HQ Digital
Series: Sarah Bennett Mysteries, Book One
Genre: Historical Mystery
Synopsis
Sarah Bennett doesn’t remember the night her mother tumbled down the stairs at Bennett House, despite allegedly witnessing the fatal fall. There was talk of foul play, dark whispers, and sidelong glances, all aimed at Sarah, prompting her family to send her to The Laurels, an exclusive asylum in San Francisco, under a cloud of suspicion. Now, on the one-year
anniversary of her mother’s murder, Sarah has been summoned home. Convinced of her innocence, she returns to Bennett House, hoping to put the broken pieces of her life back together. But when another murder occurs shortly after her arrival, Sarah once again finds herself a suspect, as she is drawn into a web of suspicion and lies. In order to clear her name, Sarah must remember what happened the fateful night her mother died. But as she works to regain her memory, the real murderer watches, ready to kill again to protect a dark family secret.
My Thoughts
Sarah Bennett is summoned home from the asylum where she has lived for the past year. She hopes that being back in familiar surroundings will help her remember the night of her mother's death. In her heart she knows she wasn't responsible, but the blame is attached to her nonetheless, with even her father and grandmother doubting her innocence.
From seclusion in the asylum, Sarah re-enters a world at war: soldiers on the streets, food shortages and devastating newspaper headlines about the war in Europe. Even Bennetts Cove, a quiet seaside town, has become a military outpost as people await the Japanese invasion.
While taking a short cut across the beach to her home, Sarah encounters a woman she had previously met at the asylum. Sara is surprised to see her in Bennets Cove and even more surprised when the woman tells her she knows Sara did not push her mother down the stairs. But there are more surprises in store for Sarah: her father has re-married, is now a successful author and has an assistant, Zeke Caen.
When another murder occurs, Sarah is once again the suspect. Attempting to clear her name, she discovers that the people around her are not what they seem, even Zeke, to whom she is attracted, is keeping secrets from her. Has her trust been misplaced?
While I had expected a darker tale, I still enjoyed this mystery with just a hint of the paranormal. Terry Lynn Thomas does a great job of concealing the identity of the real murderer among a number of other suspects, Sarah included. The situation is further complicated by the World War II setting and the possible presence of spies. Romance is also part of the narrative, but this is secondary to the mystery and unfolds slowly as Sarah learns more about Zeke and what he is involved in. There are many twists to come as the story races towards it dramatic ending: the revelation of the murderer, the motive and the exposure of a family secret. This is a great introduction to a new series.
The Spirit of Grace is available from Amzaon Au and Amazon US
The House of Secrets
HQ Digital
Series: Sarah Bennett Mysteries, Book Two
Genre: Historical Mystery
Synopsis
Sarah Bennett has two secrets: she sees ghosts, and she is in love with a spy.
When Sarah takes a job with occult expert Dr Matthew Geisler, he promises to help her understand the sorrowful spirit that seems to have attached itself to her.
As Sarah struggles to cope with the ghostly presence, she runs into Zeke, the man who left her six months earlier and is recovering from injuries suffered in an alleged accident. But Zeke has secrets of his own, and when an attempt is made on Geisler’s life, Sarah finds herself caught in a struggle between the living and the dead.
Unsure who she can trust, Sarah must solve the mystery of the soul determined to haunt her, and save Dr. Geisler and herself from an unknown threat.
My Thoughts
The unexpected ‘not guilty’ verdict handed down at the trial of her mother’s murderer sees Sarah Bennett hounded by the press. She finds sanctuary at the Geisler Institute run by Dr. Matthew Geisler and his wife with a live-in secretarial position. Dr. Geisler has an interest in the occult and has offered to help Sarah deal with the auditory hallucinations plaguing her since her fall from a balcony.
Sarah is shocked to discover that Zeke is a patient at the Geisler Institute and has been there for six months. Their romance is rekindled, but once again Sarah begins to question his feelings for her, especially when her life is threatened by men known to Zeke and his reluctance to explain who they are.
Minna, another Geisler Institute patient, believes that she is being threatened by her dead fiancé and that Dr. Geisler is also in danger. Sarah is determined to help Minna and also find out who is responsible for the attempts on Dr. Geisler’s life.
Once again Sarah proves that she is a tough lady in this second paranormal mystery from Terry Lynn Thomas. She has a lot to deal with: her relationship with Zeke, the unwanted publicity following the court case, the fear that her 'gift' will be a reason to send her back to the asylum and the ghost that haunts her. Despite her own problems, Sarah carries on, regardless of Zeke's concerns for her safety, to eventually prove that Minna's fears are warranted and reveal who is attempting to kill Dr. Geisler.
There is more paranormal activity in this novel than the first. Sarah and Zeke's relationship is under threat. New characters are introduced and minor characters from the first book resurface. As before, there are a number of sub-plots which seem unrelated, but link up at the end. Again, the plot was well done, with a number of suspects for the attempts on Dr. Geisler's life. I had my suspicions who the culprit was, but only towards the end. The motive, however, completely escaped me.
This is a very solid mystery that can be read as a standalone, although I do recommend you read The Spirit of Grace first.
The House of Secrets is available from Amazon Aus |Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo
The Drowned Woman
HQ Digital
Series: Sarah Bennett Mysteries, Book Three
Genre: Historical Mystery
Synopsis
Family secrets won’t always stay buried…
December 1937.
When Zeke’s sister-in-law Rachel Caen was found dead on Christmas Eve, her family assumed that she had taken her own life.
Now five years later, one of the emeralds that Rachel was wearing at the time of her death is discovered at a stonecutter’s house in Portland, Oregon.
With his brother Simon under suspicion for Rachel’s murder and stealing the emeralds, Zeke and detective Sarah are under pressure to clear his name.
But with troubles of their own and in need of a place to hide, the duo return to Zeke’s hometown where a spiritual force helps Sarah find another emerald…
All the fingers are pointing to Zeke’s family; how far will they go to protect their secrets? And will Sarah uncover the killer before it’s too late?
My Thoughts
Now happily married to Zeke and still doing transcription work for Dr. Gleiser, Sarah is content. That is, until Zeke's boss, Wade Connor, re-enters their lives advising them to leave town for a while. The look of fear on both the men's faces, stifles her protests and after throwing a few things into a suitcase they are heading for Zeke's hometown, Millport. Not all the family are happy at Zeke's return and Sarah's notoriety is a further complication.
To make matters worse, an emerald from a necklace belonging to Zeke's sister-in-law has been found and the investigation into her death is re-opened. When Simon, Zeke's brother, becomes the prime suspect, Sarah and Zeke are compelled to clear his name. To do so, they must find the rest of the emeralds. This time, Sarah and Zeke are working as a team, with the help of a ghost. It is a difficult investigation, especially because family is involved.
This novel can be read as a standalone, but it is much more enjoyable to read the three books in order, one after another without a break, as I did. The mystery element was well plotted, as in the previous two books. Terry Lynn Thomas is skilled in doing this, peppering the narrative with lots of misleading clues and sub-plots. There are lots of new characters and we learn more about Zeke's background, his ties to Wade Connor and the enemies they've made. The paranormal element is low key, but still an essential part of the plot and the dramatic resolution, which I'd come to expect, is present here, although it is tempered by some wonderful news for Sarah and Zeke.
Of the three books, The Drowned Woman was my favourite. Overall, a great series and one I'm happy to recommend.
The Drowned Woman is available from Amazon Au | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo
About the Author
Terry Lynn writes the Sarah Bennett Mysteries, set on the California coast during the 1940s, which feature a misunderstood medium in love with a spy. The Drowned Woman is a recipient of the IndieBRAG Medallion. She also writes the Cat Carlisle Mysteries, set in Britain during World War II. The first book in this series, The Silent Woman, came out in April 2018 and has since become a USA TODAY bestseller. The Family Secret is slated for release in March 2019. When she’s not writing, you can find Terry Lynn riding her horse, walking in the woods with her dogs, or visiting old cemeteries in search of story ideas.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, September 9 Guest Post at What Is That Book About | Tuesday, September 10 Excerpt at Bookish Rantings |
| Thursday, September 12 Review at Just One More Chapter (Book #1) | Friday, September 13 Review at Coffee and Ink (Book #1) |
| Monday, September 16 Feature at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals | Tuesday, September 17 Review at WTF Are You Reading? (all three) |
| Thursday, September 19 Excerpt at The Book Junkie Reads | Friday, September 20 Review at Gwendalyn's Books (Book #1) |
| Monday, September 23 Review at History from a Woman’s Perspective (Book #1) | Tuesday, September 24 Feature at Gwendalyn's Books (Book #2) |
| Wednesday, September 25 Review at Passages to the Past (Book #1) | Thursday, September 26 Feature at I'm All About Books |
| Monday, September 30 Review at History from a Woman’s Perspective (Book #2) | Wednesday, October 2 Excerpt at Gwendalyn's Books (Book #3) |
| Thursday, October 3 Review at Macsbooks (Books #1 &# 2) | Friday, October 4 Review at 100 Pages a Day (Book #1) |
| Sunday, October 6 Review at A Darn Good Read (all three) Review at Spooky's Maze Of Books (Books #1 & #2) | Monday, October 7 Review at History from a Woman’s Perspective (Book #3) |
Giveaway (US only)
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away one eBook of each title in the Sarah Bennett Mysteries series! To enter, please use the Gleam form HERE.
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on October 7th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.
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