⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. What would you do if you unexpectedly inherited a haunted house, complete with vengeful spirit, benevolent ghosts, and a centuries-old curse?

Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about, and that her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast, which the will stipulates she must live in it for at least three years. Her engagement recently broken, she sets off to find out why the boys were separated at birth and why it was all kept secret until a genealogy website brought it to light. Trey, the young lawyer who greets her at the sprawling clifftop manor, notes Sonya’s unease and acknowledges that yes, the place is haunted, but just a little. Sure enough, Sonya finds objects moved and music playing out of nowhere. She sees a painting by her father inexplicably hanging in her deceased uncle’s office, and a portrait of a woman named Astrid, whom the lawyer refers to as “the first lost bride”. It’s becoming clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle to be solved if there is any hope of breaking it…

MY THOUGHTS

It’s a bit wild to be gaslighted in your own home by ghosts, but Sonya took it all in stride and made peace with her inheritance. The plot with the curse and the ghosts was chilling and utterly captivating. I particularly enjoyed the flashbacks to the past. The ghostly activity got quite scary at one point and if this was a movie, I wouldn’t be watching it. I wouldn’t call this horror, but definitely hair-raising.

Sonya was a bit generic, in that it was difficult to define her personality other than she’s hardworking, resilient, and pleasant. I really liked Trey and especially Chloe, who was a very colourful character. Sonya and Trey fit well together, but between them meeting and becoming involved, I felt like there was some chemistry missing.

I hate cliffhangers and this one left me breathless and a bit bereft. I definitely want to finish this trilogy. Oh, does that mean I will have to survive one more tense non-ending?

This is the book for you if you like ghosts and thrilling suspense.

Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Romance, Suspense
Published: November 21, 2023
Sensuality Rating: Warm
Series: The Lost Bride Trilogy