Review of Hattie Vavaseur
Posted: 28 Jul 2021, 16:11
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Hattie Vavaseur" by M. Rebecca Wildsmith.]
When Hattie Vavaseur’s driver informed her that her taxi was ready for her journey, Hattie felt confused and couldn’t remember her destination. After arriving at a spooky-looking mansion that had seen better days, she didn’t know where she was, who the master of the house was, or why she was there. She also was having trouble recalling her past. Hattie, being an elderly female who was both wealthy and arrogant, didn’t want anyone to realize she couldn’t remember, afraid they would think less of her. Hence, she pretended everything was alright, hoping that something would jog her memory.
The day after her arrival, she was transported into town for an appointment with a quirky psychic named Vamelda. Hattie’s first impression of the woman was not a favorable one. However, when Vamelda volunteered to assist in finding answers about her memory problems, she decided to give her a chance. As they search for answers about her past, Hattie realizes there are other mysteries, some quite dangerous, that need clarification as well.
Hattie Vavaseur by M. Rebecca Wildsmith is a 261-page novel that takes one back to the 1920s in Cornwall, England. Although it is listed in the C/T/M/H genre, romance and paranormal aspects are also incorporated. The story is told from the third-person point of view, predominantly from Hattie’s perspective. The author’s prose is descriptive and mostly easy to understand. The reader may acquire a few new words while reading (which is not a bad thing) since the book imitates the language of the time. Ms. Wildsmith’s book displays a vivid imagination and provides numerous twists and turns with lots of action, suspense, and mystery. One of my favorite aspects of the novel was the incorporated humor, which had me chuckling from time to time. All of the pertinent questions are answered by the end of the novel.
There is an eclectic cast of characters, and their development is superb. Hattie is a snob at the beginning but evolves as the story goes along. The belligerent and mysterious “master of the house” also begins to change as the tale progresses. Vamelda, the psychic, is my favorite character. She can truly see the dead but admits to embellishing her act to give her clients what they expect. I thoroughly enjoyed her wacky sense of humor. If you add to this mix a murdered salesman’s ghost, Vamelda’s unusual niece, a beautiful seductress (who may be leading men to their deaths), and several additional ghosts, one has the makings of an intriguing story.
As there was nothing about this fascinating mystery that I disliked, Hattie Vavaseur achieves a rating of four out of four stars. It is enthusiastically recommended to readers who would enjoy a light mystery with paranormal and romantic features. No profanities or sex (other than kissing) are encountered in the story. However, sensitive readers need to be aware there are a couple of episodes of violence.
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Hattie Vavaseur
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
When Hattie Vavaseur’s driver informed her that her taxi was ready for her journey, Hattie felt confused and couldn’t remember her destination. After arriving at a spooky-looking mansion that had seen better days, she didn’t know where she was, who the master of the house was, or why she was there. She also was having trouble recalling her past. Hattie, being an elderly female who was both wealthy and arrogant, didn’t want anyone to realize she couldn’t remember, afraid they would think less of her. Hence, she pretended everything was alright, hoping that something would jog her memory.
The day after her arrival, she was transported into town for an appointment with a quirky psychic named Vamelda. Hattie’s first impression of the woman was not a favorable one. However, when Vamelda volunteered to assist in finding answers about her memory problems, she decided to give her a chance. As they search for answers about her past, Hattie realizes there are other mysteries, some quite dangerous, that need clarification as well.
Hattie Vavaseur by M. Rebecca Wildsmith is a 261-page novel that takes one back to the 1920s in Cornwall, England. Although it is listed in the C/T/M/H genre, romance and paranormal aspects are also incorporated. The story is told from the third-person point of view, predominantly from Hattie’s perspective. The author’s prose is descriptive and mostly easy to understand. The reader may acquire a few new words while reading (which is not a bad thing) since the book imitates the language of the time. Ms. Wildsmith’s book displays a vivid imagination and provides numerous twists and turns with lots of action, suspense, and mystery. One of my favorite aspects of the novel was the incorporated humor, which had me chuckling from time to time. All of the pertinent questions are answered by the end of the novel.
There is an eclectic cast of characters, and their development is superb. Hattie is a snob at the beginning but evolves as the story goes along. The belligerent and mysterious “master of the house” also begins to change as the tale progresses. Vamelda, the psychic, is my favorite character. She can truly see the dead but admits to embellishing her act to give her clients what they expect. I thoroughly enjoyed her wacky sense of humor. If you add to this mix a murdered salesman’s ghost, Vamelda’s unusual niece, a beautiful seductress (who may be leading men to their deaths), and several additional ghosts, one has the makings of an intriguing story.
As there was nothing about this fascinating mystery that I disliked, Hattie Vavaseur achieves a rating of four out of four stars. It is enthusiastically recommended to readers who would enjoy a light mystery with paranormal and romantic features. No profanities or sex (other than kissing) are encountered in the story. However, sensitive readers need to be aware there are a couple of episodes of violence.
******
Hattie Vavaseur
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
