Book Review - When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen

 

Mira has left her small, segregated hometown in the south more than a decade ago to forget her past. She tried to distance herself from her past and her best friends, Celine and Jessie. Celine was teased because she was the only white girl who had black friends. Her old neighborhood was known for being a poor black area and most people try to avoid it.

Years ago, she and Jessie, her secret crush, decide to visit the creepy Woodsman plantation together. The plantation has been rumored to be haunted by the spirits of slaves. While they were exploring, Mira comes across a ghost and the day goes wrong when a body is found on the plantation. Jesse is accused of murder and Mira is afraid to admit to what she saw that day.

Years later, Mira has returned to Kipsen to attend Celine's wedding at the plantation. The plantation has been remodeled into a vacation resort. Mira was hesitant to come because of her past but, she still hopes to reconnect with her friends.

Even though the Woodsman mansion went through millions of dollars of renovation, it still remains a monument to its racist history. They serve antebellum drinks, have horrifying reenactments and most of the service staff is black. The darkest parts of the plantation's past has been erased; the ones that fuel the rumor mills that the mansion is haunted. The rumor is that many of the slaves were horrendously tortured and then killed. Their ghosts haunt the land and seek vengeance on the descendants of those who hurt them.

I thought the novel started off okay but, then towards the middle of the book it got really slow and boring. I was expecting more from this ghost story. The ending felt rushed and out of place. It left me wanting more but, by then I was already over the book. I had a hard time connecting with some of the characters as some didn't feel very fleshed out.

Book Review - The Residence by Andrew Pyper

 

In 1853, President Franklin Pierce and his family are traveling to Washington, DC when a tragic accident occurs. Their train runs off the rails and the passengers are violently thrown around in the cabin. When the train finally settles, the only casualty is Bennie, the beloved son of the President. Franklin's presidency is tainted with sorrow and grief.

When Franklin arrives to the White House, he notices weird occurrences. There are strange noises coming from the walls and ceilings along with visions of spirits that perished in the White House. The First Lady Jane Pierce decides to bring in the noted Spiritualists, the Fox Sisters, for a séance. During the séance, the barrier between this world and the next is broken causing something dangerous to come through and take residence in the mansion. Franklin and Jane are overcome with grief but, they know they need to banish the dark presence before it takes over the White House.

The book had an interesting premise but, I think it lacked in execution. The author slowly built up the story but, it went nowhere. I quickly lost interest when I was seventy percent finished because the author was introducing creepy elements that didn't seem to have a purpose. I found the novel to be incredibly boring and couldn't be bothered to finish the rest of it.