Member Reviews
Specters in the Glass House is perfect for the spooky reading season. Unlike quite anything I've read before this book goes beyond leaving you feeling spooked to feeling a bit unsettled. Written in alternating timeline from 1921 to modern days.
The book is about mental illnesses, several different types but the author does it well and writes with sensitivity. Mental illness is so hard to get a grasp on and we yet don't have a clear understanding of it.
As I read it was hard to put my finger on what was reality and what was perceived as almost as a dream state by a main character. I enjoyed the characters and seeing how well developed they were as their stories became clearer.
Disembodied voices, a feeling of not being alone, dealing with what is reality and what is not as the mind plays tricks on you, a hint of romance and butterflies, I've never thought of butterflies as creepy before.
Excellent read for its many twists and turns that'll keep you glued to the pages.
Recommended!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
A mysterious woman, a ghostly house, the legend of a serial killer lost in time...
This was an enjoyable read with two timelines, and two mysteries reaching across generations. Each storyline inching towards a mystery that kept me guessing.
I have absolutely loved all of Jamie Jo Wright’s books, but this book was the most difficult for me to read. This is one of those books that grabs you from the very beginning and doesn’t turn you loose, even after you have finished reading it. Specters in the Glass House is a split time story that deals with mental health issues, among prominent families, during prohibition era 1921 and today. Wright handles the subject with grace and gives the reader an understanding of what it was like to suffer from mental disorders in the past, and what it can be like now. The book not only touches on mental health issues of the time, but also the way people with mental health issues were treated. While some were locked away in asylums, some were merely hidden away from the public eye.
I think this is Wright’s creepiest book yet. It has family issues, murder, hidden identities, butterflies, a hint of romance, and so much more. There are lots of twists and turns that will leave your head spinning and keep you coming back for more. This book is a definite must read!
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.
I've been a fan of Jamie Jo Wright for a couple of years now and her books just get better and better! Specters in the Glass House has the perfect balance of mystery, romance, and real issues. The character growth for both Marian and Remy was well done. I appreciate that the author was willing to touch on subjects like mental health and grief in a respectful manner. The array of emotions that these characters experience throughout the course of the story are so relatable that I found myself teary eyed a few times.
I struggled with this book. As much as I enjoyed Remy's POV chapters, I really struggled to get through Marian's chapters. I found her to be whiny and unnecessarily weak and not very intelligent. Especially with the whit of Remy and the mystery of Remy's background surrounding Marian's character, she felt especially boring to me. While I appreciated Wright's take on PTSD and schizophrenia--that those people still have worth and are still human beings who are loved and cherished--I had a hard time caring enough about the story to finish, and I felt like I more slogged through the story than enjoyed it.
Jaime Jo Wright is in a master class all by herself. And well deserved!
I’ve read plenty of psychological thinkers, but Wright’s books go beyond the psychological and the thrilling. Her books plumb the depths of what it is to be human…
…all of the fears, the fascination with the supernatural, and the fallenness of mankind. Through exposing the darker side of humanity, the light she shines through her craft shines all the brighter.
So when you pick up a Jaime Jo Wright novel just know that nothing is as it seems. And how it really is? Like I said—a master class.
I don’t know how she does it. I’m just really glad she does!
My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy. My review has not been solicited. I highly recommend any book by this author, but Specter? It’s a great place to start. Keep an eye on Marion and on Remy for me 😉
"It's what we do with that fear that's important. What we allow it to shape us into."
Eerie, fascinating and absolutely delightful! Jaime Jo Wright never fails to amaze me with her brilliance in crafting a tale that has me reading way past my bedtime. This book has it all - eerie setting in both timelines cloaked in intrigue, murder mystery, intricate plot with plenty of surprises, strong faith thread, and tender romance. Jaime Jo Wright is one of the few authors that I keep coming back to who continues to enchant and enthrall with each new book. If you've never read her book, you must pick up this one. If you're a fan, this book is also a must-read.
Walking through 1921 Prohibition era with Marian and Felix was fascinating. As a sheltered heiress now without any means, Marian is a naive and scared young woman. Though she comes across as a cowering mouse, she does have a soft and compassionate heart and a desire to be really seen and loved. Remy and Tate in the present time are quite fun but there is so much brokenness in both of them. The Mullerian Manor and family history meld the two timelines together seamlessly and it's shocking and satisfying when all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place to give the reader the whole picture. The subplot involving a mental health condition is approached with care and sensitivity. The theme of overcoming fear and invisibility with faith and unconditional love is powerful and poignant.
This is one of my favorite books of 2024! Well done, Jaime Jo Wright!
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House via Interviews and Reviews and through NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
October is the perfect month to read this spooky read! I had a hard time putting it down once I picked it up, since I wanted to know what in the world was going on with both stories. This is an excellent story that deals with some surprising topics.
Jaime is the queen of dual timeline mystery.
In “Specters in the Glass House” you meet Marian in 1921 and Remy in present day. Both find themselves at Mullerian Manor in the Wisconsin countryside. Marian is there after prohibition bankrupts her father’s brewery business and Remy is there as a research assistant on a book about the infamous butterfly butcher, a serial killer from the 1920’s.
This book perfectly intwines the mysteries both Marian and Remy face. I love how Jaime always leaks information right when you need it and not before. Her timelines always coexist perfectly. This story is one that shines a light on mental illness and the impact it can have on people suffering from it and also those around them. The topic is handled so well and it really shows how the strides we have made in medicine in present times have really helped those with mental illness.
This is the perfect October read for those who was a suspenseful, little bit spooky, heartfelt, mystery that in the end is easily explained and understood. I am never left guessing or wondering after reading a Jaime Jo Wright book. I love how she ties everything up with a nice bow even when 20 pages before the ending I’m still wondering what is going to happen!
*I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Specters in the Glass House is a great read for spooky season, for those who want something a little spooky but can't handle something off the charts.
This story alternates between two timelines and points of view. There is mystery and haunted happenings, with the setting in both the past and present timelines, being the mysterious and menacing Mullerian Manor.
This is the second book I've read by this author, and in both, the story was told alternating between two timelines and two points of view, our present-day main character and our past main character. In both timelines, there is a mystery to be solved. The reader is learning the truth in the past timeline as the story unfolds, while in the present timeline the main character is trying to solve the past mystery, but also grappling with their own present day mystery. The reader gets the resolution of the past mystery, but the present day main character never fully gets that resolution. I thought this might bother me, but the authour creates the conditions that the present-day main character can still feel some closure, even though they'll never really know the full truth of what happened in the past. I have to say I love this format for historical fiction.
As this story unfolds, it is clear that it is so much more than a simple mystery/haunted house story. The story deals with issues of mental health, especially how misunderstood and mistreated it has been in the past, complex family dynamics, growing up in the care system, and faith. There is some romance in the story, but it certainly isn't the focal point of it.
If you enjoy historical fiction, with some mystery and a little bit of spookiness, you'll enjoy this book.
Thank you to Bethany House Fiction for the advanced digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
I have been a Jaime Jo Wright fan since The House on Foster Hill was released in 2017. I have read each of her books released since then, each eerie in its own way. Specters in the Glass House has a mood reminiscent of The House on Foster Hill and The Curse of Misty Wayfair, two of my favorites.
This latest book has dual-timelines. Marian Arnold came to live in the Müllerian Manor near Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1921 after her father's death and bankruptcy, the home in which her mother had died. Remy Crenshaw came to live in the manor in present time having taken a job as research assistant for a famous biographer who wants to write Marian's story. Specters and disembodied voices also populate the manor, a manor where long-ago murders are yet unsolved, and new murders seem likely to occur.
I don't want to spoil the story by revealing the deeper themes, but I assure you that this is no simple ghost story, but rather a tale with weighty matters to ponder. As with each of her books, the reader comes away with a fresh insight or an affirmation of a facet of God's character.
Specters in the Glass House will hold readers captive from the first page to the last. They will find themselves, as I did, repeatedly adjusting their predictions of who the culprit or culprits might be. I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this wonderful book from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Wow! Another very creepy book that you may not want to read right before bed!! ;) Does what happened in the past affect the future? You'd better believe it! What happens to Marian affects Tate. And Remy will find out some secrets about her past! Read this book, if you dare!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book!! All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
I’m a big fan of Jaime Jo Wright and I must say this book didn’t disappoint. She has a way of drawing you into the lives of the characters, laying out just enough to keep you moving forward, and playing with your mind in a most delightful way. Her use of visual language is phenomenal.
Themes from the past to the present, connect you to the story as you see the struggle with the mind, the mystery of the Butterfly Butcher, and the glass house. As things unfold you get a real picture of the characters, their struggle and determination. Along with this you get a great look at the aftermath of the prohibition era, a history lesson that fit right into the overall story.
I appreciate how even in the midst of the underlying creepiness that’s a signature style of the author there’s always a thread of faith and a lesson to be learned. The ending was a most satisfying surprise. I recommend this book.
I was given a copy through NetGalley courtesy of Bethany House. This is my honest opinion of the book.
Jaime Jo Wright is a relatively new to me author and I'm so grateful to have found her.
The author has a gift at transporting readers and and this one didn't disappoint. It's so atmospheric and chilling. Absolutely perfect for spooky season.
“The story is like a road that vanishes into the fog. No one knows where it leads, or where it ends.”
Spooky vibes and not knowing what is real. I love how this author taunts us with the unexplainable and by the end of the story things have a reason. But the fun is in the journey of following the mysterious events and how they connect the past with the present..
The characters are complex and relatable. The faith thread is present with lessons to take away. “You are wanted.” “You have to choose to believe that when your world is shuttered and dark with unknown danger, life is still worth fighting through. That God sees into it, even when you do not. That you will come out the other side with purpose.”
A favorite character was Felix, a survivor of World War I, and even though he lost a leg was strong, resilient and wise.
This was a fascinating look at the aftermath of prohibition, and how the past joined with the present to unveil a bit of the struggles of a broken mind. I was captivated by the plot and the sheer poetry of the descriptions. “The tentacles of danger slithered along the edge of the room, invisible, black, vines, creeping up the walls, like a vineyard of omens around her. Omens of something unpredictable, dark and invasive.”
Another outstanding book by a talented author.
*A complementary copy of this book was provided by Bethany house through Interviews and Reviews and NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
I’m not sure how she does it, but author Jaime Jo Wright just keeps getting better. The Specters in the Glass House kept me on the edge of my seat and caused issues; I had trouble moving on to the next book. This one kept me enthralled.
Wright delves into mental health issues but in such a caring way that there is no offense. I found this story to be a journey of love and acceptance. Gentleness and honesty brought hope. And yet don’t get me wrong. This is a creeptastic story that will make you shiver as you try to figure things out.
I highly recommend it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Jaime Jo Wright has a gift for creating dual-timeline suspense. This book has all the perfect elements to make it spooky, mysterious, and creepy... ideal for those looking for cozy mystery vibes. I love this author's work, so anything she writes is a definite yes for me.
In 1921, Marian moved into her family's summer home after her father's death and the bankruptcy of his brewery during the early years of prohibition. She starts experiencing disturbing voices and shadows, especially after finding a dead man in her mother's butterfly house. A century later, Remy becomes a research assistant for an eccentric old writer working on a book about Marian and the "Butterfly Butcher," finding herself in the same manor house.
This was an enjoyable read in both timelines. The mystery was solid, and it had me guessing until the very end...Also, I love the way the story compassionately portrays the lives and times of those suffering from mental illness....Releases on Oct, 1st.
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.
I found so much to love in this book!
•dual timelines (1921 and present day)
•two mysteries connected across the decades
•layers and twists galore
•family secrets
•intriguing characters
•subtle clean romance
•gothic vibes
Specters in the Glass House is the perfect fall mystery! Thank you Austenprose and Bethany House Publishers for a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Jaime Jo Wright is an auto-read author. She is one of the few authors I have read everything she has written. Specters in the Glass House is her newest release (10/1/24). I am in awe of her storytelling skills!
It would be difficult for me to pick which timeline I enjoyed more. Marian Arnold's story is told in 1921, and Remy's story is present day. I felt like I was in the story, experiencing things as Marian and Remy experienced them. Wright's books are perfect for any time, but especially the fall season if you like spooky, haunted mansions, ghosts, generational curses, secrets, and mayhem, all while pointing the reader toward the light.
While I figured out a few small details, I could not figure out everything and was surprised by several events. Wright is a masterful storyteller; it is amazing the way her storylines converge and make logical sense! When I read her books I can't figure out how they will come together, but they always do. In this story, I would have liked a few more details about Marian's story, even though everything is resolved. I finished the story yesterday and I am still mulling over the events today.
Thank you to Bethany House and the author for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Jaime Jo Wright never fails to impress. This was another hauntingly beautiful story full of spine-chilling moments and a hope-filled message.
This dual timeline takes place at Müllerian Manor in 1921 with Marian Arnold one year into prohibition and the present day with Remy Shaw.
The Arnold family's fortunes took a turn for the worse when prohibition became law. After the bankruptcy of the family's brewery and the death of her parents, the only thing left for Marian is their summer home, staffed with only a few remaining servants. Ghostly visions haunt her, and butterflies become an ominous portent of doom as a killer strikes.
In the present day, Remy is a biographer’s assistant staying at Müllerian Manor, helping to research Marian’s mysterious life and the elusive serial killer, the Butterfly Butcher. But danger is around every corner, and it’s not long before Remy is being targeted in the same way that the Butterfly Butcher’s victims were.
I was so invested in the mysteries and was completely surprised by the turn of events. I thought I had it all figured out several times, but nope! I didn’t see it coming until right before the reveals!
I enjoyed both timelines equally. I usually prefer one over the other, but not this time. They were both equally compelling. I enjoyed the characters from both times. And it was really interesting to see the connections and parallels between the two.
Elton, the biographer, was a hoot! I loved the bond he and Remy had. Their conversations and banter made me laugh several times.
I appreciated the way mental illness was handled. It's an important topic, and the author treated it with respect and dignity.
I can't say enough good things about this book. Jaime Jo Wright is a master in this genre, and she keeps upping the ante with each book. I love how she always weaves a strong Christian message into her spooky tales. Needless to say, I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.