Member Reviews
This book is the perfect fall vibe! It has corn, it has spooks, it has a bunch of weird stuff that makes it hard to sleep at night. I mean, it's got it all. At first, I was a little suspicious of where we were going with the spiritism and all that jazz, but she NAILED it and the ending was superb. As always with a dual timeline, I started off enjoying the past story best, but by the end was totally into the contemporary storyline. The two tangled together in a way I did not see coming, and, as per usual with Jaime Jo Wright, I had absolutely no clue who was the bad guy until the end of the story. I am so good at guessing antagonists in suspense (I'm pretty sure I have at least a silver medal in the sport) but she gets me every time. There were even a couple other plot twists that I did not see coming but that I cannot speak of because it will be a spoiler, but they got me good. Perliett was a fun character to follow around and her annoyance with George was hilarious. Molly is such a touching, heart-breaking character that you'll just love to know.
Haunting at Bonaventure Circus is still my all-time top favorite book by her, but if you don't mind spooky vibes, you should grab a copy of Premonition and try to solve the murders.
4.5 stars
Jamie Jo Wright it is one of my go to authors. I know I’ve mentioned it before in each review, but what I Iove about her books is how she weaves current social situations with stories of the past.
In The Premonition of Wither's Farm Wright took this reader back to 1910 to a young woman named Perliett. Perliett had hopes of becoming a doctor one day, but instead finds herself in the midst of a local murder and herself a target. Present day is the life of Molly, who has recently moved into the country, to the area from Perliett's past. Reeling from multiple miscarriages, depression and anxiety follow.
These two lives collide in a way I didn’t anticipate. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, the friendships and the how mystic/spiritualism stayed true to the times. A little slow at times but I was kept on my toes as both story lines unfolded. The characters were unique and likeable. Again, the author doesn’t hold back in describing Molly's deep hurt and feelings of worthlessness as she struggles day to day.
The conclusion and how these 2 story lines meshed fit the bill nicely. One I didn't really see coming. Premonition is Christian fiction that reflected authentic day to day struggles in a realistic manner.
Per usual, Jaime writes a solid dual time line novel where the past and the present blend together so well. There's always that spooky level with the murder mystery but at the end there is always the gospel of love and hope through Jesus.
Jamie writes about the old farmhouse so accurately and I would know because my brother bought a 100 year old remodeled farmhouse that has a celler (if you know you know) and creaky floors. And you gotta love the chickens! And myself living in the country in the middle of a cornfield, those cornfield scenes? Right on the money. 5 stars!
Another five star read. I adored the creepy elements in this book but as always Jaime Jo brings all of the story to light by the end. I wasn't certain how she was going to do it this time, but she did. You seriously can't go wrong with this author.
The Premonition at Withers Farm is a dual timeline, Christian suspense novel featuring Perliett in the early 1900s (smack in the middle of the age of Spiritualism) and Molly in the contemporary timeline.
I loved the distinct characters in Wright’s story. Perliett is playing sleuth in a murder mystery, and her mother is a medium. Molly is grieving her miscarriages, and her best friend is a riot. The men in their lives are obstinate or perplexed or mysterious or downright hunky.
As far as the murder mystery goes, with victims in both timelines but at the same farm, you can’t help but think they are connected. It's complex and intriguing .
The Christian aspect of the story has to do with true-to-life people struggling with their faith and religion. Kudos to Wright for making the Christian theme relatable to readers.
Excellent read and recommended for those who enjoy a good mystery, dual timeline stories with plenty of atmosphere, and a dash of romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2 stars.
Spoilers ahead. I will not reveal anything big - most of the review vaguely alludes to plot, structure, and characters.
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The premise of this book is what got me to pick thus up - I am a sucker for mysticism, spiritualism, and crime all rolled into one. I found the pacing to lag at times, and felt like I had to slog through some parts to get to the good parts. I liked the mystery and felt like things were not too heavy-handed. My biggest issue besides pacing is totally a personal thing - I did not realize this was a "Christian Fiction" book when I began it. I deeply dislike having religion meshed into my narratives in such an overt way - especially the misogynistic and hateful Old Testament style of Christianity, which I avoid on principle. But writing about women's "instinctual obedience" to men immediately knocks stars off for me. It's gross. But if your beliefs align with those of the subset of Christianity described in this book, maybe it's for you.
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Again, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was my fourth Jaime Jo Wright book and she never fails to creep me out! I really enjoy the suspense and chilling nature of her books. This was the most intense of the four I've read so far. I loved following Perliett and Molly, who both live in a small farming town in the midwest, but a century apart. Both story lines had moments that gave me goosebumps and made me put the book down for a moment.
Both of our main characters are dealing with intense grief. Perliett from the loss of her father. Molly from the loss of four miscarriages. I always love books that deal with grief and the ways it affects someone's life. I was a bit nervous that the past story line dealt with spiritualism, but really appreciated where JJW took it and her emphasis on how searching after spirits rather than after God is ultimately a fruitless endeavor. I really liked the faith elements of both women's stories.
I always love seeing how the two time lines come together. I was surprised at the reveal of the mystery in both.
Overall I really loved this book and am excited I still have a few more Jaime Jo Wright books on my shelves to read.
Thanks NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for a copy of this book. All opinions are my honest response after reading this book.
A riveting page turner that has been one of my quickest reads in a long time.
Jaime jo Wright has a unique way of using the dual timeline to the advantage of building suspense.
And she always delivers on books with a downright spooky setting.
I loved the hero from the historical timeline the most! I just love how that one was perfectly charged with undertones of chemistry.
The contemporary story line was a really interesting take that you don't see often. There was tension of a different kind between the couple, but I equally riveted.
With some parts of the ending I wished for a bit more explanation. And my thoughts on the who done it are to spoilery to be shared.
Still a good read. And I did enjoy it.
If you want a book that has the feel of the supernatural spooky setting. Definitely give Jaime's books a try!
I recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. All opinions are honest and completely my own.
This dual-timeline story had me on the edge of my seat more than once. The story bounces between 1910 and the present day. The Cornfield Ripper in 1910 remained an unsolved mystery until a curious researcher uncovered too much in present-day times. The author did a great job of weaving the two timelines together. I was intrigued by the events in both but wondered how it would all come together.
Perliett is a self-proclaimed healer in 1910 and her head butting with Dr. George Wasziak provided some lightheartedness to a dark story. More than once, he threatened to burn her apothecary box. Yet, it is Perliett he calls on when a young woman is found murdered and he needs help preparing the body for burial. When the dead woman's sister turns up dead a short time later it rocks this small midwest farming community on its heels. Nothing like that ever happened there. Then Perliett's mother, who claims she can communicate with spirits in the afterlife gets involved in trying to contact the murdered girl. A stranger shows up at the same time and interjects himself into all of the conjurings.
Moving forward to the present day, the farm where the two murdered girls had lived is bought by Trent and Molly. Trent is a died-in-the-wool farmer. He loves everything about it. Molly is suffering from deep depression after miscarrying three babies. Then she starts seeing visions of dead people. It doesn't help that the basement of the old farmhouse is built from discarded tombstones. I thought that was a great little twist. The author kept me guessing to the very end about the identity of the murderer in 1910 as well as the murderer, who was also an arsonist in present-day. If you like stories that will spook you more than a little, have great unexpected twists and satisfying endings, you will enjoy this book.
This was my first book by Wright. Known for her gripping mysteries, Wright takes the reader to a small farm town in Michigan with a big history of murder.
This novel is written in a dual timeline. Perilett, a rural healer, in the early 1900s; and Molly, a struggling wife, who recently moved into Withers Farm and finds a dead woman in the cornfield.
Both women try to investigate and untangle the clues of the murderer, but end up in a dangerous web. Perilett doesn’t know who to trust, and Molly continues to find family connections that leave her with more questions than answers.
I enjoyed this read. A perfect book for those of you who enjoy a murder mystery with a touch of faith and spiritualism. This book is a murder mystery, thus it contains violence. (As expected). Readers should also know that one of the main characters is struggling with the loss of her pregnancies. Even though this is a heartbreaking topic, Wright shows the stages of grief with realism and grace.
Author Jaime Jo Wright does it again! A truly spooky, dual time read that will keep your attention, (Wright always has a Christian thread throughout her books. She deals with the subject of seances and does it well.)
The Premonition at Withers Farm has great characters that you will develop a heart for. Present day Molly and her husband struggle with their relationship, due to miscarriage and depression. Wright handles it honestly yet with grace and hope. 1910 Perliett Van Hilton is the target of a killer. Will she survive? Molly digs into records to find out what happened.
Twists and turns, mystery and intrigue, if you enjoy Christian suspense then I highly recommend this one!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Intense, dark and gripping; this book will keep you in suspense until the last page. Spanning two time periods, two womens stories ultimately intertwine with each other. Shrouded in mystery three women are murdered with no suspect in sight. Two women are haunted by ghosts of the past. All is not as it seems and faith is needed to survive. I'll definitely be reading more books by this author!
I've read all of Jaime Jo Wright's books to date, and was really excited for this release.
It certainly fits the bill of a perfectly creepy, perfectly Halloween read--as basically all of her books do and are!
But, I didn't care for it as much as I do her others. I think this largely stems out of the inclusions of seances and many a discussion of them. (I must be quick to note that she handles the topic well, especially as the book goes on. Have no fear on the theological front. My issue is more for me, myself, personally--do I need to read about it? I'm not convinced. Certainly not at bedtime. Which I know from reading her other books, haha--but that didn't stop me this time! Whoopsie!)
It took a good third of the book before I really felt invested in the read and characters. Once that happened, bam--I was hooked to the end! I was surprised it took that long based on past experience, but it did come, so if you're a JJW fan and wondering the same, keep at it.
The book isn't for everyone--as most books aren't--but it was ultimately worth the read after I pressed through. Will I pick it up again? Not sure; I'd prefer to re-read one of her others first. But, there were some absolute theological gems here, too.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The story has a split timeline and the author has such a smooth way of connecting all the dots. If you like spooky, eerie murder mystery reads, then hold on for a thrilling ride. And what a ride it is. We have a serial killer hiding among the Michigan cornfields of 1910 and a murder in the same farming community in the present day. Is there any connection between the murders? Impossible! This book is so interesting. It has many factions, intriguing suspense and a glimpse into the spirit world, grief, depression and the afterlife. Altogether Wright has written a winner in my opinion. I anxiously await her next book as she is one of my favorites…..I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.
I’ve got the perfect fall book recommendation for you: The Premonition at Withers Farm!
I absolutely loved this dual time, slightly creepy book 😆 I’ve read many of Jaime’s novels and they always have just the right amount of spook-factor. This one had me glued to the book and flipping pages faster and faster to figure out just what was going on!
With a tagline like: “The voices of the past cannot stay silent forever.” I think you know you’re in for something good! This book was definitely creepier to me for some reason - perhaps because I was reading it at a lake house at night? But either way, I loved how the author combined both stories to intermingle (as she usually does) and how she worked in faith without shying away from the super natural - as it is real too.
I definitely recommend this to all, but some more sensitive readers may find some of the more "spooky" sections a bit much? Or best to read during the day? For me, it wasn't too much, but just enough to give me a chill.
I love everything Jamie Jo writes so I can highly recommend this as having an amazing ending and also a beautiful faith thread that wraps everything up.
My rating: 5*
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Thanks to the publisher for gifting me an advanced reading copy. All opinions are my own.
The cover and description of The Premonition at Withers Farm promised a perfect novel for Halloween season, and author Jaime Jo Wright crafted a story that is both spooky and has substance.
While published as Christian fiction, it would be enjoyed by readers who are looking for an atmospheric novel without gore and other horror elements. Ms. Wright is a trailblazer in creating a "creepy suspense" subgenre within a genre that isn't known for this type of story. In her trademark style, this is a dual timeline plot set in Michigan.
The 1910 storyline centers around Perliett VanHilton, a young woman who considers herself a healer, quietly questions the authenticity of the seances her mother conducts in their home, and mourns her father. When two sisters are murdered, everyone in their quiet community is on edge. And then a disturbing discovery is found on Perliett's porch, pulling her even deeper into the mysteries deaths. Will she be the next to die?
In the current timeline, Molly Wasziak is the main character, and her life is nothing like she imagined it would be. She and her high-school-sweetheart husband are very distant in their marriage, they have experienced several heartbreaking miscarriages, and they just bought an old farmhouse that has mismarked gravestones as part of its foundation.(!) When Molly begins seeing and sensing unexplained things, she fears she is losing her fragile grip on reality.
I rarely award books five stars, but this one deserves it. I was deeply invested in this reading experience to the point of avoiding having my back to any dark hallways thanks to a deep feeling of unease. I appreciated how well the two timelines were connected, and the creepy nursery rhyme "Who killed Cock Robin?" was woven perfectly into the novel (see my second photo to read part of it) Molly's losses were addressed tenderly yet realistically; the topic could be triggering to some readers.
Many thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for the review copy of this delightfully creepy read.
Oh my goodness, this one was chillingly creepy. But it was also so very good!! I loved the dual times and how they tied so well together. Each couple and their story was so very well developed and nothing was left unanswered. I loved how faith wrapped in and through the spiritualist portions of the story and how Jaime gave answers for all questions anyone might have concerning it. The heartbreak of each story was perfectly created and realistic. This is what makes me such a fan of Jaime's, she creates stories that are not only rooted in truth but also in reality. It was a perfect fall/ Halloween read and I definitely recommend it to those looking for a story with depth and excellent plot.
I received this temporary complimentary ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. I am not required by anyone to write a positive review but am most pleased to do so. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
How does she do it?!?!?! Jaime seems to somehow up the depth and complexity of both her characters & plot with every new book!! And they were brilliant to begin with! And this one…
I simply don’t have words for this book… and I’m really struggling not to give spoilers… all the things I want to rave about are crazy spoilers!! It’s that sort of book! So I’ll just say the suspense was brilliant & I never saw THAT ending coming (in either timeline). But there were also some beautiful emotional moments too… And the characters… sigh! 😍 Molly’s journey with grief might just be one of the most authentic depictions of grief I’ve found in a novel & I really related to her.
I simply can NOT recommend this novel enough, but that recommendation does come with a warning… DO NOT read it in the dark!!!😂 I think this just might be Jaime’s creepiest book yet!! But don’t be put off by that… there’s always an explanation… so while it may creep you out while reading, you’re never left creeped out at the end! The perfect balance in my opinion!
Thank you so much @jaimejowright @bethanyhousefiction and @netgalley for the ARC. I was only asked to share an honest review in return & here you have it… I loved every second of it!!
Jaime Jo Wright has outdone herself with this story! She is a master of split time, suspense stories that grab the reader from the first page and pull them into a story that twists, flips, and loops you around until all the pieces fall into place in the last few pages for a most satisfying finish. God's love and supremacy thread through the whole story, showing how God is in control and weaving a magnificent picture that each person gets to be a part of. With detailed research the story leaps off the pages and takes the reader on a journey of tingling thrills, dangerous trips, and self discovery. 2 women, divided by over a century of time, need to find the strength to face a dangerous hunter who has already claimed lives. Will they be able to see through the deception around them to unmask the killer in time? Or will they face the same fate as those who went before them? Through it all they will need to learn how to trust in the God who controls everything and the people who love them most. Their independence could come at a steep cost they are not able to pay. The characters step into the reader's imagination and pull you into their worlds. With delightfully quirky personalities, they felt like a close friend sitting down and chatting with me. I have enjoyed all the books I have read by Jaime Jo Wright, but this one definitely tops the pile. I am already looking forward to the next great adventure she takes me on! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Wow! Wow! Wow!! The Author has done it again!! I just absolutely love everything she has written and just when I think it can't get any better.......BAM!!! She does it again! Run, don't walk, to get a copy of this book!! Stunning!!!