Haine's writing is poetic and enchanting. Reading this book in the summer and all the description of the deep south, it felt like I'd been transported there. This second book in the series was captivating and such a fun ride! With Zelda Fitzgerald and Tallulah Bankhead as friends, well it's a story with adventure!

Violent fits and delusions soon spread from Camilla to other young ladies, and they set out to solve what is happening! With an asylum for a setting too, this book just kept me intrigued and on my toes!

I have read this author’s series featuring Sara Booth Delaney which I have very much enjoyed. Ms. Haines creates a world in these stories and readers care about her recurring characters. These titles feature a ghost and, even though I generally don’t read books with ghostly characters, I love Jitty. All of this to say that I did not know that Ms. Haines had a second series. This title is the second of those.

Protagonist Raissa is about to solve her second case with the help of her partner Reginald. Readers may well enjoy that Zelda Fitzgerald features in what transpires. Something strange is happening to Zelda’s friend Camilla and everyone wants to get to the bottom of it. What is the role of an old hospital in this? Read the novel to find out.

Those who enjoy a story with some supernatural elements may want to give this book and series a look. There are now four books in all.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Don't worry if you haven't read the first one- this lively paranormal is fine as a standalone. It's got good characters (Oh Zelda Fitzgerald) and a twisty plot. A good read.

5 Stars

This is the second book in the Pluto’s Snitch series by Carolyn Haines.

I am not sure why I have never heard of this series before. It is an amazing piece of work. I just love the whole concept of the spooky, paranormal-ish series set in the 1920’s flapper age.

Raissa James and her cohort Reginald Proctor are called in to assist the wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Zelda. Her friend, Camilla is soon to be married but when she went to the new estate her soon to be husband bought for her, she turned unexpectedly violent and tried to kill him. Now she has been put into an asylum to have part of her brain cut out to make her more docile. Zelda wants to help her friend and has called in Raissa and Reginald to figure out what is really going on.

I think I like the setting almost as much as I did the whole mystery of it all. The setting almost becomes its own entity here and I am enthralled with this new to me series. I plan on doing a marathon as soon as I can compile all the rest of the books in the series.

Loved this so much! You think you know who is involved and then there is a twist at the end that blows your theories out of the water. So good! I hope more people discover this stellar series!

If you love a good cozy mystery, you have to check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Despite some small drawbacks this is a good sophomore installment to the series, Some further illumination into Raissa, her gifts, motivations, and past would serve to flesh out the character to a far better degree. That being said, I am certain that an author of the caliber of Carolyn Haines will reveal all in her own inimitable way over the course of this series. Ms. Haines' books are always at the top of my TBR mystery pile and the Pluto Snitch series will be m exception.

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For those who like historical mystery thrillers, the second installment in the Pluto’s Snitch series by Carolyn Haines, The House of Memory may be of interest. The story is set in the 1920s, and Raissa James and Reginald Proctor, who are private detectives specializing in the occult, have been hired by Zelda Fitzgerald to help her friend, Camilla, who has been having violent fits that seem to be caused by something not of this world. Camilla has been put in an insane asylum and is scheduled to have a lobotomy – which is supposedly a new medical breakthrough. Camilla is engaged to a very rich and charming man, and her mother will stop at nothing to make sure the marriage goes through. Camilla’s mother cares nothing of her daughter, and everything for how she looks to others in society, so she is willing to sacrifice her daughter to look good.

Pluto’s Snitch, the name of the detective agency, is an interesting business, and Raissa and Reginald are willing to put themselves in danger to solve the mystery and save Camilla. They must, however, do some major sleuthing to get to the bottom of what is happing at the asylum, and they must also race against time.

The novel is well-written, easy to read and understand, and has some surprising twists and turns. Haines’ use of real people from history as her characters is interesting, and brings the novel to life. While most of the characters are quite well-defined, especially Raissa and Reginald, some of the bad guys are a bit more mysterious, which adds to the suspense.

All told, this is a fun and quick read. It will make readers want to read a bit about the historical characters, and possibly learn something. The book is clean, with no graphic violence, sex, or language, so it’s suitable for all ages.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

This book was a good mixture of parsnormal and historical fiction. Jt had multiple storylines and although it was the second book in the series it was easy to follow even though I haven't read the first book. I would recommend this book to fans of both the paranormal and historical fiction books.

Carolyn Haines first hooked us with her Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series. Now she's done it again with the Pluto's Snitch series. With main characters Raissa James and Reginald Proctor as amateur sleuths and ghost hunters, Haines takes readers on a history-rich time travel to the golden years of Zelda Fitzgerald and Tallulah Bankhead while in residence in the moss-rich deep south. Once again James and Proctor find themselves trying to solve a deadly mystery while being hampered and/or helped by spirits from beyond. Readers will find themselves caught up in the past and the writer's imagination. Her attention to detail, social customs and character development will have you snatching up a lace-trimmed hanky to wipe your glistening forehead!

This was an interesting read. Loved the main thread, the main story line, for me the secondary story did not need to be included. This would be a 5 star rating from me. But of course this is only my opinion. I was gripped with wanting to read the main story.

Author Carolyn Haines sure can spin a great Southern yarn. The House of Memory, the second book in the Pluto’s Snitch series, combines some of my favorite things – a historical setting and characters, a creepy decaying house, a good mystery (or two), and a touch of the supernatural. From the first steamy, languid summer scene moseying up the river to the tense, evil filled conclusion, I was captivated by every word.

Raissa James, war widow and modern 1920’s woman, using her ability to see ghosts, has made quite a name for herself with her investigative partner Reginald Proctor. Their PI agency, Pluto’s Snitch, which specializes in the occult, has even caught the eye of popular “it” girl Zelda Fitzgerald. Zelda hires the pair to look into events surrounding her good friend Camilla’s commitment to a mental institution. Normally very sweet natured and kind, Camilla has twice attacked her fiancé David. Her social hungry mother will do whatever it takes to ensure her daughter’s “good” marriage, even if that means Camilla undergoing a controversial lobotomy. Time is not on their side, and things become dangerous as Raissa and Rupert discover that patients and area girls are going missing and someone is trying to stop the pair by any means necessary.

I really enjoyed The House of Memory. There is a wonderful balance of mystery and paranormal. All of the characters are beautifully drawn, and I like the inclusion of real people, places, and events. I admire Raissa’s tenacity and grace, and Rupert’s debonair air is appealing. They make a good team, playing off of each other’s strengths. Zelda Fitzgerald and Tallulah Bankhead are larger than life, as they truly were, but never come across as caricatures. I could not help but root for Camilla and David, but Camilla’s mother Maude really is a selfish , narcissistic dragon of a woman. Her tie-in to the history of Roswell House is genius, and I love that she gets her due in the end.

The mystery including the local missing girls and patients is intriguing and heartbreaking in its conclusion. The thread involving Camilla is exciting and compelling. The inclusion of the ghosts and mansion that is almost alive provides a satisfying creepiness that will please lovers of Southern Gothic tales and the paranormal. The ghosts of twin girls stayed with me even after I read the last sentence.

The House of Memory is fantastic, and I highly recommend it. I hope there are many more adventures with Raissa and Rupert to come.

Needs editing. Took me three tries to get past the first few chapters, because I found the many verb tense errors so irritating. The book, the protagonists, and the premise have a great deal of promise; but parts are over-written; there are too many, indistinguishable young victims; and a couple of substantive errors. I competed the book, but won't be posting reviews.

I devoured this book. Every page and every word was as good, if not better, than the last.
I found myself thinking about it as soon as I had to put the book down and was itching to get back to it.
Absolutely loved it.

The House of Memory by Carolyn Haines is the second book in The Pluto’s Snitch series. Raissa James and Reginald Proctor are traveling toward Montgomery on a steamship for their latest case. Raissa and Reginald are partners in the Pluto’s Snitch PI Agency that specializes in the occult. Zelda Sayre (aka Mrs. F. Scott Fitzgerald) needs their help with her friend, Camilla Granger. Camilla is engaged to marry David Simpson. David was showing Camilla their new home when she became violent and attacked with him a knife. Camilla has no memory of the event. After a second incident, Camilla agreed to be admitted to Bryce Hospital. Camilla’s overbearing mother, Maude Granger will soon take drastic measures if Camilla’s situation is not rectified. While staying in Montgomery, Raissa hears about the rash of young women who have gone missing in the area and later are found deceased—and the deceased want Raissa’s help! What caused Camilla to attack her fiancé and who is hurting these young women? Tag along on Raissa and Reginald’s latest case in The House of Memory.

When I started reading The House of Memory, I was drawn into the story. After a while, though, my interest started to wane. The pace of the novel slackened and the numerous details bog down the story. An irritation (to me) is the constant repetition of information. The details of the cases are repeated over and over (it is odd, though, that we are never told what year it is). There are some good ideas present, but I just felt it needed some work (nothing a little rewriting and a good editor couldn’t fix). My rating for The House of Memory is 3 out of 5 stars. The mystery of the missing girls was straightforward and identifying the culprit was a snap. I did appreciate the mystery behind Camilla’s odd behavior. I do wish the author would have Raissa embrace her gift (and learn more about it). It feels like she is flirting with the paranormal, but is not sure if she wants to make a commitment. The House of Memory is the second book in the series, but it can be read alone. The author rehashes what occurred in The Book of Beloved. At the end of The House of Memory, we are given a glimpse at Raissa and Reginald’s next case.

Great book. I can't wait for the next one. I highly recommend.

What an unusual story. Set in the south at the in the early 20's we get to travel by riverboat to Montgomery, Alabama with Raissa and Reginald. They are joining Zelda Fitzgerald to help a young woman being possessed by an evil spirit. The story encompasses all the flavor and heat of the south and the flamboyant style of the famous Zelda. Book 2 of the Pluto's Snitch series it does stand alone but I want to read book 1. Fun read for fans of the paranormal and the early style of investigation.

I love Carolyn Haines books and this one did not disappoint. I miss Sarah Booth, but Raissa James is growing on me. As a matter of fact, I think I liked this second book in the series better than the first.

I liked the addition of Zelda Fitzgerald that gave it a little credibility, however, I know it was still fiction. I can't help it, but sometimes I wondered if Raissa had any relations to Jitty, Sarah Booth's haint. HA!

A good story with a lot of creepiness involved that I loved!

Thanks to Thomas and Mercer and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Wow! This is the first book by Carolyn Haines that I have read and what a storyteller she is! It would have been better if I had read the first story in this series before this one but I was able to understand what was the gist of the background. This is a story that takes place in Alabama in the 1920's after the Great War (WWI) during the time of flappers, prohibition, suffragettes and the modern woman.

Raissa James grew up in Savannah, Georgia but moved to Mobile after her parents died and her husband was killed in the war. She is a progressive woman who has an ability to see spirits, ghosts, haints and the dead. Her friend, Reginald Proctor, is her partner in the Pluto's Snitch Investigating Agency, specializing in the occult. While he can't see ghosts, his investigative abilities compliment hers. Most men will talk to him while they won't talk to a woman since this is a time when they are not taken seriously.

They take a case in Montgomery when the infamous Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald asks them to investigate the case of her friend, Camilla, who has been committed to a mental institution in nearby Tuscaloosa by her mother. Camilla is normally very gentle and refined but on two occasions threatened her soon to be husband, David, when they were alone at the house that David bought for them to be married in and live in after their wedding. The doctor at the facility wants to do a new and dangerous procedure on Camilla where surgery is performed on her brain. Zelda wants Raissa and Reginald to investigate the situation and find out what could have caused Camilla's behavior. Could she possessed? Raissa and Reginald find out that there is more to the story as they investigate the hospital and the house. Young teenage women are disappearing in Montgomery - Tuscaloosa area with tragic results.

This is quite an entertaining read with mystery, ghostly spirits and creepiness. Don't read this book alone at night! Ms. Haines does a great job with descriptions, details and character development. July in the deep south is extremely hot, especially in the time of no air conditioning. You can practically find the humidity reading this story. Ghost stories are popular in the south and if you enjoy reading them, check this out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to read and review.

This book has it all. A haunting we will go ! In this second book in the Pluto Snitch series the author has brilliantly woven a story set in the mysterious deep south of ghosts of murdered young women, a haunted insane asylum, an antebellum house where evil lurks, and a still-living woman threatened by human and superhuman forces. This is a classic and beautifully-crafted ghost story . It will have you leaving your light on at night !
Well done. A enjoyable fun ghost story.

Everyone loves a good creepy mystery. This book was amazing from start to finish....