Wright's stories always include a wonderful fascination with hauntings and a deep history about a place that has been misunderstood over time. Through the eyes of Minnie Tipton and Triss Bellamy, we learn much about the haunted history of the Ambrose Estate.

Minnie's story follows her and her father moving into the property and his sickness during their stay. Minnie has been warned about the ghost stories surrounding Captain Vickers haunting the halls after he supposedly took out his own group of men inside these walls. As Minnie continues to uncover those mysteries, she finds that the history of the house isn't that far removed from her own.

Then in present day, Triss Bellamy is the manager of the estates bookshop and also tries to escape her own haunted history. Her family is renowned for their ghost hunting skills, but Triss wants to move in from all that. That is until her new employer brings her family's haunting skills directly to the property.

Both timelines are women working to unravel the secrets and each has their own stake in the matter. I loved both women's determination for different reasons. Minnie is trying to help hose around her that have been harmed by the history of the home and Triss is working to set those secrets to bed.

A great story about how history is always intertwined with our present and only when we see through the distractions, can we see what's right in front of us all the time.

All the stars for The Bookshop of 99 Doors! I always look forward to Jaime Jo Wright’s spooky tales & eagerly anticipated this one from the title alone. It’s an intriguing dual-time period mystery set 100 years apart in the same gothic mansion with 99 doors, and the search for the elusive 100th. Both timelines are filled with ghost stories, hauntings, tragic history, truth-seeking, faith, & a touch of romance. This spine-tingling story hooked me from the start & didn’t let go.

In 1888, Minnie Tipton cares for her ailing father in their new Ambrose Fields mansion near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with its 99 doors & a possible missing 100th. Rumored to be haunted by Captain Vickers, Minnie seeks the truth behind murdered Civil War soldiers 25 years earlier & the hauntings plaguing the house. As a lover of gothic fiction, she wonders if it’s imagination, or if the mysterious 100th door is real & a dangerous spiritual portal.

In the present, Ambrose Fields is now a historical museum with a bookshop in need of a new manager. Hoping for a fresh start, Triss Bellamy accepts the position & begins cataloging priceless books. Having fled from her family’s paranormal investigation business in search of faith & truth, she wants nothing to do with hauntings, or their famous TV show. But when her brother & ex are hired to investigate the mystery of the 100th door, & her brother’s health begins to rapidly decline, Triss is drawn back in, forced to uncover the truth behind the mansion’s rumors & tragic past.

I thoroughly enjoyed both Minnie’s & Triss’s stories & appreciated their personal struggles with faith vs. facts. This author always keeps me guessing about whether the impossible can be explained, & this one really threw me. Ambrose Fields is wonderfully spooky, & I loved uncovering the history & what lay behind each door, especially the 100th.

I also loved the romances in both time periods with Triss & Beck’s second chance love, & Minnie falling for an unlikely stranger. Faith is woven beautifully into both, & I was on pins & needles as they unraveled the mansion’s secrets.

Highly recommend this mysterious, spooky, gothic tale! I received an advanced copy from the publisher with no expectation of a positive review, All opinions are my own & provided voluntarily.

I think this was the first Jaime Jo Wright book I actually successfully read at bedtime without getting the creeps, which is saying something, haha! (And I do mean it in a good way.)

An intriguing premise and resolution, as ever, along with the dual-time element; JJW continues to do well on all these fronts. I hadn't been wild about a couple of my more recent JJW reads, and this felt like I was getting back on track--yay! (Plus, that cover. Love.) And any book involving a bookshop is an automatic win!

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Wright is THE BEST at writing dual timeline books. I don't mind switching back and forth between the stories a bit because they're both equally fascinating. In the past, Minnie and her father move into a mansion that seems to hold many secrets. There are rumors and dangers abounding. In the present, Triss takes a job at the same mansion to get away from her family and their ghost hunting business. Little does she know they've been hired to find the ghosts and arrive the next day.

I felt for Triss. She questions the validity or rightness of trying to commune with spirits. She's reaching out to God. I found myself relating to her. At the beginning, I found myself thinking, "is it okay if I'm reading a book about this?" It's uncomfortable and it was interesting seeing various members go through their own journeys about what is right and wrong and acceptable.

The author weaves several mysteries together in both the past and present extremely well. I enjoyed seeing how it all came out. It was a great mysterious read. I'd recommend it.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I am going to be in the minority with this one.

It took me so long to become invested in this story. I even kept reading way longer than usual because I kept hearing such good things. I will say the last 35-40% of the book was the best.

There are some strong Christian and moral messages in this story, but I felt like the present-day chapters got so bogged down in the supernatural aspect and possible ghost activity that it took away from the ultimate message and enjoyment.

There were so many details floating around in both timelines that it took me a bit to connect what was going on.

As stated above, I am definitely in the minority with this one

Thank you to the publisher for the copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

And another Jaime Jo Wright book had me sleeping with one eye open, on the edge of my seat, and filtering through a million different logical explanations.

As someone who used to watch Ghost hunter type adventures on TV, I found this book especially fascinating. The whole obsession with searching for the paranormal was something the Lord convicted me of many years ago now, but this story handled the topic very well.

Because like every other Jaime Jo Wright mystery, this one had an explanation behind it. All the things that went bump in the night had a purpose and ultimately pointed back to reality and standing on the Lord--even if that foundation may be a little shaky. I found that specific part of the story extra realistic, because the FMC did not have a perfect relationship with Jesus. She was seeking and He was waiting for her.

I enjoyed both the past and present timelines and can't say which I really liked more than the other. They both brought their own twists and excitement.

Overall I found this to be a fabulous read and certainly wouldn't mind reading it again!

RATINGS:
✝️✝️ ✝️ .5
💋
16+

*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher but all opinions are my own.

The Bookshop of 99 Doors is another strong release from Jaime Jo Wright, who truly knows how to weave an intricate, layered story. She blends historical fiction with a modern-day thread, revealing secrets and keeping the mystery unfolding in a way that kept me turning pages late into the night.

This story leans more into the unknown than romance, with a heavy focus on ghost hunting, spiritual questions and lore. As always, Wright handles these elements with care, grounding them in faith and ultimately bringing clarity and purpose to what initially feels unsettling. And I have to say, her twist at the end genuinely surprised me!

That said, this one didn’t hit quite the same for me as some of her other books. I found myself more invested in the historical storyline, while I struggled to connect with the modern heroine, Tris, or root for her romance. I even caught myself wishing for a different direction there. This book also felt a bit less atmospheric than JJW's usual style, which I’ve always loved.

Even so, the writing is undeniably strong, the storytelling is engaging and the steady unraveling of secrets makes it a worthwhile read. If you enjoy a good, mysterious, spooky story with a thoughtful exploration of faith and the unknown, this is definitely one to try.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own. I was not required to post a positive review.

“I learned to be afraid. That was the way of it. I thought Papa and I would create a new life with new memories. Instead, we entered a nightmare.”

Every sentence of The Bookshop of 99 Doors makes me feel more like I am creeping down a drafty, moldy, critter- infested staircase leading to a forbidden tunnel, unable to stop myself. Jaime Jo Wright is a master of creating spooky atmospheres, and her words suck me in, daring and enticing me to proceed with the story.

I enjoy trying to piece together the puzzles that Wright presents in this dual timeline ( because, to me, a dual timeline is like a puzzle, with the author feeding you a piece or two at a time). I have yet to figure out one of the total mysteries that Wright lays out, but it sure is intriguing to try! I was curious enough to check out her Pinterest boards for help in imagining the characters as she envisioned them.

In the historical story, Wright transports us to Ambrose Fields, PA in 1888. Spinster Minnie Tipton and her slightly deranged father move to an new home, a mansion that is purported to be haunted by Civil War-era ghosts. Minnie struggles to manage her father’s reputation and her standing as new mistress of the home. She also battles the rumors of a massacre and ghosts in the home, a secret 100th door, and a vagabond ne’er-do-well who begins hanging around. Who has the truth and who will tell it?

In the present day, Triss Bellamy has secured a new job as bookshop manager for the museum that was Ambrose Fields. He own phantoms from the past rise to pursue her when her brother, Casper, and his best friend, Beck Monroe, show up to film an episode of Haunted Frequencies. Strange things begin to happen. In the mansion and to Casper, team lead. The same rumors from over a century ago surface, and the race is on to find the 100th door. Will finding it bring closure to the eerie, frightening events and healing for Casper, or will its discovery unleash even more evil and chaos? And of course, how will the two storylines be woven together into one connected cord?

I wasn’t sure what to make of most of the the characters. Did each belong on the villain or the hero side? Often, I just couldn't determine the truth. I loved that Dexter, whatever the truth about his survival was, exhorts Minnie to look for the truth. He urges her to turn to God. “…give Him your full attention. Because when you have nothing left…He is all you can rely on.”

What a great story, traversing from eerily spooky to nearly supernatural (not in good way) to faith and logic, showing God’s Power over events and hearts. And I love the great twists! I liked how Wright shows we don’t have to leave others behind in our pursuit of Truth, even though they may not be at the same stage we are. Probably my biggest takeaway from this story.

I received a copy of the book from publisher via Netgalley. I also bought my own pb copy for my “trophy shelf.” No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“A door is just an opening. It is what comes through the door that I don’t trust. Whether it goes inside or comes out. Whether spirit or real.” - Dexter

“ It’s the Door!… We need to close the door!! The 100th door!!”- Birdie

“…emotions could be wicked and unreliable. They doomed a person to shame, to assumptions larger than life, and to grief that overtook you. Emotions were not something to be followed or even believed. Emotions led one astray from the truth, from what was right and what was real. They betrayed you. They betrayed others. Just like Mama had betrayed Papa.” - (Minnie)

“…how one views God influences how they view those who have wronged them.” - Dexter

“Perhaps she was truly afraid of four things. The unknown, the unseen, the unexplainable, and the uncontrollable.“ - (Minnie)

“If anyone knew anything about paranormal investigating, it was that spirits weren’t always friendly—and they weren’t always the spirits of the dead. Sometimes they were darker, more dangerous, and they could make people sick.” - (Triss)

“He’d have to choose between his life as he now lived it or follow her on her quest to find peace in someone greater. God. Not a god or all things being god, but the God. The Creator.” (Beck)

“If fear took human form, it would be a ghoulish creature.”- Victor Barringsworth, Esq.

The Bookshop of 99 Doors by Jaime Jo Wright is a compelling work that demonstrates Wright’s skill in crafting dual-timeline suspense. The narrative structure effectively intertwines past and present, gradually disclosing the central mystery in a methodical manner that maintains the reader’s interest. The revelation of secrets is paced well, fostering sustained tension without diminishing narrative clarity. Additionally, the development of Triss and Beck’s relationship is portrayed with realism, and their emotional growth throughout the story is thoughtfully executed. Overall, this novel offers an atmospheric and engaging reading experience that reinforces Wright’s reputation as a proficient storyteller.

Thank you NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #TheBookshopof99Doors

WOW! Jaime Jo Wright did it again! THE BOOKSHOP OF 99 DOORS gives Christian suspense, mysteries—oh, let’s just say it, chillers—a new watermark. Wright can write with eerie finesse that takes us on a spooky journey of discovery and faith. With each book she pushes the boundaries of the supernatural—not denying, but defying—and points our shaky knees in the right direction toward God.

THE STORY [provided by publisher]: In 1910, Minnie Tipton finds herself beset by the onslaught of superstitions that envelop the Pennsylvania mansion her father bought. Convinced the house is haunted by the vengeful spirit of a Civil War captain, and worried by her father's rapidly worsening illness, Minnie delves into the home's dark past to help bring him peace. Yet the lingering impact of the war and the gruesome tale of murder she uncovers only foster more fear and threaten to unravel Minnie's own sanity.
In the present day, Triss Bellamy eagerly steps into the role of bookshop manager in the mansion-turned-museum boasting ninety-nine doors. But Triss's dream job turns into a nightmare when havoc breaks loose with the arrival of her brother's team of self-proclaimed paranormal investigators—ghost hunters. Their determination to find a rumored one-hundredth door—a dangerous portal to the madness long said to plague the mansion—results in calamity, leaving Triss no choice but to unravel the truth or watch her brother slip forever beyond her reach.

5 STARS BECAUSE: Once again, the dual timeline creates a double-whammy effect. Delving into the past to bring confusion then clarity to the future. This construct is not new when reading any Wright novel—it’s one of the reasons I love her stories. But this book, Wright pulled out all the stops. I love this trend and look forward to her next book.

I received an ARC from Bethany House through #netgalley for my honest review.

4.5 stars
Jaime Jo Wright has done it again! What a compelling story that keeps you guessing and ends on a hopeful note!

Reading a Jaime Jo Wright book is an experience. I usually put it off for a while and then wonder why I waited! In The Bookshop of 99 Doors, two women from different times, but the same place search for answers. Full of ghost stories and hauntings, they search for the truth. And sometimes that truth is hard. We live in a broken world. "Wherever you want to go. I will chase after truth with you, even if it hurts."

I love this quote from the author's note: "Life is a legacy you leave behind for the generations to come. Live it well. Live it fully. Live it honorably. Live your life in such a way that whatever is revealed later will offer hope and a future to those who discover it."

If you like stories that keep you guessing, stories that have hope, stories with a side of creepy, look no further, Jaime Jo Wright has a corner on this market!

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

This book was so good that I don't feel I can write an adequate review without giving away spoilers. It has got to be one of my favorites of hers. If I didn't know that Jaime Jo Wright was a Christian write I'd almost be convince that this was a ghost story but read on. She always has a logical reason why the creepy mysterious events are happening. As with all of her stories this is a dual timeline. The modern one is with Triss who is from a family of ghost hunters. She's trying to get away from all that. The second is Millie. I think I liked her story better but both were excellent and it all came together in the end. If you are looking for a book with very little romance this book is for you. If you like gothic stories this is the book for you.

I received this book from LibraryThing and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Partner @bethanyhouse for the #gifted copy.

I always enjoy Wright’s books, so I was very excited to read this one. I was intrigued by the gorgeous cover and the title. Once I started reading I was immediately engrossed in both timelines. One of present day and the late 1800s. Wright adds the perfect amount of suspense and spooky to her books and this one had me guessing the whole time.

I enjoyed how each timeline in the story was brought together. Triss was running from her family of ghost hunters, trying to make a new start. Minnie lives at the mansion with her ill father, as secrets of his past and those who live and work there aren’t able to remain hidden. Each character is well done and the setting of Ambrose Fields for both timelines was too.

Wright’s writing is excellent and I’m always up for a well written mystery and a creepy gothic vibe. I enjoyed the mysterious one hundredth door and what it meant.

I loved this atmospheric, gothic suspense novel. There was so much mystery and at times the suspense elements felt creepy. Without giving any spoilers, I will say that I was very happy with the way that the story was wrapped up! Sometimes I dislike duel timelines because I feel more invested in one timeline than the other, but that was not the case with this book. I felt equally invested in and enjoyed both timelines. You know that stories about books are kind of my jam, so this was right up my alley. I appreciated how faith was seamlessly woven into the story and how there were conversations about why trying to communicate with the dead is harmful. Triss’s intense conviction about this and journey to have a relationship with God is a main theme throughout. This was my first book by Jaime Jo Wright and now I want to read all her others! 🙌🏻

Read if you like:
🚪 Duel Timelines
🚪 Books about books
🚪 Gothic suspense
🚪 Thoughtful integration of faith into the story
🚪 Thrilling suspense with a satisfying conclusion

Tell me, please, how someone can write a review that does justice to a Jaime Jo Wright book. Because I don't know.

What I do know, however, is that I can't get enough of them. Um, during the day. After the sun goes down, her books are put away until the next morning. At least when I'm reading them. As we have established, I am the wimpiest wimp that ever wimped.

I'm usually pretty good at figuring out early on what the ending will kind of look like. But I was 83% in on this one and STILL couldn't narrow it down! There are so many twists and turns, and I have to say that Jaime is in a class of her own.

Also, the romance in her books? Perfection.

As soon as I see Jaime Jo Wright has written another book, I rush to read it and as usual The Bookshop of 99 Doors reminds me why her books are so good! I love how she cautioned against dabbling in the supernatural and trusting in the goodness of God instead. As usual, the ghosts have a physical explanation but I never see the solution coming! Always recommend!!

The Bookshop of 99 Doors is a new favorite! Jaime Jo Wright’s books are always some of my most anticipated reads. And, I’ve gotta say, this new release exceeded all of my very high expectations. I loved it so much!

Following Minnie Tipton in 1888 and Triss Bellamy in the present day, I was instantly intrigued by this suspenseful dual timeline. In books like this, I’m usually drawn to one timeline over the other, but I was equally invested in both. I couldn’t read it fast enough!

While this wasn’t too scary, there were a few times when I got goosebumps and chills down my spine. But I appreciated the explanations of what was really going on. And I loved the faith threads woven throughout both timelines. It was powerful and inspiring, especially given the subject matter.

Jaime Jo Wright is a master of Gothic fiction, and I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next. I highly, highly recommend this story!

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

“God doesn’t make himself so complex and mysterious that He cannot be found by you.“

I have come to a decision, y’all. Even though I know Jaime Jo Wright always has a perfectly natural explanation – rather than a supernatural one – for the shiver-inducing things that go bump in the night (and sometimes the day too) in her Gothic mysteries, I’m going to quit trying to figure it out ahead of the reveal. Because, let’s face it, I’m not very good at it. Mostly, it only takes me about two chapters into each new novel by Wright to say, “Okay. THIS time it HAS to really be a ghost because I can’t figure out any other explanation.” But this uber-talented author clearly can – and does – and I am officially surrendering to her brilliant storytelling and all the deliciously spooky possibilities as well as the ‘Scooby-Doo’ answers she seamlessly incorporates. And The Bookshop of 99 Doors is quite the perfect example of all of the above.

Both Minnie Tipton and Triss Bellamy intrigued me from the moment I met each heroine, their stories taking place in the same house over a hundred years apart, as is a fave aspect of all Jaime Jo Wright’s dual timeline Gothic novels. They each have more beneath the surface of their stories than we know upfront, and part of the readerly joy I found on these pages came from learning more about them and what has led them to the Ambrose Fields mansion in the shadow of Gettysburg and its infamous battle. For Minnie, in 1888, this house of 99 doors (and a rumored, secretive, 100th door) is her new home. For modern-day Triss, it’s also a job – the house itself having been turned into a museum which needed a bookshop manager. For both of them, it’s a place of grim secrets and ghostly rumors… and a multifaceted history. I could not tear myself away from any of these elements (or the hint of romance in each timeline too) until the answers are made known, and even then I wanted to linger just a little bit longer with these characters – including the setting itself. Oh man, and that 100th door?? The search for it across the timelines had me totally captivated. I would have loved to be exploring the mansion for clues to its existence right along with Minnie, Dexter, Triss, and Beck. (Though I confess the potential of running into the ghost of Captain Vickers would definitely have had me creeping around, glued to someone else’s back with my heart in my throat haha.)

“You’ll find the truth, and you don’t have to look alone… And you are promised by God himself that if you search for Him, the truth will set you free.”

Bottom Line: The Bookshop of 99 Doors is definitely going to forevermore be one of my fave Jaime Jo Wright books. I absolutely loved the immersive & atmospheric setting, the mysteries that seem to be synonymous with the old house (it was even old in Minnie’s day), and the unexpected plot twists that caught even this seasoned reader off guard. Not to mention, the story within a story – a novel by an author that Wright had me so convinced were real that I googled both. And let’s not forget that Wright also isn’t afraid to explore complex issues like wrestling between faith and doubt, or even between faith in God and spiritualism, as well as other deep things that I won’t mention here lest I spoil any plot points for you. Suffice it to say, this is a story that will capture your full imagination and give your soul something to feast on at the same time. If you love the idea of a book where Poe meets Scooby-Doo meets Jesus, then The Bookshop of 99 Doors needs to be high on your TBR list!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Jaime Jo Wright remains an absolute must read author for me. Her books are so unique and seriously unmatched. Captivating and intriguing.

Bookshop of 99 Doors is classic Wright, spooky paranormal vibes with a dash of history always keep me on the edge of my seat. This story is a true masterpiece and I love how she weaves a creative crafty story culminating in a perfect ending.

This dual-timeline novel tells the story of Ambrose Fields, a home built not long before the American Revolution, that survived the Civil War, and was now an historic site. Minnie Tipton moved to Ambrose Fields twenty-five years after the Battle of nearby Gettysburg. Minnie had lost her mother at seventeen, and could not understand why her father had uprooted them to move to this estate which was home to a gruesome past and the ghost stories that generated. Triss Billamy moved to Ambrose Fields in current times in an effort to flee her family and their joint livelihoods focused on the supernatural and paranormal. She was on a quest for truth and to know God. Her part in her family's profession had left her frightened and confused. At Ambrose Fields she would be among her favorite things, books, as the manager of the sites's bookshop and having been tasked with cataloging the library as well. When Triss' brother and his crew show up to investigate the paranormal sightings at the estate, Minnie's and Triss' worlds collide.

Jaime Jo Wright has once again successfully guided readers through a spine-tingling tale filled with things that go bump in the night and people who behave in unexpected ways. As things begin to fall in place, she reveals insights into God and how one may come to know Him. There is another prominent theme, but revealing that here would classify as a spoiler. So, I will leave that to my fellow readers to enjoy discovering that for themselves.

I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Bookshop of 99 Doors from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.