An Inquiry into Love and Death

I couldn't put this book down. For me, it was the perfect blend of delicious creepiness and wistful, turbulent romance. Yes, some of it I predicted early on, but instead of detracting from the overall mystery, it just seemed to enhance it. Was it the perfect book? Of course not. However, when a book has the power to literally cover me in goosebumps, all the while rooting for the romantic leads and wishing I could visit the setting, then I think it's a worthy book. I debated between 4 & 5 stars, but when I think about how well the ghostly storyline was executed (which can be tricky), I know that this story won't be one I forget, and it deserves the 5th star.

Boy howdy can St. James write a ghost story! I love this book; I woke up at 6.30 this morning and did nothing until I finished it and then I re-read a few passages just to make it last longer.

In 1920's England, Oxford student Jillian Leigh's uncle Toby, a renowned ghost hunter, is killed in a fall off a cliff, and she must drive to the seaside village of Rothewell to pack up his belongings.

Almost immediately, unsettling incidents—a book left in a cold stove, a gate swinging open on its own—escalate into terrifying events that convince Jillian an angry spirit is trying to enter the house. Is it Walking John, the two-hundred-year-old ghost who haunts Blood Moon Bay? Was Toby's death an accident?

The arrival of handsome Scotland Yard show more inspector Drew Merriken leaves Jillian with more questions than answers. Even as she suspects someone will do anything to hide the truth, she begins to discover spine-chilling secrets that lie deep within Rothewell…

If you're a horror or psychological horror lover, pass this review right on by; this book is a cream puff in comparison to your regular fare, but for the rest of us, this is truly an old-school, spooky ghost story with a mystery and a romance (oh the romance...). There's nothing gothic about the story, but I keep thinking of the old gothics anyway, for lack of any better comparison.

I probably should have gone 4.5 stars because Jillian goes through an improbable - neigh, impossible - number of physical calamities to still be standing upright. Or breathing, really. But the story was just so good; I was sucked in so thoroughly that I was willing to overlook her superhuman regenerative powers. Inspector Merriken was incentive enough to spur on a rapid recovery.

Ok, anything else I say beyond this point would just be repetitive gushing. I loved this book; it gave me exactly the experience I hope for every time I start a new story and I'll be looking for more of this author's work. show less

Simone St. James does what I wish I did better as a writer--she quickly sets a mood and a sense of place, time, character and story that challenges one to put down the book and get on with everyday life. I can't believe I'm hooked on this combo of ghost/mystery/romance/historical fiction and yet here I am, already reading her next book. This book weaves a sympathetic tale of the ghosts and champions the cause of a smart, under-rated, not-quite-by-the-book heroine. The setting is post-WWI England. And while I'm not really into hunky guys, there is one and you can't help but root for the romance to bloom. There's definitely a formula at work but St. James adds a level of depth that keeps it satisfying. What's not to like about all of this?

An Inquiry Into Love and Death by Simone St. James is a good read, especially around Halloween. It's a ghost story with a little romance rolled in. Jillian Leigh is an Oxford student in 1920's England when women were just beginning to attend the school. She has to leave her studies to identify the body of her Uncle Toby. Toby was a ghost hunter. He is one of the most interesting characters in the book, especially considering he only appears through memories and notes left behind.

Jillian's parents are busy with their own lives, so it falls to her to go to Rothwell, a town in Northamptonshire, England where her uncle had been searching for ghosts. One of those ghosts was Walking John, a famous local spirit haunting the woods near Blood show more Moon Bay. While in Rothwell, Uncle Toby fell off a cliff, which is how he died.

Jillian stays at the house her uncle had been renting because she needs to collect his belongings and, also, because the rent has been paid through the end of the month. But there's a reason a ghost hunter would choose to live in Barrow House and Jillian soon discovers the reason.

I loved the setting of An Inquiry Into Love and Death. The story takes place in post World War I, rural England. All of the characters have been affected in some way by the horrible events they've lived through. Some have come out stronger, some damaged, but all are changed. I also enjoyed the romance between Jillian and Drew Merriken, a Scotland Yard inspector in the area investigating Uncle Toby's death. The were both strong characters with their own interests and responsibilities. The one aspect of the plot I did not like was the relationship between Jillian and her parents. Their actions didn't seem believable, especially late in the book when some secrets began to be revealed.

Overall, this is a good ghost story with lots of tension and strong characters.

Steve Lindahl – author of Hopatcong Vision Quest, White Horse Regressions, and Motherless Soul show less

An Inquiry Into Love and Death by, Simone St. James, narrated by, Rosalyn Landor

This book has it all ghosts, family secrets, treason, murder and romance. I really enjoy the way Simone St. James writes she has the perfect blend of stories going on in this one.

Jillian’s Uncle Toby, a ghost hunter, has died in a small seaside town and she must go identify his body and gather his things but as soon as she arrives she knows there are ghosts here and something isn’t right. I enjoyed the mix of ghost story and mystery , there is a lot going on in this town and Jillian has found herself smack in the middle of it. Between ghosts, a sexy Scotland Yard detective and some very odd goings on; Jillian is up to her ears in trouble of so many show more kinds, but Jillian is way ahead of her time she is a strong woman used to taking care of herself; I thought Jillian was a great character she is spunky and tough and knows how to stand on her own two feet. I think she should take over Toby’s ghost hunting business so we could have more books with her! It had just the right amount of romance, it didn’t take over the story. I also really liked the mystery I did not figure that one out which was refreshing.

As always Rosalyn Landor’s narration is spot on, I just love her voice, she is great at differentiating between voices and her male voices are excellent. If Jillian makes a return appearance I hope Rosalyn Landor is available to narrate them.

I liked this one more than I did her last book which was good but this one had a meatier story but I would recommend both books and look forward to more by this author. I think if you are a fan of Kate Morton or Susanna Kearsley, give this one a try!

4 Stars

Received from the Audiobookjukebox and Blackstone for a fair and honest review show less

An Inquiry Into Love and Death - St. James
Audio performance by Rosalyn Landor
4 stars

When Jillian Leigh’s uncle dies she inherits his ghost hunting equipment. It’s 1924, and she must leave her Oxford University studies to identify his body. And, his murderer.

This was a really good ghost story. It had a skin crawling, creepy, gothic atmosphere that was actually believable. The instant sexual attraction/love story was less believable, but who can complain if the intelligent female protagonist has an appropriately handsome Scotland Yard detective to provide comfort and protection? The independent Jillian Leigh also rescues herself from a murder attempt while assembling clues to banish the ghost and solve the crime.

This is the show more second book that I’ve read by this author. When I read The Haunting of Maddy Clare, I thought the historical setting was only window dressing to the ghost story. The post WW1 setting is more important to this plot. All of the male characters are suffering from some form of ‘battle fatigue’. The persistent presence of a 200-year-old, vindictive ghost is overlaid with the destructive consequences of the first war, and the prospect of another war.

I enjoyed this book far more that the first one by this author. The excellent audio performance may have a lot to do with that. It’s hard to do better than Rosalyn Landor. show less

From Amazon:

Oxford student Jillian Leigh works day and night to keep up with her studies. But after her uncle Toby, a renowned ghost hunter, is killed in a fall off a cliff, she must drive to the seaside village of Rothewell to pack up his belongings. When unsettling incidents escalate into terrifying events, Jillian is convinced an angry spirit is trying to enter the house. And the arrival of handsome Scotland Yard inspector Drew Merriken leaves her with more questions than answers.

My Thoughts:

If you’re a fan of historical, and enjoy a good old fashioned ghost story, then you will love this. The story has more of a whodunnit kind of feeling layered over the ghost story. Still, though, there is just the right amount of Gothic show more creepiness to this story, as well as quite a few references to WWI and the experience of the men who fought. The heroine is a strong, intelligent girl...and a bit more modern than that times probably would have allowed. The hero is a guy who's been affected by war and afraid to find love...and nearly misses his chance altogether. There was a good balance of romance with the mystery and ghost story. In all, an excellent read. show less