Review of Hattie Vavaseur
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Lara Keir
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Review of Hattie Vavaseur
[Following is a volunteer review of "Hattie Vavaseur" by M. Rebecca Wildsmith.]
Hattie Vavaseur by M. Rebecca Wildsmith is a paranormal mystery. The protagonist is Hattie, whose life changed for the worse after she got engaged to "the one," who later betrayed her trust. The afterlife is the central theme of the novel. "What if there is life after life? What if you could clear up your life's misunderstandings and misconceptions? Could things change for the better?" are some of the questions posed in the book. A couple of murder cases surrounding the main character are also included in the plot.
The story starts with Hattie attending the funeral. The reader gets the idea that she is old and has poor eyesight. Afterward, she gets into a taxi and arrives at an estate she finds familiar but cannot remember why. This sets the stage for our mystery. When Hattie can't recall the master of the house or any previous appointments either, she is both embarrassed and frightened. She realizes she must be losing her memory. She soon discovers that everyone on the estate is dead, including herself. She is reminded of her last illness and the fact that it was her funeral she attended before arriving here.
I liked how the author weaves numerous mysteries together, including Hattie's personal life and the murder investigation. It all starts when one of the guests at the estate realizes that he was poisoned during his dinner, which is how he wound up here, and asks Hattie for assistance. The "clairvoyant medium" was also one of my favorites. This character plays one of the essential roles in the afterlife, as she can interact with both sides via her crystal ball. Visitors also come from "the living," such as Hattie's nephew, who is helping her solve the murder case.
I also enjoyed how the afterlife was depicted as being quite similar to what we have now. It had people "of various shapes and sizes," rather than "perfectly proportioned humans, in shapeless, white robes," which I found refreshing. (Chapter 22, page 95.) Another supernatural element I enjoyed was Hattie's growing younger as she spends more time on the estate, which helps her connect the dots of her personal story. There were also many other elements that could pique the reader’s imagination and tackle the difficult topic of dying in an interesting and novel way.
This is a book I would recommend to anyone searching for a modern Agatha Christie-style mystery and anyone interested in a unique take on the afterlife. The book went through a thorough editing and proofreading process. However, I observed a flaw in the use of italics since some letters seemed to be italicized at random, detracting from the reading experience. I couldn't think of any further drawbacks. I gave this book 4 out of 4 stars because I liked its originality and found it an enjoyable read.
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Hattie Vavaseur
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Hattie Vavaseur by M. Rebecca Wildsmith is a paranormal mystery. The protagonist is Hattie, whose life changed for the worse after she got engaged to "the one," who later betrayed her trust. The afterlife is the central theme of the novel. "What if there is life after life? What if you could clear up your life's misunderstandings and misconceptions? Could things change for the better?" are some of the questions posed in the book. A couple of murder cases surrounding the main character are also included in the plot.
The story starts with Hattie attending the funeral. The reader gets the idea that she is old and has poor eyesight. Afterward, she gets into a taxi and arrives at an estate she finds familiar but cannot remember why. This sets the stage for our mystery. When Hattie can't recall the master of the house or any previous appointments either, she is both embarrassed and frightened. She realizes she must be losing her memory. She soon discovers that everyone on the estate is dead, including herself. She is reminded of her last illness and the fact that it was her funeral she attended before arriving here.
I liked how the author weaves numerous mysteries together, including Hattie's personal life and the murder investigation. It all starts when one of the guests at the estate realizes that he was poisoned during his dinner, which is how he wound up here, and asks Hattie for assistance. The "clairvoyant medium" was also one of my favorites. This character plays one of the essential roles in the afterlife, as she can interact with both sides via her crystal ball. Visitors also come from "the living," such as Hattie's nephew, who is helping her solve the murder case.
I also enjoyed how the afterlife was depicted as being quite similar to what we have now. It had people "of various shapes and sizes," rather than "perfectly proportioned humans, in shapeless, white robes," which I found refreshing. (Chapter 22, page 95.) Another supernatural element I enjoyed was Hattie's growing younger as she spends more time on the estate, which helps her connect the dots of her personal story. There were also many other elements that could pique the reader’s imagination and tackle the difficult topic of dying in an interesting and novel way.
This is a book I would recommend to anyone searching for a modern Agatha Christie-style mystery and anyone interested in a unique take on the afterlife. The book went through a thorough editing and proofreading process. However, I observed a flaw in the use of italics since some letters seemed to be italicized at random, detracting from the reading experience. I couldn't think of any further drawbacks. I gave this book 4 out of 4 stars because I liked its originality and found it an enjoyable read.
******
Hattie Vavaseur
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: A Dream For Peace by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
