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Vintage Gothic Romance: PILGRIM’S END by Lena Brooke McNamara

Back Cover Blurb:

Established in the guest cottage at Pilgrim’s End on the pretext of painting the portrait of its aged mistress, artist Diana Adams had a method to her seeming kindness: she had to find the original deed to the estate, for it would prove, beyond doubt, that Diana was its rightful owner.

But the legacy she unearthed was a testament of terror, created by a master of evil to whom violent death was no stranger.

With her own life now at stake, there was only one man to whom Diana could turn. But would he believe her? And if he did, could he reach her in time?

Publisher: Ace Books
Publication Date: 1967
Rating: 3 Stars

My Two-Cents:

My copy of PILGRIM’S END was from the first printing in 1967. The cover shows a dark haired woman, and the blurb on the back calls the heroine “Diana.” However, within the story the heroine is a blonde named Diane. (Diane’s love interest in the book goes from being named Mark to Jim a couple of times. Same guy!) Needless to say, quality control was lax.

After the death of her parents, artist Diane Adams travels to the Pilgrim’s End estate in Virginia to stake her claim to the property, but first she must find the deed hidden somewhere within its walls. Diane is only there a short while to paint the current mistress’s portrait, and unfortunately she’s not the only one who wants Pilgrim’s End for themselves, which puts her life in danger. The story had a so-so build up to an exciting ending.

The author of this book was also an artist/painter, so you can tell she knew her stuff.

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WHEN SEA BECOMES SKY by Gillian McDunn

Synopsis from the Publisher:

In this heartfelt summer story, acclaimed author Gillian McDunn paints a stunning portrait of the bond of siblings and the love we’ll always carry with us.

Bex and Davey’s summer in the saltmarsh is different this year, thanks to the record-breaking drought. Even the fish seem listless — and each day the water level lowers farther. When they discover a mysterious underwater statue, they’re thrilled at the chance to solve the puzzle of its origin. This is the summer adventure they’ve been waiting for.

When they learn of a development plan that will destroy their special spot, they’ll need to act quickly. Unfortunately, sometimes progress happens whether you’re ready or not. What will it mean if Bex and Davey lose their corner of the marsh where otters frolic and dragonflies buzz — their favorite place to be siblings together?

As Bex and Davey attempt to save the statue and their beloved marsh, they come to see that the truth is not as simple as it seems…ultimately discovering so much more about life, permanence, love, and loss than they ever expected.

Award-winning author Gillian McDunn crafts a gorgeous story of love and siblinghood, of secret statues and island life, of holding on and letting go.

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Publication Date: February 28, 2023
Source: Review copy from the Publisher
Rating: 5 Stars

My Two-Cents:

WHEN SEA BECOMES SKY is a bittersweet and thoughtful story set during a drought in the Carolina salt marshes. Bex and her little brother Davey spend the summer exploring the marshes on Pelican Island, when one day they stumble upon the hand of an old statue reaching up out of the water. As the drought continues and the water recedes, more of the curious statue is revealed. At the same time, they find out that their beloved marsh is in danger of being destroyed by a bridge development plan.

This was a beautifully written and emotional middle grade novel about loss, grief, and finding a way to move on when faced with profound change. The stunning symbolism presented is on point, from the drought and statue’s mystery, to the ever-changing marsh itself. The vibrant descriptions of the salt marshes made me feel like I was there with Bex and Davey, and I was rooting for them to solve the mystery of the statue. This is an amazing sibling adventure story with a deep and memorable meaning underneath. Highly recommended!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

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THE HOUSEMAID by Freida McFadden

Synopsis from Goodreads:

“Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own…

Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.

They don’t know what I’m capable of…

An unbelievably twisty read that will have you glued to the pages late into the night. Anyone who loves The Woman in the Window, The Wife Between Us and The Girl on the Train won’t be able to put this down!

Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: April 26, 2022
Source: Purchased (Kindle)
Rating: 5 Stars

Quick Thoughts:

Wow, this domestic/psychological thriller was amazing! It kept me glued to the pages until I found out what happened. Millie is unemployed and desperate for a job, when the perfect opportunity comes along — working as a live-in housekeeper for the very wealthy Winchester family. Well, it seems perfect, but what is it that Millie finds behind the keyhole?

THE HOUSEMAID totally lived up to the hype. The author did a fantastic job creating a tense and twisty (twisted!) story that had my stomach in nervous knots. I don’t want to say more about the plot to avoid spoilers. The ending was so satisfying. I loved this sinister and shocking tale, and I am very excited that there’s a sequel!

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THE HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET by Jennifer Sklias-Gahan

Synopsis from Goodreads:

There once was a house, and it sat in the middle of a simple and quaint treelined street. A beautiful woman named Rebecca lived in this house with her faithfully devoted husband and their newborn daughter. They were happy, and they were proud.

The house had originally belonged to a great-great-aunt of Rebecca’s named Minerva. She lived in the house all the days of her life, and she died there on the very last night of the year. In her final earthly wishes, Minerva bequeathed the house to her next of kin and all of its belongings, including a golden sealed letter reading “Instruction for the Keeper of the House”, to be given to whomever took legal ownership of the house.

None of her next of kin came forward to claim the house. Some neighbors speculated that the relatives passed on such a beautiful home because of the rumored hauntings attached to it; the wild sobs of a young woman heard through the winter winds as the year closed, coupled by a sturdy knocking at the front door that emanated onto the street. The house sat and sat, empty until the law firm handling Minerva’s estate located Rebecca as being the next in the family line to inherit the house and all its belongings, if she so wanted.

Rebecca and her husband were thrilled and received the house gratefully. This stroke of luck came at just the right time in their lives as they were starting a family. With the arrival of autumn, Rebecca and her husband moved into the house welcoming this new chapter in their lives, on this street, and in this house. It was the house of their dreams. As the last leaves of autumn blew out, in came the arrival of their first child; their daughter was born.

On the very last day of the year, Rebecca prepared a “special” bread for her family’s first New Year’s Eve together. As she opened the kitchen window to let in the cool winter breeze, she heard a sturdy knocking at their front door. She peeped out the window and saw two children standing there, a boy and a girl.

Publication Date: September 28, 2022
Source: Review copy from the Author
Rating: 4 Stars

Quick Thoughts:

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this haunting story. What happens to descendants who inherit the troubled house in the middle of the street? Instructions are left for its keeper, but they’re only helpful if you read them…

This creepy gothic short story leaves me with a lot to think about. According to the author, this tale is inspired by Greek fables with life lessons. Her writing is beautiful, and I love the imagery she presents. What key to the puzzle do those sparkling glass jars hold?

THE HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET is a cautionary story dealing with generational grief (or a curse?) and how it might be overcome. Enjoyed!

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SPIDER WOMAN’S DAUGHTER by Anne Hillerman

Synopsis from the Publisher:

Legendary tribal sleuths Leaphorn and Chee are back! The supremely talented daughter of New York Times bestselling author Tony Hillerman continues his popular series.

It happened in an instant. After a breakfast with colleagues, Navajo Nation Police Officer Bernadette Manuelito sees a sedan careen into the parking lot and hears a crack of gunfire. When the dust clears, someone very close to her is lying on the asphalt in a pool of blood. With the victim in the hospital fighting for his life, every person in the squad and the local FBI office are hell-bent on catching the gunman. Bernie, too, wants in on the investigation, especially when her husband, Sergeant Jim Chee, is put in charge of finding the shooter.

Bernie and Chee discover that a cold case involving Chee’s former boss and partner, retired lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, may hold the key to the shooting. Digging into the old investigation with fresh eyes and new urgency, husband and wife find themselves inching closer to the truth with every clue…and closer to a killer who will do anything to prevent justice from taking its course.

Series: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel, #1 | Leaphorn & Chee, #19
Publisher: Harper
Publication Date: October 1, 2013
Source: Purchased (Paperback)
Rating: 3.75 Stars

Quick Thoughts:

I absolutely loved the Dark Winds TV series which was based on the Leaphorn & Chee books by Tony Hillerman. SPIDER WOMAN’S DAUGHTER is the first of the series written by his daughter Anne after his death in 2008, and one that’s been on my TBR stack for a while.

In this 19th addition to the series, married Navajo Nation police officers Chee and Manualito set out to solve the case of who shot their dear friend and mentor. (I don’t know why the synopsis leaves out who the victim is, but I’ll not mention names either.)

What I liked:
• Stunning Southwestern descriptions of the Navajo Nation.
• Realistic and genuine cast of characters.
• Strong and clever woman protagonist.
• Enjoyed learning about indigenous art, rugs, and pottery.

What wasn’t my cup of tea:
• Mystery was hard to follow at times.
• Dozens of characters!
• The backstory of the mystery relied heavily on a previous book that I haven’t read. Lots of mentions of this book, so I felt like I was missing something.
• Chee made a careless and seemingly uncharacteristic mistake toward the end.

Overall, this was an enjoyable and unique police procedural, and I’m looking forward to catching up with the series.