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Spirit Lost
Escaping cosmopolitan Boston, Willy and her husband John move into a large old house in Nantucket, but their romantic retreat is disturbed when the ghost of a glamorous former resident haunts them and seduces John
- GenresFictionHorrorParanormal
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
88 people are currently reading
463 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Thayer
51 books4,051 followersNancy Thayer has published 35 novels, including Family Reunion and Secrets in Summer. She has lived on Nantucket Island year-round for 38 years with her husband Charley Walters. They have two children and five grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 32 reviews
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December 17, 2019..
I attempted to read the Spirit Loss Kindle Edition, a stand-alone novel written by Nancy Thayer. However, I chose not to complete the book due to my personal preferences.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
John and Wilhelmina Constable uproot their lives in Boston so John can pursue his lifelong dream of becoming an artist. After settling into a beautiful Victorian home on Nantucket, John finds inspiration in the island light that illuminates his attic studio and Willy relaxes happily into the slower pace of seaside life.
Painting alone one stormy night, John is startled by the sight of a beautiful ghost. When he admits to his wife what he thinks he’s seen, Willy tries to remain rational and understanding. But all reason disappears as her husband grows steadily more obsessed with the striking, troubled specter who reveals herself only to John—and who seems determined to claim him as her own. Now Willy must draw on the strength of her love to save their marriage . . . and perhaps their lives.
I really did not enjoy the opening scene or the type of adult entertainment meant to encourage and divert a person's basic common sense. And while a young, beautiful woman flirts with Willy's husband, she revels in a complete sense of security. That is not a natural reaction, right?
There is enough sadness and despair in the world. The inclusion of alcohol usually results in obnoxious and bizarre behavior, often followed by sickness and regret. I prefer a hope-filled inspirational read with a happy ending.
These may sound like trivial concerns to some readers, the majority of whom are deeply enthralled with this type of story and that is why there are so many other types of book choices available in the world today. Different strokes for different folks.
This one just was not one for me!
..
I attempted to read the Spirit Loss Kindle Edition, a stand-alone novel written by Nancy Thayer. However, I chose not to complete the book due to my personal preferences.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
John and Wilhelmina Constable uproot their lives in Boston so John can pursue his lifelong dream of becoming an artist. After settling into a beautiful Victorian home on Nantucket, John finds inspiration in the island light that illuminates his attic studio and Willy relaxes happily into the slower pace of seaside life.
Painting alone one stormy night, John is startled by the sight of a beautiful ghost. When he admits to his wife what he thinks he’s seen, Willy tries to remain rational and understanding. But all reason disappears as her husband grows steadily more obsessed with the striking, troubled specter who reveals herself only to John—and who seems determined to claim him as her own. Now Willy must draw on the strength of her love to save their marriage . . . and perhaps their lives.
I really did not enjoy the opening scene or the type of adult entertainment meant to encourage and divert a person's basic common sense. And while a young, beautiful woman flirts with Willy's husband, she revels in a complete sense of security. That is not a natural reaction, right?
There is enough sadness and despair in the world. The inclusion of alcohol usually results in obnoxious and bizarre behavior, often followed by sickness and regret. I prefer a hope-filled inspirational read with a happy ending.
These may sound like trivial concerns to some readers, the majority of whom are deeply enthralled with this type of story and that is why there are so many other types of book choices available in the world today. Different strokes for different folks.
This one just was not one for me!
..
July 10, 2013
Having read many of the author's more recent books, I was impressed with how much she has grown in the ability to use words more concisely and produce much more realistic dialog since this book was published in 1988.
This was a pretty creepy story. I could see it as a movie.
This was a pretty creepy story. I could see it as a movie.
June 26, 2017
I've read several of Nancy Thayer books, but this book was very different from those I already read. This was a definite page turner. Near the end of the book I literally couldn't put it down . I had to find out if it ended in death or not. It was extra imaginative .
July 14, 2011
One of the first books that I read in English some 20 years ago.
My copy is signed by the author whom I met on nantucket.
Beautiful ghost story set on Nantucket Island.
My copy is signed by the author whom I met on nantucket.
Beautiful ghost story set on Nantucket Island.
February 2, 2021
After vividly establishing the characters and physical environment, delving into the art scene on Nantucket, for me, the book fell apart near the middle; the end was a disaster. After such promise with an intriguing story line, the last half of the book was deeply disappointing and unexpected.
October 29, 2021
A supernatural, creepy ghost story. Good to read close to Halloween, which I did. Intriguing at the end with the struggle strength-wise and wit-wise to find out if the humans were able to defeat the ghost.
October 8, 2017
a struggle with a ghost what great reading.
July 31, 2019
I liked this book. It is listed as a ghost novel. I was intrigued. I don't like things that are so far fetched, but I liked the way this was written and looked for others Nancy Thayer wrote.
January 19, 2021
This is by far one of the best books written by Nancy Thayer, I felt like I was lost in one of beloved Mary Higgins Clarks books.
November 11, 2021
I finished but I dont know why. Awful (and I love Nancy Thayer.)
November 25, 2022
Good ghost story!
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March 23, 2023g read
May 1, 2025
One of my all time favorite books. I read it many years ago (early 1990s?) yet the story stays with me.
July 26, 2025
This was a silly book.
May 23, 2014
An overachieving young married couple from Boston, John and his wife Willy decide to leave their hectic world of big-city advertising behind for the tranquility of island life. Thirty miles off the mainland, Nantucket offers the peace John needs to further explore his future as an artist. In fact, there is plenty of room for a studio in the old house they buy, located on historic Orange Street.
Legend has it that, from such a house as the Orange Street residence, whaling captains set off on their three or four-year long trips to the Orient, while their lonely wives waited, climbing to the "widow's walks" above the houses to search the horizon for returning ships. Often their husbands never returned.
So, John and Willy settle into their new life. They feel cozy and secure in their Orange Street house, surrounded by their antique furniture and sure of their love for each other. Even after eight years of marriage, their passion and devotion are still as strong - if not stronger - than when they first met.
Some of his friends wonder why John chose Willy, a solid, rather plain-looking woman. But Willy has never doubted her husband's love. She understands their deep commitment to each other and feels totally secure in her marriage. Fortunately, Willy inherited some money, so they can live comfortably while John paints and she does embroidery.
Everything should be perfect. They have each other, their beautiful home on Nantucket, and time to explore their talents in the serenity that Boston just couldn't offer. But something is terribly wrong. Willy senses that a mysterious force is at work that could destroy her happiness and all that she cherishes. With dawning horror, Willy fights the malevolent, unknown entity - gradually coming to an awareness of her opponent in what could be a battle not only for her marriage but for her very survival.
The plot of this book is entirely different from Nancy Thayer's later work, although the story was very well-written, in an easy style that I appreciated. The story was perhaps not as scary as I was expecting, but it was certainly eerie enough to still be enjoyable. I give this book an A+!
Legend has it that, from such a house as the Orange Street residence, whaling captains set off on their three or four-year long trips to the Orient, while their lonely wives waited, climbing to the "widow's walks" above the houses to search the horizon for returning ships. Often their husbands never returned.
So, John and Willy settle into their new life. They feel cozy and secure in their Orange Street house, surrounded by their antique furniture and sure of their love for each other. Even after eight years of marriage, their passion and devotion are still as strong - if not stronger - than when they first met.
Some of his friends wonder why John chose Willy, a solid, rather plain-looking woman. But Willy has never doubted her husband's love. She understands their deep commitment to each other and feels totally secure in her marriage. Fortunately, Willy inherited some money, so they can live comfortably while John paints and she does embroidery.
Everything should be perfect. They have each other, their beautiful home on Nantucket, and time to explore their talents in the serenity that Boston just couldn't offer. But something is terribly wrong. Willy senses that a mysterious force is at work that could destroy her happiness and all that she cherishes. With dawning horror, Willy fights the malevolent, unknown entity - gradually coming to an awareness of her opponent in what could be a battle not only for her marriage but for her very survival.
The plot of this book is entirely different from Nancy Thayer's later work, although the story was very well-written, in an easy style that I appreciated. The story was perhaps not as scary as I was expecting, but it was certainly eerie enough to still be enjoyable. I give this book an A+!
May 1, 2015
Willy and her husband John are still very much in love after eight wonderful years of marriage. However, they have decided to make a major change in their lives and don't really know what the ramifications will be. John is a very successful commercial artist but he doesn't really consider that art. They really do not need his income because when Willy's parents dies, they left her a large inheritance. However, he has never just wanted to live off Willy's money. However, in pursuit of his dream of becoming a serious artist, he quite his job and they leave their home and friends in Boston to buy a large old house on Nantucket. At first, the only real problem is getting the carpenters, painters, and other workmen into their home to make the repairs and modifications they require. However, soon enough they find they have much more serious problems. There is a ghost whom only John can see. She is young, very beautiful, and seemingly very much alive except that she can disappear into thin air whenever she wants. Before too long, John is in love with the ghost, forsaking Willy. The introduction said that this was one of Thayer's earlier works and now I want to read one of her most recent ones. I think there was a lot of potential here but the characters definitely could have been more fully developed. It was a decent use of a few leisure hours but nothing more than that.
November 3, 2025
I enjoyed this book first in the late 90s- it is actually from 1988. This time around, I listened to the audiobook, which I recommend. Excellent voice work by Sarah Mollo-Christensen. I believe it was recorded within the 2000s, and very well done. I enjoyed the story for this time of year. Very moody and definitely has an intriguing plot. This story involves a couple who learn they have a ghost- she is woman who had lived in an early 1800s Nantucket home the couple has recently moved into. The husband is the only one who sees her. And she has an agenda.
June 12, 2012
This was a ghost story set in Nantucket. It was more of a love story than scarey but good all the same. The main character (not giving anything away) has to tear her husband away from the ghost woman of the house has fallen in love with. I liked that it was an easy read but interesting and short enough to keep my attention.
July 24, 2015
Disconcerting, but compelling
I could not leave this alone even though in many ways I wanted put it aside and not finish it. It was compelling. So much in this life we can never comprehend. In many ways it was disconcerting.
I could not leave this alone even though in many ways I wanted put it aside and not finish it. It was compelling. So much in this life we can never comprehend. In many ways it was disconcerting.
November 5, 2008
I like the character description and atmosphere of this one. It's not really scary, but it's very moody, and I like that.
March 5, 2016
A ghost story -- interesting, but a ghost story. I love Nancy Thayer's books, but this did not rate among my favorites. Still -- not awful.
August 27, 2009
Really different...
September 1, 2011
great author! love her books
July 7, 2012
My review of this book at the time was simply "what an awful book". No more details.
January 17, 2015
The book was riveting!
I have enjoyed most of Nancy Thayer's books, especially those set on Nantucket. This plot was different from her others but still was captivating.
I have enjoyed most of Nancy Thayer's books, especially those set on Nantucket. This plot was different from her others but still was captivating.
April 26, 2015
Book 3
302 pages
302 pages
June 16, 2015
OMG, this was on the edge of your seat WOW! I was useless today, as I sat and read this book! I could do nothing , but sit and read!
January 13, 2016
Not really liking Nancy Thayer's older books. Do not care for the writing style. This was a strange book and really couldn't get into it. Love her newer books, Disappointed in her older stuff.
September 18, 2016
A short but interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 32 reviews