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pkane01's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, and War
bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
4.0
“You can't imagine how hard it is to come home from hell and be expected to pick up the threads of a life. Apply for jobs, go to a factory, punch in, punch out. Put your lunch in a bag and get on the omnibus every day. Like nothing happened. Nothing.”
➽ This is one of Simone St. James' older titles, but I still enjoyed it a lot! It's set in the 1920s after the first world war and follows Sarah Piper, who's a temporary agent that takes on any odd jobs that come her way. When she gets offered the chance to become the secretary of infamous ghost hunter Alistair Gellis, she's not sure what she's getting herself into. Piper has been leading a solitary life, so against all common sense, she agrees and travels with him to investigate the haunting of a young servant called Maddy Clare. They're joined by Alistair's long time friend and assistant Matthew Ryder, who immediately catches Sarah's eye despite his gruff demeanor. He's been deeply scarred by the way and still fights with his demons. This book was so haunting and emotional! Sarah gets closer to Maddy's ghost, as she hates all men and sees the pain that has been inflicted on her. Tensions are rising as it's likely that whoever hurt her still lives in the small town unseen and might not want their secret to come out!
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexism, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization
lifeishardbacks's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: War
lyricallit's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Suicide and Death of parent
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, and War
gondorgirl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
sonygaystation's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, and Alcohol
kat_rowlen's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and War
theimposter's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and War
sarah_speaks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content and War
Minor: Death of parent
namielle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Sarah Piper is hired by Alistair Gellis to come along with him to investigate a spirit haunting a barn that supposedly hates men. They are joined by Alistair’s partner, the gruff Matthew Ryder. The trio must unravel the ghost’s secrets before one of them is lost forever.
I quite liked Sarah as a protagonist, and I felt like she was pretty relatable, apart from buying into the whole ghost thing really quickly. Alistair and Matthew were both charming in their own ways as well.
The plot was very fast paced, almost too fast. The haunting wasn’t all that scary, and I think this could’ve been fixed if there had been more time for buildup. The culprits of a certain event were pretty predictable, and I was able to figure out who was responsible for it before Sarah, but luckily she didn’t spent an obnoxious amount of time in the dark.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Rape