Callie

The Bayou Hauntings #1

by Bill Thompson

Deep in the bayous of southern Louisiana, an ancient mansion called Beau Rivage sits empty and abandoned. Arceneaux family members built the house and lived there for two hundred years. The house is inherited by Callie Pilantro, a down-on-her-luck granddaughter of Juliet Arceneaux, its most recent owner who died there a few months ago.
Strange things begin to unravel as a mysterious child appears and disappears at will inside the house, Callie finds a family graveyard in the woods that creates more questions than answers, and she discovers that even the walls of the mansion hold long-forgotten secrets.
Confronted by strange events she doesn’t understand and a little girl who speaks in riddles, Callie struggles to find the secrets of Beau Rivage even as someone is determined to keep her from learning them.
The Bayou Hauntings-Callie will keep readers guessing as they follow the new owner of the Civil War plantation home until everything comes into focus one eerie night. Will it be too late for Callie?

Genres: Horror, Mystery, Paranormal, Ghosts, Fiction, Supernatural, Historical Fiction

281 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 21, 2017

About the author

If variety is the spice of life, author Bill Thompson’s life so far has been spicy for sure! Over the years, and in no particular order, he’s been

• an international insurance broker
• a mayor
• head of a state prison board
• a stockbroker
• a newspaper reporter
• a Bourbon Street piano player
• a corporate entrepreneur
• presented to Queen Elizabeth
• in jail (briefly … and wrongly!)
• a goat herder
• a church organist and choir member
• a real estate broker
• a world traveler
• president of an animal shelter
• a husband, father and grandfather
• an observer at a knighting in Westminster
• a fluent Russian speaker
• a passenger on the Concorde
• a caregiver
• a lifetime dog lover
• an award-winning novelist

Reviews

[Shainlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
This was a great mystery and also a great ghost story. I love bayou country history or well any history really, but reading this first book in this series left me with a new author to enjoy. I do like his work. It’s also different without being gross and banal. I was able to get attached to the MC, which in most ghost stories just end up being dumb idiots. Very few authors can write these stories well and I’m happy to have found an addition; especially one writing about old plantations and southern history.

[Misty Marie Harms · Rating 2 out of 5]

Callie Pilantro is down on her luck when she inherits a house deep in the Louisiana bayou. The house holds dark secrets and a creepy ghost child. What happened here long ago? Callie starts to reveal the past to unlock its secrets. In the meantime, she is going to get on my nerves and do predictable things that make my eyes roll. I guessed every twist and reveal. I found Callie boring. She needs to sell the house and go find herself a personality.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feel good ghost story

Callie by Bill Thompson is a ghost story but it has feel good vibes from the ghost. Good mysteries to solve and the bad guys are people not spirits! Great plot and characters! This is the second book I have read by this author and I have loved both!

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the plot of the story but the dialog seemed like a straight to TV cheesy acting movie.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep in the Louisiana bayou, an ancient mansion sits empty and abandoned. Callie Pilantro inherits the house and finds a mysterious child there who appears and disappears at will. Even the walls of the mansion hold long-forgotten secrets.
Beau Rivage is an ancient mansion belonging to the Arceneaux family for the last 200 years. After the death of Juliet Arceneaux, Beau Rivage is inherited by her grand-daughter Callie Pilantro. Too many things are against Callie.She’s had no luck in her life and is struggling financially, she’s illegitimate after her father, Juliet’s son abandons her mom, her great-uncle Willard is dead set against her inheriting the estate and considers her good for nothing but once Callie finds help in Mark Streater a high school friend who is running a real estate business in Opelousas, she is determined to fight it out and hope for the best. However, nothing is as it seems in the Beau Rivage mansion.

It is not just the creaks and memories that disturb Callie, but the presence of a 10-year-old girl who seems to be appearing and disappearing at will even with all doors and windows closed in the house. And Ann-Marie definitely knows every nook and cranny of Callie’s home much more than she herself knows from her grandmother. Even after spending most of her childhood holidays roaming around the huge house, Callie soon realizes that there are hidden passages and stairways she’s unaware of, hiding deep and unsettling truths about her family.

The horror element of the story was why I picked the book up. I like a bit more of the horror element than this story held, in spite of what the cover said. It will probably be fine for most readers, but I found it too light and not producing many of the promised chills. I gave it the 5star rating because the mystery element worked out very well. I would have loved to have had more of a haunted atmosphere.

Having said that, I wouldn’t mind checking out other books by this author as the story was engrossing enough.

[Rainz ❤️rainnbooks❤️(on a break) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haunting, Old mansion cover page, interesting blurb and bayou in Louisiana, ha I wonder what I should have asked for more🤤

Callie by Bill Thompson was my perfect cup of chai and with its story should have been a 5🌟 read but just fell a tad short.

Beau Rivage is an ancient mansion belonging to the Arceneaux family for the last 200 yrs. After the death of Juliet Arceneaux, Beau Rivage is inherited by her grand-daughter Callie Pilantro. Too many things are against Callie.She's had no luck in her life and is struggling financially, she's illegitimate after her father,Juliet's son abandons her mom, her great-uncle Willard is dead set against her inheriting the estate and considers her good for nothing but once Callie finds help in Mark Streater a high school friend who is running a real estate business in Opelousas, she is determined to fight it out and hope for the best. However nothing is as it seems in the Beau Rivage mansion.

It is not just the creaks and memories that disturb Callie, but the presence of a 10 yr old girl who seems to be appearing and disappearing at will even with all doors and windows closed in the house. And Ann-Marie definitely knows every nook and cranny of Callie's home much more than she herself knows from her grandmother. Even after spending most of her childhood holidays roaming around the huge house, Callie soon realizes that there are hidden passages and stairways she's unaware of, hiding deep and unsettling truths about her family.

The horror element of the story for which I picked the book up was too light and doesn't leave the reader with any chills, it's really mild compared to other ghost stories but the mystery element worked well. I would have loved to feel more of an haunted atmosphere which was missing and in certain places, the dialogue delivery between Mark and Callie did not flow easily for me. Having said that I wouldn't mind checking out other books by this author as the story was engrossing enough!

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

How is this so highly rated?

Absolute tripe. It's like a screenplay for a bad 80s made-for-tv ghost story starring Morgan Fairchild and Gregory Harrison. Utter pedantry.

[Bookish_predator · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come

[Michael Dawson · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story stated off well, but went downhill hill quick, with not enough suspense and too much talking and not enough action

[†Reviews of a FearStreetZombie† · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this in return for an honest review.

Firstly, thank you so much to the publisher for letting me read this book, it was a honor. I had been wanting to read this book since the first day I saw it on NG.

I knew I couldn't pass this book up though. I mean come on. Paranormal? Louisiana? Who in their right minds would pass this up?! It's a recipe for awesomescause!

I admit, when I first started the book, I was actually annoyed with the main character. I still kinda am honestly. I don't understand how a adult has no concept of how to balance money. I don't know. Her carelessness just irked me.

There is a lot more I really want to touch on but I don't want to give away any details! Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book!
I just wish there has been more "paranormal" - what I had my heart set on.
The book seemed like more of a mystery with *talk* of a ghost; but it was kinda like a "back of the mind" thing. So I'm not sure where the "paranormal" part comes in at, but I really am hoping book two delivers! I seriously can't wait to read it!

Can we talk about the uncle for a second though? I don't think I have ever seen such a scumbag in my life! ... and I have seen a fair share of scumbags but I do believe this guy takes the cake. How someone could be such a dick is beyond me.. but I'm guessing I can say the *other* guy is just as bad. These two made my skin want to crawl off my body and just throw the bird like "screw these guys!"
Just ugh. They are completely disgusting on a whole new level.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Understand what you are

Was a different read for me. Story just went straight into it and moved fast, went a bit off st times.Kept with it a good short read

[abdulia ortiz-perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Smith Publishing for honest Review.

Let me say one thing about this book just when you think this is a scary book cuz of the cover.
There is a hunting but not bad. There a little girl who is trying to help Callie but Callie doesn't really understand what happening yet. And why is it that the girl comes and goes has she pleases. She disappear out of now where. Callie uncle is trying to take her house away from her that her grandmother left her when she die. This house been in the family for years year years! She has no money to restore the house so a old friend from high school helps her out. He works flipping houses. He got a loan from the bank of $50,000 to restore it. A lot of things happens in this book.
Like her under looses everything he has. Old Friend is also trying to take the house from Callie and he would do anything to take it from her cuz he think it belong to him. Somebody is killed in the house! A body is found in the wall of a little girl! There is heading area in the wall. Like secret stair! Secret Excited to outside behind a library wall.
There is so much going on in this story that it had me like WOW no way.


What a great thrill and suspense it was to read. What a great psychological thrill! This novel had everything in it. The thrill, the suspense, the psychological, and the twist is crazy. This novel will keep you thinking and guessing. When you think you right, well let me just say that you might be wrong. This had me all over the place. My heart beating so fast! I couldn't believe what I was reading. If had me in shock. Every page, every chapter was a page turner. I couldn't believe my eyes what I was reading. I highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. It will surprise you in every way.

The storyline was very good!
The theme and setting was well put together. The characters was well put together in the story.
This story will have in a rollercoaster with all the spooky and secrets. Was so well put in the story.
Everything all in one book.
It was just perfect!
I highly recommend everybody get this and read it.
What a great read! This had me hooked from the beginning. What a Rollercoaster! The sitting, theme, and the Characters had me pulled so in. Everything was well put together and it was just perfect. This novel would have you guess and thinking all the way to the end. What a great thrill and suspense. I love a great suspense that would have me think and guessing. This novel did just that to me. To the point that am wrong. When the ending comes am on shock. I wouldn't of never believe or guess. Like OMG!
Highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. Its so good!
Can't wait for her next book.
Book 2 here I come!
#thebayouhauntings #callie

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Looking For a Scary, Suspenseful Horror Book? Look Elsewhere.

I wanted a scary, suspenseful horror book loaded with supernatural events. This wasn’t it. I’d slot this book as commercial/popular fiction written to resonate with women—especially those interested in ghosts or haunted houses.

Protagonist Callie Pilantro has a journalism degree, makes $30K a year as a newspaper reporter, is always broke, thinks she’s a failure, keeps oversleeping and is about to lose her job. Surprise! She inherits 40 acres in Louisiana, plus a decrepit mansion, which she cannot afford to repair. With the help of Mark Streater, a high school acquaintance, Callie learns to make repairs whilst trying to keep her rapacious lawyer uncle from taking her property.

A subplot explains convoluted legal machinations by lawyer uncle who’s countered by Callie’s legal aid lawyer. The ghost subplot is predictable and not scary, and it’s not difficult to intuit the ghost’s general identity and motives.

I’ll pass on the next book in this series.

[NicholeReadsWithCats · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very light suspense/thriller book. Don't let the word haunting in the title fool you. I entered this book expecting something much more sinister but instead enjoyed a light hearted mystery.

I almost gave 4 stars but I can't bring myself to for a number of reasons.
* plot holes throughout the story, I don't want to spoil anything so I'll just say some of the details do not add up.
* character development, again I don't want to spoil however main characters personality wavered from one scene to the next.
* there is a lot going on in the last few chapters, maybe a few too many plot developments

That being said, I did enjoy the description of the house, the local history and the overall immersive story. I finished it in less than a day, so I would recommend it for a quick suspense read.

[Dawn McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for a rainy day

This book was fun, and I look forward to reading more in the series. I found this book while I was browsing Kindle Unlimited, and I’m glad I chose to download. As a suspense writer, I don’t get to read much, and I love a good haunted mansion story, especially one that isn’t gory, macabre or filled with foul language. This book reminded me of the books I grew up reading, the books that probably led to me writing suspense later on. Good fun, and I have a new author to follow.

[MK Adler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but not thrilled

It is a good story, I figured things out before they were revealed. Her uncle did get my blood boiling, a well written a**. I am going to read another because I think they may get better.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick summary: Callie, a penniless woman in her mid twenties, inherited an old mansion while her Uncle Willard who is a ruthless lawyer schemes day and night to wrestle the house from her hands. Together with the help of a sweet young “girl” she overcomes her adversities and restore the mansion to its former glory.

Okay so anyone else finds Callie as annoying? I just can’t empathise with the main character because she sounds so ungrateful and entitled. She could come for the Will reading but not the funeral. She “demanded” Mark’s help like she deserved it in the first place.
The character development for Callie and Mark is shallow. Their speeches could pass off as each others because they sound the same.
I would honestly rate a 2 if not for the interesting legal battle between Callie and Willard.
I thought that the author really threw in some nice obstacles for Callie, but the fact that almost everything in the house could be sold for a fortune just cos their ancient and in excellent quality, really makes it less realistic.
I mean, how excellent can furnitures/books/rooms be if they’ve been maintained by an old granny living alone in a huge mansion for years and then 6 months being uncared for when she died?

I review this book with the same manner I reviewed more successful ones, so I may have been a tad harsh. If this was the author’s first few books though, I’d say it’s good enough and I don’t regret reading it. Definitely focus on building uniqueness between different character speeches so they don’t sound the same.

[Rebecca Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good. The main character callie, learns her grandmother died and she inherited her house. The journey and trials callie goes through to learn everything about her family and to restore the house is so riveting. Everytime I would think I had something figured out,another thing would happen that I wouldn't see coming. I was in a bit of a slump when I read this, which is why it took me longer to finish this book. If anyone likes mysteries, with a little bit of history in them then this book is for you. I just finished and I'm home alone with a 2 year old and I must admit I keep looking out the window.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing all that special here. A basic character, doing horror trope-y things, in a basic haunted mansion in the bayou she basically inherited from her basic yet creepy estranged relative.

I was excited for this book after reading the description and even more excited when I was finally able to get my little paws on a copy. That excitement was gone by page 4. BUT I decided to continue with it anyway because there was a time I WAS extremely eager to read it. Probably should have stopped and listened to my instinct, but, at least it was rather short and easy to read.

[Saby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but I struggled with it from the beginning. I made a break, read a different book and returned to it. But I lost it over all the tedious laywer stuff that started to unfold and how little mystery there was in comparison. After that, I just skipped over the remaining 100 pages or so, to be done with it.

I am disappointed because the setting and premise seemed intriguing to me. But after this, I don't think I'll bother with the rest of the Bayou Hauntings. A shame.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! I bought this book after meeting Bill and his wife (lovely people) at the Books Along the Teche literary festival, and I absolutely tore through it. I expected this to be an easy, straightforward ghost story amongst the familiar Louisiana landscape. But boy it turned out to be SO much more! I’m writing this immediately after finishing it, at 10pm, during a thunderstorm, with a dog in my lap (ideal reading conditions by the way, recreate yourself if possible). I’m usually pretty picky about what I read, so I mean it when I say this book has it all: ghosts, history, family feuds, legal battles, you name it! Now, excuse me while I go order his next book.

[Lori Henrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this brought to mind the old gothic mystery/romance books I read growing up. The old Victorian style mansion in the creepy bayou of Louisiana. The characters were well developed and I loved the mysterious child that appears and disappears at will. It was a great read and I enjoyed it very much. I wanted the story to continue.

[Violet (Biblioteca di Violet)]

DNF at 23%

I'm not sure what it is, but I feel like I don't want to read it anymore. It has a small amount of horror but a lot of legal stuff. I picked this book because I wanna read about a haunted house, not a legal battle. The book is good at creating an ugly character like Callie's uncle because I really dislike him. Overall, this book isn't for me.

[Barbara Langlois · Rating 5 out of 5]

History lovers of the old south will love this book.

This book will draw you into it. The kind of strong tugging of your interest and suspense. Wow so glad I found this book. Loved every minute of it.

[iasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda of like a sedate Scooby-Doo episode, but not in a bad way. I have been reading a lot of over the top thrillers so this more placid prose suited me. It's not a horror story nor is it intended to be, rather it is a feel good story to while away a few hours.

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure why there are so many 5 star reviews for this book. It was fun, sure, but not 5 stars worth. The writing was sometimes very juvenile, and there were times where I had no idea what was happening. The plot was good for the most part. Parts were redundant, but overall good.

[LauraBlueberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a good horror story... this one is none. But this doesn't mean that it's not a great book. But it's more like a mystery. I was never scared or anxious but I always wanted to know how the story unfolds.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unusually Creepily Good

I usually don't read books could creep me out. This was a good balance between creepy and mystery. Finished in one afternoon!

[Heather Woosley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Definite Page Turner!

I loved this mystery and it’s location on the Atchafalaya River! Can’t wait to read his other books in the series!