Clarissa’s Warning: A Cozy Paranormal Mystery (Canary Islands Mysteries Book 2)

Clarissa’s Warning is the best sort of read: apparently staid bank-teller-now-lottery-winner Claire Bennett buys a crumbling ruin on the stark, beautiful island of Fuerteventura. She has grand plans to restore the building’s glory, only to find that the ghosts of inhabitants past are apparently set against any such ideas.
What an adventure! I am reminded of Mary Stewart at her best (My Brother Michael, Airs Above the Ground etc). Lone woman faces danger with grit and intelligence. Lovely!
Paranormal mystery spices the intrigue as Claire strives to bring her dream to reality. Despite the reluctance of the owner to sell, the dire warnings of her supernaturally-gifted aunt Clarissa, the superstitions of the local workment, the greed of the local council, the general unhelpfulness of the people in the neighbouring village, and the sheer scale of the project, our heroine buckles up for the long ride. Claire is a doer, and a brave one at that, and she spends much of the story relying on her own ingenuity and heart. Her unresolved grief over her mother’s death (when Claire was only seven) lends emotional depth and context to her experiences with the spirits of the place.
Are there ghosts – poltergeists who cause damage and mischief? Or is there a malign human involved? What of love interest Paco … is he too good to be real? The agreeable builder Mario – is he up to something? What about that reluctant former owner who had to ditch his plans to demolish the place? Is he the one scaring off the workmen and doing his best to terrify our Claire?
No spoilers here about the answer, but it is a very satisfying one. (I love the last line!) As well as this bounty of story, we are also treated to a divine immersion in the stern romance of the Canary Islands, and discover the interesting history of the Spanish dominion over the area. The house has its own special history, a fascinating one worthy of its own tale. I remember feeling just such a fascination many years ago on reading Norah Loft’s The House at Sunset, one of my all-time favourites.
Isobel Blackthorn has delivered in spades and I will be recommending this to so many of my reader-friends. A very enjoyable read!

Clarissa’s Warning is a new novel by Isobel Blackthorn published in 2018 by Creativia Publishing. I saw the gorgeous cover on a Facebook post and took a chance on reading someone new. Part mystery, part paranormal, this book focuses on the re-building of a beautiful but decaying island home off the coast of Africa and Spain. Claire, a middle-aged single woman who lost her mother very young has been raised by her distant father and her Aunt Clarissa, a somewhat gifted visionary. Claire fell in love with the house and developed a strong desire to restore it to greatness. After she won the lottery, Claire convinces the owner to sell her the property against his better wishes (and for close to double what it’s worth), then moves to the island against her aunt’s warning. It’s a simple warning really… someone is out to dupe her, so don’t trust anyone.

The book traces the ~6 month period from when Claire moves to the island until the semi-completion of the renovations. I won’t say why the book ends before the renovations are complete… Does she die? Does the house implode? Does she sell and run away? Or does she solve the mystery and find a compromise? So many things could happen… which makes the book have a light suspense factor overall. You know something bad is gonna happen, but when will Claire be most in danger? Claire gets to know the building team members who are afraid of spirits haunting the house. She befriends the local cafe owner who’s reticent to share the truth about past. And she meets a reporter / photojournalist who for the first time symbolizes potential love in her life. Is one of these people trying to harm her? Or is it something from the Great Beyond?

One of my favorite aspects of this novel is the way in which the author catalogs two things: (1) past owners of the home and (2) re-modeling and construction of the new home. Both are handled with careful detail and imagination. The building comes to life through Blackthorn’s beautiful descriptions. The previous owners are frightening and empathetic. Just who owned this place and what kind of horrific thing happened to create so many near-death experiences for future owners and inhabitants? Blackthorn keeps the pages turning with curiosity and a hope for a successful venture in Claire’s future.

I enjoy paranormal adventures and this was an easy yet immersive one to follow. While a few scenes scare you, others seem a bit normal in occurrence. When you add it all together, it’s easy to understand why Claire would be scared but also choose to stay… at least until the major one happens where she’s put in grave danger. I would not have gone back after that happened and I tend to be a stay-and-fight/protect kinda guy. When there’s a mean ghost after me, I’ll kick it’s rear end… at least until I end up in the hospital. Then I might take a breather. Not Claire — she wants her house back!

I’d recommend this for a wide variety audience. You need an interest or acceptance of paranormal activity, a curiosity about different cultures and the renovation process, and a love of a good story. Put all those things together and you’ve got a fantastic read that will show you something you probably haven’t experienced — I’m not sure many have met a ghost, to be honest, which makes this an even stronger concept to dive into. Kudos to the author for making it pop and draw me in. I bought the book a few weeks after it was published and will definitely read more from this author.

Clarissa’s Warning is a slow burn horror story that was intriguing and poetically descriptive. Our MC Claire struggles with the distrust of the locals, stories of an ancient curse, and mysterious happenings in the home.

Claire is a well-rounded, deep character with many layers. She endures complex relationships, struggles to wrap her scientific mind around the supernatural, and the strength to manage.

Isobel Blackthorn’s writing is very descriptive, which will intrigue some and bother others. For me, I really could visualize the setting of The Canary Islands, and it was clear the author borrowed from her own travels. While the heavy descriptions caused this book to slow down a bit, I think it created the atmosphere needed to make this horror story shine.

I recommend checking this intriguing story out!

*I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Rachel’s Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*

Clarissa´s warning is a well written book, concerning the main carácter who has an unexpected windfall and decides to by a ruin on the island of Fertaventura and start a new life. Despite being advised that the house is haunted, she goes ahead with her plans. The story gradually builds, in a mix of misadventures and trips around the island, until the book reaches its climax, where the reason for the haunting is revealed.The author describes in great detail the island and the local atmosphere of the área to such an extent that one feels as though they could visit and find their way around with ease. The end of the book is also a little unexpected and makes me wonder if there could quite easily be a second book in the making. (If so, I would definitely buy it.) A good read. You won´t be disappointed.

„Clarissa’s Warning“ by Isobel Blackthorn is a part paranormal suspense, part adventure, part character development around a MC whose life dramatically changes for the (apparently) better and her tribulations in pursuing her dreams in a hostile environment.

Claire Bennett is a woman pushing 40 that has been working for twenty years as a bank teller and seeing her life slowly banishing into a very boring job, the only highlight has been her yearly holidays in the Canary Island when she came around a house, more a ruin really, that hold her in awe. Due to a change of luck, she is able to buy the dream house/ruin with her recent lottery win. Unfortunately, the dream enterprise turns into an almost nightmare from the very beginning, as the former owner refuses to sell, preferring to demolish the propriety to sell it to Claire, who wants to preserve the house and make it her own home. Even her own esoteric aunt tries to discourage her. Claire would not have it, she is invested in this dream of hers, and delighted with the possibility of finally being rich enough to pursue it. And so, she relocates to Fuerteventura where the real adventure begins, a half-year of adaptation and pursue the renovations on the house.

The book is well written, Claire is presented as a credible MC and the fantastic aspect of the plot and well interwoven in a solid and credible narrative, with very good descriptions of the renovation process, that plays a paramount role in the story. Claire’s counterparts are well crafted, and even if we majorly see them through Claire eyes, they have an independent personality. An interesting paranormal mystery.

Can a dream become a nightmare?
Claire Bennett was a career bank teller until her a lottery ticket made her a retired millionaire. She had fallen in love with a dilapidated historical property in the Canary Islands on previous visits there and her new-found wealth allowed her to purchase it. It was not a rundown house that needed repair but a long-abandoned site that needed a major restoration.
Claire was unaware that the locals considered the property cursed, until after she bought it, and refused to accept this notion even after strange occurrences began to take place during the restoration.
Clarissa’s Warning is a delightful mystery novel that readers should thoroughly enjoy. Well done, Isobel.

Clarissa’s Warning

Claire Bennett, a bank teller for twenty years wins the lottery and buys the home of her dreams. She quits her job, sells her modest home, and prepares to move to the Canary Islands when her mystic Aunt Clarissa warns her about the relocation. Unfortunately, the warning comes after the deal is closed and so Claire is on her way. I mean, who wouldn’t love a view of a volcano!

Although she is newly and incredibly rich, readers can relate to Claire who continues to be “frugal,” in her choice of apartment while her newly-purchased home is renovated. Her aunt’s warning begins to have some bite when Claire overhears a conversation that, “No local will work on it,” (the house).

Odd things that begin to happen, a flat rock falling off a shelf and a ghostly image of her mother, have Claire second guessing the warning and her decision to buy and renovate the old ruin.

Blackthorn’s writing is best described as graceful and thoughtful. Beautiful details draw the reader into the story and soon you feel as if you are on the island with Claire. Blackthorn is meticulous in the way she unfolds the story, careful not to give things away, but always leaving the reader wanting more.

When I read a book I try to pick one that will fully immerse me. I love getting lost in a book that lets me feel like I’m a part of the journey. Clarissa’s Warning does just that. It’s one of those stories that make you think about the character long after you read the last page.

Well done!

As lottery winner Claire Bennett begins renovation on her beloved ruin in the Canary Islands, local superstition turns to reality when the spirits of Casa Baraso are disturbed. I found this a real page-turner, easily able to imagine the arid landscape and searing heat as work progresses, turning the building into a beautiful home. As with all good stories there is a love interest, but it’s the supernatural goings-on that grip the reader. Add to this Blackthorn’s attention to detail, love of the islands & meticulous research & you have the perfect novel, her best work yet.

You know the feeling when you’re reading a book and as you’re dropping off to sleep, or going about your daytime activities, you think about the characters and what they’ve been up to? That’s what Clarissa’s Warning by Isobel Blackthorn had me doing. I only put it down because I started reading it at a busy time. When the busyness subsided I finished the last half of the book in one sitting.
Isobel Blackthorn has an amazing ability to draw the scenery around her characters with such precision you can feel the wind, the warmth of the sun and admire the geological surrounds.
Blackthorn’s main protagonist, Claire Bennett is a normal woman placed in an abnormal situation that takes her months to come to terms with. Blackthorn weaves the everyday life of people living on the Canary Islands through Claire’s interactions with them. The cafes she eats at, the museums she visits, the beaches where she swims, all draw the reader in to life on these islands.
Claire’s refusal to initially heed her Aunt Clarissa’s warning almost ends in tragedy. Almost. I was exceptionally thrilled with the ending.
I’ve read two other books by this author, and this is the one I enjoyed the most. Every character, every meal eaten, every event, carried the story forward and served a purpose.
Oh, and Paco is a bit of a hunk.

Have you ever had the experience of knowing a ghost was in your home? Was it malevolent or benign? Did it create havoc or simply reside with you, leaving you to live your life while it occupied space beside you? If you have had the experience and the ghost was benign, count your blessings. The home Claire buys on Fuerteventura, one of the Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco, is haunted. All the locals know it, and Claire is about to find out the truth of who the ghosts are and why they are there. This story is told in a kind of tourist on the island, seeing all the sights, visiting all the places, way. It makes the story more enjoyable, this tourist vision. Then again the story of the ghost is frightening from moment to moment. Who wins the battle for the home, for possession of the building? You will have to read the book to know for sure. Suffice it to say this is a fun read with a serious topic overlaid on it, with characters one could grow to love, with no major distractions, written by a wonderful writer. A REALLY FUN READ.