My Thoughts - THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL by Jaime Jo Wright
THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL
by Jaime Jo Wright
October 20 - November 14, 2025 Virtual Book Tour
An abandoned estate encased in stagnant darkness . . . A haunting legacy intent on silencing all within reach . . .
In 1890, the ominous tolling of the bell announces that death has come to Traeger Hall, leaving orphaned Waverly Pembrooke to piece together the puzzle behind her uncle's and aunt's murders. Bound by the terms of her uncle's eccentric will, Waverly finds herself alone in a manor shrouded by death and questioning the reasons for her uncle's paranoia. A madness hovers over Traeger Hall, and Waverly--as well as the people of nearby Newton Creek--are ill-prepared for the woe that has descended.
In present day Newton Creek, whispers of a family curse still cling to the century-old, abandoned property of Traeger Hall. When Jennie Phillips takes possession of the estate after her mother's passing, she is intent on solving the mystery of the Traeger murders. Yet a modern cold case suggests that untimely deaths and mysterious occurrences still plague the property. And as thorny truths surface, Jennie realizes the dark legacy threatens not only the town and the Traeger descendants . . . but also, chillingly, Jennie herself.
Book Details:
Genre: Dual Timeline Gothic Suspense Published by: Bethany House Publishers Publication Date: October 21, 2025 Number of Pages: 336 ISBN: 9780764243806, paperback
Author Bio:
Jaime Jo Wright is the author of thirteen novels, including Christy Award-winner and ECPA bestseller The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill, and Carol Award-winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. Jaime has also written two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. She lives in Wisconsin with her family and fabulous felines.
Let’s be honest, my cat makes a cameo in The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall. When you read the story and catch glimpses of Foo in its pages, he really exists. He’s waited seven years to be included in one of my books, and now he will be immortalized. The rescued, runt kitten we paid $5 for, who we found at a hardware store. The feisty little fellow, who could barely eat soft cat food he was so tiny. The tiny kitten we thought was a girl until he obviously wasn’t. Foo, the cat who was supposed to be a feral farm cat and instead was a beautiful Flamepoint Siamese (who knew!) destined to be my muse.
Foo is the proverbial taskmaster. He’s quite unforgiving when I am not writing. He believes that it is his place to lie on the bed while I work and give continual oversight to the project. If I choose to pen the story elsewhere, I am met with sullen disrespect and gnashing of teeth. What a playtime of attack-Mommy’s-hand doesn’t solve, a dose of catnip does. Once I’ve paid penance, Foo returns to his supervisory position in a white floof ball on the quilt, and I return to my chair to continue to write stories Foo can put his paw of approval on.
Yes. Foo has entered this story with a subtle but distinct bit of fervor. He is my boy-boy. My Foosy (when he’s nice) and my Foocifer (when he’s naughty). I hope you enjoy getting your Foo Fix in this book, because I get mine everyday and thought it was time that I share.
MY THOUGHTS
“The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall” by Jaime Jo Wright is a dual-timeline gothic suspense novel that intertwines a chilling mystery from 1890 with a modern-day investigation into a haunted legacy. Jaime has such a way of weaving together two time periods seamlessly.
Waverly Pembrooke is left orphaned after the mysterious deaths of her uncle and aunt. Bound by her uncle’s eccentric will, she must remain at Traeger Hall, a place steeped in paranoia and shadowed by madness.However, she will have to seal it up after the funeral and she's left with so many unanswered questions.
Present day Jennie Phillips inherits Traeger Hall after her parents’ deaths. Her father had a habit of buying up properties and this was one that she just wanted to unload. However when she arrives she finds a long buried secret, remains of a missing woman.
Wright has a gift. She is a master of her craft and every book that I read becomes my favorite. I love the switching of time lines, and how she weaves them together. I love the gothic setting, the mystery, the romance, and the description of scenes. There were many times that I closed my eyes just to see the scene unfold in front of me.
This is one author I will always read her new releases. I can count on being drawn in within the first few pages. Bravo - and since I follow the author on social media - I also loved Foo and smiled at his presence.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Partners in Crime Book Tours for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.
Giveaway:
This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Jaime Jo Wright. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.
The giveaway is for: a paperback copy of The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright and a $50 Barnes and Noble gift card to a winner in the US
Great review! This one is on my reading list!
ReplyDeleteI loved the story of Foo! I am a "cat person". I do love to see cats in books. <3