As a young woman widowed by World War I, Raissa James is no stranger to ghosts. But when an invitation arrives from Caoin House, her uncle’s estate in Mobile, Alabama, she’s finally ready to cast off the shadows of her past. And what better way to do so than with a grand party in her honor? An aspiring authoress, Raissa’s eager to soak up more of life—and immerse herself in the dark history that … that haunts the estate.
But the revelries come to an abrupt end when one of her uncle’s guests takes a deadly plunge. And when a ghost from the property’s past, a Confederate soldier, reveals himself to Raissa, she’s more determined than ever to get to the heart of the mysterious deaths that plague Caoin House. Enlisting the help of Reginald Proctor, a self-proclaimed medium, she holds a séance to shed light on old secrets. But she discovers that some secrets, even those long dead, still have a startling hold on the living…
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THE BOOK OF BELOVED by Carolyn Haines
The First Pluto’s Snitch Mystery
It’s 1920 and Raissa James is about to take a journey which will change her life forever. The young widow has taken her Uncle Brett’s offer to visit him at Caoin House. It’s no secret that Caoin House is haunted, in fact it makes the perfect setting for Raissa who aspires to be a writer, a writer of ghostly tales in particular. But are the spirits a danger to the living? When Raissa’s new gentleman friend falls to his death from the roof during a party it’s declared an accident. But could he have been pushed? If so, by who? A person or a ghost? What is the truth behind the dark legends of the estate? Will more people die as the spirits of Caoin House try to keep their secrets hidden?
THE BOOK OF BELOVED starts slowly, enveloping you in the summer heat of the south, lulling you into a sense of complacency. I began to wonder if the book was really a mystery and as I continued I felt it becoming more of a Gothic novel than a mystery. But then I found the mystery and indeed THE BOOK OF BELOVED is a multilayered set of mysteries rooted in a Gothic background.
Set in the American South in 1920, the book shows both the grandeur and graciousness of the time as well as the hatred and bigotry. It holds a mirror up to today’s society showing the harsh realities and vicious atrocities faced by everyone who isn’t a wealthy white man.
I really loved this first Pluto’s Snitch mystery. The combination of mystery, Gothic novel, and historical detail create a fascinating story. While I don’t read horror, I do enjoy a good Gothic and Carolyn Haines provides plenty of chills and scares without going overboard. Richly developed characters, both living and dead, inhabit the pages while the slow revelation of the truth behind the legends of Caoin House provides added intrigue and suspense.
THE BOOK OF BELOVED is as deliciously creepy as the stories Raissa hopes to write. Imbued with a decadently Gothic atmosphere this novel also takes an unflinching glance at the social and political issues of the time, civil rights in particular, while delivering an intriguing mystery.
Great story. I loved the history woven into the story. The characters are developed and fit perfectly into the story.
The Book of Beloved by Carolyn Haines
The Book of Beloved, Pluto’s Snitch, Book 1, by Carolyn Haines is a winner. I love this writer’s style; she brings the ghosties to life in a deliciously creepy way. I adored this time frame too. A solid 5-star read.
I truly loved this book. If you love ghost stories, you’ll love it. too. The story is about a young woman widowed by World War I, Raissa James. She receives an invitation from Caoin House, her uncle’s estate in Mobile, Alabama, An aspiring authoress, Raissa’s eager to soak up more of life—and immerse herself in the dark history that haunts the estate.
When a ghost from the property’s past, a Confederate soldier, reveals himself to Raissa, she’s more determined than ever to get to the heart of the mysterious deaths that plague Caoin House.
A book I will read again!!