What do you think?
Rate this book
Ray Flowers #1
The Apothecary's Daughter
Originally published as
Two shattered livees.
Centuries apart.
Bound by a secret that could kill them both.
One February afternoon, Detective Ray Flowers’ life is blown apart by a petrol bomb attack. No one can tell him who did it. Or why.
Anchorless and alone, he moves to his aunt’s country cottage. What he needs is perspective.
But the past isn't done with him yet.
Instead, he is tormented by visions of Kitty Hallam, a troubled young woman accused of witchcraft. Back in 1643.
Is she a figment of Flowers’ imagination or something more?
Whatever the truth, Flowers can’t help but be drawn into Kitty’s world, sensing their stories are intertwined somehow.
But will their unlikely connection prove to be Kitty's undoing?
With this hauntingly evocative tale of two lost souls, Jane Adams has crafted a police procedural like no other.
Two shattered livees.
Centuries apart.
Bound by a secret that could kill them both.
One February afternoon, Detective Ray Flowers’ life is blown apart by a petrol bomb attack. No one can tell him who did it. Or why.
Anchorless and alone, he moves to his aunt’s country cottage. What he needs is perspective.
But the past isn't done with him yet.
Instead, he is tormented by visions of Kitty Hallam, a troubled young woman accused of witchcraft. Back in 1643.
Is she a figment of Flowers’ imagination or something more?
Whatever the truth, Flowers can’t help but be drawn into Kitty’s world, sensing their stories are intertwined somehow.
But will their unlikely connection prove to be Kitty's undoing?
With this hauntingly evocative tale of two lost souls, Jane Adams has crafted a police procedural like no other.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2000
866 people are currently reading
647 people want to read
About the author
Jane A. Adams
59 books151 followersSome of her early books were published under the name of Jane Adams. This should not be confused with this Jane Adams who is a different author.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
August 4, 2021
Two story lines, one big mishmash
This effort to combine a story from the 1600’s and modern day falls short on all levels. The writing is fine, and generally edited well…just very hard to follow the rapid back and forth and the connection between the two stories is so weak I am left wondering what was the actual point?
This effort to combine a story from the 1600’s and modern day falls short on all levels. The writing is fine, and generally edited well…just very hard to follow the rapid back and forth and the connection between the two stories is so weak I am left wondering what was the actual point?
January 2, 2023
The worst thing I have ever seen.
The writing style is very confusing, loads of unnecessary characters are added with little to no context. When some interesting things do happen, there is barely any follow up and it just goes back to the same boring chapters. For example, when Ray talks to Beth about her dreams, they just magically stop and that’s the end of it?? The ending is very disappointing, and that was last shred of hope I had for this book. 0/10, would not recommend
The writing style is very confusing, loads of unnecessary characters are added with little to no context. When some interesting things do happen, there is barely any follow up and it just goes back to the same boring chapters. For example, when Ray talks to Beth about her dreams, they just magically stop and that’s the end of it?? The ending is very disappointing, and that was last shred of hope I had for this book. 0/10, would not recommend
August 29, 2023
Det Ray Flowers is currently on sick leave recovering from a petrol bomb attack where he was badly burned. They were never able to catch who did or find out why. Ray moves into a cottage left to him by his aunt following her death. The village is quiet & quaint but Ray starts to see a young woman called Kitty in his dreams. Reading his aunt's diaries, Ray finds out that Kitty visited his aunt too & that Kitty lived & died several centuries before. As he starts to look into what happened to Kitty, he meets Sarah, a library archivist whom Ray starts to grow close to but he still feels a close bond to Kitty.
Kitty is living in England in 1643 when the Civil War breaks out. Charles I raises the standard at Nottingham & goes into battle against Parliament. Kitty faces a battle of her own when a new minister & his family move into the village. Kitty was burned in a fire & is used to being looked at strangely, but the minister's wife takes an unhealthy dislike to her, which culminates in Kitty being accused of being a witch. She is taken to the Leicester Assizes where she will most likely be found guilty & sentenced to death.
This book is a odd mix of genres - it couldn't make its mind up if it was a police procedural or a historical fiction with paranormal overtones. Out of the two storylines, I preferred Kitty's, she was a much more interesting character than anyone in the modern story. This odd mix meant that it felt a bit disjointed & Ray's connection to Kitty was very strange. A few sightings of a ghost haunting the cottage & some dreams I can sort of understand but about two thirds of the way through it takes an even stranger turn. Whilst in bed with girlfriend Sarah, she is 'replaced' by Kitty & Ray sleeps with her. Sex with ghosts? Is this Greys Anatomy? Could it technically be considered a threesome?
It's all very 'huh?' & then the ending is a complete damp squib. Very abrupt & it felt as if things had been left unfinished. I have an ARC of a later book in this series for review so I read this one first, & I'm hoping it's not quite as odd as this one.
Kitty is living in England in 1643 when the Civil War breaks out. Charles I raises the standard at Nottingham & goes into battle against Parliament. Kitty faces a battle of her own when a new minister & his family move into the village. Kitty was burned in a fire & is used to being looked at strangely, but the minister's wife takes an unhealthy dislike to her, which culminates in Kitty being accused of being a witch. She is taken to the Leicester Assizes where she will most likely be found guilty & sentenced to death.
This book is a odd mix of genres - it couldn't make its mind up if it was a police procedural or a historical fiction with paranormal overtones. Out of the two storylines, I preferred Kitty's, she was a much more interesting character than anyone in the modern story. This odd mix meant that it felt a bit disjointed & Ray's connection to Kitty was very strange. A few sightings of a ghost haunting the cottage & some dreams I can sort of understand but about two thirds of the way through it takes an even stranger turn. Whilst in bed with girlfriend Sarah, she is 'replaced' by Kitty & Ray sleeps with her. Sex with ghosts? Is this Greys Anatomy? Could it technically be considered a threesome?
It's all very 'huh?' & then the ending is a complete damp squib. Very abrupt & it felt as if things had been left unfinished. I have an ARC of a later book in this series for review so I read this one first, & I'm hoping it's not quite as odd as this one.
January 22, 2021
This is an OK book.
A UK policeman, DI Ray Flowers, was injured by unknown assailant. While at sick leave in a cottage inherited from his aunt, Ray starts investigating a ghost story from his aunt journals. A ghost of a woman executed as a witch in 17th century. At the same time Ray tries to find out who attacked him and why. Thus, there are three story threads - the ghost investigation, finding about Ray’s assailant and the story of a woman 300 years ago.
The first half of the book is a slow read mostly because the author follows present and past in parallel, switching from one main character to another, one timeline to another, often in the same chapter. This makes it difficult to keep up with various characters in all story threads. Hence the slow read. Later in the book this process is simplified.
Occasionally the author merges scenes from the past and present. An interesting idea that works well.
All in all, a good book.
A UK policeman, DI Ray Flowers, was injured by unknown assailant. While at sick leave in a cottage inherited from his aunt, Ray starts investigating a ghost story from his aunt journals. A ghost of a woman executed as a witch in 17th century. At the same time Ray tries to find out who attacked him and why. Thus, there are three story threads - the ghost investigation, finding about Ray’s assailant and the story of a woman 300 years ago.
The first half of the book is a slow read mostly because the author follows present and past in parallel, switching from one main character to another, one timeline to another, often in the same chapter. This makes it difficult to keep up with various characters in all story threads. Hence the slow read. Later in the book this process is simplified.
Occasionally the author merges scenes from the past and present. An interesting idea that works well.
All in all, a good book.
August 1, 2021
I thought this story had great potential but the authors style of writing made it difficult to follow the story line and difficult to link the importance of the characters together in a way that made much sense. I actually liked the main male character int the novel and would have enjoyed just a story about him more than the bouncing back and forth between modern and historical times. I usually like a good time travel type story, just not this one.
July 2, 2024
The premise of the story had a lot of potential, I really wanted to love it a lot more if I’m honest. I initially thought that the narration held it back a little, it felt like being read to, I know it’s easy to consider that that’s the point of an audiobook, but there’s a vast difference between a reading and a narration and I’m afraid it really showed on this title, I had to keep going back and re listening as I was zoning out and missing parts, what seemed a great shame was that the historical characters were narrated well, mostly, and for me these are always the most enjoyable parts anyway.
Partly set in the 1600’s where Kitty, a local woman and the apothecary’s daughter finds herself accused of witchcraft, for really no more than kindness, an ability to read and teach others to read, and of course being misunderstood for suffering a disfigurement. Partly set in the now, where Detective Ray Flowers is on sick leave after a brutal attack which has also left him disfigured, has moved to his aunts cottage, where he visualises Kitty. It seems that she’s stuck at the cottage with him, they have a lot in common, and Ray is quite captivated by her. Ray begins investigating the past, desperate to find out what happened to Kitty, these parts of the story really held it up in my opinion, and are what kept me going with the book. The current investigations were of interest but it felt hard to marry the two and I was constantly eager to skip and get back to Kitty’s story. The ending was fairly nicely done, if still a bit confusing. This is the first in a series and I find myself wondering where it could go from here.
I battled back and forth on rating this I’d say it’s a firm 2.5 🌟
Currently included with audible.
Partly set in the 1600’s where Kitty, a local woman and the apothecary’s daughter finds herself accused of witchcraft, for really no more than kindness, an ability to read and teach others to read, and of course being misunderstood for suffering a disfigurement. Partly set in the now, where Detective Ray Flowers is on sick leave after a brutal attack which has also left him disfigured, has moved to his aunts cottage, where he visualises Kitty. It seems that she’s stuck at the cottage with him, they have a lot in common, and Ray is quite captivated by her. Ray begins investigating the past, desperate to find out what happened to Kitty, these parts of the story really held it up in my opinion, and are what kept me going with the book. The current investigations were of interest but it felt hard to marry the two and I was constantly eager to skip and get back to Kitty’s story. The ending was fairly nicely done, if still a bit confusing. This is the first in a series and I find myself wondering where it could go from here.
I battled back and forth on rating this I’d say it’s a firm 2.5 🌟
Currently included with audible.
October 8, 2025
I have the box set and I enjoyed this unusual book one of the Ray Flowers series.
Ray is seriously injured by a petrol bomb, he moves into his late aunt's cottage...but there are strange events.
This story is part present and part supernatural. Investigations into both are interlinked by Ray. Who hurt Ray and why? Is it his imagination or is he seeing ghosts? I enjoyed both stories though both were disturbing, if linked by corruption, fear and superstition; poor Kitty and Ray.
I loved the writing style - easy flow - and how the characters suited the plots. There was a great sense of place, especially in the 17th century. I also liked that it was different from other crime dramas.
Engaging and recommended.
Ray is seriously injured by a petrol bomb, he moves into his late aunt's cottage...but there are strange events.
This story is part present and part supernatural. Investigations into both are interlinked by Ray. Who hurt Ray and why? Is it his imagination or is he seeing ghosts? I enjoyed both stories though both were disturbing, if linked by corruption, fear and superstition; poor Kitty and Ray.
I loved the writing style - easy flow - and how the characters suited the plots. There was a great sense of place, especially in the 17th century. I also liked that it was different from other crime dramas.
Engaging and recommended.
June 29, 2023
A page-turner.
A gripping thriller moving easily between the 17th century and the present day.
Ray Flowers, an injured police officer, has inherited an old cottage from his late aunt.
While recuperating, he delves into his late aunt's journals, and uncovers the story of Kitty, the owner of the cottage in the 17th century. At the same time, he is investigating corruption within the police department, and the links to his attack.
This is a compelling and well written story which I cannot recommend highly enough.
A gripping thriller moving easily between the 17th century and the present day.
Ray Flowers, an injured police officer, has inherited an old cottage from his late aunt.
While recuperating, he delves into his late aunt's journals, and uncovers the story of Kitty, the owner of the cottage in the 17th century. At the same time, he is investigating corruption within the police department, and the links to his attack.
This is a compelling and well written story which I cannot recommend highly enough.
February 25, 2021
I found this book very hard to read, there was a lot of switching between the two settings/timelines without chapter breaks or new chapters starting, new characters introduced from nowhere with no explanation as to why they were there or what their backstory was. Very disappointing as this could have been a wonderful book to loose yourself in for few hours
December 26, 2020
I absolutely loved this book and would have gladly given it 10 stars if I had been able to. I have been a fan of Jane Adams for some time now, having read all her previous books. The description for this book was so interesting, I was keen to read it. It many ways it was very similar to another favourites of mine - Barbara Erskine - whose books I love. It has a touch of mystery, lots of history and is a chilling, psychological thriller. The story is both complex and fascinating. DI Ray Flowers is recovering from a deadly attack, resulting in the burning of his hands and face, leaving disfiguring scars. He is in the process of moving into a cottage left to him by an elderly aunt Mathilda, upon her death. He discovers her journals and starts to read with fascination, intrigued in the references to her visitor. In the meantime, he is driven to try and find out who attacked him, and starts to ask unwanted questions. On the face of it, this seems like any normal crime novel and the story is interesting enough but then, gradually things turn mysterious and really start to grab my attention.
This is a chilling tale of historical misdeeds. It is full of fear and horror, and has many twists along the way. Throughout the book we are reading about two different time periods, to begin with these are separated out quite considerably, but gradually they are brought together and there are some parts where you start to forget which era you are reading about, as the characters start to co-exist. I found it incredibly hard to put this book down and in places became quite emotionally involved in the lives of both Ray and Kitty. The ending was both sad and unexpected and left me wanting more.
This is a story of romance, crime and witchcraft and I loved every minute of it. It made a wonderful Christmas read and kept me totally absorbed in these troubled times. I hope that Jane Adams writes more of her fascinating stories and I look forward to reading more about Ray Flowers.
This is a chilling tale of historical misdeeds. It is full of fear and horror, and has many twists along the way. Throughout the book we are reading about two different time periods, to begin with these are separated out quite considerably, but gradually they are brought together and there are some parts where you start to forget which era you are reading about, as the characters start to co-exist. I found it incredibly hard to put this book down and in places became quite emotionally involved in the lives of both Ray and Kitty. The ending was both sad and unexpected and left me wanting more.
This is a story of romance, crime and witchcraft and I loved every minute of it. It made a wonderful Christmas read and kept me totally absorbed in these troubled times. I hope that Jane Adams writes more of her fascinating stories and I look forward to reading more about Ray Flowers.
February 18, 2018
First of the Ray Flowers trilogy, this book by Jane A Adams is hard to pigeon hole into a specific genre, it is part crime, part ghost story, part history, and part romance and is her best work since her first book.
This is actually my favourite of her works so far, and I look forward the next book in the trilogy to see where she takes it.
it was also a bit longer than her other books, but that did not detract from the story, it rather gave it time to build to a relatively satisfying conclusion despite history never changing of course.
This is actually my favourite of her works so far, and I look forward the next book in the trilogy to see where she takes it.
it was also a bit longer than her other books, but that did not detract from the story, it rather gave it time to build to a relatively satisfying conclusion despite history never changing of course.
September 9, 2012
n unusual premise which works really well. A policeman recovering from serious injuries is investigating the perpetrator behind his attack whilst staying in his late aunt’s home. He finds out the house is supposedly haunted but the twist here is that the person in the past is haunted by him – someone from the future. Very intriguing and well written with reflections between the present day and historical stories.
March 26, 2021
This was unlike any British Police Procedural that I’ve read. We are introduced to Ray Flowers and those who live in his village, his late Aunt Mathilda’s home, where he has gone after a horrific attack that has scarred him. In parallel we learn of the life of Kitty, the ghost he first learns about through his late Aunt’s journals, who once lived at the cottage. Fascinated, Ray decides to investigate Kitty’s death. At the same time, there is the investigation into his attack.
The characters are very well written. The story was told in alternating chapters and for the first half of the book was a slow read. It is Kitty’s story that is truly tragic and becomes what kept me reading for the second half of the book. This is the first time I’ve read this Author and will read the next book because the background story, Ray and the other characters in the village have good foundations for a good series.
The treasure at the back of the book is worth reading, even just for amusement. It is the most comprehensive glossary of terms to ‘translate’ to US Readers (I’m not one), which I find interesting because you rarely find that in an American book, even when they are using specific regional language that doesn’t make sense to International readers. It was an unexpected treat at the end of a sad story.
The characters are very well written. The story was told in alternating chapters and for the first half of the book was a slow read. It is Kitty’s story that is truly tragic and becomes what kept me reading for the second half of the book. This is the first time I’ve read this Author and will read the next book because the background story, Ray and the other characters in the village have good foundations for a good series.
The treasure at the back of the book is worth reading, even just for amusement. It is the most comprehensive glossary of terms to ‘translate’ to US Readers (I’m not one), which I find interesting because you rarely find that in an American book, even when they are using specific regional language that doesn’t make sense to International readers. It was an unexpected treat at the end of a sad story.
June 20, 2023
Gripping mystery of past and present
Ray Flowers (DI) inherits a house and moves in while recuperating from an horrific injury. While he decides whether to continue his police career, he meets several new people and is intrigued by journals left behind. Through these books and subsequent research he becomes intrinsically linked to the apothecary’s daughter, Kitty, who lived in this house in the 17th century. Hopping between eras, there are two mysteries to be solved.
This scarred, overweight ex-policeman is not your typical detective character and is more human for that. In limbo, he is pulled into the search for who hurt him - more for the answer to why they did it. Ray does seem a mite naive for a copper, but the pace is good and it’s always handy to have another character (George) with ‘access all’ skills/rights that circumvent the tedium of information gathering and the flow-halting political shenanigans of the police system at play.
I enjoyed the dual mysteries entangled in each other and both pulled me along. Even though I vaguely knew what had happened to Kitty, I still had to keep reading and couldn’t put the book down. A story within a story with a hint of magic. I am already intrigued by what might happen in the second book of the series.
Ray Flowers (DI) inherits a house and moves in while recuperating from an horrific injury. While he decides whether to continue his police career, he meets several new people and is intrigued by journals left behind. Through these books and subsequent research he becomes intrinsically linked to the apothecary’s daughter, Kitty, who lived in this house in the 17th century. Hopping between eras, there are two mysteries to be solved.
This scarred, overweight ex-policeman is not your typical detective character and is more human for that. In limbo, he is pulled into the search for who hurt him - more for the answer to why they did it. Ray does seem a mite naive for a copper, but the pace is good and it’s always handy to have another character (George) with ‘access all’ skills/rights that circumvent the tedium of information gathering and the flow-halting political shenanigans of the police system at play.
I enjoyed the dual mysteries entangled in each other and both pulled me along. Even though I vaguely knew what had happened to Kitty, I still had to keep reading and couldn’t put the book down. A story within a story with a hint of magic. I am already intrigued by what might happen in the second book of the series.
November 26, 2021
An enjoyable read with three parallel and interweaving stories. I won't comment too much. Suffice to say for now that I'm certainly glad I wasn't alive in 17th century England when rabidly zealous Christianity and fearfulness ruled, seeing evil in everything that wasn't so-called biblical, and witch hunting was rife and murdering women who practised the healing arts - particularly those with their roots in paganism - was seen as witchcraft. Many simple souls were accused by jealous and vindictive clergy and their wives of bewitching and devil worship. That's the background of one of the stories and I found myself swearing and cringing at such blatant ignorance and bloodlust.
The other two stories ran in connection and I liked the characters, how the stories developed, and the satisfying ways in which they ran towards conclusion.
This is the first book of three in a digital boxed set obtained as a freebie to be read in Kindle. I fully expect the second will see further development of Detective Ray Flowers' love life, intertwining with a new mystery or two.
The other two stories ran in connection and I liked the characters, how the stories developed, and the satisfying ways in which they ran towards conclusion.
This is the first book of three in a digital boxed set obtained as a freebie to be read in Kindle. I fully expect the second will see further development of Detective Ray Flowers' love life, intertwining with a new mystery or two.
June 15, 2023
An interesting twist on a ghost story. D.I. Ray Flowers, in the 21st century, frequently sees Kitty, who lived in the house 350 years ago. Back in her time - she also sees him. Besides the house, one thing they have in common is that her face is scarred from having been burned in a house fire when she was young, and his face is scarred from being burned in the line of duty. Unfortunately the author had to go and use the much over-used, trite plot device of having Kitty sentenced to death for being a witch. Kind of a lazy way of writing a story. Can't someone write a book about a 17th century woman who is a good person, but is also a strong person rather than a passive victim? I was bored by the chapters written about Kitty in her day, and much more interested in the chapters about Ray trying to solve the mystery of who attacked him with fire and why. This was the first in a series. Maybe I'll read one more just to see if the next one gets rid of Kitty and we can move on to something else.
February 8, 2022
I had a very hard time with this story, which I really wanted to like. That's why I stuck it out - I kept hoping it would get better and there would be explanation for constantly dangling carrots. But, I didn't like this book and I would like someone to explain this story to me. It is extremely confusing for its setting in two different times, it's constant flashbacks with no transition and it's unrelatable characters. I do not "get" the connection between Kitty's time and Ray's. I do not "get" the connection between the two of them personally or understand what the past meant to Ray, how Kitty may have been his "undoing" or what the actual point of this premise is. I do not "get" the whole shooting episode or how the two separate story lines converge. I was also really disturbed by the intimate scenes between the two of them. Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but I just didn't "get" the point of this story.
July 14, 2024
I'm not sure how to classify this book at all.
On the one hand it's a fairly standard police mystery - a self-aware cliché of a detective sidelined on sick leave with no lead on who attacked him who is then drawn into a bigger criminal enterprise as he digs deeper.
On the other hand there's the story of a local woman tried as a witch in the 1600s (the apothecary's daughter), the ghost of whom appears to haunt the house that the detective lives in. Her story is told by the detective and his friends discussing diaries and historical archives, and by experiencing it in 'real time' in the 1600s.
So this is a mixed up book that is both a crime novel and supernatural, historical novel. It worked ok but I was more interested in the detective's story without the supernatural additions. They felt too much like a fever dream
On the one hand it's a fairly standard police mystery - a self-aware cliché of a detective sidelined on sick leave with no lead on who attacked him who is then drawn into a bigger criminal enterprise as he digs deeper.
On the other hand there's the story of a local woman tried as a witch in the 1600s (the apothecary's daughter), the ghost of whom appears to haunt the house that the detective lives in. Her story is told by the detective and his friends discussing diaries and historical archives, and by experiencing it in 'real time' in the 1600s.
So this is a mixed up book that is both a crime novel and supernatural, historical novel. It worked ok but I was more interested in the detective's story without the supernatural additions. They felt too much like a fever dream
August 7, 2022
This book looked good on review however if failed to grip me at all. I love books where the past and present collide however this didn't actually collide, it was more like a bad prang.
The story about the detective Ray Flowers was good in it's own way, then there was the story of Kitty who was hanged as a witch in 1643 (or was she?), which could have been a good stand alone story if there had been more detail and information.
As it was there was no connection at all between Kitty and Ray, he just saw her occasionally around a cottage he had inherited from an Aunt who had also written journal about seeing her.
Kitty saw Ray occasionally in dreams she had, but as I said no connection between the two of them such as ancestors or even an event it just did not blend.
The story about the detective Ray Flowers was good in it's own way, then there was the story of Kitty who was hanged as a witch in 1643 (or was she?), which could have been a good stand alone story if there had been more detail and information.
As it was there was no connection at all between Kitty and Ray, he just saw her occasionally around a cottage he had inherited from an Aunt who had also written journal about seeing her.
Kitty saw Ray occasionally in dreams she had, but as I said no connection between the two of them such as ancestors or even an event it just did not blend.
June 12, 2023
I liked this story and was sad that Kitty who was disfigured by burns in a house fire and was persecuted by the ignorant clergyman because his wife was jealous of her relationship with their children. Linked to the cottage left to Ray Flowers by his aunt which she has inhabited spiritually for hundreds of years and seeing similarities with Ray, the victim of burns in a mistaken attempt at revenge, Kitty has attached herself to him and one of the two children of a new clergyman in a much more enlightened age. The switching between timelines and characters can be confusing but it doesn't detract from the story of Kitty and her ordeal or of Ray as he solves a present day crime implicating senior officers on the take in the murder of the man who mutilated him.
April 12, 2024
I started reading this book on 11th January 2023 and finished it in April 2024....over a year of trying to finish this book. I really wanted it to get better. The idea was good, but it was too much for one story where there's a big build up to nothing. It just fell flat and was rather disappointing. I wanted to love the book, but after a few chapters, it was clear this book was just ok, not terrible, but not amazing either. The index for British wording at the end of the book was the most interesting part. I'm glad I managed to take it off my DNF pile, but it's unlikely I'll be reading any more in the Ray Flowers series.
February 21, 2021
I've been on a reading binge since New Years and retirement so trying out different authors. Ray Flowers is a very interesting and different character than normally found in British mysteries. The novel has two stories, blending paranormal, mystery, British police procedural with a smidge of romance and intimacy. The characters are well drawn out and the historical back story difficult to read due to its stark reminder of actual unforgivable injustices committed during that time period. Occasionally the segue between the stories could've been better but definitely worth the read!
July 14, 2023
Past & present collide
The past & present collide. Ray knows that he needs to decide what to do. He needs this time to figure out he needs to do next with his life. He has found a new reason to get up every morning but the more he learns about Kitty the more he knows that he has to find out what happened to her. And in doing so maybe he can find a way forward from the past. A good read. Ray is a good man that didn't deserve what happened to him and I am glad that he has found someone that makes him happy.
The past & present collide. Ray knows that he needs to decide what to do. He needs this time to figure out he needs to do next with his life. He has found a new reason to get up every morning but the more he learns about Kitty the more he knows that he has to find out what happened to her. And in doing so maybe he can find a way forward from the past. A good read. Ray is a good man that didn't deserve what happened to him and I am glad that he has found someone that makes him happy.
July 9, 2023
I don't usually read ghost stories....
...but I found myself becoming more and more engrossed in the story, and I finished up unable to put down the book! Ms. Adams is a skilled writer who creates interesting characters and who definitely does her research! I quickly got past the idea that I was reading a paranormal story and just enjoyed the read as both a detective story and a historical fiction read! I hope to read more of Jane Adams' work!
...but I found myself becoming more and more engrossed in the story, and I finished up unable to put down the book! Ms. Adams is a skilled writer who creates interesting characters and who definitely does her research! I quickly got past the idea that I was reading a paranormal story and just enjoyed the read as both a detective story and a historical fiction read! I hope to read more of Jane Adams' work!
July 12, 2023
People are fools
This story begins in the 1600’s with a woman named Kitty. Kitty was haunting her old house and the previous owner just accepted the ghost as a visitor. The nephew inherited the cottage and began researching the history of Kitty’s death.
I very interesting story reflecting the time period of witches being put to death. The book also covers the crime against Ray which brings more surprise to the book.
This story begins in the 1600’s with a woman named Kitty. Kitty was haunting her old house and the previous owner just accepted the ghost as a visitor. The nephew inherited the cottage and began researching the history of Kitty’s death.
I very interesting story reflecting the time period of witches being put to death. The book also covers the crime against Ray which brings more surprise to the book.
August 26, 2023
Detective Ray Flowers life changes when he us subject to to an acid attack. But is it a case of mistaken identity. Then he moves into his aunt's house and finds that she had been visited by Kitty, a ghost from 1643. Soon Ray investigates her life and that of his attack.
I don't really care for storys about witches, and thought the story would have been better just to concentrate on the present, that part was an enjoyable modern mystery.
I don't really care for storys about witches, and thought the story would have been better just to concentrate on the present, that part was an enjoyable modern mystery.
October 31, 2023
Waste of time
First of all, the title is misleading. Adams leaves too many loose ends and never addresses the question on how the woman could be seen... Ill go no further in case you still want to read this book. By the end, i was disgusted that I had wasted my time on this book. The only reason I read to the end was to get answers which never came. If you are a reader that needs closure, move on to your next book.
First of all, the title is misleading. Adams leaves too many loose ends and never addresses the question on how the woman could be seen... Ill go no further in case you still want to read this book. By the end, i was disgusted that I had wasted my time on this book. The only reason I read to the end was to get answers which never came. If you are a reader that needs closure, move on to your next book.
December 12, 2023
A Good Read
Detective Ray Flowers is on sick leave after being attacked while at work. He has to consider his future, should he stay in the police force or make a new start? He decides to live in the cottage his aunt had left him on her death, while he considers his future, but strange things start to happen to him. I enjoyed the book but did get a little fed up with the constant going between Rays life and that of Kitty, who lived centuries ago. I am not a great believer in ghosts.
Detective Ray Flowers is on sick leave after being attacked while at work. He has to consider his future, should he stay in the police force or make a new start? He decides to live in the cottage his aunt had left him on her death, while he considers his future, but strange things start to happen to him. I enjoyed the book but did get a little fed up with the constant going between Rays life and that of Kitty, who lived centuries ago. I am not a great believer in ghosts.
July 7, 2024
Two for one
Police corruption is hard to understand they are there to serve the community not themselves and as one is mistaken for another he now has to live with the scars, the first mystery is to solve this crime. John is now on sick leave and decides to sort out his late aunts house, instead he falls in love with it and the history it has, helped by Sara a librarian they find out who Kitty is. A fascinating read of two crimes many years apart
Police corruption is hard to understand they are there to serve the community not themselves and as one is mistaken for another he now has to live with the scars, the first mystery is to solve this crime. John is now on sick leave and decides to sort out his late aunts house, instead he falls in love with it and the history it has, helped by Sara a librarian they find out who Kitty is. A fascinating read of two crimes many years apart
April 25, 2021
Not sure
I find myself not quite sure of these books but have found myself reading more than one the writing of them has been fabulously crafted you find yourself pulled into the characters I found that when I finished the second book I want to read more but can’t quite figure out why
I find myself not quite sure of these books but have found myself reading more than one the writing of them has been fabulously crafted you find yourself pulled into the characters I found that when I finished the second book I want to read more but can’t quite figure out why
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews