Left at an orphanage as a child, Thea Reed vowed to find her mother someday. Now grown, her search takes her to Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, in 1908. When clues lead her to a mental asylum, Thea uses her experience as a post-mortem photographer to gain access and assist groundskeeper Simeon Coyle in photographing the patients and uncovering the secrets within. However, she never expected her … personal quest would reawaken the legend of Misty Wayfair, a murdered woman who allegedly haunts the area and whose appearance portends death.
A century later, Heidi Lane receives a troubling letter from her mother–who is battling dementia–compelling her to travel to Pleasant Valley for answers to her own questions of identity. When she catches sight of a ghostly woman who haunts the asylum ruins in the woods, the long-standing story of Misty Wayfair returns–and with it, Heidi’s fear for her own life.
As two women across time seek answers about their identities and heritage, can they overcome the threat of the mysterious curse that has them inextricably intertwined?
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The author has captured a story that intensifies with each page. I absolutely love the way she weaves the story from the past to the present. She has a way of making the story flow with ease while grabbing the readers full attention. The details in the story pop off the pages and I really felt like I was a part of the story watching it unfold.
Thea is a wonderful character who didn’t have a great life. Growing up in an orphanage was very hard and its easy to see how someone would feel abandoned. I love the time period set in 1908 with Thea on a journey to find her mother. Her job as a postmortem photographer really sent shivers down my spine. Such a creepy thing to have to do, but I guess people wanted to remember their loved ones even in death. The asylum was very intriguing and I felt darkness and despair through the hallways of such a sad place. The treatment of the patients at the asylum is deplorable and oh how I ached for them. When one of the characters describes the asylum as, “Hell cannot be much worse than being banished to a place such as this,” the author painted a picture that I will never forget. Thea encounters a curse that seems to have been placed on a family called the Coyles. Just reading about the curse made me want to run and hide. Can you imagine unexplained deaths in your family and sightings of a ghost of a woman who was murdered? Thea has to continue her journey even if it puts her in danger or if she crosses path with the mysterious ghost.
When we travel to present day, we encounter Heidi who has wants to find out why a strange letter from her mother has been put in Heidi’s hands. They certainly haven’t had the best relationship. As her mother slips more in to dementia , will Heidi find out why her mother is so desperate to see her? Heidi does seem to run when things get to hard for her so I wasn’t sure how long she would stay in town. The connection between Thea and Heidi is written with such deep history and really made me want to help them both.
One of the things the book talks about is mental illness. It is a subject many people are uncomfortable discussing. The author handles it in a compassionate way . I’m glad the author brings to the surface about this issue and how we need to be more caring and understanding of someone going through a mental issue. The stigma of mental illness seems to not have changed much, but there is always hope.
Thea and Heidi are both trying to find out about their path and seek confirmation that they were not a mistake. The faith elements in the story are strong and give people hope that God is always right there with you in good times and bad. When I hurt I shut down just like one of the characters did. I get worried that I will be made fun of or feel inadequate. All this stems from my childhood , just like the characters. Will Thea and Heidi find the answers they need to heal from their past? The story is beautifully written and I loved how it emphasized that we are all important.
Mental illness is something that has been misunderstood for centuries, but as I read this book I soon discovered that really its the unknown that scares us. We need to keep our eyes fixed on God and let Him guide us. The ending of the book is filled with compassion and ties up all loose ends very gracefully. This story has opened doors to mental illness and shined a light on how easy a person can feel unwanted, lonely and scared. The author has written her best story to date in this intriguing journey of faith and hope.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Bethany House. The review is my own opinion.
” We weren’t created to find our identity in life. We were created to discover our Creator . In doing so, our identity is defined.”
Jaime Jo Wright is making a name for herself in the Christian fiction genre. She has won a number of awards for The House on Foster Hill. Wright creates historical time-slip suspense novels. Her latest book, The Curse of Misty Wayfair is a beautifully written suspense novel showing the importance of every created person. With rapid succession, the story begins like a ghost story and kept my rapid attention. Asylums are uncertain and scary places, so Wright to create a story centered around one gripped my attention. There is a soft romance included, but nothing to forceful. This original and completely unpredictable story filled with fascinating characters kept me spellbound. I really liked The Curse of Misty Wayfair and am glad the Christian fiction genre took a gamble and printed this story. It is timely and important for the world we live in. I pray the Christian publishing world keep printing stories like this. Fans of Steven James, Carrie Stuart Parks, and Lynette Eason might enjoy this novel. Definitely a great book to start 2019 off with a bang!
I received a complimentary copy of The Curse of Misty Wayfair from Jaime Jo Wright from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.
This book was extremely intriguing. I have come to thoroughly enjoy Jamie Jo’s dual time mysteries. They are original and fresh and unlike any other books I read which makes them so much fun. Her latest “The Curse Of Misty Wayfair” kept me guessing at the threads of the mystery during the entire book and even though I had my suspicions of how it would end, it kept me guessing till the end. I adored the character of Emma and I am mighty fond of Rhett(swooning shall commence here!) The story had several surprises and a few really creepy moments(reading at home while my kids slept and my hubby was at work really added to the dramatic effect!!) had me devouring this book. One for my keeper shelf!
I was provided this book by the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
What an exciting book! The opening line, “melancholy was a condition of the spirit and soul, but also of the mind,” draws you in with its eerie mystery immediately and the grip of the words does not let up until the last page. This book has ghost like suspense that left me with heart pounding and eyes scanning to find solutions to the supernatural. I love Jaime Jo Wright’s writing as it is packed with details that allow me to really envision each scene and imagine the thrilling events. She has such a unique gift! The characters are rich in depth with imperfections and struggles that are realistic and relatable. Jaime Jo tackles difficult social topics in this book, including but certainly not limited to, autism and its effects on loved ones, depression and anxiety and its misconceptions, childhood trauma and its psychological aftereffects, and the treatment of the mentally ill in the early 20th century. What a phenomenal read! I could hardly put the book down and stayed up much too late on several evenings to finish it (really, my only complaint here is the lack of sleep I had while reading, ha!). The central theme of identity is clearly woven so uniquely throughout and ultimately draws on the Christian principle of identity in Christ. I did not used to like split time novels, but Jaime Jo has a special gift to craft books that weave together a story that comes together into a well-structured and satisfying ending, and has definitely made me a fan of these books. I truly loved this book and cannot wait to see what she pens next! Most highly recommended!
I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers/Jaime Jo Wright in exchange for an honest review.
Outstanding, absolutely outstanding!
Jaime Jo Wright is an author to watch!
I have read each of her books and the stories keep me coming back for more!
Firmly entrenched in this well-written time slip novel from the first page, I truly am struggling to find the appropriate words with which to describe how wonderful this story is. Honestly, the most complimentary thing I can say is you must read The Curse of Misty Wayfair!
Please head to your favorite book dealer or library or borrow from a friend.
Trust me, you-do-not-want-to-miss-this-one!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley and am not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own.
This book was amazing! This is not a light read. A time-slip suspense, many layered story that will chill your bones. Not the main plot but the romance was there too. I loved the characters and how the author wrote about their personalities. Also the special needs characters and the anxiety of Heidi were wrote about so well. The feelings it evokes were so real. I can’t forget the spiritual aspect of this book because I loved that too. So if you like suspenseful time-slip novels you will love this one. If you haven’t read any of Jamie Jo Wright’s books you are in for a treat and need to read them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher/author and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
It takes a special talent to write a very faith based ghost story. Like super special! It takes a special talent to write a suspense story that really trails over into thriller-ish-ness with a smidge of action-y-ness and keep it solidly grounded in faith. I don’t have that talent. Fortunately, I know someone who does. If you want to pick up a book that you aren’t sure reading at bedtime is a good idea but that will continually draw you deeper toward God then pick up anything by Jamie Jo Wright and you can’t be disappointed. ‘The Curse of Misty Wayfair’ is her most recent (she has three now!) book and there’s not a misstep about it. She kept me guessing until the absolute last second (I might have re-read just to make sure I read it right guessing), kept me engaged in the subtleties of real life, and gave me nuggets of wisdom to dwell on. I even loved the sideways, oh so subtle, and thank the gravy it wasn’t insta, romance.
This book, though, was more than just a ghost story. I mean, that was pretty awesome but. . . Remember the subtleties of real life mention? So, about that. If you have never heard of Nelly Bly I need you to copy and paste her name into Google. I’ll wait. . . . . done learning all the things? The way we deal with even the slightest hint of mental illness has changed dramatically in the last century. It’s ever evolving and changing, hopefully for the better. At one time even something as benign as a seizure disorder was grounds to be locked away for life, often times experimented on searching for a *cure*, and sometimes so much worse. Remind me someday to tell you the story of my dad. He could have been one of these situations. Seizures weren’t the only thing that could land you in permanent lockup or in polite society the sanatorium. Our understanding of human nature, the human brain, and how we all relate to each other has grown by leaps and bounds. Our definitions of ‘mental illness’ have changed even in my adult lifetime. There were marked changes between Thea’s time and Heidi’s. However, I feel like Heidi felt herself limited by stereotypes. Go figure right? The thing is, follow me here, while this book really brought forth the boundary of how we view (and treat) those that are different than us in some way it didn’t feel one iota of what this book was about. It was just life happening to two women in two different time periods from two different perspectives. shouldn’t that be how life really is?
There are so many little things that pop up for me when I think about this book. So mind tidbits I want to share with you. So many profound thoughts and silly moments. But to share all that’s in my head I’d first have to master that thought to word thing (words hard!) and I’d have to write a book about a book. And Jamie did that, well the book part not the about. You know what I mean. When I said earlier about how you can’t be disappointed with this book. I absolutely meant it, it goes so far beyond won’t because won’t leaves wiggle room. The times jumps dance seamlessly between Thea and Heidi. The relationship are grounded and well developed without being too insta- (I mean we know how I feel about insta-). Somethings felt like they might be too easy, but they weren’t. If I told you all the things I want to share I’d be here for days and you know that battery does die on the laptop. Outside of my mother, who loves a good mystery but not a slight fright, I can’t think of anyone who this book is not perfect for. There are so many nuances and subtleties that I can assure you it’s a re-read classic.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House, NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
Wow, what a book! This is my first book to read by this author and I am most certain that I will be reading everything she writes, now and in the future. The Curse of Misty Wayfair was amazing! This is a dual time novel. The first time era takes place in 1908 with the weird practice of photographing the dead. Then a hundred years later a picture from that era turns up at an auction in an old trunk along with other articles from that time. A young lady in an antique shop thumbing through an old photo album sees a picture of a dead woman who looks just like her. Even the owner of the shop commented on the fact that she looked like the dead woman. How can this possibly be? Who was this dead woman and are they connected in some way?….Thus begins one of the most interesting books I have ever read…..We have a young orphaned woman in 1908 searching to find out who she is and a young disturbed woman a hundred years later searching to find out why she never fits in with her family and feels all alone. Wright has created strong believable characters while weaving in inherited mental illness and an old insane asylum with ghosts that torments and leaves unanswered questions. You will find yourself reading on into the night for you want to know the answers also.
Compelling, beautifully haunting and thrilling, this story will wrap itself around you. There is also the working of God to bring the unbeliever to His love…….I was provided this book by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley and I am happy to post an honest review.
Emotionally gripping, Jaime Jo Wright delivers a captivating split-time mystery that’ll leave you unable to breathe and unwilling to put this book down until the very last page.
Ethereal in its ghostly beauty is the mysterious legend of Misty Wayfair, the ghost that beckons for someone to hear her cries, learn her story, and see her suffering. Ms. Wright invites readers into the haunted lives of two women, Thea and Heidi, whose own troubled pasts trap them in a century old curse.
Chilling in its setting among the bluish gray forest that hides the secrets of an asylum, Ms. Wright holds nothing back. Bringing her characters to their knees to reveal deep wounds that can only be healed by the precious balm of truth she so aptly weaves into a story that offers not only hope and redemption to her characters but the chance to be seen for who they really are.
This story will resonate with readers and move them. A must read. Ms. Wright’s best story yet.
This truly is Jaime Jo Wright’s best book yet! They stories in this book are haunting, yet beautiful. I absolutely loved this book! I was hooked from page one! I couldn’t put it down! This is definitely going on my keeper shelf. This is one of those books that you will wish you could reread for the first time again and again!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
The author has us spanning centuries with the same family in a small area of Wisconsin, and how are they connected, they are but? We keep guessing and was surprised how the pieces all fell together.
People hiding deep secrets, and wow when they begin to unfold, I never saw some of them coming.
A compelling page turner that will keep you up late reading and searching for answers.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
Jaime Jo Wright’s The Curse of Misty Wayfair is this gifted and talented author’s third book. From the very first page, I was intrigued. Several pages more, and it gave me the wonderful tingles that a Hitchcock movie causes its viewers to feel. Also, the stark, clarity of characters and eerie sensation a Stephen King novel imbues in its reader. The realism in this book might give you pause to not read it in the night, keep forging forward, this is one sensational read! It caused some two-cups of coffee mornings as I “burned the midnight oil” wanting to read this story.
I only hope her next book will be coming out soon, I’m not sure if I’m patient enough to wait.
Eloquent. Suspenseful. Riveting. Chilling.
There are so many things I want to say about this book. None of them seem to do justice to the storyline or the fluidity of the writing. The dual time periods and storylines were each intriguing on their own, but mirrored together created the a desperate need to follow both Heidi and Thea on their journeys. Also a plus for me, is the mental health and stigma associated with anxiety, depression, and autism address in this book. My son is on the spectrum and there were many aspects of the storyline that caught me and brought tears to my eyes with the beautiful way Jamie Jo Wright brought light to Autism and the progress society has made in a short time in reference to mental health. After finishing this book I had to get her first two and read them as well. You will not be disappointed. I’m already in the midst of re-reading this one.
This is an amazing book and kept me guessing until the VERY END!
I’m just going to start this review by saying I cannot do this book justice. Secondly, in discussing this book, I want to assure you this may be a spooky story, but it is not a ghost story.
This is a brilliant read…Thea,Emma, and Heidi are my favorite characters. The characters really drive the story…which is a deep one. The author writes a spectacular novel to bring forth several wonderful Biblical truths. It’s one of those novels that I don’t think one read fully gives you everything.
A split time read with pictures of the dead, an old asylum, and a family feud that makes for a creepy but mesmerizing read that I still find in my thoughts from time to time. The author slowly throughout the book reveals pieces of the mystery and the faith theme…it’s like pealing back something deceptive to reveal the truth underneath that so few want known. Impossible to describe but definitely a must read— just please go buy it. There is just SO much in this book…so many truths.
Don’t be put off by the spooky…all things aren’t what they seem with the legend of Misty Wayfair…but her Creator is everywhere…and just waiting to be found by anyone who seeks Him.
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This book was absolutely amazing! In typical fashion for this author, this book was a dual timeline mystery where the full story only unfolds once both timeline mysteries are solved. Also, in true Jaime Jo Wright fashion, the mysteries had a serious “creep factor” element in them. I’m hyper sensitive towards those things, and could therefore not read this one at night (as is, I still had creepy ghostly dreams a couple of nights while reading this one!).
This book follows the story of Thea Reed, who in 1908 was a traveling post-mortem photographer and Heidi Lane, who in present day, is the family black sheep and prodigal daughter, so to speak. Both of them make their way to the small town of Pleasant Valley, WI, based on a letter received about their family history. Both go to this small town that boasts of a lumber mill, an asylum built in the woods, and a legend of a familial curse that come by hauntings. They go seeking answers about their pasts and their tales end with them finding so much more – about themselves and their Creator. It doesn’t hurt that they both find love along the way, though the romance thread is pretty subtle.
This book touched on some more sensitive topics, including treatment of the mentally ill, anxiety disorders and living with someone with autism. The author researched these topics well and handled them with finesse. This book also plumbed the spiritual depths and spoke to the difference between legalism and grace. I really appreciated the spiritual arc in this book and it really spoke to me where I am as well.
I’ve been a HUGE fan of Jaime Jo Wright since I read her debut novel about a year ago. I believe The Curse of Misty Wayfair is her best yet. The legend in the story is about a ghost and I honestly didn’t know until the very end whether or not the ghost was real. This was one that stuck with me any time I would put the book down. While I was at work, I was thinking about the characters and the story line and wondering what was true and what wasn’t. The mark of a good story is how well it sticks in your subconscious and since I was dreaming of Misty Wayfair, it tells me that it was pretty stuck in my subconscious. 🙂 The emotions (and yes, the creep factor) went pretty deep, and because of that, the underlying message hit just right. Anyone who enjoys a good mystery, historical or contemporary fiction, I would highly recommend this one!
Special thanks to Bethany House Publishers for an advanced copy of this book. I was not obligated to write a positive review and the opinions contained herein are my own.
With this gripping story, Wright has raised the standard for this genre. Jaime Jo Wright uses wonderfully descriptive language to create a mysterious setting for her suspenseful tale. I especially enjoy how Wright intricately connects the stories from the two time periods. The characters were created with care and I appreciate that Wright handles those dealing with illness with honor and respect. Hopefully, the author’s accurate depictions and poignant lessons will lead to more compassion in our world. This book grabbed my full attention because I did not want to miss one word and I won’t miss her next book. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Ms. Wright has expertly crafted this brilliant story! She seamlessly weaves the past and present of this dual time-line tale. Her attention to detail will have you cautiously looking out your windows and checking your locks.
Ms. Wright has a remarkable ability to convey spiritual truths that will challenge you to go deeper in your own walk. These nuggets of truth will stay with you long after you have finished the book.
Jaime Jo Wright is an author not to miss! I look forward to reading more of her phenomenal novels!
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
“Every creation was intended for a purpose. In broken places, beauty could be found.”
I’m going to be coming back to this quote and its purpose in the book, but first I want to tell you about this story. Jamie Jo Wright has written an incredible book. The storyline is seamless as it flows back and forth between Thea and Heidi, who live a century apart. Every detail is important and finds its place perfectly in both their stories. This book is riveting, and by turns it’s heart-rending, compassionate, and hopeful. It’s also spooky. The story involves a ghost, and the author keeps us guessing as to whether it’s real or imaginary. Much of this book is devoted to both Thea and Heidi finding out about their true family, and even though they live in different time periods, the legend of this ghost has an impact on their search for the truth. This book is certainly a page-turner. Several of the characters can only be described as “creepy” and that only adds to the overall mood as you read.
Now, back to the quote. There are several characters in the book that society would consider “broken”. Jamie Jo Wright has done some good research on mental illness and the horrific ways that people who suffered from this were treated in the past. One of the characters is autistic and another has panic attacks. All are treated with great compassion by the author. The spiritual /inspirational theme of this book is that God has a purpose for each one of us. Even if our lives are beautiful, God shows us the beauty in our brokenness.
Although this book does has its scary factor, I came away from reading it with a sense of compassion and purpose. This one well deserves a five star rating.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
With each stroke of the pen Ms. Wright creates a work of art that draws you into a world of mystery that spans from 1908 to present day. I love the way the dual time line is woven together so intricate that you never miss a beat while reading. I find the subject of mental illness and how it was treated so heartbreaking, but love how well researched it is. This book captures your attention from page one and eerily draws you into the story. The subject matter of mental illness, dementia, and being orphaned are dealt with in a sensitive manner and is very thought provoking. Not a run of the mill read, this is unpredictable with secrets and twists and turns that are captivating. This author has become a force to be reckoned with and deserves many accolades for her stellar writing style. I loved Thea and Heidi and how their stories are intertwined like two trees gnarled together after a century. Absolutely will be on my top ten books of 2019.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.