| It’s
1924 in England, and twenty-two year old Jillian Leigh
is a student at Oxford when she is informed by the family
solicitor that her Uncle Toby has died in a fall from
a cliff. Her parents are out of the country and ask
Jillian to travel to Devonshire to identify the body,
then to Rothewell to collect Toby’s belongings.
Toby was estranged from the family for almost eight
years, and Jillian suspects it’s because of his
profession, for Toby is a ghost hunter.
After Jillian arrives in Rothewell and identifies her
uncle’s body, she stays in the cottage Toby rented,
one previously owned and now supposedly haunted by John
Barrow’s ghost. Jillian begins to gather her uncle’s
possessions, and finds his pocket watch and book about
ghostly visitations. Soon strange events occur and she
fears the cottage is truly haunted.
Then Jillian meets handsome ex-RAF pilot and current
Scotland Yard Inspector, Drew Merriken, who has a mystery
of his own. Unraveling that mystery along with Jillian
was enjoyable. As Jillian and Drew are drawn to each
other, they agree that Toby’s death might be murder,
and when the ghostly hauntings become terrifying, Jillian
fears for her life.
An Inquiry into Love and Death is Simone St.
James’ second ghostly mystery, and judging from
this book, I’ll definitely read her first release.
Ms. St. James is a wonderful author and has written
an exciting page-turner with eerily atmospheric elements
that makes for a truly suspenseful and chilling ghost
story. Great characters, an outstanding plot and a solid
mystery made this a winner for me. As a lover of history,
mystery and romance, I couldn’t put this book
down. Simone St. James’s writing is reminiscent
of Agatha Christie at her best. A definite must read.
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