What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
25 days and 02:58:22
10 copies available
U.S. only
An Inquiry Into Love and Death
Win a free print copy of this book!
25 days and 02:58:22
10 copies available
U.S. only
After her ghost-hunting uncle Toby dies, Oxford student Jillian must drive to the seaside village of Rothewell to pack up his belongings. Almost immediately, terrifying events convince Jillian that an angry spirit is trying to enter the house. Is it Walking John, the two-hundred-year-old ghost that haunts the bay? And who besides the ghost is roaming the local woods at night? If Toby uncovered something sinister, was his death really an accident? The arrival of handsome Scotland Yard inspector Drew Merriken leaves Jillian with more questions than answersand the added complication of a powerful mutual attraction.
368 pages, ebook
First published March 5, 2013
About the author
Simone St. James
11 books16.1k followersSimone St. James is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Book of Cold Cases, The Sun Down Motel, The Broken Girls and The Haunting of Maddy Clare, which won two RITA awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. She wrote her first ghost story, about a haunted library, when she was in high school, and spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time. She lives outside Toronto, Canada with her husband and a spoiled cat.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,064 reviews
March 29, 2020
When Jillian Leigh’s Uncle Toby dies from a broken neck after falling from a cliff, she is asked by her parents to go and collect his belongings and sort things out. She goes to the seaside village of Rothewell, where he was living. Toby was always a bit eccentric. He was also a ghost hunter. While staying at his home (Barrow House) Jillian hears strange noises in the night. Sees strange things. Jillian is starting to believe that there is a ghost living at Barrow House, or in the nearby woods. Eventually handsome Scotland Yard inspector Drew Merriken arrives. He wants to know if Toby’s death was accidental, or was it murder? Jillian insists that she has encountered a ghost. And then there is the legend of the ghost of Walking John…
I have really enjoyed the books I have read by this author (“The Haunting of Maddy Clare” and “The Other Side of Midnight”). But this book didn’t seem to grab my attention as much as those books did. I didn't care for the romance between Jillian and Drew, it slowed things down a bit, and they didn't seem to have much chemistry. I wanted to get back to the mystery. I was curious to see how Toby’s death was resolved, and I found Toby’s ghost hunter story interesting. I also really enjoyed the exciting conclusion (with Walking John).
I have really enjoyed the books I have read by this author (“The Haunting of Maddy Clare” and “The Other Side of Midnight”). But this book didn’t seem to grab my attention as much as those books did. I didn't care for the romance between Jillian and Drew, it slowed things down a bit, and they didn't seem to have much chemistry. I wanted to get back to the mystery. I was curious to see how Toby’s death was resolved, and I found Toby’s ghost hunter story interesting. I also really enjoyed the exciting conclusion (with Walking John).
January 8, 2019
Too many paranormal, magical stories are for children. “The Haunting Of Maddy Clare” approached horror but brought a superb author, from our country, to my attention. I eagerly told Simone St. James she has become my new favourite. To my astonishment, she replied the next day and bestowed me her third book! I savour it, having acquired and finished her second: “An Inquiry Into Love And Death”. I am even more impressed with this masterful work! My only remark is that one thing I look forward to in paranormal stories, is the poignancy of talking with spirits. That didn’t occur. A hug would have beautifully capped-off this particular storyline; eeriness, culminating in emotional relief. This is a non-crime paranormal mystery: my favourite kind!
Spooky adventures and sinister scenarios are gripping. Appreciatively, there is no cliché wherein Jillian Leigh is disbelieved. Even inspector Drew quickly observes the haunting. This is an infinitely more personal mystery that makes Jillian’s involvement resonate strongly and there is growth. Everyone in this vividly-drawn town is changed for the better. Simone excels at creating a distinct region and community that we picture, with tones we feel. Despite a deliciously-adult romance, multiple mysteries are the driving force.
It is rewarding that Simone gives an update about how her characters are faring. Not least, she possesses unequalled giftedness at weaving modernity into her historic fiction. Settings and technology are accurate and the dialects of characters coloured-in. But her protagonists never juggle über English words or accents. Like Kevin Costner in the film “Robinhood” and Daniel Radcliffe in “The Woman In Black”: skipping the parlance of a bygone period, frees today’s audiences to relate to these heroes. I appreciate that we delve unencumbered, into Simone’s enthralling mysteries. “An Inquiry Into Love And Death” graces my favourites of all time!
Spooky adventures and sinister scenarios are gripping. Appreciatively, there is no cliché wherein Jillian Leigh is disbelieved. Even inspector Drew quickly observes the haunting. This is an infinitely more personal mystery that makes Jillian’s involvement resonate strongly and there is growth. Everyone in this vividly-drawn town is changed for the better. Simone excels at creating a distinct region and community that we picture, with tones we feel. Despite a deliciously-adult romance, multiple mysteries are the driving force.
It is rewarding that Simone gives an update about how her characters are faring. Not least, she possesses unequalled giftedness at weaving modernity into her historic fiction. Settings and technology are accurate and the dialects of characters coloured-in. But her protagonists never juggle über English words or accents. Like Kevin Costner in the film “Robinhood” and Daniel Radcliffe in “The Woman In Black”: skipping the parlance of a bygone period, frees today’s audiences to relate to these heroes. I appreciate that we delve unencumbered, into Simone’s enthralling mysteries. “An Inquiry Into Love And Death” graces my favourites of all time!
January 18, 2019
Another great thriller by Simone St. James!
I’ve been impressed by her writing along with characterization. She really knows how to write independent, intelligent and fearless women!
An Inquiry Into Love and Death is part historical fiction since it’s set in the 1920s after WWI. It also has gothic and paranormal elements along with some romance! It’s all wrote well in a complete and thrilling tale.
Oxford student Jillian Leigh finds out that her uncle has fallen off a cliff and dies. Her uncle Toby was a well-known ghost hunter.
Jillian's parents are in Paris and she’s the only living relative in England to go and pack up Uncle Toby's belongings. Toby was staying in a seaside village when he was killed. He was investigating a well known ghost known as “Walking John” who has been frightening the village for years.
I really loved the backstory of this ghost and the paranormal elements in the book.
I also enjoyed the whole seaside village and characters of Rothewell.
An Inquiry Into Love and Death even has a big plot twist that I felt was believable and really added to the overall plot!
Looking forward to reading more by St. James! I really am loving her characters and books!
I’ve been impressed by her writing along with characterization. She really knows how to write independent, intelligent and fearless women!
An Inquiry Into Love and Death is part historical fiction since it’s set in the 1920s after WWI. It also has gothic and paranormal elements along with some romance! It’s all wrote well in a complete and thrilling tale.
Oxford student Jillian Leigh finds out that her uncle has fallen off a cliff and dies. Her uncle Toby was a well-known ghost hunter.
Jillian's parents are in Paris and she’s the only living relative in England to go and pack up Uncle Toby's belongings. Toby was staying in a seaside village when he was killed. He was investigating a well known ghost known as “Walking John” who has been frightening the village for years.
I really loved the backstory of this ghost and the paranormal elements in the book.
I also enjoyed the whole seaside village and characters of Rothewell.
An Inquiry Into Love and Death even has a big plot twist that I felt was believable and really added to the overall plot!
Looking forward to reading more by St. James! I really am loving her characters and books!
January 8, 2016
"My uncle Toby died of a broken neck in the autumn of 1924, just as I was starting the Michaelmas term at Oxford."
Uncle Toby's pocketwatch was left on the very center of the kitchen table. A book was found in the stove. There was a misplaced key. And the air: at times, it was frigidly cold.
This was Jillian Leigh's welcome to Barrow House and the small village of Rothewell on the English coast.
Admittedly, this story pinched my flesh. It gave me the heebie-jeebies. I found that when I was alone reading the narrative, I heard every hum, creak, scratch and groan in our home. I kept looking over my shoulder when I heard an unexpected sound. And I was very aware of the silence.
The atmosphere and surroundings of 1920s England was spot-on. I couldn't help but think I was with Jillian riding in her motorcar. Or walking the twisted paths of Rothewell at dusk, hurrying to get to Barrow House before dark. There were some hidden secrets and the suspense was exquisitely plotted. Though it took place after WWI, the effect of the War To End All Wars intersected with the seventeenth century and a spirit whom begged for rest.
"This place dreams. It's as if it's stuck in time, looking backward, where everyone lives with the dead."
There was an enjoyable romantic element that braided itself into the mystery, too.
"I could still feel that kiss, that incredible kiss that I suspected had shifted something in me."
This was the second story I have read by Ms. St. James; I love her style of writing. I was utterly comfortable with the historical fiction's time and place. I had a few minor questions I would have liked answers to but they were small quibbles. The speech, clothes, townspeople's idiosyncrasies and delicious mystery made this a page-turner for me.
Uncle Toby's pocketwatch was left on the very center of the kitchen table. A book was found in the stove. There was a misplaced key. And the air: at times, it was frigidly cold.
This was Jillian Leigh's welcome to Barrow House and the small village of Rothewell on the English coast.
Admittedly, this story pinched my flesh. It gave me the heebie-jeebies. I found that when I was alone reading the narrative, I heard every hum, creak, scratch and groan in our home. I kept looking over my shoulder when I heard an unexpected sound. And I was very aware of the silence.
The atmosphere and surroundings of 1920s England was spot-on. I couldn't help but think I was with Jillian riding in her motorcar. Or walking the twisted paths of Rothewell at dusk, hurrying to get to Barrow House before dark. There were some hidden secrets and the suspense was exquisitely plotted. Though it took place after WWI, the effect of the War To End All Wars intersected with the seventeenth century and a spirit whom begged for rest.
"This place dreams. It's as if it's stuck in time, looking backward, where everyone lives with the dead."
There was an enjoyable romantic element that braided itself into the mystery, too.
"I could still feel that kiss, that incredible kiss that I suspected had shifted something in me."
This was the second story I have read by Ms. St. James; I love her style of writing. I was utterly comfortable with the historical fiction's time and place. I had a few minor questions I would have liked answers to but they were small quibbles. The speech, clothes, townspeople's idiosyncrasies and delicious mystery made this a page-turner for me.
August 28, 2022
Okay, but seriously: This book was phenomenal. It rang true throughout, and felt very authentic with its setting, period, and characters. I could easily imagine Dorothy Sayers or Daphne du Maurier writing this; so the prose gets a definite thumbs up from me. I loved the narrator Jillian's voice. The layered mysteries unfold at a crackling pace. And while I figured certain elements out before the twists were revealed, that didn't make this any less enjoyable.
Unbelievably glad that I got my hands on the Advanced Reader Copy, and will most certainly be talking this title up to my customers when it hits the stores. And now I think I'll dive into St. James' earlier offering...
Unbelievably glad that I got my hands on the Advanced Reader Copy, and will most certainly be talking this title up to my customers when it hits the stores. And now I think I'll dive into St. James' earlier offering...
May 1, 2021
England, 1924.
The 22-years old Oxford student Jillian receives message that her uncle Toby fell off a cliff in a small village by the sea. As her parents are in France she’s being sent to represent the family on site.
Uncle Toby had been a ghost hunter by profession, so it’s not surprising the the village of Rothewell has its own very active ghost and Jillian gets heavily involved in the ghost and other matters.
The story is basically meant to be a gothic ghost story, but has also strong aspects of a murder mystery and – unfortunately – a strong emphasis on the romance part. What really bothered me was, that the love story took such a prominent position in the novel and that the author presented us with an extremely silly case of insta-love.
What speaks in favour of this book is, that the author definitily knows how to create atmosphere. I’m a great fan of ghost stories and really enjoyed the eerie feeling Simone St. James did provide for me.
Also I appreciated her illustration of how women, particularly young women, had to struggle at that time to be regarded as something like a human being.
Even though this was not the perfect ghost story for me I nevertheless got quite some enjoyment out of reading it and will keep it on my bookshelf for the time being.
3 pretty good stars.
The 22-years old Oxford student Jillian receives message that her uncle Toby fell off a cliff in a small village by the sea. As her parents are in France she’s being sent to represent the family on site.
Uncle Toby had been a ghost hunter by profession, so it’s not surprising the the village of Rothewell has its own very active ghost and Jillian gets heavily involved in the ghost and other matters.
The story is basically meant to be a gothic ghost story, but has also strong aspects of a murder mystery and – unfortunately – a strong emphasis on the romance part. What really bothered me was, that the love story took such a prominent position in the novel and that the author presented us with an extremely silly case of insta-love.
What speaks in favour of this book is, that the author definitily knows how to create atmosphere. I’m a great fan of ghost stories and really enjoyed the eerie feeling Simone St. James did provide for me.
Also I appreciated her illustration of how women, particularly young women, had to struggle at that time to be regarded as something like a human being.
Even though this was not the perfect ghost story for me I nevertheless got quite some enjoyment out of reading it and will keep it on my bookshelf for the time being.
3 pretty good stars.
May 28, 2022
It is the beginning of the 1920s, and first term Oxford student Jillian receives news that she has to travel to Devon to identify the body of her uncle who has accidentally fallen off a cliff. It is going to be her first independent trip, her first dead body, maybe her first love, and, of course given the author, her first ghost. Despite having no interest in stories containing either romance of the paranormal, I keep getting drawn back to Simone St. James’ novels, and each time I am I thoroughly enjoy them. It’s a solid well-written story with good characterization, and well worth reading.
March 27, 2017
Loved it! Mystery, romance, and a little spooky
August 22, 2019
Beautiful writing, a lovely romance, history lessons, a ghost story, and a mystery all wrapped up into one. Doesn’t get much better than this.
February 6, 2020
4-1/2 stars!
“This place dreams. It’s as if it’s stuck in time, looking backward, where everyone lives with the dead.”
Jillian is a strong female lead who must travel alone to a remote village after her uncle’s death. Soon after arriving, many strange and disturbing things start happening.
This is my second book by Simone St. James and I’ve already decided she is the queen of eeriness. The atmosphere, the characters, the plot, the timeframe, it’s all perfect. This is a look-over-your-shoulder kind of read and I loved every page.
“This place dreams. It’s as if it’s stuck in time, looking backward, where everyone lives with the dead.”
Jillian is a strong female lead who must travel alone to a remote village after her uncle’s death. Soon after arriving, many strange and disturbing things start happening.
This is my second book by Simone St. James and I’ve already decided she is the queen of eeriness. The atmosphere, the characters, the plot, the timeframe, it’s all perfect. This is a look-over-your-shoulder kind of read and I loved every page.
October 25, 2018
Keeping up with the season spirits (eh a bad pun), this had the right amount of spookiness (i was seriously scared even though I tried to time my reading esp of the ghostly manisfestations during daytimes), intrigue and rest of the masala stuff to make up for the slightly thin plot line. Still... no complaints!
October 1, 2017
This is the first book I've tried by this author and I enjoyed it a lot. It had the creepy ghost story element to it that I loved. I do wish there had been a bit more of it though. I felt like it was overshadowed a little by the murder plot which I thought was too easy to figure out. The best thing about this book and the thing that kept me reading was the whole atmosphere of it. I enjoyed the setting, the characters, and the creepy ghosts enough to give this 4 stars.
There is a fair amount of romance in this book. I didn't mind the romance in general, but there was a certain aspect of it that I wasn't crazy about, namely the nature of the relationship from the beginning. It didn't seem too convincing as anything more than insta-love, or maybe lust in this case. I was happy with the way the romance ended up in the end though.
I've heard that the author's first book, The Haunting of Maddy Clare has more ghosts in it so I think I will try that one next.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
There is a fair amount of romance in this book. I didn't mind the romance in general, but there was a certain aspect of it that I wasn't crazy about, namely the nature of the relationship from the beginning. It didn't seem too convincing as anything more than insta-love, or maybe lust in this case. I was happy with the way the romance ended up in the end though.
I've heard that the author's first book, The Haunting of Maddy Clare has more ghosts in it so I think I will try that one next.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
May 26, 2024
Soooo The audio version is the same narrator as the Bridgerton series. So... the male narrative parts are slightly distracting because I can hear some Bridgerton bastard brothers in the same voice hahaha.
I love the beauty of the grasp of Gothic horror that Simone St. James portrays here and in all of her older books.
A visit back to the 1920s in rural England. A ghost hunter's death comes as no surprise, but was it an accident? Murer? Suicide?
Jillian is taken out of University to claim Uncle Toby's body (her uncle) when she becomes enraptured with finding the truth.
The time period burning romance was well done. Drew had some good sex appeal.
Overall, a solid novel, but I could have gone with MORE of the paranormal sections. 4 Stars.
I love the beauty of the grasp of Gothic horror that Simone St. James portrays here and in all of her older books.
A visit back to the 1920s in rural England. A ghost hunter's death comes as no surprise, but was it an accident? Murer? Suicide?
Jillian is taken out of University to claim Uncle Toby's body (her uncle) when she becomes enraptured with finding the truth.
The time period burning romance was well done. Drew had some good sex appeal.
Overall, a solid novel, but I could have gone with MORE of the paranormal sections. 4 Stars.
January 3, 2016
I loved this! I can not wait to read more by this author!
April 27, 2013
A spectacularly atmospheric mystery and ghost story, set in post-WWI England. The story and characters are worthy of being compared with the Bess Crawford/Ian Rutledge books by Charles Todd, which is pretty much the highest recommendation I can give to a book in this genre.
It is 1924, and 22-year old Jillian Leigh is of the odd new breed of academic-minded young ladies in England (a terrifying sort, for sure). She comes from an academic line, her father is a worldreknowned chemist, her mother his assistant before they fell in love. Following in their academic footsteps, she is studying at Oxford University, at the all-female Sumerton college, where she and her fellow classmates spend much of their time with their noses buried in books and not much time for anything else. Jillian suddenly receives the news of her uncle's death. Toby is the black sheep of the family, having decided to pursue a career in the ridiculed field of ghost-hunting, and as such, Toby has been estranged from her family for eight years.
Jillian is called upon to identify his body, since her parents are in Paris, and soon upon her arrival in the village where he died, she meets an inspector from Scotland Yard who tells her that Toby's death is deemed to be suspicious; it is likely to be a murder. Jillian finds herself drawn into the mystery, despite her best intentions. She survives murder attempts, some terrifying ghostly encounters, and tries to figure out the remaining clues found in her uncle's journals... for instance...who is Elizabeth?
The 1920s have been my Achilles' heel. I hate flappers. I can't stand the Speakeasy Era. What makes these and other post-WWI books tolerable is the complete lack of slang and other (failed) attempts that other authors have made in a vague aspiration to sound authentic. This book lacks all those mentioned qualities that I hate. It is just a beautifully written ghost story and compelling mystery that is terrifying at times. The description of the local ghost, Walking John, and his haunting had me shivering, and actually gave me nightmares last night. There's something about his imprint, two footsteps in the dirt with a deep imprinted V between the toes that just scares me.
I found the characters to be well-written and characterized. I found Jillian to be an excellent character. She is sheltered, academic, but reasonable and reacts well under every circumstance in which she encounters. She is not spoilt nor unreasonably foolish; while chasing ghosts (literally) she does not put herself into so much danger that one does not feel compelled to scream at her as one does with the poor virginal horror movie character to GET THE F*** OUT OF THE DAMN BASEMENT. I wish there were more characters like her in the mysteries I have read.
The characters I disliked were the inspectors from Scotland Yard. We do not get much of Inspector Merriken's partner, but from what we see of him, he's a smirking asshole who doesn't really get too much done. Merriken himself is rather unlikeable. He can be compared to Charles Todd's Ian Rutledge, without the sympathy and attachment that one feels for Ian. They were both sons of barristers who suffer from the aftermaths of the war and the resultant PTSD, but while Ian suffers privately with his own ghosts, Drew Merriken drowns his in other women's beds. I feel he belittles Jillian, and takes advantage of her, however much he tries to redeem himself in the end.
There is not so much depth as there is in a Charles Todd novel, in which the reader feels they get to know each person's soul. Miss St. James is not as talented a writer, but this book is thoroughly enjoyable, and I will be going back and reading her repertoire.
It is 1924, and 22-year old Jillian Leigh is of the odd new breed of academic-minded young ladies in England (a terrifying sort, for sure). She comes from an academic line, her father is a worldreknowned chemist, her mother his assistant before they fell in love. Following in their academic footsteps, she is studying at Oxford University, at the all-female Sumerton college, where she and her fellow classmates spend much of their time with their noses buried in books and not much time for anything else. Jillian suddenly receives the news of her uncle's death. Toby is the black sheep of the family, having decided to pursue a career in the ridiculed field of ghost-hunting, and as such, Toby has been estranged from her family for eight years.
Jillian is called upon to identify his body, since her parents are in Paris, and soon upon her arrival in the village where he died, she meets an inspector from Scotland Yard who tells her that Toby's death is deemed to be suspicious; it is likely to be a murder. Jillian finds herself drawn into the mystery, despite her best intentions. She survives murder attempts, some terrifying ghostly encounters, and tries to figure out the remaining clues found in her uncle's journals... for instance...who is Elizabeth?
The 1920s have been my Achilles' heel. I hate flappers. I can't stand the Speakeasy Era. What makes these and other post-WWI books tolerable is the complete lack of slang and other (failed) attempts that other authors have made in a vague aspiration to sound authentic. This book lacks all those mentioned qualities that I hate. It is just a beautifully written ghost story and compelling mystery that is terrifying at times. The description of the local ghost, Walking John, and his haunting had me shivering, and actually gave me nightmares last night. There's something about his imprint, two footsteps in the dirt with a deep imprinted V between the toes that just scares me.
I found the characters to be well-written and characterized. I found Jillian to be an excellent character. She is sheltered, academic, but reasonable and reacts well under every circumstance in which she encounters. She is not spoilt nor unreasonably foolish; while chasing ghosts (literally) she does not put herself into so much danger that one does not feel compelled to scream at her as one does with the poor virginal horror movie character to GET THE F*** OUT OF THE DAMN BASEMENT. I wish there were more characters like her in the mysteries I have read.
The characters I disliked were the inspectors from Scotland Yard. We do not get much of Inspector Merriken's partner, but from what we see of him, he's a smirking asshole who doesn't really get too much done. Merriken himself is rather unlikeable. He can be compared to Charles Todd's Ian Rutledge, without the sympathy and attachment that one feels for Ian. They were both sons of barristers who suffer from the aftermaths of the war and the resultant PTSD, but while Ian suffers privately with his own ghosts, Drew Merriken drowns his in other women's beds. I feel he belittles Jillian, and takes advantage of her, however much he tries to redeem himself in the end.
There is not so much depth as there is in a Charles Todd novel, in which the reader feels they get to know each person's soul. Miss St. James is not as talented a writer, but this book is thoroughly enjoyable, and I will be going back and reading her repertoire.
February 6, 2019
An Inquiry Into Love and Death, with this I have completed reading books that have been released by Simone St James. And now I have to wait with patience for the next one. Finding Simone St.James was one luck for me coz her stories cater to all my favorite tastes. Part gothic, part historical, part mystery with supernatural elements and the cherry on top the beautiful romance woven thru the book All her books have been exceptional and this one is no different.
The setting of the story is 1920's just after the WWI in a seaside village haunted by it's resident ghost. Jillian arrives in Rothewell village following her uncle's fall from the cliffs and then makes discoveries that includes ghosts, truth about her parents, German boats and what not! Superbly crafted gothic thriller.
The setting of the story is 1920's just after the WWI in a seaside village haunted by it's resident ghost. Jillian arrives in Rothewell village following her uncle's fall from the cliffs and then makes discoveries that includes ghosts, truth about her parents, German boats and what not! Superbly crafted gothic thriller.
September 14, 2019
Setting: 1920s England, small town. An Oxford student, Jillian Leigh, is about to begin her next term when she receives the news of the death of her uncle, a ghost hunter, in the small town of Rothewell in Devon. Simone St. James’ An Inquiry into Love and Death has all the delicious elements of gothic ghost story. The protagonist, Jillian, wonders why her parents, although in Paris, ask her to leave Oxford at the beginning of the term to go to Rothewell in Devon to gather her uncles’ things as her uncle had died very suddenly. After all Uncle Toby was her father’s brother, and Jillian had hardly seen him since she was a young child, but Jillian decides to go and retrieve Uncle Toby’s belongings. Upon arrival in Rothewell, Jillian finds disturbing facts:”a book left in a cold stove; a gate swinging open on its own”, and just who or what is Walking John? This book ‘had’ me from page one. As gothic fiction is a favorite of mine, this story was perfect for me. Atmospheric, concealed information, and fascinating! 5 stars!
January 18, 2017
I'd really enjoyed The Haunting of Maddy Clare (thanks to my GR friend Holly for her recommendation), this one was a great read too! A bit less intense than the previous book, although I must say that the scene in Barrow House at night was pretty scary. The characters were well drawn, I really liked our protagonist, Jillian. The setting was very atmospheric, I could really picture it my head as I read. Especially the Blood Moon Bay in moonlight :) quite creepy. I'll definitely get my hands on the author's other books as well!
June 28, 2013
I've been waiting to get my hands on this one since I read St. James' The Haunting of Maddy Clare, yet when I got my hands on An Inquiry Into Love and Death I was strangely reluctant to start it. It was one of those times when you're so excited to read a book, you don't just want to save it. I wasn't disappointed with this one, it had all the elements that I loved from St. James' first book - highly atmospheric, touch of the supernatural, dash of mystery, and a good helping of romance.
In An Inquiry into Love and Death Oxford student, Jillian Leigh receives the news that her ghosthunter Uncle Toby has died, and she has to identify the body and take care of his effects. Jillian drives down to the seaside town of Rothewell and becomes embroiled in a ghostly mystery that she never anticipated. Along the way she meets RAF pilot turned Scotland Yard detective, Drew Merriken, who is investigating some mysterious happenings in the sleepy seaside town.
What I loved about this one was the atmosphere that St. James evokes. This book is set in 1924, shortly after world war one is over and you can just feel the sadness and melancholy that you would expect people to feel after the war; after realizing all that they have lost. This same atmosphere was also present in The Haunting of Maddy Clare and I think its a perfect match for the post-war era. The setting of the novel seems to mimic this melancholy, but I also think that the investigation of ghosts (the focus of both St. James' books) also demonstrates a mentality that I think people would embrace after such a tragedy as war. I thought this atmosphere was marvelously well done and it wasn't at the expense of characters. I like a character driven novel and I liked that in An Inquiry into Love and Death we had a character driven plot that was also highly atmospheric. I find that it's difficult to find a novel that had both strong characters and a strong sense of place.
I also loved the creepiness factor that was in this one. The exploration of ghost is a major theme in this one and the way the ghostly encounters are described are terrifying. For example, one of the very first encounters Jillian has with the ghost, Walking John, hits you viscerally:
"At the top of the window - the very top - a hand was pressed to the glass.
The hand was reaching down - from God knew where - ans flattened to the glass. It was grayish white, damp. The pads of its fingers were rotted black. I glimpsed blackened fingernails and a ripped, ruined thumbnail. As we watched, the hand pressed harder into the window glass - as if being used to launch the body - and disappeared. It left behind no mark.
'Drew,' I said. 'It's climbing up the wall.'". (p. 123)
I think was also helps the scariness of the ghostly encounters is the way that Jillian reacts to them. You can feel her terror when she sees and experiences things that just couldn't possibly be real. By having Jillian narrate her reactions, the horror of her experiences are ramped up another notch.
This was a good read, and I think it will appeal to Downton Abbey fans for its atmospheric setting, but I think it will also appeal to a wider audience because it has a little bit of several genres: historical, romance, mystery etc. I will be anxiously awaiting St. James' next book! And, if you haven't read The Haunting of Maddy Clear do so immediately.
Similar Reads: The House of Velvet and Glass; The Uninvited Guests; The Dressmaker; The Anatomist's Wife.
In An Inquiry into Love and Death Oxford student, Jillian Leigh receives the news that her ghosthunter Uncle Toby has died, and she has to identify the body and take care of his effects. Jillian drives down to the seaside town of Rothewell and becomes embroiled in a ghostly mystery that she never anticipated. Along the way she meets RAF pilot turned Scotland Yard detective, Drew Merriken, who is investigating some mysterious happenings in the sleepy seaside town.
What I loved about this one was the atmosphere that St. James evokes. This book is set in 1924, shortly after world war one is over and you can just feel the sadness and melancholy that you would expect people to feel after the war; after realizing all that they have lost. This same atmosphere was also present in The Haunting of Maddy Clare and I think its a perfect match for the post-war era. The setting of the novel seems to mimic this melancholy, but I also think that the investigation of ghosts (the focus of both St. James' books) also demonstrates a mentality that I think people would embrace after such a tragedy as war. I thought this atmosphere was marvelously well done and it wasn't at the expense of characters. I like a character driven novel and I liked that in An Inquiry into Love and Death we had a character driven plot that was also highly atmospheric. I find that it's difficult to find a novel that had both strong characters and a strong sense of place.
I also loved the creepiness factor that was in this one. The exploration of ghost is a major theme in this one and the way the ghostly encounters are described are terrifying. For example, one of the very first encounters Jillian has with the ghost, Walking John, hits you viscerally:
"At the top of the window - the very top - a hand was pressed to the glass.
The hand was reaching down - from God knew where - ans flattened to the glass. It was grayish white, damp. The pads of its fingers were rotted black. I glimpsed blackened fingernails and a ripped, ruined thumbnail. As we watched, the hand pressed harder into the window glass - as if being used to launch the body - and disappeared. It left behind no mark.
'Drew,' I said. 'It's climbing up the wall.'". (p. 123)
I think was also helps the scariness of the ghostly encounters is the way that Jillian reacts to them. You can feel her terror when she sees and experiences things that just couldn't possibly be real. By having Jillian narrate her reactions, the horror of her experiences are ramped up another notch.
This was a good read, and I think it will appeal to Downton Abbey fans for its atmospheric setting, but I think it will also appeal to a wider audience because it has a little bit of several genres: historical, romance, mystery etc. I will be anxiously awaiting St. James' next book! And, if you haven't read The Haunting of Maddy Clear do so immediately.
Similar Reads: The House of Velvet and Glass; The Uninvited Guests; The Dressmaker; The Anatomist's Wife.
May 7, 2013
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It didn't have the pervasive spookiness of The Haunting of Maddy Clare, but it's still a good creepy mystery with a healthy dose of the paranormal. The middle dragged a tad for me, but overall, not bad at all. And I loved the ending - a romance with an ending that's truly romantic always leaves me happy.
July 7, 2016
Deberías leer esta historia si te gustan los misterios, el suspense con un toque de paranormal y los romances sutiles, realistas y que te dejan con un buen sabor de boca.
Hacía tiempo que no disfrutaba tanto de una lectura, ha sido casi perfecta. La prosa impecable, el misterio me ha tenido en vilo, me ha costado la misma vida no leer el final de la página para ver en qué quedaba todo porque a veces el suspense era bestial… y el romance, aunque para ser sincera no ha sido el eje principal de la historia, sí que ha sido la guinda del pastel. Ese final, ese final se ha merecido las 5 estrellas.
Ha sido muy interesante ver como una seria y comprometida estudiante de Oxford e hija de científicos se hace a la idea de que su tío era cazador de fantasmas y de que, a lo mejor, puede que sí o puede que no, el hombre tenía hasta razón… El misterio-suspense ha sido de infarto. Había veces en las que tenía que parar de leer para reubicarme y ser consciente de que estaba en el salón de mi casa y no en Barrow House. Los personajes han sido exquisitos, trabajados, realistas y con facetas. Y en el romance, aunque a veces tenía ganas de sacudir a Drew para que cogiese al toro por los cuernos, nunca, nunca un final me ha dejado más satisfecha.
Por ponerle una pega, ha habido algunos problemas o preguntas que no han quedado claros. Me hubiese gustado alguna explicación o aclaración, y hasta absolutamente el final, esta historia iba a ser de 4 estrellas, pero luego va Ms. St. James y escribe ese final, y claro… me ha hecho olvidar todo lo demás.
Preciosa, encantadora, inteligente y muy recomendable.
Gracias, Linda, por animarme a leerla. ;)
You should read this story if you like mysteries, suspense with a touch of paranormal and subtle, realistic romances that leaves you with a lovely good impression.
It had been a while since I enjoyed a story so much, it has been almost perfect. Impeccable prose, the mystery has had me on tenterhooks, it has been
It has been so interesting to see how a serious and committed student of Oxford and a scientist´s daughter is struggling to get used to the idea that his uncle was a ghosts’ hunter and of that he, maybe or maybe not, was even right... The mystery-suspense has been heart-stopping. It had been times I had to stop reading to ensure myself and to be aware that I was at home, on my sofa and not in Barrow House. The characters have been exquisite, well described, realistic and multi-faceted. And about the romance, although at times I wanted to shake Drew so he would take the bull by the horns, never, never an ending has left me more satisfied.
If a have to find it a fault it would be that some problems or questions have not been answered. I would have liked some explanation or clarification. And quite until the end, this story was going to be a 4-star, but then, Ms. St. James goes and writes that final, that has made me forget everything else.
Beautiful, charming, intelligent and highly recommended.
Thank you, Linda, for encouraging me to read it. ;)
November 7, 2013
Mystery-Historical: After WW1
Jillian Leigh is one of the few women attending Oxford after WW1. When her uncle falls off a cliff in the seaside village of Rothewell,she comes to identify his body and collect his things. Uncle Toby was a ghost hunter whom Jillian had not seen in years. A series of very frightening events that happen while she is there convinces Jillian there more to than just an angry spirit in the area. When handsome Scotland Yard inspector Drew Merriken arrives to investigate Toby's death,he tells Jillian that he thinks her uncle was murdered. Can Jillian help him find who killed her uncle and solve the mystery of the spirit before she herself gets killed?
Will she be able to unravel all the secrets this village holds? And will she be able to accept deep buried ones that will affect her? Told in the first person's voice,this story was a perfectly balanced combination of mystery,romance,ghost story and history with lots of twists and turns that had me not being able to guess who the "bad guy" was pretty much close to the end.It also conveys the lasting psychological and practical consequences of war movingly throughout the story. There were times that it didn't quite feel like the setting was in the 1920's, but Jillian is such a appealing and feisty heroine and all the twists and turns that happened throughout that keep me glued to each page I just didn't bother to take note of it. I haven't read the authors other novel,but this one would be a great beginning to a mystery series staring Jillian Leigh and her lover inspector Drew Merriken...but I'm satisfied and really enjoyed this one.
Jillian Leigh is one of the few women attending Oxford after WW1. When her uncle falls off a cliff in the seaside village of Rothewell,she comes to identify his body and collect his things. Uncle Toby was a ghost hunter whom Jillian had not seen in years. A series of very frightening events that happen while she is there convinces Jillian there more to than just an angry spirit in the area. When handsome Scotland Yard inspector Drew Merriken arrives to investigate Toby's death,he tells Jillian that he thinks her uncle was murdered. Can Jillian help him find who killed her uncle and solve the mystery of the spirit before she herself gets killed?
Will she be able to unravel all the secrets this village holds? And will she be able to accept deep buried ones that will affect her? Told in the first person's voice,this story was a perfectly balanced combination of mystery,romance,ghost story and history with lots of twists and turns that had me not being able to guess who the "bad guy" was pretty much close to the end.It also conveys the lasting psychological and practical consequences of war movingly throughout the story. There were times that it didn't quite feel like the setting was in the 1920's, but Jillian is such a appealing and feisty heroine and all the twists and turns that happened throughout that keep me glued to each page I just didn't bother to take note of it. I haven't read the authors other novel,but this one would be a great beginning to a mystery series staring Jillian Leigh and her lover inspector Drew Merriken...but I'm satisfied and really enjoyed this one.
July 9, 2016
3.5 stars
Part mystery, part romance, part supernatural, this highly atmospheric story is set in 1924 in the remote seaside village of Rothewell.After Oxford student, Jillian Leigh, was notified of her uncle Toby’s death in a tragic accident she must travel to Rothewell to pack up his belongings. But it turns out to be much more than she bargained for. The place is hunted and the eccentric uncle’s death might not have been an accident. It seems the latter brought Scotland Yard inspector, Drew Merikken, to investigate.
**********************************
What worked:
Murder/mystery. I LOVED this aspect of the story. In combination with vividly atmospheric gothic setting of an isolated coastal village the investigation of “who did it?” made for a real page-turner.
What didn’t work:
Romance. I wish there were none. It only destructed me from the story. I wanted the characters to stop swooning and get down to solving mystery. The attraction happened too fast, too soon with no particular chemistry. There were moments when I felt like Drew is taking advantage of Jillian to help him with the progress of the investigation.
Ghost exploration. I’m pretty sure this falls into “it’s the reader and not the book" category. With one tiny exception I never read ghost-stories but based on reviews from many “experienced” ghost-story readers this one is a good one. It made me realize that I shouldn't pursue this particular genre in the future but, hey, you never know unless you try….
October 22, 2021
Atmospheric and spooky! Perfect Fall read!
September 5, 2020
I read this years ago, and decided to revisit because I find this author's work fall under the “comfort reads” category for me.
And though it’s a comfort read, there is a fair bit of ugly behaviour at work in this story. Jillian must travel to small town Rothewell after hearing of her uncle Toby’s death. Her parents and Toby were estranged for some unknown reason, and Jillian is resentful that her parents are making her leave her studies at Oxford to identify the body and pack up Toby's things.
She arrives in Rothewell, and is seen as some odd, foreign creature -- a single, young woman, a student, with her own car, dealing with her dead uncle and his things.
She quickly becomes aware that there are many secrets in the town; it's a few years after the first World War, and people have not recovered from most of the town’s men dying in France. The remaining men are in various states of unsettled and upset, and the more time Jillian spends in the town, the more she feels that something really odd is going on. And that's not including the ghostly visitations by the town’s ghost Walking John each night at the cottage she's staying at: thumps, things overturned, and a terrifying sense of someone watching from outside her uncle’s rented cottage at night.
Into this arrives a handsome Scotland Yard detective, and Jillian and he almost instantly feel attracted to one another.
Jillian begins investigating Toby’s reasons for being at Rothewell, and not only stumbles on her family’s secrets while at the town, but stumbles upon possible criminal activities.
The story's enjoyable, and I liked how dogged Jillian was at following small clues to their ends. It was also interesting to read about a village that had been radically affected by her loss of most of its male population by the WWI.
And though it’s a comfort read, there is a fair bit of ugly behaviour at work in this story. Jillian must travel to small town Rothewell after hearing of her uncle Toby’s death. Her parents and Toby were estranged for some unknown reason, and Jillian is resentful that her parents are making her leave her studies at Oxford to identify the body and pack up Toby's things.
She arrives in Rothewell, and is seen as some odd, foreign creature -- a single, young woman, a student, with her own car, dealing with her dead uncle and his things.
She quickly becomes aware that there are many secrets in the town; it's a few years after the first World War, and people have not recovered from most of the town’s men dying in France. The remaining men are in various states of unsettled and upset, and the more time Jillian spends in the town, the more she feels that something really odd is going on. And that's not including the ghostly visitations by the town’s ghost Walking John each night at the cottage she's staying at: thumps, things overturned, and a terrifying sense of someone watching from outside her uncle’s rented cottage at night.
Into this arrives a handsome Scotland Yard detective, and Jillian and he almost instantly feel attracted to one another.
Jillian begins investigating Toby’s reasons for being at Rothewell, and not only stumbles on her family’s secrets while at the town, but stumbles upon possible criminal activities.
The story's enjoyable, and I liked how dogged Jillian was at following small clues to their ends. It was also interesting to read about a village that had been radically affected by her loss of most of its male population by the WWI.
July 2, 2023
A haunting thriller with a hint of romance that was perfect for the Icelandic coast!
August 23, 2020
I enjoyed this creepy, haunting story... my second read from Simone St James. Set in post WWI Europe along the coastal English countryside, it had a delicious gothic feel. The heroine, Jillian, is a young Oxford student who must travel to a small village after the mysterious death of her uncle to settle his affairs. The man was a ghost hunter and as she quickly sinks into his investigation. A sexy and aloof inspector from Scotland Yard serves as a romantic interest, adding a bit of steam and yearning to the novel.
St James does a great job with her setting and tone. I felt like I was there in the moment as Jillian was terrified and terrorized by the ghost of Walking John. The mystery of her uncle's death is well plotted and held my interest throughout. The climax and the villain reveal really satisfied. And there was a great little Easter egg for those of us who read The Haunting of Maggie Clare.
Unlike some other reviewers, I like a bit of romance in my scary stories, so I am glad that thread was there. I just wish there was a bit more development to make me believe in the possibility of an HEA and maybe a page or two more at the end so I could see it all play out.
Overall, though, I enjoyed it and will read from this author again.
St James does a great job with her setting and tone. I felt like I was there in the moment as Jillian was terrified and terrorized by the ghost of Walking John. The mystery of her uncle's death is well plotted and held my interest throughout. The climax and the villain reveal really satisfied. And there was a great little Easter egg for those of us who read The Haunting of Maggie Clare.
Unlike some other reviewers, I like a bit of romance in my scary stories, so I am glad that thread was there. I just wish there was a bit more development to make me believe in the possibility of an HEA and maybe a page or two more at the end so I could see it all play out.
Overall, though, I enjoyed it and will read from this author again.
June 11, 2021
Another book that struggled to keep my interest. I seem to be on a streak right now. 🤔 I loved so much The Broken Girls, The Sundown Motel, and The Haunting of Maddy Clare. There were parts of this story that were more enjoyable than others. The story just never fully pulled me in. It was a slow read and I wish there was more of a haunting atmosphere. If I would have read this book first I may have enjoyed it more. I’m a big fan of Simone St. James, but so far this has been my least favorite book of hers.
October 8, 2023
5 Stars
I re-read this book every year for Halloween season. It's the perfect ghost story with a mystery and bit of romance.
I re-read this book every year for Halloween season. It's the perfect ghost story with a mystery and bit of romance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,064 reviews