The After-Death of Caroline Rand

My full review of this title will appear in WMP Dark Fiction Magazine #1 (July 2023).

"The After-Death of Caroline Rand" is unlike anything I've previously read by Catherine Cavendish; it comes wholly unexpected as it evolves from a standard haunted mansion story on the surface to something far more expansive and genre-bending. Not only is it often surprising, it's also thoroughly entertaining throughout."

Read our interview with the author in WMP Dark Fiction Magazine #0 "Rise Above" (April 2023) and find more content at www.wintrymonsterspress.com.

This was a surprising haunted house novel that involves time travel (of sorts), an evil cult, and characters whose true motives are a mystery.

Trapped in a haunted house during a 60s themed party, our protagonist soon finds out that her invitation to attend was far more nefarious than it appears. Featuring events that allow her to "transport" back to the 1960s and hang out with some of that decades most regarded musical figures, secrets begin to leak that will have real time impact on the present.

As escalating horrific events unfold, the guests must figure out what's happening before it's too late.

This book is filled with action and rarely does a chapter go by without some evil presence making itself known. And the reasons behind it are even more terrifying than the events themselves!

This is a great gothic haunted house story and I recommend it.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to read, review, and acquire this title. This is not my usual selection, but there was just something so interesting about the premise and the cover drew me right in, I loved how it mimics the once upon a time in Hollywood motif and I will be sharing a full review and thoughts upon completion.

Feeling aimless after losing her job, Allie accepts an unexpected request from an old friend to visit her country house for a Sixties-themed housewarming party. But soon after she arrives it becomes clear that there's something unsettling about the converted monastery, which used to be the home of a famous 1960s singer, Caroline Rand.

This is the first Catherine Cavendish book I've read, and I was drawn in by the promise of a supernatural, time-slip novel themed around the Swinging Sixties. The action switches between the modern day and LA in 1968, where well-known figures such as Mama Cass and John Denver mingle with the book's characters. I admit, it did take me a while to fully settle into the novel, because there's a complex backstory that feels like a lot to take in in the early chapters, but the story is fun and action packed, and I zipped through it in a few hours. Cavendish has a real knack for horrifying descriptions and I liked how all the various plot threads came together at the end.

A very entertaining read, perfect for fans of Last Night in Soho, or anyone who wished Once Upon a Time in Hollywood came with a dose of supernatural horror.

At some point towards the end, Alli, the central character of the book, feels like she's on a fairground carousel. Well, if lights flickered on and off, showing something different every time, while the carousel goes on and on, you'd have the reading experience I had with this book. It's a thriller, a haunted house tale, a time-travel yarn, a detective story, and a tribute to the 1960s music scene all at once. How the author managed to combine all these into a beautiful, moving, coherent story, is beyond me. This is not your typical haunted house story, though; yes, there are cults, and cursed paintings, and seances, and summonings! but what's unexpected (at least to me) is how time travel in the author's hands is employed into a truly original way: Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' excepted, I've never seen before haunted time travels! There are ghosts travelling in time, recognizing the traveller, and pointing to travels ahead. And not always good ghosts, mind. I'm not sure everyone will appreciate the complexity, or the comings and goings, but I sure did! Thank you Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for giving me the chance to review this gem!

"The After-Death of Caroline Rand" combined elements of a haunted house, time travel and gothic mystery stories, with some cult-like themes thrown in. It was absolutely fantastic! The plot was full of twists and turns, and there was constant action that kept me guessing and eager to find out what would happen next. Overall, it was a great read and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling and suspenseful book.

The After-Death of Caroline Rand is full of so many twists and turns and you're going to love it. This book follows Allegra Sinclair, the daughter of two musicians, traveling to visit friends at their swanky new place. This new manor just so happens to be the home of Caroline Rand a famous musician from the 60s. What follows is a true mystery. Allegra starts to find herself back in time exploring more and more around the life of Caroline Rand.

I wasn't exactly sure where this novel was going to go. It blew me away though. I found myself turning page after page of this fast-paced thriller. Add a dash of a macabre cult and this plot was a whirlwind of twists. I wasn't sure how many horror elements I was going to discover, but I wasn't left wanting and I think readers will be creeped out.

Flame Tree Press continues to be some of my absolute favorite horror fiction and I think it's all amazing. Check them and this book out! You won't be disappointed!

Disclaimer: I received a gifted copy of this book via netgalley and in exchange I'm leaving an honest review.
Cults. Haunted house. 60s music and clothing. Time travel.
There's a lot going on in this book. There were a couple times I got confused and had to reread a chapter, just because there's so much going on in the book. But that doesn't necessarily take anything away from it. The cover is what made me request this book over anything else. When I hit 60% or so I couldn't put this book down. The cult thing preying on vulnerable parents that wanted children very much reminds me of rosemary's baby, which is a 1960s staple--so it works. I don't know if that's what Catherine had in mind when she wrote this book, but if it is she succeeded. Just makes it all the more creepy tbh--that book fr stressed me out and what happens to Alli with the hooded man was another thing that made me think of rosemary's baby.