The House of Secrets
by Terry Lynn Thomas
Sarah Bennett has two secrets: she sees ghosts, and she is in love with a spy.
Let’s welcome The House of Secrets and author Terry Lynn Thomas to our book lovers corner! Are you in the mood for historical fiction, with notes of the paranormal, mystery, suspense and romance? This is the book for you! You will enjoy getting to know the complex heroine, Sarah Bennett. Is she being haunted by a murderous spirit? All will be revealed in this post- plenty of links, book and purchasing info, and my review. Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources.
When Sarah takes a job with occult expert Dr Matthew Geisler, he promises to help her understand the sorrowful spirit that seems to have attached itself to her.
As Sarah struggles to cope with the ghostly presence, she runs into Zeke, the man who left her six months earlier and is recovering from injuries suffered in an alleged accident. But Zeke has secrets of his own, and when an attempt is made on Geisler’s life, Sarah finds herself caught in a struggle between the living and the dead.
Unsure who she can trust, Sarah must solve the mystery of the soul determined to haunt her, and save Dr Geisler and herself from an unknown threat.
This book was previously published as WEEPING IN THE WINGS
Purchase Links:
US – https://www.amazon.com/House-Secrets-Sarah-Bennett-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07H3DKQQ4
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/House-Secrets-Sarah-Bennett-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07H3DKQQ4
The House of Secrets is 99p throughout June as part of the June Kindle Monthly deal. The Spirit of Grace, book 1 in the series is also .99 throughout June.
JENA’S REVIEW
The House of Secrets by Terry Lynn Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sarah is Dr. Geisler’s amanuensis. How many times have you encountered that term in a book? I looked up the unfamiliar word. “Amanuensis” is a “literary or artistic assistant, in particular one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts.” Sort of has an old-world charm to it, doesn’t it?
The House of Secrets has an other-worldly charm to it. I found it similar to the writing of Daphne DuMaurier with its assortment of odd, yet compelling characters and a plot on dark side with many psychological twists and turns. Like DuMaurier’s brooding, atmospheric stories, this book with its secrets is very readable.
Other reviewers have found this Secrets to be part historical fiction, paranormal, mystery, and romance. The story is set during World War II in San Francisco. The history part is more a spice added to the main dish. The main dish involves ghosts and mediums, and evil happenings. Sarah is alone in the world when she turns up at the Geisler Institute to live-in and work with Dr. Geisler on his medical book.
Sarah is plagued by visits from “beyond the veil”. Dr. Geisler recognizes that she is a medium and he promises to help her cope with her ability. In addition to Sarah, the Institute shelters a variety of strange-ish characters, all very well drawn. Minna has a lot to worry about as she fears she is being haunted by a murderous spirit. Dr. Geisler’s wife is a counterpoint to his understanding nature, as she is all business. And why is Sarah’s absent lover now living at the Institute? Other characters, such as the cook, and several characters on the hospital side of the house add to our reading pleasure and squirmishness. Sarah is fortunate to have a sophisticated friend through all this, Cynthia.
I’m glad I’m not a medium. The ghosts are too bothersome and always weeping. But they are fun to read about. This the second book in the Sarah Bennett Mysteries. While I did not read the first book, and I did enjoy this story, I suggest you do read the series in order. The happenings of book one are mentioned frequently in this book and had a big impact on Sarah. Enjoy!
Thanks to NetGalley, HQ Digital and Rachel’s Random Reviews for a digital review copy. This is my honest review.
Author Bio –
Terry Lynn Thomas grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, which explains her love of foggy beaches and Gothic mysteries. When her husband promised to buy Terry a horse and the time to write if she moved to Mississippi with him, she jumped at the chance. Although she had written several novels and screenplays prior to 2006, after she relocated to the South she set out to write in earnest and has never looked back.
Terry Lynn writes the Sarah Bennett Mysteries, set on the California coast during the 1940s, which feature a misunderstood medium in love with a spy. The Drowned Woman is a recipient of the IndieBRAG Medallion. She also writes the Cat Carlisle Mysteries, set in Britain during World War II. The first book in this series, The Silent Woman, came out in April 2018 and has since become a USA TODAY bestseller. When she’s not writing, you can find Terry Lynn riding her horse, walking in the woods with her dogs, or visiting old cemeteries in search of story ideas.
Social Media Links – https://twitter.com/TLThomasBooks
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