"The Devil and Mrs. Davenport* by Paulette Kennedy is a gripping, atmospheric novel that masterfully blends historical intrigue with supernatural elements. Kennedy's rich, evocative prose and well-drawn characters keep the reader on edge from start to finish. A captivating read that lingers long after the final page.

Mrs. Loretta Davenport is a devoted housewife, wife, and mother. When she is in bed with a fever for a few days, the household immediately goes to shit. When she is able to stand on her feet again and goes back to work, she suddenly seems to have visions and can contribute to finding a missing girl. Mr. Davenport dismisses this as hysterical female nonsense, but fortunately parapsychologist Dr. Curtis Hansen does take her gifts seriously. As Loretta develops her gifts further and gets to know herself better, Mr. Davenport becomes more and more convinced that the devil is pulling the strings here.

A really cool and surprising book. I thought it was cool to see how Loretta developed as a character against the backdrop of the American 1950s. Recommended for lovers of gothic fiction and Shirley Jackson. I read it with great pleasure!

For the most part, enjoyed the “psychic that some people actually believed in” part. The errant, controlling, and hypocritical husband part— not so much.

This story was right up my ally! The time period, characters and the plot were well written and researched. I have to say this was an amazing book to feel empowered by if you want to read a well written novel of a strong FMC who has the ability to make herself strong. This was a well thougt out book and I will highly recommend it!

I loved Loretta. Each time she deigned to fight back against her husband and society, I felt a little stronger as a woman. This was well researched; the characters, unfortunately, were written to fit the time period's expected societal roles. I am new to gothic fiction, but I feel like this book fits in the genre really well. It's sure to be in the top of 2024 lists!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this engaging story, set in the mid 1950s in Missouri. After a brief illness, Loretta Davenport seems to have gained psychic powers, which is unsettling for her husband, a professor at a local Bible college. Against her husband's wishes, Loretta pursues her gifts with the help of a local psychologist and police detective as she tries to solve the mystery of missing and murdered local women. The writing and character development were excellent, as well as the ratcheting tension between Loretta and her husband. I didn't want this book to end!

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing @amazonpublishing and @netgalley for my early copy! I saw a few trusted bookstgram folks (@dclazygirl and @laurasnextchapter) share their thoughts on this one and knew I needed to read it. It started off slow but didn’t take long to grab my attention. I loved the development of our main character Loretta and her journey to self discovery and self acceptance. Kennedy did a phenomenal job crafting a character indicative of a woman’s place in the 1950s. I rooted for Loretta throughout the entire book.

The paranormal/psychic aspects of this story really worked and contrasted perfectly with the time period. I loved the gothic vibes and how it played into the paranormal pieces of the story. The misogyny was on another level and had me wanting to chunk my kindle across the room, but also brought a sense of authenticity to the story.

I haven’t seen much of this one on the gram but highly recommend it!

I don’t think I can put any more effort into this book. I’ve tried to read it about 4 times and now that I’ve gotten a bit into the book, I can’t get over how things “just seem to fall in place” and how choppy the storyline is. At first I thought it was to simulate the likely rough time Loretta was having. But the “perfect” sequence of events lost me

A dark book about how all-encompassing domestic life could (and still can) be for women in the 1950s. How men dominated every part of life and women had very little control or autonomy.

Even though Mrs Davenport is psychic and there is a degree of magical realism and horror in this book the truly terrifying parts are the total lack of control that Loretta has over her life, that she cant earn money without her husband's permission, he can control her leaving the house and ultimately she can be locked in an asylum for no reason other than she tries to stand up for herself. That this was life for women for so long is truly terrifying!

I couldn’t put this book down once I started, so so good.

Honestly everything was so up my alley - the book mixed well-developed characters and gothic 1950s atmosphere, exploring some heavy themes with such elegance.

Paulette Kennedy's engaging prose skillfully blends historical fiction, horror, and mystery, making for an incredibly captivating read. I think this would be such a fun book club pick!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Another book that I went in blind and took me by surprise, that’s what I love about reading. A domestic thriller, with vintage vibes, paranormal elements and some romance in the mix. An original and gripping story from start to finish.

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗿𝘀. 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 by Paulette Kennedy Lake Union Authors released March 5, 2024.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

I really enjoy this author's writing with its easy reading Gothic undertones and great sense of time and place. Loretta is a good characterization of a woman's place in the 1950's. She's richly drawn and likeable and easy to root for. The author does a great job of expressing what life for a youngish woman with a domineering, devoutly religious husband was like at the time when women still had to rely on men to do things as simple as opening a bank account. I also enjoyed the psychic aspect of the plot and how it gave Loretta purpose beyond just a homemaker.
If you like stories of women that come into their own with a feminist sensibility and a well developed plot, I encourage you to give this one a go.

I love a good gothic tale and this spin on a 1950's housewife who suddenly gains the ability to communicate with the dead is utterly amazing! Trying to make sense of her world while her husband believes it's the devil's doing, really shed light on some of the domestic issues, mental health and fundamental religious beliefs current during that time in history.
I love the writing and the how the terminology was in line with the 1950's. That aspect made the character's feel even more real to me. Loretta was a delight, but Pete, not so much.
I definitely recommend if you like haunting period novels.

Book Review: The Devil and Mrs. Davenport by Paulette Kennedy

Rating: 5 Stars

If you're looking for a captivating read that seamlessly weaves together elements of mystery, the supernatural, and the struggles of a woman finding her voice in the 1950s, then The Devil and Mrs. Davenport by Paulette Kennedy is a must-read.

Set in Missouri in 1955, the story follows Loretta Davenport, a young mother and wife to Pete, an assistant professor. Their seemingly idyllic life takes a chilling turn when Loretta begins receiving messages from beyond following a local girl's murder. As she grapples with these supernatural occurrences, her husband dismisses them as delusions, setting the stage for a gripping tale of empowerment and self-discovery.

Kennedy's writing is nothing short of phenomenal, drawing readers into a world where the line between reality and the paranormal blurs. The plot is expertly crafted, keeping you on the edge of your seat with its twists and turns. The characters are richly developed, particularly Loretta, whose journey towards embracing her unique gift is both inspiring and haunting.

One of the standout aspects of this book is its portrayal of feminism in the 1950s. Through Loretta's story, Kennedy shines a light on the constraints placed on women during that era and the courage it took to defy societal expectations. The atmospheric setting further immerses readers in a time where women's voices were often silenced, making Loretta's journey all the more compelling.

In The Devil and Mrs. Davenport, Kennedy masterfully blends themes of empowerment, mystery, and the supernatural, delivering a riveting read that lingers long after the final page. If you're looking for a book that challenges conventions and celebrates the strength of women, then look no further. This is a story that demands to be read.

So, run - don't walk - and immerse yourself in the haunting world of The Devil and Mrs. Davenport. You won't be disappointed.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

THE DEVIL AND MRS DAVENPORT was an intriguing mix of genres - a little bit of historical fiction, drama, and thriller. Paulette Kennedy touches on a lot of topics from domestic abuse, motherhood and true crime. I loved the writing style - it was compelling and atmospheric and I couldn’t wait to keep reading.

Really well written, meticulous in its accuracy of description of the 50s and how womens lives were basically lived for the whim of their husbands…restrictions on independence of banking, work, etc.. The ESP portion of story was handled very well, not to any extreme, just as a factor of her life. Really enjoyed the writing and the story.

This was a brilliant Historical/Horror/Thriller mash up that I really think deserves its flowers!

We're in 1955 in Missouri. A young housewife and mother named Loretta Davenport takes ill with a fever that not only causes her to experience chills and aches, but also causes her to have unsettling hallucinations and hear voices. the voices are thoses of restless spirits. victims that pled with Loretta to solve the murderers that have yet to be solved. Loretta's husband thinks this is thr work of the devil.

This story was brilliantly atmospheric, engrossing and poignant,

This was a wonderful story about one woman and her journey to finding her own strength and realizing her own worth. It’s essentially a woman’s story of breaking free from society’s conventions and reaching her true potential. I absolutely fell in love with this story and Loretta’s perseverance.

I highly recommend this book, it touches on subjects like religion and women’s rights, and criticizes the society’s viewpoint of the era.

There is nothing like a thriller to keep you glued to a book for an afternoon. The Devil and Mrs Davenport is a wonderful book about mental illness and marriage in 1950s America that will keep you hooked until the last page.

I loved the gothic vibes and the supernatural elements making it a very atmospheric read. It had a cast of likeable and unlikeable characters with Barbara and Dr. Hanson being my favorite. I loved how the treated Loretta and were there to help in any way necessary. I forgot how little rights women had during this time and I was frustrated multiple times throughout. I loved that it involved an investigation and how Loretta’s “visions” not only had to do with it, but how they also affected her home life. It was a slow burn building up to a ending that both shocked me while leaving me satisfied with the outcome. I love this author’s writing style as she really makes you feel for the main character.