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A review by uutopicaa
An Insidious Inheritance by Amelie West
dark
fast-paced
3.5
Note: First of all, I want to mention that I received a digital ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. I am truly grateful for the opportunity.
So, where to begin? As I reread my notes on this story, I find it difficult to organize my thoughts in the right order. Before anything, I want to say I DO recommend this book, but it is not a perfect novel.
Now, I guess I’ll start by saying what An Insidious Inheritance is and what I liked most about it.
This is a historical paranormal mystery with a touch of romance, set in upstate New York around 1930. The story follows a young woman living in Rochester, who one day receives the news that her father has committed suicide. She hasn’t seen her father in over a decade and considered him a terrible man. However, the lawyer informs her that she is entitled to inherit her father’s property: a rundown inn located in the middle of nowhere, with no electricity and many secrets.
In this small-town mystery/horror story, we encounter ghosts, murders, and a small cast of characters who are wary of the new girl asking too many questions and uncovering strange things at the Inn.
The book relies on some of the classic elements of its genres, so it was a comforting read for me—predictable, yes, but cozy. It felt like the kind of story I would read at night while sipping hot chocolate.
Let me put on my editor hat for the next fragment of the review:
I’m giving this book 3.5 stars because it has potential, but I don’t think it’s ready for publication. There are too many small details and contradictions that should have been addressed by the time ARC readers received their copies. And I’m not just talking about punctuation, repetition, or the excessive use of ellipses in almost every paragraph. I’m referring to plot points and historical accuracy.
There are several small issues that don’t quite make sense to me. Perhaps I’m wrong, but they felt off and detracted from my enjoyment of the book. For example, we’re told repeatedly that the protagonist is broke and that the U.S. is in the midst of the Great Depression. Yet, despite being unable to pay her bills, she owns a car (an uncommon possession at the time, especially for a single woman with a part-time job who can’t even afford rent). Even if we assume the car isn’t hers and a friend lent it to her, how did she know how to drive it? Her family never had money or owned a vehicle as far as I recall. I understand the need for transportation in the story, but it would have been helpful to include some “historical inaccuracies notes” at the end of the book to acknowledge such details.
Another issue arises when the protagonist visits the local library to investigate some missing people in town. She knows their names and that they are missing, yet she tells herself that it will be difficult to find information because she doesn’t know their names (which she does). She even checks the obituaries to see when they died (again, they are missing). There’s also a moment where the protagonist recalls something she said earlier, but she quotes it incorrectly. Additionally, there are several plot elements that are introduced but never fully explained or that get lost and forgotten by the end of the book. These loose ends simply disappear, even though they seemed important at one point.
Maybe I missed something or misunderstood something, but I don’t think I could’ve overlooked everything I’ve mentioned.
Now, from a reader’s perspective, my main issue with the story is that everything that happens in Rochester at the beginning of the book is completely forgotten by the 25% mark and never brought up again. I’m talking about the protagonist’s best friend, her Halloween party, and other early plot points. I do believe that if something is mentioned, it should serve a purpose. It would have made more sense if the epilogue had been set at that party, perhaps with a surprise guest meeting the protagonist there (trying to avoid spoilers as much as possible).
All in all, I think this is a great draft of a book with a lot of potential. I loved the protagonist and how she navigates life as an independent woman (by necessity) in the 1930s. That was fantastic. I also enjoyed the mystery and the paranormal elements. I would love to see more about her childhood memories and the things her father could see in future books. I liked many things about the book: the atmosphere, the twists, the characters, and the overall feeling of a small town filled with secrets, as well as the historical aspects.
I just think it needs more work before being released, and I hope the final version available for purchase addresses the issues I’ve mentioned.
To close this review: do I recommend this book? Yes, I think it’s entertaining and well-planned, despite some minor issues. No book is perfect, and most readers may not even notice the things I’ve pointed out. I just can’t help but read books with the eyes of an editor.
So, where to begin? As I reread my notes on this story, I find it difficult to organize my thoughts in the right order. Before anything, I want to say I DO recommend this book, but it is not a perfect novel.
Now, I guess I’ll start by saying what An Insidious Inheritance is and what I liked most about it.
This is a historical paranormal mystery with a touch of romance, set in upstate New York around 1930. The story follows a young woman living in Rochester, who one day receives the news that her father has committed suicide. She hasn’t seen her father in over a decade and considered him a terrible man. However, the lawyer informs her that she is entitled to inherit her father’s property: a rundown inn located in the middle of nowhere, with no electricity and many secrets.
In this small-town mystery/horror story, we encounter ghosts, murders, and a small cast of characters who are wary of the new girl asking too many questions and uncovering strange things at the Inn.
The book relies on some of the classic elements of its genres, so it was a comforting read for me—predictable, yes, but cozy. It felt like the kind of story I would read at night while sipping hot chocolate.
Let me put on my editor hat for the next fragment of the review:
I’m giving this book 3.5 stars because it has potential, but I don’t think it’s ready for publication. There are too many small details and contradictions that should have been addressed by the time ARC readers received their copies. And I’m not just talking about punctuation, repetition, or the excessive use of ellipses in almost every paragraph. I’m referring to plot points and historical accuracy.
There are several small issues that don’t quite make sense to me. Perhaps I’m wrong, but they felt off and detracted from my enjoyment of the book. For example, we’re told repeatedly that the protagonist is broke and that the U.S. is in the midst of the Great Depression. Yet, despite being unable to pay her bills, she owns a car (an uncommon possession at the time, especially for a single woman with a part-time job who can’t even afford rent). Even if we assume the car isn’t hers and a friend lent it to her, how did she know how to drive it? Her family never had money or owned a vehicle as far as I recall. I understand the need for transportation in the story, but it would have been helpful to include some “historical inaccuracies notes” at the end of the book to acknowledge such details.
Another issue arises when the protagonist visits the local library to investigate some missing people in town. She knows their names and that they are missing, yet she tells herself that it will be difficult to find information because she doesn’t know their names (which she does). She even checks the obituaries to see when they died (again, they are missing). There’s also a moment where the protagonist recalls something she said earlier, but she quotes it incorrectly. Additionally, there are several plot elements that are introduced but never fully explained or that get lost and forgotten by the end of the book. These loose ends simply disappear, even though they seemed important at one point.
Maybe I missed something or misunderstood something, but I don’t think I could’ve overlooked everything I’ve mentioned.
Now, from a reader’s perspective, my main issue with the story is that everything that happens in Rochester at the beginning of the book is completely forgotten by the 25% mark and never brought up again. I’m talking about the protagonist’s best friend, her Halloween party, and other early plot points. I do believe that if something is mentioned, it should serve a purpose. It would have made more sense if the epilogue had been set at that party, perhaps with a surprise guest meeting the protagonist there (trying to avoid spoilers as much as possible).
All in all, I think this is a great draft of a book with a lot of potential. I loved the protagonist and how she navigates life as an independent woman (by necessity) in the 1930s. That was fantastic. I also enjoyed the mystery and the paranormal elements. I would love to see more about her childhood memories and the things her father could see in future books. I liked many things about the book: the atmosphere, the twists, the characters, and the overall feeling of a small town filled with secrets, as well as the historical aspects.
I just think it needs more work before being released, and I hope the final version available for purchase addresses the issues I’ve mentioned.
To close this review: do I recommend this book? Yes, I think it’s entertaining and well-planned, despite some minor issues. No book is perfect, and most readers may not even notice the things I’ve pointed out. I just can’t help but read books with the eyes of an editor.