Series: The Spirits Trilogy, #1
Publisher: CreateSpace
Released: June 27, 2012
Source: Review copy from Bewitching Book Tours

An abandoned house, a psychotic killer, and a victim reaching out from the grave. A woman must unearth deadly family secrets before she becomes a ghost herself.

Madeline Anderson goes to Isabelle Island, Washington, to sell a family home abandoned over forty years before. Bizarre things occur the moment she steps on the property. Inside the dilapidated old house, items move about of their own accord. Strange noises come from empty rooms. She has a vivid, recurring dream of a woman running for her life. The wind rustling through the trees sounds like urgent, murmuring voices. When the cacophony dies down, one single word emerges: MADELINE,MADELINE,MADELINE.

At first, Doug Lindstrom, the hot fireman helping Maddy restore the old home, doesn’t believe anything is going on. He’s certain Maddy is jumping at shadows because she heard the local kids call the house haunted. That is, until he witnesses horrific violence himself that he can’t explain away. After Maddy’s life is threatened not once, but twice, Doug vows there will not be a third time.

While searching for answers, Maddy uncovers astonishing secrets about her aunt’s past. Finding more questions then answers, she digs deeper until she stumbles across evidence of a cold case involving a serial killer nicknamed The Seaside Strangler. Together, Doug and Maddy must unmask a killer. The lives they save just might be their own.

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SPIRITS IN THE TREES was a riveting story, definitely not for the faint of heart! It was paranormal romantic suspense, spooky mystery and gothic horror in one book. Yikes! The book’s blurb does an excellent job of summarizing the plot without giving away spoilers, so I won’t repeat it here.

The story was well-written, but not an easy read. There were a few disturbing scenes, graphic rapes and the murder of a young woman. To me it wasn’t gratuitous violence, those scenes were integral to the plot in showing the evil the protagonist Maddy was up against. The ghostly haunting scenes were chilling. Very descriptive! This is the kind of story I couldn’t read if I was alone. I love to be scared by ghost stories, but when it comes down to it, I’m a delicate flower. ;-) I thought that the ending wrapped up a little too quickly, but I was pleased with the conclusion.

SPIRITS IN THE TREES was an enjoyable book that I’d recommend to fans of scary stories and intense romantic thrillers.

Rating: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the book tour company in exchange for an honest review.