Rating: 10/10
I really loved this book (I read 300 pages of it in just one day)! It switches back and forth between the perspectives a several different people and two different time periods all in West Hall, Vermont. As, 've found, it Jennifer Mcmahon's preferred style of storytelling. Which appeals to me, because it provides backstory while providing you with the main story.
It tells three different stories at the same time that all end up being connected. In modern times, Ruthie and her sister Fawn are trying to find their mother who went suddenly missing. Meanwhile, Katherine is trying to death with the death of her husband and son by moving to a new area and trying to uncover her husband’s last steps before death. At the same time, we read about Sara and Martin Shea living in back in the same place in 1908 dealing with their own challenges, particularly with a big death and the grief that follows. Each group is dealing with some harrowing experience that are all died together in some way. The fear and grief brings some together, but it tears others apart.
The whole of the book has a great deal of supernatural phenomena, coupled with some mystery. There is some weird stuff happening in West Hall Vermont, things that have a lot of supernatural bearing to them. Honestly this book had big Pet Sematary vibes with the “bringing the dead back.” I have to give this book a 10/10 because I really enjoyed it. I found it fast paced and interesting with twists and turns that keep you enrapt. There is also betrayal, anger, and some mysticism woven in for good measure. I love supernatural books especially when they give back story or have some kind of “historical” element that ties in in some way. If any of that sounds interesting, I would highly recommend you all read this book!