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Haunting Clarity #2
That Devil Knows My Name: The Screaming Lady Of Lums Pond
Claire Mumford has had enough of the supernatural. The last time she tangled with a ghost almost got her killed. But the lure of an unnamed spirit haunting the waters by Lums Pond State Park is more than she can resist.
Can she discover the identity of the ghost who screams so plaintively in the darkness? All that may be left are rumors and speculation. Who was the poor woman who lost her life so brutally by the pond so many years ago?
Can the undeniable powers of her two year old daughter finally help her give a name to The Screaming Woman Of Lums Pond?
Should Claire risk everything to find out?
Can she discover the identity of the ghost who screams so plaintively in the darkness? All that may be left are rumors and speculation. Who was the poor woman who lost her life so brutally by the pond so many years ago?
Can the undeniable powers of her two year old daughter finally help her give a name to The Screaming Woman Of Lums Pond?
Should Claire risk everything to find out?
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2022
About the author
Kelly Lidji
13 books15 followersI grew up in Delaware surrounded by ghost stories handed down through generations. My own teenage years were filled with trips out to Maggie's bridge with my friends to try and raise her spirit, (and scare ourselves in the process) or white knuckling it driving the road at night that goes by Cokebury Church. (If alone, I was leaving myself vunerable to the ghost that wandered the road there.)
I want to embrace these stories and give them the attention they deserve.
I want to embrace these stories and give them the attention they deserve.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 9, 2026
3.75 stars.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I read and loved Book 1 in this series even though I couldn’t quite understand Claire, the MFC, or connect with her. The story overall was very interesting.
Book 2 (can be read as a standalone novel) continues Claire’s story with her struggling to come up with an idea for a second novel while taking care of her toddler all the while waiting for her husband.
She ends up investigating the ghost story from a local pond.
The second timeline follows the story of two young sisters who lived in this area in the 1870s.
I was frustrated with Claire a lot. But the main problem for me was a major blooper or contradiction in the pillar of the main story very early on. It set the mood from the beginning and I just couldn’t get over it.
It happens in Chapter 5. It is a story about a nameless girl whose body was found in the pond some 150 years ago. She was never claimed by family members and was laid to rest in a nameless grave. Yet the person who told this story also said what town she was from and that she lived together with her parents, a brother, and a sister. And that she was escaping from an abusive father.
It’s either/or, not both. She was either nameless Jane Doe, or everyone knows who she was, including her name obviously.
Later they say that the response person was “a homeless vagrant” yet they don’t know who killed her. Again! It’s either the killer is known or it’s an unsolved case and it could be anyone.
A lot of this book is overlapping with Book 1 and repeating its story. It’s not only Claire, the main character from the present time. It’s also the similarities between the stories of the girls from the past. I felt, at large, that I was reading the same sad story from Book 1 all over again.
The shock content of the “past” story didn’t help. It’s as if the abuse was added intentionally to shock a reader and force them to feel for the characters. I don’t like it one bit.
Claire’s infantile behavior when she is risking her toddler’s well-being to satisfy her own curiosity, all the while decidedly ignoring her daughter’s signals. Her lashing out at the person who has always been there for her and flirting with a stranger. She is ready to discuss all her worries and secrets with everyone except her husband. Miscommunication trope at its worst.
I liked the general flow of the story, the relationship development between two sisters, and the twist at the end. But I didn’t like Claire, who needs to grow up, take responsibility for her actions, learn to communicate with her husband, and start paying attention to her kid’s needs.
I despised the domestic abuse on pages.
Even though there was a mystery and surprise twist, I still felt reading a recycled story from Book 1.
As a standalone novel, it is interesting.
As a follow-up after Book 1, not as much.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I read and loved Book 1 in this series even though I couldn’t quite understand Claire, the MFC, or connect with her. The story overall was very interesting.
Book 2 (can be read as a standalone novel) continues Claire’s story with her struggling to come up with an idea for a second novel while taking care of her toddler all the while waiting for her husband.
She ends up investigating the ghost story from a local pond.
The second timeline follows the story of two young sisters who lived in this area in the 1870s.
I was frustrated with Claire a lot. But the main problem for me was a major blooper or contradiction in the pillar of the main story very early on. It set the mood from the beginning and I just couldn’t get over it.
It happens in Chapter 5. It is a story about a nameless girl whose body was found in the pond some 150 years ago. She was never claimed by family members and was laid to rest in a nameless grave. Yet the person who told this story also said what town she was from and that she lived together with her parents, a brother, and a sister. And that she was escaping from an abusive father.
It’s either/or, not both. She was either nameless Jane Doe, or everyone knows who she was, including her name obviously.
Later they say that the response person was “a homeless vagrant” yet they don’t know who killed her. Again! It’s either the killer is known or it’s an unsolved case and it could be anyone.
A lot of this book is overlapping with Book 1 and repeating its story. It’s not only Claire, the main character from the present time. It’s also the similarities between the stories of the girls from the past. I felt, at large, that I was reading the same sad story from Book 1 all over again.
The shock content of the “past” story didn’t help. It’s as if the abuse was added intentionally to shock a reader and force them to feel for the characters. I don’t like it one bit.
Claire’s infantile behavior when she is risking her toddler’s well-being to satisfy her own curiosity, all the while decidedly ignoring her daughter’s signals. Her lashing out at the person who has always been there for her and flirting with a stranger. She is ready to discuss all her worries and secrets with everyone except her husband. Miscommunication trope at its worst.
I liked the general flow of the story, the relationship development between two sisters, and the twist at the end. But I didn’t like Claire, who needs to grow up, take responsibility for her actions, learn to communicate with her husband, and start paying attention to her kid’s needs.
I despised the domestic abuse on pages.
Even though there was a mystery and surprise twist, I still felt reading a recycled story from Book 1.
As a standalone novel, it is interesting.
As a follow-up after Book 1, not as much.
November 5, 2024
An Intriguing Ghost Mystery Rooted in Delaware History
That Devil Knows My Name: The Screaming Lady of Lum’s Pond offers a compelling ghost mystery, skillfully blending real historical elements with eerie suspense. Set in Delaware, the story unfolds through shifting perspectives of three characters, adding depth and keeping readers guessing about the identity of the "screaming lady" until the very end. This structure adds a unique layer to the narrative, making it feel as if each character is peeling back a new part of the mystery.
However, I found the frequent spelling errors and occasional mix-ups with character names a bit distracting. These issues felt especially frustrating because they seemed easily avoidable with a good proofread, and they took away from the enjoyment of an otherwise excellent story. Still, the atmosphere and plot are gripping, making it a worthwhile read for ghost mystery fans and those interested in history with a paranormal twist.
That Devil Knows My Name: The Screaming Lady of Lum’s Pond offers a compelling ghost mystery, skillfully blending real historical elements with eerie suspense. Set in Delaware, the story unfolds through shifting perspectives of three characters, adding depth and keeping readers guessing about the identity of the "screaming lady" until the very end. This structure adds a unique layer to the narrative, making it feel as if each character is peeling back a new part of the mystery.
However, I found the frequent spelling errors and occasional mix-ups with character names a bit distracting. These issues felt especially frustrating because they seemed easily avoidable with a good proofread, and they took away from the enjoyment of an otherwise excellent story. Still, the atmosphere and plot are gripping, making it a worthwhile read for ghost mystery fans and those interested in history with a paranormal twist.
January 2, 2024
This book is second in a paranormal series based on various Delaware urban legends. Luckily it wasn't necessary to have read the first one. I enjoyed the local flavor and creative take on the Screaming Lady of Lums Pond, but really did not like the main character, Claire. I have the first book on hold and really hope Claire is a lot better in that one or I'm not continuing with this series.
July 5, 2024
Kelly Lidji has done it again. Retelling the story of Elsie Halsten, the “Screaming Woman of Lums Pond.” A local urban legend brought to live with descriptive writing and immersive imagery to connect the reader to the events. While reading the story, you become connected to the characters and feel their pain, trials, and tribulations. This book is soooo good!
October 5, 2022
Interesting
Worth reading. Not an ordinary tale. Keeps intrigue, and gives the reader’s imagination time needed in order to catch up.
Worth reading. Not an ordinary tale. Keeps intrigue, and gives the reader’s imagination time needed in order to catch up.
March 26, 2026
Another thriller from Delaware history
Didn't see that oming. That's the ending and another story begins. Classic juxtaposition in time in Delaware. Can't wait for Book 3
Didn't see that oming. That's the ending and another story begins. Classic juxtaposition in time in Delaware. Can't wait for Book 3
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews