Review of Hattie Vavaseur
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Review of Hattie Vavaseur
[Following is a volunteer review of "Hattie Vavaseur" by M. Rebecca Wildsmith.]
We first meet the central character at the beginning of this engaging novel. This woman is a haughty, aristocratic senior terrified of the color pink and cannot remember what she instinctively believes to be a substantial portion of her life. She is waiting for a taxi to pick her up from a funeral she recently attended but failed to recall who died. Readers may readily assume that she has dementia, but her memory loss is skilfully woven into a plot twist that is considerably more deadly than we could have ever imagined. The narrative of one woman's quest to unearth her past is told in Hattie Vavaseur by M. Rebecca Wildsmith.
In her search for answers, Hattie finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. Wading through the fog of uncertainties to unravel the enigma she is confident is related to her history, Hattie interacts with a variety of intimidating individuals, such as the garish Vamelda the occultist, the terrible master of the house, the quirky Mr. Carrington, and the vivacious, power-hungry villain who is wreaking havoc among the living and the dead. As Ms. Vavaseur becomes increasingly involved in the investigation, she is forced to acknowledge that not everyone in her immediate environment is an ally. Who is she to trust? Is Hattie a resident of this life or the afterlife? Wildsmith transports readers on a spine-chilling journey through mysterious straits where betrayal, cruelty, horror, friendship, and romance converge to create a unique brain-twister.
Although this tale has many admirable qualities, I like the author's brilliant command of language best. Prepare to be intellectually satisfied as Wildsmith entices you with words that capture her characters' personalities and 1920s England in which the novel is set. Vamelda, for example, "vibrated into the room," and Hattie was dressed in a "befurbelowed blue suit." The language is not only descriptive but also humorous, providing a pleasant counterpoint to the descriptions of some characters and their depravity.
In addition to the language, I appreciate how Wildsmith's characters do not remain static. The author perfectly grasps how to create dynamic and opposing personalities. Take the protagonist, for instance. The more Hattie interacts with Vamelda and understands that she must rely on her, the more her arrogance wanes. Also, as readers attempt to understand Mr. Carrington's role in the narrative, he, too, goes through some significant transformations. No character is unaffected.
The storyline develops, taking some unexpected dark turns as it examines concerns that both the living and the dead may experience after death. I was not disappointed in the least. The only thing I did not like about the book was the cover. After reading the summary, however, I became intrigued by the plot, especially the possibility of romance developing among the dead. Furthermore, the author's writing style reminded me of Agatha Christie's crime novels, which I adored. I could not help but be entertained by the story.
I recommend this book to readers sixteen years and older who enjoy supernatural fiction and are not deterred by mild violence. Despite not being a fast-paced, action-packed thriller, it still manages to keep you riveted to your seat as you breathlessly sprint toward an unforgettable, climactic finale. Consequently, I cannot give a lesser rating than 4 out of 4 stars. It would be thrilling to see this all unfold on the big screen.
******
Hattie Vavaseur
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
We first meet the central character at the beginning of this engaging novel. This woman is a haughty, aristocratic senior terrified of the color pink and cannot remember what she instinctively believes to be a substantial portion of her life. She is waiting for a taxi to pick her up from a funeral she recently attended but failed to recall who died. Readers may readily assume that she has dementia, but her memory loss is skilfully woven into a plot twist that is considerably more deadly than we could have ever imagined. The narrative of one woman's quest to unearth her past is told in Hattie Vavaseur by M. Rebecca Wildsmith.
In her search for answers, Hattie finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. Wading through the fog of uncertainties to unravel the enigma she is confident is related to her history, Hattie interacts with a variety of intimidating individuals, such as the garish Vamelda the occultist, the terrible master of the house, the quirky Mr. Carrington, and the vivacious, power-hungry villain who is wreaking havoc among the living and the dead. As Ms. Vavaseur becomes increasingly involved in the investigation, she is forced to acknowledge that not everyone in her immediate environment is an ally. Who is she to trust? Is Hattie a resident of this life or the afterlife? Wildsmith transports readers on a spine-chilling journey through mysterious straits where betrayal, cruelty, horror, friendship, and romance converge to create a unique brain-twister.
Although this tale has many admirable qualities, I like the author's brilliant command of language best. Prepare to be intellectually satisfied as Wildsmith entices you with words that capture her characters' personalities and 1920s England in which the novel is set. Vamelda, for example, "vibrated into the room," and Hattie was dressed in a "befurbelowed blue suit." The language is not only descriptive but also humorous, providing a pleasant counterpoint to the descriptions of some characters and their depravity.
In addition to the language, I appreciate how Wildsmith's characters do not remain static. The author perfectly grasps how to create dynamic and opposing personalities. Take the protagonist, for instance. The more Hattie interacts with Vamelda and understands that she must rely on her, the more her arrogance wanes. Also, as readers attempt to understand Mr. Carrington's role in the narrative, he, too, goes through some significant transformations. No character is unaffected.
The storyline develops, taking some unexpected dark turns as it examines concerns that both the living and the dead may experience after death. I was not disappointed in the least. The only thing I did not like about the book was the cover. After reading the summary, however, I became intrigued by the plot, especially the possibility of romance developing among the dead. Furthermore, the author's writing style reminded me of Agatha Christie's crime novels, which I adored. I could not help but be entertained by the story.
I recommend this book to readers sixteen years and older who enjoy supernatural fiction and are not deterred by mild violence. Despite not being a fast-paced, action-packed thriller, it still manages to keep you riveted to your seat as you breathlessly sprint toward an unforgettable, climactic finale. Consequently, I cannot give a lesser rating than 4 out of 4 stars. It would be thrilling to see this all unfold on the big screen.
******
Hattie Vavaseur
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: It'll Be Alright, Maggie Jiggs by Karen Thiel
