The Haunting of Maddy Clare
By Simone St. James
Read by Pamela Garelick
• 9.88 Hours
• 01/15/2013
• Unabridged
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$6.95
ISBN: 9781482142679
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$29.95
ISBN: 9781470842338
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$29.95
ISBN: 9781470842314
A thrilling debut in women’s suspense—a ghost story set in 1920s England Sarah Piper’s lonely, threadbare existence changes when her temporary work agency sends her to assist a ghost hunter. Alistair Gellis—rich, handsome, scarred by World War I, and obsessed with ghosts—has been summoned to investigate the spirit of nineteen-year-old maid Maddy Clare, who haunts the barn where she committed suicide. Since Maddy hated men in life, it is Sarah’s task to confront her in death. Soon Sarah is caught up in a desperate struggle, for Maddy’s ghost is real, she is angry, and she has powers that defy all reason. Can Sarah and Alistair’s assistant, the rough and unsettling Matthew Ryder, discover who Maddy was, where she came from, and what is driving her desire for vengeance before she destroys them all?
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Summary
Summary
Winner of an Arthur Ellis Award in 2013 for Best First Crime Novel
Winner of the 2013 RITA Award for Best First Book
Winner of the 2013 RITA Award for Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements
A thrilling debut in women’s suspense—a ghost story set in 1920s England
Sarah Piper’s lonely, threadbare existence changes when her temporary work agency sends her to assist a ghost hunter. Alistair Gellis—rich, handsome, scarred by World War I, and obsessed with ghosts—has been summoned to investigate the spirit of nineteen-year-old maid Maddy Clare, who haunts the barn where she committed suicide. Since Maddy hated men in life, it is Sarah’s task to confront her in death. Soon Sarah is caught up in a desperate struggle, for Maddy’s ghost is real, she is angry, and she has powers that defy all reason.
Can Sarah and Alistair’s assistant, the rough and unsettling Matthew Ryder, discover who Maddy was, where she came from, and what is driving her desire for vengeance before she destroys them all?
Editorial Reviews
Editorial Reviews
“A compelling ghost story, the book is written quite beautifully, weaving elements of romance and mystery with a gothic twist…Offering a glimpse of life in England between world wars as the twentysomething ghost investigators stay at a country inn, the book proves a satisfying, chilling read.” —VOYA
“Debut author St. James has written an atmospheric and resoundingly old-fashioned ghost story that pulls you in from the first pages…This book is just right for those who prefer suspense to be scary but not too scary. It’s haunting but (despite disturbing elements) not nightmarish. St. James’ writing evokes the time period without pretension, the pacing is just right, the ghost story plausible, and the love story important but not all consuming. Recommended.”
—Historical Novels Review
“The book’s spooky atmosphere and post–WWI setting are well developed…St. James is one to watch.”
—RT Book Reviews
“St. James deftly ratchets up the tension in this thrilling ghost story.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A chilling start…Fans of the modern Gothic novel will enjoy filling up a few creepy hours.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Set in 1920s
England, this eerie, engaging ghost story relates the adventures of Alistair
Gellis…Canadian writer, Simone St. James creates a psychologically complex and
chillingly good ghost story in this first novel, including elements of romance
and an aura of gothic intrigue. This story will appeal to all who love
suspenseful tales of the supernatural, historical novels, and really good ghost
stories. Narrator Pamela Garelick has a deeply resonant voice which lends
itself equally well to voicing for Sarah and the other women’s mellow tones, as
well to Matthew’s and some of the ‘darker’ characters’ restrained, depressed
vocal tones. An exceptionally captivating audiobook.” —SoundCommentary.com
“Pamela Garelick gives a powerful
performance of this mesmerizing story…Garelick is masterful in giving each
character the perfect nuances. Her accents for all the characters—whether
aristocrat, local policeman, common laborer, elderly widow, or housekeeper—are
flawless. This is an audio experience to savor.” —AudioFile
“A compelling read. With a strong setting, vivid supporting characters, and sympathetic protagonists, the book is a wonderful blend of romance, mystery, and pure creepiness. Simone St. James is a talent to watch.”
—Anne Stuart, author of Risk the Night
“A novel of chilling romantic suspense that evokes the lost era between the world wars that so wounded the lives of the young men and women of England and adds to the mix an inevitably dark, gothic ghost story. Read it with the lights on. Simply spellbinding.”
—Susanna Kearsley, author of The Winter Sea
“I don’t believe in ghosts, but I believe every word of this fast-paced, compelling story.”
—Madeline Hunter, New York Times bestselling author
“Fast, fun, and gripping. Kept me up into the wee hours.”
—C. S. Harris, author of the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series
“One foggy evening not long ago, I lit a fire in the fireplace, brewed myself a cup of tea, settled in, and began to read The Haunting of Maddy Clare. When I looked up again, my tea had gone cold, the fire was out, and hours had passed in an instant. The deliciously eerie, traditionally gothic story grabbed me with its first sentence and didn’t let go until the very last, as though Maddy herself reached out from the page and drew me in, insisting that I, along with ghost hunters Sarah, Matthew, and Alastair, not rest until I discovered what happened to her one terrible night in the dark and foreboding English countryside. Author Simone St. James gets everything right in this ghostly tale, and I’ll be standing in line to buy whatever she writes next.”
—Wendy Webb, author of The Tale of Halcyon Crane
“Compelling and deliciously unsettling, this is a story that begs to be read in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down!”
—Megan Chance, author of City of Ash
“With a fresh, unique voice, Simone St. James creates an atmosphere that is deliciously creepy and a heroine you won’t soon forget. The Haunting of Maddy Clare promises spooky thrills and it delivers. Read it, enjoy it—but don’t turn out the lights!”
—Deanna Raybourn, author of the Julia Grey series and The Dark Enquiry
Reviews
Reviews
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Who is Maddy Clare?
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Sarah Piper does not believe in ghosts. She’s a no non-sense young woman living in the hard era of 1920’s England....but Maddy has a message for Sarah and she will tell it, whether Sarah wants to listen or not. The barn is a place of terror. Possessed black crows, odd sounds, total destruction in the dead of night and strange hallucinations terrorize the property owner. A ghost obsessed duo is hired to search out the source of Maddy’s distress with a catch: Maddy will only allow a woman to enter the barn. In their best efforts to dispel any fear of fraud they hire the unknowing Sarah Piper who stoutly refuses to believe in anything but the facts. “I don’t believe in ghosts.” she says.
You’ll find yourself laughing at that later on, I promise!
Pamela Garelick narrates The Haunting of Maddy Clare with a beautiful, passionate voice. Her spot on accent and sass bring life to our unwilling heroine as she battles a vengeful ghost, a lustful employer, an angry superstitious village, and her own attractions to the dark, secretive WWI vet Mathew Rider. With emotion, passion and expert narration Pamela Garelick drives the pacing of this book.
You need to read The Haunting of Maddy Clare with a good wine, some chocolate, and probably all the lights in your house on! Definitely a heart pounder, Simone St. James leaves you terrified, frustrated, and wondering…what could possibly happen next?
If you like this book, you might also like: Of Bees and Mist, The Strength of Her Regard, The Woman in Black, The Kitchen House, and Hell House.
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This is a straight up ghost story, with gothic undertones.
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This is a straight up ghost story, with gothic undertones.
Sarah Piper gets a job through a temp agency working for a ghost hunter; Sarah is broke so she takes the job even though she’s not sure what kind of oddities she will run into. Soon Sarah is flung into a situation that was not covered on her resume; she ends up being the only person that can actually see the ghost of Maddy Clare not just feel her presence as others have said they do, but Maddy not only allows Sarah to see her she also gives her visions of what happened her and why she hates men and is seeking revenge. Once I knew Maddy’s story I was all for rooting for the ghost!
Of course, there had to be a romance angle, which I didn’t think added much to the book, maybe that’s because I wasn’t too impressed with Matthew and thought he was kind of a jerk. I wish this storyline hadn’t even been in there.
Even though what happened to Maddy is pretty easy to figure out and who the culprits were was pretty plain, I still liked this story because Maddy had some serious ghost skills, she could make people believe they were walking in her shoes, or send someone inside their minds to fight with their own demons, she could kill and maim, and burn stuff down she is pretty bad ass.
Pamela Garelick was a new to me narrator and I thought she did a good job, there was distinct differences in each character so you always knew who was talking. She has a husky English accent that I enjoyed listening to and I would look for other books she narrated.
If you enjoy a good ghost story I would give this book a try!
3 ½ stars
Full disclosure: I received this audiobook from the Audiobookjukebox and the publisher for a fair and honest review.
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Excellent Ghost Story
- Since there's already a book description and two reviews that go over the plot, let me just say that this book hooked me from the first page. I loved the characters, the story was compelling, and the whole ghost aspect of the story was thoroughly creepy—sometimes downright terrifying. I kept telling myself "just one more chapter" until I had zoomed through this book. I was a little confused by the choice of narrator, as the protagonist is supposed to be young and Pamela Garelick does not sound young. She's a good narrator, to be sure, just maybe not the best choice for this book. At any rate, this is well worth the listen.
Details
Details
| Available Formats : | Digital Download, Digital Rental, CD, MP3 CD |
| Category: | Fiction |
| Runtime: | 9.88 |
| Audience: | Adult |
| Language: | English |
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