Review of Hattie Vavaseur
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Kaivalya Khisti
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Review of Hattie Vavaseur
[Following is a volunteer review of "Hattie Vavaseur" by M. Rebecca Wildsmith.]
After attending a somber funeral, Hattie Vavaseur, a wrinkled old lady suffering bouts of memory loss is swept off to an old mansion full of libraries. Despite her repulsion to the color pink, the enigmatic master of the mansion puts Hattie up in a room grotesquely bedecked in shades of vibrant pink. As much as Hattie is enchanted by the immaculate gardens of the sprawling estate and the enviable collection of books in the libraries, she is wary of the volatile master of the mansion, inexplicably disgruntled with Hattie. To add to her discomfort, Hattie is chauffeured, against her will, to an occultist named Vamelda. Even as she is battling her malaise amidst the chaos of the mysterious mansion and its secretive butlers and chauffeurs, Hattie becomes the focal point of a murder investigation. Written with the narrative charm of old English, Hattie Vavaseur by M. Rebecca Wildsmith, spruces up a murder mystery with witty paranormal elements sans their typical orthodoxy.
What I liked the most about the book was the way Wildsmith has developed her characters. Each character has a unique flavor. Be it the strange master of the mansion, the charming butler, the playful stable boy, the tacit chauffeur, the flamboyant oculist, the deranged Mrs. Carrington, the gullible Mr. Carrington, or the befuddled but gifted Hattie, all the characters are relatable and superbly developed.
My favorite character was that of Vamelda. I loved how, through Vamelda’s character, the author has given an unorthodox spin to the traditional beliefs about séances and psychic mediums. Vamelda is sprightly, comical, ostentatious, but at the end a lovable and trustworthy friend.
I would not say there are many twists and turns in the story as are expected from typical murder mysteries. There are no red herrings one can follow. Yet, the author brilliantly creates a sense of adventure for her readers. The humorous quips keep the story lively and engaging. The author has a knack for keeping the suspense alive without making the story too complicated.
This was a refreshing read for me. I gladly rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I did not find any grammatical errors in the book. It is professionally edited. The pace of narration is perfect. The language is fresh and polished.
I recommend this book to readers who love murder mysteries. Those who would love to read some old English with a refreshing modern touch should definitely pick this book up. The last few pages of the book were spooky but equally gripping. Even though there are spooky moments in the book, it is not a scary piece. So sensitive readers have nothing to worry.
******
Hattie Vavaseur
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
After attending a somber funeral, Hattie Vavaseur, a wrinkled old lady suffering bouts of memory loss is swept off to an old mansion full of libraries. Despite her repulsion to the color pink, the enigmatic master of the mansion puts Hattie up in a room grotesquely bedecked in shades of vibrant pink. As much as Hattie is enchanted by the immaculate gardens of the sprawling estate and the enviable collection of books in the libraries, she is wary of the volatile master of the mansion, inexplicably disgruntled with Hattie. To add to her discomfort, Hattie is chauffeured, against her will, to an occultist named Vamelda. Even as she is battling her malaise amidst the chaos of the mysterious mansion and its secretive butlers and chauffeurs, Hattie becomes the focal point of a murder investigation. Written with the narrative charm of old English, Hattie Vavaseur by M. Rebecca Wildsmith, spruces up a murder mystery with witty paranormal elements sans their typical orthodoxy.
What I liked the most about the book was the way Wildsmith has developed her characters. Each character has a unique flavor. Be it the strange master of the mansion, the charming butler, the playful stable boy, the tacit chauffeur, the flamboyant oculist, the deranged Mrs. Carrington, the gullible Mr. Carrington, or the befuddled but gifted Hattie, all the characters are relatable and superbly developed.
My favorite character was that of Vamelda. I loved how, through Vamelda’s character, the author has given an unorthodox spin to the traditional beliefs about séances and psychic mediums. Vamelda is sprightly, comical, ostentatious, but at the end a lovable and trustworthy friend.
I would not say there are many twists and turns in the story as are expected from typical murder mysteries. There are no red herrings one can follow. Yet, the author brilliantly creates a sense of adventure for her readers. The humorous quips keep the story lively and engaging. The author has a knack for keeping the suspense alive without making the story too complicated.
This was a refreshing read for me. I gladly rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I did not find any grammatical errors in the book. It is professionally edited. The pace of narration is perfect. The language is fresh and polished.
I recommend this book to readers who love murder mysteries. Those who would love to read some old English with a refreshing modern touch should definitely pick this book up. The last few pages of the book were spooky but equally gripping. Even though there are spooky moments in the book, it is not a scary piece. So sensitive readers have nothing to worry.
******
Hattie Vavaseur
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Way of the Goddess by Ananta Ripa Ajmera
