The Widow of Pale Harbor
A town gripped by fear. A woman accused of witchcraft. Who can save Pale Harbor from itself?
Maine, 1846. Gabriel Stone is desperate to escape the ghosts that haunt him in Massachusetts after his wife's death, so he moves to Maine, taking a position as a minister in the remote village of Pale Harbor.
But not all is as it seems in the sleepy town. Strange, unsettling things have been happening, and the townspeople claim that only one person can be responsible: Sophronia Carver, a reclusive widow who lives with a spinster maid in the eerie Castle Carver. Sophronia must be a witch, and she almost certainly killed her husband.
As the incidents escalate, one thing becomes clear: they are the work of a twisted person inspired by the wildly popular stories of Mr. Edgar Allan Poe. And Gabriel must find answers, or Pale Harbor will suffer a fate worthy of Poe's darkest tales.
Hester Fox comes to writing from a background in the museum field as a collections maintenance technician. This job has taken her from historic houses to fine art museums, where she has the privilege of cleaning and caring for collections that range from paintings by old masters to ancient artifacts to early-American furniture. She is a keen painter and has a master's degree in historical archaeology, as well as a background in medieval studies and art history. Hester lives outside Boston with her husband.
Don't miss A MAGIC DEEP & DROWNING, Hester Fox's lush, enchanting reimagining of The Little Mermaid, where a young woman in 1650 Friesland must face a deadly choice between love, duty, and a mythic legacy...
Look for these other gothic mysteries from Hester Fox:
Maine, 1846. Gabriel Stone is desperate to escape the ghosts that haunt him in Massachusetts after his wife's death, so he moves to Maine, taking a position as a minister in the remote village of Pale Harbor.
But not all is as it seems in the sleepy town. Strange, unsettling things have been happening, and the townspeople claim that only one person can be responsible: Sophronia Carver, a reclusive widow who lives with a spinster maid in the eerie Castle Carver. Sophronia must be a witch, and she almost certainly killed her husband.
As the incidents escalate, one thing becomes clear: they are the work of a twisted person inspired by the wildly popular stories of Mr. Edgar Allan Poe. And Gabriel must find answers, or Pale Harbor will suffer a fate worthy of Poe's darkest tales.
Hester Fox comes to writing from a background in the museum field as a collections maintenance technician. This job has taken her from historic houses to fine art museums, where she has the privilege of cleaning and caring for collections that range from paintings by old masters to ancient artifacts to early-American furniture. She is a keen painter and has a master's degree in historical archaeology, as well as a background in medieval studies and art history. Hester lives outside Boston with her husband.
Don't miss A MAGIC DEEP & DROWNING, Hester Fox's lush, enchanting reimagining of The Little Mermaid, where a young woman in 1650 Friesland must face a deadly choice between love, duty, and a mythic legacy...
Look for these other gothic mysteries from Hester Fox:
- The Book of Thorns
- The Last Heir to Blackwood Library
- The Witch of Willow Hall
- The Orphan of Cemetery Hill
- A Lullaby for Witches
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
Hester Fox does it again with this mesmerizing and spooky novel, perfect for the fall and Halloween holiday. The Widow of Pale Harbor is a thrilling and riveting novel that opens with an ominous tone that carries throughout the novel until the very end, keeping the reader at the edge. In this little town off the harbor, Fox does a brilliant job creating a spooky atmosphere with the description of the fog, rolling hills, and landscape that submerges the reader in the world.
The additional element of combining Edgar Allan Poe’s work into the piece to haunt the characters was well executed. Fox brings each selected piece to life with a literal interpretation, allowing the reader to see the unimaginative mind of the villain who is using the murders to taunt and haunt the protagonist. It is not apparent at first, but for readers who are fans of Poe’s work and familiar with his stories, they will be able to see the connection between the acts of crime and the stories. While literal, the allusions to the stories bring about a deeper meaning to the characters. It highlights the spook factor for the reader and raises the tension between the characters.
Along with the tension, the pacing is fantastic. The Widow of Pale Harbor is a story that relies on its even pacing to keep the tension engaging, and Fox has done that exceptionally well. Fox ensures that the character dynamics grow throughout the novel. Their dynamics shift and grow in realistic ways as the story progresses, evolving their relationships. The relationships help the characters see past the tragedies of their respective pasts and grow beyond them. It is realistic, and the way the story evolves keeps the narrative and plot grounded, working to make it even more compelling.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
Hester Fox does it again with this mesmerizing and spooky novel, perfect for the fall and Halloween holiday. The Widow of Pale Harbor is a thrilling and riveting novel that opens with an ominous tone that carries throughout the novel until the very end, keeping the reader at the edge. In this little town off the harbor, Fox does a brilliant job creating a spooky atmosphere with the description of the fog, rolling hills, and landscape that submerges the reader in the world.
The additional element of combining Edgar Allan Poe’s work into the piece to haunt the characters was well executed. Fox brings each selected piece to life with a literal interpretation, allowing the reader to see the unimaginative mind of the villain who is using the murders to taunt and haunt the protagonist. It is not apparent at first, but for readers who are fans of Poe’s work and familiar with his stories, they will be able to see the connection between the acts of crime and the stories. While literal, the allusions to the stories bring about a deeper meaning to the characters. It highlights the spook factor for the reader and raises the tension between the characters.
Along with the tension, the pacing is fantastic. The Widow of Pale Harbor is a story that relies on its even pacing to keep the tension engaging, and Fox has done that exceptionally well. Fox ensures that the character dynamics grow throughout the novel. Their dynamics shift and grow in realistic ways as the story progresses, evolving their relationships. The relationships help the characters see past the tragedies of their respective pasts and grow beyond them. It is realistic, and the way the story evolves keeps the narrative and plot grounded, working to make it even more compelling.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.