could not be explained away. As Helen starting witnessing things that were obviously supernatural in nature, she seemed even more in love with her dream property. Me, I would have packed my bags and gotten the hell out of there and back to Connecticut immediately!
I guess why I was so in love with this book is that it has such fine details and was so atmospheric. I literally felt chills down my spine and was uneasy as I was reading much of the book. Horror it is not, but it is one great creepy read. The story line was so interesting, I could not get enough of the town's history.
I have heard so many good things about this author and this book far exceeded my expectations! I just added The Winter People to my list of MUST be read soon! Thank you so much to Doubleday Books, Jennifer McMahon and Netgalley for this fantastic, creepy ARC! #justiceforhattie
Helen and Nate decided to pursue their dream of building their own little dream house in Vermont in the middle of literally nowhere. Little by little the history of their dream lot started to reveal itself and it was not pretty. Even though it was extremely sad and disturbing I must admit I was drawn in immediately. It was fascinating to hear about the town and it's past. Quite frankly it just kept getting more interesting as the book went on.
Things began to happen that could not be explained away. As Helen starting witnessing things that were obviously supernatural in nature, she seemed even more in love with her dream property. Me, I would have packed my bags and gotten the hell out of there and back to Connecticut immediately!
I guess why I was so in love with this book is that it has such fine details and was so atmospheric. I literally felt chills down my spine and was uneasy as I was reading much of the book. Horror it is not, but it is one great creepy read. The story line was so interesting, I could not get enough of the town's history.
I have heard so many good things about this author and this book far exceeded my expectations! I just added The Winter People to my list of MUST be read soon! Thank you so much to Doubleday Books, Jennifer McMahon and Netgalley for this fantastic, creepy ARC! #justiceforhattie
January 22, 2019
This is a well-done work of paranormal fiction. I’m not usually a big fan of the paranormal, but it works well here because the story is grounded in history and science since Helen is a history teacher and her husband, Nate, is a science teacher. After Helen receives a large inheritance, they give up their teaching jobs and buy property in the woods of Vermont, even though the realtor tells them the land is alleged to be haunted.
At first, neither of them believes it, but when weird things begin happening to the house they are building and things start to go missing from the trailer they’re living in while working on their home, Helen investigates further. The grim family tree she unravels makes for a fun and suspenseful read, made more suspenseful because one of the inhabitants of the land they’re on now was murdered by hanging in the early 1900s because she was a “witch” has purportedly hidden treasure somewhere near the bog.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES APRIL 30, 2019.
For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blgo
At first, neither of them believes it, but when weird things begin happening to the house they are building and things start to go missing from the trailer they’re living in while working on their home, Helen investigates further. The grim family tree she unravels makes for a fun and suspenseful read, made more suspenseful because one of the inhabitants of the land they’re on now was murdered by hanging in the early 1900s because she was a “witch” has purportedly hidden treasure somewhere near the bog.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES APRIL 30, 2019.
For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blgo
March 5, 2019
No scary horror here, but we do have one fine creep factor!
After receiving an inheritance, Helen and Nate leave the city...and their comfortable teaching jobs to self-build the home of their dreams....but many strange spirited obstacles arise.
Unknowingly, the 44 acres they purchased in a small Vermont village near a bog turns out to have a dark and violent history....and the townspeople make it known they aren't too happy with the presence of outsiders even before Helen decides to dig deep into the past to find out what happened on their haunted land.
Within the pages of THE INVITED, Jennifer McMahon conjures up a great multi-layered, multi-generational storyline with angry spirits, witches, deadly predictions and a mystery...or two...to solve.
***Arc provided by Doubleday Books via NetGalley in exchange for review***
July 19, 2022
Ghosts, witches and hidden histories makes for an entertaining read. I loved how the generations weaved together to tell this story. I did want a little more from the ending, but still loved it!
February 20, 2019
I always get excited about a new Jennifer McMahon book. I've mentioned before that I became acquainted with her work quite a long time ago when I devoured a few of her earlier novels, namely PROMISE NOT TO TELL and DON'T BREATHE A WORD.
Still, my favorite McMahon is THE WINTER PEOPLE. She's had a few releases after it, THE NIGHT SISTER and BURNTOWN but I didn't get on so well with either of those.
Unfortunately, I'm afraid I had similar issues with this book too--but let's see if I can unpack this in such a way that honors the story and McMahon's writing.
The premise of the book is simple: A married couple leave their Big City lifestyle to buy a plot of land in Vermont and build a house and a sustainable, quiet life there.
Of course, it wouldn't make for a very interesting story if our couple didn't buy some haunted land rich with paranormal activity and a violent history, right? Right.
And the promise for a great ghost story is right at our fingertips--the prologue delivered, sure enough--I was very excited to hear more about our "witches" Hattie & Jane.
Fast forward to our present day storyline:
I really enjoyed getting to know our couple, Helen and Nate as they set to work building their colonial "saltbox" style home on their new property with a haunted bog.
To make things interesting, the readers are also treated to the story of Olive, a young girl living with her parents in the same, small town that our couple from the Big City now reside.
Soon enough, readers will begin to guess at how these two stories will intersect (I did and I have to admit, I was inwardly groaning a little- but optimistic! Maybe my hunch as to where the story was going to go, would be wrong! It wasn't.).
This is where I think it would be appropriate to set up some realistic expectations for this book. Fans of THE WINTER PEOPLE are going to hope this book is like THAT, a ghost story/mystery with teeth. It's not. This is more like a sprawling, a character-driven, gothic tale that takes its time delving into a rural, small town past with loads of secrets.
Which is fun. Readers will love this! Especially Jennifer McMahon fans who show up for her unique brand of atmospheric, engaging storytelling and memorable characters.
For me personally, a die-hard avid horror fiction buff reading this ARC during #womeninhorrormonth, this lacked punch. There was nothing here to get my engine to turn over and start purring. I read this with very baseline feelings of calm, serenity and enough curiosity to keep going--I wasn't bored but I was eager for the reveals and the end.
My recommendation is that the writing is solid, engaging and compelling enough to keep almost any reader interested. Horror fans will be disappointed. That's just the truth of the matter. I liked it fine, I just wanted more bite.
Still, my favorite McMahon is THE WINTER PEOPLE. She's had a few releases after it, THE NIGHT SISTER and BURNTOWN but I didn't get on so well with either of those.
Unfortunately, I'm afraid I had similar issues with this book too--but let's see if I can unpack this in such a way that honors the story and McMahon's writing.
The premise of the book is simple: A married couple leave their Big City lifestyle to buy a plot of land in Vermont and build a house and a sustainable, quiet life there.
Of course, it wouldn't make for a very interesting story if our couple didn't buy some haunted land rich with paranormal activity and a violent history, right? Right.
And the promise for a great ghost story is right at our fingertips--the prologue delivered, sure enough--I was very excited to hear more about our "witches" Hattie & Jane.
Fast forward to our present day storyline:
I really enjoyed getting to know our couple, Helen and Nate as they set to work building their colonial "saltbox" style home on their new property with a haunted bog.
To make things interesting, the readers are also treated to the story of Olive, a young girl living with her parents in the same, small town that our couple from the Big City now reside.
Soon enough, readers will begin to guess at how these two stories will intersect (I did and I have to admit, I was inwardly groaning a little- but optimistic! Maybe my hunch as to where the story was going to go, would be wrong! It wasn't.).
This is where I think it would be appropriate to set up some realistic expectations for this book. Fans of THE WINTER PEOPLE are going to hope this book is like THAT, a ghost story/mystery with teeth. It's not. This is more like a sprawling, a character-driven, gothic tale that takes its time delving into a rural, small town past with loads of secrets.
Which is fun. Readers will love this! Especially Jennifer McMahon fans who show up for her unique brand of atmospheric, engaging storytelling and memorable characters.
For me personally, a die-hard avid horror fiction buff reading this ARC during #womeninhorrormonth, this lacked punch. There was nothing here to get my engine to turn over and start purring. I read this with very baseline feelings of calm, serenity and enough curiosity to keep going--I wasn't bored but I was eager for the reveals and the end.
My recommendation is that the writing is solid, engaging and compelling enough to keep almost any reader interested. Horror fans will be disappointed. That's just the truth of the matter. I liked it fine, I just wanted more bite.
January 6, 2022
Helen and Nate purchase forty-four acres of rural land to build the home of their dreams. Little do they know the land has a dark past. Their neighbor, 14-year-old Olive, knows all about the past and soon becomes a fixture at the house. Reeling from her mother abandoning her, Olive is trying to find her own answers.
Helen, a history teacher, quickly falls down the rabbit hole to discover the secrets of Hattie, the witch that resided and was hung on the land. Along the way the spirit of Hattie leads Helen to building materials-a beam from an old schoolroom, bricks from a mill, a mantel from a farmhouse--objects that draw her deeper into the story of Hattie and her descendants, three generations of Breckenridge women, each of whom died suspiciously. Piece by piece, the dark history is revealed.
Soon both Helen's and Olive's stories will intertwine, proving sometimes history needs to remain buried.
Helen, a history teacher, quickly falls down the rabbit hole to discover the secrets of Hattie, the witch that resided and was hung on the land. Along the way the spirit of Hattie leads Helen to building materials-a beam from an old schoolroom, bricks from a mill, a mantel from a farmhouse--objects that draw her deeper into the story of Hattie and her descendants, three generations of Breckenridge women, each of whom died suspiciously. Piece by piece, the dark history is revealed.
Soon both Helen's and Olive's stories will intertwine, proving sometimes history needs to remain buried.
March 21, 2019
Short summary
Beautifully written fictional ghost story filled with intriguing and tragic history.
My thoughts
This story begins with a bang. The back story about Hattie Breckenridge—who died a century ago—is so interesting, it grabbed my attention right away. The book slows down a bit as it comes back to the present, alternating from the POV’s of Helen and Olive. Once things pick up, the book is hard to put down! Every once in a while we get a chapter that goes back in history—to fill in some missing details—and those chapters were my favorite!
I didn’t consider this a horror or super scary. It was more of a steady-paced ghost story. It’s full of mystery, ghosts, multi-generational tragedy, intriguing and horrifying history, haunted objects and much more. McMahon’s writing is outstanding!
My Rating: 4.5 ⭐️’s
Published: April 30th 2019 by Doubleday Pages:384
Recommend: Yes. If you like your thrillers with a twist of supernatural and history, you’ll love this!
Thank you to NetGalley / Doubleday / Jennifer McMahon for providing this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
#TheInvited @doubledaybooks #JenniferMcMahon
Book Blurb
A chilling ghost story with a twist: the New York Times best-selling author of THE WINTER PEOPLE, returns to the woods of Vermont to tell the story of a husband and wife who don't simply move into a haunted house, they start building one from scratch, without knowing it, until it's too late...
In a quest for a simpler life, Helen and Nate abandon the comforts of suburbia and teaching jobs to take up residence on forty-four acres of rural land where they will begin the ultimate, aspirational do-it-yourself project: building the house of their dreams. When they discover that this charming property has a dark and violent past, Helen, a former history teacher, becomes consumed by the legend of Hattie Breckenridge, a woman who lived and died there a century ago. As Helen starts carefully sourcing decorative building materials for her home - wooden beams, mantles, historic bricks -- she starts to unearth, and literally conjure, the tragic lives of Hattie's descendants, three generations of "Breckenridge women," each of whom died amidst suspicion, and who seem to still be seeking something precious and elusive in the present day.
Beautifully written fictional ghost story filled with intriguing and tragic history.
My thoughts
This story begins with a bang. The back story about Hattie Breckenridge—who died a century ago—is so interesting, it grabbed my attention right away. The book slows down a bit as it comes back to the present, alternating from the POV’s of Helen and Olive. Once things pick up, the book is hard to put down! Every once in a while we get a chapter that goes back in history—to fill in some missing details—and those chapters were my favorite!
I didn’t consider this a horror or super scary. It was more of a steady-paced ghost story. It’s full of mystery, ghosts, multi-generational tragedy, intriguing and horrifying history, haunted objects and much more. McMahon’s writing is outstanding!
My Rating: 4.5 ⭐️’s
Published: April 30th 2019 by Doubleday Pages:384
Recommend: Yes. If you like your thrillers with a twist of supernatural and history, you’ll love this!
Thank you to NetGalley / Doubleday / Jennifer McMahon for providing this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
#TheInvited @doubledaybooks #JenniferMcMahon
Book Blurb
A chilling ghost story with a twist: the New York Times best-selling author of THE WINTER PEOPLE, returns to the woods of Vermont to tell the story of a husband and wife who don't simply move into a haunted house, they start building one from scratch, without knowing it, until it's too late...
In a quest for a simpler life, Helen and Nate abandon the comforts of suburbia and teaching jobs to take up residence on forty-four acres of rural land where they will begin the ultimate, aspirational do-it-yourself project: building the house of their dreams. When they discover that this charming property has a dark and violent past, Helen, a former history teacher, becomes consumed by the legend of Hattie Breckenridge, a woman who lived and died there a century ago. As Helen starts carefully sourcing decorative building materials for her home - wooden beams, mantles, historic bricks -- she starts to unearth, and literally conjure, the tragic lives of Hattie's descendants, three generations of "Breckenridge women," each of whom died amidst suspicion, and who seem to still be seeking something precious and elusive in the present day.
November 11, 2019
EXCERPT: May 19, 1924
It had started when Hattie was a little girl.
She'd had a cloth-bodied doll with a porcelain head called Miss Fentwig. Miss Fentwig told her things - things that Hattie had no way of knowing, things that Hattie didn't really want to hear. She felt it deep down inside her in the way that she'd felt things all her life.
Her gift.
Her curse.
One day, Miss Fentwick told her that Hattie's father would be killed, struck by lightening, and that there was nothing Hattie could do. Hattie tried to warn her daddy and her mother. She told them just what Miss Fentwick had said. "Nonsense, child," they'd said, and sent her to bed without supper for saying such terrible things.
Two weeks later, her daddy was dead. Struck by lightening while he was putting his horse in the barn.
Everyone started looking at Hattie funny after that. They took Miss Fentwig away from her, but Hattie, she kept hearing voices. The trees talked to her. Rocks and rivers and little shiny green beetles spoke to her. They told her what was to come.
'You have a gift,' the voices told her.
But Hattie, she didn't see it that way, Not at first. Not until she learned to control it.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: In a quest for a simpler life, Helen and Nate abandon the comforts of suburbia and their teaching jobs to take up residence on forty-four acres of rural land where they will begin the ultimate, aspirational do-it-yourself project: building the house of their dreams. When they discover that this charming property has a dark and violent past, Helen, a former history teacher, becomes consumed by the legend of Hattie Breckenridge, a woman who lived and died there a century ago. As Helen starts carefully sourcing decorative building materials for her home--wooden beams, mantles, historic bricks--she starts to unearth, and literally conjure, the tragic lives of Hattie's descendants, three generations of "Breckenridge women," each of whom died amidst suspicion, and who seem to still be seeking something precious and elusive in the present day.
MY THOUGHTS: This wasn't chilling, but it was a good listen. It didn't give me goosebumps, or night horrors, or any sort of horror really, but it kept me interested.
Really this is a family drama with a little paranormal thrown in. It centres on greed, obsession and jealousy, and the effects it has on people. Which is a lot scarier than ghosts, any day.
***.5
THE AUTHOR: I'm the author of seven suspense novels, including Promise Not to Telll, The Winter People, and most recently, The Night Sister . I live in central Vermont with my partner and daughter, in an old Victorian that some neighbors call The Addams Family house.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of The Invited by Jennifer McMahin, narrated by Amanda Carlin and Justine Eyre, published by Random House Audio, via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This, and other reviews, are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
It had started when Hattie was a little girl.
She'd had a cloth-bodied doll with a porcelain head called Miss Fentwig. Miss Fentwig told her things - things that Hattie had no way of knowing, things that Hattie didn't really want to hear. She felt it deep down inside her in the way that she'd felt things all her life.
Her gift.
Her curse.
One day, Miss Fentwick told her that Hattie's father would be killed, struck by lightening, and that there was nothing Hattie could do. Hattie tried to warn her daddy and her mother. She told them just what Miss Fentwick had said. "Nonsense, child," they'd said, and sent her to bed without supper for saying such terrible things.
Two weeks later, her daddy was dead. Struck by lightening while he was putting his horse in the barn.
Everyone started looking at Hattie funny after that. They took Miss Fentwig away from her, but Hattie, she kept hearing voices. The trees talked to her. Rocks and rivers and little shiny green beetles spoke to her. They told her what was to come.
'You have a gift,' the voices told her.
But Hattie, she didn't see it that way, Not at first. Not until she learned to control it.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: In a quest for a simpler life, Helen and Nate abandon the comforts of suburbia and their teaching jobs to take up residence on forty-four acres of rural land where they will begin the ultimate, aspirational do-it-yourself project: building the house of their dreams. When they discover that this charming property has a dark and violent past, Helen, a former history teacher, becomes consumed by the legend of Hattie Breckenridge, a woman who lived and died there a century ago. As Helen starts carefully sourcing decorative building materials for her home--wooden beams, mantles, historic bricks--she starts to unearth, and literally conjure, the tragic lives of Hattie's descendants, three generations of "Breckenridge women," each of whom died amidst suspicion, and who seem to still be seeking something precious and elusive in the present day.
MY THOUGHTS: This wasn't chilling, but it was a good listen. It didn't give me goosebumps, or night horrors, or any sort of horror really, but it kept me interested.
Really this is a family drama with a little paranormal thrown in. It centres on greed, obsession and jealousy, and the effects it has on people. Which is a lot scarier than ghosts, any day.
***.5
THE AUTHOR: I'm the author of seven suspense novels, including Promise Not to Telll, The Winter People, and most recently, The Night Sister . I live in central Vermont with my partner and daughter, in an old Victorian that some neighbors call The Addams Family house.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of The Invited by Jennifer McMahin, narrated by Amanda Carlin and Justine Eyre, published by Random House Audio, via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This, and other reviews, are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
May 23, 2019
"Some people, they have magic in their veins. You're one of them. You and me both. Can't you feel it?"
And there's a bit of an icy flow in those veins. When you feel a spike of connection with things that go bump in the night......a certain unexplainable tap on the shoulder and a wayward vision from the corner of one's eye.
Helen and Nate are now Vermont transplants from Connecticut where life found them teaching middle school students in a private school. She in history filled with the past. He in science filled with theories and chemical composites. They've sold everything they own, and together with the sale of her late father's house, Helen and Nate bought forty wooded acres from an elderly man so very motivated to sell. Very, very motivated.
What draws us into this story from the beginning is the fact that Helen and Nate are going to build a house from scratch on their property. Meanwhile, they'll live in a rundown aluminum trailer just yards from the building site. The very first night Helen wakes to the sounds of screaming in the distance. Nate assures her that it's the nocturnal wildlife. Helen is not so sure.
As an historian, Helen researches the property. It seems that a certain Hattie Breckenridge lived there around 1900. She was accused of setting fire to the one room schoolhouse in which three children died. Shockingly, the town's people hung her from a tree in retaliation and for being a witch. From then on, there have been "Hattie sightings" along the bog where they believe her body was tossed.
Helen befriends a young teenage girl, Olive, and her aunt Ripley. They help with the construction and soon the eerie stories begin to spill out. Helen becomes obsessed with Hattie and starts collecting items associated with Hattie for her house. Nate claims to see an albino deer that he tries to video late at night. Seems like Hattie has hung her hat near their mantel. Seems like Helen and Nate have set out the welcome mat for the macabre.
The Invited is a romp through the land of the long dead. As the backstory involving Hattie is slowly revealed, the present day town activities cause the eyebrow to arch upward. There's a mystery to be solved here involving a missing person as well. The Invited has the vibes of an old-fashioned ghost story and should be enjoyed as such. At the heart of it all is a noticeable transformation in all the characters involved. You can't meet up with Hattie without going a little gray.
My favorite of Jennifer McMahon's books is The Winter People. I've also read Promise Not to Tell and Burntown. She has a particular way with a tale and The Invited definitely entertains.
And there's a bit of an icy flow in those veins. When you feel a spike of connection with things that go bump in the night......a certain unexplainable tap on the shoulder and a wayward vision from the corner of one's eye.
Helen and Nate are now Vermont transplants from Connecticut where life found them teaching middle school students in a private school. She in history filled with the past. He in science filled with theories and chemical composites. They've sold everything they own, and together with the sale of her late father's house, Helen and Nate bought forty wooded acres from an elderly man so very motivated to sell. Very, very motivated.
What draws us into this story from the beginning is the fact that Helen and Nate are going to build a house from scratch on their property. Meanwhile, they'll live in a rundown aluminum trailer just yards from the building site. The very first night Helen wakes to the sounds of screaming in the distance. Nate assures her that it's the nocturnal wildlife. Helen is not so sure.
As an historian, Helen researches the property. It seems that a certain Hattie Breckenridge lived there around 1900. She was accused of setting fire to the one room schoolhouse in which three children died. Shockingly, the town's people hung her from a tree in retaliation and for being a witch. From then on, there have been "Hattie sightings" along the bog where they believe her body was tossed.
Helen befriends a young teenage girl, Olive, and her aunt Ripley. They help with the construction and soon the eerie stories begin to spill out. Helen becomes obsessed with Hattie and starts collecting items associated with Hattie for her house. Nate claims to see an albino deer that he tries to video late at night. Seems like Hattie has hung her hat near their mantel. Seems like Helen and Nate have set out the welcome mat for the macabre.
The Invited is a romp through the land of the long dead. As the backstory involving Hattie is slowly revealed, the present day town activities cause the eyebrow to arch upward. There's a mystery to be solved here involving a missing person as well. The Invited has the vibes of an old-fashioned ghost story and should be enjoyed as such. At the heart of it all is a noticeable transformation in all the characters involved. You can't meet up with Hattie without going a little gray.
My favorite of Jennifer McMahon's books is The Winter People. I've also read Promise Not to Tell and Burntown. She has a particular way with a tale and The Invited definitely entertains.
April 14, 2019
Helen and Nate have a nice, settled life as teachers at a private school in Connecticut. But they also have aspirations for a simpler life. So using their savings and an inheritance, they buy 40+ acres in the tiny village of Hartsboro, Vermont and decide to build their own dream house themselves. Helen, a history teacher, wants a house and land with history--and she gets her wish when she discovers the story of Hattie Breckenridge, a woman who apparently lived (and died) on their property over a hundred years ago. Marked by the villagers as a witch, Hattie was killed, leaving behind her young daughter, Jane. Helen becomes fascinated with Hattie's past and begins trying to find out what happened to her--and her family members. But a series of more and more weird events start happening once they move in. Is it just the people of Hartsboro, who don't like outsiders? Or is it Hattie? And are Helen and Nate in danger?
I just love Jennifer McMahon's books and she's someone whom I will read anything they write. This was such a good book that drew me from the very beginning. I started it while on vacation in Vermont, so I was really excited that it happened to take place in Vermont--a place I'd never been until this year. McMahon's descriptive language makes it so easy to visualize her (often eerie) settings, as well as her characters.
Along with Helen and Nate, our slightly hippyish couple, we have Olive, a teenage girl from Hartsboro, and her dad and aunt, plus various Hartsboro townsfolk. Olive was a very compelling character; she's been abandoned by her mother and is teased and bullied terribly by her schoolmates, since the town all believes her mom ran off with another man. Her bereft father isn't much help, leaving her to raise herself or rely on her aunt. She has one friend, Mike, who is a good guy, but annoys our feisty heroine with his wimpy-ness. It's hard not to fall for Olive, believe me. Even Helen will grow on you, too. And no matter what, they are so easy to picture.
The novel is told from a variety of points of view, but mainly Olive and Helen. We learn a lot about each of them. As I said, it drew me in from the beginning and kept me reading. As with most of McMahon's books, it's layered with that creepy, mysterious edge. In many ways, it's a proper ghost story. But she always manages to write it so that instead of rolling your eyes, you feel a little creeped out, or find yourself looking over your shoulder at night. Hattie herself plays a really strong role in this book, and I liked how well the story set up the idea of how much people (and small towns) fear what they don't know.
"What people don't understand, they destroy."
It's funny, I could guess where a lot of this book was leading, yet it in no way diminished my enjoyment of it. I could see how that might annoy some, but it didn't bother me in the least. I was completely immersed in the characters, the eerie ghost story, and trying to piece together all the plot pieces. Hattie's story--and that of her descendants--is fascinating. There was just something about this book that I loved: that intangible piece that makes you a part of the story, keeps you flipping the pages, and makes you feel both sad and amazed when you finish the book. 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Doubleday, and Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
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I just love Jennifer McMahon's books and she's someone whom I will read anything they write. This was such a good book that drew me from the very beginning. I started it while on vacation in Vermont, so I was really excited that it happened to take place in Vermont--a place I'd never been until this year. McMahon's descriptive language makes it so easy to visualize her (often eerie) settings, as well as her characters.
Along with Helen and Nate, our slightly hippyish couple, we have Olive, a teenage girl from Hartsboro, and her dad and aunt, plus various Hartsboro townsfolk. Olive was a very compelling character; she's been abandoned by her mother and is teased and bullied terribly by her schoolmates, since the town all believes her mom ran off with another man. Her bereft father isn't much help, leaving her to raise herself or rely on her aunt. She has one friend, Mike, who is a good guy, but annoys our feisty heroine with his wimpy-ness. It's hard not to fall for Olive, believe me. Even Helen will grow on you, too. And no matter what, they are so easy to picture.
The novel is told from a variety of points of view, but mainly Olive and Helen. We learn a lot about each of them. As I said, it drew me in from the beginning and kept me reading. As with most of McMahon's books, it's layered with that creepy, mysterious edge. In many ways, it's a proper ghost story. But she always manages to write it so that instead of rolling your eyes, you feel a little creeped out, or find yourself looking over your shoulder at night. Hattie herself plays a really strong role in this book, and I liked how well the story set up the idea of how much people (and small towns) fear what they don't know.
"What people don't understand, they destroy."
It's funny, I could guess where a lot of this book was leading, yet it in no way diminished my enjoyment of it. I could see how that might annoy some, but it didn't bother me in the least. I was completely immersed in the characters, the eerie ghost story, and trying to piece together all the plot pieces. Hattie's story--and that of her descendants--is fascinating. There was just something about this book that I loved: that intangible piece that makes you a part of the story, keeps you flipping the pages, and makes you feel both sad and amazed when you finish the book. 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Doubleday, and Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+ ~ Instagram ~ Smashbomb
February 18, 2024
3.75 stars** audio
4 stars** story
4 stars** story
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