Crossroad Press has recently published new editions of five of Catherine Cavendish's novellas: Cold Revenge, Miss Abigail's Room, The Demons of Cambrian Street, The Devil Inside Her and this one, The Second Wife.
When
newlywed Chrissie Marchant moves into Baron Grove, her husband Joe's
home, it becomes apparent that he may not be completely over the death
of his first wife. A large picture of Emily Marchant still hangs in the
living room, the house is still decorated just as it was when she died
and Joe refuses to change anything. After a few unsettling experiences
are accompanied by Emily's signature scent of vanilla, Chrissie realizes
that maybe Joe's first wife hasn't moved on either.
I'm a huge fan of Catherine Cavendish. This is the sixth book I've read by her and she never disappoints. The Second Wife is a creepy and atmospheric ghost story.
The
characters are well-developed. Chrissie is a relatable protagonist and
her reasons for not wanting to leave after her ghostly encounters are
understandable (her sister lives on the other side of the world and Joe
is all she has) and make the story more believable, keeping me from
constantly wondering why she didn't just leave every time something freaky happened to her. I hated Joe and didn't
understand what Chrissie saw in him...I guess he's a rich and handsome
doctor, but keeping a shrine to your dead wife after you remarry is
weird and creepy.
At 110 pages, this is a quick
read and can easily be read in one sitting. The novella gets to the
spooky scenes by the second chapter and never lets up the suspense until
the satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended for fans of gothic
horror, ghost stories, or anyone looking for a chilling read.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4/5
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