“As long as you have breath, there is purpose. We must fight to find it.”
– Mr. Crayne

On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright gives readers two epic tales spanning a hundred years, woven seamlessly into one epic mystery. The story intertwines the lives of two women who move into the manor. Adria Fontaine arrives to Foxglove in the late 1800’s and Kailey Gibson moves into the same manor in the present day. Both women search to unlock the secrets the place holds.

I love the mystery! This story is complex and creates two worlds with odd characters in a haunted backdrop. Jaime Jo Wright’s cinema-like language creates a visual picture like no other author I know. From the scenery to the quirkiness of the characters, I was drawn in from the first word. Mr. Crayne somehow became my favorite character, a cantankerous, reclusive alcoholic living in the rafters of the manor. But nothing is ever as it seems at Foxglove Manor.

Despite its creepy ambiance, the story gives readers an emotional depth as we root for Adria and Kailey to find what they are desperately seeking, and it’s more than just legends of Civil War treasure. They are two women in desperate need of healing and restoration. The only issue I had with the story is that when it ended, I wanted more!

Definitely check out On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor. I loved every minute of this crazy adventure!

Overall Rating:
5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)

Suspense Rating:
5 stars (Non-stop edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The post On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor appeared first on Best In Suspense.

For fans of split time periods, unique settings and intricate mysteries

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright takes readers on an epic journey. Set in two time periods with connecting mysteries, the story centers around a traveling circus in the late 1920’s. Pippa Ripley longs to connect to her real family. Abandoned by her parents, all she knows is that they once worked for the circus. A mysterious phantom of a man called The Watchman seems to hold the answers, if Pippa could find him. In the present time, Chandler Faulk tries to keep everything together. A single mother, she moves to Bluff River for work. She’s trying to renovate an old train depot but gets sucked into local lore that has the place pegged as haunted by the ghost of a murdered woman.

The novel enchants readers from the start. Jaime Jo Wright has an amazing way with words. The backdrop of the circus brings out incredible imagery – yet it’s almost a behind the scenes tour for the reader. The focus isn’t the glitz and glamour of the show with the big tents and epic acts. This is the story of the people who work in the shadows, the ones who live to entertain others but hide themselves behind a curtain. Jake Chambers is a brooding man that just wants justice for his sister’s murder. Clive is a dwarf dealing with being rejected because of his stature. Their stories come to light as they try to figure out the mystery behind the Watchman. No one knows who he is, but he appears around the circus in a burlap bag mask and is associated with a string of murders along the circus stops.

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus definitely gives off some creepy vibes. The author creates an ambiance of Gothic imagery that adds another layer to the imagery and plotline. It all works together to create this world full of magic and mystery, that spans decades and reaches into the broken hearts of the characters with offers of redemption and healing. Many of the character find refuge in the circus, yet the modern setting reflects the same hidden identities of the performers. Both Pippa and Chandler just want to be seen, they long for a place to call their own where they are known and loved. Their parallel stories seem to intersect seamlessly. Chandler tries so hard to overcome her past, that she self-destructs by thinking she can’t manage. Hank Titus brings warmth and depth into her life by seeing her for who she truly is and not expecting her to manage everything by herself.

As far as the suspense, the entire story is a complicated and twisted mystery. Chandler uncovers information about the 1920’s murder, and someone wants her to stop looking. The old train depot definitely makes a great setting for a haunted place. This novel kept me flipping pages to figure out the ending. I had to slow down to make sure I read every word because I just wanted to find out the identity of the Watchman.

I’m such a fan of Jaime Jo Wright! Between the mystery that spans decades, the incredible imagery, and the broken and beautiful characters, this story is one of my favorites!

Overall: 5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)
Suspense: 5 stars (Non-stop edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The post The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus appeared first on Best In Suspense.

For Fans of Dual Timelines, Complex Mysteries, and Intriguing Characters

Jaime Jo Wright’s Echoes Among the Stones drops readers into a seventy year old mystery. Set in two time periods, the story revolves around Imogene Flannigan, whose sister is murdered. Flash forward as Aggie Dunkirk tries to put the pieces together and figure out why the murder was unsolved. But someone keeps sending warning signs to say that past secrets should be left buried.

I love mysteries, the kind where anyone can be a suspect and readers don’t know who to trust. Echoes Among the Stones delivers a twisted and complex mystery with a cast of equally complicated characters. Aggie’s job working as a cemetery secretary adds to the intrigue as she moves in with her grandmother AKA Mumsie. Mumsie has secrets that span her entire life.

Even with the overarching mystery steeped in death, the story brings some deep themes to life. The characters are amazingly dynamic, and Aggie learns to deal with her grief from Mumsie, who let regret and sorrow consume her entire life. Aggie’s odd relationship with Colin, the might-be-British eclectic archaeologist, is quirky and endearing. He’s definitely a character! Flipping into the past, readers will love Imogene’s spun, determination, and loyalty. She refuses to give up on finding out the truth about her sister’s murder while everyone else seems to moves on.

Move Echoes from the Stones up on your TBR list if you are a fan of mysteries. This is the story you won’t want to put down, so block off your schedule accordingly.

I received a complementary ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The post Echoes Among the Stones appeared first on Best In Suspense.

This novel has been on my To Be Read list for quite some time. I’ve enjoyed other Rhys Bowen historical suspense novels and The Tuscan Child is another hit for me.

Set in two time periods, alternating between WW II and the 1970’s, we see Joanna Langley search for the truth about her recently departed father. She travels to Tuscany where he was a fighter pilot during the war who was shot down and escaped. Joanna wants to know more about her father’s mysterious disappearance, but winds up finding herself in the process.

“When the world has gone mad, we must help each other when we can.”

The Tuscan Child

While this might not rank high on my “suspense meter” for a thrilling, fast-paced story, it does weave a great mystery under a scenic Tuscan backdrop. I now want to go to Italy! With a touch of romance blooming between Joanna and Renzo, plus great characters like Paola, the story is as heartwarming as it is intriguing. It takes place in two historic time periods, and the transition between the two gave the novel a sweet thread between a daughter searching to know her father.

This is a definite recommended read from Best In Suspense if you’re looking to slow down the action a bit and are in the mood for something heartfelt and introspective.

The post The Tuscan Child appeared first on Best In Suspense.

I’ve never read anything by Rachel Hauck, but several people have recommended her books. Best recommendation! The Memory House is a must for your TBR list.

Set in two time periods, and from four different perspectives, The Memory House follows Beck Holiday as she struggles with her job and her life, years after her father perished in 9/11. She discovers a strange inheritance from someone she doesn’t remember in Florida and along with it she finds long lost memories from her childhood.

The characters in The Memory House are so dynamic and real, you’ll want to hug them. Through trials, Everleigh and Beck both break down walls they’ve each spent years building. Beck realizes how to love after closing herself off after her father died. She discovers courage she didn’t know she had. And Everleigh makes a decision to live her life and risk her heart in the wake of losing everything. Both stories are interwoven to create a rich, satisfying story. Memory House is a heart-warming, well written story that you won’t want to put down.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The post Review: The Memory House appeared first on Best In Suspense.

I’m a fan of Jaime Jo Wright and not every author can write a story in two time periods and pull it off flawlessly. The Curse of Misty Wayfair follows the intertwined stories of Thea Reed and Heidi Lane. Thea is a photographer from the turn of the century who is searching for the truth about why her mother abandoned her. Heidi experiences a similar quest in present time as she tries to find her identity through her roots in Pleasant Valley. Both take the reader on a journey of self-discovery while revealing dark secrets from the past.

The author writes characters you’ll fall in love with. Heidi’s quest to find her true identity resonated with me. I love stories that aren’t superficial and have a deeper, spiritual point. The author weaves a deep and beautiful message through both characters’ struggles. It took me a while to get into the story, but once I did, I was hooked.  The suspense and creepy mystery of the hidden secrets of Pleasant Valley kept me reading to the end, but it’s the characters that eventually drew me in to this intriguing story line.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The post The Curse of Misty Wayfair appeared first on Best In Suspense.