Dual-Timeline/Romantic Suspense Book Review: The Lady in Residence

About the Book

Book:  The Lady in Residence 

Series: Doors to the Past 

Author: Allison Pittman 

Genre: Dual-Timeline/Romantic Suspense 

Publisher: Barbour Fiction 

Release Date: February 1, 2021

Click here to purchase a copy of this novel.

Publisher's Book Description

“Can a Legacy of Sadness be Broken at the Menger Hotel? 

Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance. 

Young widow Hedda Krause checks into the Menger Hotel in 1915 with a trunk full of dresses, a case full of jewels, and enough cash to pay for a two-month stay, which she hopes will be long enough to meet, charm, and attach herself to a new, rich husband. Her plans are derailed when a ghostly apparition lures her into a long, dark hallway, and Hedda returns to her room to find her precious jewelry has been stolen. She falls immediately under a cloud of suspicion with her haunting tale, but true ghost enthusiasts bring her expensive pieces of jewelry in an attempt to lure the ghost to appear again. 

In 2017, Dini Blackstone is a fifth-generation magician, who performs at private parties, but she also gives ghost walk tours, narrating the more tragic historical events of San Antonio with familial affection. Above all, her favorite is the tale of Hedda Krause who, in Dini’s estimation, succeeded in perpetrating the world’s longest con, dying old and wealthy from her ghost story. But then Dini meets Quinn Carmichael, great-great-grandson of the detective who originally investigated Hedda’s case, who’s come to the Alamo City with a box full of clues that might lead to Hedda’s exoneration. Can Dini see another side of the story that is worthy of God’s grace?”

My Review

The Lady in Residence, by Allison Pittman, is dual-timeline fiction at its absolute finest. Truly riveting and delightfully eerie, this well-written novel cleverly combines events of the present with mysterious events of the past to tell a story that is altogether gripping, genuinely thoughtful, and utterly memorable. Page after page, the strong temptation to keep reading, to keep uncovering more clues, to piece together the puzzling circumstances, to make sense of the unsettling and the unexplainable is nearly impossible to overcome.  

 

With excellent pacing, important details are carefully revealed, as the seams of a one-hundred-year-old mystery begin to unravel, revealing truths that have long been hidden. The intricate plot is thoroughly engrossing as it flows effortlessly between two points in time while also weaving together scenes of loss, suspense, fear, romance, friendship, hope, and redemption. The well-researched details, immersive settings, complex characters, and captivating descriptions ensure that every moment spent reading this novel is a moving experience to be savored and enjoyed.  
 

Ms. Pittman’s talent as an author is undeniable, and her writing often appears effortless. From the first word to the last, she welcomes the reader into a world that is raw and real, relevant and redemptive. The Lady in Residence is an incredibly fascinating novel from start to finish. The absorbing mystery and thrilling suspense are intensely satisfying. I eagerly recommend it. 

 

*I received a copy of this novel from the author. A review was not required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.

About the Author: Allison Pittman 

“As far as I know, I have always been a writer. Before I could put words to page, I would dictate stories to my mother. I have always lulled myself to sleep by crafting stories--a new chapter each night. When God called me to write, I was thrilled to answer His prompting. And so it was, after a long conversation with my husband, I left a 20-year teaching career to pursue a new direction. It called for a HUGE step of faith, but God has kept me and our family safe. 
 
I count every single one of my readers as one of God's blessings in my life, and I like to think of my stories as being the first step in a conversation.” --Biography from Allison Pittman’s author page on Amazon.com.

Click here to visit Allison Pittman'a website.

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