Review of Hattie Vavaseur

[Valerie Garske]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Hattie Vavaseur" by M. Rebecca Wildsmith.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Hattie Vavaseur is a supernatural historical mystery romance written by M. Rebecca Wildsmith. The book was exceptionally well-edited in addition to being well-written. Ms. Wildsmith is a masterful wordsmith and uses formal prose to be consistent with the historical period. This is a fun period piece with a plethora of unusual personalities and a twisting plot that slowly unravels providing insight into the character's involvement. If you enjoy humorous mysteries about ghosts with broken hearts, then you should read this novel. The book is suited for a general audience, as it contains no profanity or erotic content.

The story is centered in England around the early 1900s. Hattie Vavaseur is a wealthy spinster who suffers from memory loss. When her chauffeur delivers her to a mysterious mansion, Hattie refuses to admit that she does not recognize any of the staff. Hattie suspects that she may have been kidnapped. Nevertheless, she is regarded with the utmost respect. Although the master of the house is both brooding and intense, Hattie seems drawn to him. Sometimes specific items appear vaguely familiar, but Hattie is too proud to admit she is confused. Unwilling to appear weak, she presents a haughty demeanor to the strange household. Matters get even odder when Hattie learns she has an appointment with an occultist. Consequently, she realizes that murder is afoot. Hattie decides to partner with the theatrical medium. They enlist the aid of Hattie's nephew as well as a handful of ghosts to uncover the mystery and restore order.

Cleverly written, this book is fun to read. I liked how the author used expressive vocabulary to engage the reader and keep true to the period. Descriptive language artfully describes the eccentric characters. I liked that the author provided tiny details and thinly veiled clues that tease the reader into attempting to reveal the mystery.

What I did not like about the book, was at one point the villain kills a deer. This example of rage was unneeded. Clearly, Hattie was in danger, and the villain was both maniacal and insane. I don’t know why I considered the killing of an animal more disturbing than the actual murders. Nevertheless, that scene could be deleted from the book, as it did not add any value to the overall storyline. Furthermore, I also was not a fan of the title. If I would have judged the book by the title, I would have passed. I am delighted I referred to the description and decided to give the book a chance.

I genuinely enjoyed this book. It was a fun romance with a supernatural twist. The book is quirky and whimsical with a number of characters that keep the story interesting. The book includes a handful of ghosts, a flamboyant medium, a bumbling nephew, a headstrong elderly woman suffering from memory loss, and a demented serial killer. Indeed an eclectic cast of characters that are thoroughly engaging and entertaining. Consequently, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.

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Hattie Vavaseur
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[Nonso Ok]

Looks like an amazing book to try out. I agree with you, if killing the animal was not important to the overall storyline, it shouldn't be included.

[kdstrack]

This book does present an interesting cast of characters! I enjoyed your description of Hattie's personality and the intrigue you created around her situation. Thanks for the mysterious recommendation!

[Valerie Garske]

Thanks for responding to my review. It is hard to not give any spoilers. So many twists and surprises in this book, I hope you read it and have fun with it.

[Riya Sarkar]

You are spot on about the author's description of eccentric characters. They were quite fun to read!