A Spirited Manor (O'Hare House Mysteries Book 1)

Can't say I enjoyed this much. The book started really well, but the second half in my opinion went downhill quickly. It's not a long story, but it felt very rushed. A lot happens in the second half, but it lurches from one thing to another. The characters don't feel genuine, or particularly empathetic. They make decisions that don't seem to follow what their character should be (grieving widow in utter despair suddenly changes her mind and drops the despair because she meets a good looking man and 24 hours later is cured and in love?) and it all just seems a little silly. Not to mention there are some gaping plot holes that are brushed over (no on in the house knows what's going on but there's a secret room that explains everything buried there?). No, this was not a satisfying read at all. Shame, because the early description and characterisation was actually really good.

I have read other books by the author before and enjoyed them, this was another delight! What starts of as a haunting story quickly develops into something more darker...did not see it coming! ( I won't reveal details as I don't want to ruin it for someone else) but this novel is written well, fast paced and easy to follow and read. The reason I didn't score a 5 is because I would of liked more development or back story regarding Violet's character...it felt a bit rushed but it didn't dismiss the surprise twist, I just wanted it to last longer.

The setting feels badly researched, and the research the author has done is shoehorned in with such a lack of subtlety it's laughable. She knows about the Women's Property Act, basically, and nothing else. In general, subtlety is a great failing.The characters are cliched, the setting even more so, and the writing is very, very stilted and bland: she may understand the concept of showing, not telling, but apparently doesn't know how to apply it just yet. The first person perspective may have been a bad choice, because it allows her to simply state how the main character feels, rather than having to show it through action and dialogue.The plot itself? Well... I think she's going for a sort of modern Gothic, with the gloomy old haunted house, the grieving widow and the "shocking" tragedy that takes place before the story begins, but it just... feels like writing by numbers. No effort goes into making it original or unusual. Gothic is about terror and horror, and from what I read, this story contains neither. I said the writing was bland. Actually, it might just be that the whole thing's bland.

Rather like a bad Victorian melodrama. Not sure what age this book is aimed at but certainly not for intelligent adults. The plot was very thin and the ending beyond ridiculous. Thank goodness it was free.

Very well written period mystery, which kept the language true to its time. The characters were very engaging and easy to feel a sense of rapport with. Because of the nature of the book for me it lacked a little in suspense, but that did not take away from my enjoyment and immersion in the story. I will be buying the next in the series 😊

This was a decent read, however it was a little predictable, the characters were somewhat believable but on the whole a readable book. It was well-written, with good language and prose.

An interesting take on a haunting. Certainly Different. A quick read for me as I devour around four or five books a week.I enjoyed it but not quite the genre I usually read. However, the author certainly kept me guessing as to how the plot would end.

Clara is the protagonist of some ghostly goings on. She takes residence in a house where a murder took place and things move on to the setting of a group of people stranded in a remote manor house being killed by an evil force. The finale is very amusing when Clara returns home. I enjoyed it.