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The Widow's House
This chilling novel from the bestselling, award-winning author of The Lake of Dead Languages blends the gothic allure of Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca and the crazed undertones of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper with the twisty, contemporary edge of A.S.A. Harrison’s The Silent Wife—a harrowing tale of psychological suspense set in New York’s Hudson Valley
When Jess and Clare Martin move from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to their former college town in the Hudson River valley, they are hoping for rejuvenation—of their marriage, their savings, and Jess’s writing career.
They take a caretaker’s job at Riven House, a crumbling estate and the home of their old college writing professor. While Clare once had dreams of being a writer, those plans fell by the wayside when Jess made a big, splashy literary debut in their twenties. It’s been years, now, since his first novel. The advance has long been spent. Clare’s hope is that the pastoral beauty and nostalgia of the Hudson Valley will offer some inspiration.
But their new life isn’t all quaint town libraries and fragrant apple orchards. There is a haunting pall that hangs over Riven House like a funeral veil. Something is just not right. Soon, Clare begins to hear babies crying at night, see strange figures in fog at the edge of their property. Diving into the history of the area, she realizes that Riven House has a dark and anguished past. And whatever this thing is—this menacing force that destroys the inhabitants of the estate—it seems to be after Clare next…
When Jess and Clare Martin move from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to their former college town in the Hudson River valley, they are hoping for rejuvenation—of their marriage, their savings, and Jess’s writing career.
They take a caretaker’s job at Riven House, a crumbling estate and the home of their old college writing professor. While Clare once had dreams of being a writer, those plans fell by the wayside when Jess made a big, splashy literary debut in their twenties. It’s been years, now, since his first novel. The advance has long been spent. Clare’s hope is that the pastoral beauty and nostalgia of the Hudson Valley will offer some inspiration.
But their new life isn’t all quaint town libraries and fragrant apple orchards. There is a haunting pall that hangs over Riven House like a funeral veil. Something is just not right. Soon, Clare begins to hear babies crying at night, see strange figures in fog at the edge of their property. Diving into the history of the area, she realizes that Riven House has a dark and anguished past. And whatever this thing is—this menacing force that destroys the inhabitants of the estate—it seems to be after Clare next…
333 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2017
369 people are currently reading
5844 people want to read
About the author
Carol Goodman
35 books2,903 followersCarol Goodman is the author of The Lake of Dead Languages, The Seduction of Water, which won the Hammett Prize, The Widow's House, which won the Mary Higgins Clark Award and The Night Visitors, which won the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also the co-author, with her husband Lee Slonimsky, of the Watchtower fantasy trilogy. Her work has appeared in such journals as The Greensboro Review, Literal Latte, The Midwest Quarterly, and Other Voices. After graduation from Vassar College, where she majored in Latin, she taught Latin for several years in Austin, Texas. She then received an M.F.A. in fiction from the New School University. Goodman currently teaches literature and writing at The New School and SUNY New Paltz and lives with her family in the Hudson Valley.
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March 15, 2017
Jesse and Clare met in a selection only Writer's class taught by an enigmatic Professor. Although this Professor thought Clare had more talent than Jesse, it is Jesse who publishes a book and Clare who ends up as a copy editor in order to support her talented husband. The years have not been kind financially, Jesse unable to complete a second book, so they decide to sell everything they have and find a place where Jesse feels he can write. They will end up at the Octagon shaped house, called Riven by the townspeople, based on the supposition of the house being haunted after all the tragedy it had seen.
Was so in the mood for a ghost story and this fit the bill nicely. There is much mystery, not only about the house but in Clare's background as well. The pace is very quick, something always happening, but what exactly is going on? Is this house haunted or could there be another explanation? At times I thought I knew but then the author would mysteriously throw in another curve and I would once again be left wondering.
The characters are not exactly likable, but that didn't matter. To be honest not sure this actually deserves a four for the rating, sometimes I felt too much was happening, but it definitely kept me guessing . So for the enjoyment it provided, for the imaginative, twisty storytelling, that is what I decided to give this entertaining read.
ARC from William Morrow.
Was so in the mood for a ghost story and this fit the bill nicely. There is much mystery, not only about the house but in Clare's background as well. The pace is very quick, something always happening, but what exactly is going on? Is this house haunted or could there be another explanation? At times I thought I knew but then the author would mysteriously throw in another curve and I would once again be left wondering.
The characters are not exactly likable, but that didn't matter. To be honest not sure this actually deserves a four for the rating, sometimes I felt too much was happening, but it definitely kept me guessing . So for the enjoyment it provided, for the imaginative, twisty storytelling, that is what I decided to give this entertaining read.
ARC from William Morrow.
January 31, 2023
THE WIDOW’S HOUSE by Carol Goodman is a solid combination of mystery and ghost fiction.
MY TEASE…
Riven House, or the Widow’s House, has a troubling history oozing from its crumbling bones. The men who have owned it have coveted their passions, no matter the cost. And the women who have loved them and followed them have unraveled because of the price they’ve had to pay.
The sordid past still haunts the mansion and its grounds.
Unfortunately for Clare Martin, she has always been a follower.
When her husband, Jess, wanted to advance his writing career, Clare gave hers up and became his literary cheerleader. And now, when he decides that a change of scenery will fix his writer’s block, Clare agrees to move.
Jess takes a caretaker position at Riven House, the neglected home of his and Clare’s former writing professor, now retired. And as promised, Clare follows him there.
If only the house’s past wasn’t determined to repeat itself.
THOUGHTS…
THE WIDOW’S HOUSE was a solid read, excelling in the areas that contribute to great storytelling: excellent writing, a layered plot, solid pacing, and atmospheric tension.
A sample of the writing:
“I crossed the room and opened the closet door, but I didn’t see a dumbwaiter, only a bulge in the plaster, like a tumor growing from the inner organs of the house.”
Nice, right? In a perfectly creepy way!
At times, I found aspects unbelievable (in the context of the story), but this didn’t stop me from enjoying the book!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5
Main character’s likability: 4
Development of supporting character(s): 4
Settings/Atmosphere: 5
Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4
Believability (in the context of the story): 3-
Satisfying ending: 5
Tension of the story: 4
Stirs the heart (romantic elements): N/A
Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? Pretty much, but I didn’t find that disappointing.
OVERALL...
THE WIDOW’S HOUSE was a solid 4-star read, written by an expert author!
MY TEASE…
Riven House, or the Widow’s House, has a troubling history oozing from its crumbling bones. The men who have owned it have coveted their passions, no matter the cost. And the women who have loved them and followed them have unraveled because of the price they’ve had to pay.
The sordid past still haunts the mansion and its grounds.
Unfortunately for Clare Martin, she has always been a follower.
When her husband, Jess, wanted to advance his writing career, Clare gave hers up and became his literary cheerleader. And now, when he decides that a change of scenery will fix his writer’s block, Clare agrees to move.
Jess takes a caretaker position at Riven House, the neglected home of his and Clare’s former writing professor, now retired. And as promised, Clare follows him there.
If only the house’s past wasn’t determined to repeat itself.
THOUGHTS…
THE WIDOW’S HOUSE was a solid read, excelling in the areas that contribute to great storytelling: excellent writing, a layered plot, solid pacing, and atmospheric tension.
A sample of the writing:
“I crossed the room and opened the closet door, but I didn’t see a dumbwaiter, only a bulge in the plaster, like a tumor growing from the inner organs of the house.”
Nice, right? In a perfectly creepy way!
At times, I found aspects unbelievable (in the context of the story), but this didn’t stop me from enjoying the book!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5
Main character’s likability: 4
Development of supporting character(s): 4
Settings/Atmosphere: 5
Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4
Believability (in the context of the story): 3-
Satisfying ending: 5
Tension of the story: 4
Stirs the heart (romantic elements): N/A
Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? Pretty much, but I didn’t find that disappointing.
OVERALL...
THE WIDOW’S HOUSE was a solid 4-star read, written by an expert author!
April 24, 2017
I enjoyed this Modern Gothic from Carol Goodman. It's creepy and twisty, and it keeps you guessing as to what's really going on.
The main characters are Jess and Clare Martin, who met in an "invitation only" writing class in college. Jess had one novel published in his early twenties, but that was years ago, and now they're broke. The couple ends up back in their small college town as caretakers of their old writing professor's crumbling estate. It seems like the perfect place to rekindle Jess' writing career - possibly Clare's too - but the house has a dark history, and its ghosts don't want to keep quiet.
I liked the eerie atmosphere and uneasy feeling the story conveyed, and the mystery of the house's tragic past was intriguing. Loved how it all wrapped up in the end! I was quite surprised at the outcome. I'm glad I spotted this one at the library and will definitely add Carol Goodman's other books to my wishlist.
The main characters are Jess and Clare Martin, who met in an "invitation only" writing class in college. Jess had one novel published in his early twenties, but that was years ago, and now they're broke. The couple ends up back in their small college town as caretakers of their old writing professor's crumbling estate. It seems like the perfect place to rekindle Jess' writing career - possibly Clare's too - but the house has a dark history, and its ghosts don't want to keep quiet.
I liked the eerie atmosphere and uneasy feeling the story conveyed, and the mystery of the house's tragic past was intriguing. Loved how it all wrapped up in the end! I was quite surprised at the outcome. I'm glad I spotted this one at the library and will definitely add Carol Goodman's other books to my wishlist.
June 18, 2018
The mystery was weak. It meandered rather than having one big issue to focus on. The first half mostly focused on the apple blossom girl. A lot of that unraveled rather quickly, so it wasn't suspenseful. About halfway through I wasn't really sure where the story was going, and frankly didn't care either.
The thing that made this unbearable to get through was the characters. Clare was a doormat. She threw her life away for the asshole she married. What made it worse was that Clare never realized this; no matter how much her husband acted like a selfish prick, she was still devoted to the guy. Eventually reality hit her in the face, but by then I felt like she was an idiot for not figuring it out sooner.
Jess, the husband, was a worthless piece of shit. He was one of those people who had a stroke of luck, wrote a best selling book, but lacked the talent to do it again. His ego was so inflated from the success of his only book that he still thought he was something special many years later. Decent jobs would come his way and he'd turn them down because he was too good for them. Which basically meant he was doing absolutely nothing with his life, all the while claiming that he's wonderful. He was nothing but a selfish, snobby prick. The opinion of his wife didn't mean a damn thing to him. I really hated the guy.
The thing that made this unbearable to get through was the characters. Clare was a doormat. She threw her life away for the asshole she married. What made it worse was that Clare never realized this; no matter how much her husband acted like a selfish prick, she was still devoted to the guy. Eventually reality hit her in the face, but by then I felt like she was an idiot for not figuring it out sooner.
Jess, the husband, was a worthless piece of shit. He was one of those people who had a stroke of luck, wrote a best selling book, but lacked the talent to do it again. His ego was so inflated from the success of his only book that he still thought he was something special many years later. Decent jobs would come his way and he'd turn them down because he was too good for them. Which basically meant he was doing absolutely nothing with his life, all the while claiming that he's wonderful. He was nothing but a selfish, snobby prick. The opinion of his wife didn't mean a damn thing to him. I really hated the guy.
January 16, 2022
This is a Paranormal Mystery/Thriller. I really love this book, but the ending was just a little hard to follow for a little bit. This book is about two writers trying to get back into writing, so they go and stay in a house. The house has history and the wife starts to look into the history of the house. I do not want to give to much away, so I will leave it there. I won a kindle edition of this book from a goodreads giveaway, but this is 100% my own opinion. I could not put this book down.
September 20, 2017
I read The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman a couple of years ago and was deeply impressed with the book. After that, did I read The Ghost Orchid and The Sonnet Lover and was not as impressed (not bad books, just not was good as The Lake of Dead Languages). So, when I saw this book and read the description did I immediately want to read it. I love old mysterious houses and the description of this book, about a couple moving there as caretakers made me think of The Shining. Especially since the husband is a writer.
I quite enjoyed reading The Widow's House, the story is good, and I felt that the characters are complex and there is something very weird going on. Clare Martin has had problems in the past, for instance, a miscarriage when she was in college and her childhood was a hard one. And, now at the house, is she experiencing things that make her wonder if the house is haunted or if she is losing it.
One thing I truly loved about the book is how not everything is at it seems, Clare's husband Jess didn't make a good first impression on me, and although the book did I feel that he was a self-centered son of a bitch. But, the ending, without wanting to give anything away, I love how Carol Goodman decided to write an ending that just turned everything around.
The Widow's House kept my interest up from the beginning until the end. I've been a bit tired of reading psychological thrillers with a woman in center trying to solve a mystery, but this book felt refreshing to read. I felt that I connected with the story and its characters and I was eager to learn the truth about the house.
4.5 stars
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through Edelweiss for an honest review!
I quite enjoyed reading The Widow's House, the story is good, and I felt that the characters are complex and there is something very weird going on. Clare Martin has had problems in the past, for instance, a miscarriage when she was in college and her childhood was a hard one. And, now at the house, is she experiencing things that make her wonder if the house is haunted or if she is losing it.
One thing I truly loved about the book is how not everything is at it seems, Clare's husband Jess didn't make a good first impression on me, and although the book did I feel that he was a self-centered son of a bitch. But, the ending, without wanting to give anything away, I love how Carol Goodman decided to write an ending that just turned everything around.
The Widow's House kept my interest up from the beginning until the end. I've been a bit tired of reading psychological thrillers with a woman in center trying to solve a mystery, but this book felt refreshing to read. I felt that I connected with the story and its characters and I was eager to learn the truth about the house.
4.5 stars
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through Edelweiss for an honest review!
March 29, 2017
Clare and Jess Martin are struggling writers even though Jess has already had one book published. They both want to continue writing, and Jess wants to make his second book a best seller, but their finances are holding them back.
They have exhausted their savings and are now looking for a new home that they can afford. Unfortunately, everything is out of their price range.
But....when they have the offer to be a caretaker at Riven House in the town where they both went to college, where Clare grew up, and where their writing professor lived, they jump at the chance. Free lodging wasn't a bad deal either.
Who wouldn't want to re-connect with a famous writer who had been your college professor ?
The only "catch" is that the house is in utter disrepair and has many odd, creepy folks that live on the estate with the professor.
The treasures Clare finds in the house as she is cleaning as well as the ghosts and the sounds that haunt the house caught my interest.
THE WIDOW'S HOUSE has a gorgeous cover that pulls you in, and the story line along with the characters and what has happened and what currently happens at Riven House is intriguing.
A paranormal aspect is there, but it isn't over powering and definitely adds to the book's interest.
It took me about 100 pages to get connected, but it was worth the wait as the family saga and secrets unfolded.
Along with the mystery and eeriness of the house, there is a mystery about who Clare's birth mother really was.
Those readers who enjoy a mystery, a unique family, ghosts, family secrets, and a Gothic theme will enjoy THE WIDOW’S HOUSE.
Ms. Goodman has a marvelous writing style that will draw you in and have you easily connecting with the characters.
The ending is quite good. 4/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
October 1, 2019
EXCERPT: It stood on a rise above a curve in the river like a medieval watchtower. The old brick was mellowed with age and warmed from centuries of river light, the windows made from wavy cockled glass with tiny bubbles in it that held the light like good champagne. The sunken gardens surrounding an ornamental pond were already cool and dark, promising a dusky retreat even on the hottest summer day. For a moment I thought I heard the sound of glasses clinking and laughter from a long-ago summer party, but then I realised it was just some old windchimes hanging from the gatehouse. There hadn't been any parties here for a while. When the sun went behind a cloud and the golden glow disappeared my eyes lingered more on the missing slate tiles in the roof, the weeds growing up between the paving stones of the front flagstones, the paint peeling off the porch columns, and the cracked and crumbling front steps. I even thought I could detect on the river breeze the smell of rot and mildew. And when Jess turned, his fingers still gripping the gate, I saw that without that light his face had turned sallow again and the look of longing was replaced with the certainty that he would always be on the wrong side of that gate. That's how he had become such a good mimic, by watching and listening from the other side. It made my heart ache for him.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: When Jess and Clare Martin move from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to their former college town in the Hudson River valley, they are hoping for rejuvenation—of their marriage, their savings, and Jess's writing career.
They take a caretaker's job at Riven House, a crumbling estate and the home of their old college writing professor. While Clare once had dreams of being a writer, those plans fell by the wayside when Jess made a big, splashy literary debut in their twenties. It's been years, now, since his first novel. The advance has long been spent. Clare's hope is that the pastoral beauty and nostalgia of the Hudson Valley will offer some inspiration.
But their new life isn't all quaint town libraries and fragrant apple orchards. There is a haunting pall that hangs over Riven House like a funeral veil. Something is just not right. Soon, Clare begins to hear babies crying at night, and sees strange figures in fog at the edge of their property. Diving into the history of the area, she realizes that Riven House has a dark and anguished past. And whatever this thing is—this menacing force that destroys the inhabitants of the estate—it seems to be after Clare next…
MY THOUGHTS: 'Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.' But, just who are 'they'?
This is excellent domestic suspense with a touch of gothic thrown in. It is atmospheric, and twisty, and just a little creepy.
The author sets the scene beautifully. She doesn't rush into anything; the beginning is evocative of a slow running river meandering through a summer pasture. But slowly the atmosphere changes and it is the dark of winter, icy cold and threatening. Goodman's writing is powerfully descriptive; I felt like I was there, watching and listening from shadowy corners, lurking with the ghosts.
I really couldn't make up my mind if Clare was crazy, if Jess was being manipulative, or if the tragic ghosts who occupy Riven House (yes, you will find out how the house came to be called that) were meddling.
And now that I have finished, I wonder if the story has finished for Clare? I feel like there should be more coming, and that 'happy ever after' doesn't feature in her future.
I will be reading more from this author.
****
THE AUTHOR: Carol Goodman is the author of The Lake of Dead Languages, The Seduction of Water, which won the Hammett Prize, and The Widow's House, which won the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also the co-author, with her husband Lee Slonimsky, of the Watchtower fantasy trilogy. Her work has appeared in such journals as The Greensboro Review, Literal Latte, The Midwest Quarterly, and Other Voices. After graduation from Vassar College, where she majored in Latin, she taught Latin for several years in Austin, Texas. She then received an M.F.A. in fiction from the New School University. Goodman currently teaches literature and writing at The New School and SUNY New Paltz, and lives with her family in the Hudson Valley.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of The Widow's House by Carol Goodman, narrated by Cassandra Campbell and published by Harper Audio, via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: When Jess and Clare Martin move from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to their former college town in the Hudson River valley, they are hoping for rejuvenation—of their marriage, their savings, and Jess's writing career.
They take a caretaker's job at Riven House, a crumbling estate and the home of their old college writing professor. While Clare once had dreams of being a writer, those plans fell by the wayside when Jess made a big, splashy literary debut in their twenties. It's been years, now, since his first novel. The advance has long been spent. Clare's hope is that the pastoral beauty and nostalgia of the Hudson Valley will offer some inspiration.
But their new life isn't all quaint town libraries and fragrant apple orchards. There is a haunting pall that hangs over Riven House like a funeral veil. Something is just not right. Soon, Clare begins to hear babies crying at night, and sees strange figures in fog at the edge of their property. Diving into the history of the area, she realizes that Riven House has a dark and anguished past. And whatever this thing is—this menacing force that destroys the inhabitants of the estate—it seems to be after Clare next…
MY THOUGHTS: 'Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.' But, just who are 'they'?
This is excellent domestic suspense with a touch of gothic thrown in. It is atmospheric, and twisty, and just a little creepy.
The author sets the scene beautifully. She doesn't rush into anything; the beginning is evocative of a slow running river meandering through a summer pasture. But slowly the atmosphere changes and it is the dark of winter, icy cold and threatening. Goodman's writing is powerfully descriptive; I felt like I was there, watching and listening from shadowy corners, lurking with the ghosts.
I really couldn't make up my mind if Clare was crazy, if Jess was being manipulative, or if the tragic ghosts who occupy Riven House (yes, you will find out how the house came to be called that) were meddling.
And now that I have finished, I wonder if the story has finished for Clare? I feel like there should be more coming, and that 'happy ever after' doesn't feature in her future.
I will be reading more from this author.
****
THE AUTHOR: Carol Goodman is the author of The Lake of Dead Languages, The Seduction of Water, which won the Hammett Prize, and The Widow's House, which won the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also the co-author, with her husband Lee Slonimsky, of the Watchtower fantasy trilogy. Her work has appeared in such journals as The Greensboro Review, Literal Latte, The Midwest Quarterly, and Other Voices. After graduation from Vassar College, where she majored in Latin, she taught Latin for several years in Austin, Texas. She then received an M.F.A. in fiction from the New School University. Goodman currently teaches literature and writing at The New School and SUNY New Paltz, and lives with her family in the Hudson Valley.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of The Widow's House by Carol Goodman, narrated by Cassandra Campbell and published by Harper Audio, via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
March 2, 2017
Jess and Clare Martin met at Bailey College, in the Hudson River valley, but have been living in New York for years. Jess wrote a successful first novel not long after graduation, but that money has long been spent. He's been working on his second book for ages; it's long overdue, and he needs a new muse. So the two decide to move back to the Hudson River area, where Jess can focus on the book without distractions. They take on duties as caretakers at Riven House, the home of their former college professor, Monty. They can live in a nearby cottage in exchange for helping the elderly Monty with chores. But the setup has its own issues: it's Monty, after all, who wrote a review of Jess' first book that torments him to this day. And as they settle in, Clare begins to hear a baby crying at night and see shadowy figures around the pond of Monty's property. As she investigates local history, she thinks what she sees may be tied to the house's tormented past. The locals say the place is haunted and destroys everyone who stays there. Are Clare and Jess next?
You know how sometimes you start a novel and immediately know, from the first page, that you'll enjoy it? THE WIDOW'S HOUSE was that way for me. It sucked me in immediately and kept me interested throughout; I read it in about 24 hours. The book is filled with complicated characters, starting with Clare. You start to realize she's the ultimate unreliable narrator, but are never able to tell exactly how much. She appears unhappy with her selfish author husband and her marriage. She had a rough childhood--growing up in the Hudson Valley not far from Monty's estate, which has clearly affected the way she sees the world. The entire story is told from her point of view, and we're stuck with all events being filtered through her lens. It's genius really, and it is a refreshing change from so many novels lately that change narrators and time periods. You find yourself working and guessing with Clare as she unravels local history and the events unfolding at Riven House.
The novel is certainly told in the Gothic tradition. I first fell for Goodman via her excellent novel, The Lake of Dead Languages, and this book reminded me of that one in some ways. Unlike some Gothic novels, you do not have to suspend much disbelief as the creepy events unfold around Clare and Jess. There are parts of this book that are incredibly spooky, and it's quite well-done. I loved that I was frantically flipping the pages, constantly second guessing everything and wondering what was happening. There are some great twists that shock you, even as you're still trying to figure things out in you're head (much like Clare). This novel will leave you guessing. It's crazy and confusing, but fascinating and incredibly hard to put down. It's completely enjoyable and stays with you after you've finished it, going over various plot points. Highly recommend.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review; it is available everywhere as of 03/07/2017.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+
You know how sometimes you start a novel and immediately know, from the first page, that you'll enjoy it? THE WIDOW'S HOUSE was that way for me. It sucked me in immediately and kept me interested throughout; I read it in about 24 hours. The book is filled with complicated characters, starting with Clare. You start to realize she's the ultimate unreliable narrator, but are never able to tell exactly how much. She appears unhappy with her selfish author husband and her marriage. She had a rough childhood--growing up in the Hudson Valley not far from Monty's estate, which has clearly affected the way she sees the world. The entire story is told from her point of view, and we're stuck with all events being filtered through her lens. It's genius really, and it is a refreshing change from so many novels lately that change narrators and time periods. You find yourself working and guessing with Clare as she unravels local history and the events unfolding at Riven House.
The novel is certainly told in the Gothic tradition. I first fell for Goodman via her excellent novel, The Lake of Dead Languages, and this book reminded me of that one in some ways. Unlike some Gothic novels, you do not have to suspend much disbelief as the creepy events unfold around Clare and Jess. There are parts of this book that are incredibly spooky, and it's quite well-done. I loved that I was frantically flipping the pages, constantly second guessing everything and wondering what was happening. There are some great twists that shock you, even as you're still trying to figure things out in you're head (much like Clare). This novel will leave you guessing. It's crazy and confusing, but fascinating and incredibly hard to put down. It's completely enjoyable and stays with you after you've finished it, going over various plot points. Highly recommend.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review; it is available everywhere as of 03/07/2017.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+
July 4, 2017
I'll admit first off that it was the stunning cover that first attracted me to this novel. Then, when I realized I had already read a book by this author that I really enjoyed ("The drowning tree"), the deal was sealed.
Set in the Hudson River Valley of Upper New York State, "The Widow's House" features a literary married couple, Clare and Jess Martin. They have left their Brooklyn life after experiencing financial problems and are now looking to 'escape to the country' and a new start. Their marriage has hit a rough patch and they sorely need a change. It seemed only natural that they would gravitate toward the Hudson River Valley, as that is where Clare grew up, where they had both gone to college, and where Jess had written his first novel.
They find that the newer houses are not to their taste and they cannot afford an older home with character. So it is that they finally agree to be caretakers at a gothic mansion called River House. The locals have altered its name to Riven House due to its murky history. Some call it "The Widow's House" because of the purported ghost. The house just so happens to belong to Jess and Clare's college mentor, Montague (Monty). Now elderly and unwell, his huge, octagon-shaped, gothic mansion has become too much for him to handle on his own.
Upon arriving at the house, Clare begins to hear a baby crying at night. She sees a woman on the grounds - a woman she suspects is the ghost of Riven House. But of course, her logical side says that must be impossible...
"Riven House had the feel of a place that was encumbered
with more than just financial losses.".
Jess begins to write again. He has become 'chummy' with Monty who is also writing a novel. They share a nightly drink and literary discussion. Meanwhile, Clare has met up with Dunstan, her first love, now a local police detective. She begins to research her genealogy. She knows that she was adopted and that her birth mother resided in a psychiatric hospital. Her research and with the support of Monty, Clare herself begins to write again. She had given up on her writing when she married Jess. Now she is inspired by her old notebooks (which Monty has kept) and the atmospheric Riven House. She writes the house's story of Mary Foley, the local Apple Blossom Queen who was seduced by one of Monty's forebears and made pregnant.
"Fifty acres, one hundred apple trees bearing,
deeded to John Foley on May 12, 1929, by Birdsill Montague
in exchange for the maidenhood of one Mary Foley."
Researching the story of Mary Foley brings many family secrets to light. Secrets that can be dangerous for Clare - and for Monty.
Atmospheric, with well developed characters, this novel was an enjoyable read. I'll give you a hint.... the plot reminded me a bit of the old Ingrid Bergman novel "Gaslight". The end third of the book, dripping with tension, was much faster paced than the first two thirds, bringing the book to a suspense-filled ending that brought the book to a very satisfactory close.
Set in the Hudson River Valley of Upper New York State, "The Widow's House" features a literary married couple, Clare and Jess Martin. They have left their Brooklyn life after experiencing financial problems and are now looking to 'escape to the country' and a new start. Their marriage has hit a rough patch and they sorely need a change. It seemed only natural that they would gravitate toward the Hudson River Valley, as that is where Clare grew up, where they had both gone to college, and where Jess had written his first novel.
They find that the newer houses are not to their taste and they cannot afford an older home with character. So it is that they finally agree to be caretakers at a gothic mansion called River House. The locals have altered its name to Riven House due to its murky history. Some call it "The Widow's House" because of the purported ghost. The house just so happens to belong to Jess and Clare's college mentor, Montague (Monty). Now elderly and unwell, his huge, octagon-shaped, gothic mansion has become too much for him to handle on his own.
Upon arriving at the house, Clare begins to hear a baby crying at night. She sees a woman on the grounds - a woman she suspects is the ghost of Riven House. But of course, her logical side says that must be impossible...
"Riven House had the feel of a place that was encumbered
with more than just financial losses.".
Jess begins to write again. He has become 'chummy' with Monty who is also writing a novel. They share a nightly drink and literary discussion. Meanwhile, Clare has met up with Dunstan, her first love, now a local police detective. She begins to research her genealogy. She knows that she was adopted and that her birth mother resided in a psychiatric hospital. Her research and with the support of Monty, Clare herself begins to write again. She had given up on her writing when she married Jess. Now she is inspired by her old notebooks (which Monty has kept) and the atmospheric Riven House. She writes the house's story of Mary Foley, the local Apple Blossom Queen who was seduced by one of Monty's forebears and made pregnant.
"Fifty acres, one hundred apple trees bearing,
deeded to John Foley on May 12, 1929, by Birdsill Montague
in exchange for the maidenhood of one Mary Foley."
Researching the story of Mary Foley brings many family secrets to light. Secrets that can be dangerous for Clare - and for Monty.
Atmospheric, with well developed characters, this novel was an enjoyable read. I'll give you a hint.... the plot reminded me a bit of the old Ingrid Bergman novel "Gaslight". The end third of the book, dripping with tension, was much faster paced than the first two thirds, bringing the book to a suspense-filled ending that brought the book to a very satisfactory close.
November 19, 2018
The Widow's House
is a pretty formulaic ghost story stuffed full of family secrets in a small town, a woman spurned, a missing baby, an old, crumbling near derelict house and, of course, my favorite literary device (I'm oozing with sarcasm), adultering.
Clare and her husband Jess have returned to her small hometown of Concord for a fresh start in their lives; their marriage, their professional careers and their finances.
In what feels like a serendipitous act of luck, they become caretakers to an old rambling estate nicknamed Riven House also owned by their former English professor, Alden Montague.
The bond between the three of them grows and becomes a mutually beneficial, friendly and professional relationship.
Clare's creativity is triggered by the scary tale behind Riven House and she sets out to complete a story she wrote long ago in English class.
At the same time, she is haunted by the specter of a long dead woman and feels her sanity begin crumbling in the wake of things she sees and can't explain.
In the course of her research and investigation, she unlocks the secrets to her own identity, discovers her place and her special abilities in a family she had never known about, a sinister plot, and comes face to face with her own fears, much frightening than any ghost she can ever imagine.
The story wasn't bad, I guessed a few plot points as they happened but my main issue was that I didn't like Clare.
I couldn't connect to her or empathize with her circumstances, not even when it was revealed she had a nervous breakdown and a difficult childhood.
She had a doormat personality and allowed herself to be trumped by her famous husband, kowtowing to his demands, allowing her own talents as a writer to be overwhelmed by his criticism, her low esteem and passivity.
That would explain why she doesn't realize her dick husband and former ex-girlfriend are trying to Gaslight her until the end.
Even the revelation that she could "make things happen" by thinking about it was ho-hum because I still couldn't see her as anything other than a dullard.
Her behavior was irritable especially the way she always seemed to be appeasing Jess, especially in regards to her miscarriage years ago when they were in college. It seemed as if she couldn't be without a man, having driven her old boyfriend, Dunstan, away to be with Jess, the wannabe hipster.
Jess was your typical swaggering, one-hit wonder, talent-less hack. After having published a book in his early twenties, a decade later, he is still having trouble completing his second novel. He is jealous and and resentful of Clare's talent and does nothing to encourage her flair for writing.
Alden Montague is no better; an old, doddering man past his prime whose greed and selfishness turns into a act of betrayal when he plagiarizes a story.
Clare just can't win. Cheating, murderous husband; cheating, lying dad. But don't worry, Clare's hunky, ex-boyfriend Dunstan re-enters her life just when she needs him (natch) and the ending is just what you expected.
There are no secrets in a small town where everyone knows everybody and is related to everybody.
Subplots abound; Clare's adoption and her troubled relationship with her mother, her own mixed feelings about having grown up in a small town and how her life is so similar to Mary Foley, the ghost that supposedly haunts Riven House; there is the shocking death of a neighbor and the secrets she confided to Clare. There's almost too much going on.
There are plenty of descriptions of fog swirling on the ground, boggy marshes and inclement weather to add to the morose atmosphere, not to mention the obligatory ghostly apparitions and the faint sounds of a baby crying (which is creepy in any book, no matter the genre).
The Widow's House is my first book by Ms. Goodman and though I disliked all the characters, I would recommend the book to friends.
Clare and her husband Jess have returned to her small hometown of Concord for a fresh start in their lives; their marriage, their professional careers and their finances.
In what feels like a serendipitous act of luck, they become caretakers to an old rambling estate nicknamed Riven House also owned by their former English professor, Alden Montague.
The bond between the three of them grows and becomes a mutually beneficial, friendly and professional relationship.
Clare's creativity is triggered by the scary tale behind Riven House and she sets out to complete a story she wrote long ago in English class.
At the same time, she is haunted by the specter of a long dead woman and feels her sanity begin crumbling in the wake of things she sees and can't explain.
In the course of her research and investigation, she unlocks the secrets to her own identity, discovers her place and her special abilities in a family she had never known about, a sinister plot, and comes face to face with her own fears, much frightening than any ghost she can ever imagine.
The story wasn't bad, I guessed a few plot points as they happened but my main issue was that I didn't like Clare.
I couldn't connect to her or empathize with her circumstances, not even when it was revealed she had a nervous breakdown and a difficult childhood.
She had a doormat personality and allowed herself to be trumped by her famous husband, kowtowing to his demands, allowing her own talents as a writer to be overwhelmed by his criticism, her low esteem and passivity.
That would explain why she doesn't realize her dick husband and former ex-girlfriend are trying to Gaslight her until the end.
Even the revelation that she could "make things happen" by thinking about it was ho-hum because I still couldn't see her as anything other than a dullard.
Her behavior was irritable especially the way she always seemed to be appeasing Jess, especially in regards to her miscarriage years ago when they were in college. It seemed as if she couldn't be without a man, having driven her old boyfriend, Dunstan, away to be with Jess, the wannabe hipster.
Jess was your typical swaggering, one-hit wonder, talent-less hack. After having published a book in his early twenties, a decade later, he is still having trouble completing his second novel. He is jealous and and resentful of Clare's talent and does nothing to encourage her flair for writing.
Alden Montague is no better; an old, doddering man past his prime whose greed and selfishness turns into a act of betrayal when he plagiarizes a story.
Clare just can't win. Cheating, murderous husband; cheating, lying dad. But don't worry, Clare's hunky, ex-boyfriend Dunstan re-enters her life just when she needs him (natch) and the ending is just what you expected.
There are no secrets in a small town where everyone knows everybody and is related to everybody.
Subplots abound; Clare's adoption and her troubled relationship with her mother, her own mixed feelings about having grown up in a small town and how her life is so similar to Mary Foley, the ghost that supposedly haunts Riven House; there is the shocking death of a neighbor and the secrets she confided to Clare. There's almost too much going on.
There are plenty of descriptions of fog swirling on the ground, boggy marshes and inclement weather to add to the morose atmosphere, not to mention the obligatory ghostly apparitions and the faint sounds of a baby crying (which is creepy in any book, no matter the genre).
The Widow's House is my first book by Ms. Goodman and though I disliked all the characters, I would recommend the book to friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2017
Ridiculous "Gaslight" inspired story. I have read two other books by this author which had their problems, but were entertaining. This is dreary paranoia and morbid introspection from start to finish. The narrator was so annoying, I am surprised I got through it. So many instances of "I bit my lip to control my tears," or "tears rolled silently down my cheeks as I ...". Absolutely no spine; no fight. Page after page of feeling sorry for herself. There are strange lapses of just poor writing as well, where the details don't add up to the same equation. Continuity problems. For example, the narrator is a fan of overly sweet pumpkin lattes, but at another point she pours coffee down the sink because it has sugar in it? We were just told she LIKES sugar in coffee. Somewhere in the murk there is a dumbwaiter, infants switched at birth, an insane asylum, apple orchards and a lot of freezing rain. Oh, and a "ghost." Abysmal.
March 25, 2017
Hauntings, ghosts ... etc.. Not sure what I believe but this book makes you think about it all.
October 10, 2022
Clare and her husband, Jess, return to their former home-time to hopefully rekindle their love, writing careers, and finances. What they find there instead are old hurts resurfacing and even older mysteries revealing themselves.
Carol Goodman is proving herself a solidly entertaining thriller writing. I have no bad words to say for her intricately woven plots, her high-stakes storylines, and the beloved characters who centre inside of them. This novel proved no different and I especially loved this one for its dual focus on the history of women's hysteria and the treatment of mental health, in both fiction and historically.
The synopsis is correct when it states that this would appeal to lovers of The Yellow Wallpaper, as it was the reference to this classic story that initially piqued my interest and where my thoughts kept returning to throughout the course of this.
Carol Goodman is proving herself a solidly entertaining thriller writing. I have no bad words to say for her intricately woven plots, her high-stakes storylines, and the beloved characters who centre inside of them. This novel proved no different and I especially loved this one for its dual focus on the history of women's hysteria and the treatment of mental health, in both fiction and historically.
The synopsis is correct when it states that this would appeal to lovers of The Yellow Wallpaper, as it was the reference to this classic story that initially piqued my interest and where my thoughts kept returning to throughout the course of this.
March 14, 2017
The Widow's House by Carol Goodman
4 ★'s
From the Book:
When Jess and Clare Martin move from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to their former college town in the Hudson River valley, they are hoping for rejuvenation—of their marriage, their savings, and Jess's writing career.
They take a caretaker's job at Riven House, a crumbling estate and the home of their old college writing professor. While Clare once had dreams of being a writer, those plans fell by the wayside when Jess made a big, splashy literary debut in their twenties. It's been years, now, since his first novel. The advance has long been spent. Clare's hope is that the pastoral beauty and nostalgia of the Hudson Valley will offer some inspiration.
But their new life isn't all quaint town libraries and fragrant apple orchards. There is a haunting pall that hangs over Riven House like a funeral veil. Something is just not right. Soon, Clare begins to hear babies crying at night, see strange figures in fog at the edge of their property. Diving into the history of the area, she realizes that Riven House has a dark and anguished past. And whatever this thing is—this menacing force that destroys the inhabitants of the estate—it seems to be after Clare next.
My Thoughts:
It was not exactly the ghost story that I was expecting but overall not a disappointing read either. Enough specters appear to keep the ghost story enthusiasts happy. Surprises along the way gave the story a nice suspense building pace while at the same time providing a dark and edgy atmosphere. It was an easy read and I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a mystery mixed with a few goose bumps..
4 ★'s
From the Book:
When Jess and Clare Martin move from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to their former college town in the Hudson River valley, they are hoping for rejuvenation—of their marriage, their savings, and Jess's writing career.
They take a caretaker's job at Riven House, a crumbling estate and the home of their old college writing professor. While Clare once had dreams of being a writer, those plans fell by the wayside when Jess made a big, splashy literary debut in their twenties. It's been years, now, since his first novel. The advance has long been spent. Clare's hope is that the pastoral beauty and nostalgia of the Hudson Valley will offer some inspiration.
But their new life isn't all quaint town libraries and fragrant apple orchards. There is a haunting pall that hangs over Riven House like a funeral veil. Something is just not right. Soon, Clare begins to hear babies crying at night, see strange figures in fog at the edge of their property. Diving into the history of the area, she realizes that Riven House has a dark and anguished past. And whatever this thing is—this menacing force that destroys the inhabitants of the estate—it seems to be after Clare next.
My Thoughts:
It was not exactly the ghost story that I was expecting but overall not a disappointing read either. Enough specters appear to keep the ghost story enthusiasts happy. Surprises along the way gave the story a nice suspense building pace while at the same time providing a dark and edgy atmosphere. It was an easy read and I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a mystery mixed with a few goose bumps..
October 17, 2016
Very atmospheric, with undertones that range from Rebecca and Rosemary's Baby to The Haunting of Hill House and Harvest Home. Not that this novel is derivative at all -- it's a truly engrossing and labyrinthine story of writers reconnecting with a former mentor in an octagonal house in upstate New York. They interact in the heart of apple country, with local folklore that may or may not be true, but certainly influences everyone's reality. As wonderful as Carol Goodman's previous Gothic-tinged novels.
Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.
Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.
April 8, 2018
Listened to this on Audiobook borrowed from the library.
The blurb of this story lured me in and the comparison to Rebecca as well was one I couldn't resist. If only this was as half as good as that! At the heart of the book is an intriguing story of a house they move to being surrounded by ghosts from the past that refuse to let go until they seemingly destroy more lives.
BUT! I just couldn't get past the fact that the couple this story centres around - Clare and Jess - were the most annoying, infuriating, smug, arrogant couple ever created and I ended up caring very little what happened to them and even wanted them to come to harm!! They were both writers but seemed very unsupporting to each other, he was jealous of her writing talent, she would continually make excuses for his awful behaviour and so it went on!
The background story of the Apple Blossom Girl from the town was really interesting and I just wish there was more focus on that than this annoying couple!
The blurb of this story lured me in and the comparison to Rebecca as well was one I couldn't resist. If only this was as half as good as that! At the heart of the book is an intriguing story of a house they move to being surrounded by ghosts from the past that refuse to let go until they seemingly destroy more lives.
BUT! I just couldn't get past the fact that the couple this story centres around - Clare and Jess - were the most annoying, infuriating, smug, arrogant couple ever created and I ended up caring very little what happened to them and even wanted them to come to harm!! They were both writers but seemed very unsupporting to each other, he was jealous of her writing talent, she would continually make excuses for his awful behaviour and so it went on!
The background story of the Apple Blossom Girl from the town was really interesting and I just wish there was more focus on that than this annoying couple!
July 2, 2017
I've always loved a good Gothic novel, contemporary and historical, and Carol Goodman usually has a touch of that in her books. Not horror really and not psychological suspense but that uneasiness that builds throughout. They often take place in an isolated setting (here, an old mansion in the Hudson River Valley. It may be haunted but it's certainly full of dark secrets. Does it have a special pull on our heroine Clare? Does it cause madness? It's so well described that it's almost a character on its own) and there may be weather or something else that further isolates the characters (here, there's a lot of snow and ice.) Clare and Jess sell their twice-mortgaged house in Brooklyn and return to the Concord, NY area where they went to school and met. Jess is a published writer who has burned through the advance on his second book and now is in the grips of writer's block. Clare gave up her writing career and took part-time copy editing work, but now back at Riven House, as caretakers at the home of their favorite professor who savaged Jess's first book and always thought Clare the better writer, Clare is captivated by local legends and begins to write. And hear the cries of an infant somewhere in the house and environs and sees ghosts. Is she going mad (she was born in a madhouse) or has the house begun to possess her? Wonderful family secrets, a little romance, long-planned and deadly plots (or they may be imagined), ghosts, suicides, murder, and madness. What's not to like? And with the story told from Clare's point of view, we begin to wonder if she really is reliable narrator. The story moves at a relentless pace; there's a cast of stock Gothic characters but Clare is convincing; lots of plot twists and although the setting is contemporary with flashbacks (through scrapbooks) to the past, it really has a timeless feel; compelling style and wonderfully descriptive with references to Gothic/Horror greats (Poe, Jackson, Gilman, DuMaurier); creepy, atmospheric tone, evocative, paranoid, nightmare. For fans who miss Barbara Michaels and Daphne DuMaurier.
May 9, 2017
I received this as a Goodreads Giveaway book but it was already on my list of books to look for. Carol Goodman is one of my favorite authors. This book did not disappoint.
Clare and Jess Martin relocate to the Hudson River Valley to try to restart their lives after they run into some professional, marital and financial difficulties. They take a job as caretakers for a mansion owned by their former English professor, Alden Montague, a rather eccentric old man. Clare starts seeing ghosts and hearing babies crying, reminiscent of and old village story about the house. As they both try to get their writing careers back on track, the story takes some strange and imaginative twists and turns. At some point you are just compelled to keep turning the pages to see how this all turns out. Some of the twists I saw coming, some took me by surprise.
The writing is very atmospheric and beautifully done. The term "Gothic" really applies here. A creepy old mansion, a haunted history, a woman in peril. Check, check, check.
The characters are all very interesting. For a while I thought that Clare might be an unreliable narrator, but I learned that many things in this story are not as they first seemed.
An absolute recommend.
Clare and Jess Martin relocate to the Hudson River Valley to try to restart their lives after they run into some professional, marital and financial difficulties. They take a job as caretakers for a mansion owned by their former English professor, Alden Montague, a rather eccentric old man. Clare starts seeing ghosts and hearing babies crying, reminiscent of and old village story about the house. As they both try to get their writing careers back on track, the story takes some strange and imaginative twists and turns. At some point you are just compelled to keep turning the pages to see how this all turns out. Some of the twists I saw coming, some took me by surprise.
The writing is very atmospheric and beautifully done. The term "Gothic" really applies here. A creepy old mansion, a haunted history, a woman in peril. Check, check, check.
The characters are all very interesting. For a while I thought that Clare might be an unreliable narrator, but I learned that many things in this story are not as they first seemed.
An absolute recommend.
November 13, 2023
Psychological Thrillers / Domestic Thriller / Contemporary
Clare and Jess Martin move from Williamsburg, Brooklyn to take a caretaker's job at Riven House, a crumbling estate and the home of their old college writing professor. They are hoping for new beginning of their marriage, and Jess's writing career. But there is something dark and haunting that hangs over Riven House like a funeral veil. Clare begins to hear baby crying at night, see strange figures in fog. Something is just not right...
The synopsis of this book sounded interesting. I like old mysterious houses and their past history. This story quickly drew me in to Clare's life. I couldn't wait to find out what had happened and was going to happen next, who can be trusted.
The author sets the scene beautifully, the tension was there, the characters were interesting and the writing was good, if a little slow sometimes.
Clare and Jess Martin move from Williamsburg, Brooklyn to take a caretaker's job at Riven House, a crumbling estate and the home of their old college writing professor. They are hoping for new beginning of their marriage, and Jess's writing career. But there is something dark and haunting that hangs over Riven House like a funeral veil. Clare begins to hear baby crying at night, see strange figures in fog. Something is just not right...
The synopsis of this book sounded interesting. I like old mysterious houses and their past history. This story quickly drew me in to Clare's life. I couldn't wait to find out what had happened and was going to happen next, who can be trusted.
The author sets the scene beautifully, the tension was there, the characters were interesting and the writing was good, if a little slow sometimes.
March 31, 2017
Many readers will like this one to at least 4 star, it's written through Claire's "eyes" thoughts. Her story, her marriage, her desires, her future wishes etc. She knows her own gifts, that's saying it mildly,
It is a constant melodrama. At one time she compares it to a soap opera plot when explaining to the law. On that, she is entirely correct.
This will be a treat for those who liked "Yellow Wallpaper" and action.
For me the writing was on the wall before the first 100 pages was out. A hazard of too much psychology and patho. psych. education and tracking in those cognitive field years work- so I'm going to leave this review before a branch from the tree outside spikes my keyboard.
Clever work, Carol Goodman- but leave less clues next time. How does one smell blood for hours in several locations when it originates with a finger nick in a distant original placement. But when bath tubs are strewn with it just upstairs? No? Claire has talents.
It is a constant melodrama. At one time she compares it to a soap opera plot when explaining to the law. On that, she is entirely correct.
This will be a treat for those who liked "Yellow Wallpaper" and action.
For me the writing was on the wall before the first 100 pages was out. A hazard of too much psychology and patho. psych. education and tracking in those cognitive field years work- so I'm going to leave this review before a branch from the tree outside spikes my keyboard.
Clever work, Carol Goodman- but leave less clues next time. How does one smell blood for hours in several locations when it originates with a finger nick in a distant original placement. But when bath tubs are strewn with it just upstairs? No? Claire has talents.
August 13, 2017
I've gotta tell ya. Page 153: I literally gasped, jumped, and clutched my chest while standing in a room full of strangers. I didn't see that coming even for a second. You got me good, Carol.
My warmth and appreciation for this book snowballed. At first, it was just a big mess of apples (yes, apples), annoying writers, and ghost cliches. Then patterns, connections, and secrets began to emerge until the last few pages it dawned on me this was a 4 star read instead of a 3.
With that being said, there's a LOT going on with this plot. Almost too much. Words like "overwrought" and "convoluted" kept coming to mind. But then it all came together, and I was so relieved Goodman had it under control the whole time. She left no branch of these fictional family trees empty.
Then she let it unravel again, and I was left staring at the last sentence, wondering if I had put my trust in the right place after all.
Not a good feeling in life, but really enjoyable in fiction.
My warmth and appreciation for this book snowballed. At first, it was just a big mess of apples (yes, apples), annoying writers, and ghost cliches. Then patterns, connections, and secrets began to emerge until the last few pages it dawned on me this was a 4 star read instead of a 3.
With that being said, there's a LOT going on with this plot. Almost too much. Words like "overwrought" and "convoluted" kept coming to mind. But then it all came together, and I was so relieved Goodman had it under control the whole time. She left no branch of these fictional family trees empty.
Then she let it unravel again, and I was left staring at the last sentence, wondering if I had put my trust in the right place after all.
Not a good feeling in life, but really enjoyable in fiction.
April 11, 2018
Novel received courtesy of Goodreads.com First Reads Giveaway
I spent the entire book trying to decide if Clare, the main character, was crazy of if she really was experiencing all of this paranormal activity. I loved it!
Clare and her husband Jess move back to Clare's hometown near the college where they met. Clare was adopted as an infant and unloved by her adoptive mother. Jess had a similar childhood. All through her childhood, Clare experienced premonitions an sightings. After they move back to the area, they become the caretakers of an old mansion and it's owner. Monty Montague was also their college professor.
As Clare begins to look into her history, she starts to experience weird things: ghost sightings, hearing things, etc. Clare is determined to find out if she's crazy or if these things are really happening to her.
This novel is wonderfully disturbing!
I spent the entire book trying to decide if Clare, the main character, was crazy of if she really was experiencing all of this paranormal activity. I loved it!
Clare and her husband Jess move back to Clare's hometown near the college where they met. Clare was adopted as an infant and unloved by her adoptive mother. Jess had a similar childhood. All through her childhood, Clare experienced premonitions an sightings. After they move back to the area, they become the caretakers of an old mansion and it's owner. Monty Montague was also their college professor.
As Clare begins to look into her history, she starts to experience weird things: ghost sightings, hearing things, etc. Clare is determined to find out if she's crazy or if these things are really happening to her.
This novel is wonderfully disturbing!
April 9, 2017
Solid creepy suspense.
November 30, 2019
A big old house, self-absorbed ‘artists’, long-kept family secrets and ghosts….
Quite early on, I wondered how the author would stretch this tale beyond being an enjoyably spooky short story. She did, however, keep the well-signposted plot going and held my interest ( for the most part) right till the end.
Quite early on, I wondered how the author would stretch this tale beyond being an enjoyably spooky short story. She did, however, keep the well-signposted plot going and held my interest ( for the most part) right till the end.
September 21, 2016
This is really good commercial fiction. Basically, it's a haunted house story ( big surprise given the title) mixed with a resentful marriage. In some ways, it reminds me of the current season of AHS. Spooky goodness.
November 5, 2019
Could not finish.Just couldn't stay engaged. Didn't like either of the main leads.
July 22, 2023
This was a good paranormal gothic vibe mystery. Still had me wondering as I finished the last page.
March 29, 2017
Very well plotted story. I’m a writer of ghost stories myself so I can appreciate the skills of author Carol Goodman. This story has supernatural possibilities mixed with psychological twists and the drama of historical family saga. The cliché of ghosts being real or imagined is a tune that Goodman plays throughout the story and does it quite well. Portraits of the characters and their motivations are all spelled out and although I found some things predictable, The Widow’s House is suspenseful and kept me turning the pages. The narrative distance of the writing was a bit far for my tastes; I never really felt that I was experiencing the action with Clare in the moment. Clare is telling us the story, relating the events, observing, and explaining almost all the time. This is my first read of this author and maybe that’s her style. A good book, more traditionally Gothic than real ghost story. Nothing frightening here but lots of mystery. I read this book via my local library.
March 20, 2017
In an attempt to revive Jess’s writing career, he and his wife Clare relocate from NYC to her small, rural hometown in upstate NY, taking on positions of caretakers of an old, eccentric home. What transpires after that is a gothic tale of old ghosts haunting the living until their vulnerabilities and secrets are laid bare.
It has been many moons since I read The Lake of Dead Languages by the same author, but I loved it so much that I couldn’t wait to read this. And this? This is better. It has been since I last read Rebecca that I’ve picked up a gothic tale, and I am so, so glad I did. Now I have an urge to read Rebecca again, follow it with Wuthering Heights, and pretty much whatever other gothic tales I can get my hands on. There is something so intoxicating about the mood in a novel like this. It’s a little mysterious, a little creepy, slightly dramatic, and in the end, you aren’t quite sure what the truth is. You also aren’t sure that it matters.
If you are in the mood for a haunting tale that is spellbinding, but not scary, this is the book for you. Enjoy!
Note: I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss. I pride myself on writing fair and honest reviews.
It has been many moons since I read The Lake of Dead Languages by the same author, but I loved it so much that I couldn’t wait to read this. And this? This is better. It has been since I last read Rebecca that I’ve picked up a gothic tale, and I am so, so glad I did. Now I have an urge to read Rebecca again, follow it with Wuthering Heights, and pretty much whatever other gothic tales I can get my hands on. There is something so intoxicating about the mood in a novel like this. It’s a little mysterious, a little creepy, slightly dramatic, and in the end, you aren’t quite sure what the truth is. You also aren’t sure that it matters.
If you are in the mood for a haunting tale that is spellbinding, but not scary, this is the book for you. Enjoy!
Note: I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss. I pride myself on writing fair and honest reviews.
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