Cover Image: The Premonition at Withers Farm

The Premonition at Withers Farm

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This book is very creepy! I read it very quickly, because it's one of those books that makes you want to know what is going to happen next!! It's a good story and a good mystery. It pretty much keeps you guessing.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book! All opinions expressed are entirely my own

Was this review helpful?

This book was beautifully written and trapped me between the pages. I will admit moments of terror as I read in bed at night, and even telling my husband how freaked out it was making me.

Being as this is the first book I’ve read by the author, I would love to dive into her others works. I’m not usually a fan of this time period (the early 1900s), but she wrote it in such a captivating manner.

I loved figuring out how the two timelines collided and was on the edge of my seat for a good third of the book as the clues pilled higher. This book is perfect for lovers of spooky reads, who are wanting a classic ghost story to keep you up at night.

Was this review helpful?

Jaime Jo Wright knows how to write spooky tales. The Premonition at Withers Farm has just enough spook to keep you on edge while not being too scary for those who don’t have a taste for ghost stories.

Weaving in plenty of suspense in both Perliett’s and Molly’s stories, Jaime kept me hooked as the historical and contemporary mysteries unfolded. She offers plausible explanations for everything, so don’t let the discussion of ghosts put you off.

The contemporary storyline explores grief and depression, and I loved the romantic arc between Molly and her husband. I thought Wright did a great job exploring a struggling married couple. Molly and her best friend also have some good discussions about God and overcoming grief.

The historical storyline also explored grief as well as perception and the line between the spiritual and physical. I also enjoyed seeing Perliett’s romance develop, though I don’t want to give away who the romantic interest is.

Overall, The Premonition at Withers Farm is a suspenseful novel both historical and contemporary fans will love.

Was this review helpful?

I was very excited to be on Jaime Jo Wright launch team for this book. I have to say this book is another Bestseller. Creepy, Page Turner, just in time for Halloween and Eerie Cornfields. that are not safe especially at night.
One of the main characters is Perliett Van Hilton-1910 Killbourn Michigan, who practices holistic medicine. While her mom is a spiritualist , who conjures up the dead through a seance. Her father who passed away was a devout church goer.
Two victims have been found near the farms and people think that it is the Cornfield Ripper. While walking home late one night, she hears laughter and sounds coming from the cornfield and is attacked and survived.
There are many suspects on who can be cornfield Ripper. A man named George Wasziak,- a doctor, who wants to protect her but doesn't approve of her mother's ways and Perliett practicing holistic medicine .
As long as the Cornfield Ripper is around all their lives are in Danger.

Present Day- Molly and Trent purchase the old Withers Farm. Both of them are from Killbourn. Molly starts to see ghosts and hear voices. She also doesn't like the fact that there are gravestones in the basement. A dead body is found near her property. It's a girl named January. Nobody knows why she is there . Molly starts asking questions about the farm and comes upon news about the murders and the cornfield Ripper.
This book is very well written and it will not disappoint you.

Was this review helpful?

Wright is a master of suspense and atmosphere in this spooky tale. Some scenes were pretty intense and I loved the main character's gusto. The love interest ultimately felt forced to me but maybe for the time period it would have been believable. Ultimately this was a pageturner for me, I couldn't wait to see the outcome.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars

If you're looking for a creepy, split-time novel, then this is a book for you to check out. Both storylines are well-written, and they will keep you guessing about what happened in the sleepy little town of Kilbourn. A great option for a spooky read for the Halloween season.

Was this review helpful?

The Premonition at Withers Farm by Jaime Jo Wright is a fascinating dual-time look at the world of spiritualism and faith.

In 1910 we meet Perliett Van Hilton. Perliett's father was a believer, and when he passed, so did his influence over her mother. Maribeth's living was talking to the dead, and her actions throw Perliett's faith into question. Her mother is intent on helping Mrs. Withers, whose daughter (Eunice) was murdered. She is positive she can contact Eunice beyond the grave to expose her killer's identity.

Meanwhile, in the present day, Molly Waziak and her husband Trent have just purchased the old Wither's farmhouse. While dealing with severe depression, Molly struggles to adapt to the strange farmhouse and its secrets. It doesn't help when a search of their family tree turns up a century-old murder case.

I always expect a good scare from a Jaime Jo Wright book, and she delivered once again. I was torn by the subject matter as it seemed totally inappropriate in a Christian book. But, in this case, it worked. The question of life after death and the longing we feel to communicate with our deceased loved ones are examined from a spiritualist perspective through seances, channelling, and ghostly apparitions. But, in the end, as the author states, she believes in Jesus, and the pursuit of God will "result in an eventual knowing of what lies beyond the veil." This is something both Perliett and Molly discover as their lives hang in the balance.

The author also explores the area of postpartum depression with Molly's character. She did a fine job, and I applaud her accurate portrayal of what that feels and looks like, having experienced it myself.

If you enjoy a good scare and a mystery, I highly recommend you read The Premonition at Withers Farm.

I received a courtesy review copy from Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

When I pick up a book by Jaime Jo Wright, I know it will be edgy, scary but also more to everything will be revealed.

Starting this book, I was considering continuing it, due to the subject matter of calling the dead to communicate with the dead, which according to the Bible is a sin, and also, the spiritual world is not something to play with.

“We disagree on most things, Perliett, but even you must admit there is danger in seeking after the dead. Their spirits. Whether from the devil himself or from his ambassadors here, who are very much alive and very deviant in their intent. Must you toy with either of them?”

Why did I keep reading then? Because of George. The author used the character George to show the truth of what God requires and because of his views and bringing the focus more on God and his truths, I kept reading. And, having read previous edgy books by Jaime Jo Wright, I knew there will be a reason for everything.

But I can tell you this. I think the line between life and the spiritual world is thin. I think it’s also something that engages our curiosity and could be extremely dangerous if we’re not cautious. Remember King Saul in the Bible? He could conjure the dead spirit of the prophet Samuel, but it wasn’t blessed by God.

Jaime Jo Wright delivered another great dual-time gothic murder mystery, where both time lines had me invested, scared, worried and smiling.

Yes, this one was definitely edgier and scarier than others with the subject line which might not be for everyone, but if you push through (maybe even skip those few scenes and really was only a few of trying to interacting with the dead) you will get to an ending where truths were revealed and everything fits together.

On another note, there was one very creepy character!

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Was this review helpful?

The Premonition at Withers Farm was a surprising read for me. Jaime Jo Wright is a new author to me and she writes an incredibly compelling story. The characters were interesting and I loved how Wright used the parallel story lines 100 years apart to bring life to the narrative.

While I do agree with the idea presented in the book that the spiritual realm is always closer than we believe, I struggled with how much focus was placed in this story on communicating with the dead.

The story is well written and pulled me in, but the subject matter left me uncomfortable at times.

Was this review helpful?

Another dark, spooky thriller by Jaime Jo Wright! She is the master of weaving the past with the present keeping the reader on the edge of their seat and looking over their shoulders.

The Premonition of Withers Farm focuses on present day Molly who is struggling with depression and her marriage and feels as though she is seeing ghosts from the past and Perliett from the past who practices home remedies and struggles with her mother’s dappling into the spirit world. Both women find themselves in danger that they cannot find their own way out of.

Masterfully written to keep you guessing until the end! It explores many different subjects bringing them to light. A definite must read for split time and gothic lovers.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

The voices of the past cannot stay silent forever. Molly Wasziak and her husband buy Withers Farm in present day not realizing that it was known as "the murder house" back in 1910 when a serial killer was on the loose. Molly is grieving the loss of several babies and is suffering from depression. After a female body is discovered in a ditch near the farm she starts seeing "ghosts" and hearing things. Is she going crazy or are there supernatural happenings going on at the farm because of the events from 1910. This book is quite spooky and I read most of it during the daytime but oh what a great story of loss, grieving, healing, the supernatural, a serial killer and a great mystery to solve.

Was this review helpful?

Jaime Jo Wright does it again! A split time novel in both 1910 and now that deals with suspicious murders that may be linked. The story in both time periods is riveting and keeps you guessing til the very end. In 1910, a murderer obsessed with a children's nursery rhyme is reeking havoc on the small town of Kilbourn. In the future, a murder happens not far from where the 1910 murders occurred and things may not be all that they seem in the sleepy town of Kilbourn. A wonderfully spooky story with unexpected endings.

"Was humankind merely a bucket of souls, pointing fingers at one another instead of at themselves and refusing to reconcile that they were innately not good to begin with?"

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Was this review helpful?

The Premonition at Withers Farm
by Jaime Jo Wright
Pub Date: October 11, 2022
Bethany House
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC. Daphne du Maurier and Christy Award-Winning author, Jaime Jo Wright resides in the hills of Wisconsin writing suspenseful, mysteries stained with history's secrets. Jaime lives in dreamland, exists in reality, and invites you to join her adventures at jaimewrightbooks.com!
Dark, suspenseful, and decadently atmospheric, The Premonition at Withers Farm is an exceptionally satisfying read that weaves together past and present, light and dark, love and death. This was my first book by Wright, but it's definitely not going to be my last.

fiction,horror,romantic-suspense
5 stars

Was this review helpful?

The Premonition at Withers Farm by Jaime Jo Wright was book 112 of 2022 for me. And throughout those 112 books, I have tried to read to read different genres. Nonfiction, fantasy, romantic suspense, and general fiction. Rarely reading two books of the same genre one after the other. I did not want sentiments about one book to affect my next one. I read The Premonition at Withers Farm after a romantic suspense novel. And good heavens, I loved this one—and that’s coming from someone who does not typically read horror novels. And liking them, much less recommending them? Forget it.

This book gave me chills. Physical chills. I read it with the television on, and I could not tell you what was playing. A movie? A baseball game? No idea. That is how much Wright pulled me in. She took away my breath, ripped it from my chest. A lump formed in my throat, and it never dissipated until I finished the novel. I am a fidget-er; I usually need something to do with my fingers, otherwise my brain will travel off to la la land, and I’ll skip from one subject to the next. Not with this novel. Instead of playing with my fidget toy, I clasped it with white knuckles as my eyes raced across pages. Desperately trying to absorb words as fast as I could.

It kept me awake, even after I finished the book. The Premonition at Withers Farm by Jaime Jo Wright is spooky, with ghosts, murders, and bodies piling up in the present day and in 1910. The dual storylines weave together flawlessly, a small town’s mysteries stretching across generations. I loved Molly and Perliett. Wright’s characters are perfectly imperfect, searching for their own answers as they struggle to solve the twisted murders that they are dropped into. Wright incorporates humor when she needs to break up the tension. I never thought I’d be so entertained by chickens!

The Premonition at Withers Farm is like visiting one of those haunted houses. You wait in line, pay the fee, and enter the front door. You know everything you see is fake. The body is not real. The “ghost” jumping out of a dark space is just a person in a mask. But even though you know everything is falsified, you start questioning your reality. Your nailbeds turn red and bleed as you pick at them, and you may throw a friend in front of you to defend yourself against the demons, ghosts, and ghoul-like clowns.

If you’re in the mood for an eerie, heart-twisting tale, The Premonition at Withers Farm by Jaime Jo Wright is the perfect Halloween read. And don’t worry, just like a haunted house, there is an ending. A conclusion (a good one!). You escape…eventually!

Was this review helpful?

This is a creepy book that keep me on the edge of my seat and fearing bedtime! I don't love ghost stories but this novel was the one that changed my views. Perliett's arc gave me the mystery that I have grown to know and love from Jaime Jo Wright. Molly's story is the one that scared me with so many goosebumps and it made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. The mystery follows the events surrounding one farm and the people who live (or haunting!) there. Perliett was so interesting! I was terrified for her but I was also fully invested in her sleuthing. Molly was amazing as well. She is struggling with depression, a lacking marriage and the loss of pregnancies. Her story was incredible with all of these obstacles added to her new home. The way she reacted to the situations was so realistic! This was amazing and everyone should it!

Was this review helpful?

Wow! Jamie Jo Wight did an excellent job on this book. I couldn’t put it down. The twists make it hard to determine the killer. I’m becoming a huge fan of dual timeline, Jamie does a great job.. I have read all but one of Jamie’s books and each one I finish is my new favorite.

Was this review helpful?

“There was something special about friendship. The kind that didn’t come with conditions. The kind that was willing to take you as you were. Messed up. Mixed up. Medicated up. Whatever the combination.”

So many themes in this book along with an amazing story spanning generations. While I loved reading this book, I also appreciate the author’s honesty and openness in the Acknowledgments at the end. Thank you for that.

Molly and Perliett face challenges in their personal lives while battling the unknown and ne’er do-gooders. Even though their character is questioned and they feel incapable at times, they find resilience and faith in God.

Was this review helpful?

Haunting and deliciously creepy, this book weaves together elements of faith, grief, trauma, and hope.

This book will give you goosebumps and will probably need to be read during the day. Jaime keeps the reader guessing until the very last pages. As soon as I thought I'd figured something out, new information would be revealed that had my mind searching for an answer.

Perliett, the MC from the historical period, honestly kept me laughing. It was nice to have her saucy personality in the midst of the creepiness of the rest of the book.

I wanted to wrap Molly in a big hug. She was such a broken character and I loved how Jaime portrayed her. I also loved how she showed a married couple dealing with life and working through it. She handled it beautifully.

The faith shown throughout this book was raw and real. I loved seeing the characters wrestle with the hard things of Scripture. Things that we don't always have an answer (or an answer we like) for, but how our job is to trust that God is the One with all the answers.

This book honestly deserves more than 5 stars.

**I received an ARC from the publisher/author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I don't mind a bit of a spooky read, and I have to confess that I did not read the synopsis before picking up The Premonition at Withers Farm . If I had, I would not have gravitated toward it, but the cover art drew me in and I thought I would give it a try. I have read some of Jaime Jo Wright's books before so I know they often have an eeriness to them. However, I found that I could not finish reading as I was feeling uncomfortable reading about speaking to the dead and calling up the afterlife.
I have to give a star rating, but it seems unfair as I did not read the entire story.

Thank you Bethany House and Net Galley for the free DRC of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own

Was this review helpful?

This powerful dual-timeline thriller drew me in from the beginning and held me fast to the end. This consummate storyteller’s ability to create two masterfully crafted, captivating storylines—one set in 1910 and the other in present day—and seamlessly weave them together into one remarkable story is amazing. Vivid descriptions and the skillful use of sensory imagery help you “feel” the story as you read. A stellar cast of memorable characters, a wonderfully crafted mystery-ladened plot, a thought provoking faith thread, and a touch of romance combine to make an incredibly fascinating read. Fans of mystery, suspense, and dual-timelines will love this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?