Alright, guys. The last April 2019 read for this girl! I’ve started more books, but I definitely don’t think they’ll be done in time – and if they are then they’re scheduled for May 1st at the earliest (JADED blog tour).
Thanks to Doubleday for the free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review
THE INVITED – Jennifer McMahon (out now!)
Check back for the #allthebookreviews thoughts.
My Thoughts: 3/5 stars!
Like a lot of other readers, I’m a big fan of Jennifer McMahon and she has become an auto-buy author for me! My introduction was BURNTOWN a couple years ago and since then I’ve picked up most of her other books. When I saw the synopsis for THE INVITED I was so ready to start it. A haunted house? Sign me up! I would definitely classify this as more of a ghost story with some mystery, not a horror story. So keep that in mind before starting!
We are immediately transported into the bog on Hattie Breckenridge’s property – she orders her young daughter, Jane, to hide and not come out until she comes to retrieve her. The town’s people are tracking Hattie down and are accusing her of being a witch. She is hung on her own property and the location of her family’s riches is buried with her. Fast forward to the present day, Helen and Nate have bought a property in Vermont and are building their dream home from the ground up. Eerie things begin to happen and Helen is determined to get to the bottom of it.
Olive is a young girl whose mother has disappeared. Olive is determined to find the treasure on the old Breckenridge property so that her mother will return home to her – after all, it was their destiny to. Olive crosses paths with Helen and Nate and must now help them with the construction of their home. As the project continues they learn that spirits can be connected to objects and that their work has only just begun.
This was a slower burn from the start. There are some creepy elements here and there at the start as Helen begins to learn the history of their property and of the Breckenridge women. There is no doubt in McMahon’s abilities to weave and blend together the past and present seamlessly. I would consider this to be more character driven and the ghost story builds as a result. If you’re looking for horror and a faster pace, then this might not be for you. If you like a layered and Gothic ghost story, then you’ll want to have this on your TBR.
Jessicamap Reviews 