The Haunting of Beatrix Greene
By Rachel Hawkins, Ash Parsons, and Vicky Alvear Shecter
4/5 Stairs
Expected Publication: 28 October 2020
Which begins like this:
It is not the first night screams have run through the halls of Ashbury Manor.
It will not be the last.
The Haunting of Beatrix Greene
I was drawn to another ghost story this month, which feels appropriate with spoooooky Halloween fast approaching. Quick summary: Set in Victorian England, Beatrix Greene the (empathetic, but fraudulent) medium travels to Ashbury Manor to hold a seance along with a writer and a photographer for James Walker. James does not believe in spirits, and wants this seance to prove or disprove his theory. Once they arrive at the Manor, it becomes clear that the house itself has a dark past and is full of secrets.
The Haunting of Beatrix Greene is set up more like a TV series than a book. It consists of nine episodes (basically chapters), and each author has written three episodes for this season (book). (Never fear, it does not read like a script, but in fact a story.) Beatrix herself is a great female lead character – strong and independent, determined to make her way in the world relying on herself. While she herself does not believe in spirits, she does use her vocation to bring comfort to those that seek her council.
The spooky Manor definitely has vibes similar to The Shining, and at times the book is pretty creepy. It’s a fun, fast paced story with a nod to Sherlock Holmes, and even a little romance thrown in.
Just like your favorite TV series, The Haunting of Beatrix Greene is a fun book to “binge read” in one sitting. I for one am looking forward to the second season and Beatrix’s next adventure.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
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