Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright Book Review

About the Book:

As the walls of the house at Predicament Avenue reveal their hidden truths, two women--generations apart--discover that fear and foreboding are no respecters of time.

In 1910, Effie James is committed to doing anything to save her younger sister, who witnessed a shocking murder, leaving her mute and in danger of the killer's retribution. Effie must prove what her sister saw, but when a British gentleman arrives, he disrupts Effie's quest with his attempts to locate his wife, Isabelle Addington, who was last seen at the supposed crime scene in the abandoned house at 322 Predicament Avenue. Just as Effie discovers what she seeks, she finds that the blood staining the walls will forever link her to a scandal she couldn't imagine, and to a woman whose secrets promise to curse any who would expose them.

A century later, Norah Richman grapples with social anxiety and grief as she runs her late great-aunt's bed-and-breakfast on Predicament Avenue. But Norah has little affection for the house and is committed only to carrying out her murdered sister's dreams until crime historian and podcaster Sebastian Blaine arrives to investigate the ghostly legacy of the house's claim to fame--the murder of Isabelle Addington. When a guest is found dead, the incident is linked to Isabelle's murder, and Norah and Sebastian must work together to uncover the century-old curse that has wrapped 322 Predicament Avenue in its clutches and threatens far more than death.

You can read an excerpt here.

My Review:

Wright's novel follows her usual concept of combining a murder mystery from a century ago with a current one in the same location. She skillfully reveals the action in each situation as information is uncovered. The plot technique in this novel is a current true crime podcaster investigating the long ago murder.

Wright is a wordsmith. The bedroom is not just dark, it is shrouded in vampire black. She is skilled at creating spooky scenes and scary situations. There is much suspense in this novel and a hint of romance. The faith message is vague but there is an exploration death, grief and what happens in the hereafter.

The resolutions of both mysteries seemed a little forced to me, something I do not remember in previous novels from Wright. The reason the historical murder remained a mystery bordered on unbelief. The answer to the current murder meant some actions had been hidden from those close by for some time, bordering on being unrealistic.

I do like very much Wright's writing style and her characteristic plots and, even though I do not think this is her best effort, will be watching for the next novel from her.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Jaime Jo Wright (JaimeWrightBooks.com) is the author of ten novels, including Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She's also a two-time Christy Award finalist, as well as the ECPA bestselling author of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau and two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her family and felines.

Bethany House Publishers, 368 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)