Favorite Quotes:

Tonight, she and Helen would eat a small supper in silence— they had few words left to say that weren’t old and stale, used up over the years…

If he was going to be an even half-convincing minister, he was going to have to curb his vulgar habit of cursing.

But then the conversation took an even more horrifying turn. “Are you married, Gabriel?”

Suspicion had followed her about like a cloud threatening rain…


My Review:

This clever wordsmith is exceptionally skilled at creating and maintaining an eerie and smoky atmosphere that was taut with tension and unease yet pregnant with an odd and incongruent mixture of hopeful anticipation and nightmarish dread. Strange incidents, ghastly crimes, and gruesome discoveries were occurring at an advancing rate, it quickly became quite clear that something vile and sinister was settling over the narrow and backward little hamlet of Pale Harbor.

The elements of mystery and suspense were well-crafted and exceptionally well-paced as the creepiness factor zigged and zagged unexpectedly with sudden leaps and abrupt interruptions. I was riveted to my Kindle. And amid all these alarming and bizarre occurrences, a romance blossomed between the new minister who frequently swore and delivered abysmal sermons – although not at the same time - and the town outcast and suspected witch/murderess. It was divine. In addition to an engaging read and a day's worth of entertainment, I also gleaned new knowledge as I was compelled to consult Mr. Google about transcendentalism and Unitarianism, which apparently resulted in falling through a wormhole and losing track of a significant chunk of time, funny how that happens.

( 2.5 Stars )

Judging the Book by its Cover
Hester Fox wooed me with The Witch of Willow Hall . I fell for the way she creates an eerie and haunting atmosphere in her writing and could tell from the cover that this book would be similar.

Book Review
I wasn't immediately drawn into this story as I expected I would be, but it didn't take long before I felt its grip. The isolation of a widow in a castle, the awkwardness of a wayward minister, and then creepy circumstances that keep happening to draw the two of them together, Fox does a great job created a classic gothic atmosphere and it weighs heavy in the background of this story.

But, while I liked the overall story and the characters, I grew kind of bored with things after a while and it took me a long time to get through the story. Interesting and creepy things kept happening, but so did guilt riddled lusting and while I initially liked those two characters coming together and the rippled effect their union caused in the small town, I also felt a little sidelined with these actions and felt like it took away from the mystery and the strange happenings.

I don't know why it can't be both, maybe it didn't feel properly balanced for me? Or more likely, it felt a bit too insta-love and that soured my enjoyment of the union. It ended up dragging a lot for me through the middle and when things finally started to wrap up, my interest in the story had deeply waned.

The ending was pretty lukewarm; the villain wasn’t totally transparent, but was an early suspect, the motivation wasn’t necessarily my favourite, and there was a nice bow tied tightly around everything in the end. Not my favourite kind of ending. I wanted to love this and expected a bit more from it, but other than the spooky literary ties, there wasn’t a whole lot else to this for me.

In The Widow of Pale Harbor, we have a man who moves to a ghostish town, meets the woman everyone refers to as a witch, and weird things go from there. The man is compelled by this women and several times he considers the idea that she's a witch, because he's basically obsessed with her. While I did like Fox's previous book, The Witch of Willow Hall, this book wasn't quite as good as I was expecting. I didn't feel quite as pulled in with it, and I didn't find myself caring about the mysterious "witch" and her doings. That in no way means it's not a good book. The writing is superb, and the characters are dynamic. However, for me, it just...wasn't. But Fox has proved herself as an amazing writer, so I will absolutely keep reading in the future.

3/5 Stars

Hester Fox does it again with this mesmerizing and spooky novel, perfect for the fall and Halloween holiday. The Widow of Pale Harbor is a thrilling and riveting novel that opens with an ominous tone that carries throughout the novel until the very end, keeping the reader at the edge. In this little town off the harbor, Fox does a brilliant job creating a spooky atmosphere with the description of the fog, rolling hills, and landscape that submerges the reader in the world.

The additional element of combining Edgar Allan Poe’s work into the piece to haunt the characters was well executed. Fox brings each selected piece to life with a literal interpretation, allowing the reader to see the unimaginative mind of the villain who is using the murders to taunt and haunt the protagonist. It is not apparent at first, but for readers who are fans of Poe’s work and familiar with his stories, they will be able to see the connection between the acts of crime and the stories. While literal, the allusions to the stories bring about a deeper meaning to the characters. It highlights the spook factor for the reader and raises the tension between the characters.

Along with the tension, the pacing is fantastic. The Widow of Pale Harbor is a story that relies on its even pacing to keep the tension engaging, and Fox has done that exceptionally well. Fox ensures that the character dynamics grow throughout the novel. Their dynamics shift and grow in realistic ways as the story progresses, evolving their relationships. The relationships help the characters see past the tragedies of their respective pasts and grow beyond them. It is realistic, and the way the story evolves keeps the narrative and plot grounded, working to make it even more compelling.

Hauntingly beautiful and exquisitely told. Hester Fox's Second novel is as stunning and atmospheric as her first. The perfect story to kick off your fall reading, an absorbing tale full of mystery and gloom with a Gothic vibe. Miss Fox's elegant and descriptive writing completely transported me too 1840s Pale Harbor, Maine. A small town brimming with Mystery and secrets. When Gabriel arrives in town determined to redeem himself, he finds himself caught up in The town's gossip, rumors, and accusations. Sophronia has been a reclusive since the death of her husband, a death that the town seems to blame her for. When Gabriel meets Sophronia he is immediately taken with her and when strange things start happening and Sophronia is blamed he is determined to prove the town wrong.

 I was completely swept away by this mesmerizing story. Sophronia was such a remarkable character, A beautiful soul with a quiet grace that completely drew me in. Gabriel was wounded and flawed as well as strong and supportive. All the creepy happenings around town were somehow tied to the writings of Edgar Allan Poe. I was not previously tremendously familiar with Poe's works, but WOW he was so twisted! I thought this was done so well and added an additional haunting layer to the story. An evocative story, equal parts mystery and romance with a satisfying ending.

This book in three emojis: 🌫 🥀 🌕

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A beautifully atmospheric and mysterious story centering around Edgar Allan Poe’s prose.

THE WIDOW OF PALE HARBOR is the type of book I love. It has wonderfully engaging characters, a mystery needing to be solved, a touch of romance, and a dash of the supernatural to make things that much more enjoyable.

What I really love about this book is the way the story unfolds. Through Fox’s eloquence and craft, the reader becomes immersed in the village of Pale Harbor. Instantly we are brought to a place in time where superstition and accusations of witchcraft are flying around, which is only made worse by the eerie occurrences in the town. The tension is high, and with every incident, the people in the village are getting more worried. As the author brings Gabriel and Sophronia closer together, the reader learns there is a link between Edgar Allen Poe’s dark tales and what is going on. And let me tell you this is where it gets even better.

With secrets, haunted pasts, and the fear of moving forward, THE WIDOW OF PALE HARBOR has it all. The emotion brought to the page by our characters, along with the mystery linking all those in this small village, caused me not to want this story to end.

Goodreads:
The end of the book was pretty darn good (I'd call it 4 stars) but the rest of it was so slow-moving and dull I almost didn't get there! The mystery is more mysterious than it appears through most of the book. I just wish the rest of it had better pacing, characterization, etc... Other readers might find the pacing and atmosphere more to their liking.

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Instagram:
Took The Widow of Pale Harbor to the Arboretum with me. There weren’t a lot of fall colors yet but just look at this canopy of trees!
This is a #historic #mystery set in the 1800s in Maine. Personally I found the pacing to be too slow with what appeared to be an obvious conclusion. A creative and fast-paved ending saved this for me but I wish that had been more present in the rest of the book. If you like a slow burn, this might be for you. Thank you to the publisher Graydon House for the advanced copy via @netgalley.
#bookstagram #instabook #bookblogger #booklover #bookalicious #bookaholic #kindlepaperwhite #booksinthewild #avidreader #bookish #bookworm #lovereading #bibliophile #bookaesthetic #instareads #arboretum

A minister who escapes to a small town in Maine. A widow who everyone accuses of being a witch. A maid who is obsessed with her mistress even more than Rebecca's Mrs. Danvers.

The Widow of Pale Harbor is a gothic novel that takes elements from other classic stories (Sleepy Hollow, Rebecca, etc).

Gabriel Stone is Pale Harbor's new minster. As he goes to meet the townspeople, they warn him of the witch in the castle. The witch 'killed her husband' and 'tortures the town.' The witch is in fact the beautiful Sophronia who most likely lived with severe anxiety and agoraphobia.

Sophronia and Gabriel meet and fall into an easy friendship that helps them both open up and move past their dark pasts....but this is not without issue. Someone is torturing them slowly, with dead animals and notes that connect to Edgar Allen Poe stories. Soon, people start dying and the town grows more and more convinced that it's Sophronia that's behind it all.

Hester Fox has again added a new book to the 'gothic novels' shelf that are perfect for fall reading. I am a major Hester Fox fan and can't wait to see what she dreams up next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Netgalley which I used for my review and a physical copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

​There’s no other way to put it: Hester Fox’s books are majorly creepy.

She excels at crafting an atmosphere-driven story: a gloomy setting and terrifying imagery, peppered with stops/starts/and misdirections. While reading the opening I got goosebumps because I was anticipating some upcoming terror, only to soon realize that I had been fooled. I love how Fox isn’t afraid to mess with reader’s expectations; that’s part of the unpredictability of the book and the potential scare factor, really.

As you might expect given the above, then, The Widow of Pale Harbor’s very dramatic and also pretty gory at times. It’s not a light and easy read even if the relationship between Sophronia and Gabriel—fraught as it sometimes is—offers a lovely respite from the terrors of everything else.

Those terrors? Abuse. Dead animals. Dead people.

Even other relationships in the book are scary: they’re often judgmental, suffocating, violent, or guilt-producing, all of which increase the tension in the book and lead to more questions. After all, how can Sophronia or Gabriel discover the murderer when each person in their village has her/his own motivations, fears, and secrets? The closest friend you have—or the man you’re lusting after—might be the one causing such terror in Pale Harbor.

The yikes factor’s pretty high with this one, and that might be just what you’re looking for in your October read. It’s also written by someone who obviously cares about a good scary story, who’s adept at pacing and pulling the reader from one fright to another until the book explodes like a jack in the box and the secrets come lunging out.

4 out of 5 stars.

After reading Hester Fox’s first book, Witch of Willow Hall, I was excited to read Widow of Pale Harbor. I went in knowing what to expect from the tone and pace of the book but the story seemed very different.

The book moves at a slow but building pace filled with unanswered questions and intrigue. While WoWH featured a heroine with a known magical gift, WoPH has a mystical element based more on rumor and suspicion. With bits of Edgar Allen Poe’s hair-raising and creepy tales, the Widow of Pale Harbor was perfect to read as fall sets in and Halloween approaches.

I enjoyed the romance in this book immensely. I really wanted Gabriel and Sophronia to get together and the suspense union was perfectly paced. Both have a tragic back story that is explained in parts throughout the book, making their actions more and more understandable and relatable.

The only reason I gave this book 3.5 stars instead of 5 stars is the middle section. I found the beginning of the book and the end of the book engaging and compelling, but in the middle the story seemed to slow and get a little muddied. The romance overtook the mystery but didn’t really progress in a significant way. Just a little bit of editing would have helped make this story much more

The Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I mean, how can you go wrong with a book that takes you back in history, has a touch of romance, a dash of Poe, and a healthy dose of murder mystery?! I couldn’t put it down, and tore through it with abandon.

I found the characters well developed and like-able, to the point where I actually wished the book was longer so I could get to know them on an even deeper level.

There was also a healthy dose of suspense that kept me turning the pages, itching to find out who was responsible for terrorizing the sleepy little ocean town of Pale Harbor, Maine.

The 1846 scene was also set so well you could practically feel the drizzle on your face as you wrapped your cloak tighter around yourself and hurried from one end of town to the other, dodging muddy splashes from passing carriages on your way.

I definitely recommend you add this one to your October reading list. It was the perfect book for curling up in front of the fire, while the wind whipped the changing leaves outside. I’m now looking forward to reading the author’s first book, The Witch of Willow Hall.

The Widow of Pale Harbor offers a unique blend of creepy mystery surrounded by a touching romance.

Sophronia is the widow. Everyone in the little Massachusetts town of Pale Harbor thinks she killed her husband. And that she is a witch. She has secluded herself in Castle Carver, with her maid and close companion, Helen.

Strange things begin to happen in town--witchlike things. Dead animals and such. Sophronia finds strange messages and dead ravens outside her door. Who is doing this?

Gabriel is running from his past and trying to fulfill his dead wife's wishes by becoming the pastor of a small church in Pale Harbor. When he meets Sophie, he feels an instant attraction. Sophie's gardener dies because of a weird fall, and of course, everyone in town thinks Sophie killed him. Gabriel tries to convince the townspeople that Sohpie is innocent -- of everything. But the strange incidents continue to escalate, and Sophie and Gabriel realize every event can be linked to one of Edgar Alan Poe's popular stories.

Gabriel's and Sophie's relationship begins to heat up, as Helen becomes more and more distraught. Sophie is actually leaving the house at times, which means Helen can no longer protect her. The tension builds slowly as the romance heats up. It becomes a fight for survival--and true love.

The characters are deftly described, and I was cheering on their romance (as well as their survival!) The culprit is not clear until the end, and I was surprised. The pace isn't breakneck but moved enough to keep my interest. I was pleased with how quickly I moved through The Widow of Pale Harbor. It is an average length book (which in this day of bloated behemoth books is a good thing!)

If you like a dark, mysterious drama, with a strong romantic element, The Widow of Pale Harbor is your book!

This story had a really dark feel to it. I Imagined everyday being overcast and gloomy. It really helped to set the stage for a witch historical thriller. Strange things are happening and at first I thought I knew what was going on, but I quickly found out that nothing was as it seemed. The ending really caught me off guard. Didn't think it was going to be the person it was. You really need to read this book and find out who did it for yourself.

I really wanted to love The Widow of Pale Harbor. The synopsis was really strong and I was excited to read about witches, murder, and Edgar Allan Poe. Unfortunately the book just did not deliver. There was an unnecessary romance plot line and for me, it derailed the rest of the story. There was also not enough mention of witchcraft and the murders were not scary or intriguing at all. Overall, quite disappointing.

Written by Heather Fox (author of The Witch of Willow Hall), The Widow of Pale Harbor follows Sophronia, whom the town believes to be a witch, and Gabriel Stone, the new minister in the town who has a history he is trying to hide.

This novel was well written and flowed, keeping the reader entertained. This is a historical fiction novel. With that, this has far less fantasy elements (one character seems to do magic, but it isn’t like her other novel) and is pushed forward by the characters.



I enjoyed the two main characters a lot – it is a romance after all – and kept reading because of them. The mystery in this story is dark, and there is some violence at the end. But, with that, I really enjoyed this novel overall.

If you enjoyed her last novel, you may like this novel. If you like historical fiction set in the USA. There is a very sweet romance in this novel. Very much a historical fiction novel, so if you don’t like that genre, you probably won’t like this novel.

I was given a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Date: September 24, 2019Author: Tiffany 0 Comments — Edit

“As the incidents escalate, one thing becomes clear: they are the work of a twisted person inspired by the wildly popular stories of Mr. Edgar Allan Poe.” This line was all it took for me to quickly request this book from NetGalley! Ok, that might not be strictly true, because LOOK AT THAT COVER!

This is a lovely little gothic mystery, perfect for fall (if that’s your thing, I usually prefer my gothic novels in spring, but we all know I’m weird)! Gabriel Stone and Sophronia Carver are not who they seem to be. Sophronia, the lonely widow, living in Castle Carver, rarely ventures outside of the house and never off the property where she is Safe. Gabriel, a humbug pastor, has just moved to Pale Harbor and is quickly introduced to the vicious rumors surrounding Sophronia and the death of her husband. “As the incidents escalate”, Gabriel (who does not believe the rumors) partners with Sophronia to find just what is happening, who is doing it, and what their problem with the young widow is.

I had such a hard time putting my Kindle down! I could have read this in one very long sitting, if I didn’t have a TinyHuman to keep alive. The main mystery here involves a number of incidents based on the writing of Edgar Allan Poe. Not having read *all* of Poe’s work, I didn’t immediately recognize every clue. The characters where nice enough to sit down and puzzle out a list! I’m not one to read a mystery with the intent of solving it, and the reveal was very well done. There were plenty of clues along the way for the amateur detective reader to figure it out.

The setting of this book definitely drew me even further into the tale. Like all good Gothic stories, it is set in a rainy, often foggy town. This one happens to also be along a coast, complete with creepy lighthouse! And as anyone familiar with Stephen King’s work knows, rural Maine is the perfect place to spend some time if you want to feel eerie and a little creeped out.

I enjoyed the romance aspect in this book. Both Sophronia and Gabriel have secrets. Their hearts are telling them to jump into the relationship with full abandon. Their heads, on the other hand, remember past hurts, know they are hiding a part of themselves, and recognize the other is hiding things too. In other words, it’s complicated. But, as a bonus to the reader, there are two more secrets to ferret out in this book, and neither is quite what you think at first.

BOOK STATS:
Title: The Widow of Pale Harbor
Author: Hester Fox
Pages: 384
Age level: Adult (Older Young Adults)
Illustrated: No
Who I would give this book to: Gothic fiction lovers
Setting: Maine, 1846
Favorite Character(s): Sophronia Carver
Favorite Moment: When Sophronia finds out just how far Helen was willing to go for her.
Rating: 4 stars
Book Source: NetGalley

After this last book (and in tandem with her first), I am a Hester Fox superfan. I adore her books. Her settings are just borderline creepy enough to make me want to visit; her characters are fun and complex; her mysteries are layered and intriguing. I hope there will many, many more foggy tales set along creepy woods populated by maybe ghosts.

The Widow of Pale Harbor was pitched as gothic suspense/historical fiction. Set in 1846 Maine, the tale begins when Gabriel arrives to fill the slot as minister in this tiny seaside town. He arrives during a brutal storm and finds disturbing items left at the altar. While getting to know his new congregation, he is told to watch out for The Widow Carter, a recluse who locals believe killed her husband in cold blood.

Her housemate and servant, Helen, does nothing to thaw the villagers perceptions, keeping Sophronia Carver at home and protected through use of herbal spells and bindings.

Someone is leaving dead birds, threatening notes and other totems at window Carver’s house; at the same time strange things are happening in the village and all are blaming Widow Carver, calling her a witch.
While Gabriel is enchanted by Widow Carver, he manages to put his foot in his mouth and make himself misunderstood for the first few meetings. Sadly, that’s where the romance takes over and the mystery takes a back seat.

Even when Gabriel’s secret is found out by the Widow, it does nothing to dissipate their newly found attraction. The story had an interesting loop into Edgar Allan Poe to help lead us to the culprit and tie the clues together.

This was a romantic suspense novel, heavy on the romance, very very light on the suspense. A nice light read on a rainy weekend.

“Something wet trickled down her wrist. She stared at her shaking hands as if they belonged to someone else. Blood.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Someone is committing horrific crimes inspired by the works of Edgar Allen Poe and the townspeople suspect the reclusive widow (and supposed witch) Sophronia Carver. Gabriel, the new town minister, resolves to find the culprit and bring him (or her) to justice. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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If you haven’t seen it yet, the cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous. It’s Gothic and atmospheric, and it attracted me at once. Similar to the cover, Hester Fox’s writing is Gothic and atmospheric and fabulous. She has an unbelievable ability to transport her readers to a different time. I loved that I could feel and see Pale Harbor. Unfortunately, that was about all I loved here. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The overall tone of the book is definitely romantic and not creepy. Where I expected more of an engaging, thoughtful mystery, I ended up with a story of love and betrayal. As an aside, I want to point out that I thought Hester Fox’s first book (“The Witch of Willow Hall”) was an excellent blend of mystery and romance - proof that I can read more than just your typical death/destruction story! This book, however, was definitely a romance with a teensy bit of mystery sprinkled in. Too much kissing and not enough killing..but, hey, that's just my opinion.
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Although “The Widow of Pale Harbor” didn’t live up to my expectations, I enjoyed it and would give it 3/5 stars If you like historical fiction and romance with a pinch of mystery, this one might be for you! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The Widow of Pale Harbor is marketed as domestic suspense, historical fiction, and gothic. I would certainly agree with the historical fiction and gothic labels, and while there is suspense, it is overshadowed by romance. The romance moves a little too quickly, and most times, it felt like the author's focus was all about Gideon and Sophronia being so smitten with each other. On the mystery side of things, such as they are, I really liked the tie-in to Poe, although this doesn't pack the same punch as Poe's work. Despite getting so much romance when I expected a mystery, the story held my attention, and the characters were interesting. Helen, in particular, was an intriguing character to read. I suppose she technically should've been a secondary character, but she kind of stole the show for me. Hester Fox does weave a good tale - a little on the wordy side, but good nonetheless. In the end, this one had its positives and negatives, and for me, they balanced out, leaving me somewhere in the middle.