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What the Water Remembers
Charmed meets Nancy Drew when modern witch Kendra Hill sets out to uncover the connections between three ghosts and the Johnstown Flood of 1889, an abandoned cemetery, and a jar of teeth – before the hauntings push her out of her home.'Small town charm' takes on new meaning in 'What the Water Remembers'. Kendra knows from the first swing of her pendulum that she needs to help the ghosts of her Victorian home – Clara, and the mysterious dark-haired woman. Before even closing on their new home in Newport, Pennsylvania, Kendra and her husband George encounter a malevolent male ghost in unexpected ways; but in the face of a difficult housing market and feeling confident in Kendra's witchcraft, they move in. Jarred by dreams that feel like memories, Kendra's intuition and magic guide her down a path of mystery no amount of tarot cards or pendulums could have prepared her for.
320 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 19, 2025
Kendra and George are ready to move from city life in Philadelphia: George grew up in a small town and convinces Kendra that they should shop for houses in Newport, PA (population 1,522). It is there that they find a house that is a bit more than what they have budgeted. They love the town, and Kendra feels an instant connection to the home. Lynn, their fidgety realtor, is eager for the sale; the home has been vacant since the previous family moved out unexpectedly after only two years. Young couple who are outsiders in a new town; abandoned house with a history, priced within their budget; an often absent husband; and a wife with a special gift. What we have here is the setting for a haunted house “horror” story.
Kendra is a witch; so when she walks through the property and is met by ghostly apparitions, she in ready to move right in. She thinks she has the ability to find closure for the sweet one, and remove the malevolent one. To do this, she will first need to learn the history of the house, and the people that have lived (and haunted) here since first being built in the 1800s.
This was a cozy read, for me. The characters were supportive and loving; for once, the husband is not a dick. The writing is what made me give this a two star rather than a three star rating. I could have used less explanation of all things witchy; I felt that it made the story disjointed. It borders on YA (which is not a bad thing; its just not a genre I seek out).
I think if you are looking for a quick, light read, this might be a book worth checking out.
I would like to thank LibraryThing and Running Wild Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Kendra is a witch; so when she walks through the property and is met by ghostly apparitions, she in ready to move right in. She thinks she has the ability to find closure for the sweet one, and remove the malevolent one. To do this, she will first need to learn the history of the house, and the people that have lived (and haunted) here since first being built in the 1800s.
This was a cozy read, for me. The characters were supportive and loving; for once, the husband is not a dick. The writing is what made me give this a two star rather than a three star rating. I could have used less explanation of all things witchy; I felt that it made the story disjointed. It borders on YA (which is not a bad thing; its just not a genre I seek out).
I think if you are looking for a quick, light read, this might be a book worth checking out.
I would like to thank LibraryThing and Running Wild Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 9, 2025
As a fan of Charmed and Nancy Drew, I had a lot of excitement for this book. In terms of Charmed, this book read more new age spirituality rather than the classic portrayal of witchcraft you would expect. The mystery part was actually well plotted with really great nuance and a good nod to the haunting of hill house or bly manor. However, Kendra as a character really fell flat for me. Her actions were weirdly muddled and brushed away as a side note.
Her partner and her father seemed like NPCs that did not come into play unless Kendra interacted with them. Charlie's character felt underutilized with the plot given his connection to the history of the house. This book tried to be charming at points but fell short.
Overall, a very interesting twist on ghosts, haunted houses and discovering past secrets. But not the witchcraft I had expected and somewhat one dimensional characters.
Her partner and her father seemed like NPCs that did not come into play unless Kendra interacted with them. Charlie's character felt underutilized with the plot given his connection to the history of the house. This book tried to be charming at points but fell short.
Overall, a very interesting twist on ghosts, haunted houses and discovering past secrets. But not the witchcraft I had expected and somewhat one dimensional characters.
August 1, 2025
What’s a witch to do when there’s a tight housing market, you’ve found your forever home, but you hear strange bumps and creaks and crying in the middle of the night? Close as quickly as possible, of course. Haunted houses don’t go up for sale every day, and Kendra Hill thinks she can handle it. In What The Water Remembers by Elyse Welles, Kendra finds out just how hard it is to settle into your new home while trying to settle the ghosts of every family who has lived there before.
On reading What The Water Remembers, The Haunting of Hill House immediately comes to mind. Intergenerational complexities, new families meeting the old, vague supernatural threats, and paranormal investigations building to a crescendo, all echo Shirley Jackson’s classic ghost story. Welles adds a contemporary spin that is part cozy supernatural mystery and part small town paranormal investigation.
What I appreciated most about What The Water Remembers, and what makes it stand apart from all other modern ghost stories I’ve read, is the sensitive and thoughtful portrayal of a practicing witch encountering a world of spirits and shadows. Though never explicitly stated, Kendra’s practices seem to align strongly with Wicca, a religion that has gone “out of fashion” in some witchcraft circles. Welles treats Kendra’s faith with none of the criticism that follows those beliefs, takes great care crafting her, and depicts her as someone with a deeply personal faith. At the same time Kendra is nervous that her father might criticize her beliefs, she is sifting through her spells and practices to find just the right solution for a haunting. An eclectic Wiccan sleuth who straddles the line between religion and the paranormal? Inventive, original, and satisfying in its execution.
During Spooky Season, readers are often inundated by witchy romcoms, cozy coffee shop mysteries, and dark paranormal romances where ghosts use shadow powers to seduce curious young women. What The Water Remembers is in a genre of its own; as interesting to read in October as it will be in June. If you’re a fan of patient authors who craft with care, who dive deep into the faith of their leading ladies, both sensitively and authentically, and build layer upon layer of history, one natural disaster at a time, What The Water Remembers will be a book you will savor. Add a cup of hot tea, a snuggly cat, and a favorite chair with its own creaks and bumps, and you have the makings of an ideal rainy day.
On reading What The Water Remembers, The Haunting of Hill House immediately comes to mind. Intergenerational complexities, new families meeting the old, vague supernatural threats, and paranormal investigations building to a crescendo, all echo Shirley Jackson’s classic ghost story. Welles adds a contemporary spin that is part cozy supernatural mystery and part small town paranormal investigation.
What I appreciated most about What The Water Remembers, and what makes it stand apart from all other modern ghost stories I’ve read, is the sensitive and thoughtful portrayal of a practicing witch encountering a world of spirits and shadows. Though never explicitly stated, Kendra’s practices seem to align strongly with Wicca, a religion that has gone “out of fashion” in some witchcraft circles. Welles treats Kendra’s faith with none of the criticism that follows those beliefs, takes great care crafting her, and depicts her as someone with a deeply personal faith. At the same time Kendra is nervous that her father might criticize her beliefs, she is sifting through her spells and practices to find just the right solution for a haunting. An eclectic Wiccan sleuth who straddles the line between religion and the paranormal? Inventive, original, and satisfying in its execution.
During Spooky Season, readers are often inundated by witchy romcoms, cozy coffee shop mysteries, and dark paranormal romances where ghosts use shadow powers to seduce curious young women. What The Water Remembers is in a genre of its own; as interesting to read in October as it will be in June. If you’re a fan of patient authors who craft with care, who dive deep into the faith of their leading ladies, both sensitively and authentically, and build layer upon layer of history, one natural disaster at a time, What The Water Remembers will be a book you will savor. Add a cup of hot tea, a snuggly cat, and a favorite chair with its own creaks and bumps, and you have the makings of an ideal rainy day.
July 31, 2025
I'm not usually one for mystery stories, but this novel is more than just a mystery: it's historical, it's new-age witchy, and has many unexpectedly sweet moments that you can't help but love more and more as the mystery is revealed. Quite literally, no stone remains unturned in this story.
The ending is one that stuck with me for weeks afterward: heartwarming and bittersweet all at once. No spoilers: you need to read it for yourself!
I had the privilege of reading this novel while it was still in its early editing phase, and I'm very much looking forward to re-reading Kendra's story and falling in love with it all over again.
The ending is one that stuck with me for weeks afterward: heartwarming and bittersweet all at once. No spoilers: you need to read it for yourself!
I had the privilege of reading this novel while it was still in its early editing phase, and I'm very much looking forward to re-reading Kendra's story and falling in love with it all over again.
September 29, 2025
This atmospheric and mystical tale of a tethered trio of ghosts along the banks of a river in a small town deep in the throes of winter was just the tale I needed to launch into the spooky autumn season. The author described everything so well that I could smell the candle's aroma, hear the brittle leaves crunching under my feet and see the sparkling flashes of light signaling the spirits. And the beautiful descriptions of the house just made me want to move in and never leave.
For a ghost story, I found this to be very uniquely written, as our main heroine is a witch who is immediately in tune with the ambience of the house and the presence of the otherworldly. There are some truly chilling and downright spine-chilling moments, but at the same time, the author manages to make this a very cozy and comfortable read. I loved all the main characters and would love to see them in further books, but if that's not possible, at the very least I'm very much looking forward to whatever the author conjures up for her next mesmerizing tale.
***I won a copy of this book through a LibraryThing Early Reviewers Giveaway. My review is strictly voluntary.***
For a ghost story, I found this to be very uniquely written, as our main heroine is a witch who is immediately in tune with the ambience of the house and the presence of the otherworldly. There are some truly chilling and downright spine-chilling moments, but at the same time, the author manages to make this a very cozy and comfortable read. I loved all the main characters and would love to see them in further books, but if that's not possible, at the very least I'm very much looking forward to whatever the author conjures up for her next mesmerizing tale.
***I won a copy of this book through a LibraryThing Early Reviewers Giveaway. My review is strictly voluntary.***
July 31, 2025
One of my favorite reads. Not only did Elyse incorporate real witchcraft, but she had me in suspense the entire time. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a good read and appreciates a mystery with plot twists.
October 28, 2025
A good read for spooky season!
October 5, 2025
I have to admit that if I had seen in this a bookstore, I might have walked on by. This would have been a mistake. Welles’ first novel may not be the best, but it is actually quite good.
In part the book functions as a standard haunted house story where new owners struggle to find out and deal with the ghosts that occupy their new property. However, Welles adds the use Wiccan brief to the story. The heroine, Kendra is a practitioner. Kendra and her husband George buy their dream house in a small Pennsylvania town. The ghosts that inhabit the house are varied and have to do with, obviously past events.
The ghost mystery is perhaps, to be fair, a bit obvious though there is a slight twist that works and makes the solution stand out a bit more than it would have otherwise done. The level of spookiness and mood that Welles installs the mystery with is well described. Not only do we understand why Kendra is frighten by some of the movements of the spirits but not others, but we also share that fear.
What really sells the book isn’t the mystery however. It’s the people that make up the novel. Welles does an excellent job of even giving the minor supporting characters life. She draws small town quite well. More importantly, the relationship between Kendra and her husband George is absolutely one that the reader can buy into. It is beautifully drawn.
When I got to the end of the book, I was sad to see the characters go. I find myself hoping that there will be a sequel.
Note- nothing happens to the cats.
October 17, 2025
Just finished this book and… wow. I’m still sitting with all the feelings. It’s one of those cozy mystery stories that's warm and cozy in moments, but then quietly eerie and unsettling in others. I loved that mix.
The ending was sad, but also strangely comforting like saying goodbye to someone you know you’ll always carry in your heart. I didn’t expect to feel so emotional, but here I am, still thinking about it hours later.
If you love stories that are beautiful, haunting, scary, and full of heart, this one’s for you.
The ending was sad, but also strangely comforting like saying goodbye to someone you know you’ll always carry in your heart. I didn’t expect to feel so emotional, but here I am, still thinking about it hours later.
If you love stories that are beautiful, haunting, scary, and full of heart, this one’s for you.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews