I loved Paulette Kennedy's The Devil and Mrs Davenport and was really excited to see this one on netgalley. Kennedy does ghosts really well. I generally don't like books that are gimicky and the ghosts attempt jump scares. However Kennedy's books make the ghosts seem real as they build relationships with real people. With The Artist of Blackberry Grange I started to get a little bored as some of it seemed repetitive and nothing huge was happening. It almost seemed like the book was ending midway through. Overall I did enjoy this story and reading about the power of love and letting go of of those you have loved.

.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.

This was not a typical book for me, but I grew into it and enjoyed reading it. Part Southern Gothic, part ghost story, part time travel, part feminist manifesto, the story, set mostly 100 years ago in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, was successfully able to combine many styles and still remain readable and enjoyable.

I'd read more from the author. Well done.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

I loved this so much. Kennedy always does an amazing job weaving elements of magic/fantasy into a grounded historical setting, and it was so well-done here. The book felt really well-researched, which helped to sink into the setting and time period(s). Sadie was a super interesting MC, and went from being a bit unlikeable to someone who felt real and understandable. I also really appreciated the queerness woven into the story.

Paulette Kennedy has done it again! I was already a huge fan of Kennedy's work, thanks to her earlier books, but that feeling has been cemented with The Artist of Blackberry Grange. This new book has so many wonderful elements of a great Gothic story: dark family secrets, an enigmatic ghostly figure, an intriguing setting, and even a dreamy romance. I absolutely loved the world of painting, and the way the author surrounds those paintings in a veil of magic and mystery. Sadie, the main character, is interesting and so relatable. Her story takes place in the 1920s, at a time when women had so little independence, and we understand why Sadie makes the decisions she does. This timeline provides such a great backdrop for this type of story, and Kennedy has done amazing work in researching and presenting this unique history. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the ghost story. The worldbuilding, as in Kennedy's previous books, is outstanding and delightfully creepy. An excellent read!

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. This book is outside what I normally pick up. It's gothic and ghosty so felt like a good book to read in October (or any time really). It is well-written and the story displays the anguish of dealing with dementia as well as an evil spirit.

I absolutely loved this book. Mysterious and captivating, Kennedy kept me reading and guessing until the final page.

The Artist of Blackberry Grange is an inter-generational story about the haunting power of memory to conceal and reveal one's deepest darkest secrets in this new eerie tale by Paulette Kennedy.

Set in the 1920s, the story begins with Sadie Halloran, reeling from the recent death of her mother and end to a scandalous relationship, she learns that her aunt Marguerite requires a live in companion due to her dementia. Sadie travels to Arkansas to her aunt's estate, Blackberry Grange and discovers spooky paintings of people from Marguerite's past that begin to pull Sadie into the secrets and mysteries of her aunt's life. The past, present, and future begin to smear like paint on a canvas, threatening Sadie's existence and the truth about the devastating events that continue to haunt Marguerite.

I declare Paulette Kennedy Queen of the Appalachian Gothic. Her psychological mysteries with supernatural elements and rural settings conjure beguiling stories about family, women, and love that traverse all of her books. The spectral parts of this book captured my attention and told a very interesting story about trauma and its far reaching effects. I loved the cameos of the characters from The Witch of Tin Mountain which was my favourite Paulette Kennedy book to date, and it's the sinister atmosphere of this story that adds the right amount of thrills and chills to the plot. This was a different take on the time-slip genre which I think could have been explained a little more within the story, specifically how was it that Marguerite could do what she did with her paintings?

Overall, The Artist of Blackberry Grange was a dark story about the power of love to create and destroy the ones we care about and just how far the imagination will go to make your dreams or nightmares come alive.

With The Artist of Blackberry Grange, Paulette Kennedy continues her streak of writing brilliant, feminist gothics. Part Dorian Gray and part exploration of the dark legacy of family trauma, I adored every twisty, gorgeously written page. So good!

This took me awhile to get into but overall an interesting read . It is little bit southern gothic and creepy but an interesting read
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

I really enjoyed this book! Loved the gothic vibe of it. It took me a little while to get into the story but once Weston was introduced, I knew something was happening. Once the book had me, it wouldn’t let me go much like Weston’s character! I found myself saying just one more chapter and then I was at the end! Great read, great story, nice little twists and turns I didn’t see coming!

Paulette Kennedy’s THE ARTIST OF BLACKBERRY GRANGE is an utter gothic delight. Her signature use of an atmospheric southern setting, evocative prose and gothic suspense create a winning combination. Kennedy keeps readers hooked until the very last page. Pitch-perfect pacing combined with very real—very human--characters make this a novel that will stick with you long after the final pages.

I have to say that Paulette Kennedy is quickly becoming one of my “Break Glass In Case of Emergency” authors. If she writes it, I know I’m going to read it and absolutely love it. Her newest novel, THE ARTIST OF BLACKBERRY GRANGE is no exception. This one is an utter gothic delight. Sadie is so relatably human with all the flaws and strengths that come with the condition. One of my favorite things about Kennedy’s novels is her use of gothic dread to ratchet up the tension. This one literally has everything I love in a book: a creepy house, ghosts, a gardener love interest, magic (or something very like it!), a satisfying romance. I am obsessed with it. It's simply a gorgeous book inside and out.

Sadie is such a relatable character, flaws and all—and I think her growth arc is what I love the most about this book. She makes mistakes and still learns along the way. Without too many spoilers there were definitely parts of this book where I was actually concerned for how they were going to get out of it alive. I gobbled this one up in a day. If you are a fan of gothic novels, ghost stories with a touch of magic, and a satisfying romance—this is definitely the one for you. Fans of Simone St. James and Hester Fox will really be in for a treat with this one.

Despite the long list of content warnings and the tragic aura of the Victoriana cover, this story was written with a light touch, boasting a magical painting, moments of gothic melodrama, time-slip, and a gorgeous narrative voice - arch, witty, knowing, with a touch of Stella Gibbons' Cold Comfort Farm. It was fast-paced and I was happy to be swept along.

The author's note at the end revealed that it had its foundations in some challenging real-life experiences and extensive historical research. This was my first Paulette Kennedy novel, and I look forward to reading more. I think it would appeal to fans of Jenni Keer's recent novel The Ravenswood Witch which has a similar storytelling magic.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

This was my first book by this author. I can see why it has gotten such rave reviews. I loved the writing style, which gave off a creepy/gothic feel. It was nice to read a novel and be able to connect with the characters for a change. I loved the dual timeline. I also love a story that will take you away for a while. This one did just that. Perfect escape read, but also sad due to the topic of dementia.

I experienced a range of emotions while reading this, it tackles some difficult themes from caregiving to dementia. The timeline which kept flitting back and forth made for interesting reading and i enjoyed the gothic aspect of this. Im definitely interested in looking more into this authors other novels the praise for them also has intrigued me.

I had enjoyed the previous book that I read from Paulette Kennedy, and this book was wonderfully done. It had that realism about dementia and that struggle. It was written perfectly and made me care about the characters and what was going on.

A bold, fresh story about the ghosts that haunt us and the ones we overcome. Paulette Kennedy explores loss and humility through the eyes of a saucy flapper who may bend the rules, but not her sense of morality. This book will linger in your heart like the fond memory of a loved one.

I'm thrilled to see the gothic romance genre coming back to life, with updated, spunky heroines, not the shrinking violet virgins of the past. Great fun

I’ve been really into gothic novels lately, and this book captured that eerie, atmospheric vibe with a story that was different from anything I’ve heard before.

I love a dislikable main character, but here it didn’t feel entirely realistic. There were plenty of lies, manipulations, and toxic relationships, yet it felt like the novel only skimmed the surface. I wanted to feel manipulated myself as a reader and experience a deeper, more authentic view of the inner turmoil and emotional confusion of the characters. Instead, it left me craving a rawer portrayal of their experiences. The relationships didn’t quite resonate, and I didn’t feel any chemistry between the characters. Still, the mystery kept me intrigued throughout.

Paulette Kennedy only knows how to write absolute bangers, and this book was no different. This story included everything that I love, and thus I loved the book.