Horror Book of the Week: The Haunting of Sycamore House by Cathy Peper
This week’s Horror Book Recommendation is THE HAUNTING OF SYCAMORE HOUSE written by Cathy Peper.
The book was published in March 2021 by Gluesticks and Gemstones, and is on the bestsellers list for Psychic Thrillers, and Occult Ghosts & Haunted Houses.
The Haunting of Sycamore House is the first book in the IN FOR A PENNY series that all feature the protagonist Penny and her sister Dora. Currently, there are six books in the series with the latest released in November 2023.
Customers who bought this book have left generally favorable reviews and readers felt the book was well-written and the mystery element was intriguing.
The only negative comment seemed to be about there being too many characters in the book which made the story seem longer than it should be.
Quick Book Review of THE HAUNTING OF SYCAMORE HOUSE
In the beginning, we meet a deaf girl called Charlene who is struggling to fit in because the kids in town make fun of her voice. The time period seems to be sometime in the 1800s.
Charlene’s only friend is her cat Ember and her father who she believes is one of those who don’t make fun of her voice.
Charlene is swimming when some boys begin to harass her but luckily, a well-dressed boy manages to rescue her and be kind to her.
In the next chapter, the story moves forward to modern day. Penny Spark is moving to Missouri with her sister Dora who has suffered hearing loss after an accident.
Penny’s guilt stems from the fact that she was unable to predict her sister’s accident from the tarot cards and has ever since given up on reading tarot.
She looks for a job while her sister is in College and finds an opening at the Carriage House Cafe. Penny is immediately drawn to the place and readily accepts the job offer.
It is when she learns that the building behind her is not only old and being renovated into a Breakfast and Bed, but also is rumored to be haunted, that she grows concerned.
Clearly, something has brought her to this place but her conflict regarding relying on her psychic abilities is palpable.
As the plot of the book suggests, the proprietor’s husband will meet a chilling end and suspicion will fall on Penny and others. While Dora will display strange behavior, Penny herself will be plagued by nightmarish visions.
Something has happened all those years ago and the sample suggests that it may be Charlene who may be the furious ghost.
The writing is crisp and to the point. The author’s narrative flows swimmingly well and you will find yourself engaging with the story from the very beginning.
The dynamic between sisters is believable and loving, but it is the weight of the mystery and the promise of psychic abilities being used that will make readers want to pick up this book immediately.
The Haunting of Sycamore House is a promising start to a series that dwells on mystery, relationships and a promise of an eerie situation.
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