The Blurb
“Do you know what stories Sarah could tell you about the things that happened in these little cabins? They’d curl that pretty red hair of yours.”
Outside of Charleston, South Carolina, beyond hanging curtains of Spanish moss, at the end of a shaded tunnel of overarching oaks, stands the antebellum mansion of Peppernell Manor in all its faded grandeur. At the request of her friend Evie Peppernell, recently divorced Carleigh Warner and her young daughter Lucy have come to the plantation house to refurbish the interior. But the tall white columns and black shutters hide a dark history of slavery, violence, and greed. The ghost of a former slave is said to haunt the home, and Carleigh is told she disapproves of her restoration efforts. And beneath the polite hospitality of the Peppernell family lie simmering resentments and poisonous secrets that culminate in murder — and place Carleigh and her child in grave danger…
Outside of Charleston, South Carolina, beyond hanging curtains of Spanish moss, at the end of a shaded tunnel of overarching oaks, stands the antebellum mansion of Peppernell Manor in all its faded grandeur. At the request of her friend Evie Peppernell, recently divorced Carleigh Warner and her young daughter Lucy have come to the plantation house to refurbish the interior. But the tall white columns and black shutters hide a dark history of slavery, violence, and greed. The ghost of a former slave is said to haunt the home, and Carleigh is told she disapproves of her restoration efforts. And beneath the polite hospitality of the Peppernell family lie simmering resentments and poisonous secrets that culminate in murder — and place Carleigh and her child in grave danger…
The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor by Amy M. Reade
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Kensington Lyrical Press
Publication Date: April 28, 2015
Paperback: 246 pages
Paperback: 246 pages
ISBN-10: 1601833024
ISBN-13: 978-1601833020
ISBN-13: 978-1601833020
E-Book File Size: 1251 KB
The Review
I read a really good book recently, y'all — The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor by Amy M. Reade. Let me tell you a little about this Gothic Romantic Suspense novel.
The main character is Carleigh Warner, a restoration specialist who, with her three-year-old daughter Lucy, has come from Chicago to restore Peppernell Manor, the antebellum plantation house of a friend from college. Carleigh, the narrator, is a loyal friend to Evie and a loving and patient mother to Lucy, with a good sense of humor. Lucy is cute, adorable, and well-mannered, and often a scene-stealer whenever she is present.
The Peppernell family consists of matriarch Cora-Camille, her daughter Ruby, her son Graydon and his family — wife Vivian, twin sons Harlan and Heath, and daughter Evie. The Peppernells are all fully developed characters, some more likable than others. The Peppernells' house manager, Phyllis Hinton, is "a direct descendant of one of the slave families that worked this plantation." Phyllis adds a lot to the Gothic atmosphere of the novel.
The worldbuilding in The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor is done well. The fictional Peppernell Manor is located along the Ashley River in South Carolina, near Charleston. Author Amy M. Reade has painted such evocative word pictures that Peppernell Manor seems as genuine to me as the real Ashley River plantations of Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation, and Drayton Hall. Amy's fictional additions to Charleston, such as Heath's and Harlan's offices and Vivian's antique gallery, blend seamlessly with actual Charleston landmarks such as Rainbow Row, St Michael's, and White Point Gardens. Amy describes these landmarks so vividly that one would suspect she is a resident of Charleston herself.
I enjoyed the fast pace of The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor, with twists and turns in the plot. The action is appropriately suspenseful and thrilling, with more than one perpetrator of evil deeds. For example,
"Good. I didn't want him to die, but I certainly didn't want to ever see him around here again."
Who said that? And about whom? READ THE BOOK to find out!
The weather even plays a role in The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor. The book is very educational also; I learned a lot about restoring old buildings. The climactic ending is very exciting. I was surprised to learn whodunnit. I liked how all of the plot threads were tied up, with no loose ends.
To sum it up, this is a really good book, y'all! If you're a fan of Gothic Romantic Suspense novels by Phyllis A. Whitney, Victoria Holt, and Barbara Michaels, you're going to love The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor by Amy M. Reade.
Four out of five kitties
Note: I received a complimentary copy of The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor in exchange for my honest review.
All opinions shared are 100% my own.
Follow the tour, to read other reviews, plus Author Interviews and Guest Posts!
The Author
About Amy M. Reade
She lives just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean with her husband and three children as well as a dog and two cats. She loves cooking and all things Hawaii and is currently at work on her next novel.
The Giveaway
Amy will award an eBook copy of The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor
to a randomly drawn winner (int.) via rafflecopter during the tour.
to a randomly drawn winner (int.) via rafflecopter during the tour.
(a Jane Reads giveaway)
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