We have concluded our read of number three of Simone St. James books. We have two more of her books scheduled for this year and will be putting the rest of her books into our 2022 rotation. So far all three of her books that we have read have been different parts of ghost-mystery-love story and told in very clever interesting smart ways. Her novels remind me of old gothic classic novels.
Reading this book at 80ish pages a week helped us not only savour and take it in, our discussions help us see things we may have missed. As a bonus I research many of the background setting and in this story that included real life history of post WWI smuggling including cocaine, women being “allowed” to study at Oxford, ghost seen on WWI battlefield and so much more. Fascinating. Although there is a love story in this one we all prefer the mystery and the ghost but agree the love story breaks it up very strategically and helps us take a breath a minute in intense scenes. On a unfortunate note: We think Bernie will like it too.
After her ghost-hunting uncle Toby dies, Oxford student Jillian must drive to the seaside village of Rothewell to pack up his belongings. Almost immediately, terrifying events convince Jillian that an angry spirit is trying to enter the house. Is it Walking John, the two-hundred-year-old ghost that haunts the bay? And who besides the ghost is roaming the local woods at night? If Toby uncovered something sinister, was his death really an accident? The arrival of handsome Scotland Yard inspector Drew Merriken leaves Jillian with more questions than answers and the added complication of a powerful mutual attraction.
We are off for a week now and will be starting into Februarys book now.
