Review of advance reader’s eBook

Helen and Nate Wetherell have comfortable lives. Both work at Connecticut’s exclusive Palmer Academy, she teaching history while Nate teaches science. They’ve finally gotten the condominium they’d been on the waiting list for, but with commuting, paper-grading, and monthly bills, they found themselves wishing for a simpler life.

So they pursued their dream of living in the country, purchasing forty-four acres of rural land in Vermont where they could build a modest home far from the hustle and bustle of suburbia. But there’s a dark history attached to the land they’ve purchased, and soon Helen finds herself intrigued . . . and consumed . . . by the history of the land and the legend of Hattie Breckenridge, the woman who’d lived and died there a century earlier.

When things begin to disappear and it becomes clear that some people do not want them there, Helen and Nate begin to wonder if they’ve made a mistake. But they continue their building, not knowing that, as Helen finds locally-sourced items for the house, the dream home they’re building is, in actuality, a house haunted by three generations of Breckenridge women who have an as-yet undefined purpose.

Intriguing characters and a strong sense of place help to create the eeriness that pervades this ghostly tale. Although there are moments of grim horror in the actions of some characters, this is far from a horror story. Rather, it is a captivating ghost story, a mystery, a bit of a thriller. It’s exquisite story-telling. It’s a tale that keeps the pages turning and pulls the reader into the mystery. Dark secrets, unexpected twists, and surprising reveals offer readers a promise that the spookiness will continue to swirl through the unfolding story.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Doubleday Books and NetGalley
#TheInvited #NetGalley

The Invited was my third novel by Jennifer McMahon and I thoroughly enjoyed it. McMahon has a true gift for creating a creepy, Gothic atmosphere. The supernatural is always present, but doesn't overwhelm the story. The living characters are always the center of the story and are captivating. I loved the sweet relationship between Helen and Nate at the beginning of the novel. I appreciated the progression of how that relationship evolved as Helen got more deeply obsessed with Hattie Breckenridge, the "witch" who used to live on the land where Nate and Helen are building their dream home. Is her ghost real or is Helen losing it? Or is it something more sinister? Nate's obsession with a rare deer is also indicative of how well-developed Jennifer McMahon's characters are. Nate, as a naturalist, and Helen as a historian both become obsessed with things that are in line with their personal interests and have a wedge of distrust driven into their relationship as a result of this.

The third main character of The Invited is Olive, a teenager whose mom left Olive and her dad a year before. Olive is determined to find Hattie Breckenridge's supposedly hidden treasure, thinking perhaps finding the treasure will bring her mom back to the family as finding it was a dream of her's as well.

The Invited is a ghost story, not necessarily a horror. Therefore, there is not a lot of murder and gore as the story moves along. There are not a lot of action scenes, but rather a slowly unfolding mystery based in local history. The pace perfectly lends itself to what readers generally expect to see in Gothic novels like Jane Eyre, Rebecca, or We Have Always Lived In The Castle. I, personally, loved the pace. Each time I picked it up to read, I had a very difficult time putting it down.

Thanks to NetGalley, Doubleday Books and Jennifer McMahon for my advanced ecopy of this novel. I will be recommending it to anyone who loves a good Gothic mystery.

We have all read books about people who buy houses that are haunted, but it is not every day that we get stories about people who BUILD haunted houses. That is exactly what happens when Helen and Nate move from their ordinary lives in Connecticut to the woods of Vermont.

The land they purchase comes with a long history that will remind you of the Salem witch trials, though it happens in Vermont and WAY later than Salem. Both Nate and Helen seem to be drawn into the oddities of the land immediately. Helen goes as far as to incorporate tragic pieces of history into the building of their new home. Soon their lives are becoming entwined with the ghosts of the past.

I enjoyed this book for what it was...a ghost story. None of the characters is very likable and the story line gets pushed along with some questionable plot devices. I can't say that I was ever truly surprised by any of the events in the book, but it was a fun/scary indulgence. If you don't mind ghost stories in which the ghost is really just a ghost then you will like this. There is never any doubt as to the nature of the spirits, but following along as Helen discovers the secrets of the past is part of the fun.

This book was awesome. It starts off with Hattie outside working in her yard. Her daughter Jane comes running up crying . The town is following her. Hattie had told the town that the school was going to burn but she did not know how as she could see future but could not see enough to stop it. Town hangs Hattie. Jane hides while town hangs her Mother. Flash forward almost 100 years. Ollie a young girl is having a tough time in school. rumors around town are her Mother ran off with a man. There is 2 new people who bought the land where Hattie use to live. Ollie has been searching that land her whole life for treasure. Hattie was suppose to have treasure.
Hellen the new lady who bought the land is obsessed with Hattie . Her husband Nate is obsessed with a white deer he sees. Everyone tries telling Nate be careful that deer is Hattie she will hurt him. Hellen finds all of Hattie's relative's old stuff buys it and puts it into the house they are building . Nate says she is building a shrine to the old lady.. She says she has to find Hattie's one living person and save them . She has to figure out who it is before they die in a bad way too.
I recommend this book. This was one of the greatest books.

I couldn’t put this book down. Great ghost story with some tragedies and mystery. It’s not horror story so you don’t have to be scared. Like always Jennifer McMahon didn’t disappoint me.

I started this book with high expectations. I’m a fan of the author and do love a good thriller. The Invited was a good book, not a great book. The story concept was intriguing, a bit thriller, a bit ghost story but fell a bit flat. Characters were likable and annoying at the same time, but well developed. The story seemed to drag periodically which would give this book a 3 1/2,stars. Honestly, I had the story mainly figured out at about 60% in, that was a disappointment.

Thank you Jennifer McMahon for filling the need of paranormal thriller! Your characters are so real, whether the living or dead variety. Learning about Hattie and her lineage was exciting. No one compares to you in our current times. Please keep writing!!!

This book was full of twist and turns. I had to keep reading. This was my first book by this author and definitely won't be my last!

This book was a solid 5 star read! This was my second read by Jennifer McMahon, my first being Winter People. She has amazing talent that never disappoints! I can't wait to see what she has next!

The family legacy, following a ghost story was what kept me up all night reading to find out what Hattie's mysteries were! Twists and turns at all the right moments to keep me guessing. THANK YOU JENNIFER MCMAHON FOR SHARING YOUR WONDERFUL TALENT WITH US!

Highly highly recommended!!! :)

Did Hattie return from the dead? Is she trying to prevent anyone from building on her land? Why is the town so suspicious of newcomers? Helen and Nate have found the perfect location for their new home thaTthey are building themselves. Odd happenings on their land and around the nearby bog seem to be encouraging them to leave their project and the town. Who is scaring them...and Why?

I loved The Invited by Jennifer McMahon! A historical ghost story at its best! McMahon introduces you to a couple that are looking for a simpler time. The couple finds a plot of land perfect for the life they are looking for and at a discount to beat! McMahon does a great job of introducing the history of the land and hooks you right into the story of Hattie and her daughter Jane. McMahon does a great job of introducing characters throughout the book that help develop the rich history behind this land and its prior inhabitants. I will definitely be recommending this book to others and will be looking forward to other Jennifer McMahon works in the future! Special thanks to NetGalley and DoubleDay Books for the Advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

#TheInvited #NetGalley

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I'm a fan of Jennifer McMahon so I knew this book would be a winner. I couldn't put this book down - I love a good ghost story, so a little scary but not scary enough so I can't sleep, and this fits the bill. Well developed characters, family secrets, missing persons, a strong storyline and just enough of a ghostly presence to be creepy. I loved this book from start to finish and was sad when it ended. 5 stars!

Helen and Nate, teachers in Connecticut, decide to give up the rat race and move to rural Vermont. They want to build their own home from the ground up, and learn to eventually live off the land. While the house is being constructed, they live in a tiny trailer on the property. As soon as they arrive and pour concrete, they start to get the definite vibe that they're not welcome. They also find out that their land is home to the local legend of Hattie Breckenridge, a woman accused of being a witch who was hung for supposedly causing a schoolhouse to burn down. Helen's history teacher heart is thrilled by the local lore, and she also thinks Hattie might be trying to communicate with her. As her research leads her to different places in town, she begins to collect things related to Hattie and her family and add the items to their new home. With each addition, she feel Hattie more and more. Hattie needs Helen's help, but getting to the answer might cost Helen everything.

This is a pretty fun traditional ghost story. It's got a fast moving plot and at times gets seriously creepy. Unfortunately the big twist was predictable early on, but it was still fun to watch it play out. The biggest disappointment is the character development. I never really connected with Helen or with Olive, and Nate was condescending and annoying. For example, at one point, he spends almost a whole paragraph explaining to Helen what a porcupine is. This is a woman who is doing her own plumbing, but she's not familiar with a porcupine? Just weird.

Overall, not bad, but not one I would run out and recommend.

Jennifer McMahon once again delivers a twisty, terrifying and enthralling read, richly peopled with strongly realized characters and set against a wonderfully evoked (creepy!) setting. Don't miss this one.

Not my favorite Jennifer McMahon, but still really enjoyable. I love the way she ties everything together.

Another amazing Jennifer McMahon book. As most of her books, The Invited is rich in the paranormal, but it isn’t a “ghost story”. Rich in history, and beautifully played out.
Nate and Helen have given up their former lives as teachers, purchased property in the Vermont woods, and set out to build their dream house. The problem is, the land is rumored to be haunted by a witch named Hattie.
The Invited unravels the mystery of Hattie and her descendants, what happened to them in the past, and where they are now. Are the townspeople and neighbors there to help Helen and Nate, or drive them away?
I don’t want to give anything away. This book took you on a walk through the woods of Vermont, and the history of the people in the novel. Jennifer McMahon always creates the most beautiful stories, and The Invited is no exception!

I first read The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon and when I found she had another book coming out I was so excited! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

There's something missing in Helen's life, and when husband Nate asks what would make her happy, she surprises herself by saying an old house in the country with lots of acreage to enjoy. But finding a house with history isn't as easy as the couple thought, so they decide to build one for themselves, a project that appeals to Helen because it reminds her of her past and how happy it'd make her builder father (may he rest in peace). And it just so happens that the plot of land they purchased, complete with a spooky bog you might recognize from the prologue, is rumored to be haunted. When unexplainable things begin to happen, some of the characters find themselves obsessed with solving the dark and chilling mystery of Hattie, a woman said to be a witch who lived and died on the land many years before.

Just like with The Winter People, I was thrilled to have glimpses into the past, which added to a haunting, modern day story-line. It starts with a frightening and heartbreaking beginning and the eeriness is carried expertly throughout. If you're looking for a creepy paranormal read that merges the past with the present, The Invited is certain to satisfy that itch! It's one of the best books I've read in a while.

Jennifer McMahon is one of my favorite authors. She captures your attention from the start and keeps it as suspense builds. I find myself unable to put her books down, as the twists and turns are thrown my way. "The Invited" did not disappoint me. I read the entire book in a day.

Helen and Nate , a married couple, move to Vermont from CT after Helen's father passes away and leaves her an inheritance. With the money they buy a plot of land getting an extremely good deal and decide to build their own house. After moving, strange things keep occurring, as Helen discovers the lands Haunted past. She becomes obsessed with learning everything she can about Haddie, the woman that haunts her, and her family. Haddie is trying to warn her about something, but what is it?

Helen's quest for answers and her discoveries make an interesting read.
I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending, however. I won't write any spoilers, but I think I wasn't ready for it to end. I wanted more.

I have not read any of Jennifer McMahon previous books but this one was definitely a good one to start with. The Invited is an old fashioned ghost story set in modern times. Nate and Helen leave their safe, secure jobs and lifestyle to move to Vermont to build their dream home. After buying a beautiful and surprisingly inexpensive piece of property, they start to make their dream come true. But suddenly life becomes more of a nightmare than a dream. I loved the way McMahon merged the past and the present to create a story that draws the reader in. The Invited seemed like a true story, it could really happen! The character are real, the descriptions of the settings are vivid and the emotions aren’t exaggerated. The book is so well written that I stopped seeing the words and felt like I was watching a movie. I was there! And I did not see the ending coming! Shocker!! I gave The Invited 4 stars because I don’t care for the f bomb regardless of the situation.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon is a multi-generational ghost story told by multiple POVs. Married couple Helen and Nate leave their teaching jobs in Connecticut to live a simpler life in the country. They buy land in Vermont to build their dream home, but little do they know that the property is haunted. I found this book to be a well-crafted page turner with a nice surprise ending. Husband Nate was annoying for most of the book but easily overlooked. This is my first book by this author and I intend to read more.