Jaime Jo Wright‘s latest suspense novel, The Premonition at Withers Farm, delivers at so many levels. This is a complex novel in its characterization and plotting. I absolutely loved it! In my opinion it is her best novel to date. Find out more below.
The voices of the past cannot stay silent forever.
In 1910 Michigan, Perliett Van Hilton is a self-proclaimed rural healer, leaving the local doctor convinced she practices quackery. It doesn’t help that her mother is a spiritualist who regularly offers her services to connect the living with their dearly departed. But when Perliett is targeted by a superstitious killer, she must rely on both the local doctor and an intriguing newcomer for assistance.
In the present day, Molly Wasziak’s life has not gone the way she dreamed. Facing depression after several miscarriages, Molly is adapting to her husband’s purchase of a peculiar old farm. A search for a family tree pulls Molly deep into a century-old murder case and a web of deception, all made more mysterious by the disturbing shadows and sounds inside the farmhouse.
Perliett fights for her life, and Molly seeks renewed purpose for hers as she uncovers the records of the dead. Will their voices be heard, or will time forever silence their truths?
Daphne du Maurier and Christy Award-Winning author, Jaime Jo Wright resides in the hills of Wisconsin writing suspenseful, mysteries stained with history’s secrets. Jaime lives in dreamland, exists in reality, and invites you to join her adventures at jaimewrightbooks.com!
My Impressions:
I have long been a fan of Jaime Jo Wright’s novels. She always delivers intriguing plots with characters that touch the heart. She outdid herself with The Premonition at Withers Farm. The dual timeline plots are shivery good! I was immediately swept into both stories wondering where the twisting paths were going to end up. Both main characters, Perliett from the early 1900s and Molly in the present day, are struggling with making sense of the world around them. Both are grieving, but they demonstrate that grief in very different ways. I loved that Wright showed that grief comes in many forms and that the process of loss and healing takes many different directions. There is an emphasis on the afterlife in this book, and there were times I wondered where Wright was taking the characters. Be assured that God is honored and that each character comes to acknowledge His supremacy over life. But boy, this book sure kept me on my reading toes with all the twists and turns and gasps and goose bumps! Wonderful storytelling is backed up with a great sense of place. The Withers farm and its environs added its own unique flavor and again, creepiness. One aspect I really loved was that Molly is married. Often suspense novels hinge on a romantic thread with two characters thrown together in tense situations. Molly and Trent’s was truly a love story, just 10 years of married life in the making!
The Premonition at Withers Farm was just what I needed — a tale to keep me turning the pages, characters to love and relate to, and just enough creep-factor to make me look over my shoulder. 😉 It is definitely a very highly recommended read!
Very Highly Recommended.
Audience: Adults.
(Thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
I look forward to catching up on her books!