Nestled in the foothills of the southern Appalachian Mountains, the small town of Daffodil harbors a secret about the mansion by the lake. On the outside, Blairmont Manor appears to be a peaceful lakeside getaway. Inside, it is a house of terror.
For over a hundred years, the people of Daffodil have kept this secret. Their children grow up knowing pure evil exists in this world and that they are powerless against it.
By the time Thia moves in, with plans to convert the historic mansion into a luxury boutique hotel, the secrets of Blairmont Manor are so well kept that she suspects nothing is amiss about her new home. But it’s not long before she comes to realize the townspeople are keeping something from her...and that someone is willing to do whatever it takes to make her leave.
Nestled in the foothills of the southern Appalachian Mountains, the small town of Daffodil harbors a secret about the mansion by the lake. On the outside, Blairmont Manor appears to be a peaceful lakeside getaway. Inside, it is a house of terror.
For over a hundred years, the people of Daffodil have kept this secret. Their children grow up knowing pure evil exists in this world and that they are powerless against it.
By the time Thia moves in, with plans to convert the historic mansion into a luxury boutique hotel, the secrets of Blairmont Manor are so well kept that she suspects nothing is amiss about her new home. But it’s not long before she comes to realize the townspeople are keeping something from her...and that someone is willing to do whatever it takes to make her leave.
To Thia, every Detail of Blairmont Manor was perfect, and nothing could cast even the faintest of shadows on her vision of what it would become. Even the monstrous wrought iron gate at the entrance, which had originally been built as a show of importance and power, and which the residents of the small town of Daffodil regarded as a sign to stay away, seemed inviting and welcoming to Thia. If she bought the property, she would keep the gate open, but in that moment, pulling up to the entrance of Blairmont Manor at the end of the secluded mile-long road that led to it, through her windshield she admired the gate’s beauty and strength, despite its ominous and intimidating design. She envisioned a string of lights along the top of it and along the wrought iron fence to either side, adding a jovial feel to soften its grandiosity while highlighting the elegance of the intricately decorated antique posts.
She turned off her car and got out, walking directly up to the gate. She tried to open it, but it was locked, so she looked through the iron columns and marveled at the magnificence of the mansion beyond, set back far enough from the road to be private but still partially visible. The driveway to the house began at this gate at the end of the road, but the entire road, all the way from its beginning at the small town square a mile away, might as well have been a private drive. Along its entire length, there were no other houses or buildings, only a dense forest filled with deciduous trees on either side for as far as she could see, a natural wall separating the estate from civilization that was, she would later find out, mutually designed to encourage both the outsiders to stay out and the insider to stay in.
Fall would be here before she knew it, and Thia imagined the woods abundant with the bright colors of changing leaves. She imagined the breathtaking and dramatic effect the drive up to Blairmont Manor would have on her guests, how the welcoming forest of calm and natural beauty would prepare them for a relaxing stay.
It had been her dream since childhood to run a bed and breakfast in a historic house, preferably in a quaint small town with locally owned restaurants and shops and loads of local charm. As she grew older, her dream changed from a small bed and breakfast to a boutique hotel, preferably in a converted historic mansion with enough land for recreational use, such as hiking, biking, and non-motorized water sports if there was access to a lake. This was the sixth house on her list of more than a dozen places to view before making the decision on which one to buy. With seventeen en suite bedrooms on nearly five hundred acres of land, which included a private lake, and being located only a mile from the most adorable historic town square she had ever seen, Blairmont Manor met all her criteria. As a plus, it was only a forty-five minute drive from the city and airport, making it convenient for special events and destination weddings.
She walked back to her car and pulled out her notebook to make notes while she waited for the realtor. Unlike all the other properties on her list, she was unable to find information about Blairmont Manor. How her realtor, Randy, had known of it was a mystery to her, for she could find the listing on only one of the many real-estate websites, and it barely had any information about the house or the land that came with it. What little she knew about Blairmont Manor had come from Randy himself, who had obtained the information by calling and asking the selling agent.
On the first line, she wrote “property map.” She wanted to know if the woods along the road were part of the property—or if not, then how likely the land would be developed, whether it was zoned for residential or commercial use, and for what price the owners would be willing to sell it.
On the second line, she wrote “dead end.” The sign was at the edge of the Daffodil town square, where the road began, and if she chose this property as the location for her business, then she would want to replace it with a sign that read “Blairmont Manor Hotel,” with an arrow pointing in its direction.
She looked at the house again and then at the area around her. The wrought iron fence could be seen on either side of the gate but quickly became less visible in the thick forest. On the other side of the fence, just after the entrance, was the original gatekeeper’s house. Beyond that, the woods that lined the road extended into the fenced-in area and surrounded the house, aside from a large lawn where the forest had been cleared and was beautifully manicured.
She returned to her notebook and on the third line wrote “fence” to remind herself to find out how far it extended and how much of the property it covered.
On the fourth line, she wrote “gatekeeper’s house” so she would remember to include it when she hired an inspector to evaluate what work would be necessary to convert the main house into a hotel.
She looked at the little gatekeeper’s house as she thought about all the possibilities. She probably would not rent it out to guests, but maybe it could be used for storage or as an administration office. At the very least, she would want to spruce it up because it would be one of the first things guests would see upon arriving.
As she envisioned seasonal decorations for both the gatekeeper’s house and the entrance gate, a car pulled up next to hers.
“You must be Cynthia Watkins,” a woman said as she opened the door and got out of her car.
“Yes,” Thia said, approaching her. Extending her hand, she added, “But everyone calls me Thia.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Thia. I’m Carol,” the woman said, shaking Thia’s hand. She looked through the windshield at Thia’s empty car and then down the empty road behind them. “Should we wait for Randy?”
“Oh,” Thia said, “I guess he didn’t tell you. His daughter got sick, so he had to pick her up from daycare. I hope it’s okay that I came alone. I was so eager to see the place that I did not want to reschedule. Does he have to be here?” It was only then that Thia realized she had not viewed any properties without her real estate agent present.
“No, I’m okay with it if you are,” Carol said. “Do you have any questions before we go in?”
“Yes, I do,” Thia replied. With a wave of her hand, she indicated the forest and asked, “Is all of this part of the property as well?”
“No, the land between Blairmont and the town square belongs to Daffodil. A little more than a century ago, the town council bought it.”
“Interesting,” Thia said. “What are the plans for it?”
“There was an ordinance created when they bought it stating that it was never to be developed or changed in any way.”
“How wonderful!” Thia replied, happy that her desire to keep the forest intact was a law. “So it’s like a huge public park.”
“Something like that,” Carol said, “but people rarely venture into these woods.”
When Carol did not explain any further, Thia asked, “I was also wondering about the land, nearly five hundred acres, right?”
When Carol nodded her head, Thia continued. “I’m looking for a mansion to convert into a boutique hotel, so I was thinking it would be nice to put trails in the forest for my guests to hike or maybe clear part of it and plant an orchard or vineyard they could enjoy as well. Have the owners ever had the soil examined, or do you know of any restrictions the town has for use of the land?”
“Where everything is now,” Carol stated, “the forest, the area that has been cleared around the house, and the gardens, are exactly as they have always been since the manor was built in the late eighteen hundreds. To my knowledge, no previous owners have ever even looked into changing it. I expect it will stay exactly as it is forever.”
“Oh,” Thia said, surprised. “Well, I would want to have some experts come out to see what my options are. I guess I would need to contact the Daffodil town council about any changes I would make?”
“That would be wise of you,” Carol said.
“And this fence,” Thia started, pointing at it, “does it surround the entire property?”
“No,” Carol said. “It extends roughly fifty yards to either side.”
Thia wrote “fifty yards each side” next to her note about the fence in her notebook.
After an awkward moment of silence, Thia said, “Well, those are the only questions I can think of for now. I’m sure I’ll have more once we get inside.”
“Are you sure you still want to see it? It sounds like it might not be ideal for you if you are looking for a property with hiking trails and orchards and vineyards. I don’t know if the Daffodil town council would approve those changes.”
With a shrug, Thia said, “Since I’m here, I might as well look at it.”
“Right,” Carol said. She took a deep breath, pulled a large iron key out of her purse, and then used it to unlock the gate.
Thia smiled as she watched Carol insert the key into the lock and turn it, a loud clanking sound indicating the gate was now unlocked. “Now that’s a key. Is it the original one?”
“Yes,” Carol said, handing it to her. “It would be yours if you decide to buy Blairmont.”
Thia held it in her hand, feeling its weight and admiring its ornate design. “It’s heavy. What if I need another one? Or a locksmith? Can anyone even open a lock like this?”
“There’s a guy in town who can do it. I’ll give you his name if you decide to buy.”
As Thia handed the key back to Carol, she said, “I would probably get it changed so it opens electrically. I’m surprised the owners never did that.”
“For any questions on that, you would need to contact the town council,” Carol stated.
“Oh,” Thia said, again surprised. “I didn’t think there would be restrictions on something like that.”
“There aren’t,” Carol said, “but it would still be wise to contact the town council about any changes you would make if you decide to buy.”
“Right,” Thia said. In her notebook, she wrote “contact Daffodil town council about changes” on the fifth line.
There was another awkward moment of silence after Thia had finished making her note, as Carol remained motionless. Thia looked at the closed gate and then at the house beyond.
“Can we go see it?” Thia asked.
“Of course,” Carol said. She waited a second before inhaling sharply and turning around to push the gate open.
Thia got into her car and drove through the entrance, with Carol following behind her. After driving along the portion of the curvy driveway that was still surrounded by forest, she reached the edge of the clearing and saw the entire house in all its breathtaking splendor. It was absolutely stunning. Just by itself, the mansion, made entirely of limestone, alone was an architectural masterpiece of majesty and grandeur. But combined with the well-maintained, beautifully designed gardens, the backdrop of the forest, and the southern Appalachian Mountains in the distance, it was almost too much for Thia to take in.
She followed the teardrop driveway and parked in front of the large veranda. Unable to take her eyes off the house, she felt for her notebook in the passenger seat and got out of her car. Carol pulled up behind her and turned off her engine. Thia did not mind that Carol did not get out of her car right away and took the liberty of walking up the stone stairs to the stone veranda. She tried to open one of the large wooden double doors, but they were locked. Feeling foolish, she turned around and waited for Carol, who was still in her car, her face looking downward and her lips moving. While she waited, Thia tried to peer inside the house through the windows. When she heard Carol’s car door shut, she walked back to the top of the stairs to meet her. Carol suddenly looked at one of the windows on the second floor. Thia instinctively turned her head up and back to see what Carol was looking at, but the roof of the veranda obstructed her view.
“Perhaps we should look at the grounds first, while it’s fresh on our minds,” Carol suggested.
“Yes, of course,” Thia said. “Good idea.” She had been so distracted by the house that she had forgotten they had been talking about the land and her plans for it.
She joined Carol at the bottom of the stairs. As Carol led her along the driveway that jutted off of the teardrop formation in front of the house and wrapped around to the side, going through a porte cochere, Thia saw that it then veered to the right and continued on to the old carriage house. In her notebook, next to the note that read “gatekeeper’s house,” Thia added “and carriage house.” Then, looking at the woods between the driveway and the carriage house and seeing that it was close to the house without disrupting the view and beauty, she added, “parking lot next to carriage house?” with a question mark to remind herself to speak with someone about clearing that land as a possible location for her guests to park their cars.
Instead of following the driveway to the carriage house, Carol led Thia on a path to the left that led to the gardens on the lakeside of the house, which were even more gratifying than the gardens in the front. There were already designated walkways, but Thia envisioned little alcoves with bistro tables and chairs for guests to sit and eat or have a drink while they looked at the lake and the mountains. The lake’s shore was not as far from the house as she had thought it would be. The gardens, large and grand, extended to about halfway between the house and the water’s edge. Between the gardens and the lake was a flat lawn with luscious green grass. As they walked toward that perfect lawn, Thia envisioned weddings, holiday picnics, and cocktail parties with the backdrop of the lake and the mountains in the distance.
And as for the lake itself, it was big but calm and still, perfect for families and even small children. She followed the water’s edge with her gaze over to where the carriage house was located and saw a dock. Though empty at present, in her mind she saw canoes and paddleboards resting on the shore next to it for her guests to use.
“This is incredible,” Thia said.
Carol continued to lead her along a path until they came to the edge of the garden. “We’ll stay off the grass, if you don’t mind,” she said.
Thia came to a quick halt, having been just about to take another step to go down to the lake.
Thia turned around to look at the house, and her breath was once again taken away by its beauty. The facade, while fitting with the style of the rest of the house, was completely different from the front but equally, if not more, impressive. From where she was standing, she could see that the front and back gardens were continuous, wrapping around the side of the house opposite of the side where they had walked. She gazed at the manor, now eager to go inside.
But Carol was still facing the lake.
“Okay, well, I think I’ve seen enough,” Thia said.
Turning only slightly toward her, not enough to see the house, Carol said with immense relief in her tone, “You have?”
“I meant of the outside,” Thia clarified. “Can we go in?”
With hesitation, and Thia thought perhaps a hint of disappointment, Carol said, “Yes, of course.”
They entered through the lakeside entrance, and Thia had to take a moment to adjust to the overwhelming intricacies of the interior. From across the floor, up the walls, and across the ceiling, not an inch had been spared in artistic design and detail. It was like no other mansion she had seen so far.
“I’m not sure Randy told me the right price,” Thia said. In her mind, she was calculating what the actual asking price must have been and how much it would cost for her to furnish it, for a house such as this one would require only the most unique and extravagant furniture. In fact, all the pieces she saw there currently looked as if they had been specifically designed and made for this house. She also estimated in her mind how much the upkeep would cost, how much she would need to charge for guests to stay at such an exquisite hotel, and whether there was a market big enough for that price range. Having done extensive research, she knew an estate such as this one was above the threshold for the customers she had originally had in mind. People who could afford to stay in a place like this would expect amenities on the level of the most exclusive hotels in the world.
It was a beautiful mansion, for sure, but Thia felt disappointment as the logistics slowly crushed the emotional attachment she had already formed for Blairmont.
Thia continued, “I’m afraid the price he told me is well below market value.”
“No,” Carol said, “he told you the correct asking price. The owners are eager to sell.”
Thia turned to her and said, “Then it must require some costly renovations.”
“No,” Carol assured her, “the estate has been very well maintained.”
Thia began walking through the grand hall, Carol nervously glancing around them as she followed a few paces behind her.
So far, Thia had already begun researching retailers for furniture, and she had planned on getting contracts with local establishments for the complimentary toiletries and bottles of wine she wanted to provide for her guests. Now, she began to adjust those plans in her mind and envisioned designer furniture, high-end amenities, spa services, and other ways to please her newly targeted market for the luxury boutique hotel this manor demanded to be.
After a few minutes, they had reached the front entrance, and Thia had convinced herself that this would work. Her marketing plans would need to be only slightly altered—the targeted clientele for guests staying overnight would need to be set at a higher income bracket—but she could see this as her home and hotel. And as for her original market, it could still be targeted by opening part of the house for daily tours and hosting private events. Eventually, she could open a wine tasting room if she got a vineyard established and a restaurant if she hired a chef and staff. She was shocked it had not already been declared a historic building and put on the national registry and opened for tours. She was shocked she had been living in the nearby city and had never even heard of Blairmont Manor. This house was truly a gem that would not stay so well hidden for long, and she began to feel the pressure and urgency, knowing she had to pursue this now before the next person came along and saw all this unused potential.
Suddenly, a door slammed somewhere above them on the second floor.
Carol yelped, and Thia looked at her.
“Are the owners here?” Thia asked.
Carol quickly composed herself and said, “No, but it’s probably just the housekeeper.”
In her mind, Thia reviewed her memory of the driveway. She had not seen any other cars. But she had been so taken with the house and the property, perhaps she had been too distracted to notice. Or maybe the housekeeper had arrived while they were in the gardens.
“Anyway,” Carol said, putting a hand on Thia’s shoulder and ushering her toward the front doors, “I have a meeting I need to get to.”
“Well, I was hoping to at least see the bedrooms, since that’s where my guests would be staying,” Thia said. “And the dining hall, since that’s where my guests would eat. And the kitchen to see what kind of condition it is in now. And the ballroom and sitting rooms and the rest of the house, of course.”
Leading Thia to those two grand wooden double doors at the front entrance, Carol said, “We can book another appointment if you need more time. Or, if you would like to get an inspection done, you can come back when the inspector is here.” They exited to the front veranda. As Carol locked the doors behind them, she added, “It would probably be better because the inspector could answer all your questions related to converting this into a hotel.”
Then Carol quickly descended the stairs and got into her car. Thia took a moment to walk around the veranda to continue looking at the property.
From her car, Carol said, “I need to lock the gate.” She glanced up at that window again, and again Thia instinctively looked up to see what Carol was looking at but was unable to see through the roof of the veranda.
Then, Thia said, “Sorry, I forgot,” and rushed down the stairs and got into her own car.
As Thia drove back to the gate, Carol following behind her, she was getting the feeling that Carol was not taking this showing seriously. It was only then that she realized Carol probably did not know her financial situation. Randy usually discussed the financial details with the selling agents. To Carol, a girl in her late twenties showing up alone at a house like this one was probably just curious or looking for good material for her daydreams. She had not even asked Thia if she was pre-approved for a loan or if she had investors or any questions on what kind of financing she was considering.
When Carol got out of her car, leaving the engine running, Thia parked and got out to talk to her.
As Carol closed and locked the gate, Thia said, “I don’t know if Randy told you, but I will be making a cash offer.”
Carol’s eyes widened. “Cash?”
“I don’t plan on getting any financing.”
Carol tried not to look perplexed.
“You see,” Thia explained, “this has been my dream for a really long time. I promise I’m not rushing into it. I majored in business in college with a minor in hospitality management, and right out of college I got a job with one of the most famous luxury hotels in the country. I’ve been working there and have learned so much, but I want to branch out on my own with something that is much smaller and more intimate, where I as the owner am present and involved with the guests. I’ve reached out to investors over the years since graduating, but no one would take a chance on me, and I never found anyone I wanted to partner with. So, when I won the lottery, I decided it was time to take the plunge.”
“You won the lottery?” Carol asked, taking a genuine interest. “That’s so cool! I’ve never met anybody who won the lottery before.”
“Well, it wasn’t the big one, but it was more than enough to take care of me and my family and to get this business going. I know everyone says never to invest your own money in your business and that it should probably be a sign that no investors gave me money in the past, but that was because I had no record and no experienced partners. They all said my pitch and my plans were solid but that I was too much of a risk for them to take on at the time. But I’m not a risk for me to take on because I’m ready and I know I can do this.”
“So you’ve probably already bought a big house of your own. Have you done a lot of traveling? It must be nice not to have to work.” Carol was truly curious and much more relaxed now, almost like a totally different person than the one Thia had met not half an hour earlier. Maybe, Thia thought, she could convince this new Carol to let her back in the house, now that she knew Thia was a serious potential buyer.
“No, I still live in my apartment in the city. I still work at the hotel, too. I’m getting great experience, and I want to stay on good terms with my boss and the other managers so I can call and ask for advice when I need it.” She quickly added, “They know I plan on leaving as soon as I find a good location, though. And I have to say,” she said with a wide grin, looking at the house, “I have found it.”
“You really think you might choose Blairmont?” Carol asked.
“Yes, I do. I’m not just saying that.”
“Are you sure?” Carol asked, though she could sense how serious Thia was.
“I am,” Thia said with determination.
“And you would keep your apartment in the city and live there?”
“No, I plan on living at the boutique hotel, to be on site all the time, kind of like a glorified bed and breakfast, I guess.” She gave a slight, awkward laugh. She could not stop looking at the house, so excited was she with the feeling that this was it, that she had found the location for her dream hotel.
Carol’s eyes again widened, but instead of surprise, this time her expression was one of horror. She quickly glanced at the gate and then back at Thia. “You mean once you have guests staying there, too, right? But until then, you probably want something closer to town. I’d be happy to show you some places. Actually, there’s a house I know you’d love that’s about to go on the market.”
“No,” Thia said, shaking her head. “I plan on moving in right away so I can be on site and available twenty-four-seven to get the business going. There will be contractors, painters, movers, decorators, and so many other workers that I’ll need to be available at all times. It doesn’t make sense to live somewhere else while I’m converting the mansion into a hotel.” Thia glanced down the road and added, “And anyway, it’s only a mile. It’s not that far from town.”
Carol again glanced at the gate and then started slowly walking away from it, toward their cars. Lowering her voice, she said, “But don’t you think it would be better to have a home away from your work, somewhere you can go and relax at the end of a hard day? Somewhere to go when you don’t want to think about work?”
Thia followed her the short distance she had walked and also lowered her voice, though she did not understand why they had suddenly started talking like this was a secret. “But that’s just it,” Thia tried to explain. “To me, this isn’t work. It doesn’t feel like a job. It’s fun and exciting, and I know I won’t ever want to get away from it. Even now, on my days off, I still check in with my crew and others at the hotel, not because I’m worried or feel like I have to but because I genuinely love what I do.” Thia knew from experience in trying to explain this feeling that it was difficult for a lot of people to understand.
“But when it’s under construction,” Carol suggested, “you wouldn’t want to stay here during all that.”
This woman really wants to sell me two houses, Thia thought, assuming Carol was trying to get yet another sale on top of this one. To appease her, Thia said, “I’m happy to look at that house you mentioned, the one that’s about to go on the market, but I just wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t tell you that I’ve already made up my mind about this. I plan to live at the property where I run my boutique hotel, from the moment the sale goes through.”
“Sorry,” Carol said, “I didn’t mean to be pushy. I’m just concerned for your safety. A young woman in a large mansion all by herself—the workers will know you live there alone, so please, be careful.”
“Thank you,” Thia said, genuinely touched by her concern. “Are you from Daffodil?”
“Yes,” Carol said, “I’ve lived here my whole life, born and raised.”
To Thia, Carol’s attitude was yet another reason to choose Blairmont. “See,” Thia said, “I don’t need to be worried because the people around here have given me no indication that they are anything but honest, caring members of the community, like you. I got here this morning and had breakfast at the cafe in the town square, and then I went to some of the shops. Every person I talked to was so kind and so friendly. This really is a great town.”
“It definitely is, and we love visitors, so please come visit anytime. But maybe it’s not the right place for your hotel.”
“Oh, I know it is,” Thia said decidedly, “because I have chosen Blairmont.”
“But you have other places to view, right?” Carol asked. “I imagine you would want to look at multiple locations to see what your options are before making such a huge decision.”
“I’ve seen others,” Thia said, “and I had more on my list, but I don’t need to see them anymore. Daffodil and Blairmont have captured my heart, and I can’t imagine any place being more perfect or fitting than this one.”
“Well, sleep on it and give yourself some time to think it through,” Carol suggested.
“Trust me, I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. I know exactly what I want, and this is the only place I’ve seen that has everything I could hope for. You can expect to hear from Randy with an offer later today.”
“Well, take your time,” Carol said. “There’s no hurry.”
“I thought the owners were eager to sell.”
“They are, but I don’t think anyone will put an offer on Blairmont any time soon. So, please, take as long as you need to make this decision. Look at the other properties on your list that you haven’t seen yet. And go back to the ones you’ve already seen, to be sure, before you decide on this one. You’re putting so much into your business. You want to make sure it is exactly what you want and what will best meet the needs of your customers.”
“Thank you,” Thia said, again trying to appease Carol. She held out her hand. “And thank you for showing me the property.”
Shaking Thia’s hand, Carol said, “It was my pleasure. Good luck with your business, wherever you decide to go. Please let me know when you open. I’d love to come and stay.”
“I will, thank you,” Thia said.
They went to their respective cars, and Carol drove off before Thia had even shut her door, causing Thia to feel terribly guilty about having talked with Carol for so long. She hoped Carol would not be too late to her next meeting.
She pulled out her phone and wrote a text to Randy: “I want to put an offer on Blairmont Manor right away.”
Just before sending it, however, she got out of her car and walked up to the gate and looked through it at the house again, more specifically at that window Carol kept glancing at, trying to see if she could figure out what had worried the woman so much.
But Thia could see nothing of concern. All she could see was the big, beautiful historic mansion that would soon be her luxury boutique hotel.
Cynthia Watkins thinks her dreams have come true when she finds an idyllic, abandoned mansion named Blairmont Manor. Intending to transform the bleak historic home into a boutique hotel with picturesque hiking trails and luxury rooms, Thia is bewildered by not only finding such a structure, but for being able to purchase the property for what seems like an insanely low price. After taking ownership, however, the townspeople appear to start avoiding her or making strange comments about the house to her. When she starts having experiences she cannot explain, Thia starts to wonder if Blairmont Manor may not be as perfect. When the tragic history of the house collides with her dreams and seeks to bring tragedy to Thia’s own life, she must decide whether to turn tail and run like so many previous owners have, or if she is going to stand up to the evil spirit lurking in the house, causing terror to anyone who dares to go inside and meander into spaces where they were not invited.
“The Bell Lady of Blairmont Manor” was a spooky, fast-paced paranormal story with airs reminiscent of gothic horror. It was clear from the beginning that something was going bump in the night, and the book is easy to devour as the audience strives to learn solve the mystery of this strange mansion. Thia was a highly likeable narrator. While sometimes she seemed a little too perky for her own good (or maybe I just spend too much time in my “customer service” headspace during my day job), Thia’s perseverant attitude not only toward her dream of opening her hotel, but in trying to reason with Winifred, the evil spirit, were endearing. As I learned of the back story behind the haunting of the house, and what Winifred was supposed to have done, like Thia the first thing I thought was that this “evil” spirit had not gotten her fair shot at justice during her physical life. Perhaps she was truly guilty of the crime she had been accused of, but justice should have been afforded to her through the proper channels instead of being hunted and struck down by fellow townspeople. Unlike everyone else she's spoken to about Winifred, Thia's first instinct was to empathize with the young female spirit and learn her side of the story, instead of immediately demonizing her.
While I did not particularly care for the “twist” at the end of “The Bell Lady of Blairmont Manor,” I did appreciate that the author was attempting to do something different in this story than what is typically done by a lot of paranormal fiction writers. The change in direction during the last third of the book did not quite make sense to me from a literary standpoint, but I was perplexed enough to keep reading until the end. Overall, the book is definitely worth reading, and many readers may in find that they like the surprise twist. "The Bell Lady of Blairmont Manor" was the perfect, spooky read for Halloween!