Remy Galway and her daughter Olivia are rebuilding their life after a failed marriage in a 300 year old cottage in historic Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island. Little do they know, another occupant is lurking in the haven of their own home. Will the After House be their shelter or their tomb?
The Afterhouse is a story that captures your attention from the very start. The thrill, camaraderie and fear of the old time whalers resonates in the author words, pulling you into the story and breaking your heart for both the men and the whales. The story then shifts to modern times where we find an emotionally scarred woman, Remy, and her young daughter, Olivia, moving into a cottage inhabited by Eli, the whaler Captains ghost. This story is mainly a unique type of love story, a tale of soul mates finding one another, but it also has humour, intrigue, suspense, ghosts and spirituality, all combined into one captivating tale. I really enjoyed the unusual mix of history, modern day and paranormal that the author incorporated into this well written story. The characters are appealing and I particularly liked the interaction between the Captain and Olivia, it was amusing and refreshing. The plot is complex, with more than one story going on at the same time, but it is still easy to follow, with enough twists and mystery to keep you turning the pages. It is a beautiful, somewhat sad and yet at the same time joyful story that is well worth reading.
Remy Galway plans to buy the old long island home as a sign of her Independence after a long recovery from her bitter divorce. With her parents support she has slowly rebuilt her life and opened her own business. Now she is ready for her and her daughter to stand on their own. What she doesn’t know is that her home is haunted by a crusty whaling captain who is not amused by two females moving into his house, changing things. It doesn’t help that Olivia seems to be able to see him and isn’t at all frightened. His childish attempts to get them to leave is lost in the mystery of bad luck seemingly following Remy. Her home and business are vandalized and her car is run off the road. She doesn’t see any connection, however she can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching her and when she begins to receive phone calls that don’t show up on her cell phone history she begins to doubt herself. Luckily Hugh, a friend of her mother’s, is there to help see her through the trouble.
This is the second book written by Mr. Cash that I have read and I continue to appreciate his writing style. His characters are larger than life and his story is exceptional. The historical aspect of the tale fit together beautifully with the modern day story. While this story focuses on Remy and her new found life, it is really about Captain Eli. I loved how Hugh, in his role as curator of the local maritime museum, holds the key that may give the Captain a chance to finish his tale.
I would appreciate longer books from this author, but I can honestly say this book was exactly as long as it needed to be and there were no loose ends or rushed storylines.