Review of Hattie Vavaseur

[Carlyn Rawls]

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

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5 out of 5 stars

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Hattie Vavaseur is filled with mystery and intrigue from beginning to end, in this 1920s era, supernatural mystery novel. The mystery begins when Ms. Hattie Vavaseur, an English socialite, arrives at a mansion with little memory and a very odd feeling. Safe and comfortable in the mansion except for the pink room that she detests, Hattie begins to search for clues as to why she is there and recover her memories. Hattie desperately reaches out to the town’s eccentric soothsayer, Vamelda, to uncover her past. The unlikely duo work to solve Hattie’s mystery and a murder that somehow is linked to Hattie and her mystery residence. Ghosts and spirits come to play and make Hattie’s mission even more difficult. M. Rebecca Wildsmith combines mystery, supernatural, and a little bit of romance to make this period-fiction a stellar book.
One of the most enjoyable parts of Hattie Vavaseur is the wide variety of characters, each with many layers. Wildsmith uses the most descriptive and captivating words to describe the proper Hattie, the outlandish Vamelda, and every character in between. The mystery itself is very complicated which results in the characters having to use non-traditional methods to solve it. There are also clues dropped throughout the book, but the pieces do not come together until the end. The book genuinely feels like it came from the early 1900s from the language to the inclusion of letters and telegrams. The setting and the depiction of it was my favorite part of the story. This was an enjoyable book throughout the entirety.
I found no negative parts of this book. The storyline was without plot-holes; the writing was consistent and understandable; and the setting was fitting. This book appears to be well-edited because it contains no errors. I rate this book five out of five stars because I did not want to put it down, which is a sign for a great mystery novel. I look forward to reading the author’s other works.
I would recommend this book to readers looking for a quick and interesting mystery. This book would also be enjoyed by readers who like period pieces as this book is set in the 1920s. The supernatural elements throughout the book would make it appropriate for those interested in the unknown and the mystic. The book contains no profanity, but the supernatural elements make this not appropriate for younger readers.

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Hattie Vavaseur
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