Happy Tuesday, everyone. I’m coming off a semi-blogging break. I read a few books last week, including The Premonition at Withers Farm. Jaime Jo Wright is a new to me author.
My Review
I always enjoy a dual-timeline story, and The Premonition at Withers Farm came highly recommended.
The book focuses on two women—Perliett, who lived in the early twentieth century, and Maggie in modern times.
Perliett is a self-proclaimed healer who often butts heads with the town physician George Wasiak. Her mother is a spiritualist who tries to summon the deceased relatives of grieving families. The book opens when George calls upon Perliett to help prepare the body of Eunice Withers who was found dead of multiple stab wounds in a nearby cornfield. Not long afterward, Eunice’s younger sister is also murdered.
In the present day, Maggie Wasiak and her husband, Trent, buy an old farmhouse that was once part of the Withers farm. Maggie suffers from depression due to having four miscarriages. She’s apprehensive about living in the house—the basement’s foundation was made of broken sections of old gravestones.
Shortly after they move in, Trent discovers the body of a young woman who was also a murder victim. Maggie starts to see visions of deceased people. She tries to hide the truth from Trent, as well as her best friend. In the meantime, Trent is also hiding things, including the fact the murdered woman is his cousin.
Maggie soon learns of the 1910 unsolved killings and that the murdered women lived on their farm. As she and her friend look for clues, they discover evidence of a woman who went missing in the 1980s. Are all the events connected, and if so, how?
This is a page-turner and the author kept me guessing until near the end. As a note, this book is Christian fiction, and I wondered how Wright would handle a character summoning the dead as well as another one seeing visions of dead people. I thought she did an admirable job that would satisfy readers of the genre. It’s also a good “ghost” story for those who enjoy those types of books.
23 Responses
Great review and one to add to my list. Thanks for sharing, Joan 💕🙂
Your list is like mine, Harmony! It keeps growing.
😂
An enticing review! (I don’t think I’ve read any Christian fiction before.)
I used to read a lot of that genre, but some can get “preachy.” I didn’t think this book had too much of that. Thanks, Liz.
You’re welcome, Joan. I’m not a fan of preachy fiction, regardless of what is being preached.
Me either, Liz.
I’ve read this one and enjoyed it. It was my first book of Wright’s. I’m looking forward to what she writes next. Good review, Joan!
I would read another one of her books. I think some earlier ones are on KDP, so I might check into them. Thanks, Priscilla.
Thank you for introducing Wright to me, Joan. Your review has spurred my interest.
Mae loved this book, as did Jan. It was a good page-turner.
I like these types of stories so I shall add this book to my list of TBR which has gotten too long. Thank you for the review, Joan.
My TBR never seems to shrink, Karen. I just keep adding to it.
This was such a good book. I was so glad I grabbed it off NetGalley, too. When Mae recommends a book as highly as she did this one, you know it’s got to be good. I didn’t guess the killer until the very end, either. The author did a great job. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it, Joan!
A terrific review, Joan. Thanks.
You’re welcome, John.
😊
Like you, I enjoy stories with duel time lines as long as they come together smoothly and serve a purpose. Thanks for the review, Joan.
I’ve grown fond of reading them. As you say, a purpose and a smooth flow make all the difference. Thanks, Pete.
Enjoyed your review, Joan. Thanks for introducing me to a new author. I need someone or something different among the things I want to read. This should do it!
You’re welcome, Sherrey. My reading tastes have changed – even since last year. Although, I’ll always enjoy mystery and suspense best, I’ve gotten away somewhat from psychological thrillers.
Sounds like a good read. Thanks, Joan.
I enjoyed it, Michele.