“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.”

Wright seems to have the perfect recipe for a gothic-inspired mystery! She’s mixed together 1 address (322 Predicament Avenue) with 1 small town (Shepherd, Iowa). Then set it 2 centuries apart (1901 and present day) and sprinkled in 3 murders (Isabelle Addington, Naomi Richman, and Walter Miller) and dusted it lightly with a dash of ‘faith’.

Everyone in Shepherd agrees that 322 Predicament Avenue is haunted. It’s the “strangest and most mysterious place in the entire small Iowa town.” To two girls, Eupehmia ‘Effie’ and Polly James, the old farmhouse holds allure. The decision to follow through on a bold sister’s dare changes everything for the James siblings. Haunted houses and dares go hand in hand, don’t they?!

In the present day, Norah Richman has inherited her Aunt Eleanor’s farmhouse on Predicament Avenue. Struggling with anxiety and deep in grief with her twin sister’s death, Norah is uncertain what to do with her inheritance. Upholding her sister’s dream to open it as a Bed & Breakfast, Norah welcomes her first guest, Sebastian Blaine who arrives expecting a ghostly experience. He’s a true crime podcaster and digs into the house’s history on ‘Cold, Dead, But Never Buried’. When a second guest dies, Norah fears the house’s past is catching up with its present.

I thought this was a perfect balance of suspense, mystery and faith. I appreciated the focus on the sisterly bond, anxiety, grief and loneliness, as well as the exploration on how we face our fear.

“We’re afraid of death in part because we’re afraid of the grief that follows. Death is momentary, but grief is what’s left behind.”

I was gifted this copy by Bethany House and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

“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 dug the pit of my own grave and am simply waiting to be placed inside of it. It will happen soon. When night falls on Predicament Avenue.”

“We’re afraid of death in part because we’re afraid of the grief that follows. Death is momentary, but grief is what’s left behind. The remnants of every memory, every moment, every emotion. Grief is all the unspoken words that will never be said, the lost I-love-you’s, and the emptiness of the shadows they leave behind. Grief is a demon that stalks us.”

Another great book by Jaime Jo Wright. I am always in awe at the quality of her books. They always bring layers of creepiness, suspense, and faith elements. In Night Falls On Predicament Avenue, grief, loss, and hope are major themes and Wright masterfully handles them in both timelines. This is a book where I equally liked both timelines and the parallels between the two were excellent.

The mystery and suspense were well done. But maybe for the first time in a Jaime Jo Wright book, I guessed both timelines! Usually both timelines trick me so I must have been lucky this time. I did find the endings both satisfying.

I received this book free from publisher Bethany House and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jamie Jo Wright always gives me the heebee jeebees in the very best way. Night Falls on Predicament Avenue was no different. Norah has inherited an old farmhouse located at 322 Predicament Avenue that is shrouded in mystery. When a guest at her house turned B&B dies from a heart attack, Norah must then investigate and face the truth of not only the first death associated with 322 Predicament Ave but also the death of her sister Naomi. A duel timeline story that will keep you guessing and just when you think you might have figured it out things shift and nothing fits like you thought. Most of all we shown how God is greater than the fear that will and can keep us from living at our full potential if we let it.

**Thank you to Netgalley and Bethany House for the advanced copy of the book. I was given a copy in exchange for my honest opinion. These opinions are mine alone.

In Night Falls on Predicament Avenue, two mysteries from over 100 years apart are unraveled surrounding an old house that holds many secrets.

Both timelines kept a good pace and remained engaging. The main characters were built out well, as were many of the side characters. At times, it did feel hard to keep track of all characters, however. While not all reveals were completely surprising, it still took a while for me to form certain suspicions because the information was revealed at a good pace.

The only thing I really didn’t care for was that Effie’s feelings toward Anderson felt weird and inappropriate considering what she knew about him.

Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is my first read by this author.
It took me a little while to get into the book, but then, oh wow!
Two murders, a haunted house, and small town gossip will keep you turning the pages.
I appreciate the Christian viewpoint throughout the book.
It you like murder and spooky houses, this book is for you!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright just solidifies my love of her novels. As with the others, this story has a dual timeline: 1901 and the present day. Both timelines involve 322 Predicament Avenue.

In the past, the house was creepy, abandoned, and rumored to be “haunted.” Kids dare each other to go on the porch and kiss the knocker. Polly and Effie are definitely not kids anymore, but Effie reluctantly agrees to Polly’s desire to kiss the knocker. This simple act changes their entire lives.

In the present, the house is a bed and breakfast run by Norah. Norah lives with debilitating fear. Her sister was abducted and murdered years ago, and Norah can’t get past her grief. Running the bed and breakfast was always Norah’s sister’s dream, so Norah carries on. The house is still rumored to be “haunted.” This fact draws a popular podcaster to the bed and breakfast, and his stay will change Norah’s life.

I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating; when you pick up a Jaime Jo Wright book, you’ve got to commit to reading it all the way through because things are not as they seem. Her books are Christian fiction through and through. Some of them are much creepier than others, and you really find yourself questioning this fact until you read the entire thing. Night Falls on Predicament Avenue is more of a mystery/thriller than a creepy/terrifying novel. It is just as well-written and page-turning as Wright’s prior novels. I can easily read her novels in a day, but I do have to sleep sometimes! I read Night Falls on Predicament Avenue in two sittings because I literally couldn’t stop reading. I get lost inside of her stories, and that’s a wonderful feeling if you like being scared!

As I mentioned, Wright’s books are Christian fiction, and all of them have resonated with me. Grief is a very, very hard thing. I think that finding a way through grief is impossible without the comfort that the Holy Spirit provides, and Night Falls on Predicament Avenue is a perfect example of this. Yes, horrible things happen in this world. God doesn’t cause them to happen, but evil exists in this world and will exist until Christ casts Satan into the pit of fire. Until that day, God promises to walk with us through our grief and fear. Wright paints this picture through what her characters go through.

I highly recommend Night Falls on Predicament Avenue for its well-written characters, thrilling storylines, atmospheric feeling, and its message of faith over fear. I can’t wait to see what Wright comes up with next!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue is a Christian ghost story. Yes, you read that right. A wholeheartedly Christian ghost story. Norah owns a bed and breakfast that is on Predicament Avenue, site of a murder back in the 1900s. No one ever found the body of the woman who was murdered there, but they sure found the evidence. Now Norah has a podcaster poking around the story of the place and rooting up Norah's own history that she'd rather avoid.

This book had an interesting concept and I sure was surprised to read a Christian ghost story. The story goes back and forth between Norah in the present day and Effie in the past. Both are linked to murders and both uncover the truth in their own timelines.

This book was a very interesting concept. It was not scary although some parts were a bit creepy. It didn't keep me on the edge of my seat, but it was engaging and kept me reading. There is some romance involved and it is very clean. All in all, it was refreshing to read a book as clean as this one.

I recommend this book.

This was in interesting read. We have a murder in 1901 and another one 13 years prior to the present. Both crimes have been unsolved. The current owner of the house where these crimes were committed is struggling. She is struggling with anxiety, with grief and loneliness.

As a True Crimes pod-caster comes to town life gets life gets a little more sticky..

The characters were well developed, the plot line intriguing, and the story moved along well..

Jaime Jo Wright does it again with this newly released Christian thriller. She just has the best skill at creating a creepy atmosphere yet weaving messages of faith throughout the plot. And her characters—wow! She does so well giving them depth.

Norah with her completely debilitating anxiety and panic attacks. Sebastian, a middle-aged dad with a past of a daughter from a relationship outside of marriage.

Then there are the other characters rounding out the story—the ones you eyeball 👁️ as potential killers in the past and the present!

I love how everything gets revealed layer by layer. And how the author invites you to try to solve the crime before the characters do.

How did I do? Oh I wasn’t surprised with EITHER as I had nigglings of suspecting them.

A solid read and the message of not succumbing to fear and giving up on hope is beautifully woven in the plot.

Ps. I also was in love with the preview of Jaime’s next book!!

4 stars!

*I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review.

Another wonderful, nail-biting, page turning story by Jaime Jo Wright! I am not usually one who likes to be scared, but her books have just the right amount of suspense and paranormal for me. This story is a wonderful addition to my collection by her!

This book was really well written, it caught me from the beginning, and it kept me hooked the entire book.
I loved the characters, they felt real and relatable. They felt like the kind of people I'd like to know in real life.
I would recommend this book to anyone.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own *

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright is another time-slip novel where something happens inside a house. From the first chapter, Wright magically opens the mystery with two girls looking into a spooky house and then one screaming. From there, Wright takes readers through a crazy whirl of hunting for clues in the past and the present. Death has hit Wright hard when she wrote this book, so I can totally relate to the feelings that “Her” is having. I lost my Daddy 8 plus years ago, and it still hurts. Coming to terms with death is not easy. When anyone loses someone close to them, the pain does not go away, we just learn to live every day without that person. I believe this story was Wright’s way of trying to face the grief that death has gifted to her. This is the main reason I believe Wright’s characters are the strongest aspect of her novel. She dug deep into her own hurt and dragged into the characters and made them feel her pain. Similarly, the plot was moving and addictive. I enjoyed the story and couldn’t wait to see who the killer was in both time periods. Overall, Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright explores the pain of losing someone with a murder mystery to guide the plot forward. I really enjoyed the story.

I received a complimentary copy of Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright from Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

4.5/5

I finished this book in just two sittings (and would have devoured it in one had it not been too late to keep reading, haha!). So good. The author has a way of keeping me on the edge of my seat and having me turn page after page until there are none left to turn. Few books (or authors, for that matter) invest me as much as Wright does, and that's why she's one of my top favorite auto-buy authors.

While this book wasn't one of my "top" favorites of hers, it was still such a good read (top two reads by her are "The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater" and "On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor"). Each timeline presented compelling reads, and I was so invested in the story and curious to see how everything unfolded and connected. Two murders, one home, one small town, two centuries apart. Connection? You'll have to read and find out ;)

The anxiety rep in the story was one of my favorite aspects of it. As someone who has struggled with anxiety for years now, it always means a lot to me to see characters struggling in a relatable way but also slowly overcoming those struggles one step at a time.

As always, Jaime Jo Wright developed a compelling story full of faith, page-turner scenes, and real characters. And that teaser at the end of the book for her fall 2024 release?! I. Can't. Wait.

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue is a gripping, powerful read, and I’d absolutely recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of Night Falls on Predicament Avenue. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.

This is the perfect book to read alone in the dark if you like to get creeped out. So deliciously scary! I loved this book. The storylines were excellent and the respectful, thoughtful handling of the dead and cold cases uncommon to the genre. I never knew what was coming next and the ending was unpredictable. The spiritual thread spoke to my soul. I could not wait for every chance to open up this book—even though it made me jump out of my skin!

What a story! Excellent writing that made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck throughout this novel.
Split timeline that was written very well but I'm going to say I loved Effie's and Polly's story best as it is historical. My favorite thing of course.
A wonderful mystery that kept me guessing until almost the end in both timelines. Nora's especially shocked me. I was left open mouthed I couldn't say a word. But, as this quote I'm sharing with y'all says you never really know what when where why and when a person is thinking about or going through to trigger them into doing something evil.
“Those folks lived life and then died—who knows what they saw and had to suffer through? We can’t be afraid to live just ’cause we’re afraid of dyin’. Seems to me we’d be better off seekin’ out the truth of it.”
Ralph sure is full of wisdom isn't he? I decided that I liked him after all.
I'm glad that he was there for comfort.
Friends, God is also here for comfort.
Live. Hope. Believe. Surrender is all God is asking.
This book didn't let me put it down until Norah and Effie had told their stories.
I really loved this novel.
What made me most happy to see in this novel was the author's notes because she talked about God.
Don't be afraid to live and love. Fear is the culprit. Fear makes people do evil.
Wright has done another amazing novel. I eagerly await the next one.
I will still say Echoes among the Stones is my very favorite. This book is right up there with that one.
5 stars for an awesome read once again by Jaime Jo Wright. Please keep them coming!
I highly recommend.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bethany House for a copy of this book.
I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.