by Hester Fox
Genres: Historical Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
The dead won’t bother you if you don’t give them permission.
Boston, 1844.
Tabby has a peculiar gift: she can communicate with the recently departed. It makes her special, but it also makes her dangerous.
As an orphaned child, she fled with her sister, Alice, from their charlatan aunt Bellefonte, who wanted only to exploit Tabby’s gift so she could profit from the recent craze for seances.
Now a young woman and tragically separated from Alice, Tabby works with her adopted father, Eli, the kind caretaker of a large Boston cemetery. When a series of macabre grave robberies begins to plague the city, Tabby is ensnared in a deadly plot by the perpetrators, known only as the “Resurrection Men.”
In the end, Tabby’s gift will either save both her and the cemetery—or bring about her own destruction.
The Orphan of Cemetery Hill by Hester Fox delivered a tale steeped in ghosts, graveyards, mystery and romance. With its touches of the supernatural, intriguing characters and gothic vibe, I found myself transported.
Fox continues to impress me with her unique and atmospheric tales. In The Orphan of Cemetery Hill, we meet Tabby soon after she and her sister escapes their aunt and uncle. However, it seems Alice has abandoned Tabby. Frightened, she seeks shelter in a crypt at the cemetery. There she spies a young man crying.
Fast forward twelve years to 1844, and Tabby works alongside her adopted father, Eli; the kind caretaker of the Boston cemetery she once sought shelter in.
Tabby has a unique gift that she shares with no one. She can communicate with the recently departed. She rarely uses her gift and blocks spirits, but when the young man she first spied in the cemetery is in trouble, she reaches out to the spirits.
The tale that unfolds held mystery, romance, and suspense wrapped in supernatural elements. Tabby reaches out to the spirits and plays amateur detective when Caleb Bishop finds himself in serious trouble. Her quest leads her to the Resurrection Men.
The story grabbed me from the pacing to the ghostly encounters. I liked Tabby even if I wasn’t all that impressed with Caleb, but Fox slowly redeemed him. Fox gave us the point of views of both Tabby and Caleb as their stories went off in different directions before weaving back together.
As their storylines wove together Fox increased the suspense and danger. While the middle of the story felt sluggish, the beginning and ending of the book were completely addictive.
If you are looking for an atmospheric tale, this gothic, historical fiction with touches of the supernatural and a solid mystery is the perfect novel to curl up with this fall.
Gothic tale, The Orphan of Cemetery Hill by Hester Fox delivered an atmospheric tale with mystery, romance and suspense. #NewRelease #Fall2020 #MustRead Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
MarthaE
Gothic romance was an early favorite of mine but I haven’t read any lately. I might give this a try. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Bookworm
Everything about this sounds good! Thanks for putting it on my radar.
Jackie
Is the young man the ghost, Caleb Bishop? Wow, I am very curious about this one and have read both of her previous books and this one feels like a good spooky novel to read for Fraterfest. I was denied an ARC from Netgalley (*whines)
Katherine
I absolutely love the sound of this and your thoughts on it. I like the creepiness but it also sounds like the characters are interesting and well developed which sounds especially appealing.
ShootingStarsMag
Sounds like a really captivating read! I’m definitely ready to start reading some spooky Halloween themed reads.
-Lauren
Debbie Haupt
Oh wow this sounds good I love the setting and who doesn’t love ghosts! Thanks Kim
Angela @ Simply Angela
I have this sitting on my TBR pile and I’ve been a bit hesitant to pick it up. I read The Witch of Willow Hall a few weeks ago and, while I liked it, I think I was expecting it to be a bit heavier on the gothic side whereas it tapered off to more of a romance. Although you did convince me I need to try this one.
Sophia Rose
Her books sound perfect and especially for this time of the year. I need to get busy and read the first one and keep going.
sherry fundin
that opening line caught my attention