How do you bring a murderer to justice when the only eyewitness is a ghost?
Jennifer has returned home after a relatively amicable divorce to discover her family’s big secret — the maternal line has the ability to talk to ghosts. Before Jen has time to digest this revelation, tragedy strikes, leaving both her and her mum Jacqui to navigate their gifts in ways they could never have imagined.
When a new ‘visitor’ is a missing woman from thirty years ago, Jen is determined to help her; but what will her choices cost, and can she keep her family’s past from coming back to haunt her?
Although loss is inevitable and not everything in life, or death, can — or, perhaps, should — be explained, the strength of a mother’s love and the power of trust can pull us through any hardship. Almost.
What did I think?
What an outstanding debut novel! Claire Bamford is going straight on my authors to watch list after reading her fantastic debut, The Messenger.
It's a refreshing take on a mystery when Jennifer Hattley, a woman who has just found out that she can talk to ghosts, helps the police to solve a 30 year old cold case. Naturally, the police are sceptical when Jen calls with information about a missing person but they can't turn a blind eye to the evidence that is presented to them.
I was immediately drawn into the story by the intriguing prologue set in 1972 where the family gift is passed down through the generations. It's incredibly poignant and surprisingly heartwarming when Jen learns that it is now her turn to wield the family gift. Written with a mixture of humour and pathos, the first ghosts she encounters set me off an emotional rollercoaster as I laughed and cried when they revealed their messages.
This isn't just a ghost story though, it's a cracking mystery and an incredibly emotional one as Jen does everything she can to reveal the final resting place of Helen Swift's body. I loved Jen's dogged determination to not just get the police to believe her but to also reassure Helen's ghost that she was safe.
Intriguing, moving and highly original, The Messenger is a fantastic supernatural mystery that evoked many emotions in me. I am delighted that this is not the last we will hear of Jen and I can't wait to read more of The Jennifer Hattley Mysteries series. A magnificent debut and a very highly recommended read.
I received a gifted copy to read and review for the Instagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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