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A Riveting Haunted House Mystery #40
The Haunting of Blackwater Cottage
Recently widowed, Alicia Hawkins can no longer live in the New York apartment she shared with her husband. She leaves the city behind for a small fishing village in Duxbridge, Massachusetts, where she purchases a rundown house the locals have dubbed Blackwater Cottage. But the quiet life and beautiful views are disrupted by secret notes and unexplained phenomena. During renovations, Alicia discovers an old leather-wrapped diary hidden between the studs of a bedroom wall. She can’t help but wonder who it belonged to and why the locals are so determined to get her to leave, but the diary may hold the answers to Blackwater Cottage’s disturbing history.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 22, 2022
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706 people want to read
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August 9, 2023DNF, no rating.
For those of you who follow my reviews, you know I tend to rate the books I read with either 4 or 5 stars. That’s because I spend time researching the books I select to help ensure they’re a good match for my tastes. For one reason, it’s economically prudent. Who wants to spend money and time on a book that’s not enjoyable? And secondly, I prefer supporting authors since I’m one. I know the sting of having a reader share that your novel didn’t meet their expectations (even though it’s helpful and part of the learning curve to hear and consider all points of view).
Thankfully, most of the time, I’m loving the books I choose to read.
Unfortunately, THE HAUNTING OF BLACKWATER COTTAGE was a miss for me. I thought I had done my homework. This novel has 1,088 reviews on Amazon! WOW! And the overall rating is 4.5/5.0—also impressive. And the concept was intriguing: recent widow moves to rural Massachusetts and finds a diary in the wall of her haunted cottage with a disturbing history.
Fifty pages in, I had to stop.
Here’s a sample of the dialogue told from main character Ally's POV:
“Actually, I was just hoping to get two coffees to go and maybe a couple of sandwiches.” (Says Ally)
“Sure,” she says, setting the pot back on the warmer and pulling out the little pad and pen from the pocket of her bright yellow apron. “Cream and sugar?”
“Yeah.”
“And the sandwiches?”
“Umm…maybe ham and cheese and the other roast beef, if you have it.”
“Of course. You want mayo on those?”
“Do you have any of those little packets?”
“Sure.”
“Can you toss a couple of them in?”
There’s plenty more where that came from!
“I finish off the rest of my sandwich and use the other bag as a trash receptacle. I pick up my coffee and take a sip. Let’s do this.”
This dialogue strategy is a habit I don’t want to adopt in my writing…to include mundane information that doesn’t move the plot forward, so I had to stop! (Maybe if I was hungry, I’d think differently!)
I realize I’m going against the over ONE THOUSAND reviewers whose experiences with this novel were way more positive than my experience.
Reviewing can be tough sometimes. I won’t post low stars, but I will share that I couldn’t finish this one.
For those of you who follow my reviews, you know I tend to rate the books I read with either 4 or 5 stars. That’s because I spend time researching the books I select to help ensure they’re a good match for my tastes. For one reason, it’s economically prudent. Who wants to spend money and time on a book that’s not enjoyable? And secondly, I prefer supporting authors since I’m one. I know the sting of having a reader share that your novel didn’t meet their expectations (even though it’s helpful and part of the learning curve to hear and consider all points of view).
Thankfully, most of the time, I’m loving the books I choose to read.
Unfortunately, THE HAUNTING OF BLACKWATER COTTAGE was a miss for me. I thought I had done my homework. This novel has 1,088 reviews on Amazon! WOW! And the overall rating is 4.5/5.0—also impressive. And the concept was intriguing: recent widow moves to rural Massachusetts and finds a diary in the wall of her haunted cottage with a disturbing history.
Fifty pages in, I had to stop.
Here’s a sample of the dialogue told from main character Ally's POV:
“Actually, I was just hoping to get two coffees to go and maybe a couple of sandwiches.” (Says Ally)
“Sure,” she says, setting the pot back on the warmer and pulling out the little pad and pen from the pocket of her bright yellow apron. “Cream and sugar?”
“Yeah.”
“And the sandwiches?”
“Umm…maybe ham and cheese and the other roast beef, if you have it.”
“Of course. You want mayo on those?”
“Do you have any of those little packets?”
“Sure.”
“Can you toss a couple of them in?”
There’s plenty more where that came from!
“I finish off the rest of my sandwich and use the other bag as a trash receptacle. I pick up my coffee and take a sip. Let’s do this.”
This dialogue strategy is a habit I don’t want to adopt in my writing…to include mundane information that doesn’t move the plot forward, so I had to stop! (Maybe if I was hungry, I’d think differently!)
I realize I’m going against the over ONE THOUSAND reviewers whose experiences with this novel were way more positive than my experience.
Reviewing can be tough sometimes. I won’t post low stars, but I will share that I couldn’t finish this one.
June 13, 2022
Alicia, (Ally), evidently hadn't read many haunted house books or she was just naive or plain stupid. Deciding that she needed a change in her life she goes on the internet and buys a cottage on the ocean in Massachusetts...sight unseen. It's an early 1800's house, but it has rarely been occupied since being first built. Now wouldn't you wonder why few people have lived in it in over 200 years??? Maybe because it's HAUNTED!!! Just ask anyone in the small town and they'll tell you the folklore of what supposedly happened all those years ago....and they didn't hesitate to tell our girl, Ally. Did she believe them??? Of course not. Oh, she believes there is something in the house besides herself but... ready for this? The ghosts just want her to help them solve a mystery...about what really happened to the original owners. The story wasn't scary in the least and "The Ghost Story Junkie" wants a bit more than ghosts waiting around 200 years for the internet to be invented so some woman can buy their house and help them solve a 200-year-old mystery. It got 3 stars because it's not at all a bad story, but for a real haunted house, ghost loving enthusiast, the scariest part of the book would be the cover.
May 11, 2023
THE HAUNTING OF BLACKWATER COTTAGE, by Clay Wise had a great hook for me--a widowed woman moves to an old cottage, that just happens to be haunted by ghosts. Unfortunately, aside from the ghost aspect, that was about all that kept my attention. I felt like more time was devoted to itemizing each and every piece of food (and condiments!) the MC and her new friends order and eat.
Possibly every single chapter, with a couple of exceptions.
With that being the "main topic" so often, I didn't find this book scary at all. To me, it was more of a cozy, young-adult mystery/romance, with a few ghosts thrown in.
Many others have enjoyed this book much more so; as always, I recommend reading for yourself.
Possibly every single chapter, with a couple of exceptions.
With that being the "main topic" so often, I didn't find this book scary at all. To me, it was more of a cozy, young-adult mystery/romance, with a few ghosts thrown in.
Many others have enjoyed this book much more so; as always, I recommend reading for yourself.
October 21, 2023
Ugh! I have no idea why this book was rated soo high... I felt like I was reading a script for a sitcom and that there should have been "crowd laughing" audio involved. For example, you literally read every conversation the characters had, Emily the waitress asking Ally the main character what she wants to order, but we get every single line within that conversation.
Also, the love interest that they casually threw in made me so uncomfortable because it was so sitcom cheesy.
These two things were so unnecessary that I could literally bypass pages and would not miss anything pertaining to the actual haunting.
To sum it up, no I would not recommend this book.
Also, the love interest that they casually threw in made me so uncomfortable because it was so sitcom cheesy.
These two things were so unnecessary that I could literally bypass pages and would not miss anything pertaining to the actual haunting.
To sum it up, no I would not recommend this book.
May 27, 2022
Ehhhhh.....
So much build up and then a very rushed ending. Holly seems an important part of the story and then...nothing. Jerry gets to be the romantic lead and then is rendered sidekick. Lots of beer, wine and food permeates the narrative. A female protagonist written by a male author who seems to invest her with a lot of masculine traits and falls short on the feminine traits. The reason behind the mean ghost's actions is never really developed and seems implausible. Guess he was being mean just to be mean. I was getting into the story and then it just ends abruptly. Potential wasted.
So much build up and then a very rushed ending. Holly seems an important part of the story and then...nothing. Jerry gets to be the romantic lead and then is rendered sidekick. Lots of beer, wine and food permeates the narrative. A female protagonist written by a male author who seems to invest her with a lot of masculine traits and falls short on the feminine traits. The reason behind the mean ghost's actions is never really developed and seems implausible. Guess he was being mean just to be mean. I was getting into the story and then it just ends abruptly. Potential wasted.
August 14, 2023
If I could give it a zero I would have.
Y'all just eat way to much food, an drink way to much liquor. No wonder y'all see ghosts. Add some love sick pups in the mix an what do you get?? Not much else.
Y'all just eat way to much food, an drink way to much liquor. No wonder y'all see ghosts. Add some love sick pups in the mix an what do you get?? Not much else.
August 27, 2022
I would say that this is a worthwhile book, the characters are interesting, it's fast paced and the ghosts are actually threatening.
That said, it's true that the ending does fall flat, and there were unnecessary sentences and clauses that could easily have been edited out. It seems like this book wasn't given to beta readers or a copy editor who would have noted that some bits of description and actions were repeated, that the plot was a little contrived and the ending a bit unrewarding.
That said it was still a quick paced read that kept me engaged throughout, I would recommend this book as an easy afternoon-read.
That said, it's true that the ending does fall flat, and there were unnecessary sentences and clauses that could easily have been edited out. It seems like this book wasn't given to beta readers or a copy editor who would have noted that some bits of description and actions were repeated, that the plot was a little contrived and the ending a bit unrewarding.
That said it was still a quick paced read that kept me engaged throughout, I would recommend this book as an easy afternoon-read.
April 30, 2022
The story was decent. But the main character always moaned or groaned every time she ate something. Is that normal? It doesn't seem normal. The romance part of the story wasn't bad. I appreciate that it wasn't smutty. I do think the guy is to good to be true but maybe that's just cynical old maid part of me speaking. 🤣
October 26, 2024
I have mixed feelings about this book. The plot and historical mystery were interesting and there were ghosts and an evil spirit but I did not feel scared or even creepy while reading this book. Sometimes there were too many mundane details about what the characters were eating (Ally has a terrible diet!), drinking wearing etc. There were errors along the way. But the romance was sweet and the characters well developed so it was good reading overall.
November 22, 2025
I cannot believe this book was allowed to be published.
June 7, 2022
This book made my mouth water
This was a well rounded little ghost story. Characters that I liked, a sweet sounding house and town, a couple of ghosts, a good background story, a bit of romance, and food. These people were always going out and getting burgers, steak, pie. I kept wondering what they were going to get for dinner, and what I would get if I went with them. It all sounded so good. Seriously, I gotta get out more.
This was a well rounded little ghost story. Characters that I liked, a sweet sounding house and town, a couple of ghosts, a good background story, a bit of romance, and food. These people were always going out and getting burgers, steak, pie. I kept wondering what they were going to get for dinner, and what I would get if I went with them. It all sounded so good. Seriously, I gotta get out more.
July 3, 2023
Needed an editor
There are so many errors in this book! I notice spelling and grammatical errors. And unfortunately, there are so many in this book that it’s very distracting. The writing is decent, but an editor needed to be hired for this mess.
There are so many errors in this book! I notice spelling and grammatical errors. And unfortunately, there are so many in this book that it’s very distracting. The writing is decent, but an editor needed to be hired for this mess.
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April 26, 2022It was good but the ending fell flat. I would have liked to have heard more details about the ghosts in the end instead of just disappearing. Or why they were in the lantern in the first place
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2024
I really don't like giving a one star review for books - the author obviously put a lot of time and effort into their novel and I don't want to stomp on their dream. But sometimes the book is just so bad....
I really tried and got a third through this and couldn't continue. Here's why:
First the main character Ally is supposed to (I think) be around 30 yo. She is recently unexpectedly widowed but she acts like a teenager in her speech, behavior and interactions.
She buys a house unseen even though it is only a few hours away and it is a cottage that has been uninhabited for a long time - no suspicions? And, it is in a rural town with almost no gas station, eateries or stores and superstitious backwater residents ON THE ATLANTIC OCEAN in Massachusetts!!
I live in MA and I can tell you there are only crowded real suburban towns (usually upscale) anywhere on the ocean in this state.
Much is spent on food and drink order descriptions (don't care) and interactions with a diner waitress that are more immature and giggly than I had in early high school. Especially around a decent looking contractor she enters the diner with - tons of winking, giggling and eyebrow wiggling - please..... BTW re: the contractor she says she is not ready for any dating but then within a couple days they're dating. He acts as immature and weird as she does.
Like I said, I just couldn't continue. The plot looks like it will be pretty predictable and was not too interesting to begin with. Skip this one.
I really tried and got a third through this and couldn't continue. Here's why:
First the main character Ally is supposed to (I think) be around 30 yo. She is recently unexpectedly widowed but she acts like a teenager in her speech, behavior and interactions.
She buys a house unseen even though it is only a few hours away and it is a cottage that has been uninhabited for a long time - no suspicions? And, it is in a rural town with almost no gas station, eateries or stores and superstitious backwater residents ON THE ATLANTIC OCEAN in Massachusetts!!
I live in MA and I can tell you there are only crowded real suburban towns (usually upscale) anywhere on the ocean in this state.
Much is spent on food and drink order descriptions (don't care) and interactions with a diner waitress that are more immature and giggly than I had in early high school. Especially around a decent looking contractor she enters the diner with - tons of winking, giggling and eyebrow wiggling - please..... BTW re: the contractor she says she is not ready for any dating but then within a couple days they're dating. He acts as immature and weird as she does.
Like I said, I just couldn't continue. The plot looks like it will be pretty predictable and was not too interesting to begin with. Skip this one.
October 4, 2025
“You need to be ready to open yourself up to whatever comes your way, or you’ll end up sad alone, and wishing for things that could’ve been but will never be. “
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
Newly widowed, Ally finds herself needing a change. She packed all her belongings and moved to a small quiet town in Duxbridge, Massachusetts. She found the cutest little cottage that is perfect for just her. Located right near the coast she finds herself in love with it. When people in town find out she is moving into the infamous Blackwater cottage, they all tell her to be careful. She couldn’t understand why until she starts renovating her cottage and weird things start to happen. She also finds a journal and it could change everything about the towns history.
This book was a fun, quick read. I didn’t find it scary but more of a mystery with ghosts mixed in. I loved that it also had a dash of romance but that didn’t over take the story. Mixing romance into a thriller is tricky and not many people can do it without changing the entire storyline. I liked the concept of the story, however, I did find the constant mention of food to be a little much. I get that it’s a good way to bring the one character into the story but it became a little redundant. Besides that, it was a good read.
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
Newly widowed, Ally finds herself needing a change. She packed all her belongings and moved to a small quiet town in Duxbridge, Massachusetts. She found the cutest little cottage that is perfect for just her. Located right near the coast she finds herself in love with it. When people in town find out she is moving into the infamous Blackwater cottage, they all tell her to be careful. She couldn’t understand why until she starts renovating her cottage and weird things start to happen. She also finds a journal and it could change everything about the towns history.
This book was a fun, quick read. I didn’t find it scary but more of a mystery with ghosts mixed in. I loved that it also had a dash of romance but that didn’t over take the story. Mixing romance into a thriller is tricky and not many people can do it without changing the entire storyline. I liked the concept of the story, however, I did find the constant mention of food to be a little much. I get that it’s a good way to bring the one character into the story but it became a little redundant. Besides that, it was a good read.
March 31, 2025
Quote: “There’s no use in trying to run away from the past, it’s always there, you can never get any further from it, no matter how much you try.”
Review: So refreshing! The Haunting of Blackwater Cottage follows Alicia as she moved to Duxbridge after losing her husband. She purchases a rundown house and use discovers that so much more comes with the property. The book is slow pace but has a steady progress through out the plot. I loved seeing the healing process for many of the characters. I enjoyed playing “ghost hunter” along side the characters. This book is mystery with a hit of romance which was so cute and gave me all the butterflies. The spooky level is perfect I never felt that the story was rushed it was a perfect balance of spooky and mystery. Every year I go to a local haunted hospital and this was the most perfect book to get me in the spirit for it. I am a sucker for anything ghost and The Haunting of Blackwater Cottage was everything I could ask for.
Review: So refreshing! The Haunting of Blackwater Cottage follows Alicia as she moved to Duxbridge after losing her husband. She purchases a rundown house and use discovers that so much more comes with the property. The book is slow pace but has a steady progress through out the plot. I loved seeing the healing process for many of the characters. I enjoyed playing “ghost hunter” along side the characters. This book is mystery with a hit of romance which was so cute and gave me all the butterflies. The spooky level is perfect I never felt that the story was rushed it was a perfect balance of spooky and mystery. Every year I go to a local haunted hospital and this was the most perfect book to get me in the spirit for it. I am a sucker for anything ghost and The Haunting of Blackwater Cottage was everything I could ask for.
November 1, 2022
Just Okay
I wanted to read a ghost story for Halloween, so I chose this book. However, the initial story/premise was faulty. The story of the haunting involved a lady who lured sailors to their death by shining a lantern from a cliff, so the sailors would sail towards the light thinking it was a lighthouse. No, the purpose of the lighthouse is to warn sailors away from dangerous areas, not lure them toward the area. I kept reading, but I was turned off by the mistake. Just saying. The romance between Ally and Jerry was okay, not great. Description, character development just okay as well. The best part was actually the recipe for grilled cheese sandwiches using sourdough bread and three kinds of cheese with grape jelly on the side. 🫠Three stars is generous actually.
I wanted to read a ghost story for Halloween, so I chose this book. However, the initial story/premise was faulty. The story of the haunting involved a lady who lured sailors to their death by shining a lantern from a cliff, so the sailors would sail towards the light thinking it was a lighthouse. No, the purpose of the lighthouse is to warn sailors away from dangerous areas, not lure them toward the area. I kept reading, but I was turned off by the mistake. Just saying. The romance between Ally and Jerry was okay, not great. Description, character development just okay as well. The best part was actually the recipe for grilled cheese sandwiches using sourdough bread and three kinds of cheese with grape jelly on the side. 🫠Three stars is generous actually.
Want to read
February 24, 2022Recently widowed, Alicia Hawkins can no longer live in the New York apartment she shared with her husband. She leaves the city behind for a small fishing village in Duxbridge, Massachusetts, where she purchases a rundown house the locals have dubbed Blackwater Cottage. But the quiet life and beautiful views are disrupted by secret notes and unexplained phenomena. During renovations, Alicia discovers an old leather-wrapped diary hidden between the studs of a bedroom wall. She can’t help but wonder who it belonged to and why the locals are so determined to get her to leave, but the diary may hold the answers to Blackwater Cottage’s disturbing history.
February 28, 2022
A Good Haunted House Mystery
Big city girl Ally needs a change in her life and buys a small cottage on the ocean in Massachusetts on the internet, sight unseen. The house was built in the early 1800s, but has rarely been occupied since being first built. Why? Because it is haunted, of course, complete with the small town's folklore of what supposedly happened 200 years ago. Ally decides the house's ghosts just want her to help them solve a mystery... surrounding what really happened to the original owners. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, except for the excessive four letter words used throughout, which I thought were totally unnecessary.
Big city girl Ally needs a change in her life and buys a small cottage on the ocean in Massachusetts on the internet, sight unseen. The house was built in the early 1800s, but has rarely been occupied since being first built. Why? Because it is haunted, of course, complete with the small town's folklore of what supposedly happened 200 years ago. Ally decides the house's ghosts just want her to help them solve a mystery... surrounding what really happened to the original owners. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, except for the excessive four letter words used throughout, which I thought were totally unnecessary.
February 4, 2024
Unlike some of the other e-horror books I've read lately, this feels like a complete novel. It told a full story with a beginning, middle, and an ending that fit and wasn't rushed. The characters were likable and developed throughout the book rather than being flat or static. I felt like I was given a full experience, instead of half or three-quarters of one. It was nice to read a book that didn't feel unfinished. It's not the scariest ghost story I've ever read, but the focus here was more on the mystery and less on the horror aspects. The books in this loosely-connected "series" are very uneven in quality, but I definitely recommend this one.
August 23, 2024
Absolutely Awesome!!!
I loved it. I love anything having to do with ghosts, we have so many in our house we’ve lost count, from an old guy in green overalls hanging from a noose..for real, to twin little girls. All of us including my 5 grandkids have seen them, so this book was wonderfully exciting. I read it in one day, I couldn’t put it down. There is a second book not listed that continues Ally's story, its “The haunting of White Haven Manor”. I ran across it looking for more books by Clay Wise. There appears to be a third book also, and maybe a 4th. I definitely recommend this book to everyone!!!
I loved it. I love anything having to do with ghosts, we have so many in our house we’ve lost count, from an old guy in green overalls hanging from a noose..for real, to twin little girls. All of us including my 5 grandkids have seen them, so this book was wonderfully exciting. I read it in one day, I couldn’t put it down. There is a second book not listed that continues Ally's story, its “The haunting of White Haven Manor”. I ran across it looking for more books by Clay Wise. There appears to be a third book also, and maybe a 4th. I definitely recommend this book to everyone!!!
March 22, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! The way the story unfolded was perfect and kept me on the edge of me seat BUT, The ending fell short.
SPOILER: Why didn't the author go the extra mile and have Ally and friends find the body of Oliver? Obviously he is not in a proper grave - maybe the ending would have been better had Lilly and Oliver been reunited in death? So much more depth could have been added to this book.
I would have given it five stars if this had been the case.
Nevertheless, very good book.
SPOILER: Why didn't the author go the extra mile and have Ally and friends find the body of Oliver? Obviously he is not in a proper grave - maybe the ending would have been better had Lilly and Oliver been reunited in death? So much more depth could have been added to this book.
I would have given it five stars if this had been the case.
Nevertheless, very good book.
July 18, 2022
Really couldn't put it down
I almost didn't read this due to some comments regarding language, but it really wasn't that bad. I am glad I kept it to read because I finished it in one day. I loved the story, the small cottage near the sea and I especially enjoyed the well-rounded characters. Usually, some authors treat a new character in a small town terribly via the townsfolk, but I was surprised and glad for Ally. I really enjoyed this book and will look up more offerings by this author.
I almost didn't read this due to some comments regarding language, but it really wasn't that bad. I am glad I kept it to read because I finished it in one day. I loved the story, the small cottage near the sea and I especially enjoyed the well-rounded characters. Usually, some authors treat a new character in a small town terribly via the townsfolk, but I was surprised and glad for Ally. I really enjoyed this book and will look up more offerings by this author.
September 26, 2023
Lingering Secrets and Spirits 🏚️
I enjoyed this well-crafted tale of haunted people and places! The imagery allowed me to immerse myself in this small town’s charming (albeit complicated) history, and I was happy to come across the intentional inclusion of organically developed friendships and romances. I will say that the ending felt a little rushed, as the heroine had her moment of settling scores for the greater good, but I was satisfied with the conclusion overall. I think readers who enjoy historical fiction and ghostly narratives would find this tale entertaining.
I enjoyed this well-crafted tale of haunted people and places! The imagery allowed me to immerse myself in this small town’s charming (albeit complicated) history, and I was happy to come across the intentional inclusion of organically developed friendships and romances. I will say that the ending felt a little rushed, as the heroine had her moment of settling scores for the greater good, but I was satisfied with the conclusion overall. I think readers who enjoy historical fiction and ghostly narratives would find this tale entertaining.
November 24, 2024
Worth a read but disappointing
I won’t give any clues away to the story line and the plot but it is interesting and the story seems to go slow and I was almost going to stop reading it until about half way through when it became interesting and areal mystery all at once.
I will say that it disappointing that the exciting mystery is all in what seems like a rush and could have been bound more throughout the whole book but it was a pleasant and good read nonetheless.
I would have given it 5 stars if the whole book was the mystery but I feel it was just off the mark.
I won’t give any clues away to the story line and the plot but it is interesting and the story seems to go slow and I was almost going to stop reading it until about half way through when it became interesting and areal mystery all at once.
I will say that it disappointing that the exciting mystery is all in what seems like a rush and could have been bound more throughout the whole book but it was a pleasant and good read nonetheless.
I would have given it 5 stars if the whole book was the mystery but I feel it was just off the mark.
May 28, 2022
So, I’ve read quite a few Clay Wise books and most of them have fallen within the EMP, apocalyptic future, survival genre, but this one is something altogether different. It’s an engaging ghost story, with wonderful characters, an original and interesting storyline and some great dialogue between the leads and supporting players. It’s not overly scary, but it is suspenseful. It’s also a story about love and healing. It’s really wonderful.
July 21, 2022
Best Haunting series book so far!
This was a very good story that was well told! No non-believer husband with a wife who does believe in ghosts. This was just a good mystery book involving friends seeking to solve an old mystery about a haunted house. Mr. Wise keeps his audience involved in the history of the house and sprinkles in old and new friends and just a touch of romance. Very nice break of the Haunting series mold.
This was a very good story that was well told! No non-believer husband with a wife who does believe in ghosts. This was just a good mystery book involving friends seeking to solve an old mystery about a haunted house. Mr. Wise keeps his audience involved in the history of the house and sprinkles in old and new friends and just a touch of romance. Very nice break of the Haunting series mold.
July 16, 2023
an enjoyable read
A haunted cottage set in a beautiful area. Ally decides to move to the cottage after the sudden death of her husband, Steven. Unaware of the cottage’s history, Ally is surprised when the first ghost appears, quickly followed by another. It is only when a dark entity starts to cause trouble that she decides to help the unsettled spirits.
An easy, enjoyable read, lots of action if a little predictable.
A good rainy day book.
A haunted cottage set in a beautiful area. Ally decides to move to the cottage after the sudden death of her husband, Steven. Unaware of the cottage’s history, Ally is surprised when the first ghost appears, quickly followed by another. It is only when a dark entity starts to cause trouble that she decides to help the unsettled spirits.
An easy, enjoyable read, lots of action if a little predictable.
A good rainy day book.
September 30, 2024
not well researched
The story was good but I get the feeling the author had never been to Massachusetts. Their descriptions of the “hamlets” sounded more like Ireland’s coast. The coastal areas are heavily populated towns (not hamlets), farms are small and there aren’t many left, there aren’t many cliffs, and no mountains overlooking the ocean. Maybe Maine? Also, locals don’t call soda “pop” anywhere in NE. You’d get laughed at.
Those details took away from the good story.
The story was good but I get the feeling the author had never been to Massachusetts. Their descriptions of the “hamlets” sounded more like Ireland’s coast. The coastal areas are heavily populated towns (not hamlets), farms are small and there aren’t many left, there aren’t many cliffs, and no mountains overlooking the ocean. Maybe Maine? Also, locals don’t call soda “pop” anywhere in NE. You’d get laughed at.
Those details took away from the good story.
February 28, 2022
Blackwater Cottage
A riveting story with well developed histories and characters. However, if you are like me and object to the F word, this book isn't for you. The character shrink too much and are headed for alcoholism. I felt like the getting a beer was just filling up pages. I'm crossing this author off my list.
A riveting story with well developed histories and characters. However, if you are like me and object to the F word, this book isn't for you. The character shrink too much and are headed for alcoholism. I felt like the getting a beer was just filling up pages. I'm crossing this author off my list.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews