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The Winter People
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Horror (2014)West Hall, Vermont, has always been a town of strange disappearances and old legends. The most mysterious is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found dead in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter.
Now, in present day, nineteen-year-old Ruthie lives in Sara's farmhouse with her mother, Alice, and her younger sister. Alice has always insisted that they live off the grid, a decision that has weighty consequences when Ruthie wakes up one morning to find that Alice has vanished. In her search for clues, she is startled to find a copy of Sara Harrison Shea's diary hidden beneath the floorboards of her mother's bedroom. As Ruthie gets sucked into the historical mystery, she discovers that she's not the only person looking for someone that they've lost. But she may be the only one who can stop history from repeating itself.
Now, in present day, nineteen-year-old Ruthie lives in Sara's farmhouse with her mother, Alice, and her younger sister. Alice has always insisted that they live off the grid, a decision that has weighty consequences when Ruthie wakes up one morning to find that Alice has vanished. In her search for clues, she is startled to find a copy of Sara Harrison Shea's diary hidden beneath the floorboards of her mother's bedroom. As Ruthie gets sucked into the historical mystery, she discovers that she's not the only person looking for someone that they've lost. But she may be the only one who can stop history from repeating itself.
317 pages, Hardcover
First published February 11, 2014
About the author
Jennifer McMahon
19 books9,898 followers I'm the author of nine suspense novels, including Promise Not to Telll, The Winter People, and my newest, The Drowning Kind. I live in central Vermont with my partner and daughter, in an old Victorian that some neighbors call The Addams Family house.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 10,120 reviews
January 21, 2024
**4.5-stars**
After my reread of The Winter People, I have decided to stick with my original rating of 4.5-stars, rounded down.
Although I LOVE the majority of this story, there's something about the final few chapters that gets a bit convoluted for me.
I do still think the atmosphere in this is top-notch. Also, I love how McMahon formats her stories. The way she is able to blend historical perspectives with the present; chef's kiss.
I'm super stoked for their 2022-release, The Children on the Hill, said to be inspired by Frankenstein!!!
Earlier:
Rereading with, you guessed it, my fabulous niece, Alyssa.
I recommended this book to her, so feel it's only fair that I read it along with her.
I am so excited to be revisiting this one. I have recommended it to countless people since I originally read it in 2019. I have a feeling it's going to be a full 5-star experience this time around.
Original:
**4.5-stars**
In 1908, Sara Harrison Shea lost her daughter under tragic circumstances. Unsurprisingly, Sara was racked by grief and unable to move forward.
She would do anything to bring her daughter back.
In the present, Ruthie's mom has gone missing. It seems she simply walked out of their house, into the surrounding Vermont woods, and disappeared.
With no note, and no signs of a struggle, Ruthie is forced to care for her creepy little sister whilst investigating the mystery of her mother's sudden departure.
What Ruthie doesn't know is that she is living in the very same house once occupied by Sara Harrison Shea. Is that mere coincidence, or is her mother's disappearance related to that fact?
When she comes across parts of Sara's diary hidden in the old farmhouse, she discovers that sometimes the past really can come back to haunt you.
Following both past and present timelines, this eerie tale is filled with an overwhelming feeling of dread.
I feel like Winter is the absolute perfect season to read this book!
When it gets dark early, when it's cold, when the wind blows long and loud into the night. The atmosphere is richly developed and absolutely my favorite part of the story.
I went into this book completely blind, only knowing that quite a few of my book friends have loved it.
I was impressed with McMahon's writing. She has a very strong Horror voice and I definitely look forward to reading more of her works.
I feel like with this one now under my belt, I know more what to expect from her, and I'm damned pumped for it.
There were a few issues I had with the storyline. Nothing major, but just things I wish would have had more information, or context.
The use of diary entries was well done and as always, I felt that made me feel more a part of the story; like I was investigating it myself.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it. If you like a ghost stories with a dark and ominous atmosphere, you should definitely check this one out!
After my reread of The Winter People, I have decided to stick with my original rating of 4.5-stars, rounded down.
Although I LOVE the majority of this story, there's something about the final few chapters that gets a bit convoluted for me.
I do still think the atmosphere in this is top-notch. Also, I love how McMahon formats her stories. The way she is able to blend historical perspectives with the present; chef's kiss.
I'm super stoked for their 2022-release, The Children on the Hill, said to be inspired by Frankenstein!!!
Earlier:
Rereading with, you guessed it, my fabulous niece, Alyssa.
I recommended this book to her, so feel it's only fair that I read it along with her.
I am so excited to be revisiting this one. I have recommended it to countless people since I originally read it in 2019. I have a feeling it's going to be a full 5-star experience this time around.
Original:
**4.5-stars**
In 1908, Sara Harrison Shea lost her daughter under tragic circumstances. Unsurprisingly, Sara was racked by grief and unable to move forward.
She would do anything to bring her daughter back.
In the present, Ruthie's mom has gone missing. It seems she simply walked out of their house, into the surrounding Vermont woods, and disappeared.
With no note, and no signs of a struggle, Ruthie is forced to care for her creepy little sister whilst investigating the mystery of her mother's sudden departure.
What Ruthie doesn't know is that she is living in the very same house once occupied by Sara Harrison Shea. Is that mere coincidence, or is her mother's disappearance related to that fact?
When she comes across parts of Sara's diary hidden in the old farmhouse, she discovers that sometimes the past really can come back to haunt you.
Following both past and present timelines, this eerie tale is filled with an overwhelming feeling of dread.
I feel like Winter is the absolute perfect season to read this book!
When it gets dark early, when it's cold, when the wind blows long and loud into the night. The atmosphere is richly developed and absolutely my favorite part of the story.
I went into this book completely blind, only knowing that quite a few of my book friends have loved it.
I was impressed with McMahon's writing. She has a very strong Horror voice and I definitely look forward to reading more of her works.
I feel like with this one now under my belt, I know more what to expect from her, and I'm damned pumped for it.
There were a few issues I had with the storyline. Nothing major, but just things I wish would have had more information, or context.
The use of diary entries was well done and as always, I felt that made me feel more a part of the story; like I was investigating it myself.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it. If you like a ghost stories with a dark and ominous atmosphere, you should definitely check this one out!
February 20, 2017
For me the difference between a 4-star book and a 5-star book is usually the ending- and Jennifer McMahon's THE WINTER PEOPLE lost a star in the final pages...but a 4-star read is nothing to complain about. This was a spooooooky, creepy tale that had me flipping the pages regardless of a weeeeeee bit of disappointment with its conclusion.
January 29, 1908 West Hall, Vermont:
The Secret Diary of Sara Harrison Shea- The first time I saw a sleeper, I was nine years old. I recognized her at once- Hester Jameson...
I have been going back in my mind, thinking of how this all began...if I close my eyes even now, I can still see my Gertie's face, feel her sugary breath on my cheek. I can so vividly recall our last morning together, hear her saying, If the snow melts down to water, does it still remember being snow?"
Sara Harrison is grieving the death of her daughter, Gertie- and is willing to do anything to see her again...even though she knows bringing her back from the dead will have horrible consequences.
January 2nd, Present day, West Hall, Vermont:
Nineteen-year-old Ruthie Washburne and her little sister- Fawn- wake up one January morning to discover their mother- Alice- has gone missing. As the sisters scour the house trying to find clues of her disappearance, they find that she may have been hiding some dark secrets.
The more they dig- the more they learn of the past owner of the house- Sara Harrison- and the more they learn that their mother may have not have been completely truthful with them about how they came to live there.
THE WINTER PEOPLE'S story is told- flipping back and forth between past and present- and as with all stories told this way- there is always one time period that holds your attention more than the other. I was riveted with the past- and Sara's story...and not so much with the present...but I am sure everyone who reads it will have their own favorite. This is a book worth picking up- for those who enjoy a good ghost story. I couldn't help comparing it to Pet Sematary- a comparison that other reviewers on Goodreads have mentioned as well.
January 29, 1908 West Hall, Vermont:
The Secret Diary of Sara Harrison Shea- The first time I saw a sleeper, I was nine years old. I recognized her at once- Hester Jameson...
I have been going back in my mind, thinking of how this all began...if I close my eyes even now, I can still see my Gertie's face, feel her sugary breath on my cheek. I can so vividly recall our last morning together, hear her saying, If the snow melts down to water, does it still remember being snow?"
Sara Harrison is grieving the death of her daughter, Gertie- and is willing to do anything to see her again...even though she knows bringing her back from the dead will have horrible consequences.
January 2nd, Present day, West Hall, Vermont:
Nineteen-year-old Ruthie Washburne and her little sister- Fawn- wake up one January morning to discover their mother- Alice- has gone missing. As the sisters scour the house trying to find clues of her disappearance, they find that she may have been hiding some dark secrets.
The more they dig- the more they learn of the past owner of the house- Sara Harrison- and the more they learn that their mother may have not have been completely truthful with them about how they came to live there.
THE WINTER PEOPLE'S story is told- flipping back and forth between past and present- and as with all stories told this way- there is always one time period that holds your attention more than the other. I was riveted with the past- and Sara's story...and not so much with the present...but I am sure everyone who reads it will have their own favorite. This is a book worth picking up- for those who enjoy a good ghost story. I couldn't help comparing it to Pet Sematary- a comparison that other reviewers on Goodreads have mentioned as well.
September 29, 2020
4.5 stars
West Hall, Vermont is a town where people go missing without explanation. This remote small town has it secrets and wants to keep it that way. The most mysterious secret is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found dead in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter, Gertie. Skip to the present day where 19 year old Ruthie returns home to find her Mother, Alice, missing. Ruthie, her Mother and her Younger sister, Fawn, have been living in the house where Sara Harrison Shea used to live. While trying to figure out where her Mother is and why she is missing, Ruthie finds a diary that once belonged to Sara Harrison Shea hidden under the floorboards of her mother's bedroom. Has History repeated itself in this modern day ghost story? There is also the story of Kathryn who comes to town to investigate the death of her husband who visited West Hall, Vermont without her knowledge.
The Winter People is a beautifully written page turner. It is a spooky ghost story that blends the story between the turn of the 20th century and the present day. I hated putting this book down. The characters are vividly written and developed. There are many characters in this book but they do not overwhelm the story or the reader. We learn in the beginning of the book that the town experiences "sleepers" or ghosts. Are the sleepers or ghosts in this book bad or does the problem lay with the living and the desperate lengths they will go to see their loved ones one last time. This book tells the story of people dealing with untimely deaths. Even though the story jumps back and forth between present day and 1908; it does not get confusing. This book asks the question "what power do the dead have over the living?" If you had the chance to bring back a deceased love one for just a short period of time to say goodbye would you? But most importantly this book also reminds the reader of the old adage "be careful what you wish for".
See more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
West Hall, Vermont is a town where people go missing without explanation. This remote small town has it secrets and wants to keep it that way. The most mysterious secret is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found dead in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter, Gertie. Skip to the present day where 19 year old Ruthie returns home to find her Mother, Alice, missing. Ruthie, her Mother and her Younger sister, Fawn, have been living in the house where Sara Harrison Shea used to live. While trying to figure out where her Mother is and why she is missing, Ruthie finds a diary that once belonged to Sara Harrison Shea hidden under the floorboards of her mother's bedroom. Has History repeated itself in this modern day ghost story? There is also the story of Kathryn who comes to town to investigate the death of her husband who visited West Hall, Vermont without her knowledge.
The Winter People is a beautifully written page turner. It is a spooky ghost story that blends the story between the turn of the 20th century and the present day. I hated putting this book down. The characters are vividly written and developed. There are many characters in this book but they do not overwhelm the story or the reader. We learn in the beginning of the book that the town experiences "sleepers" or ghosts. Are the sleepers or ghosts in this book bad or does the problem lay with the living and the desperate lengths they will go to see their loved ones one last time. This book tells the story of people dealing with untimely deaths. Even though the story jumps back and forth between present day and 1908; it does not get confusing. This book asks the question "what power do the dead have over the living?" If you had the chance to bring back a deceased love one for just a short period of time to say goodbye would you? But most importantly this book also reminds the reader of the old adage "be careful what you wish for".
See more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
April 11, 2022
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon (Author), Cassandra Campbell (Narrator), Käthe Mazur (Narrator)
For the first half of the book, I was hooked on the story, gory as it was for both humans and animals. Little West Hall, Vermont seems to be stuck in the past with the town barely changing for the last century. Nineteen year old Ruthie lives with her six year old sister, Fern, and their mother, Alice, in the same old farmhouse that was home to Sara Harrison Shea, long ago. Sara was at the center of a grisly murder or two, back in 1908, and her very own diary is the source of much of the legend and myths that surround Sara, her death, the deaths of her daughter and husband, and mysterious happenings from that time, all the way to present day.
Ruthie and Fern have always been told by their parents (their dad died mysteriously, in their field) to never go into the woods, that there are monsters in the woods. When Alice disappears, not long after the disappearance of a little girl, Ruthie seaches the farmhouse for clues for where her mother may have gone. That's when Ruthie finds the pages of Sara's diary, that had been missing from the parts of the diary that had been published by Sara's niece. Much of Sara's diary concerns the death of her daughter and the events afterwards that led to the deaths of Sara and her husband.
This book has so much going on and some of it never seems to be addressed again, once it's introduced. In Sara's timeline, there is a group of women who commune with the dead. We learn that Sara's aunt seemed to practice some type of sorcery. There is a ring that plays a small part throughout the book but we never really know what part it really plays in the events in the book. Still, I was very interested in finding out what happened to Gerty, Sara's daughter, and all the mysterious things happening in the surrounding area of West Hall. Sadly, once we start getting answers, I'm flummoxed by all the bad decisions and choices that have led to the present day events. Really, by the end of the book, my favorite character is Ruthie's nineteen year old mechanic, artist boyfriend who disappears from the book about halfway through. Everyone else just makes the least common sense decisions ever although I'll give six year old Fern a pass. Actually, I think I'd let Fern run the show among the group of women on hand, by the end of the book.
Pub February 11, 2014
For the first half of the book, I was hooked on the story, gory as it was for both humans and animals. Little West Hall, Vermont seems to be stuck in the past with the town barely changing for the last century. Nineteen year old Ruthie lives with her six year old sister, Fern, and their mother, Alice, in the same old farmhouse that was home to Sara Harrison Shea, long ago. Sara was at the center of a grisly murder or two, back in 1908, and her very own diary is the source of much of the legend and myths that surround Sara, her death, the deaths of her daughter and husband, and mysterious happenings from that time, all the way to present day.
Ruthie and Fern have always been told by their parents (their dad died mysteriously, in their field) to never go into the woods, that there are monsters in the woods. When Alice disappears, not long after the disappearance of a little girl, Ruthie seaches the farmhouse for clues for where her mother may have gone. That's when Ruthie finds the pages of Sara's diary, that had been missing from the parts of the diary that had been published by Sara's niece. Much of Sara's diary concerns the death of her daughter and the events afterwards that led to the deaths of Sara and her husband.
This book has so much going on and some of it never seems to be addressed again, once it's introduced. In Sara's timeline, there is a group of women who commune with the dead. We learn that Sara's aunt seemed to practice some type of sorcery. There is a ring that plays a small part throughout the book but we never really know what part it really plays in the events in the book. Still, I was very interested in finding out what happened to Gerty, Sara's daughter, and all the mysterious things happening in the surrounding area of West Hall. Sadly, once we start getting answers, I'm flummoxed by all the bad decisions and choices that have led to the present day events. Really, by the end of the book, my favorite character is Ruthie's nineteen year old mechanic, artist boyfriend who disappears from the book about halfway through. Everyone else just makes the least common sense decisions ever although I'll give six year old Fern a pass. Actually, I think I'd let Fern run the show among the group of women on hand, by the end of the book.
Pub February 11, 2014
March 10, 2014
Seriously people..these characters need to read more Stephen King. If they had read "Pet Sematary" they would have known that you just don't mess around trying to bring back the dead.
Granted, Mr. King wasn't around writing in the 1800's that some parts of this book took place.
I liked the older bits of the story more than the present day setting. One reason is because Ruthie really did not come across as realistic to me. I mean damn-a 19 year old girl with a curfew? Several things she did and especially the ending and I was like?? WTF??
The book was a pretty good spooky read. When I went to bed last night I really did want to get up and continue the book.
Granted, Mr. King wasn't around writing in the 1800's that some parts of this book took place.
I liked the older bits of the story more than the present day setting. One reason is because Ruthie really did not come across as realistic to me. I mean damn-a 19 year old girl with a curfew? Several things she did and especially the ending and I was like?? WTF??
The book was a pretty good spooky read. When I went to bed last night I really did want to get up and continue the book.
November 3, 2016
This is the quintessential Halloween read. It checks all of the required boxes - spooky, atmospheric, dark, eerie and full of old legends.
West Hall, Vermont is a little town with big history. There's no doubt in my mind, I would have hightailed it out of there; forget about uncovering the truth. I've watched way too many horror movies to be nosing around the woods or some creepy town looking for answers.
There’s a local legend surrounding a rock formation, a desolate farmhouse and a woman that went mad after the death of her daughter. Sara claimed that by following a secret set of instructions passed down to her from Auntie, she was able to bring her little Gertie back. Even though everyone at the time thought Sara was crazy, a series of her diary entries were found and later published, sans the instructions, making them highly sought after.
“The dead never really leave us.”
The story flips between Sara’s story, the majority of which takes place in 1908, and the present day, told from the perspective of two different women - Ruthie and Katherine. Ruthie is desperate to find her missing mother and Katherine is looking for answers about her dead husband's visit to West Hall. There are a lot of mysterious happenings and moving parts, but the author manages to connect the pieces in such an interesting way. She tells Sara’s story, all while leading up to the truth regarding the legend and how that has shaped the reality Ruthie and Katherine are now living.
Woven within the mystery of the story is this quandary - what lengths would you go to for a little bit more time with the ones you’ve loved and lost? Would you make the decision in haste or would you seriously consider the consequences? It's a tough choice. One that's likely to be guided by selfish desires and heartache.
I have to say, I was pretty impressed with this book. I wasn’t sure what to expect, given this was my first Jennifer McMahon, but wow; it turned out to be a totally immersive storyline and pretty great writing. I tend to have mixed feelings about books that end this way, but in this case, I kind of liked the open feel, especially regarding Katherine and the reckless decision she made.
West Hall, Vermont is a little town with big history. There's no doubt in my mind, I would have hightailed it out of there; forget about uncovering the truth. I've watched way too many horror movies to be nosing around the woods or some creepy town looking for answers.
There’s a local legend surrounding a rock formation, a desolate farmhouse and a woman that went mad after the death of her daughter. Sara claimed that by following a secret set of instructions passed down to her from Auntie, she was able to bring her little Gertie back. Even though everyone at the time thought Sara was crazy, a series of her diary entries were found and later published, sans the instructions, making them highly sought after.
“The dead never really leave us.”
The story flips between Sara’s story, the majority of which takes place in 1908, and the present day, told from the perspective of two different women - Ruthie and Katherine. Ruthie is desperate to find her missing mother and Katherine is looking for answers about her dead husband's visit to West Hall. There are a lot of mysterious happenings and moving parts, but the author manages to connect the pieces in such an interesting way. She tells Sara’s story, all while leading up to the truth regarding the legend and how that has shaped the reality Ruthie and Katherine are now living.
Woven within the mystery of the story is this quandary - what lengths would you go to for a little bit more time with the ones you’ve loved and lost? Would you make the decision in haste or would you seriously consider the consequences? It's a tough choice. One that's likely to be guided by selfish desires and heartache.
I have to say, I was pretty impressed with this book. I wasn’t sure what to expect, given this was my first Jennifer McMahon, but wow; it turned out to be a totally immersive storyline and pretty great writing. I tend to have mixed feelings about books that end this way, but in this case, I kind of liked the open feel, especially regarding Katherine and the reckless decision she made.
May 7, 2021
Wow! This was gripping!
I had no idea it would be such a suspenseful read. I had so much fun binge-reading it! I was drawn in from the first page. I kept trying to figure out how everything and everyone would be connected. The plot was more complex than I was expecting! It was the perfect mix of mystery and supernatural and the eerie winter atmosphere was perfectly described.
I absolutely loved The Drowning Kind, so I knew I had to read The Winter People sooner than later. I got a copy from the library in February... and only read it three months later! I always wait for the right time to read each book of my TBR. How do I know what time is right? Reader instinct! I was in a reading slump when I finally picked this one and, thanks to Mcmahon, I'm now back on track!
Little anecdote: it was impossible for me to picture Lucius with another face than Lucius Malefoy's haha!!
4.5 rounded up
I had no idea it would be such a suspenseful read. I had so much fun binge-reading it! I was drawn in from the first page. I kept trying to figure out how everything and everyone would be connected. The plot was more complex than I was expecting! It was the perfect mix of mystery and supernatural and the eerie winter atmosphere was perfectly described.
I absolutely loved The Drowning Kind, so I knew I had to read The Winter People sooner than later. I got a copy from the library in February... and only read it three months later! I always wait for the right time to read each book of my TBR. How do I know what time is right? Reader instinct! I was in a reading slump when I finally picked this one and, thanks to Mcmahon, I'm now back on track!
Little anecdote: it was impossible for me to picture Lucius with another face than Lucius Malefoy's haha!!
4.5 rounded up
January 12, 2021
First 5 star book of 2021!!!
I loved this book so much, I'm obsessed. This book has MAJOR Pet Semetary vibes, dare I say I even enjoyed this book more than Pet Semetary. This book has two timelines, one in 1908 and one in the present day. We are following characters who are in this small town where people are going missing and there's no reason for it, the small town suspects something strange is happening, like alien abduction, they don't know what it is but they can't explain it.
I LOVED THIS BOOK. It has the best spooky winter vibes. The idea of this house covered in snow next to the woods, it had the best vibe. We follow a family in 1908 whose young daughter goes missing, and then in the present day we follow from the POV of a teenage girl Ruthie and her mom goes missing. I was 100% invested in BOTH timelines and I was absolutely obsessed with the mystery and with the plot in general. It was so well-written, so thought out, and I gave a shit about all the characters.
Here's the reading vlog where I fangirled over this book, this was the first book I read for Winterween and I'm so glad I did: https://youtu.be/ghozh16P12c
I loved this book so much, I'm obsessed. This book has MAJOR Pet Semetary vibes, dare I say I even enjoyed this book more than Pet Semetary. This book has two timelines, one in 1908 and one in the present day. We are following characters who are in this small town where people are going missing and there's no reason for it, the small town suspects something strange is happening, like alien abduction, they don't know what it is but they can't explain it.
I LOVED THIS BOOK. It has the best spooky winter vibes. The idea of this house covered in snow next to the woods, it had the best vibe. We follow a family in 1908 whose young daughter goes missing, and then in the present day we follow from the POV of a teenage girl Ruthie and her mom goes missing. I was 100% invested in BOTH timelines and I was absolutely obsessed with the mystery and with the plot in general. It was so well-written, so thought out, and I gave a shit about all the characters.
Here's the reading vlog where I fangirled over this book, this was the first book I read for Winterween and I'm so glad I did: https://youtu.be/ghozh16P12c
February 11, 2023
I wanted to read this book ever since I finished "The Invited". Since then I thought "The Winter People" will be my next book. Alas, every year since McMahon's new releases caught my attention, I constantly push this one back.
I enjoyed the 1908 story, told through a found diary of Sara Harrison Shea. West Hall is a small town in Vermont where a young daughter, Gertie, and her mother Sara were found dead months apart. The body was found in the field on their property but it was never solved.
Today, Alice and her two daughters live in that farmhouse. Alice disappeared without a trace one morning, thus the search and the found diary.
The story flips back and forth between the two times that gave me chills not necessarily scary. I do love old legends and such. My mediocre rating reflects the current timeline that I didn't like as much as the past and also the conclusion. It's not a bad story but I love "The Invited" and "The Drowning Kind" a lot more.
I enjoyed the 1908 story, told through a found diary of Sara Harrison Shea. West Hall is a small town in Vermont where a young daughter, Gertie, and her mother Sara were found dead months apart. The body was found in the field on their property but it was never solved.
Today, Alice and her two daughters live in that farmhouse. Alice disappeared without a trace one morning, thus the search and the found diary.
The story flips back and forth between the two times that gave me chills not necessarily scary. I do love old legends and such. My mediocre rating reflects the current timeline that I didn't like as much as the past and also the conclusion. It's not a bad story but I love "The Invited" and "The Drowning Kind" a lot more.
November 30, 2013
Every once in a while you're just in the mood for a good ghost story. A story that involves a small town desperately trying to keep its secrets, myths, and folklore hidden. These type of stories are always set in remote areas where they breed new life with every passing generation. These myths become fantastical whereas aspects of the truth are distorted to make an even more engrossing tale of why there are "sleepers" roaming the forrests.
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon is gripping novel about a small town in Vermont, West Hall, where people disappear and farm animals to be slaughtered. No one knows where these people go or why these animals are killed. Many would love to believe some have just escaped the mundane that is life in this meager community, but others know the truth... or at least the legend of Sara Harrison Shea.
Because I loved every page of this book I'll leave my summary there and move on to how well it is written. Jennifer McMahon's writing is descriptive and compelling. Although there is no moment I actually felt afraid, this is definitely a dark novel that explores the relationship we living have with the dead. Although the novel turns into a sort-of thriller near the end, where the present day characters are trying to sort between the fact and fiction, The Winter People never becomes hokey or unbelieveable. Pretty hard to imagine when much of the novel deals with the paranormal, huh?
The Winter People is told between the pages of Sara Shea Harrison's diary, the days leading to her legend in 1908, and present day. These transitions are fluid nor slow despite the attention to detail given with setting and character development. At times I found Sara's diary more interesting than the characters from the present day but that's because the bulk of the ghost story happens in the early 1900s.
Yes, I loved this book and could not put it down but it did not come without flaws. The most annoying part of this novel was the main character Ruthie. She's from the present day section of the novel. Ruthie comes home expecting her mother to berate her for coming home past curfew, despite bing 19 years old, and instead finds an empty house that's only occupant is her young sister Fawn. From the beginning she's skeptical and wonders where her mother is. Although, they live completely off the grid, the mother goes missing for what seems like days and the idea to call the cops is touted as being not an option. How far off the grid does life have to become in order to call in reinforcements? I'm sorry but in a town where people disappear and legends never die, I am calling the cops as soon as I see something's askew.
There's one huge glaring theme that comes to play in this novel which is completely relevant because of it being a ghost story of sorts. Our relationship with the dead is always an interesting one. We have the people who are so invested in seeing their loved ones again and will do anything to see them again if only for a few seconds or even seven days. The only problem is that these dead may come back being something we don't want around. If Snow melts down to water, does it still remember being snow? I couldn't get this out of my head after seeing it on the pages. Who are these sleepers that are awakened and what if they aren't who they once were? Are they still as beloved?
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon was a great read and has me very interested in seeing what other books of hers I can get my hands on. Awesome setting, well drawn characters, and ghosts. GHOSTS I tell ya! What's not to love about that?
Copy provided by Doubleday via Netgalley
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon is gripping novel about a small town in Vermont, West Hall, where people disappear and farm animals to be slaughtered. No one knows where these people go or why these animals are killed. Many would love to believe some have just escaped the mundane that is life in this meager community, but others know the truth... or at least the legend of Sara Harrison Shea.
Because I loved every page of this book I'll leave my summary there and move on to how well it is written. Jennifer McMahon's writing is descriptive and compelling. Although there is no moment I actually felt afraid, this is definitely a dark novel that explores the relationship we living have with the dead. Although the novel turns into a sort-of thriller near the end, where the present day characters are trying to sort between the fact and fiction, The Winter People never becomes hokey or unbelieveable. Pretty hard to imagine when much of the novel deals with the paranormal, huh?
The Winter People is told between the pages of Sara Shea Harrison's diary, the days leading to her legend in 1908, and present day. These transitions are fluid nor slow despite the attention to detail given with setting and character development. At times I found Sara's diary more interesting than the characters from the present day but that's because the bulk of the ghost story happens in the early 1900s.
Yes, I loved this book and could not put it down but it did not come without flaws. The most annoying part of this novel was the main character Ruthie. She's from the present day section of the novel. Ruthie comes home expecting her mother to berate her for coming home past curfew, despite bing 19 years old, and instead finds an empty house that's only occupant is her young sister Fawn. From the beginning she's skeptical and wonders where her mother is. Although, they live completely off the grid, the mother goes missing for what seems like days and the idea to call the cops is touted as being not an option. How far off the grid does life have to become in order to call in reinforcements? I'm sorry but in a town where people disappear and legends never die, I am calling the cops as soon as I see something's askew.
There's one huge glaring theme that comes to play in this novel which is completely relevant because of it being a ghost story of sorts. Our relationship with the dead is always an interesting one. We have the people who are so invested in seeing their loved ones again and will do anything to see them again if only for a few seconds or even seven days. The only problem is that these dead may come back being something we don't want around. If Snow melts down to water, does it still remember being snow? I couldn't get this out of my head after seeing it on the pages. Who are these sleepers that are awakened and what if they aren't who they once were? Are they still as beloved?
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon was a great read and has me very interested in seeing what other books of hers I can get my hands on. Awesome setting, well drawn characters, and ghosts. GHOSTS I tell ya! What's not to love about that?
Copy provided by Doubleday via Netgalley
October 15, 2016
Talk about CREEP FACTOR. This book was super spooky. Had a hard time putting it down. Highly recommend!
September 9, 2016
I'm torn about rating this book. I absolutely blew through it--from start to finish in just about a day--both because the narrative is propulsive but also because I wanted to know what was going to happen.
The book is very wonderfully a small-town ghost story, told from multiple points of view from two different eras. You know what sort of monsters you're dealing with almost immediately: "sleepers," or people who have been recalled from the dead by people who miss them. If you are drawing parallels to Stephen King's Pet Semetary, excellent call.
The story is creepiest when you don't really know what's happening. In modern times, two sisters discover that they live in the same house as the legendary Sara Harrison Shea, a woman who lived at the turn of the century before rumored to have been driven mad by the death of her daughter. When their trustworthy mother goes missing with no explanation, and their investigations start to turn up very creepy clues in very scary hiding places, the story is riveting.
Ultimately, though, I was let down by the series of reveals at the end.
But do with this what you will: all of the hanging threads left by the ending lead quite tantalizingly to a sequel, maybe set years in the future, which I would pick up and read in a second.
The book is very wonderfully a small-town ghost story, told from multiple points of view from two different eras. You know what sort of monsters you're dealing with almost immediately: "sleepers," or people who have been recalled from the dead by people who miss them. If you are drawing parallels to Stephen King's Pet Semetary, excellent call.
The story is creepiest when you don't really know what's happening. In modern times, two sisters discover that they live in the same house as the legendary Sara Harrison Shea, a woman who lived at the turn of the century before rumored to have been driven mad by the death of her daughter. When their trustworthy mother goes missing with no explanation, and their investigations start to turn up very creepy clues in very scary hiding places, the story is riveting.
Ultimately, though, I was let down by the series of reveals at the end.
But do with this what you will: all of the hanging threads left by the ending lead quite tantalizingly to a sequel, maybe set years in the future, which I would pick up and read in a second.
December 31, 2020
I’m sure we all have a deceased family member or friend who we’d give anything to spend more time with. Sara Harrison Shea did, back when her young daughter, Gertie, died in 1908. It’s tragic that Sara was found dead right behind her house just a few months later.
In the present, 19-year old Ruthie lives with her mom and younger sister...in the house where Sara lived. One morning, Ruthie wakes up to find her mom gone. Vanished. No clues to her whereabouts. When Ruthie and her sister come across a book that contains the diary of Sara Harrison Shea, they begin to look for clues so that they can find out what happened to their mother.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I almost DNF’d this on more than one occasion. There is harm to animals galore in the first 20%, and then spruced throughout. Having finished the book, I understand why it was in the plot...but would’ve preferred another direction. I was also extremely confused by the characters and their actions for 33%. I could barely follow along, and my mind kept wandering.
Having said that, there is a semi-interesting historical ghost story that’s weaved between the rest of the mess. I found that I wanted to see how the different timelines and POVs connected, so I soldiered on. I’m not sure if it was worth it.
If anything, I’m glad I know to stick with author Jennifer McMahon’s newer work. My personal recommendation would be to skip this and read her books, The Invited and The Drowning Kind.
2.5 stars
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
In the present, 19-year old Ruthie lives with her mom and younger sister...in the house where Sara lived. One morning, Ruthie wakes up to find her mom gone. Vanished. No clues to her whereabouts. When Ruthie and her sister come across a book that contains the diary of Sara Harrison Shea, they begin to look for clues so that they can find out what happened to their mother.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I almost DNF’d this on more than one occasion. There is harm to animals galore in the first 20%, and then spruced throughout. Having finished the book, I understand why it was in the plot...but would’ve preferred another direction. I was also extremely confused by the characters and their actions for 33%. I could barely follow along, and my mind kept wandering.
Having said that, there is a semi-interesting historical ghost story that’s weaved between the rest of the mess. I found that I wanted to see how the different timelines and POVs connected, so I soldiered on. I’m not sure if it was worth it.
If anything, I’m glad I know to stick with author Jennifer McMahon’s newer work. My personal recommendation would be to skip this and read her books, The Invited and The Drowning Kind.
2.5 stars
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
July 26, 2017
4 shivering stars! Well that was one heck of a spooky good read!
Why I wanted to read this one……I have read quite a few JENNIFER MCMAHON novels and although it has been a little while since I have read one I do remember really enjoying them so when I found this novel while perusing Overdrive I quickly borrowed it. What initially attracted me to this book was that beautiful cover and I found the title very intriguing as well which definitely enticed me to pick this one up!
Thoughts & what it's all about…
THE WINTER PEOPLE by JENNIFER MCMAHON is a spooky, dark, eerie, and creepy tale that actually gave me the heebie-jeebies and goosebumps while reading this suspense-filled horror/thriller novel. Right from the opening of the very first chapter I was hooked!
The Secret Diary of Sara Harrison Shea - The first time I saw a sleeper, I was nine years old.
JENNIFER MCMAHON delivers a well-written and an extremely atmospheric read here that is told in two separate timelines. One from the past from the perspective of Sara Harrison Shea through diary excerpts and also from the perspective of her husband Martin which takes place mostly in 1908 and present day told from alternating perspectives of Ruthie and Katherine. I enjoyed both timelines equally.
What I liked….I was quite immersed in this tale because I loved the creepy feel, all the characters stories, setting and legends that surrounded the town of West Hall, Vermont and reading about the superstitions surrounding “The Sleepers” was extremely enjoyable to me. I love a good ghost story and this one definitely delivered!
What I didn't like…..The only thing that I didn't like has nothing even to do with this novel. I wish I would have timed this book a little better and read it without having other books on the go. This one definitely would have been a 5 star read for me if the flow of this tale didn't get interrupted. Once I was able to give this book my full attention it gave me exactly what I needed for another enjoyable read!!!
To sum it all up it was a gripping, chilling, thought-provoking, fast-paced, and a solid read with an implicit ending which I found quite satisfying. Would definitely recommend!!
All of Brenda and my reviews can be found on our sister blog:
https://www.twogirlslostinacouleeread...
Why I wanted to read this one……I have read quite a few JENNIFER MCMAHON novels and although it has been a little while since I have read one I do remember really enjoying them so when I found this novel while perusing Overdrive I quickly borrowed it. What initially attracted me to this book was that beautiful cover and I found the title very intriguing as well which definitely enticed me to pick this one up!
Thoughts & what it's all about…
THE WINTER PEOPLE by JENNIFER MCMAHON is a spooky, dark, eerie, and creepy tale that actually gave me the heebie-jeebies and goosebumps while reading this suspense-filled horror/thriller novel. Right from the opening of the very first chapter I was hooked!
The Secret Diary of Sara Harrison Shea - The first time I saw a sleeper, I was nine years old.
JENNIFER MCMAHON delivers a well-written and an extremely atmospheric read here that is told in two separate timelines. One from the past from the perspective of Sara Harrison Shea through diary excerpts and also from the perspective of her husband Martin which takes place mostly in 1908 and present day told from alternating perspectives of Ruthie and Katherine. I enjoyed both timelines equally.
What I liked….I was quite immersed in this tale because I loved the creepy feel, all the characters stories, setting and legends that surrounded the town of West Hall, Vermont and reading about the superstitions surrounding “The Sleepers” was extremely enjoyable to me. I love a good ghost story and this one definitely delivered!
What I didn't like…..The only thing that I didn't like has nothing even to do with this novel. I wish I would have timed this book a little better and read it without having other books on the go. This one definitely would have been a 5 star read for me if the flow of this tale didn't get interrupted. Once I was able to give this book my full attention it gave me exactly what I needed for another enjoyable read!!!
To sum it all up it was a gripping, chilling, thought-provoking, fast-paced, and a solid read with an implicit ending which I found quite satisfying. Would definitely recommend!!
All of Brenda and my reviews can be found on our sister blog:
https://www.twogirlslostinacouleeread...
September 30, 2023
The Winter People is one of the scariest books I have read in a long, long time. Many times I could feel my heart racing and my mouth dropping open. It feels good to read a book that sucks you in and keeps you there until you finish. I checked this out at the library on a Thursday afternoon and here it is Saturday night and I'm done. I'll be passing it off to my mom. Kinda thankful it will be out of my house! Seriously, this story is a dark one.
CW: The Native American representation might be triggering for some
CW: The Native American representation might be triggering for some
February 27, 2015
This is going to be so hard for me to rate. I was really engrossed for much of the story and I was sure I had a solid four-star book in my hands. There were even some five-star worthy scenes. But then it started dipping dangerously into that two-star area... For the most part it was a good, solid, read, but there were just some things I didn't like. At times I wished that the author had gone a different direction and there were two characters in particular that didn't ring true to me when all was said and done. But then JM pulls a pretty solid twist out of the bag at the end that was really well done and not at all cheesy or lame. And I'm not much one for twists lately so if there's a twist and I like it, it really means it's a very good twist. But then something happens at the very end that really let me down. So you see my predicament. Anyway, full review to come once I hammer all this out and arrive at a rating.
Ok, I'm ready-ish to review. And I better do it now before I start forgetting things. There was lots of good. The prose was good. It set a mood. There were sympathetic characters. This story was at its best when there were still lots of questions. JM was able to keep the suspense high for much of the book. My favorite scene was this one: .
But there was some not-so-good. I didn't believe this character:. THIS did not ring true to me AT ALL:. But then JM pulls out this twist that really was a good twisty thing to pull:. However, even after JM pulls me back in a little, she leaves me completely unsatisfied with this truly unsatisfying ending:.
Oh man, you guys, now that I've finally hashed all that out I feel almost like 3 stars is one star too many. But I'll air on the side of generosity and stick with 3. It was a good read for much of the book. JM had me engaged. At least the entire first half of the book was very good. This one is so tough to rate. Depending on how you react to all these ins and outs could dramatically change your rating, because the prose itself is compelling and the story moves quickly. But that's my review and I'm sticking to it. Most likely, I'm sticking to it. Okay, 3 stars. ...yup. 3 stars.
I think.
Ok, I'm ready-ish to review. And I better do it now before I start forgetting things. There was lots of good. The prose was good. It set a mood. There were sympathetic characters. This story was at its best when there were still lots of questions. JM was able to keep the suspense high for much of the book. My favorite scene was this one: .
But there was some not-so-good. I didn't believe this character:. THIS did not ring true to me AT ALL:. But then JM pulls out this twist that really was a good twisty thing to pull:. However, even after JM pulls me back in a little, she leaves me completely unsatisfied with this truly unsatisfying ending:.
Oh man, you guys, now that I've finally hashed all that out I feel almost like 3 stars is one star too many. But I'll air on the side of generosity and stick with 3. It was a good read for much of the book. JM had me engaged. At least the entire first half of the book was very good. This one is so tough to rate. Depending on how you react to all these ins and outs could dramatically change your rating, because the prose itself is compelling and the story moves quickly. But that's my review and I'm sticking to it. Most likely, I'm sticking to it. Okay, 3 stars. ...yup. 3 stars.
I think.
February 14, 2019
The Winter People is a tale about how love can be mangled and twisted into horror. The loss of their beautiful , little girl, Gertie shatters a young couple who have little else to live for. As the mother Sara becomes unhinged with grief, she tries something desperate taught her by her witchlike Auntie, a spell to raise the dead. Men don't seem to to be nearly as strong or cunning as the women in the story and are sort of peripheral characters. Two major twists left me gobsmacked towards the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2022
4.5 Stars - Delightfully Creepy
This story is a perfect read for a cold, stormy winter night. While milder than more serious horror, McMahon weaves together a subtly disturbing story. The atmosphere was so well done.
This story itself is told over two different timelines: the early 1900s and the present. Personally, I preferred the reading the storyline in the past, finding it so much more intriguing than the modern mystery. If the entire story was had taken place in the past, I likely would have rated the novel five stars. I really enjoyed those chapters!
I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a quietly creepy story that will keep you turning pages to see what happens next... way too late into the night.
This story is a perfect read for a cold, stormy winter night. While milder than more serious horror, McMahon weaves together a subtly disturbing story. The atmosphere was so well done.
This story itself is told over two different timelines: the early 1900s and the present. Personally, I preferred the reading the storyline in the past, finding it so much more intriguing than the modern mystery. If the entire story was had taken place in the past, I likely would have rated the novel five stars. I really enjoyed those chapters!
I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a quietly creepy story that will keep you turning pages to see what happens next... way too late into the night.
February 7, 2018
4.5/5 - One aspect of the ending was a tiny letdown, but overall I ADORED this. So unique and unsettling. I'll have a spoiler free video review up next week :)
October 4, 2023
THE WINTER PEOPLE is an expertly crafted, supernatural mystery that will leave a frosty chill deep within your bones.
MY TEASE…
Death was present when Sara Harrison Shea entered the world at a farmhouse in rural West Hall, Vermont. Her mother died during childbirth. From then on, death rarely left Sara’s side. It clung to her like an infant for all the days of her life.
Ordinary people might’ve been driven mad by death’s relentless proximity, but Sara was far from ordinary. In fact, a sorceress had even taught her how to raise the dead and she had penned the incantation into her diary.
More than a century later, the Washburnes live in the same farmhouse and death’s icy grip has threatened to take hold of its residents once again. Ruthie’s mother has gone missing. In search of clues, 19-year-old Ruthie finds Sara’s 1908 diary, hidden in her mother’s bedroom, minus several key pages.
With time running out, can Ruthie find the missing pages, rescue her mother, and satiate death before more lives are lost? And will Ruthie finally realize that her connection to the past is far from ordinary?
THOUGHTS…
THE WINTER PEOPLE is my favorite book thus far in 2023. I love books where the answers to a present day, supernatural mystery can be solved by finding hidden archives from the past. McMahon is an expert in this style of storytelling and THE WINTER PEOPLE is a perfect example.
Consistent with other works I’ve read by this author, McMahon’s writing is impressive! Here are too examples:
“She lay on her back, looked up at the dark sky, the swirling snow that fell down on her like a million falling stars.
And…
“The trees were bent and twisted, the branches weighted down with snow. She felt the trees were watching her, a terrible army that stood in rows and reached for her with gnarled fingers.”
Nice, right? And here are more accolades…
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5+
Main character’s likability: 5
Development of supporting character(s): 5
Settings/Atmosphere: 5+
Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4.5
Believability (in the context of the story): 4
Satisfying ending: 4.5
Tension of the story: 5
Stirs the heart (romantic elements): 4 (The story didn’t have romantic elements, but it did include a love story.)
Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? No!
OVERALL…
I highly recommend THE WINTER PEOPLE. It’s an exceptionally crafted story that will make you shiver with each page turned!
MY TEASE…
Death was present when Sara Harrison Shea entered the world at a farmhouse in rural West Hall, Vermont. Her mother died during childbirth. From then on, death rarely left Sara’s side. It clung to her like an infant for all the days of her life.
Ordinary people might’ve been driven mad by death’s relentless proximity, but Sara was far from ordinary. In fact, a sorceress had even taught her how to raise the dead and she had penned the incantation into her diary.
More than a century later, the Washburnes live in the same farmhouse and death’s icy grip has threatened to take hold of its residents once again. Ruthie’s mother has gone missing. In search of clues, 19-year-old Ruthie finds Sara’s 1908 diary, hidden in her mother’s bedroom, minus several key pages.
With time running out, can Ruthie find the missing pages, rescue her mother, and satiate death before more lives are lost? And will Ruthie finally realize that her connection to the past is far from ordinary?
THOUGHTS…
THE WINTER PEOPLE is my favorite book thus far in 2023. I love books where the answers to a present day, supernatural mystery can be solved by finding hidden archives from the past. McMahon is an expert in this style of storytelling and THE WINTER PEOPLE is a perfect example.
Consistent with other works I’ve read by this author, McMahon’s writing is impressive! Here are too examples:
“She lay on her back, looked up at the dark sky, the swirling snow that fell down on her like a million falling stars.
And…
“The trees were bent and twisted, the branches weighted down with snow. She felt the trees were watching her, a terrible army that stood in rows and reached for her with gnarled fingers.”
Nice, right? And here are more accolades…
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5+
Main character’s likability: 5
Development of supporting character(s): 5
Settings/Atmosphere: 5+
Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4.5
Believability (in the context of the story): 4
Satisfying ending: 4.5
Tension of the story: 5
Stirs the heart (romantic elements): 4 (The story didn’t have romantic elements, but it did include a love story.)
Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? No!
OVERALL…
I highly recommend THE WINTER PEOPLE. It’s an exceptionally crafted story that will make you shiver with each page turned!
June 7, 2021
3.5 stars.
Atmospheric. Suspenseful. Eerie.
After reading and loving this authors latest release, The Drowning Kind, I immediately wanted to get my hands on her backlist. This was a unique and engrossing story with a large supernatural aspect.
Supernatural is a hit or miss for me. This author has such a magical way with words, that her supernatural elements totally work for me. I can clearly envision her characters, atmosphere and storyline even with the ghost-y aspects.
This book was told through a Past and Present timeline which included old diary entries. I loved this format but did find that the Past timeline was more intriguing and tension-filled. At times, I found myself confused between what happened during each time period, but I was able to sort the details out. A few of the elements in the second half of the Present timeline didn’t quite work for me, but I was able to roll with it.
I truly enjoyed being wrapped up in this highly atmospheric ghost-y story. I look forward to reading more of her backlist! Thank you to my lovely local library for the loan of this book!
Atmospheric. Suspenseful. Eerie.
After reading and loving this authors latest release, The Drowning Kind, I immediately wanted to get my hands on her backlist. This was a unique and engrossing story with a large supernatural aspect.
Supernatural is a hit or miss for me. This author has such a magical way with words, that her supernatural elements totally work for me. I can clearly envision her characters, atmosphere and storyline even with the ghost-y aspects.
This book was told through a Past and Present timeline which included old diary entries. I loved this format but did find that the Past timeline was more intriguing and tension-filled. At times, I found myself confused between what happened during each time period, but I was able to sort the details out. A few of the elements in the second half of the Present timeline didn’t quite work for me, but I was able to roll with it.
I truly enjoyed being wrapped up in this highly atmospheric ghost-y story. I look forward to reading more of her backlist! Thank you to my lovely local library for the loan of this book!
August 28, 2020
Two stories, happening about 100 years apart, told in parallel - and that’s not all they have in common. A good ghost story - won’t scare you, subtle chills - overall well written, I thought.
February 4, 2024
The Winter People is historical horror at its best. 4.5 stars. It checked all of my boxes. Two timelines. Native American aspect. Emotional impact. Supernatural element. Ancient stone formation.
I’m fascinated by strange and unexplained phenomena-Stone Henge, the Disappearance at Roanoke Colony, and the Bermuda Triangle. I love New England folklore and superstition. The reader is aware of these elements throughout The Winter People. There are some great twists and there’s also a nod to Stephen King.
This is my first Jennifer McMahon book and it was a great reading experience. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
I’m fascinated by strange and unexplained phenomena-Stone Henge, the Disappearance at Roanoke Colony, and the Bermuda Triangle. I love New England folklore and superstition. The reader is aware of these elements throughout The Winter People. There are some great twists and there’s also a nod to Stephen King.
This is my first Jennifer McMahon book and it was a great reading experience. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
February 6, 2014
Beautiful cover, enticing title especially with the winter we are having. Hooked me from the very beginning, two young girls, Ruth and Fern, wonderful inquisitive characters, really wanted to find out what happened. Built of suspense, a little creepiness, exactly what is going on in this town and where has their mother gone? What about the dreams Ruth keeps having, what are they supposed to mean? Really wanted to know, kept reading and then plunk. Even in a book about the impossible, or so I hope, some of these characters performed very questionably. Ways that kind of dropped the suspense like a bowling ball.
I always look forward to this author's books. She writes so many different things and does it well. But in this one, I just could not get over some of the improbables and while I enjoyed getting there , did not like the ending. Did not like the way she chose to reveal what was gong on, just had a corny aspect to me. Don;t get me wrong, this is a good read. I just expected a little more.
I always look forward to this author's books. She writes so many different things and does it well. But in this one, I just could not get over some of the improbables and while I enjoyed getting there , did not like the ending. Did not like the way she chose to reveal what was gong on, just had a corny aspect to me. Don;t get me wrong, this is a good read. I just expected a little more.
February 20, 2014
Silly me. I believed all the hype and was expecting a real chiller of a ghost story. What I got was an inane tale rife with clueless characters. Knuckleheads who opt to take a 5-hour drive to check out a completely iffy lead instead of doing a simple Google search. Who lack all common sense (Uh oh, these papers need to be destroyed or they could alter the fate of all mankind. Let’s keep them in one piece and toss them into this old dry well.) Stephen King already wrote the definitive piece on this subject. Do yourself a favor and swap out your copy of The Winter People for Pet Sematary.
August 29, 2018
West Hall, Vermont 1908. Sara Harrison Shea is found dead in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter. She has been acted weirdly since then and her death is horrifying.
In the present day is nineteen-year-old Ruthie living in Sara's old farmhouse with her mother Alice and her younger sister. They have always lived a very simple life, farming what they need staying away from the modern world as much as possible. When Alice comes home late one night can she see that the little farmhouse is lit and that her mother is probably waiting for her. But, when she comes in she notices that the even though the kitchen is lit, her mother isn't there. Thinking that her mother has gone to bed she shrugs it off and goes to sleep in her room. But, the next day her little sister wakes her up and tells her that mom isn't in the bedroom. They search for clues in the house to find out what has happened to their mother and it is during the search that they discover a paperback version of Sara Harrison Shea diary...
Have you ever read a book that sucks you into the story from page one? The Winter people did that to me. I just couldn't stop reading the book. Both the present and the past story was both very interesting and I loved how the mystery slowly unraveled itself. It's not really a terrifying book, but it's engrossing and I found myself totally drawn into the mystery of Alice's disappearance and what it had to do with Sara Harrison Shea.
I also completely loved the paranormal part of the book, the legend that you can wake up a loved one from the dead and how that legend plays a part in this story. Ruthie is a wonderful character, and as much as I enjoyed reading the past story with Sara was I a bit more interested in Ruthie's search for her mother. But, I guess that's because there is so much going on in the present, things that she learns about herself in the search, why they live as they do and also because in the present we learn the consequence of the past events in 1908.
The book is great, one of the best I have read this year. It's a perfect read if you want an interesting story, not too terrifying, more poignant, but still a dark story.
In the present day is nineteen-year-old Ruthie living in Sara's old farmhouse with her mother Alice and her younger sister. They have always lived a very simple life, farming what they need staying away from the modern world as much as possible. When Alice comes home late one night can she see that the little farmhouse is lit and that her mother is probably waiting for her. But, when she comes in she notices that the even though the kitchen is lit, her mother isn't there. Thinking that her mother has gone to bed she shrugs it off and goes to sleep in her room. But, the next day her little sister wakes her up and tells her that mom isn't in the bedroom. They search for clues in the house to find out what has happened to their mother and it is during the search that they discover a paperback version of Sara Harrison Shea diary...
Have you ever read a book that sucks you into the story from page one? The Winter people did that to me. I just couldn't stop reading the book. Both the present and the past story was both very interesting and I loved how the mystery slowly unraveled itself. It's not really a terrifying book, but it's engrossing and I found myself totally drawn into the mystery of Alice's disappearance and what it had to do with Sara Harrison Shea.
I also completely loved the paranormal part of the book, the legend that you can wake up a loved one from the dead and how that legend plays a part in this story. Ruthie is a wonderful character, and as much as I enjoyed reading the past story with Sara was I a bit more interested in Ruthie's search for her mother. But, I guess that's because there is so much going on in the present, things that she learns about herself in the search, why they live as they do and also because in the present we learn the consequence of the past events in 1908.
The book is great, one of the best I have read this year. It's a perfect read if you want an interesting story, not too terrifying, more poignant, but still a dark story.
November 13, 2021
3.5 stars RTC
January 10, 2020
This is my second book by this author and once again it is a mystery thriller / ghost story. For those interested in a direct comparison, *here* is my review for the other book. However, I have to admit that this one was creepier for me.
Just like in the first book, we get different timelines that spiral towards one another, circling closer and closer until we get to the center of it all, the resolution.
The core of this story is a small town in Vermont where there have been numerous weird deaths and disappearances over the decades. As far as we know, it all started back in 1908 (our first POV) with Sarah. She grew up with Auntie, a women who isn‘t really related to her but teaches her a lot about the natural world around her and, supposedly, also magic. Many years later, Sarah suffers multiple miscarriages. As if that wasn’t enough, the one child that does survive, a daughter, dies in a tragic accident that might or might not have been a murder. What would you do to get back the one person you loved most in the world? Strangely enough, only a short while later, Sarah herself either dies or is killed.
Or so the legend goes.
One day, in our present, Ruthie‘s and Fawn’s mother vanishes. The connection to Sarah? They live in her old farmhouse. While trying to find their mother, they uncover Sarah’s diary and some other peculiar objects that don’t bode well.
And then there is the photographer that went missing in this little town. Is there a connection to the past? Of course there is, but what it is is what you have to find out for yourselves.
Good luck.
This book had the very nice feature of making me question everything and everyone. I didn’t trust anybody here. *lol* And the usually cold and snow-covered landscape didn’t actually help with the growing sense of unease. Is there a supernatural element? Is it some crazy person playing a very long and sinister game? There was just no telling and I very much enjoyed the sensation of being creeped out constantly.
I like how the author took her time to set up all POVs and thus let the reader explore the private lives of these people. Because in order to judge, we need to be able to identify with them at least a little bit. Me? I know my answer to What wouldn’t you do?! but outside factors do play an important role, of course.
The writing was flowing very nicely in this one, the change in POVs timed perfectly (without getting on your nerves) and the landscape the author painted with her words was appropriately eerie. The historical as well as the contemporary settings were very lively, too, and while I didn’t love every character in the book (we’re also not meant to), I did feel for a surprising number of them.
I had different theories throughout, whenever we got some more information, but I’m pleased to report that I wasn’t able to figure the whole thing out until relatively close to the end (yes, that kind of thing is important for me).
A highly atmospheric tale about the bonds we form with others and of the price we are or aren’t willing to pay for that special person.
Edit: After some consideration and discussion with my buddy-reader, I have to admit that the ending was ... very generic. Thus, I had to change my rating.
Just like in the first book, we get different timelines that spiral towards one another, circling closer and closer until we get to the center of it all, the resolution.
The core of this story is a small town in Vermont where there have been numerous weird deaths and disappearances over the decades. As far as we know, it all started back in 1908 (our first POV) with Sarah. She grew up with Auntie, a women who isn‘t really related to her but teaches her a lot about the natural world around her and, supposedly, also magic. Many years later, Sarah suffers multiple miscarriages. As if that wasn’t enough, the one child that does survive, a daughter, dies in a tragic accident that might or might not have been a murder. What would you do to get back the one person you loved most in the world? Strangely enough, only a short while later, Sarah herself either dies or is killed.
Or so the legend goes.
One day, in our present, Ruthie‘s and Fawn’s mother vanishes. The connection to Sarah? They live in her old farmhouse. While trying to find their mother, they uncover Sarah’s diary and some other peculiar objects that don’t bode well.
And then there is the photographer that went missing in this little town. Is there a connection to the past? Of course there is, but what it is is what you have to find out for yourselves.
Good luck.
This book had the very nice feature of making me question everything and everyone. I didn’t trust anybody here. *lol* And the usually cold and snow-covered landscape didn’t actually help with the growing sense of unease. Is there a supernatural element? Is it some crazy person playing a very long and sinister game? There was just no telling and I very much enjoyed the sensation of being creeped out constantly.
I like how the author took her time to set up all POVs and thus let the reader explore the private lives of these people. Because in order to judge, we need to be able to identify with them at least a little bit. Me? I know my answer to What wouldn’t you do?! but outside factors do play an important role, of course.
The writing was flowing very nicely in this one, the change in POVs timed perfectly (without getting on your nerves) and the landscape the author painted with her words was appropriately eerie. The historical as well as the contemporary settings were very lively, too, and while I didn’t love every character in the book (we’re also not meant to), I did feel for a surprising number of them.
I had different theories throughout, whenever we got some more information, but I’m pleased to report that I wasn’t able to figure the whole thing out until relatively close to the end (yes, that kind of thing is important for me).
A highly atmospheric tale about the bonds we form with others and of the price we are or aren’t willing to pay for that special person.
Edit: After some consideration and discussion with my buddy-reader, I have to admit that the ending was ... very generic. Thus, I had to change my rating.
February 19, 2018
"Tell me, Auntie, please," I begged, "can the dead come back?"
I had a snow day off from work a few weeks ago, and I spent the entire day reading this novel. It's one of those books that had me completely mesmerized at the time, but now that many days have past, I keep wondering . . . was it really that good, or was the wintry, chilling atmosphere helped along by the fact that there were inches of white stuff piling up against my door as I read?
It was when she was on her way back out of the clearing that she noticed it: her father's boot prints in the mud, impressions of the last steps he would ever take. But there, beside them, was another set of tracks, much smaller.
I don't know. That bit still makes the hairs on my arms stand straight up.
From The Monkey's Paw to Pet Sematary, the idea of a grief-stricken parent giving almost anything to have a dead child back again always provides rich fodder for literary exploration. Invariably, any attempts to reanimate the dead bring nothing but catastrophe, and even more suffering. This story offers no exception to that rule.
The action here flits back and forth between the diary of a grieving mother in 1908, and the present day, where the mother of two girls has gone missing. This normally drives me nuts as one of the storylines is usually much more compelling than the other, but in this case, I found both tales to be quite involving. The ending? Eh. It's a wee bit implausible, and over-the-top, but it really didn't affect my enjoyment of the book, which was a creepy, and spell-binding read. But, perhaps it is best saved for a cold, gray day when the temperatures plummet, and the snowflakes are flying.
"He took me to see a lady with tangled hair who lives inside an old hollow tree. She's been dead a long time. She's one of the winter people."
I felt Mama stiffen. "Winter people?"
"That's what I call them," I say, turning to face her. "The people who are stuck between here and there, waiting. It reminds me of winter, how everything is pale and cold and full of nothing, and all you can do is wait for spring."
She looks at me real funny. Worried-like.
"It's all right, Mama. The lady I met isn't one of the bad ones."
I had a snow day off from work a few weeks ago, and I spent the entire day reading this novel. It's one of those books that had me completely mesmerized at the time, but now that many days have past, I keep wondering . . . was it really that good, or was the wintry, chilling atmosphere helped along by the fact that there were inches of white stuff piling up against my door as I read?
It was when she was on her way back out of the clearing that she noticed it: her father's boot prints in the mud, impressions of the last steps he would ever take. But there, beside them, was another set of tracks, much smaller.
I don't know. That bit still makes the hairs on my arms stand straight up.
From The Monkey's Paw to Pet Sematary, the idea of a grief-stricken parent giving almost anything to have a dead child back again always provides rich fodder for literary exploration. Invariably, any attempts to reanimate the dead bring nothing but catastrophe, and even more suffering. This story offers no exception to that rule.
The action here flits back and forth between the diary of a grieving mother in 1908, and the present day, where the mother of two girls has gone missing. This normally drives me nuts as one of the storylines is usually much more compelling than the other, but in this case, I found both tales to be quite involving. The ending? Eh. It's a wee bit implausible, and over-the-top, but it really didn't affect my enjoyment of the book, which was a creepy, and spell-binding read. But, perhaps it is best saved for a cold, gray day when the temperatures plummet, and the snowflakes are flying.
"He took me to see a lady with tangled hair who lives inside an old hollow tree. She's been dead a long time. She's one of the winter people."
I felt Mama stiffen. "Winter people?"
"That's what I call them," I say, turning to face her. "The people who are stuck between here and there, waiting. It reminds me of winter, how everything is pale and cold and full of nothing, and all you can do is wait for spring."
She looks at me real funny. Worried-like.
"It's all right, Mama. The lady I met isn't one of the bad ones."
June 12, 2014
Deep in the Vermont woods in West Hall, one can find the Devil's Hand, a conglomeration of rocks that resemble the fingers on a very large hand. Nearby, there is an orchard that produces bitter malformed fruit. In West Hall, there are a lot of ghost stories and legends, albeit with very few solid facts to back up the frightening tales of children gone missing.
This is a fine ghost story, deftly weaving mysterious happenings between 1908 and present day. With a focus on the power the dead have over the living, it maintains an appropriately eerie tone without going overboard.
This was loaned to me from a Goodreads buddy who won it in a giveaway. Most enjoyable, thank you!
This is a fine ghost story, deftly weaving mysterious happenings between 1908 and present day. With a focus on the power the dead have over the living, it maintains an appropriately eerie tone without going overboard.
This was loaned to me from a Goodreads buddy who won it in a giveaway. Most enjoyable, thank you!
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