“The Curse of Misty Wayfair” by Jaime Jo Wright is a time-travel novel. This book jumps back and forth between something that happened back in 1908 to modern day. Thea Reed is the character from long ago. She is a photographer who is trying to find her mother. Heidi Lane is the modern day character. Heidi comes back because her mother, who has dementia, sends her a letter to come back to town. Heidi finds some interesting connections with her and Thea.

Truthfully, I had a hard time getting into this book. I have read Jaime Jo Wright’s other books and loved them. But for some reason, this one was a little harder to get into.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Every time I start a new Jaime Jo Wright novel, I always think it can't possibly be as good as the last one was, and yet she always proves me wrong. In her most powerful story yet, the reader is treated to a spine chillingly scary timeslip novel that focuses around a mental asylum with plenty of unsolved mysteries and legends surrounding it.

In 1908, we follow the story of Thea, a photographer who's grown up traveling to take photos of the recently deceased with the people who took her in after her mother abandoned her. A rumor that her mother resided in Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin has caused her to travel to this small town, and she's soon drawn into scary stories surrounding the town mental asylum, and the legendary spirit who's said to haunt both it and the town. In the present day, we follow Heidi, a young woman who's been estranged from her family for many years after their failed acceptance of her for who she is. Strange circumstances have caused her to finally visit Pleasant Valley, the town where the rest of her family came to settle. Soon the rumors, superstitions, and mysteries surrounding the long abandoned mental asylum have Heidi questioning everything she thought she knew about herself, and like Thea before her, she's determined to get to the bottom of whatever is going on.

Like Jaime Jo Wright's previous two novels, The Curse of Misty Wayfair is a deliciously thrilling novel with a mystery unfolding in two separate time periods that's all tied in together. However, this novel goes even a step further than her previous releases in the way it tackles the complicated history of mental asylums, and the stigma and stereotypes that continue to to be attached to mental illness. While it's always assumed that we've made such strides towards truly understanding mental illness, Jaime Jo Wright perfectly showcases the struggles that those who are suffering face even to this day with the negative stereotypes and circumstances surrounding such diagnosis.

Right from the first page this hauntingly beautiful novel had me pulled into its pages and the spooky story unfolding within them. It's without a doubt Jaime Jo Wright's best work yet, and the reader will feel like they're experiencing everything right along with Thea and Heidi. I've always appreciated when an author can make the romance in a novel a secondary element to everything else unfolding, and yet still have the story remain interesting to the reader, and that's the case with this one. While Thea and Heidi both have a love interest, it's kept secondary to the mystery, the familial drama and secrets, and the rediscovery of God's never ending love for His children.

This novel is honestly unlike any Christian fiction work I've ever picked up before, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a Christian recommendation that dives way further below the surface than is usual. I can't recommend this one enough, and as always, I will be anxiously awaiting Jaime's next book.

Thanks so much to Bethany House and NetGalley for the chance to advance read this!


I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher (Bethany House) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was extremely intriguing. I have come to thoroughly enjoy Jamie Jo's dual time mysteries. They are original and fresh and unlike any other books I read which makes them so much fun. Her latest "The Curse Of Misty Wayfair" kept me guessing at the threads of the mystery during the entire book and even though I had my suspicions of how it would end, it kept me guessing till the end. I adored the character of Emma and I am mighty fond of Rhett(swooning shall commence here!) The story had several surprises and a few really creepy moments(reading at home while my kids slept and my hubby was at work really added to the dramatic effect!!) had me devouring this book. One for my keeper shelf!

I was provided this book by the author through NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

I had a hard time getting into this story to begin with, but that got better as the story unfolded. I enjoy timeslip novels, but this one wasn't quite up to par with some of the others I've read in the past. It was interesting to learn the story of Misty Wayfair, however. I liked the diversity of the characters (including some with autism, anxiety, and other mental illnesses). There is just a touch of romance., as the mystery is certainly the key focus.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.

Like all Jaime Jo Wright previous two novels this one involves a dual timeline also. You have Thea Reed in the past in the early 1900s and the present is Heidi Lane. The story starts out a little creepy as Thea Reed goes to the home of the recently deceased and takes photos of the dead woman. This may seems ghoulish for people today but it was a common practice then for people to take memory photographs of the dead.

Misty Wayfair plays a part in both stories. In the first story the death of Misty Wayfair happened quite a few years previously. The legend of Misty Wayfair continues even to the modern story. Who was Misty Wayfair and how was she connected to both women? I had to keep reading to find out the mystery of who Misty Wayfair was and her influence on the people of the town.

This story deals with mental illness in both stories, mental illness and the institutions that are supposed to help heal these people.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The Curse of Misty Wayfair is due to be released on January 22, 2019.

As with other Wright books, this one takes place in the past and present as two women return to Pleasant Valley because of a letter each received. They have similar struggles of identity and finding their place in the world.
Thea is a postmortem photographer in 1908. I didn’t know such a thing existed. It was a fascinating look at this unusual profession. This book also highlights some of the sad realities of care in early asylums. It was sobering to read about.
The thing I appreciated most about Heidi from the present is her relationship with Emma, an autistic woman. Heidi treats Emma as an equal, learns from her, and envies her. The whole Crawford family was pretty amazing although I would have liked Rhett’s character to be a little more filled out.
There are several key families between the two generations. It was sometimes hard to keep straight how they were connected and who belonged with each family. I thought about writing out a family tree as things were revealed. It would have been helpful.
Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a complimentary e-copy of this book. I enjoyed it. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

~~Jaime Jo Wright's most powerful work yet~~

The Curse of Misty Wayfair is another incredible timeslip novel jumping between the stories of Thea, a postmortem photographer in 1908, and Heidi, the family black sheep coming to visit her mother who's in the last stages of dementia. As the two attempt to settle in to life in Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, they both begin seeing the specter of a woman who haunts the asylum at the edge of the woods, and learn the story of Misty Wayfair.

In with the thrilling ghost story and the rest of the plot, Jaime Jo Wright takes on the massive enigma of the history behind asylums, mental health and insanity, tackling superstitions and stigmas. Characters with autism, anxiety, and other mental illnesses play key roles in the story in an empowering and respectful manner.

Highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery/thriller, but also to readers looking for a little more depth than your typical Christian fiction read. Jaime Jo Wright's writing stands out on its own level of greatness.

Jaime Jo Wright is making a name for herself in the Christian fiction genre. She has won a number of awards for The House on Foster Hill. Wright creates historical time-slip suspense novels. Her latest book, Curse of Misty Wayfair is a beautifully written suspense novel showing the importance of every created person. With rapid succession, the story begins like a ghost story and kept my rapid attention. Asylums are uncertain and scary places, so Wright to create a story centered around one gripped my attention. There is a soft romance included, but nothing to forceful. This original and completely unpredictable story filled with fascinating characters kept me spellbound. I really liked the Curse of Misty Wayfair and am glad the Christian fiction genre took a gamble and printed this story. It is timely and important for the world we live in. I pray the Christian publishing world keep printing stories like this. Fans of Steven James, Carrie Stuart Parks, and Lynette Eason might enjoy this novel. Definitely a great book to start 2019 off with a bang!

I received a complimentary copy of Curse of Misty Wayfair from Jaime Jo Wright from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Jaime Jo Wright has outdone herself! After reading her first two, I was eager to delve into The Curse if Misty Wayfair. Filled with edge of your seat suspense, and seamless weaving of two different eras. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the way anxiety issues and autism are dealt with. In a world of perfect Christian fiction heroines, it is refreshing to read about someone that struggles with anxiety too. Do yourself a favor and read The Curse of Misty Wayfair!

I could not put this book down! It was amazing and unique. I loved the moral questions that it presented, and the different characters from both the past and present. I highly recommend this one!

This book was so extravagant and thrilling to read because it was an unsolved mystery about a woman who was murdered and her ghost haunts the town and its people for many years. This book could be the grown up version of Hocus Pocus but instead of three sisters and children, its young middle aged women and one woman that is haunting the town. When readers engage in this book, they will not want to stop reading and find out who really is Misty Wayfair? What will it take to finally put her to rest? and What will happen to Heidi and Thea after they encounter and release Misty's spirit?

Thank you Netgalley and Bethany House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. We will definitely consider adding this title to our Fiction/Supernatural section at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.