Book Review:
Norah struggles to run the bed and breakfast on 322 Predicament Avenue, a dream of her sister Naomi’s, whose murder still haunts her, thirteen years later. But that’s not the only murder to occur at the old farmhouse. True-crime podcaster, Sebastian Blaine shows up at the B & B to feature the murder of Isabelle Addington, a woman who was murdered over a hundred years earlier at 322 Predicament Avenue. Norah fears his podcast will drudge up her sister’s unsolved case and all the crippling memories with it. However, as details come to light, Norah realizes there are things she didn’t know, casting what she thought was true in doubt. With Sebastian’s help Norah digs deeper to find the truth.

Over a hundred years earlier in 1901, Effie and her sister Polly stumble upon a grisly scene taking place at 322 Predicament Avenue, and at first no one believes them. Soon after a Mr. Anderson seeks Effie out after hearing about the event and proclaims the murdered woman must be his wife, Isabelle Addington. They search for clues together, and it seems they are getting close to the truth as Effie and Polly narrowly escape harm.

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue was an engrossing mystery, but the pace was slow at first and took a bit to get into. From the start there was an atmospheric, spooky vibe and I wondered if the danger was from supernatural or real-life threats. You’ll have to read it to find out! There’s also a bit of romance for both Effie and Norah, but it wasn’t front and center. The story ramps up in suspense chapter by chapter and ends in an exciting and satisfying conclusion!

My first book by Jaime Jo Wright and Wow. Just Wow! This brought eeriness and mystery to a new level for me. And it was all done in a way that didn’t creep me out! What a bonus!! God was kept central to the message of love and hope. The story had me engaged every single step of the way. The main characters both had to fight through very emotional obstacles and I found myself drawn to their bravery. There was even a touch of romance. An absolutely amazing read!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“I can hear the darkness.”

“Sometimes findin’ out the truth is too painful. It’s easier to figure out how to get by an’ pretend the past doesn’t haunt you.”

Haunted, I am. Jaime Jo Wright, led by her self-acknowledged muse of Edgar Alan Poe, offers up one of her eeriest novels yet. What makes Wright, with her themes of death and fear so beloved?
For some, it may be the tendency towards the macabre. Wright pens this dual timeline and includes interludes of an unreliable narrator, totally obsessed with death and God’s judgment. At first, I questioned why I was reading something so dark. However, having read several of Wright’s books, I know that eventually the mysteries will be explained, and specters will be unmasked. Eventually, breaking through the dark clouds of the shadow of death, Wright will present that Ray of Hope that shines brightly enough to tunnel through the darkness victoriously.

Small town Shepherd, Iowa, holds secrets as it sees two murders a century apart. In 1901, the bankers’ daughters, Polly and Effie James, witness a terrible occurrence at 322 Predicament Avenue. Polly, terminally ill, becomes almost comatose after being an eye-witness. Effie, the bookish and more rule-oriented of the two, searches for a way to bring her sister back from what she believes is a premature sickness. Society conspires against Effie at every turn. At risk to her own reputation, Effie befriends a newcomer to town and starts investigating with him, breaking every expectation her parents have for her future.

Nearly a century later, Nora Richman owns 322 Predicament Avenue, capitalizing on its dark history to attract visitors to her B and B. A true-crime podcaster comes to stay, ruffling Nora’s nerves as he revives the two murders, one being that of Nora’s twin sister a decade earlier. Nora is a shell of herself since that event, barely able to leave her home, and wants nothing to do with resurrecting the hurtful past. Another death and a second visitor to the house sets in motion a course of events that could totally break Nora.

Fear of death. This is Effie’s predicament. “When a person lived afraid of death, when they could feel death’s cold breath on their neck every moment of the day, there was no courage left to be had. No anticipation. No hope. Only the force of one’s own will to try to outrun the fear before they were eaten alive by it. Before their greatest fear became their worst reality.” Whew, if reading that doesn’t explain Effie’s life and make you, the reader, afraid, I don’t know what will! Anderson, Effie’s English acquaintance, fears something very much.

Nora doesn’t so much fear death as life itself. Nora’s guest, Sebastian, is afraid of something that is altering his life.Nora has so many questions. How can she stop being afraid? Her friend answers, “He left you to live. So live, Norah. Believe there haven’t been mistakes, only a busted-up old world in need of hope.” The real question Wright challenges us, the reader with, is will we surrender to hope or fear? In what basis?

What an incredible wrap-up! I guessed one culprit, but never in a million years would I have nailed the other villain. Wright also drives home the point people are not as we judge them to be.

Bravo, Miss Wright! I’m ready for your next novel of creepy hope!!

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought my own ecopy and a paperback for my keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Death had been a guest here at Predicament Avenue for decades, and it was clear that Death wasn’t ready to check out quite yet.”

“It’s a’right to admit you’re not a’right.”

“It was as if the sun had gone down at 322 Predicament Avenue the night Naomi’s murdered body had been found, and it had never risen again.”

“What was it about being afraid that pushed a person away from God instead of toward Him?”

“Fear steals our joy and is the agony of those with no hope. It will not define us. Fear is the enemy we will defeat.”

“Have you ever wondered what happens to you after you die?”

This was a beautifully creepy and dark, gothic historical mystery and I just couldn’t put this down. From the very first page, I was hooked. “I can hear the darkness.” Oh, those first few words gave me chills. And with a mystery perspective sprinkled throughout a dual timeline and two unsolved murders that take place at 322 Predicament Avenue centuries apart. I was itching to figure out what happened. I wanted to know the face behind this eerie voice.

I flowed through this swiftly like the ghost supposedly seen at the 322 Predicament Avenue house. I loved this ghostly premise around a historical mystery, it's not something I often see within books like these. I found this to be an alluring otherworldly read. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries and dual timelines.

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue is a dual timeline book with an enthralling mystery or two. Jaime Jo Wright is masterful at spinning dual timeline stories and tying them together. This story is definitely a winner.

The two stories are a delicate dance between the past and the future with one informing the other to the reader but hiding its mysteries from the main characters. Entwined in this delicious mystery is a story of healing and of moving forward with faith instead of fear. There is a tangled web of relationships that becomes unclear of who to trust and who to fear. The two mysteries have false trails and clues that make the reader second guess themselves, but lead to an ending that is satisfying to the reader, but perhaps a little open for the characters.

Effie and Norah both find themselves pulled into a mystery that is beyond their ability to escape. Sebastian and Anderson willingly pull themselves into the mystery for their own reasons.

The mysteries themselves unravel little by little in a way that is organic and keeps an air of suspense throughout the story.,

I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a good mystery, a clean read, and a story of faith and healing.

I received an early copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue had me captivated with its very first line “I CAN HEAR THE DARKNESS.” The author’s ability to create a dark and haunting atmosphere through her poetic writing style is truly remarkable. I found myself turning the pages eagerly, unable to put the book down. This spine-tingling narrative is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a gripping and suspenseful story.

The focus of this dual time novel is the house at 322 Predicament Avenue. In 1910 the abandoned house is rumored to be haunted and is the source of frequent dares by the town’s teens. Effie James and her younger sister have finally worked up enough nerve to visit the house where Effie’s sister witnesses a horrifying possible murder scene that renders her speechless. But where is the victim’s body? A century later, Norah Richman reluctantly operates a bed and breakfast in the house that is still believed to be haunted. The death of a guest raises new speculation and a popular podcaster who is also a guest attempts to help Norah learn the truth about the house.

The past and present collide in this haunting tale that is another fine example of the author’s gift of offering light and hope in the midst of overwhelming darkness. Night Falls on Predicament Avenue is a must read that you do not want to miss.

Dear modern Christian authors,
Do you remember back in the old days when authors wrote a linear storyline? When each character was carefully developed from point A to point B? Do you remember how we fell in love with the characters because they were present in their lives and we experienced the beauty of life through their eyes? Do you remember how we couldn't put a book down because we had to see what happened the next day and the next day and the next? DO we have to use back and forth time jumps to keep people interested these days?
I know we live in a world or psychology and "mental illness." I know you are bombarded with the desire for "flawed" characters, who "struggle" just as much as the next person. But don't you miss stories written about characters with real tangible problems? Who desired to grow and overcome them? Remember when they pushed aside thoughts of themself and just focused on serving others?
I realize there's a high demand for you to release a book quickly. But do you think we could slow down a bit? Hire a few more editors? Make your book as close to perfect as possible? Typos and inconsistencies and hard to understand sentences are not something we have to live with. I believe it is wholly possible to write a book on the same level of professionalism as the great classic authors.

Yours sincerely,
A hopeful yet disappointed modern reader

Bethany House eARC
This book had everything that I’ve come to know and love from Wright’s books. I always appreciate the way that she weaves the past and present timelines. In Effie’s past timeline, I liked how there was such a mystery about what happened at 322 Predicament Avenue. There was a lot suspense created here, and I enjoyed how Effie worked towards doing the right thing, even if her reputation was sullied. With Norah, her grief was palpable. I loved this raw character and how the author showed that life is messy sometimes - even for a long while. Her timeline was a bit creepier, which I appreciate in these stories. The mysteries slowly built until I couldn’t put the book down because I had to know how these timelines would merge. I was left satisfied and felt like it was well thought out. I can’t wait for her fall book.

Jaime Jo Wright is a go-to author for suspense with a serious creep factor. Night Falls on Predicament Avenue is her latest dual timeline novel. It kept me guessing from the beginning, and I could’t figure out how Wright was going to bring this delicious ghost story to a real world conclusion. In this instance it would be good to remember that innocence should never be overestimated. The 4 main characters — the historical mains and the modern-day mains — are flawed, complex, and thoroughly relatable. Hope and fear are two key themes in the twisting plot. All four MCs found much to fear and much to hope for. I like that Wright can take a scary story and shine a light to reveal God’s hand. I usually have a favorite story thread when it comes to dual timeline novels, but both were equally compelling, and I found myself turning the pages at an ever increasing rate to find out just what in the world was going on! Fans of mystery and suspense will not be disappointed with Night Falls on Predicament Avenue. It is another great book by the queen of gothic inspirational fiction.

Highly recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

“Death had been a guest here at Predicament Avenue for decades, and it was clear that Death wasn’t ready to check out quite yet.”

I have said it before and I will undoubtedly say it again (in fact, I’m getting ready to right now) – Jaime Jo Wright is a master at writing delicious creepy, twisty plots that always end up surprising me. No matter that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she will stay true to Scripture and Scooby Doo (iykyk), I can rarely figure out the ‘reasonable explanation’ ahead of time.

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue takes readers to 1901 and present day Iowa, as a true crime podcaster researches a century-old cold case mystery. The fact that he’s staying in the supposedly-haunted farmhouse owned by the sister of the small town’s only other murder victim amps up the suspenseful tension quite nicely. And the fact that he’s got a very swoony British accent amps up the romantic tension because yes I am that shallow. I really enjoyed – and appreciated – the way Sebastian (the swoony British podcaster i was just talking about) understands Norah’s anxiety and really seems to ‘get’ her. I thought Wright wrote Norah’s anxiety with empathetic insight and accuracy, and I am very glad that this is getting more of a spotlight in fiction lately. Especially in fiction that spreads hope. The 1901 timeline has its own swoony Brit – Anderson – and another stronger-than-she-realizes heroine in Effie James. I so admired how she rose to the occasion and exhibited more bravery than she would admit to having.

"The house at 322 Predicament Avenue held secrets, and they were screaming out to be revealed."

I loved both timelines equally in this book (usually I gravitate toward one or the other), and I was completely engrossed in the mystery of who killed Isabelle (if she was, in fact, killed), how it might connect to the more recent murder of Naomi Richman (if it does), and WHO is haunting the house on Predicament Avenue (if such a thing is possible). I was not expecting any of the twists that Wright so cleverly wove into this story – even when I was blatantly looking for them – and I thought the way the timelines end up being connected was brilliantly done. There’s absolutely no way I could have put this book down before I finished it, not even for a total solar eclipse (which I found appropriate considering the title). I was hanging on every word and fully immersed in rural Iowa and that secret-filled farmhouse and loving all the delicious tension.

Bottom Line: Night Falls on Predicament Avenue is another fabulously engrossing read from the master of dual timeline creepy stories, Jaime Jo Wright. The four main characters came effortlessly to life, holding me captive to their puzzling mysteries and complex layers – Sebastian and Norah in the present day and Effie and Anderson in the 1901 timeline. The questions and suspicions swirling around that old house on Predicament Avenue kept me on the edge of my seat, as did the occasional vignettes from someone we only know as “Her” for the majority of the story. Was she Isabelle … or Naomi… or someone altogether different? I HAD NO IDEA lol and so I kept reading, turning the pages as fast as I could but also trying to savor the expert storytelling and delightfully spooky atmosphere. The exploration of fear and grief is also particularly poignant and well-written. If you haven’t yet read a Jaime Jo Wright, this is a great place to start!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Thank you so much to Bethany Books for the early copy of this book!

I'm ashamed to admit that this was my first Jaime Jo Wright and that she somehow wasn't on my radar until this point! That will no longer be the case after I've read NIGHT FALLS ON PREDICAMENT AVENUE! I've already put her entire backlist on my TBR!

This book surprised me in the best way! It was totally a case of 'the cover made me do it' (I mean, look at it), but as soon as I started reading I was SO invested.

Basically the story starts with Nora who is running her deceased aunt's B&B in what many presume is a haunted house because of its disturbing and murderous past. When one of her guests dies suddenly after his wife claims he saw a ghost and a nosy podcaster shows up to dig up the history around 322 Predicament Avenue, Norah is forced to deal with her past in order to face her future.

In an alternating timeline a century earlier, we learn about another murder at 322 Predicament Avenue and the story behind that one is MINDBLOWING as it starts to unravel!

I did NOT expect this book to go the many different and shocking directions that it did, but I loved every new twist and turn!

If you want a ghost story that will keep you turning pages but won't scare you TOO BAD, this is for you! I loved it and can't wait to read her next book which was sampled at the end of this one. It's called SPECTERS IN THE GLASS HOUSE and takes place in Milwaukee, WI! So excited!

4.5 Rounded up for GR

Jamie Jo Wright has done it again with this dual timeline Christian suspense. A true page turner from the beginning, the author draws you in immediately and keeps you hooked until the end. She definitely has a unique way of writing that is like on other. I highly recommend this book and was given a complimentary copy from Netgalley and the publisher. All words are my own.

This novel kept me on the edge of my seat from the very first page until the very last page. Spooky and suspenseful, the book takes many twists and turns that are unexpected. And while initially things seem supernatural, the truth is soon revealed to be very logical. I loved how once again this talented author starts two seemingly unrelated stories separated by time and slowly reveals secrets that link details together across centuries. I also really like how this author is not afraid to dive deep into real struggles with her characters, and the demons that Effie and Norah struggle against are no exception. Grief, love, faith are all explored in such rich ways that make the characters come alive. Did I stay up too late to finish this book, and flinch at every nighttime noise outside my window? Yes! Was it all worth it? Also, yes! I highly recommend this novel!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Wright's novel follows her usual concept of combining a murder mystery from a century ago with a current one in the same location. She skillfully reveals the action in each situation as information is uncovered. The plot technique in this novel is a current true crime podcaster investigating the long ago murder.

Wright is a wordsmith. The bedroom is not just dark, it is shrouded in vampire black. She is skilled at creating spooky scenes and scary situations. There is much suspense in this novel and a hint of romance. The faith message is vague but there is an exploration death, grief and what happens in the hereafter.

The resolutions of both mysteries seemed a little forced to me, something I do not remember in previous novels from Wright. The reason the historical murder remained a mystery bordered on unbelief. The answer to the current murder meant some actions had been hidden from those close by for some time, bordering on being unrealistic.

I do like very much Wright's writing style and her characteristic plots and, even though I do not think this is her best effort, will be watching for the next novel from her.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

A farmhouse in smalltown Iowa with a history of death and vanishing. If ghosts walk, they walk there the locals know and two women separated by more than a century are connected to the house by death. A deeper connection slowly surfaces as the danger grows more acute on Predicament Avenue.

I have seen a few titles from Jaime Jo Wright release and they caught my attention, but the timing was always bad for picking them up at the time. Finally, I was able to fit one in and now I’m regretting not clearing space when I encountered those past releases. Night Falls on Predicament Avenue had a fabulous and chilling gothic atmosphere from the first pages and kept up that intensity throughout the book that followed two different timelines: Effie in 1910 and Norah in the present. I was further gratified to learn that Norah’s struggle with anxiety were respectfully providing strong mental health representation.

Usually, I gravitate toward the historical end of a dual timeline story and that was somewhat true in this one because the historical end had a well written 1910 backdrop. However, it was not a big difference gap because the author put parallels into Effie and Norah’s story so that history seemed to be repeating itself though both women had different personalities and general circumstances.

Effie was investigating the woman’s death with the British widower and Norah was investigating the ghostly history of her B&B with a British true crime podcaster staying as her guest. Though this was wonderfully chilling putting it in the gothic genre, this was mystery not horror and the plot had the dealing with grief and anxiety through their Faith giving it that hopeful personal growth element, too. I had suspicions for both time lines, but nah, I was well and far off so the big reveal particularly in Norah’s timeline got me good.

In summary, I found Night Falls on Predicament Avenue and the ‘haunted’ house dual timeline mystery a superb reading experience. Off I go to add Jaime Jo Wright’s backlist to my staggering TBR pile. Recommended for those who enjoy gothic split time mysteries and inspirational fiction.

Jaime Jo Wright has always been an auto buy/read author for me. Her books pull me in and keep me captivated from beginning to end and that’s what always keeps me coming back for more.

This book will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what will happen next. While this book was not my top favorite, I think that with always be The Curse of Misty Wayfair, it is definitely a must read. If you have been thinking about trying one of Wright’s books but didn’t know which one to pick, this would be a great one to start with!

This books has a dual timeline and I was invested in both time periods. The characters were wonderful and I was curious to see how everything connected in the end. There are definitely some plot twists you will not see coming or expect. Night Falls on Predicament Avenue is a gripping, powerful read, and l would definitely recommend it!

I was provided a copy of the book from the author/publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Jaime Jo Wright is officially dubbed the Queen of Creeptastic Split Time Fiction! I adore her stories!

I just turned the final page on Predicament Avenue and I’m filled to the brim with satisfaction. This book has everything I love in a great story, especially the cold case podcast, created by Sebastian!

Eerie atmospheres, creepy happenings, suspicious behavior, and a thread of hope in the darkness—these are the things that await you in every Jaime Jo novel.

This one is especially good because Wright tackles some heavy topics that we all struggle with at some point in our lives: loss, grief, and fear. I identified with Norah and saw a lot of similarities between us.

I’m so eager for the next novel from this amazingly creepy storyteller—and I say that with so much love!

I received an advance copy from the publisher. My review has not been solicited and is completely truthful.

This is the second Jaime Jo Wright novel I have read and I am definitely going to read more of hers! This is another dual timeline story set in the same house - in 1910 and then a century later. In 1910,while Effie and her sister are sneaking around the back of a house rumored to be haunted, Effie's sister witnesses something inside the house through the window that is so shocking she falls mute. Soon a British man arrives searching for his missing wife, Isabelle Addington, and together he and Effie discover blood stained walls obscured from a cursory investigation inside the house at 322 Predicament Avenue. In the modern timeline, Nora is running her late great-aunt's bed and breakfast in guess which house on Predicament Avenue? 322, of course! Nora suffers from anxiety and is only running the bed and breakfast because it was her sister's dream - before she was murdered. A crime podcaster is staying at the B&B looking into the infamous case of Isabelle Addington - and while he is there, an older couple is also staying at the B&B. Late one night, the old lady is heard screaming. When Nora and the podcaster, Sebastian, enter the scene, the woman swears a ghostly figure appeared in their room, and... well, enough almost spoilers!
This novel is suspenseful and eerie without being an over-the-top gruesome horror story. It is a mystery with elements of Christianity and quite enjoyable to read - the other novel I read is the Vanishing at Castle Moreau and I am definitely going to pick up some of Wright's other works!
From the back cover: Discover that Fear and Foreboding are No Respecters of Time

This is the eleventh Jaime Jo Wright book that I have read, and it is my very favorite! Both the 1901 tale and the present day tale get five stars for eeriness and suspense. They are filled with things that go bump in the night, dark secrets, unsolved murder, and fear. One would definitely have to think about the wisdom of reading this book late into the night. While Jaime Jo Wright always serves up a wonderfully spooky story, she also provides fodder for thought at a deeper level. In this novel it is on the theme of fear, not the type of fear her stories ignite, but the fear associated with death, and with living, fear that can cripple. I truly appreciate Wright's mastery of blending entertainment and life changing messages, but if you are in it just for the entertainment, don't worry, the message won't bog you down. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy and plan on purchasing a copy for my husband. Bethany House provided my complimentary copy via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I received a complimentary copy for review purposes; opinions expressed are honest and mine alone.

“…in the dying, new life sprang forth. It was the bittersweet reality that for some purposes God allowed to exist-
until He made all things new.” (Effie’s thinking near the end)

Two timelines, two sisters, two brothers and two murders all come together in the tiny town of Shepherd, Iowa centering around an haunted old house at 322 Predicament Avenue. Author, Jamie Jo Wright, is methodical with how she peels back the many layers of this complex story. There are many characters and lots of threads to follow; even the most innocuous details turn out to be keys to the plot.

In all honesty, I was frustrated by the early pacing. More action and progress would have been welcomed. There was too much repetition - even between the timelines, which were over 100 years apart. If that was supposed to enhance the creepy factor, it was lost on me. Thankfully, by the 35% mark, the pace picks up and pages are turning without any cares.

Besides trying to solve family mysteries/murders, the primary characters are dealing with significant emotional or psychological issues. Wright provides some general information about how to deal with them, some Biblical insights and allows the characters to experience growth over the course of their journey. In no way is this a happy, happy, joy, joy story. It’s more realistic in its fictional context. That element earned this book an additional star and my interest in reading her other offerings📚

Read and Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks